Bourbon Whiskey

The "blue bags" thread sparked up what I thought was an interesting topic.


Fellow Hobbyists and of course Admired Providers:

Which is your favorite Bourbon Whiskey?


I have recently dove into the great debate myself and already have a clear favorite

Woodford Reserve


other honorable mentions are Maker's Mark, Sam Houston, Knob Creek, and Bulliet.




What does hobby land think?

Well being of Irish decent, Jameson or Bushmills is my favorite.

The best American whiskey is Jack Daniels, but not everyone likes the charcoal filtered flavor and caramelize the wood barrels.

I also believe whiskey should never be mixed with anything. Straight from a shot glass is the only way.

I usually drink Jim or Jack, but 1792 Ridgemont Reserve is by far the best I've ever had.

Well being of Irish decent, Jameson or Bushmills is my favorite.

The best American whiskey is Jack Daniels, but not everyone likes the charcoal filtered flavor and caramelize the wood barrels.

I also believe whiskey should never be mixed with anything. Straight from a shot glass is the only way. Originally Posted by Risn2TheOccasion

Irish whiskeys are not Bourbon.

A note about Bourbon. It can ONLY be made in the continental US. Bourbon must me made from a mash bill of minimum 51% corn, and the remainder can be rye, barley, or wheat. It must also be aged a minimum of 2 years in brand new oak barrels EVERY time. (this is what makes Jack Daniels NOT Bourbon as they reuse their barrels. Jack is Tennessee Whiskey) Canadian Whiskey is also not Bourbon. Bourbon can also not be blended. All of the distillate must come from the same distillery, and can contain 0% neutral spirit. For Bourbon to be labeled Straight Bourbon it must be at least 4 years old.

Kentucky makes the majority of the Bourbon in the US. While there are literaly hundreds of Bourbon brands there are less than a dozen distilleries in the whole state. So when you buy a bottle of Evan Williams it is actually made at the Heaven Hill distillery in Bardstown Kentucky. Makers Mark is owned by Jim Beam BUT the Maker's Distillery in Loretto ONLY makes Makers Mark. Sazerac makes several bourbons including George T Stagg, Pappy Van Winkle, Buffalo Trace, and Eagle Rare. They also make Thomas Handy Sazerac Rye, (An American institution in itself). Woodford is made by the Brown Forman company who also makes Jack and El Jimador Tequila etc... Two of my favs are Bulleit and 4 Roses, which are made at the 4 Roses distillery owned by Diageo (they make/own the following brands Crown, Smirnoff, Ketel One, Buchanan's Johnnie Walker etc... ad nauseum).

Some of my favs:

Bulleit: Dry Bourbon with a high content of Rye. Flavors similar to Canadian Whiskeys, mixes well or great on the rocks.

Maker's Mark: A wheated Whisky that has sweet Banana and Clove flavors. Great in Manhattans.

Buffalo Trace: Molasses sweetness, with a spicey finish. This is a slow sipping whiskey for sure. Please don't mix with coke.

Wooford Reserve: Woodford uses one of the heaviest barrel charrs in modern Bourbon. The barrels are burned on the inside and depending on the level of burn the darker and deeper the flavor. Woodford will sometimes give a burned rubber aroma and flavor. (This is a desired thing)

Eagle Rare: Sazerac's 10 year old single barrel whiskey. Single barrels will have a different flavor every release, but the bottle I have is spicey.

W.L. Weller: Employs one of the highest concentrations of corn, way more than the required minimum 51%. The flavor is reminiscent of buttered popcorn.

The Jim Beam Small Batch collection is also a good place to start enjoying good bourbon. Bookers is a barrel proof (no water added) bourbon. Its flavors disperse through the mouth as the whiskey evaporates on your tounge. Bakers is 107 proof, the alcohol is more evident than the flavor (probably my least fav of the Beam Small Batches) Basil Hayden is 80 proof and a sweet and soft sipping bourbon. Knob Creek is a 9 year 100 proof bourbon.

Do I have a favorite?

Yes.

Will I tell?

No....

Also check out the Russel's Reserve Bourbon and Rye. They are made by Jimmy Russel (Maker of Wild Turkey) and his son.

Irish whiskeys are not Bourbon.

A note about Bourbon. It can ONLY be made in the continental US. Bourbon must me made from a mash bill of minimum 51% corn, and the remainder can be rye, barley, or wheat. It must also be aged a minimum of 2 years in brand new oak barrels EVERY time. (this is what makes Jack Daniels NOT Bourbon as they reuse their barrels. Jack is Tennessee Whiskey) Canadian Whiskey is also not Bourbon. Bourbon can also not be blended. All of the distillate must come from the same distillery, and can contain 0% neutral spirit. For Bourbon to be labeled Straight Bourbon it must be at least 4 years old. Originally Posted by rekcaSxT

If only the reused barrels make it whiskey, wouldn't that make the first batch bourbon?

The barrels must be new when the clear distillate goes in. Then the spirit stays in for the full amount of time. They don't switch barrels every year.

Most used bourbon barrels are sold to tequila, and scotch producers. And some to other types of liquor makers like rum etc...

Was that the question you were asking??

The barrels must be new when the clear distillate goes in. Then the spirit stays in for the full amount of time. They don't switch barrels every year.

Most used bourbon barrels are sold to tequila, and scotch producers. And some to other types of liquor makers like rum etc... Originally Posted by rekcaSxT

So the first time they use the barrel (new) it would be bourbon, after that when they reuse the barrel it becomes whiskey. I guess it's because then it's mixed with the previous batch no matter if they clean the barrel or not right? I am going to have to go to the distillery again to see the process again, I didn't catch the part where they changed barrels out. Oh, and the samples arn't bad either

Jack Daniels.

So the first time they use the barrel (new) it would be bourbon, after that when they reuse the barrel it becomes whiskey. I guess it's because then it's mixed with the previous batch no matter if they clean the barrel or not right? I am going to have to go to the distillery again to see the process again, I didn't catch the part where they changed barrels out. Oh, and the samples arn't bad either Originally Posted by Sensei

Well at that point they can sell it as blended or simply American Whiskey. But like I said they usually sell the barrels.

Now in other parts of the world when they reuse barrels. The cooper dissassembles the barrel, strips the inside, reassembles the barrel and then recharrs the barrel.

And Bigmarv, as we have discussed Jack Daniels is NOT bourbon.

Last summer I was in Kentucky and we had a seminar by a stave company that builds the barrels. It would have been interesting if I wasn't suffering from the worst hangover of my life. I really wish I had been able to pay attention to what that guy said...

Ah Ok, according to my neighbor the fact that JD is charcoal mellowed is why it can't be legally called a bourbon. But we are going up there again to make sure.

That has kinda bugged me, because I have heard the same thing. BUT Evan Williams is Charcoal Filtered, and it is Bourbon. But Jack Daniels does reuse their barrels.

One thing is certain, JD is not bourbon, and they have no desire to be called bourbon. They are proud to be one of only 2 Tennessee whiskeys in existance.

Anyone know the OTHER Tennessee Whiskey???

Jack Daniels is a type of whiskey, more specifically it is considered a Tennessee whiskey, which is not actually a legal definition. It is a bourbon in every respect with the addition of filtering through sugar maple charcoal.