Favorite Bourbon

[RT Fan]

Bingo! A staple in my bunker

Agreed, one of the 5 or 6 bourbons I always have open in my bar.

 

[finnbow]

Bingo! A staple in my bunker

Agreed, one of the 5 or 6 bourbons I always have open in my bar.

As much as I agree about the Four Roses Single Barrel being a delightful pour, I actually (to my surprise) found myself preferring their small batch. It's a richer expression, whereas the Single Barrel is more floral and delicate.

On the subject of single barrel Bourbons, I have found no Bourbon I prefer to Russell's Reserve Single Barrel (as opposed to the RR Small Batch). The RR Single Barrel Rye is also excellent. Unfortunately, both RR Single Barrels are pretty spendy ($50-60).

 

[Grainger49]

I'll take note of this. I've got a 10% discount on a .75l bottle locally.

 

[RT Fan]

As much as I agree about the Four Roses Single Barrel being a delightful pour, I actually (to my surprise) found myself preferring their small batch. It's a richer expression, whereas the Single Barrel is more floral and delicate.

On the subject of single barrel Bourbons, I have found no Bourbon I prefer to Russell's Reserve Single Barrel (as opposed to the RR Small Batch). The RR Single Barrel Rye is also excellent. Unfortunately, both RR Single Barrels are pretty spendy ($50-60).

Good to see you around these parts, pardner. There were rumors going around you had died of thirst! Next time I am out and about I will order some Russell's.Thanks for the head's up.

 

[Tiver]

Bourbon is not aged in air conditioned warehouses, most of the fine distillerys use warehouse built long before anyone knew what freon was.

Blending is the less expensive way to achieve consistency, and many times works better than the single barrel method, (in terms of consistency) but it is a LESS EXPENSIVE way to do it, and requires MUCH less attention to detail. Minor mistakes are blended away for CONSISTENCY, something that can not always be obtained with a handmade single barrel process. Winerys do this as well. Look at the bottle of several different vintage years of a top shelf California cab...some years are almost all cab, some years will or may have varying amounts of Cab Franc or Merlot added because of inconsistencies in the various harvests. Others bottle what is there, leading to huge price differences for various different vintages. As I am sure most have seen, just because a bourbon is single barrel or a cigar is cuban doesnt mean it is really the "best" one, there are examples of poor result in all catagories. These mistakes would be thrown out, or sold to lesser brands to use in their blending to "perfection". Associating blending with perfection is similar to saying a cigar is machine rolled to achieve PERFECT consistency, and in fact it can, but there is something to appreciate in a hand rolled one, which most all expensive cigars exclusively are, despite the occasional dud in the box.

What bourbon do you know of that is aged in airconditioned warehouses? Having been all through Kentucky and its famous bourbon trail, I have never seen an airconditioned one.

Cheers,

Russellc

I know this post is from the wayback time machine, but I find it quite the summation of the economics of the general industry so far as singles and blends (wine and spirits). The reference to cigars and machine rolling is spot on and the economics of blending wine has given me a nice perspective I had not considered previously.

Now back to the current topic of bourbon. I explored more than a few glasses of the basic commercial calls like Wild Turkey, Grand Dad, Jim Beam, and Maker's Mark more than a few years ago. Since I have tasted Buffalo Trace, Bulleit and Woodford Reserve among others....

I think the trend toward sweet is over done. Buffalo Trace is beyond sweet. The basic Bulleit and Woodford are more enjoyable to me. Grand Dad and Wild Turkey? Not if I don't have to. Maker's Mark gained a good reputation several decades ago and I've enjoyed a few over the years. In truth, I'm OK with Jim Beam straight 80 proof. Maybe it's because I drank more than a bit of it in the 80's and found it common, decent and affordable.

When I drink bourbon, I usually drink over rocks with a splash of water for the first one or two, then finish with just rocks.

 

[finnbow]

...What bourbon do you know of that is aged in airconditioned warehouses? Having been all through Kentucky and its famous bourbon trail, I have never seen an airconditioned one.

The only Bourbon warehouse I know of that is air-conditioned (and I too have been to most Bourbon distilleries in Kentucky) is the new Old Forester distillery/visitor center on Whiskey Row in Louisville (located in the original building that Old Forester used in the laste 19th century). During a tour there last year, they were uncertain of the impact of AC on the aging process, but thought it may even age faster because the whiskey never experiences winter weather (during which the flavor exchange with the barrel is minimized). I'm a bit skeptical as I've been told that the aging process depends upon large temperature swings to push the whiskey in out of the pores of the charred interior barrel surface.

