Never was a bourbon guy but I saw a bottle in the liquor store today and bought it after all the rave reviews here.....Pretty good.

Try Makers Mark.............

MM

Bulleit's even better. And Knob Creek 'Single Barrel Reserve' is the nectar of the Gods...!

I actually find that one a bit hot going down.

Hot damn...I'd just as soon drink diesel fuel!!

I have some and cant give it away! I admit im not a drinker, but this is some nasty stuff

Rave reviews? It's all right but isn't favorite of the real whiskey guys here. It is maybe a step above regular Beam which is considerably cheaper. As was said, in the same vague price range, Bulleit is better. Henry McKenna is cheaper and better.

Maker's was THE whiskey here on the 'fire until some people discovered a cool Buffalo on the label of one that cost about the same. Since then its been hardly mentioned.

Old grand dad is where its at

Advertising can get ya Im just not into whiskey. I can do jack and coke or some yukon and coke. But never could take anything like that straight. I can get some Midnight Moon down good, but from now on ill stick to uncle mikes lemonade...lol. That makers mark though, tried giving it away and nobody I know likes it. Itll find its way into the toilet once im tired of lookin at it.

I've had my fair share of both and my choice has nothing to do with the picture on the label-I'll take Buffalo Trace every time over Maker's Mark in their price range. To me, MM is just too harsh, and this is coming from a guy who drinks some of the cheaper wbiskeys, bourbons and scotches out there and I have no trouble tipping any of those cheaper brands bottom up and pulling straight from the bottle. Believe me, I'm no sissy when it comes to drinking straight whiskies, whether from a glass with a bit of ice or straight from the bottle or even tossing back a double shot, neat.

Maker's just has too harsh a finish for many to find it enjoyable, even a guy who handles whiskey like I do.

Bookers, Bakers, Basil Haydens are all very good and not too expensive.
Makers is great with a couple rocks, if you do that sort of thing with bourbon.
For mixing, an EW Black and 7 or ginger ale is just as good as many more expensive.
Cheers

Tried a bottle myself after reading about it here. Was decent enough, but wasn't overly impressed. But then again I'm content with some Beam.

My girlfriend and I sat down with Buffalo Trace, Woodford Reserve Double Oaked, Makers 46, Colorado Gold, Wild Turkey 101, Judges Choice ( another local made from Olathe Sweet Corn), Breckenridge Bourbon, and Knob Creek two nights ago. Buffalo Trace seemed pretty harsh in comparison. The Wild Turkey was way up there, Breck Bourbon and Woodford too. Below that was the Colorado Gold, Makers 46, Knob Creek and Judges Choice. That bottom end was just much harsher and with little taste or depth compared to the mostly run of the mill Scotches and Irish I've been playing with.

Heard lots of good things about Buffalo Trace here and wasn't impressed at all.

Buffalo Trace and Makers Mark are a little harsh if you drink them neat.. Where they shine is with the folks who like to splash a little water on their bourbon, and despite what you read, there are plenty who don't drink straight up whisky. I drink it in a highball or a Dixie cup filled with ice and a healthy splash of tap water. I don't do neat...unless its IPA or Brown Lager.

Rowan's Creek is still tops in my book.

Eagle Rare

Yep

I've never liked Maker's Mark.

I'm not a bourbon drinker, but Eagle reserve isn't too bad.

-Ken

I had a couple of shots of bourbon on the last flight over as they were out of gin. I knew better.

Evan Williams

You drink Hot Damn? That's just gay!

Weller for me. It's another wheated bourbon.

Buffalo trace is good inexpensive bourbon. My bourbon of choice is Wild Turkey Rare Breed. It's $36 a fifth though.

Ron

add ice..............

Buffalo Trace owns WL Weller, Sazerac,, Ancient Age, Van Winkles, Lee, Old Charter and Blantons among others. If you truly enjoy the finish of BT, cut to the f'ing chase and stock Blantons for mid shelf and Pappy 15, 20 or 23 on top......

That ruins the flavor and aroma. I prefer to cut it a bit with still spring water.

Common ownership doesn't imply they all have the same mash bill or wood/warehouse regime.

Ya ' f'ing think? Maybe being the Campfire ex drip under pressure you can 'splain it to me. My family's only been in the business since 1934...

Please explain it to me.

Do the BT, Blanton's and Pappy share those things? Or no, but they still share the same finish?

Thanks.

As a native of central Kentucky, I grew up around the Bourbon Industry and my family has always been associated with it. My Dad was involved with printing labels for bottles, my maternal grandfathers family supplied iron and other hardware to the cooperage industry, and I just discovered that two relatives actually owned distilleries in the 1880s. Although mostly retired, I work two or three days a week for a local distillery.

From my long association with the industry I have come to the conclusion that the bourbon you like is the bourbon you like. One person likes Chocolate ice cream, the next one likes vanilla. The same with bourbon. What you like is the best one available.

