Anyone here know their Whisky/Bourbon? | FerrariChat
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Anyone here know their Whisky/Bourbon?

Discussion in 'Drink, Smoke, and Fine Dining' started by EnzymaticRacer, May 2, 2009.

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  1. EnzymaticRacer

    EnzymaticRacer F1 Veteran

    Feb 27, 2005
    5,367
    #1 EnzymaticRacer, May 2, 2009
    Hey Everyone,

    So today my girlfriend and I decided to head to the liquor store for the first time in quite a while, and I ended up buying a bottle of Blanton's Single Barrel Bourbon.

    I'm fairly young(24), but have found that I enjoy an occasional night-cap of a whisky/bourbon/scotch, but being young, I don't really have a budget that allows for this to be a regular occurrence...

    So I'm hoping that someone may be able to help me start to learn about these drinks... for the last year or two I have been drinking Jack Daniel's Single Barrel, and just noticed today that there is a "Jack Daniel's Single Barrel Special Reserve", but decided I wanted to branch out a little this time. I've had some scotches before, and have enjoyed most of those as well (except for the 12yr Dewars... yuck...) but can't remember what they were...

    I just had some of the Blanton's, and did enjoy it. I think it is a very smooth drink, easy on the way down, but stays with you for a while, so you can really take your time and go at whatever pace you want too. I just don't know how it compares to other bourbons out there, compared to the other 2 or 3 I've had, this is certainly the easiest to drink...

    Did I make a good choice?
     
  2. darth550

    darth550 Six Time F1 World Champ
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    #2 darth550, May 2, 2009
    Ballantines is decent in that budget range. Trader Joe's has some reasonably good scotch at low prices as well.
     
  3. Caporegieme

    Caporegieme Karting

    Dec 28, 2008
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    #3 Caporegieme, May 3, 2009
    Jack Daniels single barrel. It's smooth and taste good. Now, I had a Colorado micro brew that was surprisingly good. The name I don't remember. Colorado blah blah. it good. I had to laugh, when I saw it on the history channel a couple of months ago.
     
  4. tatcat

    tatcat F1 World Champ
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    #4 tatcat, May 4, 2009
    bourbon is american. whisky comes from different locales. you did good with the blantons, very smooth. if you want to step it up a notch try bookers. it's a barrel proof bourbon. my favorite is old weller antique 107
     
  5. EnzymaticRacer

    EnzymaticRacer F1 Veteran

    Feb 27, 2005
    5,367
    #5 EnzymaticRacer, May 4, 2009
    I'm not laughing... thats my other bottle!

    Thanks for the tip... I'll try to keep that in mind.

    Thanks for the other suggestions as well.
     
  6. UroTrash

    UroTrash Four Time F1 World Champ
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    #6 UroTrash, May 4, 2009
    Try some Knob Creek. Sweet as dessert straight up.
     
  7. CornersWell

    CornersWell F1 Rookie

    Nov 24, 2004
    4,896
    #7 CornersWell, May 4, 2009
    Never been a fan of Blanton's.

    I don't think you can beat Woodford Reserve. Best value per $.

    CW
     
  8. UroTrash

    UroTrash Four Time F1 World Champ
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    #8 UroTrash, May 4, 2009

    Last year I went to the beach without my Knob Creek.

    Liquor store there only had the Woodford Reserve and only in the 1.75 liter bottle.

    So I got it.

    Harsh as gasoline.

    I gave the rest of the bottle to an unsuspecting friend.
     
  9. Etcetera

    Etcetera Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #9 Etcetera, May 4, 2009
  10. ST&A

    ST&A Formula Junior

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    #10 ST&A, May 4, 2009
    These are my 3 favorites each one has a great sweet taste with out the harsh taste that most Whiskey's leave.
    1.Knob Creek
    2.Makers Mark
    3.Gentleman Jack

    Like i said my opinion.
     
  11. blockhead

    blockhead F1 Rookie

    Jan 21, 2008
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    #11 blockhead, May 4, 2009
    I think Makers Mark is quite decent for the money-- $18/fifth. Very smooth, decent taste. Not ultra-premium but good for the price.
     
  12. Coolhand

    Coolhand Karting

    Mar 30, 2007
    193
    Overland Park Kansas
    #12 Coolhand, May 5, 2009
    I recently bought a bottle of Blanton's mainly out of curiosity. I think that Blanton's is okay, but not worth the $60 per bottle price tag. The best way that I can describe my Blanton's experience is pretentious. It attempts to muscle its way to the top shelf with an air of arrogance associated with that little horse on the bottle cork, but in a head to head comparison with Maker's Mark, I actually enjoyed the much less expensive Maker's Mark more than the Blanton's. The Blanton's seems very flat and monotone in it's flavor complexity. In my humble opinion if you are looking for a good "upscale" bourbon the best option in the $40-$60 price range is Basil Hayden's.


