Thread: Bourbon!

Originally Posted by Ryan82

Someone dug up this gem of a thread, eh?

Since I wrote the above I picked up a bottle of Woodford Reserve at the airport duty free in Puerto Vallarta a couple months back, and all I can say is wow! Such flavor bursting forth, such a smooth finish. I think I'll give WR a slight edge over the Rare Breed.

I really like WR too; in fact, if it was't quite so expensive, it would be in my regular rotation!

The mint Julep is a wonderful beverage!!! I & the wife tried it tonite and we loved it. Thanks so much for the recipe. So easy too. The WR is excellent!

Cheers!

I make it a tradition to always serve Mint Juleps during the Kentucky Derby...whether I watch it or not. A number of years ago I went to a wedding up in Vermont on that first weekend in May and asked for one at a local bar when we all went out. The bartender didn't even know how to make one! Tragic.

Goog

woodford would be my favorite i also like makers mark and knob creek
and ill drink the jim beam as well.......
if you ever come across this disaster called TEN HIGH......turn around and walk away fast as you can

I just had Basil Hayden's this past weekend. Very good. Smooth!!

Originally Posted by MrMike

Buffalo Trace. It's $30 a bottle, and better IMHO than pretty much any bourbon out there. Basil's is good too, when I go out its usually Knob Creek because that's what they have. Jefferson's Reserve, Woodfords and Bookers are also nice. But Buffalo is the best I've ever had.

+1 on Buffalo Trace, though I heard from some folks who live down there that they've been shunned by the bourbon community in Kentucky as a of late owing to their withdrawing from the Bourbon Trail earlier this year.
See:
State-Journal.com - Buffalo Trace leaves the Bourbon Trail

They are still really worth a visit if you are in the area. Their distillery tour is almost as good as Maker's Mark, but Maker's has such a great spread out there that it can't be beat.

Ah, bourbon. Knob Creek's my perennial favorite. I'm surprised no one has mentioned (or else I missed it) Elijah Craig, which to my taste is a very close second. I like Booker's as well, but I find that the high proof can overwhelm the other qualities of the whiskey. The mentions of Buffalo Trace have got me interested in trying that as well.

This thread makes me wish I could keep a bottle and a shot glass at my desk. I'm sure an occasional sip (plus a pipeful of Mac Baren's Scottish Blend or St. James Woods) would make the day go much better and do wonders for the quality of my work. Alas, it cannot be.

~Rich

My next bottle will be Four Roses, Single Barrel. Anyone ever had it? To what would you compare it? Is it worth the price?

My amazing discovery of the year is Maker's Mark. It's a bit spendier than my normal fair (Jim Beam) but absolutely worth every penny. Traditionally, bourbon is a Fall/Winter drink for me but Maker's Mark may have changed that. Particularly in one, fantastic ****tail here's how to make it:

1. Fill a glass with ice
2. Pour in 2-3 fingers of Maker's Mark
3. Top off the glass with Canda Dry Ginger Ale
4. Take a slice of lime, squeeze the juice into the drink and drop the lime slice in (Corona style)

In the warmer months, I normal lean towards cold beers or gin and tonics but this drink is citrusy and quite refreshing. I'll likely drink them throughout the hot months as well.

Originally Posted by 1OldGI

My amazing discovery of the year is Maker's Mark. It's a bit spendier than my normal fair (Jim Beam) but absolutely worth every penny. Traditionally, bourbon is a Fall/Winter drink for me but Maker's Mark may have changed that. Particularly in one, fantastic ****tail here's how to make it:

1. Fill a glass with ice
2. Pour in 2-3 fingers of Maker's Mark
3. Top off the glass with Canda Dry Ginger Ale
4. Take a slice of lime, squeeze the juice into the drink and drop the lime slice in (Corona style)

In the warmer months, I normal lean towards cold beers or gin and tonics but this drink is citrusy and quite refreshing. I'll likely drink them throughout the hot months as well.

What you've got there is a classic highball ****tail known as a Bourbon Buck - a perennial favorite! BTW, a "buck" is any highball made with ginger ale and citrus. Makers is a good bourbon for bucks. I used to like Makers a lot, but after drinking Knob and Bookers, Makers started to taste a little too sweet for me.

Cheers!

Larry