Best & worst Bourbon?
Jun 7, 2017, 8:04 pm
#811
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: DL PM, MR Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,130
Per Food and Wine magazine, here are the 25 most important bourbons ever made. Note, Makers Mark came in #1 .
http://www.foodandwine.com/cocktails...vored-bourbons
http://www.foodandwine.com/cocktails...vored-bourbons
Weller is the top on the list of what I've tried (never had Pappy) and I actually agree with the Makers Mark #1 . It was the conduit from Jack & Coke in college to entering the world of Bourbon (and eventually scotch).
Recently been enjoying Baby Saz - hopefully one of these days I'll get my hands on the 18 year old to compare
Jul 3, 2017, 1:58 pm
#812
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: About 45 miles NW of MCO
Programs: Acapulco - Gold, Panama - Red, Timothy Leary 8 Mile High Club
Posts: 29,247
BamaVol Jr #3 gifted me with a bottle of Whistlepig rye and I accepted delivery of a set of 4 Glencairn tasting glasses this weekend so it seemed an appropriate time to open the bottle. I liked it a whole lot and will be sorry when the bottle is empty, which could be very soon. I cannot believe it's 100% proof.
Jul 3, 2017, 6:51 pm
#813
Moderator, Omni, Omni/PR, Omni/Games, FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Between DCA and IAD
Programs: UA 1K MM; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 67,136
BamaVol Jr #3 gifted me with a bottle of Whistlepig rye and I accepted delivery of a set of 4 Glencairn tasting glasses this weekend so it seemed an appropriate time to open the bottle. I liked it a whole lot and will be sorry when the bottle is empty, which could be very soon. I cannot believe it's 100% proof.
I used VA ABC's once-a-year 20% off coupon a couple of weeks back to get their Old World Madeira Finish 12 year rye, which at $120 I'd never spring for without the discount. It's quite tasty, though.
Aug 10, 2017, 12:36 pm
#815
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: DFW
Posts: 8,036
BamaVol Jr #1 texted me yesterday from an Irish pub in Eugene Oregon. He and his wife were splitting a double pour of Pappy 18. At $87, he proclaimed it "worth the price" and also remarked that he would likely never do that again. Same opinion. There are better values although probably not better bourbons. He followed it with a glass of Blanton's, not normally a disappointment, but it was this time.
BamaVol Jr #3 gifted me with a bottle of Whistlepig rye and I accepted delivery of a set of 4 Glencairn tasting glasses this weekend so it seemed an appropriate time to open the bottle. I liked it a whole lot and will be sorry when the bottle is empty, which could be very soon. I cannot believe it's 100% proof.
BamaVol Jr #3 gifted me with a bottle of Whistlepig rye and I accepted delivery of a set of 4 Glencairn tasting glasses this weekend so it seemed an appropriate time to open the bottle. I liked it a whole lot and will be sorry when the bottle is empty, which could be very soon. I cannot believe it's 100% proof.
Aug 10, 2017, 1:16 pm
#816
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: About 45 miles NW of MCO
Programs: Acapulco - Gold, Panama - Red, Timothy Leary 8 Mile High Club
Posts: 29,247
Aug 10, 2017, 1:17 pm
#817
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Baltimore MD
Posts: 3,457
Love love love Weller 107...
I'ld pay $87 for a pour of the 18.... There are a couple of one off bottling of 18 yo van winkle... though I'm not sure they've ever born the Pappy name.
Van Winkle Special Reserve 18yr, Binny’s Single Barrel, 121.6pf – 2003
Van Winkle Family Reserve 18yr, Park Ave Single Barrel, 2003
Old Rip Van Winkle Blue Smoke 18yr, 92.6pf, ~2003
I'ld pay $87 for a pour of the 18.... There are a couple of one off bottling of 18 yo van winkle... though I'm not sure they've ever born the Pappy name.
Van Winkle Special Reserve 18yr, Binny’s Single Barrel, 121.6pf – 2003
Van Winkle Family Reserve 18yr, Park Ave Single Barrel, 2003
Old Rip Van Winkle Blue Smoke 18yr, 92.6pf, ~2003
Aug 14, 2017, 11:12 am
#820
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: wirral
Programs: IC RA
Posts: 231
This 18 Y.O Van Winkle for Binny's (as shown above) sold for £8800 at Scotch Whisky Auctions last year. With commission and VAT that would be £9700
https://www.scotchwhiskyauctions.com...r-binnys-75cl/
That would make it £646.66 for a 50ML pour.
https://www.scotchwhiskyauctions.com...r-binnys-75cl/
That would make it £646.66 for a 50ML pour.
