I generally prefer Scotch or Irish Whisky, but sometimes I’m in the mood for Bourbon-style whiskey, so I like to keep a bottle of both Maker’s Mark and one of Woodford Reserve on hand.
I’m out of Maker’s Mark at the moment, but I keep hearing good things about Four Roses Small Batch, so I think I’ll substitute a bottle of that next time I buy some.
I wouldn’t describe Maker’s Mark as having a chemical after taste, but it definitely is distinct among Bourbons. Some times it’s exactly what I want, sometimes it is not at all what I want.
Also, I don’t like mixed drinks with Maker’s Mark, not just because I normally prefer sipping it, but I just don’t think its distinctive flavor works well for mixing.
Four Roses makes delicious bourbon. Find a store pick if you can, although if your area is anything like mine most of the bottle shops are doing Knob Creek picks right now. They’re great too though, if you see one — 12 to 15 years old, 120 proof, very good.
Maker’s Mark is a wheated bourbon, meaning the balance of the mashbill that isn’t corn, is (mostly) wheat. Its definitely different than bourbons that are more balanced or have a higher rye mashbill. Some folks like it, some don’t. I also don’t.
Glenlivet is nice, smooth stuff. And Crown Royal. But I’m just a small-time sipper.
My father once told me, the only good reason to drink alcohol is to enjoy the flavor… and one or at most two drinks’ worth is plenty to savor the flavor. I’ve stuck to that.
I’ve got a small cache of whiskies I’ll take a picture of when I’m back from nyc. While I’m up there, I should find some hard to find stuff in my area. I hate ABC.
I’ve sipped a few over the last 65 yrs or so.
Beer for younger yrs.
Army. Germany. Brandy cheaper than Beer in NAAFI stores.
in ’mid ’70’s, introduced to JW Whiskey. Hmmm Yea OK.
Black. Better. Double Black smooth. Hooked.
Then somebody brought me a bottle of 10yr. Glenlivet.
and sampled some others.
Hmm. Better than the double Black. That leaves a afterburn
till you halfway down glass and throat numb.
Brother gave me a bottle of (Isle of skye) Glenfarclass 15 yr 46 proof.
Nectar. nowadays drift t’ween that, and Taliskers 10/12yr. 46 proof.
Those 3 suit my old palate.
But I must say. a bottle of Taliskers “Skye” in blue box.
Hits my heart nicely. and $88AUD at export price fits my wallet too.
BIL is a pilot. In and out of Aust 3 times a week.
Visitors… Dimple does for them.
I can feel the Skye calling me now. see Ya.
This is my favorite bourbon. It is very smooth and has good body. I drink my bourbon neat and sip it to really appreciate its character. Michter’s is hard to beat.
Bookers and Knob Creek used to be my go to bottles when I could get them for a reasonable price at Costco. Since bourbon popularity has exploded in the last ten years, I get what I get and I don’t throw a fit (but I still treat myself from time to time with something nice).
We operate 126 barrel warehouses in Kentucky that hold approximately 3.3 million barrels for our brands, and the warehouse that was destroyed contained 45,000 barrels of relatively young whiskey from the Jim Beam mash bill. Given the age of the lost whiskey, this fire will not impact the availability of Jim Beam for consumers.
Luckily, unlike a harvest being wiped out, they have multiple rack houses spreading out their batches. That’s not to say that 45k barrels missing from the supply chain won’t have an impact, but I would think much less so than a Havana crop being obliterated.
prices climb ever higher, mainly due to Japanese buyers.
(well, that is what i have been told)
if a reasonable price and higher quality are considered to be equals….
then Basil Hayden is the one i like the best.
my sister says she drinks basil Hayden, too, but lots of the bourbon reviewers don’t like it very much. So I’m going to wait till I see her next and raid her mini bar .
last week I picked up an Old Forrester 100 that I really like . Not sure I want to drink anything else .