Current favorite expensive and cheap bourbons?

[Harry in WashDC]

4 hours ago, Richnimrod said:

Wow.    This a very tough question to answer....

 

[snipped some stuff]

 

The vast array of quality Bourbons available currently (or recently) in all price categories is a an embarrassment of riches for those of us that enjoy great pours ....often at great prices.

Indeed.  AND, I'm not going to factor in bourbons/ryes used in cocktails or the occasional LE that fell into my lap.  Bottom shelfers regularly consumed neatly neat (most to less most) OGD BIB, VOB BIB, BT, WT101, and, more recently, the SB Blend and the GW4G Blend.  Top shelfers (in no particular order) WP basics, WT Masters Keeps, a couple Woodford Reserve specials, a couple MM SP/BPs, ANY 4R SP recipe, RHF (THKs to GeeTen who taught me NOT to pass this by), and any JAMagnus.  Mid-shelf: Bernheim wheat whiskey and MM CS in the Summer, WT RRs, and the A.Smith Bowmans. 

[BigSkyDrams]

For my “cheaper” bourbon I enjoy HM10 BIB. Eagle Rare a close second. I find the next lower tier offerings are perfectly drinkable, but lack the depth and dimension.

 

For expensive, I’d go with OF1920, which, at roughly twice the price of my cheaper preferences, would seem to qualify. Blantons at a close second.

[Steven C]

OF SIG and Bookers right now.  

[BDanner]

Expensive: Blanton's

Cheap: Ezra Brooks

[DCFan]

Cheap: it’s VOB BIB

Pricey: going in I always had Blantons as my pick but as I sit here sipping it (while watching Hoarders)  it isn’t hitting me like the WTRB did last night. Evolving tastes I guess.

[GaryT]

Cheap - Early Times BIB (although nursing a bit until I can get a back-up!)

Pricey - ECBP

[NDN98]

Cheap and expensive is a relative term, dependent on income, distribution in certain areas/prices due to availability, and the prices local liquor stores choose to sell stuff for, but for me

Cheap=Weller 12 ($21.99 to 29.99 for a 750 mL), with OWA, Eagle Rare, and HM10 being very close runners up in the relative price range.

 

Expensive= OF1920 ($49-59).  I had been highly critical of the OF1920 in previous posts, but I got another bottle as a Christmas present and it is lights out amazing.  Not sure if I got a bad bottle the first time or if I my palate has changed significantly, but I am absolutely loving this bottle at the moment.  

[JTaylor]

I don't see how you guys identify two "favorites"... If I could identify two favorites I'd have a 2 case bunker and be all set... As it is I have over 170 bottles, at last count 50-ish open. Seems like every night I'm in the mood for something different. Sometimes a bourbon, sometimes a rye, sometimes a mixer, sometimes a Manhattan, in which case I then have to decide what to make it with... 

Granted, some of the bottles I have were bought out of speculation and turned out to be NOT favorites, but TWO favorites??? Crazy talk! I have about 50 favorites! 

[Richnimrod]

17 minutes ago, JTaylor said:

I don't see how you guys identify two "favorites"... If I could identify two favorites I'd have a 2 case bunker and be all set... As it is I have over 170 bottles, at last count 50-ish open. Seems like every night I'm in the mood for something different. Sometimes a bourbon, sometimes a rye, sometimes a mixer, sometimes a Manhattan, in which case I then have to decide what to make it with... 

Granted, some of the bottles I have were bought out of speculation and turned out to be NOT favorites, but TWO favorites??? Crazy talk! I have about 50 favorites! 

All good points (with which I substantially agree), JT.   

 

Here is the rationale I used to formulate my post:

I tried to remember those Bourbons, in the two general categories specified, that I poured MOST OFTEN. 

I totally agree that as far as favorites, preferences will often (almost always?) differ from day to day.    ...But, the ones I named were those that returned to the glass most often.  

 

How others defined the terms, or made their decisions about how to answer the question may, of course differ.

In any case it was kinda fun to try (and, at my age that's the best I can do) to remember which ones came off the shelf the most. 

[JTaylor]

51 minutes ago, Richnimrod said:

All good points (with which I substantially agree), JT.   

