Bourbon

[bman40]

Hello all.

I am heading to Seattle from Vancouver BC this weekend, and am hoping to pick up a nice bottle of bourbon to bring home.

Can you give me any suggestions of something other than Jack Daniels?

I'm looking for something decent, not super-expensive but drinkable.

thanks gentlemen.

Barry

[Leche]

I don't think Jack qualifies as a bourbon because of the charcoal filtering process, could be wrong though. Knob Creek and Makers Mark are two very good bourbons IMHO at a very reasonable price.

[drunkentester]

Depends on what you consider "reasonable". I would pick up a bottle of Four Roses if you can find it. Great stuff.

--Dennis

[Greyfox]

Depends on what you consider "reasonable". I would pick up a bottle of Four Roses if you can find it. Great stuff.

--Dennis

+1. Highly recommend the 4 roses single barrel. should be in the $30-35 range.

[Duke of the Deck]

Definitely Makers Mark.

[NFlames]

Any one of the following:
(in no particular order)
prices are approximate.

1. Maker's Mark $20
2. Baker's $40
3. Eagle Rare 10yr $35
4. Blanton's $50

The Blanton's might be outside what you're willing to spend but it's definitely worth the price tag.

[professorchaos]

The confusion as to whether or not Jack is a bourbon stems from 1. marketing practices and 2. a rather broad legal definition of bourbon. According to the Federal law which codifies the making of bourbon, Jack Daniels appears to be a bourbon. (There is some debate over whether or not it continues to be bourbon after the Lincoln County Process (charcoal filtration).) A bourbon is not, however, a Kentucky bourbon unless it originates in Kentucky. Likewise, a Tennessee whiskey must be made in Tennessee and filtered through sugar-maple charcoal.

So lacking a more clear cut definition, one could therefore correctly consider Kentucky Bourbon and Tennessee Whiskey sub-types of bourbons.

Bottom line: JD and GD market themselves as Tennessee whiskey, the gents in Kentucky market their products as Kentucky bourbons. The distinction suits me just fine.

[DVDTracker]

3. Eagle Rare 10yr $35

I'll second this one. Tried some last night and was very satisfied, so I went and bought a bottle for myself.

I prefer Knob Creek to Maker's Mark, but you wouldn't go wrong with either.

[NFlames]

I prefer Knob Creek to Maker's Mark, but you wouldn't go wrong with either.

I'm just the opposite But in my experience with bourbon and bourbon drinkers it usually comes down to one or the other (on the scale of entry level "higher end" bourbons, an oxymoron I know but they are just a tad higher in price than say a Jim Beam white or black label) but I concur that both are very drinkable. I'd also add to the list Wild Turkey Rare Breed or Russell's Reserve. I don't think any list of bourbons would be complete without something from Jimmy Russell

[Jac]

I prefer Knob Creek to Maker's Mark, but you wouldn't go wrong with either.

+1

I started with whiskey on Maker's, but I've come to prefer the spiciness of rye to the more mellow wheated bourbons. But that's a personal preference, and certainly not an indication that they're not good.

[TimmyBoston]

Hello all.

I am heading to Seattle from Vancouver BC this weekend, and am hoping to pick up a nice bottle of bourbon to bring home.

Can you give me any suggestions of something other than Jack Daniels?

I'm looking for something decent, not super-expensive but drinkable.

thanks gentlemen.

Barry

Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 year Lot B. It's so good, it will make all these others listed taste like Jack Daniels.

[Donner]

I'm not a big Knob Creek fan. Makers is our drinking bourbon, but when we want to get 'fancy' we head for the Woodford Reserve.

[arghblech]

Gotta second the Woodford Reserve.

[bb557]

I would also add Booker's to the list.

[ratcheer]

See if you can find Elmer T. Lee single barrel. It is the same whiskey as its more expensive brothers, Blanton's and Rock Hill Farms. The last time I bought it, it was less than $25.

Another idea would be 114-proof Old Grand Dad. Or, 10-year old Wild Turkey Russell's Reserve.

Tim

[bman40]

lots to look for this weekend.

Barry

[el_zorro]

Here in the midwest we dont consider Jack bourbon. It is Tennessee Whiskey. Bourbon is from Kentucky and is spelled differently, it is Whisky. There are a number of good ones, the barrel reserves are the best choices but it may be difficult to find in Seattle. Woodford Reserve is a good one, Evan Williams is another good one. The ones you can find anywhere in the US are the ones mentioned here, Knob Creek, Makers Mark and Jim Beam. Of these 3 Markers Mark is my favorite and became very popular a few years ago after a cover story in the Wall Street Journal. If you order bourbon and get Jack, the bartender does not know his/her bourbon very well. You should get Jim Beam at a minimum.

[D.Irving79]

old grandad. if its not the higher proof bottle dont even bother.

i used to drink jim beam like water, so i will recommend it.

knob creek is always a good one.

[Dubbya]

I don't think Jack qualifies as a bourbon because of the charcoal filtering process, could be wrong though. Knob Creek and Makers Mark are two very good bourbons IMHO at a very reasonable price.

You are correct sir. JD is a Tennessee Sipping Whiskey because of the filtering, and the fact that it comes from Lynchburg.

A good bourbon that won't set you back too badly would be something like Wild Turkey Rare Breed, Knob Creek, and, the classic, Jim Beam Black Label. In a well crafted Bourbon, one should be able to taste the mash, just a little, as an aftertaste. It's a bit like overcooked corn. If this aftertaste is overly strong or bitter, you've gotten your hands on a bottle of the cheap stuff. It should be just a hint.

[Torcams]

Elijah Craig 12y
Knob Creek 9Y