What was your "gateway" bourbon?

[Barrel_Proof]

What was the bourbon that really grabbed you for the first time? What was that bottle that let you know that you really, really wanted more of this substance? Please note: this is not just the first bourbon you tried or purchased consistently, but the first bourbon you loved.

Bonus points: is this still a favorite pour or yours, or have you outgrown it?

I learned that bourbon was my spirit of choice drinking Old Charter as a college student in the early 70s.

Jump ahead two decades: There were essentially no bottles of any spirit in any apartment, cabin, or house in which I lived until the summer of 1996. That summer I purchased a bottle of Elijah Craig 12yo, found a used copy of the Regans' Book of Bourbon, and learned of the developing market for connoisseur bourbons. I credit that tasty bottle of EC12 for reawakening my appreciation of bourbon. It is still a bourbon I very much enjoy.

[Mamba]

JBW was the first thing I ever got drunk off of, at the age of 17. I remember sorta liking it, although not as much as I liked the buzz itself.

Then I got sick a few times after that and stayed very, very far away from straight spirits of any kind.

Fast forward to when I turned 21. I'd heard so much about scotch that I had to try one, and my first taste was Lagavulin 16. I can still remember what a terrific impact it had. I didn't really like it, but I did think it was intensely interesting. I never imagined that whiskey could be smoky (I was quickly corrected with "peat"). This got me started down the whiskey road.

I taste of both PVW 15 and PVW 20 at a local bar showed me how "fine" bourbon could be. I could tell it was miles ahead of the JBW, but still didn't find myself enjoying it. I was still into exploring scotch.

I kept exploring scotch and slowly bourbon, but the bottle that really kick started it all was Sazerac 18 (2005 bottling). Not bourbon but a revelation to me, and I started buying a lot more bourbon and rye after that.

It's still one of my favorites, although subsequent bottlings aren't quite as good. I write this drinking Saz Jr, which is another one of my favorites. I'm really into rye I guess, and I have this website to thank for showing me the way to so many wonderful bottles.

Although I started with scotch, my collection is now 80% bourbon/rye. I love the flavors, and I love that I can explore a lot without spending too much. But deep down, I don't have strong loyalties. I just love any good whisk(e)y, period. :grin:

[jbaker]

Like many others here, mine was Makers Mark. That silky smooth sweetness dragged me right in and lead me to rapidly try other bourbons. Knob Creek resonated with me too and those were my bar pours for a long while until I discovered the BT world of things (ER, BSB, RHF, etc.) I kept trying to find other ones that were as tasty as the MM, but seemed to always be coming up a little short. Just a little. Then I discovered that there was a difference in recipes, wheat vs. rye, and that made everything fall into place. I still prefer the wheaters, but some very special rye-flavored bottles have caught my love too.

[doubleblank]

I actually have two.....many years apart. My father had a case of Old Fitz BIB to serve for the rehearsal dinner/wedding party for my first marriage in 1980. I remember enjoying that Old Fitz very well........after using Kessler Blended in my cokes in college. There is one bottle left awaiting a special occasion. Fast forward thru a period of mostly beer and margaritas. I remember walking into my local retailer and spying a bottle of Weller Centenial in 1996. I purchased it and it reminded me a bit of the Old Fitz. After doing a little research on my own, I learned why the two had similar tastes. Both from SW. That began my exploration into whiskeys of all types. I didn't find this site until 2003.

Randy

[macon]

I guess for me it was ETL. I had tried Bookers, Knob Creek and Bakers and liked them, but what really caught my long term attention was my first bottle of ETL. Since them I have turned into a real BT fan.

[Sijan]

The first bourbon I tried was Ancient Age, on a trip visiting a friend in KY. It was pretty raw straight but good when mixed with Coke. Jim Beam Black was the first bourbon I enjoyed drinking straight on a regular basis. But my first gateway bourbon as you describe it would have been Van Winkle Lot B - bought it for a friend and he shared some with me and I thought it was just fantastic. Picked up my own bottle as soon as I could find another. And yes, it is still one of my absolute favorites.