 

Here is the rationale I used to formulate my post:

I tried to remember those Bourbons, in the two general categories specified, that I poured MOST OFTEN. 

I totally agree that as far as favorites, preferences will often (almost always?) differ from day to day.    ...But, the ones I named were those that returned to the glass most often.  

 

How others defined the terms, or made their decisions about how to answer the question may, of course differ.

In any case it was kinda fun to try (and, at my age that's the best I can do) to remember which ones came off the shelf the most. 

I see what you're saying Rich, but I just can't do it... Ok, yes GTS at the top end... duh... but since I can't get enough to make it an every day pour I have to ration it which exempts it from your criteria... Same at the bottom end. HH6bib, AAA, and Old Fitz bib just aren't readily available to me but I really like them as mixers with Sprite in the summertime so I keep a couple 2 or 3 of each on hand. In between these two extremes are so many I do really like for different reasons and on any given night, one will rise to the occasion. There are several I stock multiples of, Stagg jr, ER10 PS, FR Sib PS, ECBP, WTRB, Booker's (2015's), RR Sib PS, SAOS Sib, CEHT Sib and Smb, OWA, W12, the KC and 1792 FP picks from DD, Blanton's  and RHF, and the Ryes... Pikesville, THH, CEHT, MWND... I just can't pick a favorite. They all are delicious in their own right and depending on my frame of mind at the time. Hell I didn't even dislike Lusty Claw (won't buy it again and don't think it's worth $50, but didn't dislike it). There are a couple I don't like, BH, JPS come to mind. I gave them both a full bottle to convince me, but just didn't get into them. So I guess my stash pretty much tells the story... basically if it is decent Whiskey, there's a good chance I'm gonna like it... alot! 

[DeepCover]

In terms of what's readily available to me, it's WSR & Stagg Jr.

 

I haven't had enough EWBIB to determine for sure, as I've only had it once, but I can certainly see why it's on so many lists. I'll need to pick up a bottle.

[CardsandBourbon]

Cheap - FRSmB

 

Expensive - Blanton's

 

Cheap is a relative term.  I only have two bottles that I consider cheap (under $20) Old Fitz BIB & VOB BIB.  Majority of my cheap (over $20 up to $50) are things like EWSib, HM 10 year, WSR, etc. and aren't considered cheap.  Higher end (above $50) are more limited.  I really only have two bottles that I consider "expensive", WT Decades and EC 18.

 

A difficult question to answer since cheap and expensive are open to many definitions.

[Dabbings]

I would have a hard time choosing 20 favorites, but i'll play...

Hh6yrBiB

RRSib

[Richnimrod]

8 hours ago, JTaylor said:

I see what you're saying Rich, but I just can't do it... Ok, yes GTS at the top end... duh... but since I can't get enough to make it an every day pour I have to ration it which exempts it from your criteria... Same at the bottom end. HH6bib, AAA, and Old Fitz bib just aren't readily available to me but I really like them as mixers with Sprite in the summertime so I keep a couple 2 or 3 of each on hand. In between these two extremes are so many I do really like for different reasons and on any given night, one will rise to the occasion. There are several I stock multiples of, Stagg jr, ER10 PS, FR Sib PS, ECBP, WTRB, Booker's (2015's), RR Sib PS, SAOS Sib, CEHT Sib and Smb, OWA, W12, the KC and 1792 FP picks from DD, Blanton's  and RHF, and the Ryes... Pikesville, THH, CEHT, MWND... I just can't pick a favorite. They all are delicious in their own right and depending on my frame of mind at the time. Hell I didn't even dislike Lusty Claw (won't buy it again and don't think it's worth $50, but didn't dislike it). There are a couple I don't like, BH, JPS come to mind. I gave them both a full bottle to convince me, but just didn't get into them. So I guess my stash pretty much tells the story... basically if it is decent Whiskey, there's a good chance I'm gonna like it... alot! 

I totally understand yer dilemma, JT!     It's hard to choose between yer many loves; Like picking a favorite child among the several you and yer wife have created, eh?  

If that is your final answer, then that's what it is ,eh?     No point in making up stuff to satisfy some post on an online forum.