Tburg Posted July 11, 2017 Share Posted July 11, 2017 It's been awhile since I've been to Las Vegas and first trip since I've discovered the wonderful world of bourbon. Are there any recommendations for bars to go and sample some bourbons? Also, what would your recommend to a new guy as to what to try? From the welcome posts, I've started with the Makers, Larceny, Russel Reserve, Col Taylor and some Washington based choices. Will bars have something like a VW and would I even appreciate now? Should that wait until I have some more tasting experience or would it stand out to me right now? Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CardsandBourbon Posted July 11, 2017 Share Posted July 11, 2017 You can appreciate any bourbon at anytime. Looks like you started with a couple of wheated ones (Larceny, MM) and a couple with a rye mashbill (RR, CEHT). A couple of good ways to expand your horizons are trying different ones at bars or getting a good cross section of 50 ml (airline size) bottles. This allows you to sample a wide range of styles to see which ones you prefer. As far as recommendations; on this forum you'll get as many recommendations as there are members. Some that wouldn't break the bank but are solid pours (IMO) include: Four Roses Small Batch Eagle Rare Elijah Craig Small Batch Evan Williams Single Barrel 1792 Small Batch Weller Special Reserve Old Weller Antique 107 All of the above can be had for $30 or less. The Weller can be hard to find. All of these are around 90 proof so they're not going to set you on fire. Stepping up a notch would be Baker's Knob Creek Single Barrel 120 Old Grandad 114 Four Roses Single Barrel Maker's 46 There is a whole sub set of BIB* bourbons that some like to focus on. *BIB product of 1 distilling season, from one distillery, aged a minimum of 4 years and bottled at 100 proof. There are others that get into higher price ranges (Booker's, Blanton's, some limited releases) that are very good but I would probably start with some that were a bit less pricey so you can find what you enjoy most. There really is no destination with bourbon, just the journey. Oh, and I've never been to Vegas so I can't help you there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BottledInBond Posted July 11, 2017 Share Posted July 11, 2017 3 hours ago, Tburg said: It's been awhile since I've been to Las Vegas and first trip since I've discovered the wonderful world of bourbon. Are there any recommendations for bars to go and sample some bourbons? Also, what would your recommend to a new guy as to what to try? From the welcome posts, I've started with the Makers, Larceny, Russel Reserve, Col Taylor and some Washington based choices. Will bars have something like a VW and would I even appreciate now? Should that wait until I have some more tasting experience or would it stand out to me right now? Tom There are a number of places in Vegas with good selections. The problem is they tend to be really expensive. That said if you don't care how much $ you're going to spend and want to try some stuff you won't find readily elsewhere, the list at Delmonico is hard to beat. Will you appreciate a VW or other similar high end pour? Nobody can know that except you. I find the VW line in general to be incredibly overhyped but that's just me. If you don't care about the money or have a business expense account ab(use) then go for it and find out for yourself. If you do though, I'd try the high end stuff side by side with some standard mid shelf pours to see just how much difference you think you get for the significant extra $. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tburg Posted July 11, 2017 Author Share Posted July 11, 2017 Delmonico? The steakhouse, Emeril's place at the venetian? Or is there a bar by that name too? If it is that, then I can just go to their bar and sample, might be expensive, but cheaper than buying those bottles. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BottledInBond Posted July 11, 2017 Share Posted July 11, 2017 22 minutes ago, Tburg said: Delmonico? The steakhouse, Emeril's place at the venetian? Or is there a bar by that name too? If it is that, then I can just go to their bar and sample, might be expensive, but cheaper than buying those bottles. Thanks. Yes. I think they have their whiskey list online as well so go check that out. I don't know if it's 100% up to date or not but I recall pulling it up on their site previously Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tburg Posted July 11, 2017 Author Share Posted July 11, 2017 Found the whiskey list on their website after some searching... Comes as a 40 page pdf file, page 27 starts the bourbons and they have 3 or 4 pages of them. I will sample a few things and compare them to tastes I'm familiar with, so will go with that side by side taste test. The date on it was from 2016 and several items were listed as Coming soon, so maybe there will be some differences when I actually get there, but sure seems like a huge selection available. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swamp55 Posted July 11, 2017 Share Posted July 11, 2017 I think that CardsandBourbon gave you a really great list to work from. If I may, I'll add just a few additional ideas in the affordable category: Buffalo Trace Knob Creek Small Batch Woodford Reserve As CardsandBourbon mentioned, many pricier options also abound when you want to try them. In addition to the Booker's and Blanton's he mentioned, I'll add Woodford Reserve Double Oaked and Maker's Mark Cask Strength as distinctive options to try out. I'll second the wonderful line from CardsandBourbon who wrote above: "There really is no destination with bourbon, just the journey." A great philosophy! I haven't been to Vegas for probably 15 years, so I don't have any specific whiskey bar recommendations, but I imagine that some of the guys on this board can steer you to some good options. Have a great trip (and save your money for bourbon!). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NDN98 Posted July 11, 2017 Share Posted July 11, 2017 My go-to bourbon/Scotch place in Vegas is Delmonico. Love to sit at the bar, eat a steak, and partake in some good bourbon and whisky. Overall, the Venetian Palazzo complex has several restaurants and bars with a good bourbon selection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tburg Posted July 11, 2017 Author Share Posted July 11, 2017 I appreciate the recommendations. Looks like I will find time to have a meal at Delmonico's and sample several items from my printed out list. I will take notes and see if I make it to any of their unicorns. Hopefully the tables will be nice to me and allow me to sample more than just a few. