Just cracked some 4 Roses Al Young - fantastic bottle.

Almost down to the last of my 2015 WLW :(

Sad news….per The NY Times.

Buffalo Trace Distillery will not release any George T. Stagg bourbon — a favorite among enthusiasts — this year, the Kentucky-based company said. Fans typically pay many times the suggested retail price of $99, if they can find a bottle.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/06/d...IjFqKPiUjTn5hU

Super disappointing. Not that any BTAC is easily obtainable, but there was way more Stagg than anything else and it was one of the tastier offerings in the lineup. Part of me is still trying to figure out how exactly this is an evil genius marketing play by Sazerac too…

Tried Willett Blackened today. I’m a lover of many things Willett (not Pot Still) but good lord was it horrendous.

Woodford Reserve alternative for a Woodford lush?

I'm looking for a gift for a friend who loves his Woodford (and as you say, why don't you just get a bottle of Woodford), life needs to be interesting, and if there's something similar or better at or around the same price point, I'd like to get that instead. I am the wrong person to ask, so I didn't ask myself for suggestions, but rather, you, the collective lushhood of Flyertalk. And please, nothing too obscure. Something generally available in the Northern Regions of the Great State of California, por favor!

Sincerely,
The Resident Wino

Resident Wino- I’d go with Four Roses Small Batch Select. Price point is around $55-$60 per bottle. Very nice pour.

That’s double the price of Woodford here. I don’t know of anything I like that is similar to Woodford and costs about the same. Possibly Basil Hayden’s if it’s only $5 more.

I saw it last week in Andorra for around 35 euros. I've said it before in this thread, Andorra is the best place in the world to shop for Alcohol. :)

You speak the truth. My sister, who lived in Andorra for a number of years said the same thing.

Buffalo Trace is my all time favorite. Buffalo Trace is the classic bourbon: it's smooth, well-balanced, and very easy to drink. Whether you're new to bourbon, this is a great place to start.

Any suggestions in the $30 range? I finally convinced my wife to try good bourbons and she's partially hooked. Some she likes, some not so much. Her tastes have trended toward the $50-$75 bottles I've purchased :). Trying to find something she'll like in the lower range.

We've tried the following, with varying degrees of success (her reaction in parens):
- Bulleit (so-so)
- Buffalo Trace (no)
- Four Roses, think it was small batch (she liked this, but thinks we can do better!)
- Elijah Craig (similar to Four Roses)
- Woodford Reserve (so-so)
- 1792 small batch (just purchased, not tried yet)

As I recall, her favorite so far was Michter's small batch (about $50). I'm wondering if I just can't get something that she'll love at this price point. Any ideas, experts?

I’m willing to bet she likes the 1792. But I think Knob Creek is the best deal in the bourbon aisle. So I hope she likes it for your wallet’s sake.

The "no" on Buffalo Trace throws me a bit on some of my go-to recommendations -- I think Buffalo Trace is the best value on the market if you can get at MSRP (or slightly above).

It's worth adding Makers Mark to the early testing -- see if she likes wheated bourbon (though that opens the door for Weller which you can't find at the $50 price point, at least in NC). Classic Maker's Mark is solid though it reminds me of drinking far too much on a consulting expense account in my early post-college days. These days I prefer the Cask Strength, Private Selection, or 46 are all very solid but unfortunately will put you in that $50 range instead of the $30 price range that regular MM is in.

Eagle Rare is another one to try (although the Buffalo Trace 'no' throws me off on that one) -- it should MSRP for $35-40 but is $50+ in a lot of places but if you can get at MSRP it's a really good one (it shows up every once in a while in NC at MSRP and I stock up).

Old Forrester is another one that gets touted quite a bit and they have a few offerings that fit into the $30 range. Personally I've never been a big fan (but I also am not a big fan of Four Roses which gets similar hype) so may just be my tastes.

Have you explored much rye? At the $30, I would look at: Sazerac (which can be had for $30-35), Rittenhouse, or Wild Turkey 101 Rye (only 101, the regular Wild Turkey Rye isn't great) -- all solid at the $30 level. If you go up toward $50 both Pikesville and Basil Hayden's Dark Rye are interesting options

Wild Turkey 101 is one of the best values out there that you can always find on the shelves. Along that line, moving up to Russel’s Reserve and Kentucky Spirit, you can find some great buys.

I know, I enjoy Buffalo Trace as well. I can't quite figure out her taste. I'm no expert, I just know what I like. But it's been fun trying a few different ones with her. Maybe she needs to give it another try.

Thanks to all for the suggestions - definitely a few in the 3 responses that I'll give a try! Old Forrester, in particular, is one I've had on my own list to sample. I've bought lots of Makers Mark and Knob Creek in my life, but probably not since she started. Easy to find, so these three are probably next in line.

As for rye, I'm not a huge fan. I like it in cocktails, but typically not straight. There's one I've tried at a food & wine festival that wasn't bad - may have been Redemption or Templeton. But appreciate those recommendations as well.