Bourbon for mixing

[mixologist]

I like bourbon, but I am a really a whiskey fan in general. Although I will typically mix a drink in the evening, whiskey is the only thing I will sip straight. So, I always pick suitable whiskeys and, of course, suitable bourbons for sipping. Currently, I have a bottle of Ridgemont Reserve 1792 as my bourbon for sipping. I don't like mixing something of this quality in a mixed drink that would typically call for a bourbon. I feel that the subtleties are wasted once all of the other stuff gets mixed together in there. Heck, I even enjoy vodka if I mix it with some other stuff.

I want a cheap bourbon to mix with. What can you guys recommend? I was thinking Evan Williams Black - $10.50 here in PA. Decent choice, or am I making a mistake?

[felthove]

That or Rittenhouse BIB. JW Dant BIB is also a good mixer. Both are inexpensive.

[fogfrog]

Old Crow if you are mixing with Coca Cola might save you some money over Beam and Coke.....

[fogfrog]

Oh, I forgot about Ten High. that might also work for you....

[fogfrog]

A lot of liquor stores have their own brand of bourbon. You might check that. It is probably a Heaven Hill product and will work just fine.

[fogfrog]

but as I am now thinking, probably Evan Williams Black or Very Old Bartons.... I think the Evan Williams has more bourbony taste.... and if you aren't mixing, you can still drink either one straight. Some of the other cheap whiskeys are only for mixing... but these two definitely do double duty

[mixologist]

Double duty sounds good. I would prefer it that way. I am not looking for the cheapest hooch known to man.

I have never tried Even Williams but I have heard that it competes with and is actually better than Jack Daniels. JD is a little over $20 here in PA.....not going to happen. If I could get some bourbon whiskey that was a liitle better than JD for $10.50, I would buy it.

Right now I have Rittenhouse Rye that I don't mind mixing, because I paid $14 for it. My 1792 and Johnny Walker Black I would like to reserve strictly for sipping.

[wku88]

Old Charter 8 is a pretty good one too.

[TNbourbon]

Old Charter 8 is a pretty good one too.

OC8 finally took a price hike comparable to that of the 10yo when my store recently purchased a resupply. It had been the bargain of the brand for a few months. No longer, alas. It still compares favorably, however, to many lesser-aged bottlings.

[Edward_call_me_Ed]

There is really no room in my bunker for a bourbon that isn't worth sipping. I will buy a cheapo just to try it, but won't replace it unless I can enjoy it straight. That Old Crow took a long time to get down.

As for mixing, I am comfortable using anything I have if I think it is the best bourbon for the drink I am hankering for. That said, most older bourbons don't mix well. It isn't that the subtle flavors are drowned out, it is that they simply don't taste good in a mixed drink.

Ed:grin:

[Edward_call_me_Ed]

That Old Crow took a long time to get down.

Ed:grin:

Here is how I drank that Old Crow. I didn't try to make mixed drink per say. I didn't pour it in coke. I tried to fix it.

A few shakes of Orange Bitters and few shakes of Vanilla extract, a little, really very little, simple syrup and some ice. It wasn't too bad then.

Ed

[Jeff G.]

For mixing. I reach for good ol' Jim Beam. The regular white label. It has never let me down in a mix.

[mixologist]

Thanks guys. Now I feel a lot better about going out and buying me some cheap booze. I think I'll try Evan Williams Black first. If that doesn't work out, I'll move up to Jim Beam.

[Dr. François]

Thanks guys. Now I feel a lot better about going out and buying me some cheap booze. I think I'll try Evan Williams Black first. If that doesn't work out, I'll move up to Jim Beam.

I really like EW black on the rocks, and I've heard it makes a good mixer (my motto: never mix, never worry). In my mind, you'd be taking a step down to go to JB white.

[chilidawg7]

For mixing, I usually go with Old Forester. A buddy of mine got me hooked on OF and Coke in college, and I haven't been able to break that habit. Now that I have added a few lbs I tend to lean toward OF and Coke Zero, which tastes about the same.

[JamesW]

I'd suggest W.L. Weller Antique 107 proof. It's a great sipping bourbon and at $19 a bottle you won't feel guilty for pouring something in with it.

Cheers.

[shyster512]

Weller is a good call as a mixer!

[Sijan]

I really like EW black on the rocks, and I've heard it makes a good mixer (my motto: never mix, never worry). In my mind, you'd be taking a step down to go to JB white.

I agree with Jeremy that Beam White is a step down from Evan Williams Black. I think Evan Williams Black is a good mixer, though I haven't had it since it lost the age statement.

I like to mix with Jim Beam Black. It's good enough that I think it adds a little something to the drink, but cheap enough that I don't feel bad mixing with it. Wild Turkey 101 works too.

And I do think I can tell the difference between good bourbon and bad in a bourbon and Coke. Old Crow and Coke sounds pretty nasty to me.

[mixologist]

What's this nonsense with Evan Williams removing the age statement from there whiskey? I am reluctant to even try it now that this has happened. I can see no other reason for them to do this other than to save money. Has anyone here try the aged-labeled vs. the non-age-labeled? Did you notice a difference? I would think there would have to be some difference.

[CorvallisCracker]

What's this nonsense with Evan Williams removing the age statement from there whiskey? I am reluctant to even try it now that this has happened. I can see no other reason for them to do this other than to save money. Has anyone here try the aged-labeled vs. the non-age-labeled? Did you notice a difference? I would think there would have to be some difference.

EW BL has always been my first choice as a bourbon-and-coke whiskey, but now that they've gone NAS (no, I haven't tried it), I'll probably switch to EW WL (BIB). It's only 50 cents more and you know exactly how old it is.

[OscarV]

From what I understand EW still has some if not mostly 7 yo bourbon in it, it is still very good.

[havok66]

cast my vote for Beam Black!

[Sijan]

I've not tried the new EW Black.

I can say, however, that the NAS Old Fitz 1849 is missing something as compared to the 8 year old Old Fitz 1849. (And let me again plea for any information anyone has about a cache of 8 yr old Old Fitz 1849 out there somewhere!)

[mixologist]

Did anyone try the Evan Williams 1783? I know they removed the "10 year" from the label, but is it alot better than the black label?

[TNbourbon]

You might just try ignoring us here -- your initial instincts seem to be fine: Rittenhouse BIB rye is my go-to cocktail whiskey, when I don't feel like pouring the more-expensive Saz Jr.

EW Black is a very good value, pace the age statement removal (whch seems to be a trend in the industry, not just this bottling). We know from our own Bettye Jo that this still contains mostly 7yo bourbon, and we know from our own experience that's it's easy enough for a knowledgeable master distiller to emulate the flavor of 7yo whiskey with faster-aging, younger whiskey strategically warehoused. In other words, it ain't changed all that much!