The three great Whiskeys of the world come from three different grains. Scotch is made from barley, Canadian from rye and Bourbon primarily from corn. For additional flavor, either rye is added to the bourbon grain bill to spice it up, or wheat is added for a softer flavor. Either way, barley is added to make for more efficient fermentation.

But to make this corn whiskey become bourbon, it has to be aged for some time in charred, white oak barrels. Good bourbon can be had in four years, excellent bourbon in eight, and superb takes a minimum of 10 to 12. Older bourbons can be obtained, but returns are diminishing.

I personally use eight year old bourbons for cocktails and ten to twelve year olds for sipping.

I asked you since you're the expert. But... BT and Blanton's do... Just SB vs blend...Pappy"s is nectar... ( but you knew that!) ~grin~

And fwiw, we sell more Rare Breed to truly sophisticated patrons (as in the Allen Conference) hint: 12% of the F400...than any other bourbon...

I didn't say I knew the mash bills offhand.

Anyway, what's the deal with Van Winkle Lot B? It's been unobtanium lately.

I'm not Fortune anything, but my posts over time show I'm a solid fan of Wild Turkey Rare Breed. I prefer it over many more expensive spirits.

Edit: Forgot to ask, which facets of the business are your family in?

Buffalo Trace is great on ice....

I know that. I actually admire your acuity for one self taught. My family is the largest purveyor of spirits in a number of resort areas. I"m an engineer who was roped into being a part of the whole darn thing through my 4 years in Scotland, 8 years in Canada and 3 years in Japan (lots here would crap if they knew how many distilleries are Nippon owned)...

In my liquor cabinet up in my den and when I am on a good hunting trip, Kicken Chicken (Wild Turkey for you outside Montana)is my choice on ice. My two daughters always make sure I get a Rare Breed for Christmas.

Have you opened a bottle of Blanton's and its nose was heavy with pipe tobacco? When I get a bottle like that I'm taken back forty years and I remember my Dad lifting the top of the tobacco container on his pipe stand.

I need to try Buffalo Trace but no ice or splashes of anything in mine! Everyone's tastes are different I suppose.

Here are my standbys:

Low bucks: Elijah Craig, Wild Turkey Rye

Medium bucks: Woodford, Knob Creek

More bucks: Pappy

Never cared much for Maker's but the last bottle I got as a gift was much better than any I remember. Also didn't care too much for Bulleit or Bulleit Rye. Not bad, just a little disappointed. I guess I was expecting more, especially the Rye.

I do think its possible to get average bottles, and sometimes great bottles of the same make/vintage. Like cigars, it might be best to give a brand a try or three before making any final conclusions.

Not really. One just has to know where the questioned unobtanium exist and/or made available.

However, serendipity plays into this as well. :-)

What did your last fifth of B cost you? (Not counting gifts)

I was recently introduced to Old Forester. Had not tried it before, but was pleasantly surprised for its' price point.

Both the 86 and 100 proof model were very drinkable for me.

After seeing whut you and the others slug down at the Pig Hunt, ya sure ain't qualified to be a critic!!! Ya'll had VERY high standards...it had to contain at LEAST 50% alcohol!!!

, I cant drink fire water, it's can be very expensive.

Gunner

You mean I gotta be "qualified" to be a critic? Holy moly.

I gotta get somebody like you to come help me drink through the course.....

I'll drive.

Gunner

Bless your heart....You're better off. I've stunted my growth drinking the devil's dishwater...

It's a good thing, you might have got big er something. LOL

Gunner

After doing some research, I have decided on George Dickel, eight year old as my favorite. In my opinion it is better than the twelve year old. Can't say that I have tried all of them but I have tried a lot. miles

Edit to add: AND a funnel!!!!

Buffalo Trace neat has been a favorite of mine for some time. I first heard about it here at the Fire, tried it, and got hooked.

I very much enjoy the taste, and it nicely takes the sharp edges off of the vicissitudes of life.

But I'll also try some of the other bourbons mentioned here.

Steve

I'm definitely not an authority on bourbon.I do like Buffalo Trace and Makers but drink them as described here maybe that's why.

At what-120 proof?? Well yeah, it's going to be a bit warm.
I'll take the everyday run of mill KC small batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon all day long over most anything else out there.[in the cold months that is]

The thing is I enjoy several other high proof whiskeys without cutting them at all. That version of Knob Creek is still hot when cut to below 100 proof.

I'll admit-I've never had it. Once I tried the 100 proof KC I was hooked. I drink it neat only and haven't found a smoother[to me] 100 anywhere. Tried Woodford Reserve last winter, before the day was over I had gone back and bought KC.

The regular Knob Creek is fine with me. I just can't explain my reaction to the single barrel reserve.