But the real turning point for me - my gateway moment, if you will - was walking into a rickhouse at the Labrot & Graham distillery and inhaling one of the most gorgeous and divine scents I've ever experienced. Angel's share indeed! That was about four years ago.

[fredthecat]

i had jim beam once, but jack daniels was the second bourbon i had and the first i really enjoyed

[blux]

Earlier, Reg mentioned hot toddy's. I too remember getting those from my Grandmother when I had a cold or congestion. It is a miracle that I drink any hard liquor at all after having been exposed to a drink that probably should have been mixed wearing a haz-mat suit. I don't know what kind of whisky she used but, to a small kid, it was like drinking Janitor-in-a-Drum (remember that product?)

On with the story. Maker's Mark turned my head with the sweet cherry nose but, Blanton's was the gateway bourbon that totally sucked me in. My first encounter with MM was in a bar here in Rochester. I wanted an alternative to beer because beer filled me up and left me feeling bloated after one and a half glasses. The bartender suggested MM and I liked it. It was also the strongest liquor in terms of proof and flavor that I had tasted to this point, but I knew then that there was no turning back.

I still like MM and Blanton's but, have not yet replaced them in my cabinet. There are too many bottles to try before I start repeating any of them.

I'd also like to extend my thanks to the members and especially to the care-takers of this board. This is a great place to learn about our favorite drink and, occasionally, about other things non-bourbon.

[snakster]

For me it was Buffalo Trace. It really opened a window for me and it is still one of my favorites, especially for an everyday pour. The one bar near me that has poker games actually stocks it now because of me.

[JamesW]

I, like some others here, was a scotch drinker but tried some Makers, Woodford, and Rare Breed and was converted. It didn't take long to discover the Van Winkle products and I was hooked from there on in.

[RM High]

Ummm, Maker's Mark I guess. JD #7 was one of my drinks of choice in college, but I quickly focused on mirco brews (I was living in Seattle at the time). I didn't get back into bourbon until a year ago.

[texascarl]

Good old Weller's. I drank Bushmills or Wellers for years and years. I've expanded the menagerie now and I'm a better man for it.

[Eggman]

Howdy,

For me it was JBW. Now I prefer JBB. Pretty low class stuff, but I am an LSU grad!

Eggman

[chilidawg7]

Mine was Maker's Mark. I had tried a few prior to that, but the wheat is what got me hooked, I suppose. I still prefer the wheated bourbons to this day.

While MM is not my favorite pour, it is still a nice throwback when I'm in the mood to reminisce.

[Megawatt]

Knob Creek for me.

[ggilbertva]

My step mom introduced me to Wild Turkey....12 year 101. It was great.

[JasonFalls]

Loved reading some of these responses.

My gateway bourbon was Elijah Craig 12 year. The only real reason was that it's what my dad drinks. I was vacationing at the family farm in Virginia one summer (maybe 10 years ago now?) and had been thinking of exploring finer spirits than my normal Killian's Irish Red (still my favorite beer). Dad poured a drink and asked if I wanted one. I responded with, "Sure, but don't kill me," implying I needed mine mixed a little lighter than his (we both prefer a little soda in ours). Immediately, I knew I'd found my drink. Craig is sweet and smooth, particularly mixed with soda the way I like it.

But that bourbon quickly led me to explore others. It wasn't too long before Maker's was my preference, Craig when Dad was in town and then I'd try new ones when out for drinks. Now, I just enjoy exploring them ... straight or on the rocks, sometimes with water to cut it enough to savor.

But when I'm at home or just want to enjoy, it's still with diet soda ... what can I say? I'm a gulper not a sipper.

[DoubleT]

Ezra Brooks Green Label. I was an a-typical beer drinker (Harp, Bass, Negra Modelo, Asahi Dry) while my friends were drinking Bud & Miller Lite. But I was the typical bourbon drinking 20 something some 20+ years ago; Whisky Sour with JBW. Then, about 12 years ago my grandmother died.