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoustonNit Posted July 13, 2017 Share Posted July 13, 2017 Whiskey Down at the MGM should have a number of LE stuff including Pappy. I think Yardhouse at the V has a decent selection. If you end up downtown I like The Griffin. I think there's a place at the Aria with a really good selection.I think if your willing to spend money any of the higher end places Aria, Cosmo, Wynn etc, should have at least one place with a fantastic selection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokinjoe Posted July 13, 2017 Share Posted July 13, 2017 OK, this is an older thread and possibly the info and recs are not as relevant, but thought it might be of use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
berto Posted July 13, 2017 Share Posted July 13, 2017 Yardbird at Venetian/Palazzo has great fried chicken and biscuits and a nice bourbon list. The bourbon was no longer a bargain when I went last year. Delmonico bar at Venetian/Palazzo has an insane list. You can find the book online but know they don't update all that often so prices might be higher and some bottles might be gone. You'll pay but you'll drink very well. It's the place I go in Vegas to splurge. My wife usually wins back my booze cost at the slots. Cut at Venetian/Palazzo is a steakhouse with a good list. Sage at Aria has a good list. Five50 pizza at the Aria had reasonable prices on some hard to get stuff. Don't know what they currently have but last I was there they had Handy for $16/pour. Please report back. I'm going back to Vegas in October. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tburg Posted July 18, 2017 Author Share Posted July 18, 2017 Back from vegas and really had forgotten what a summer day felt like there. 100+ days made me cut back the walking around I was planning. Being at the south end of the strip, I was at Whiskey Down 3 times over my 4 days there. Was with a group and a steak place never came into our discussion, so I missed out on Delmonico. To me, whiskey down was a comfortable place to sit and enjoy, good view out to the casino, just fit me well. They have 1 and 2 oz pours, I sampled with the 1 oz. Here is my list (in no particular order): Willett Pot Stilled Makers Mark Wild Turkey Rare Breed Basil Hayden's 1792 MGM Select Eagle Rare Bookers Blood Oath Old Forester SIgnature MGM Select Elijah Craig Small Batch I have pictures of the list of bourbons they had, if I'm allowed to post that here I can. They had a Weller on their list, but were out. Same for blantons. Thanks again for the recommendations and suggestions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CardsandBourbon Posted July 18, 2017 Share Posted July 18, 2017 Sounds like you had a good time and that's a varied list of pours. Have a lot of those in my cabinet. Did any one or two stand out as your favorites? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tburg Posted July 19, 2017 Author Share Posted July 19, 2017 (edited) Favorites from those .. Number 1 was the WTRB, really enjoyed the flavor that hit right at the first sip. Have purchased that one since getting home. Second would be the EC Small Batch. Enjoyed the flavor again, slightly behind how I liked the WTRB, but purchased this one too. Edited July 19, 2017 by Tburg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CardsandBourbon Posted July 19, 2017 Share Posted July 19, 2017 2 hours ago, Tburg said: Favorites from those .. Number 1 was the WTRB, really enjoyed the flavor that hit right at the first sip. Have purchased that one since getting home. Second would be the EC Small Batch. Enjoyed the flavor again, slightly behind how I liked the WTRB, but purchased this one too. Was the WTRB the 116.8 proof? I recently got a bottle of it and you are right, it has a great flavor. EC Small Batch is one of my go to pours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tburg Posted July 19, 2017 Author Share Posted July 19, 2017 Yes, it is the 116.8 here is the collection to date: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tburg Posted July 19, 2017 Author Share Posted July 19, 2017 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tburg Posted July 19, 2017 Author Share Posted July 19, 2017 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tburg Posted July 19, 2017 Author Share Posted July 19, 2017 It's been a rapid accumulation since starting with the jack daniels Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoustonNit Posted July 19, 2017 Share Posted July 19, 2017 It's been a rapid accumulation since starting with the jack daniels You seem to be enjoying the RB more than the OF1920. Curious how's the JB single barrel and how does it compare the Knob Creek? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tburg Posted July 19, 2017 Author Share Posted July 19, 2017 (edited) The OF1920 is the most recent purchase. The WTRB is my favorite bourbon taste in my rookie year. went and did a side by side on the JD and KC. I then went and looked up the reviews to make sure my caramel taste was describing it right. I would say similar flavor/taste, but the 134 proof on JD distinguishes it. Old no 7 has been a long time drinker/mixer for me and unpopular with all those around me to make it a favorite. Edited July 19, 2017 by Tburg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoustonNit Posted July 19, 2017 Share Posted July 19, 2017 ^Sorry meant the Jim Beam SB to the KC. That being said the JD at that proof does interest me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tburg Posted July 20, 2017 Author Share Posted July 20, 2017 The JB doesn't have the sweetness that I get from the KC. Smooth and drinkable, but not the same flavor from those others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoustonNit Posted July 20, 2017 Share Posted July 20, 2017 Ok thanks kinda of what I figured. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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