    In my opinion, the best bourbon's by price bracket:

    "Cheap" bourbon (less than $40/bottle:) Maker's Mark

    "Upscale" bourbon ($40 to $60/bottle:) Basil Hayden

    "Top Shelf" bourbon (greater than $60/bottle:) Pappy Van Winkle 23 Year
     
  13. MikeMac

    MikeMac Formula Junior

    Feb 26, 2008
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    #13 MikeMac, May 5, 2009
    Woodford Reserve
    Eagle Rare
    Maker's Mark
    Knob Creek
    Buffalo Trace

    Any of the above are very good, IMO.
     
  14. tamf328

    tamf328 Formula Junior

    Mar 9, 2005
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    #14 tamf328, May 5, 2009
    I tried
    Woodford
    Evan Williams
    Knob Creek
    Jack

    I liked them all, kind of like Woodford more though.
    Evan Williams was good too and cheap.
     
  15. stealthie

    stealthie Rookie

    Oct 6, 2007
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    #15 stealthie, May 5, 2009
    You talking about Stranahans? It's some great whiskey, but it's way too expensive for me to drink it regularly.

    http://www.bevmo.com/Shop/ProductDetail.aspx?N=40+4294966548+4294967255&area=Spirits&ProductID=24312&Ns=Name|0
     
  16. CornersWell

    CornersWell F1 Rookie

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    #16 CornersWell, May 5, 2009
    Stranahan's is excellent. I get it at CostCo for $46 a bottle.

    CW
     
  17. MikeMac

    MikeMac Formula Junior

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    #17 MikeMac, May 5, 2009
  18. CornersWell

    CornersWell F1 Rookie

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    #18 CornersWell, May 5, 2009
    Then you'd hate to know what I pay for my Scotch!

    CW
     
  19. MikeMac

    MikeMac Formula Junior

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    #19 MikeMac, May 5, 2009
    I guarantee your scotch is a lot older than 2 years, for that price!

    It's all relative.
     
  20. EnzymaticRacer

    EnzymaticRacer F1 Veteran

    Feb 27, 2005
    5,367
    #20 EnzymaticRacer, May 6, 2009
    $60 bucks? Wow... I bought it for $37 (on sale... regular price of $45)...

    My girlfriend and I went to dinner with her boss last night, so I took that opportunity to try some others..

    Started off with a Knob Creek with 2 ice-cubes, which I enjoyed. I then tried Jameson's Irish Whisky as it was recommended by the bartender. I thought that was ok, but not as good as the Knob Creek, almost too much going on for my taste, but it was OK. Not as good as a Jack's Single barrel in my mind...

    then at some point I told the bartender that I really dont like Gin, so she tried to talk me into trying a Ginger Gin Martini because she said thats the one Gin drink she likes, so the three of us split one...

    I still don't like Gin... but found out that I enjoyed the Knob Creek, and Jamesons is OK, but will probably only ever drink that again if there are no other options...

    Will try Makers Mark next time I go out, since it seems to be getting some serious recommendations from everybody here.

    Thanks for all of the replies
     
  21. hezgon

    hezgon Formula Junior

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    #21 hezgon, May 6, 2009
    My business partner and I bought a barrel of Jack about 2 years ago. Sat down with Jim Bedford and tried three samples from different barrels. The one we picked had a hint of vanilla, very smooth on the rocks. Ended up with 242 bottles!! Have less than 40 left.

    When out if Single Barrel is not available, Makers Mark and water works from me.
     
  22. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    #22 BigTex, May 6, 2009
    Irish whiskey is a different tates from US bourbons....

    Jameson
    Tullemore Dew
    I'll have to see what others..


    Jim Beam has an 8 year old now..

    Try Elijah Craig, they have a 12 year old and the top shelf is 18 year old...

    Bookers is by the Jim Beam brewers, it's 134 Proof, use it in friut cakes at your own risk...Google "Booker Noe" and read a few of his quotes....
     
  23. CornersWell

    CornersWell F1 Rookie

    Nov 24, 2004
    4,896
    #23 CornersWell, May 6, 2009
    True, true. Admittedly, even I wince at the prices on the 25 year. But, still, life's too short to drink crappy booze.

    CW
     
  24. MikeMac

    MikeMac Formula Junior

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    #24 MikeMac, May 6, 2009
    I agree with that wholeheartedly. If $50 was the going rate for top shelf bourbon (or whiskey in Stranahan's case), then I'd pay it. But it's not, so I won't.

    I'd give them a shot at $25-30.
     
  25. Arvin Grajau

    Arvin Grajau Seven Time F1 World Champ

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    #25 Arvin Grajau, May 7, 2009
    makers Mark neat.
     
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