In what order would you rank the following whiskey's?

[heatmiser]

I have tried quite a few whiskey's but am trying to narrow down on what I buy for my next round. I really like my George T Stagg, Eagle Rare 10SB and Elmer T Lee. However, I do not like my Basil Haydens. I have unopened bottles of ORVW 12, Pappy 15, ER 17 but want to purchase about 2-3 more for my arsenal tomorrow while at Hi-Times in Costa Mesa, CA (great prices!!!). Here is my short list so please put them in order of your preference to help me decide on which ones to get next:

Bookers

Blantons

Old Charter Proprietary Reserve

Rock Hill Farms

Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit

Wild Turkey Rare Breed

WL Weller Centennial

[TNbourbon]

I'm something of an oddball here, in that I don't especially care for Booker's, Blanton's, Rock Hill Farms or Rare Breed -- so, I'll shoot first and duck:

• W.L. Weller Centennial (especially 'Louisville')
  
• Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit (especially early ones)
  
• Old Charter Proprietor's Reserve (especially 'Louisville')
  
• Rock Hill Farms
  
• Booker's
  
• Wild Turkey Rare Breed
  
• Blanton's
  

[ILLfarmboy]

• Wild Turkey Rare Breed
  
• Bookers
  
• Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit
  
• Blanton's (had it in a bar and really liked it but the one bottle I bought was less impressive, then something went wrong. Bad cork(?)
  
• W.L. Weller Centennial (least impressive of the wellers) (of the ones I've had 12yr, antique and '05 WLW")

Never had RHF or Old Charter.

[T47]

Bookers

Rock Hill Farms

Weller Centennial

WT Rare Breed

WT Kentucky Spirit

Old Charter

Blantons

GT Stagg is my all tme favorite, but it's not really available out here in WA. I find the Bookers similar in some ways, for me it has the same warm caramel sensation as it hits my tongue. An excellent group of bottles no matter what you choose.

[Old Lamplighter]

I have yet to have the opportunity and/or pleasure to sample Bookers or Rock Hill Farms. So, of the remainder I will rank them in the order of best (IMHO) on down:

Wild Turkey Rare Breed

Blantons

Old Charter Proprietary Reserve (especially the Louisville-born)

WL Weller Centennial

Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit

As a final note, I would add that I always hesitate ranking such fine bourbons. Though I have done so, I would stress that there is not much of a 'gap' between any of them (in my opinion). All that being said, it is fun to participate just for the fun of it!

[BourbonBalls]

Old Charter Proprietary Reserve

Rock Hill Farms

Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit

Wild Turkey Rare Breed

Bookers

Blantons

WL Weller Centennial

Its a great group! Something about Old Charter PR that makes this a standout for me. I love the wheaters, but the WLW Centennial doesnt standup to other wheaters as well in my opinion. I wish Blantons was better than it is for the hype. Bookers is good...but Beam is still detectible! I love anything Wild Turkey, and that Rock Hill Farms is a goodie!

Have fun!

[Jazzhead]

I haven't tried several of those, but of those I have, the Weller Centenniel and WT Rare Breed are superb (with a slight nod to the Weller only because I prefer WT in its 101 proof expression). The Rock Hill Farms was good, but didn't leave enough of an impression that I'm tempted to buy another. The Weller Centennial and WTRB I would, and have, buy again without hesitation.

[BobA]

Well, I can't really say how I'd rank them, because I'd rank them by availability, and I'm not where you are. When I'm looking for something new to try, I'll go for the rarer bottles; I know I can always get a Blanton's or Booker's around here. But I've seen one OCPR, and I own it now. I can't recall having seen more than the two Weller Centennials that I've got. Glad I got those. I've not picked up a WT KS, but I know I can whenever I want. When I explore, I want to keep options open.

If that's not an issue for you, I'd note that the ones you've liked are Buffalo Trace products (and maybe the same mashbill?). So I'd branch out to the Booker's, WT's, or Weller (a BT wheater).

But, for my taste, today:

OC PR

Weller

WT RB

RHF

Booker's

Blanton's

On another day, those top 5 could be completely shuffled. Maybe even all 6.

Bob

[bluesbassdad]

I find this a fun exercise, even though I doubt its value for your purpose. Individual taste varies so much.

1. Rock Hill Farms
   
2. Wild Turkey Rare Breed
   
3. Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit
   
4. W.L. Weller Centennial
   
5. Old Charter Proprietor's Reserve
   
6. Blanton's
   
7. Booker's

Now I'll look at the other responses, probably with a mixture of amusement and amazement (as their authors will with mine).

I envy your proximity to Hi Time (especially now that they no longer ship out of state).

Yours truly,

Dave Morefield

[jburlowski]

FWIW:

1) Rock Hill Farms

2) Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit

3) WL Weller Centennial

4) Old Charter Proprietor's Reserve

5) Blantons

6) Wild Turkey Rare Breed

7) Bookers

Lots of reasons for the above... too many factors to enumerate here.

And if I did the same exercise again tomorrow I might have different (although likely similar) rankings.

[tsangster]

Old Charter Proprietor's Reserve

Weller Centennial

WT Rare Breed

Bookers

Blanton's

Rock hill Farms

Haven't broken into my bottle of Kentucky Spirit yet.

[Sweetmeats]

I haven't had most of those but I had a sudden craving for Booker's a second before I clicked this thread. Too bad I have no Bookers in the house.

[heatmiser]

Went to Hi Times this evening and bought the following:

Old Charters Proprietary Reserve

Bookers

WL Weller Centenial

Bakers

Rittenhouse Rye

Thomas Handy Rye

Bowmore 17 (scotch - replenish)

Dalwhinnie 15 (scotch - replenish)

I stopped by Mastro's Steakhouse in Costa Mesa on the way back to my hotel and had a very nice 18 ounce "bone-in" filet mignon with a glass of Blantons and then Bookers. Glad I did not pick up the Blantons. It was not bad but not all that great for $40 a bottle. The Bookers was pretty good but not nearly as good as the George T Stagg at almost the same price ($42 compared to $48). The filet was out of this world!!!

[Sweetmeats]

Mastro's Steakhouse? I must look into this.

[ILLfarmboy]

Glad to see other people like bourbon with their steak.