OT: Whiskey

prdubya

Freshman
Nov 29, 2017
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Agree with others that Eagle Rare is a delicious choice.

If you want a little more high brow, look for some WL Weller (it's basically poor man's Pappy; quite delicious at a fraction of the price).

If you want to get a little weird, there's a distillery in Chicago called Koval that does a great Oat Whiskey. Very smooth. Check it out if you can find it.
 

She Mate Me

Heisman
Dec 7, 2008
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Has anybody here tried willet reserve?

Yes, if you're talking about the Pot Still Reserve in the cool bottle in the shape of a pot still. It's good. There's better whiskey for less money, but as a gift it makes a really nice presentation.

Pouring out of that bottle is an adventure though. Especially when lit.
 
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She Mate Me

Heisman
Dec 7, 2008
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Benchmark makes it silly to buy more expensive whiskey

No offense intended. Benchmark is fine, but it's simply the younger barrels that aren't good enough to end up as the better BT products or at least aren't aged nearly as long (3 years for Benchmark).

Not sure I'd give it as a gift, but happy to mix it in cola and get ripped.
 

fedxdog

Freshman
Dec 7, 2008
530
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If you like Eagle Rare and ever get through Frankfort, Ky, here's a tip... Go to Buffalo Trace distillery and walk into the gift shop as early in the morning as possible. Their tours are free and the best we visited last year for the MS-KY game. Buy the Eagle Rare early and put it in your car. We waited till after the tour and they were sold out of "the daily allocation"...
 
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forestdepth

Redshirt
Feb 20, 2018
787
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EH Taylor Small Batch. Great bourbon and makes a great gift as it’s packaged in a cylinder tube. Someone also mentioned eagle rare; it’s a great bourbon as well and can be found for a good price.
 

NTDawg

Senior
Mar 2, 2012
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Like others have said it depends on your price point and your taste rye (spicier) vs wheat (sweeter). I prefer the bourbons with a higher rye content and high alcohol %. I like a good burn. Here are a few. I'm leaving off many good bourbons. So much bourbon but only so much time.

under $20 1.Wild Turkey 101 (can not beat it for the money)
2. Four Roses Yellow label

$20-$25 1. Bulleit

Around $30 1. Knob Creek (my current must have in the cabinet)
2. Wild Turkey Rare Breed
3. Four Roses Single Barrel

Around $50 1. 10yr Bulleit
2. Rowans Creek
 
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msualohadog

Senior
Oct 25, 2014
502
689
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Castle & Key

I just got back from the bourbon trail in September. I'm excited about Castle & Key upcoming bourbon. They haven't released yet, looking at winter 2020. Their vodka is killer. Best distillery tour on the trail IMO. They bought the old Col. Taylor distillery and their marker number is 7.

Willett was another good tour. I'm not a rye guy but if you like it Willett is a must have for collectors.
 
Jun 2, 2013
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As a low-brow whisky nerd, I'd enjoy any of these bottles as a gift.

Bourbon

Woodford Double Oaked - Fancy without being outrageously expensive (~$50). Distinct among normal bourbons in a very, very good way. One of my favorites -- if not my favorite -- right now.

Eagle Rare - Hard to find but nicely priced. Outstanding. Don't know anyone who dislikes it.

TN Whiskey

Dickel Bottled in Bond - 13-year-old, 100-proof goodness.

Jack Daniels Single Barrel - Overpriced but good. Plus, people who aren't whisky dorks will be impressed by the name and bottle.

American Whisky and Rye

Michter's American Whisky - If you find some anywhere near southeast TN, PM me. It just doesn't exist where I live

Knob Creek Cask Strength Rye - Never had this, but their normal rye is great.

Scotch (non-smokey)


Auchentoshan Three Wood - Outstanding, off-the-beaten-path single malt for under $75. Complex but approachable.

Compass Box Oak Cross - Blended malt that's on par with great Speyside single malts. Like the Auchentoshan, a little out of the ordinary. Plus, under ~$55.

