Favorite Bourbon

onepixel · Jul 12, 2006

Labrot & Graham - Woodford Reserve, goes good with the jazzy blues.

Actually anything from Kentucky is mighty fine.

JDaniel · Jul 12, 2006

I have always wanted to try a bottle of Woodford Reserve. I haven't found a reason to stray too far away from Makers Mark. Although I did receive a bottle of Old Forrester for Christmas last year. It too was enjoyable.

JD

theodoric · Jul 12, 2006

I like Baker's. I've tried all the Beam small batches over the last dozen years, and all the other little guys, and while I appreciate what's going on with all of them, Baker's does it for me. Smooth and a little sweet.

BeerCan · Jul 12, 2006

I mostly drink Makers Mark but I like most bourbon. I especially liked the old rip van winkle my wifes boss pulled out at christmas last year. One I really did not care for was bookers a tad to strong for me -- seemed to overpower the flavor

tentoze · Jul 12, 2006

On the rare occasion that I want a taste of bourbon, it's:

Grainger49 · Jul 12, 2006

onepixel said:
Labrot & Graham - Woodford Reserve, goes good with the jazzy blues. Actually anything from Kentucky is might fine.

Well, that is almost a quote from my suggested coctail recipe for VSAC 2003.

I like most Bourbons, don't like Wild Turkey that much. Makes me hop, skip and go Nekkid!

And for a really strange quirk, Bourbon can be made ONLY in Kentucky. Notice that Jack and George are both Tennessee sipping whiskey.

KeninDC · Jul 12, 2006

Maker's Mark is a great "house" whiskey. I gotta second the Baker's - I was stuck on Knob Creek for a while, but I find the Baker's great for sipping. And, if you are looking to splurge, Black Maple Creek whiskies are fantastic. I have an 11-year-old and a 14-year-old that I really enjoy. I also keep a big bottle of Virginia Gentlemen around for cooking.

Ken

jcmjrt · Jul 12, 2006

When I'm going whole hog, it's Bookers. Regular drinking is Wild Turkey 101.

ARRAY · Jul 12, 2006

Never had a mint julep to date, but that should change this weekend thanks to all the mint growing in the garden. Of course, a julep requires Bourbon. I would imagine this would be the ideal spirit, but a whiskey might work.
I am not sure how much difference there is between a Scotch and a Bourbon however.

theodoric · Jul 13, 2006

ARRAY said:
I am not sure how much difference there is between a Scotch and a Bourbon however.

About 5000 miles.

Bourbon is an American form of whiskey made from (pursuant to U.S. trade law) at least 51% corn, or maize, (typically about 70%) with the remainder being wheat and/or rye, and malted barley. It is distilled to no more than 160 (U.S.) proof, and aged in new charred white oak barrels for at least two years — or perhaps longer. (Actually, the two years maturation process is not a legal requirement for a whiskey to be called "bourbon" but it is a legal requirement to be called "straight bourbon". However, in practice, many bourbon whiskeys are aged for no less than four years.) It must be put into the barrels at no more than 125 U.S. proof; in this way it is similar to Scotch Whisky, which is also aged in charred barrels. Most of the time it is then adjusted to 80–100 proof and bottled, although some are bottled at “cask strength”.

To legally be called Scotch whisky, the spirit must conform to the standards of the Scotch Whisky Order of 1990 (UK) which clarified the Scotch Whisky Act of 1988, and mandates that the spirit
Must be distilled at a Scottish distillery from water and malted barley, to which only other whole grains may be added, have been processed at that distillery into a mash, converted to a fermentable substrate only by endogenous enzyme systems, and fermented only by the addition of yeast,
Must be distilled to an alcoholic strength of less than 94.8% by volume so that it retains the flavour of the raw materials used in its production,
Must be matured in Scotland in oak casks for not less than three years, and
Must not contain any added substance other than water and caramel colour.
It may not be bottled at less than 40% alcohol by volume.
No whisky other than Scotch whisky may be made in Scotland.

streckfu · Jul 13, 2006

I really like the Woodford Reserve and recommend any Bourbon fan who has not tried it, to do so. Splurge a little.

My house Bourbons will rotate between Maker's Mark, Evan Williams Single Barrel, and Knob Creek.

Grainger49 · Jul 13, 2006

The company who owns Jack Daniels also owns a Scotch distillery. Jack no longer sells used barrels. They export them to Scotland for use at the scotch distillery.

The caramel layer (of the charred oak barrel) that leeches out during the aging process is gone after making Bourbon. The barrel can not be reused because the color/flavor will not be there.

Yes, I paid homage to Jack back in the 70s. Now that I don't live that far, I will do it again. They can serve there now.

Don'tcah love liquor laws?

KeninDC · Jul 13, 2006

The Scots settled in Kentucky. Their attempts to replicate scotch resulted in bourbon due, in part, to temperature differences speeding up the process. Hotter = faster. Tennessee bourbon whiskey, as opposed to Kentucky bourbon whiskey, is charcoal filtered (see, e.g., Jack Daniels). Thanks to this thread, I went home last night, poured a glass of Basil Hayden and listened to a Frank Sinatra LP.

Grainger49 · Jul 13, 2006

But you may have noticecd, Jack and George don't say Bourbon anywhere on the bottle.

edgewound · Jul 13, 2006

Crown Royal, Canadian Club straight...Sometimes Seagram's 7, but usually paired with 7up.

Do those qualify?

Grainger49 · Jul 13, 2006

edgewound said:
Crown Royal, Canadian Club straight...Sometimes Seagram's 7, but usually paired with 7up.

Do those qualify?

Uh . . . no. Those are called blended whiskeys. I don't believe there is any Bourbon in them. Maybe American made Scotch?

KeninDC · Jul 13, 2006

Grainger49 said:
But you may have noticecd, Jack and George don't say Bourbon anywhere on the bottle.

You are correct.

As for the Canadian whiskies, they are distant blended cousins of genuine bourbon. I used to mix Yukon Jack w/ Mountain Dew in my teens.

redcoates7 · Jul 13, 2006

Eagle Rare my friends...it's a sleeper. Less money than Woodford or Baker's and a lot nicer IMHO

edgewound · Jul 13, 2006

Grainger49 said:
Uh . . . no. Those are called blended whiskeys. I don't believe there is any Bourbon in them. Maybe American made Scotch?

Hey... I learned something, anyway. :yes:

I guess I'll just have to do more taste testing.

Grainger49 · Jul 13, 2006

Another jump in here. I really like the sweet tasting Bourbons. Jack, Makers Mark, Woodford.

But the pricing is bad. Is Eagle Rare sweet and more realistically priced?

Gonn'a make a drink, sit in front of the speakers for an hour.

Favorite Bourbon

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