BTW, the tour of the urban OF distillery was better than I had imagined it would be and provides visitors to downtown Louisville with the ability to see all aspects of distillery operation, including their own active cooperage (barrel making)..

 

[Grainger49]

The only Bourbon warehouse I know of that is air-conditioned (and I too have been to most Bourbon distilleries in Kentucky) is the new Old Forester distillery/visitor center on Whiskey Row in Louisville (located in the original building that Old Forester used in the laste 19th century). During a tour there last year, they were uncertain of the impact of AC on the aging process, but thought it may even age faster because the whiskey never experiences winter weather (during which the flavor exchange with the barrel is minimized). I'm a bit skeptical as I've been told that the aging process depends upon large temperature swings to push the whiskey in out of the pores of the charred interior barrel surface.

BTW, the tour of the urban OF distillery was better than I had imagined it would be and provides visitors to downtown Louisville with the ability to see all aspects of distillery operation, including their own active cooperage (barrel making)..

Dang ! ! I may need to travel to Lexington. That's 3 hours away. So, manageable for an old fart.

 

[mhedges]

It’s a little farther for me but I definitely need to do a couple distillery tours.

As far as bourbon- lately I’ve been cheaping out and going with Evan Williams white (bonded). It’s “fine”. Honestly the prices for the better stuff have gotten out of hand.

 

[RT Fan]

Poured myself some Eagle Rare last night as it was "Thirsty Thursday." I like it, depending on the price. At $29 a bottle it is worthwhile, it loses some appeal @ $39.

 

[finnbow]

Dang ! ! I may need to travel to Lexington. That's 3 hours away. So, manageable for an old fart.

Quick tip. Don't bother with Town Branch Distillery in Lexington - Pretty lame. Buffalo Trace and Heaven Hill both have good, free tours and tastings (as does 1792 Barton, though I'm not sure how good it now is after the rickhouse collapse and huge spill last year).

 

[bobabode]

Almost out of Weller 107. Need to go shopping.

 

[mhedges]

Almost out of Weller 107. Need to go shopping.

That’s my favorite. It’s been impossible to find for years.

 

[bobabode]

That’s my favorite. It’s been impossible to find for years.

That's a shame. The twelve year old is unobtanium out here in SoCal but the regular and 107 seem to be plentiful but it's a one bottle maximum at my local shop. The local swells from Newport Beach like to hoard the good stuff.

 

[mhedges]

I’ve heard of bottles of the 107 going for three figures easily.

 

[JD#7]

Dang.....I just found this thread ! I live in Ontario, Canada and the liquor outlets are L.C.B.O. . They provide only a very limited access to good Bourbon .
Liquor Control Board of Ontario .

 

[bobabode]

Dang.....I just found this thread ! I live in Ontario, Canada and the liquor outlets are L.C.B.O. . They provide only a very limited access to good Bourbon .
Liquor Control Board of Ontario .View attachment 1498049 View attachment 1498050

Nice cabinet, JD.

 

[JD#7]

Nice cabinet, JD.

Hecho en Mexico .....inside courtesy of Kentucky
It seems I have some reading to do and make 'want list '

 

[tarior]

Hope springs eternal that Spring will show up one day and that means the end of brown liquor season for me. I will be moving on to various rums and although some of them are brown, I'm talking about you Mount Gay and Meyer's, I don't count them in the brown liquor catagory. So yesterday was a crappy day weather wise around here, so the wife and I stoked up the fireplace and I poured myself a glass of Four Roses Single Barrel bourbon. Now I am a dedicated "Wheater" when it comes to bourbon but I have to say the quality of the FRSB is outstanding at the price point of $45 per bottle. Highly recommended.
View attachment 1493829

Picked up a bottle the other day, just opened it this evening. This is some reuully good whiskey.

 

[xero-D-hero]

Almost out of Weller 107. Need to go shopping.

That’s my favorite. It’s been impossible to find for years.

I’ve heard of bottles of the 107 going for three figures easily.

If it ever gets to four figures I'm selling mine,,,DAAAYYYUUUMMM...
Been saving mine for something special but that $#!ts getting crazy.

Still working on finishing up my regular Weller (SR),even that's been kinda hard to find around here.

But I digress.

Bret P.

 

[JD#7]

Odd , about Weller 107 . Liquor access here is through provincial liquor control board , and poor choices . Anyway...... I found Weller 107 for $ 35.96 CDN
I had never heard of it until this thread . Should I try it ?