The Wall Street Journal ran a good article Saturday on the best of bourbon. While they focuses on Pappy Van Winkle 23 year old, they also pointed out some other good hootch.

Eagle Rare 17
Willett Pot Still Rserve
Parker Heritage 27
Black maple Hill Small Batch
Blanton Single Barrel
Elmer Lee
George T. Stag

Is yours in the list?

I see Old Crow gets the snub again..

Nope.

I'm a Buffalo Trace guy. Have not heard of the ones they rated highly.

I think I need to try some of them as a matter of obligation.

Thanks for the info.

Steve

Nope, I have had the Eagle Rare before.

As with many things 'rags' brag on, most I can't procure locally.

Garrison Brothers Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey
http://www.garrisonbros.com/

Firestone & Robertson
http://www.frdistilling.com/whiskeys/StraightBourbon/2

Rebecca Creek Distillery
http://www.rebeccacreekdistillery.com/


Ranger Creek
http://www.drinkrangercreek.com/

True Blue
http://www.balconesdistilling.com/products

Blanton's is indeed some good smooth hootch.

Never heard of any of those.

In no particular order my bourbons are:

Cross Creek
Bulleit

I haven't had any of those brands listed. Maybe I'm just cheap, but Trader Joe's store label has become my favorite.

http://www.traderjoes.com/fearless-flyer/article.asp?article_id=1005

Blantons is the only I've even heard of and i've been drinking whiskey 40 years. Blantons is fine stuff.

Fred

I like Eagle Rare, Buffalo Trace, Henry Mckenna. Not necessarily in that order.

That's some good stuff on ice with a splash of Coke.

Need to tell us more.

Like a clean windowpane ...

The Rebecca Creek disappeared quickly, two years in a row, at the Hog Hunt...

'been diggin Bowman Brothers' lately - Small batch.

Not much to tell, it's just really good. It hits all the classic bourbon flavor notes, well balanced.

im not a big whiskey/bourbon drinker and ill even say that was some outstanding stuff....

Hmmmmm, Old Crow didn't make the list........again!

I think Old Crow seeps out of cracks in Grant's tomb.

I've probably found 20-25 old crow bottles on my land over the past 15 years. Never seem to find any others.

I am partial to Rowan's Creek, Bullitt and Old Fitzgerald. I do have a bottle of the Blanton single barrel, and it too, is tasty stuff.
Especially when you add some Coke, ice, and a slice of lime.

And you just ruined it.

When I drink I stay classy. R&R for me. The Rich and Rare taste of [bleep] whiskey hits the spot every time.

my kids do that

and

I agree "And you just ruined it"

Snake

That kind of stuff is what Old Crow and the like are for.

blantons

No Woodford Reserve folks?

Or Basil Hayden's?

Had some at my nephews last week. Not bad.





BP...

Tried it, didn't do anything for me. Went straight back and bought Knob Creek-the same day.

I've tried a lot of bourbons and for the money, my choice is Evan Williams 1783. Not the best bourbon, but one of the smoother for about $26 / 1.75 liters.

I think I had Jack Daniels once while in the Army. By default, I guess that's my favorite Bourbon.

I can't believe people defile good whiskey with coke. I use coke to clean battery terminals.

Fred

Saturday night....I liked the Angels Envy. Four Roses Single Barrel and Blantons are solid entries at the $50pp.

Jefferson Reserve 18yo is great bourbon as well.

Has anyone here ever had Booker's True Barrel? They have it in a store here, and if you believe the brags on the bottle it's supposed to be pretty great. A bit expensive but it is 121-127 proof.

Bulleit is the only bourbon I have drank that I would consider truly good.

Bulleit Bourbon and Bulleit Rye are excellent.

Four Roses Single Barrel and Eagle Rare are my faves. Don't know that I've had any on the OP's list -- so there's something to strive for before 2014 rolls around.

i'm a jack daniels, man with makers mark in line up

I've had Pappy's a few times but the price is ridiculous & it's impossible to find.

I just settle for Makers 46 or Buffalo Trace usually.

MM

Me, me, me!!!!


Ed

Never had any on that list.

Of what I've had my favorites in no order:

Buffalo Trace
Woodford Reserve
Jefferson's
Knob Creek
Wild Turkey 101
Wild Turkey Rare Breed

When I"m poor Jim Beam

Time to enter into Bourbon snob.

