What Would You Drink In A Pinch?

[dougdog]

Between connecting flights to KY (On Continental) I get a free pass to the President's Clubs in the Houston terminal...the only Bourbon on the bar there is Beam White...after a couple, I don't care that it is Beam White any more...

It's funny...On the planes, when I ask for a bourbon, they get out a mini of JD, (I've given up on trying to educate the staff)...so I ask for a Single Malt Scotch...they bring out White Horse, Dewars or some other blend...

Now it's the choice of "the lesser of the two evils"

...it used to be that I would get one of the two, drink it down quickly, grab a self procured mini from my carry-on stash and dump it discretely into the already purchased plastic cup. F$*#ing TSA...but anyway, the "poor whiskey" dilemma was solved!

Gotta give credit where credit is due tho...the last flight had JB Black label...imagine my delight!

dp

[Nebraska]

You'll note there are a lot of 4's in that group. I have a tendency to stay away from things that are readily available here, I guess because I know they are readily available. Jack Daniel's I maybe could try again, but younger years just about ruined that for me. I actually enjoy Bulliet a great deal, Buffalo Trace grew on me and I like it quite a bit too.

I only recently bought the Maker's Mark and have it stuck where I don't often reach. I don't generally mix, but am talking myself into looking for a variety of ginger ales (I do like Ginger Ale immensely)

3-Jim Beam White Label

3-Jack Daniel's Black Label

4-Evan Williams Black Label

4-Early Times Kentucky Whisky

4-Old Fitzgerald Prime

4-Maker's Mark

4-Wild Turkey 101

1-Bulleit Bourbon

4-Old Grand-Dad 86 proof

4-George Dickel No. 12 Brand

4-Ten High

1-Buffalo Trace

4-Old Crow

[T47]

Like a couple other people have written; if handed to me I could drink any of them. I am still amazed by the whole process and really have found something to appreciate in all of them.

Gary, even AA for me was "OK", kind of spicy, not a nice rye spice but maybe pepper. Just to make sure, I am sipping some right now. I have had this bottle for quite a while, and will probably have it for a while yet to come with so many more enjoyable bottles around it do drink from.

To those who created the process's of distillation and aging...:thankyousign:

To those who spend even more time on their product and baby it along for the extra years and care :bowdown:

[Gillman]

Well, there is a great range of whisk(e)y out there. Most of it is good or excellent but there is a handful I do not enjoy in any form. (I am setting aside a discussion of vatting since even a fair-to-middling whiskey can show up very well in a proper vatting).

I have found in general that very young whiskey or very old whiskey is not to my taste. E.g. the regular-aged Potrero whiskeys leave me cold due to what I assume is their congeneric quality. A whiskey such as XO strikes me as too dry and flavorless. But there are always exceptions. E.g. McCarthy's malt whisky, a Scots-style all-malt peated whiskey made in Oregon, is aged only 3 years but I find it very good. Maybe the peat covers over some of the distillery character. KBD's Vintage 25 year old bourbon whiskey was superb as is the current 17 year old. I have always enjoyed EC 18 (some of which is in the early 20's of age). Whiskeys of median age I do not like: some WR (e.g. the first release of 4 grain, I haven't tried the second one) and, say, 1783 which strikes me as congeneric ("cooked vegetable") and awkward.

I do enjoy a touch of congeneric character when it is balanced by good wood and char character, e.g., Old Heaven Hill BIB, I think it is 6 years old, and Evan Williams Black Label, which is probably the same whiskey but batched and now a bit younger.

Of the ones mentioned by Chuck, I guess Beam White (still), Crow, Ten High (which I tried again on my last trip to Bardstown) and Old Fitzgerald (sampled two trips ago) would get my lowest ranking - acceptable but not the finest. I would rank GD, JD 80 proof, Maker's and OGD in the middle and the rest at the top.

If I had to pick one, I'd say BT is the best followed by Bulleit, then WT 101.

