everday bourbon

[bourbonchef1189]

As a newbee and someone who loves bourbon. May I ask what bourbon do you guys drink and why. I enjoy Makers Mark and knob creek when I can afford it.

Thanks

[kbuzbee]

As a newbee and someone who loves bourbon. May I ask what bourbon do you guys drink and why. I enjoy Makers Mark and knob creek when I can afford it.

Thanks

Hi and welcome to the forum. There are several threads along this line already going (they take flight then fall off) so you will find a lot of good reading doing a few searchs.

That said, it really runs in cycles. For several years it was Rare Breed. That was about the only Bourbon I'd drink. Then one day (about 6 years ago) I had my first Blanton's. Wow, was that good. That opened the door for many years trying everything I could find. Right now, I have two favorites, depending on my mood. For most days, it's Kentucky Spirit, Wild Turkey's Single Barrel offering, it's bold but at the same time very civilized and easy to drink. On days that I want a bit more, it's Booker's. It hits the palate much harder but the intense flavors in there make it a most enjoyable pour, I'd never have guessed the proof was so high. I would imagine availability is a big issue for you, yes?

Cheers,

Ken

[kbuzbee]

. I would imagine availability is a big issue for you, yes?

... or are you closer to Atlana than I remembered??

Ken

[RedVette]

In order to keep this hobby somewhat close to a budget, I try to keep my everyday pours to Bourbon's that sell for less than $20. This is not much of a hardship, as there are quite a few excellent choices at this price. Elijah Craig 12, Old Grand Dad Bonded, Corner Creek, Jim Beam Black, Old Charter, Ancient Ancient Age, and a couple of the Wellers all fall in this range. I have posted a few bargains that I have found on sale lately that puts a few more in this category, most recently Elmer T Lee. There a couple that are even close to $10 that are tasty and worthy of drinking, Old Forester comes to mind, but I have yet to find a sub $10 Bourbon that I can drink regularly.

I collect and enjoy the more expensive items as well, but can't (won't more accurately)afford them as everyday pours, more like once a week.

[BourbonJoe]

I have over 75 bourbons in my collection right now. A lot of these are high end bottlings which I consume very gingerly. My everyday pours are the cheap and easy to find stuff like Heaven Hill (for mixing), Ezra Brooks, Evan Williams Black Label and Evan Williams 1783. All quite drinkable.

Joe

[bourbonchef1189]

I'm about 40 miles from downtown Atlanta. I work in Griffin which is 25 miles south of downtown Atlanta.

Griffin is a little bigger than Bradstown which I visted three years ago. I wish I would have brought more that three bottles of buffalo trace back home. Can't get it in Georgia. There is not alot of choices in my small town.

[Special Reserve]

Not an everyday pour but my standard pour is Weller Antique. I really like this a lot.

[kbuzbee]

In order to keep this hobby somewhat close to a budget, I try to keep my everyday pours to Bourbon's that sell for less than $20. This is not much of a hardship, as there are quite a few excellent choices at this price. Elijah Craig 12, Old Grand Dad Bonded, Corner Creek, Jim Beam Black, Old Charter, Ancient Ancient Age, and a couple of the Wellers all fall in this range. I have posted a few bargains that I have found on sale lately that puts a few more in this category, most recently Elmer T Lee. There a couple that are even close to $10 that are tasty and worthy of drinking, Old Forester comes to mind, but I have yet to find a sub $10 Bourbon that I can drink regularly.

I collect and enjoy the more expensive items as well, but can't (won't more accurately)afford them as everyday pours, more like once a week.

Absolutely. It's a function of how much does a bottle cost, how much do you consume and how much do you have to spend (this discussion is 'neat' mixers are completely different). So if you have $50 a month to spend on Bourbon you can drink 1 Bookers or 1.5 Kentucky Spirits or 5 $10 bottles of Ten High??? Which fits your personal needs?? I also like some less expensive pours but very few of them are available here.

Ken

[camduncan]

My current budget pours are Jim Beam White (with coke), Nelson County (A Heaven Hill product), Evan Williams Black Label and Elijah Craig 12yo. All are priced between $30 & $40 AU except Nelson County which is around $25 AU - as is Jim Beam White when it's on special...

Once I hit the $40 -$60 price point, I start on Makers, Evan Williams Single Barrel, Bulleit and Wild Turkey Rare Breed.

[brian12069]

I don't seem to have an everyday pour. I seem to like a lot of different ones and I enjoy sampling as many as I can. I have a few that I always have in my collection: Bookers, Van Winkle, Weller, and I love Jack Daniel's and Gentleman Jack (I know...Jacks not bourbon)

[ratcheer]

Wild Turkey 101 is pretty much my everyday pour. Whenever I run out, I just about always replace it as soon as possible. It just tastes right, to me.

Tim

[musher]

I agree. I have way too many choices to have an everyday pour.