Jack Daniels is NOT a Bourbon. It is Tennessee Whiskey

Of the Tennessee Whiskies, I prefer Gentleman Jack.

Regular Black Label Jack Daniels with Coke is a favorite if I'm looking to mix.

Ask Steelhead I just sent him a bottle he got it today and already had a sampling

Fred,

You need to visit and let me take you to an SEC football game. You will appreciate bourbon and coke. Maybe the operative phrase is "good" whiskey, but it all tastes good on game day!

Nothing wrong with Jim Beam. Mixes with coke just fine on gameday. Ask me how I know!

Booker is good stuff. The bottle I have is about half gone now. I don't guzzle it.

I always liked that Rebel Yell, but I stay away from the poison now

Yup! Been there, Done that! Roll Tide

So how would you compare those to Booker's? Our store has that and Blantons, and unfortunately can't afford both.

I gave a bottle of that to a Captain in the Canadian army who was a couple of weeks from heading to Afghanistan for his second tour,...told him to take it with him.

I told him to make sure and share with the enlisted men.

He was dating a friend of my wife. They spent a week with us a few years ago,..and he was a big bourbon fan.

Personally, I can't stand the stuff, but I bought a lot of the local premium stuff for him to try out while he was here.

I joined him, but had Stoli instead.

He was ready to cry "uncle" by the time he left.

I bought him the bottle of Bookers his last day here.

Bookers in next on my list to try.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/27/us/f-booker-noe-ii-74-master-bourbon-distiller.html

It ought to be good.

,..and this.

http://www.liquorone.com/bonoebo.html

Great read, thanks for sharing!

Thirty years ago I was invited to hunt a couple of days on some very exclusive waterfowl property in western Kentucky. All of the guys in the blind with me for both of those days were all millionaires, and I didn't have a pot to piss in.

The bourbon of choice was Ezra Brooks.

I buy Blanton's and Woodford for my friends that think good bourbon has to be expensive to be good.

In Oscar, I bet.

Monkey's Eyebrow to be exact.

Van Winkle is very good but too expensive and too hard to find. Not worth it....

Blantons and Woodford are my favorites regardless of price. If price is a consideration then Buffalo Trace or Weller are the clear winners.

Noahs mill
jeffersons
knobs creek
woodford

Since Jack Daniels was eliminated as a bourbon, I guess only Wild Turkey 101 is left. I wouldn't know the taste of good bourbon from good bore cleaner, but 101 got you drunk efficiently.

That was in another life, haven't touched any distilled spirits in years and years.

I can tell you from long experience having drinks and cigars with a good number of very well off people (successful surgeons, attorneys, oil men and so on) that money and taste/discernment don't correlate well.

of the two, believe I would go with the Booker's. Just has a better taste on the tongue.

I need to ask about that 126 proof stuff - isn't that a little hot on the tongue to enjoy? Sort of the habenero pepper of bourbon?

no, the quality of the Bourbon is such, that it is pleasant on the tongue.

That know Creek's pretty hot Jeff, but I like it. Going to try the Jack Daniel Single barrel stuff next.

Think some of the Texas boys would agree, as that is where I got started, Old Weller 107 is a pretty neat drink!

Thanks!

the bookers is good, but I definately add a touch of water to it. somewhat strong on its own. And it is potent. Will sneak up on one if drank quickly

I picked up a bottle of Bulleit today. Gonna give it a try. I hear it's smooooth. Also got another bottle of my favorite bourbon...Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve. Best flavor in a bourbon that I've found so far.

Good list. Some are new names because I usually don't spend over about $25. I am partial to Canadian like Pendleton, 8 Seconds, Three Creeks.

There are now some new micro-distilleries in the West like Old West in Park City, UT.

Around a campfire Ezra Brooks, Jim Beam, and old Yellowstone are still mighty fine. It is fun to pull out some Blanton's or something special for friends you really like.

The Bulleit is pretty doggone good stuff.

Bookers and Bakers are VERY good stuff.

I'm drinking Knob Creek Single Barrel right now, using it in an Old Fashioned.

Different flavors for different things.

If it's worth doin'...it's worth doin' right. Drinkin' a good bourbon drink early in the day...and an Old Fashioned sounds good...that's doin' it right.