Bourbon Anyone?

[mrpologuy]

I have become hooked on Maker's Mark BOurbon thanks to a thread a while back. That has become my alcohol of choice. I have finished the bottle I bought and am looking for a new bourbon to try. Any suggestions? How can I use it to grill a steak if at all possible? Thanks for the help!!!!

 

[mbc]

Maker's is a great bourbon. I also enjoy Knob Creek and Eagle Rare.

 

[vonwotan]

Makers Mark is good but I find it a bit sweet sometimes. Knob Creek is my go to bourbon, but if just sipping a glass Bookers is my poison.

 

[v0rtex]

My girlfriend bought me a bottle of Woodford Reserve recently. Not much experience with bourbon here either (more of a scotch drinker) but it's pretty delicious, especially mixed with a bit of sweet vermouth and a dash of bitters.

 

[minimal]

Maker's Mark is good stuff, you can't go wrong there. I have that and a bottle of Hirsch, which is *really* good stuff.

 

[csandbothe]

My favorite hard liquor. My cabinet currently has Evan Williams Single Barrel and Elijah Craig 12 year old. They are both exceptional, particularly for the money.

Hey my first post!

 

[sygyzy]

Have some Eagle Rare in my cabinet but need to pick up some Marker's Mark since I've heard nothing but great things about it.

 

[Connemara]

For a bargain bourbon, go for Evan Williams. It's tasty, mixes well (although I prefer bourbon neat or with a splash of water), and is pretty damn cheap. I'm talking $14 for a liter.

 

[mwrenchd]

To be called bourbon, the grain content must consist of at least 51% corn. The remainder is a mixture of malted barley and either rye or wheat. Most "traditional" bourbons use rye as the 2nd grain, which give the spicier, hot profile that many people associate with bourbon. Makers falls into the 2nd category - it is a wheated bourbon that uses (obviously) wheat as the 2nd grain in the mashbill. Wheated bourbons typically are sweeter and a bit smoother on the palate than their rye brethren. In that regard, Makers and other wheateds are a common place to start for people new to bourbon. If you want to stick with wheated bourbons for the time being, then your choices are fairly limited. The widely-distributed wheated are Makers, the Van Winkle lines, W.L Weller, and Old Fitzgerald, listed in order of probable availability. Most folks rave about the Van Winkle bourbons (in 10, 12, 15-yo varieties), and I have to agree -- they are a fine, fine pour. The older Van Winkles (20, 23yr) use a rye-mashbill, however. They are quite excellent but are not considered wheated bourbons. The WL Weller 12-yr I think is an excellent choice for a good wheated bourbon at a good value. It is cheaper than the standard red-wax Makers and, in my opinion, a better whiskey. For a somewhat more traditional but still smooth and accessible taste profile, Eagle Rare SB 10-yr is a safe bet. Easy to find and a great price. I also have been very fond of most of the Birthday Bourbon bottlings from Old Forester, though the price has been steadily moving up in the more recent vintages. I would also urge you to try the more rye-heavy bourbons out there too. Wild Turkey is probably the best known and most widely available rye-heavy bourbon. The WT Rare Breed, Kentucky Spirit, and Russell's Reserve bottlings are all quite good, in my opinion. Compared to Makers and the other wheateds it might seem like an entirely different drink!

That should cover a lot of ground in the bourbon world, in terms of narrowing down your preferences, without breaking the bank. Once you move up to the more premium/superpremium bourbons, opinions can vary pretty wildly and really is a matter of individual preference, so I'll refrain from making any recommendations there. Finally, for anyone overseas in Europe or Japan, give Four Roses (especially the Small Batch) a try. It is one of the few bourbons widely available overseas and is vastly superior to Jim Beam, which you'll often find sitting next to it. Sadly, it is not distributed outside of Kentucky in the U.S..

 

[Connemara]

IMO, Maker's Mark is too sweet. I tried a glass and just wasn't blown away. Now, Wild Turkey 101...there's a bourbon. A splash of water really opens up the nose on this one.

 

[darin_arrick]

Buffalo Trace. Mmmmmm. I've only tried a few bourbons (I'm more of a Scotch man...so far

), but that one leads my list of favorites. Smooth and sweet, caramel...like candy. It's on my "basic bar stock list" for when I get a bar.

 

[Connemara]

Originally Posted by darin_arrick

Buffalo Trace. Mmmmmm.

I've only tried a few bourbons (I'm more of a Scotch man...so far

), but that one leads my list of favorites. Smooth and sweet, caramel...like candy. It's on my "basic bar stock list" for when I get a bar.

Hmm, never tried it. I'm also a scotch man first and foremost, but I've been hitting the bourbon lately. Dunno why. Change of pace, I guess, and the fact that I can't really afford any good single malts.

 

[Stu]

Originally Posted by Connemara

Now, Wild Turkey 101...there's a bourbon. A splash of water really opens up the nose on this one.


Ah, yes, the Kickin' Chicken. As much as I love bourbon, though, my favorite whiskey is Irish. Some higher end Jamesons or some Tullamore Dew with a capfull of spriing water is pure heaven. In fact, I'm gonna go the liquor cabinet now and indulge.

 

[Connemara]

Originally Posted by Stu

Ah, yes, the Kickin' Chicken. As much as I love bourbon, though, my favorite whiskey is Irish. Some higher end Jamesons or some Tullamore Dew with a capfull of spriing water is pure heaven. In fact, I'm gonna go the liquor cabinet now and indulge.

Jameson's is great stuff, I agree. I still haven't had Tullamore Dew...better than J's?

 

[Stu]

Originally Posted by Connemara

Jameson's is great stuff, I agree. I still haven't had Tullamore Dew...better than J's?

Well, I prefer the highest end Jameson's (15 yrs?) to just about anything. But Tullamore Dew vs. run of the mill Jamesons, I'll take TD anytime. It's a lighter, sweeter whiskey, but very nice.

Part of my preference lies in the climate where I live. Bourbon is a heavier whiskey and I find the Irish stuff a bit lighter.