[BobA]

I have several that I like to rotate through and taste, depending on what I feel like. But three you should be able to find fairly easily that have a lot admirers here are Old Granddad Bottled in Bond 100 pf., Old Charter 90 pf. 12-yr. old "The Classic," and Very Old Barton 90. All are under $20, except the VOB, which should be under $10, and are each different, but good. If I remember correctly, the liquor store over by the Tanger Outlet on I-75 has a good selection.

Bob

[BobA]

I realized I didn't anwser your "why" question. Price is certainly a big part. On fishing trips, I'll take a couple of open bottles to put out on the table, and these I know that no one will talk about me bringing swill, and if someone takes a fancy to one and it disappears, no biggie (Booker's I'd feel a bit).

I think of all three as complex, but the main feature I think of on the OGD is the spicy rye twang, upfront on the tongue. The Charter is described as sweet by many, and if I'm looking for it, I certainly see what they're talking about (a quick candy feeling), but I mostly think of "dry", especially on the finish. The VOB I think of as sort of a quintessential, standard bourbon.

Bob

[camduncan]

Sadly none are available Downunder

[gr8erdane]

Like many others here I have a pretty big selection to choose from and could probably drink a little from each one and take a long time to make a visible dent in them. However, I tend to like to pick up 1.75s from time to time and keep a couple handy by my PC for "casual sipping". Currently I have EW 1873 and Rebel Yell sitting there. Both were fairly cheap and quite drinkable. Of course the nightcap is usually something I pick from the many others on the shelf depending on the mood. On Thursday nights though during the chat session I usually bring up three or four bottles that I may not have tasted in a while. Can't just let them sit idle you know.

[BobA]

Sorry, Bourbonchef's in my area so I focused on things I knew he should be able to find. I occaisionally lament my inability to get hold of a handful of bourbons and ryes I'd like to sample, but then I hear from some of the overseas bourbon lovers like yourself and realize how fortunate I am.

I am a little surprised that OGD can't be had there. Beam certainly has the supply and marketing reach. I sometimes worry that they just don't really have any plans for the OGD line. OK with me if they don't mess it up, but that might mean they throw it away.

Bob

[mobourbon]

Wild Turkey 101 is pretty much my everyday pour.

I agree, Tim. WT 101 has a good taste and it is priced right for an everyday pour. $20 in PA. Very affordable.

[kbuzbee]

Wild Turkey 101 is pretty much my everyday pour.

I agree, Tim. WT 101 has a good taste and it is priced right for an everyday pour. $20 in PA. Very affordable.

Agreed WT101 is a fine Bourbon!

Ken

[jspero]

I'm pretty new to exploring the bourbon world having been a Jack drinker for many years. So far I've tried the following in the past 8 weeks:

Weller 12yo

Eagle Rare 101

Elmer T. Lee (Edit - forgot to add this REALLY good one)

Evan Williams 1783 10yo

Knob Creek

Wild Turkey 101

Jim Beam White

Pikesville Rye (I'm from MD so I HAD to try it)

Out of all of these, I consistanly go back to the Weller 12yo. The only one I didn't like at all was the Beam White, which I dumped (it was a mini - a good way to try a lot of brands cheaply by the way).

Of course, I have a lot of tasting left, but I think the Weller 12 yo is the benchmark for what I like. At under $20, I think it will be hard to do better for a frequent pour.

Jay

[nor02lei]

When it comes to real cheap American whiskey I will come back to these brands in the different categories. G. Dickel nr 12, Wild Turkey 101 and Rittenhouse 10 years.

[Chaz7]

I too am relatively new to the forum. But because of it I have found some great pours. I am just now settling in on an "everyday pour" after finding (and drinking) as many new bourbons as financially possible. So, what I have found under $20.00, are, in no particular order: Buffalo Trace, Ancient Ancient Age 10 STAR (surprised me at $11.00!), Evan Williams Single Barrel 1995 (has to be on sale to qualify for under $20). Realize, there are many I have yet to sample, but if you find ANY old Rip Van Winkle products on sale under $20, run, do,t walk to your nearest outlet!

[brewcrew]

I still feel pretty new to the forum also. My everyday favorites have become Buffalo Trace, Weller 12, Rittenhouse BIB & Jim Beam Black.

[bourbonchef1189]

In Georgia you can't get Buffalo Trace or Weller or most of the other bourbons you guys get to enjoy. I think we he the highest taxes on distilled sprits of any other state.

Oh well

[Isoflex]

Welcome to the list! (one novice to another)

The bottles I replace once gone and consider everyday bourbons:

Rebel Yell

Fighting Cock 103

Many W.L. Weller permutations

Wild Turkey Rye - not bourbon but a relative right?!?

Knob Creek (though kinda on the high end of everyday)

Elijah Craig 12 y.o.

Long list but ones I consider very good values.