I'm just entering the world of bourbon. Got a bottle of Four Roses Single Barrel 100 proof for Christmas. It is incredibly delicious and unbelievably smooth. Has anyone tried it? Also...a question. What does "chewy" mean in describing a bourbon?
I picked up some Buffalo Trace today. It doesn't seem a very complex dram here in this first tasting. Perhaps it needs to air more, and I need to be less beset by allergies. :ashamed001
With the unseasonably cold temperatures, my typical cold beer is starting to lose its luster. I'm thinking perhaps some Jimmy Beam, George Dickel or Maker's Mark this weekend.
I do love me some bourbon! Quite some years ago, I read an article about small batch bourbons that was highly informative. Went out to a bar that had them in stock and gave them a try with a friend I dragged along for company. I was sold, and the bourbon has been my main drink ever since. Right now, I have a bottle of Wathen's Single Barrel that is going down quite smoothly. Also, I enjoy Knob Creek a lot. Typically, I enjoy it neat, though I need to learn how to make a Manhattan. When the brother-in-law comes over, I break out the Even Williams (the black label, not the single barrel). It goes good in Coke! But somebody please tell me, what is 'branch water' anyway?
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1248/what-is-branch-water I'm guessing spring water would work just as well.
I really enjoy Old Grand Dad 86 proof, and Jim Beam. I would like to try Maker's Mark one day. Never Tried Evan Williams, Early Times, or Heaven Hill. Are any of those good? I read that he reason its called Bourbon is because its made in a county named Bourbon in Kentucky. Also like JD although its not a bourbon, would like try try Gentleman Jack twice charcoal filtered whiskey someday.
I partake of the spirits ocassionally. Bourbon is obviously a Ky product everything else is wannabes. Being a Ky man I partial to spirits born from the finest limestone filtered spring water of the Ky hills. I find most all of them to be fine spirits. Wild turkey being my least favorite. Rare breed is an exception. I really enjoy blantons, woodford reserve and basil haydens. Booker noe is also excellent.
I'm currently drinking Makers 46 which is Maker's Mark's new high end bourbon. It's good, but my all time favs (not in any particular order) are - Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit (Their top of the line) Noah's Mill Old Fitzgerald Very Special Black Maple Hill Old Rip Van Winkle Actually I've found all the small batch bourbon's I've bought, to be of a good standard - unlike single malt scotches, which can be a real crap shoot, in fact, a real expensive crap shoot.
Makers Mark Old Forester Four Roses Pappy Van Winkle Bookers I was at a tasting that Booker Noe hosted way back in the day and he said to bring out the taste in the hotter boubons you should cut them with a splash of branch water.. So, I'll freeze up a bottle or two of Evian into small cubes.
Two terms every Bourbon drinker should know; neat means no ice and perfect is a term for an equal parts mix of sweet and dry vermouth. Anything using vermouth can be ordered perfect.
Knob Creek Makers Mark Woodford Reserve There are probably dozens more, I just have not had the pleasure of tasting them!
I love whiskeys and I really love a good bourbon. Many fine bourbons have been listed here. I agree with several posters that Buffalo Trace is a good value. But my all time favorite is- A.H. Hirsch Reserve, sadly, someday it will be no more. :sad023
Actually, these days I only imbibe on occassion...but +2 on the Jack Black, Remy Martin VSOP, Glenfiddich Single Malt...But Jim Beam is always like coming home, and they have it in every bar in the world...Smooth as an Injector Shave .. I remember on cruise ships they had coolers by the pool filled with ice and cans of Jim Beam and Coke Pre-mixes...remember those? Man, I just saw you cats are getting single barrel bourbon for $26...In the Middle East a 5th of Jim Beam is like $50 to $75...The way Mike discribed that Eagle Rare, has my mouth watering...
Woodford Reserve is my favorite, but I also like Knob Creek so I suppose I should try Makers Mark. Scotch is my first choice-Lagavulin.
Evan Williams is my staple though haven't sampled a whole lot of others...I actually use it in my chile recipe...:drool