Aug 14, 2017, 7:40 pm
#821
Moderator, Omni, Omni/PR, Omni/Games, FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Between DCA and IAD
Programs: UA 1K MM; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 67,136
Was having some from bottles I hadn't tried in a while... realized how much I love Noah's Mill. Need to run across the border to MD and find another bottle now.
Aug 16, 2017, 6:37 pm
#822
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Earth. Residency:HKG formerly:YYZ
Programs: CX, DL, Nexus/GE, APEC
Posts: 10,688
This 18 Y.O Van Winkle for Binny's (as shown above) sold for £8800 at Scotch Whisky Auctions last year. With commission and VAT that would be £9700
https://www.scotchwhiskyauctions.com...r-binnys-75cl/
That would make it £646.66 for a 50ML pour.
https://www.scotchwhiskyauctions.com...r-binnys-75cl/
That would make it £646.66 for a 50ML pour.
Aug 28, 2017, 6:47 pm
#823
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SGF
Programs: AS, AA, UA, AGR S (former 75K, GLD, 1K, and S+, now an elite peon)
Posts: 23,194
Had a half pour each of WhistlePig Rye and Jefferson’s Reserve Ocean Aged with dinner tonight. Both quite good and of course very different, but I think I preferred the WhistlePig.
They had Elijah Craig 18, but I passed based on recommendations here that it’s over-aged.
Other high-rye options from their tasting serieswere 1792 Full Proof, Angel’s Envy, Blanton’s Gold Edition, Blanton’s Special Reserve, Booker’s Bluegrass, Four Roses Single Barrel, and Old Bones 10 Year. On the high wheat side, they had Garrison Bros. Texas, Old 55, and Willett Pot. Hope I didn’t massively miss out on anything I should have sampled!
They had Elijah Craig 18, but I passed based on recommendations here that it’s over-aged.
Other high-rye options from their tasting serieswere 1792 Full Proof, Angel’s Envy, Blanton’s Gold Edition, Blanton’s Special Reserve, Booker’s Bluegrass, Four Roses Single Barrel, and Old Bones 10 Year. On the high wheat side, they had Garrison Bros. Texas, Old 55, and Willett Pot. Hope I didn’t massively miss out on anything I should have sampled!
Aug 29, 2017, 10:30 pm
#824
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: SJC/SFO
Programs: WN A+ CP, UA 1MM/*A Gold, Mar LT Tit, IHG Plat, HH Dia
Posts: 6,284
Woodford Reserve is my mainstay among bourbons. I like its rich, sweet, and complex flavor. I've tried Woodford's Double Oak; I'm not a fan. It's too tart. Woodford Reserve Rye is okay. The basic Reserve is high-rye already, so the Rye is like that but moreso. 
Lately I've been drinking a bottle of Elijah Craig. At 94 proof it's like getting popped in the kisser. A bit of water or a small amount of ice smooths it out. It's grown on me over time (2/3 of the way through the bottle) but I still prefer Woodford Reserve.
Lately I've been drinking a bottle of Elijah Craig. At 94 proof it's like getting popped in the kisser. A bit of water or a small amount of ice smooths it out. It's grown on me over time (2/3 of the way through the bottle) but I still prefer Woodford Reserve.
Aug 30, 2017, 4:26 am
#825
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Knoteetingham
Programs: EY Gold, QF WP
Posts: 311
Managed to pick up a bottle of Makers Mark Cask Strength on my travels. 111.3 proof. After my earlier foray into cask bourbons being Bookers, I found this a big step down but after a couple of days it's growing on me. Nice mouth feel and a long finish.
Also snagged a bottle of Woodford Reserve Masters Collection, Brandy Cask Finish. A great illustration of the perils of buying without access to reviews (roaming data not enabled on the phone). A decent enough bourbon with a nicer nose and palate taste than standard WR, but not worth double the price (luckily I got it for about $80 against the normal $100).
Also snagged a bottle of Woodford Reserve Masters Collection, Brandy Cask Finish. A great illustration of the perils of buying without access to reviews (roaming data not enabled on the phone). A decent enough bourbon with a nicer nose and palate taste than standard WR, but not worth double the price (luckily I got it for about $80 against the normal $100).