What is THE best American Whiskey you have ever had?

[Jazzhead]

There's a lot of superb American whiskey, but the best of the best, for me, is the tried and true Wild Turkey Russell's Reserve 101. My supply is slowly dwindling, but I'm confident that for the next couple of years at least, I'll be able to enjoy my favorite.

My second favorite is also one, unfortunately, in dwindling supply - Old Weller Centennial.

Luckily my third favorite, Four Roses Single Barrel, is a new one on the market.

[Gillman]

I had reserved some A.H. Hirsch 20 bourbon some time back and revisited. It is probably the best bourbon I've ever had, if I have to select one (earlier I named a group I liked a lot).

It is really, technically and in flavor, a quasi-rye due to its high rye content and has that rye spearmint thing going which is characteristic of some aged ryes.

It is quite different in taste to Hirsch 16 although the Hirsch 16 blue wax was closer than the others. I don't see why this is so, because Hirsch 16 seems woodier and less delicate all 'round (despite being 4 years younger that is). But there you are, perhaps the barrels selected for the bottling were from a different part of wherever they were warehoused before dumping and bottling or tanking.

Gary

[OscarV]

It has been almost a year since this thread started (11-17-07) and each time I see a new post I say to myself I gotta post a responce.

But I cannot narrow it down to one.

Although I have recently come up with three bourbons that while none of them is "THE" best I ever had but the three that are easily available to me and I will always have some bunkered and/or open ready to pour.

They are in no particular order;

a. Wild Turkey Rare Breed, if you would have asked me about this brand a half year ago or so I'd have said WT Kentucky Spirit. But the recent WTKS's I have had seem young and a let down after some stellar ones I have had in the past.

b. Four Roses Single Barrel, not available in MI but for this bottle KY and Chi-Town are both a very short drive.

c. Old Rip Van Winkle 10yo 107prf, one good thing about being in MI is the vodka, brown-vodka and schnapps drinkers don't know about this glourious bourbon. They can't keep it on the shelves elsewhere. I picked up a couple today and the guy said I can get you a case, no problem.

Ok, I went way off topic but like I said I've been wanting to post something here for almost a year. I'll keep thinking, maybe I can come up with "THE" one.

[Dramiel McHinson]

Like most here, I struggle to choose just one favorite whiskey. Heck, my favorite is usually the one I happen to be drinking at the moment. I'll give it a try.

My favorite was Old Charter 12, The Classic 90. This was good, affordable whiskey. You could drink it straight up, drop a little water or ice on it, even mix it in your favorite drink and it seemed to always settle in nicely.

Now that it is rare and hard to find I've ventured off aimlessly sampling whiskey where ever I can find it. During my unfocused ventures into other brands from big and small distillers, I happened on Booker's True Barrel Bourbon 6 yrs 3 months old from batch C00-K-15, 63.5% ABV. This was a great tasting bourbon with plenty of kick to withstand even the most insidious use of cola or ginger ale. The price is about $50 but the bottle goes a long way at 126.7 proof.

Of course there are the other bourbons that are just one pour away from being the new favorite. But, I have another bottle of Booker's to finish first.

Cheers!

[callmeox]

Have I said lately that Doug Philips 22 year old rye was the best whiskey to ever grace my palate?

I figure if I repeat that a few more times, someone will discover that they have an extra in their bunker and offer it to me at a fair price. :grin: :grin: :grin:

[Attila]

VWFRR and PVW20 are now out of the running.

Its either Weller Centennial or Dickel Single Barrel.

[HighTower]

VWFRR and PVW20 are now out of the running.

Its either Weller Centennial or Dickel Single Barrel.

Wow,

Big call there David!

Although, after opening my centennial......I know where you're coming from :grin:

Scott

[fishnbowljoe]

Had a taste of the Willett's 25 year old at the Chicago get together at Binny's last Saturday. "The Chocolate Monster" Just when I thought another bourbon couldn't turn my head. :skep: It might just be worth the $200+ price tag. It was one exceptional bourbon. Joe

[Lost Pollito]

Also at the get together, my favorite's are Brett's 18yo Pappy, and The '08 Handy. Can't pick just one.

