Comments on: Bourbon

By: Patrick

Patrick — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 05:23:51 +0000

Knowing that you thoroughly enjoy Maker’s I have to ask, have you tried Maker’s 46? Smooth, decently complex flavor, checking in at 94 proof and barely more expensive than regular Maker’s (at least in my go-to liquor store). I’ve been loving it for the short time it’s been out. What are your thoughts?

PL: It’s fantastic. Where standard Maker’s is a bit tangy, 46 is all smooth vanilla. I love the stuff.

By: Jason

Jason — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 21:55:35 +0000

Chris, I’m not really a bourbon expert, but there seems to be lots of good bourbon at the $30-$40 point, which is pretty affordable if like me you like Scotch.

I’ve found it a bit hard to find, but I became fond of Jefferson’s my senior year of college (IMO more enjoyable than Woodford).

http://www.wallywine.com/p-13482-jefferson-bourbon-750ml.aspx?affiliateid=10098

Basil Hayden is pretty nice too.

As for Woodford…you really need a few good icecubes in there. With Scotch I stick to little if any water and ice (eg, Laphroaig 10 really opens up from a DROP or two of water, while Laphroaig 15 doesn’t need any). Coming to accept that you should put ice in bourbon was a big step for me.

PL: Depends on the bourbon. Baker’s is a great neat. Woodford is, as you note, best with ice.

By: fv9

fv9 — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 21:33:54 +0000

Save your self some money and buy Old Forester. Woodford follows the Old Forester recipe but tweaks the yeast a bit (at least according to a friend who runs a few craft cocktail bars). They are very similar bourbons and Old Forester is only $15.

PL: Except that Old Forester has a nasty aftertaste. The better stuff doesn’t leave a reminder you’re drinking something fermented on the tongue. That’s the difference between $15 and $30.

By: chris

chris — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 18:03:31 +0000

What would you recomend for someone just starting out on bourbon with limited cash? Or should I just jump right into the good stuff?

PL: Turkey 101. It’s as smooth as any of the pricey stuff.

By: FuriousGeorge

FuriousGeorge — Sun, 09 May 2010 07:44:16 +0000

As a massive bourbon enthusiast I’d have to say I’m mighty disappointed you didn’t mention Jim Beam’s black label, or Jim Crow as I’ve grown to call it. It is essentially 10x better than Wild Turkey (which is really only good for whiskey-gingers/sours) and a hell-of-a-lot smoother than Knobb Creek with a very similar taste and only having slightly less alcohol/volume. As far a cost for quality I’d say it is number one in my book, crushing every other whiskey in its price range and then some. Really if I were to introduce someone to bourbon I would use Jim Beam’s black label to do so because of how smooth and delicious it actually is.

By: Ruggles

Ruggles — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 06:48:47 +0000

My hometown is actually where the Wild Turkey distilleries are–right on the Kentucky River. Also in that county you will find the Four Roses Distilleries. If you are ever unfortunate enough to find yourself in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, be sure to go on their tours. Not too far across the river is where the Woodford Reserve Distilleries are. And finally, about 60 miles SE of Lawrenceburg, and just south of Bardstown, the Bourbon capital of the world and home of the annual Kentucky Bourbon Festival, is the Maker’s Mark distillery near the small town of Loretto. Ah, one of the few advantages of living in central Kentucky.

PL: It’ll be like making the Hajj to Mecca for me. One day it has to happen.

By: Matt

Matt — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 09:56:01 +0000

As a regular business traveler to Lexington, KY I must say — make a trip to visit Bourbon County and the Bourbon Trail. The Woodford tour is pretty short but sampling the “Angel’s Share” in the storehouse is a religious experience. That, and you get to sample the entry-proof (110) version. Delightful.
PL: It will undoubtedly be a holy pilgrimage for me.

By: d

Thu, 27 Aug 2009 14:45:53 +0000

Hey I know it’s an old post but I thought I needed to also chip in about Woodford – it kicks ass. Woke up at 7 today feeling like a million bucks. Thanks.
PL: It’s the real Jesus Juice.

By: Sneaky Pete

Sneaky Pete — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 21:13:46 +0000

i just poured a maker’s mark. where have you been all my life? some of my friends joke that i might as well put some ice cubes in my bottles and drink it like that.
PL: Welcome to a whole new level of saucing. Once you’ve started drinking bourbon, all other alcohols are in a race for second place.

By: Nikita

Nikita — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 11:47:54 +0000

I live in Canada and there isn’t a variety of Burbon up here, I decided there must be something good in Turkey from reading a lot of Hunter S. About the same time I started reading your site, and I must say I probably would not have tried it had it not been promoted by some of my favorite authors.
You think Mark Twain was into the stuff?
Anyway great article, love it. Thanks for the en-culturing.
PL: I don’t know if Twain drank it, but I certainly wouldn’t be surprised, considering where he was from and his temperment.