Claudius Posted January 5, 2008 Posted January 5, 2008 Can anybody recommend a very good Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey? After talking to cadillacdoc in his intro, I feel like I need to try a bottle or 2 of the better stuff. I couldnt locate any Van Winkle nearby (in Europe) but found the following 2. Any opinions? - William Larue Weller 129,9 Proof - George T. Stagg 130 - 140 Proof depending on the cask
stever Posted January 5, 2008 Posted January 5, 2008 Definitely get the William La Rue Weller. It's hard to find and truly excellent. It's actually distilled by the Buffalo trace Distillery. It's a wheat recipe bourbon and one of my favorites. :-P Here's an accurate review: "Deep copper color. Complex spice, chocolate and nut aromas. A big robust entry leads to a sweet full-bodied palate with rich and tasty, wood spice and toffee flavors. Finishes with great length with spicy vanilla, charred oak, and a light mineral tang. Strong, but so balanced and smooth that you barely notice the high alcohol." Having a hard time finding it it here in Virginia at the ABC stores.
Ken Gargett Posted January 5, 2008 Posted January 5, 2008 think that you should find quite a few threads on just this which will have a heap of suggestions.
anacostiakat Posted January 5, 2008 Posted January 5, 2008 » Can anybody recommend a very good Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey? After » talking to cadillacdoc in his intro, I feel like I need to try a bottle or » 2 of the better stuff. I couldnt locate any Van Winkle nearby (in Europe) » but found the following 2. Any opinions? » - William Larue Weller 129,9 Proof » - George T. Stagg 130 - 140 Proof depending on the cask Those are two excellent choices. Sometimes not readily available depending where you are. Some others are Bookers, A. H. Hirsch 16 yr, Elmer T. Lee, Old Forrester Birthday Bourbon, Buffalo Trace, Black Maple Hill, Woodford Reserve, Basil Haydens, Blantons, Pappy Van Winkle 20 yr. List goes on and on . . . My personal favorites are Bookers, Elmer T. Lee, Pappy Van Winkle, Old Forrester BB at present. There are a few reviews in the ANSA Room of some stuff
cadillacdoc Posted January 5, 2008 Posted January 5, 2008 We recently had a bourbon tasting at my la casa with some cigar smoking friends. We began with Kentucky moonshine (both corn and rye) and progressed up the scale based on proof. We tasted about 20 bourbons. Along with the cigars we had an awesome couple hours. You may want to try some of the lower proof bourbons initially. Basil Hayden is awesome at 80 proof. Woodford and Makers come in around 90 and Jack Daniels (Tennessee swill and technically not bourbon.......haha...although really good) in the upper 80's are all good. I prefer the "sweetness" of a bourbon over scotch. For my taste I believe they pair better with cigars.
Claudius Posted January 5, 2008 Author Posted January 5, 2008 » Definitely get the William La Rue Weller. It's hard to find and truly » excellent. It's actually distilled by the Buffalo trace Distillery. It's a » wheat recipe bourbon and one of my favorites. :-P » » Here's an accurate review: » » "Deep copper color. Complex spice, chocolate and nut aromas. A big robust » entry leads to a sweet full-bodied palate with rich and tasty, wood spice » and toffee flavors. Finishes with great length with spicy vanilla, charred » oak, and a light mineral tang. Strong, but so balanced and smooth that you » barely notice the high alcohol." » » Having a hard time finding it it here in Virginia at the ABC stores. » Thanks stever, that's very helpful. Excellent review, thanks! » Those are two excellent choices. Sometimes not readily available » depending where you are. » » Some others are Bookers, A. H. Hirsch 16 yr, Elmer T. Lee, Old Forrester » Birthday Bourbon, Buffalo Trace, Black Maple Hill, Woodford Reserve, Basil » Haydens, Blantons, Pappy Van Winkle 20 yr. List goes on and on . . . » » My personal favorites are Bookers, Elmer T. Lee, Pappy Van Winkle, Old » Forrester BB at present. » There are a few reviews in the ANSA Room of some stuff Thanks for confirming that these are good. Just ordered these to see for myself. I like Woodford Reserve (for the price). Tried Bookers once and liked it a lot but have a hard time finding it. Now looking forward to the Larue and the Stagg :-) » We recently had a bourbon tasting at my la casa with some cigar smoking » friends. We began with Kentucky moonshine (both corn and rye) and » progressed up the scale based on proof. We tasted about 20 bourbons. Along » with the cigars we had an awesome couple hours. You may want to try some of » the lower proof bourbons initially. Basil Hayden is awesome at 80 proof. » Woodford and Makers come in around 90 and Jack Daniels (Tennessee swill » and technically not bourbon.......haha...although really good) in the » upper 80's are all good. I prefer the "sweetness" of a bourbon over » scotch. For my taste I believe they pair better with cigars. Not a fan of Jack Daniel's (tastes like banana to me) and, as you say, it's not Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Totally agree with the bourbon sweetness pairing nicely with cigars in general and better than scotch whiskies. I like the smoky, malty sweetness.
Loki Posted January 5, 2008 Posted January 5, 2008 If you can get your hands on some, George T. Stagg ( distilled @ Buffalo Trace ) is killer. The 2007 run is 144.8 proof . This is an uncut unfiltered bourbon. If you've never had an uncut bourbon its a must try. It possesses heavy caramel and vanilla notes on the nose and @ $58 a bottle it is one of the cheaper higher end bourbons. Enjoy John
Claudius Posted January 5, 2008 Author Posted January 5, 2008 » If you can get your hands on some, George T. Stagg ( distilled @ Buffalo » Trace ) is killer. The 2007 run is 144.8 proof . This is an uncut » unfiltered bourbon. If you've never had an uncut bourbon its a must try. » It possesses heavy caramel and vanilla notes on the nose and @ $58 a » bottle it is one of the cheaper higher end bourbons. » » Enjoy » » John $58! They want 150 EUR for it here!
xibbumbero Posted January 5, 2008 Posted January 5, 2008 Too bad ya can't get Pappy Van Winkle 20yr. I'm not usually a bourbon drinker but it's so good I could drink it everyday. X:-P
tacmedic Posted January 5, 2008 Posted January 5, 2008 I'd love to try that George Stagg myself, but my favorite is still Blantons...
cadillacdoc Posted January 5, 2008 Posted January 5, 2008 Our friends bought me a bottle of 23 year old Pappy for christmas and a bottle of Cristal for my wife. Nice gifts!
IShotAManInReno Posted January 5, 2008 Posted January 5, 2008 George Stagg is probably the best bourbon around. Make sure you cut it with a little water to get to your taste preference.
Shooter Posted January 7, 2008 Posted January 7, 2008 » George Stagg is probably the best bourbon around. Make sure you cut it » with a little water to get to your taste preference. A friend introduced me to Stagg Bourbon and wow! It's strong as hell but incredible bourbon! I just latched onto some and yes--cutting with water is pretty darn necessary! Love it though.:-P
GoSteelers Posted January 7, 2008 Posted January 7, 2008 Can't go wrong with Makers Mark! Black Maple Hill and some of the others are very very good but, Makers is at least 1/2 the price.
RaptorsFan Posted January 10, 2008 Posted January 10, 2008 » Can't go wrong with Makers Mark! I agree with this 100%. Over the holidays I bought a Woodford Reserve and received Bulleit (http://bluekitchen.net/bulleit.html) as a present, and while both were good I still prefered the Makers. I have yet to find the George T. Stagg up here in Canada :-(
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