[Rughi]

Have I said lately that Doug Philips 22 year old rye was the best whiskey to ever grace my palate?

I figure if I repeat that a few more times, someone will discover that they have an extra in their bunker and offer it to me at a fair price. :grin: :grin: :grin:

There are two likely bottlings you might be referring to. Any idea if it's the "Doug Phillips" (the first Willett Rye bottling) or the "Neal and Doug's" (the second) ?

Roger

[onmytrack]

Another vote for ORVW 15 (down to my last 2 bottles). And no, it is not the same as PVW 15.

Jim

[callmeox]

There are two likely bottlings you might be referring to. Any idea if it's the "Doug Phillips" (the first Willett Rye bottling) or the "Neal and Doug's" (the second) ?

Roger

I believe it was the Doug bottlling that found its way into John Hansells hands and made his top 10 list in 2006.

Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?

[spun_cookie]

I am going to have to plug the PVW 15yr from the bourbon crusades.. every day that bottle gets better....

[Virus_Of_Life]

I believe it was the Doug bottlling that found its way into John Hansells hands and made his top 10 list in 2006.

Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?

Have I said lately that Doug Philips 22 year old rye was the best whiskey to ever grace my palate?

I figure if I repeat that a few more times, someone will discover that they have an extra in their bunker and offer it to me at a fair price. :grin: :grin: :grin:

I have one in the bunker, but sorry you're not getting it for even an UNreasonable price. It is one of the best whiskies I've ever tasted, Doug has an incredible pallate for sure. Not sure I'd give it a #1, but pretty sure it is in my top 5. For the moment I am thinking one of the SB.com SB PVW23 bottles would hold my #1, Hirsch Blue Wax would be in the top 5 as well. Hard to really break it down when you count everything I've tasted at the gazebo. Impossible really.

Weller Antique the Original Barrel Proof was amazing. Randy's Van Blankle is outstanding, you'll never count how many times that has been said. The VWSR 12 year that Dan (Schlep) opened at this past year's sampler was incredible and different - I've been lucky enough to acquire two of those since then! :grin:

[fricky]

I cannot pick a best American Whiskey. There are many that are outstanding. Unless I can sample all at the same time, it is impossible for me to pick one based on memory. The best that I can do is pick my favorite from a Gazebo assortment. Baed on a number of Gazebo events, one of my favorites is Old Rip Van Winkle 10 yr from Lawrenceburg that Randy often brings to The Gazebo. One of this year's favorites is The Party Source bottling of Willett 12 yr bourbon.

[kickert]

08 George T Stagg.

I had to create a new bourbon category in my mind for this one.

[Special Reserve]

08 George T Stagg.

I had to create a new bourbon category in my mind for this one.

GTS 08 is a strong contender for this tittle.

In another thread someone commented how long its taste lingered, I strongly agree.

I don't have sufficient expertise to adequately describe it.

[doubleblank]

Hey Scott ....... you're crying a river for one of those Willett 22 yo ryes! I'll check my inventory, but I MIGHT have one to spare. If I don't, I'll at least bring some to the next Gazebo event. At one time I had two cases of both 22yo ryes Doug and his Bay Area group selected. IIRC, their first bottling AKA "Doug Philips" was a consensus selection and the Doug and Neal bottling was Doug's personal favorite. I had the opportunity to taste their samples when I visited Doug several years ago and I ended up also picking the two they chose from the five samples.......great choices by Doug. Its a fine drink and that's coming from someone who doesn't drink much rye.

As to the subject matter, I don't have a single best but would put a handfull of bottlings from the SW distillery in my top five. ORVW 15 is one of them. The Lot B SB AKA Van Blankle is up there. And there were a couple of Black Maple Hill's when Julian bottled it that stand out. I just can't name only one.

Randy

[nor02lei]

I think it is a thigh between Doug’s first 22 year rye and WLW 2006.

Leif

[Old Lamplighter]

Another vote for ORVW 15 (down to my last 2 bottles). And no, it is not the same as PVW 15.

Jim

I would agree.....at least in terms of it not being the same. However, I prefer PVW 15 and cast my vote for same. Albeit, a very hard choice with Lot B and WTRB very, very close - in that order.