Gary

[jspero]

1 = drinkable anytime

2 = drinkable in a pinch

3 = undrinkable

4 = don't know well enough to form an opinion

Jim Beam White Label - 3

Jack Daniel's Black Label - 2

Evan Williams Black Label - 2

Early Times Kentucky Whisky - 3

Old Fitzgerald Prime - 1

Maker's Mark - 1

Wild Turkey 101 - 1

Bulleit Bourbon - 2

Old Grand-Dad 86 proof - 2

George Dickel No. 12 Brand - 1

Ten High - 4

Buffalo Trace - 1

Old Crow - 4

[CrispyCritter]

1 = drinkable anytime

2 = drinkable in a pinch

3 = undrinkable

4 = don't know well enough to form an opinion

Jim Beam White Label: 4 (Black Label: 1)

Jack Daniel's Black Label: 2

Evan Williams Black Label: 4

Early Times Kentucky Whisky: 4

Old Fitzgerald Prime: 4 (BIB: 1)

Maker's Mark: 1

Wild Turkey 101: 1

Bulleit Bourbon: 4

Old Grand-Dad 86 proof: 4 (BIB & 114: 1)

George Dickel No. 12 Brand: 1

Ten High: 4

Buffalo Trace: 1

Old Crow: 4

[Geo]

In a pinch... I hate to say.. but Jack Daniels or Wild Turkey 101

[mozilla]

1 = drinkable anytime

2 = drinkable in a pinch

3 = undrinkable

4 = don't know well enough to form an opinion

Jim Beam White Label: 3 (Black Label: 2)

Jack Daniel's Black Label: 3

Evan Williams Black Label: 3

Early Times Kentucky Whisky: 3

Old Fitzgerald Prime: 2 (BIB: 1)

Maker's Mark: 2

Wild Turkey 101: 1

Bulleit Bourbon: 3

Old Grand-Dad 86 proof: 1

George Dickel No. 12 Brand: 2

Ten High: 4

Buffalo Trace: 1

Old Crow: 3

Chuck, I'm currious to why there is only one Barton product on the list? I would muck rather drink Tom Moore Bib. or Ridgemont over a few other options on the board. Hope my opinion helps.

[straightwhiskeyruffneck]

i dont think there's any bourbon thats undrinkable, that said i think old crow is a fine choice for mixed drinks and occasionally neat. actually i buy it by the 1.75L!

[nickynick]

Jim Beam White Label 2

Jack Daniel's Black Label 2

Evan Williams Black Label 1

Early Times Kentucky Whisky 4

Old Fitzgerald Prime 4

Maker's Mark 1

Wild Turkey 101 1

Bulleit Bourbon 4

Old Grand-Dad 86 proof 2

George Dickel No. 12 Brand 1

Ten High 4

Buffalo Trace 1

Old Crow 4

[cowdery]

Chuck, I'm currious to why there is only one Barton product on the list? I would muck rather drink Tom Moore Bib. or Ridgemont over a few other options on the board. Hope my opinion helps.

I was trying to keep the list fairly short, limited to "standard" whiskeys (which would exclude 1792), and limited to whiskeys that are widely available (hence no VOB or, for that matter, Tom Moore). Ten High is the most widely available "mainstream" American whiskey from Barton.

[snakster]

Jim Beam White Label - 2

Jack Daniel's Black Label - 1

Evan Williams Black Label - 2

Early Times Kentucky Whisky - 2

Old Fitzgerald Prime - 4

Maker's Mark - 2

Wild Turkey 101 - 2

Bulleit Bourbon - 1

Old Grand-Dad 86 proof - 2

George Dickel No. 12 Brand - 4

Ten High - 4

Buffalo Trace - 1

Old Crow - 4

[Special Reserve]

I've decided that most everything is drinkable in a pinch liquors that I've never tasted before including non-bourbon liquor. One catch, there is never in a pinch. I drink a drink because I made a conscious decision to have a drink. If only a lower shelve drink is available so be it. You never know you may find something that you like.

I hope this does not offend anyone. I may add this is after a finger of Weller Antique and Eagle Rare 101.