She suffered from cancer for some time before it caught her. Her doctor, having a warped since of humor and never being one to beat around the bush told her than in the final weeks there would be pain. She wasn't one for morphine so, knowing she seldom drank and then only wine, he bought her a bottle of the EB Green Label. He told her this would take care of her pain. She never even broke the seal...strong woman.

After her funeral my dad read a letter she had left regarding that bottle. It contained the story and a request that we (my dad, brother, and myself) open it and drink one in her honor. We did, straight up. That was actually, though in my early 30's, was my first bourbon neat; and I really like the flavor. In fact, I liked everything about this bourbon. I found it smooth with a nice nose and wonderful finish. After our toast my dad asked what we would do with the whisky...he didn't realy drink anymore except wine from time to time with a meal, and my brother drinks 7, although I'm trying to fix that. So I immediately volunteered.

Since then I have enjoyed several bourbons and hope to one day say I have tried them all. But from time to time I return to my roots, when I can find it. Seems everyone around here carries EB Black but seldom have the Green. When I find it I buy it. I still enjoy the flavor and it takes me back.

[ggilbertva]

Nice story Tom, thanks for sharing. I think it's nice that you can tie your first bourbon experience with someone or something that had an impact on your life.

[fishnbowljoe]

Had run ins with Rebel Yell and Yellowstone in my younger "almost of legal drinking age" days. That was when I didn't really know or much care what I was drinking, as long as it was hard stuff. My real start was Maker's Mark back in 1992. I kept some around, along with CC and Crown Royal for a long time. Then I was reintroduced to it again last year in another light. I have tried to branch out and broaden my horizons by buying and trying other bourbons. But.... I always have a bottle of MM on hand and it is my fall back-go to bourbon. Joe

[mgilbertva]

For me it was two bourbons, one following the other.

At the time I was drinking single malts and micro-brews. A friend of mine introduced me to Booker's, and it blew me away. After that bottle was finished and I went to the local ABC to purchase a replacement, I saw GT Stagg on the shelf. I thought I would give another barrel proof bourbon a try, and that pushed me over the edge.

It was like a spiritual awakening, opening up a whole new world that I had no idea existed.

I'm still a huge fan of GTS, and although I haven't purchased Booker's in some time, I won't turn it down if it's offered. :drink:

[CorvallisCracker]

Can't say that there was a GW bourbon for me. I was drinking WT 8/101 before I finished college (1975), and over the next few years tried many others, but nothing really stood out as significantly better, until the first seasonally-available WT 12/101 appeared in the late 1980s. Didn't encounter anything better than that until Hirsch 16yo in late 1994.

Since then have been trying to find bourbon of comparable quality, and only succeeded recently, having tried PVW 15, VW Lot B and GTS all in the last few months.

[randytulsa2]

Maker's, about 15years ago.

A bottle of Rock Hill Farms really sealed the deal.

From there it was no looking back.

[Jane]

Growing up in the dry part of Kentucky we drank whatever the bootlegger had, which was usually wild turkey (or moonshine). I've always been a bourbon drinker, but didn't come to appreciate it until my 3rd day of work at Maker's. My boss took me to Old Town Liquor in the highlands of Louisville and filled a cart full of different bottles of bourbon while educating me on each. He then said, "Your job this week is to go home and drink." I sipped on about 20 different bourbons that first week of work. Actually tasting the subtle differences was incredible. From that day on I've been infatuated with all that bourbon has to offer.

[Rock]

First, I have to say what many others are thinking, Jane, you have a great job, lol.

Mine was a bourbon at a Gourmet Magazine Party in NYC. It was something purchased for me that was called "Blue Smoke House Bourbon". The bartender would not tell me who made it only that it was a barrel just for the bar.

3 years later, and quite a few more vists, I was able to learn it was a Pappy 21 yr.

If I knew who it was that bought the first one for me I would say Thanks, lol.