[Rughi]

At one time I had two cases of both 22yo ryes Doug and his Bay Area group selected. IIRC, their first bottling AKA "Doug Philips" was a consensus selection and the Doug and Neal bottling was Doug's personal favorite. I had the opportunity to taste their samples when I visited Doug several years ago and I ended up also picking the two they chose from the five samples.

You've got it right Randy.

The first bottling was indeed the one that hatched the concept. I remember vividly when Doug called me while I was in my car driving home from work, elated and gushing about having just come back from dinner with Drew and had tasted one of the best whiskies he'd ever had. I think about that moment every time I go past the tree where I pulled over to talk for 1/2 an hour about how to get ahold of that barrel.

However, by the time we compared it to several other barrel samples that Drew later sent, Doug and Neal preferred what became the second bottling. Tim Hoban (I really miss Tim3), Titus, Ed, Susan and I lobbied for what became the first bottling, and I believe Greg the Norcal Boozer couldn't make it that night.

Those were great times. Here is a post about it. Several posts before and after that one go into more detail on how we picked those barrels. I had forgotten until I reread those posts that some of the people interested in this wacky barrel proof, unfiltered old rye project were hesitating when it turned out it would cost about $8 more than originally anticipated. :slappin: :slappin: :slappin:

Roger

[scratchline]

The other night a friend of a friend came over to pour some cognacs. This guy is a blues harp player whose brother (also a talented blues musician) married a girl from the Cognac region of France. The harp player, Matthew, is using his new-found family connections to begin importing small batch cognacs from local farms. Normally, most of their run is sold to the four major cognac producers and then blended into big names: Remy, Courvoisier, Martell, and one other that escapes me now. Matthew hopes to do for cognac, what the single malt movement did for scotch. Anyway, the cognac was AMAZING. A couple of distinctive younger examples (5-7 years); one, perfumed and floral, the other, rich and fruity, with loads of pear. Then three vintage samples with quite a bit more age. And finally an unusual cognac/framboise liqueur that was very dry and served chilled. After all that, Matthew asked me to wow him with some bourbon.

I pulled out an open '07 Stagg, a 70's bonded Old Taylor, and an 86 proof PA Old Overholt. After trying the three, Matthew said that he had recently had the yellow label Beam Rye, and with the OO lingering on his palate, he thought he "really liked rye." I dragged out my ladder and crawled above the Murphy bed (space in my studio apartment is at an absolute premium), reaching for one of my last two bottles of Willett's 22 yr. rye. It took some doing to get through the wax, but after the bottle had been cracked and sampled and the assembled group had been left with smacking lips and eyes wide, one of Matthew's friends, an old blues guitarist who was a longtime bourbon drinker but whose health had recently switched him over to exclusively wine, declared "That's the best whiskey I've ever had." Who was I to disagree? To give you some idea of this guy's bona fides, he plays all the guitar parts for the Muddy Waters character in the recently released Cadillac Records.

The VanBlankle, a barrel proof S-W from Julian's private stash (thanks, Tim), a 60's era six year bonded Crow, the 12 yr old barrel proof Willett that Fricky offered me at the Gazebo this year; each of those was THE best at the time.

I'm sure there were others but those stand out right now. How did I get through that list without mentioning a single WT?

-Mike

[wku88]

I've not had the pleasure to sample some of the more revered (and very expensive) specimens, but I have to say Very Rare Old Heaven Hill 10yo BIB is my favorite. Templeton Rye would be second.

[funknik]

My favorite pour is probably EC12, but what I think is the best I've had is definitely this year's Handy Saz Rye. I haven't tried a lot of different brands and I have a bunch of different kinds bunkered that I will be trying for the first time soon, but so far, nothing is as smooth, complex and tasty as this bottle. Not an everyday pour, but a head turner for sure.

[dave ziegler]

My Favorite one is easy for me it would be any Old Hickory from Continental Distilling, and especialy the 86 Proof stuff from the 1960's.

No Matter How much I try Whiskeys I always still like my Old Hickory the best!

Guess it is just so Dam Smooth I love drinking it

Dave Z

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It Seems All The Nicest People Drink Old Hickory

America's Most Magnificent Bourbon

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