Scotch (smokey)


Compass Box Peat Monster - Blended malt for Islay fans that are looking for something a little different.

Laphroaig 10 cask strength - Briney smoke bomb for the true believers.

Irish

Redbreast 12 - Awesome, true-to-style single-pot-still Irish whisky for under ~$60.

Green Spot - Single pot still Irish whisky that's got a little more fruit going on than typical Irish stuff.

Happy shopping, dude. A nice whisky is always a great gift.
 
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57stratdawg

Heisman
Dec 1, 2004
148,434
24,213
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I thought Basil Hayden had a really thin taste.

Are y’all drinking it straight or mixed?
 

WeHollaAtYa

Redshirt
Jun 15, 2014
50
46
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Stab's in Baton Rouge has Double Eagle Rare...

Its the 20 year old antique that they only made 299 bottles this past production. Highly allocated. They were asking $500 per ounce..... Yes... per ounce...
 
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Col. Forbin

Junior
Oct 2, 2012
1,359
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For around $100 a bottle I'd lean to the Michter's 10. Best bourbon I have tried. The regular bourbon is good also and sits at about $43 a bottle. My second favorite is the Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Barrel Finish Select. Its the squattier bottle and is aobut $55-$58.
 

Col. Forbin

Junior
Oct 2, 2012
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215
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I've had my store here in Gluckstadt get the American Whisky before. They switched that for the bourbon for me. The American whisky was really good I just prefer the bourbon.
 

was21

Senior
May 29, 2007
9,944
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The only true whiskey is scotch....the rest is shill...not to be hoity toity as in ho--y to--y
 

G-Dawg

Freshman
Sep 6, 2012
1,183
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My wife bought us tickets to Emeril Lagasse's "Boudin, Bourbon, and Beer" event outside of the SuperDome this past weekend. Was a GREAT event. Ate so much boudin and duck and other food. They had open bar and had Legacy and Buffalo Trace. I tried both and really liked the Buffalo Trace. The Legacy wasn't bad, but the Buffalo Trace was surprisingly good. I expected free whiskey to be blah.
 

Tin Cup Cowboy

Redshirt
Sep 14, 2012
964
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I thought Jefferson Ocean was horrible. But as with all bourbon it's a preference thing.

Whistlepig is fantastic though.
 

Bigdawghouse83

Redshirt
Sep 26, 2012
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Ya'll are some smart fellas.......OGD BiB is the best under the radar bourbon on the market. It even has a picture of Basil Hayden on the bottle. Great as a mixer and just fine as an everyday sipper.......in my glass now
 

BIGDAWG44

Senior
Aug 22, 2012
650
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I ended up getting some blantons and some willets. I’m interested in some buffalo trace and eagle rare. It’s funny how fast life changes and you go from drinking Evan Williams green label straight in the junction to drinking blantons in your first house.
 

Dawgcap

Redshirt
Mar 7, 2017
944
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These responses are awesome! Love the knowledge but if you want to capture your friends and families hearts you buy them a 15 or 30 rack of Natty Light!! Trust me!!! Haha
By the way I learned a lot about whiskey in this thread but as a guy who hammers I’m sticking with the drink that kept me from being stupid. Remember you always have a family member or friend that doesn’t do whiskey smart. Just my Natty smiling thoughts!
 

She Mate Me

Heisman
Dec 7, 2008
12,848
11,038
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Anyone have a source for Weller 12 year bourbon ?

My shelf. Kidding, but I did grab 6 bottles last fall (basically every one I ran across in the Jackson area before the price increase) and still have 4 unopened.

You can find it occasionally in sketchier liquor stores because they get allocations from Sazerac based on all the Taaka they sell.
 
Aug 15, 2006
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In Kentucky, everyone drinks BOURBON "neat" or with a splash of water for the sensitive types. ;-)
 
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fishwater99

Freshman
Jun 4, 2007
14,073
54
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I ended up getting some blantons and some willets. I’m interested in some buffalo trace and eagle rare. It’s funny how fast life changes and you go from drinking Evan Williams green label straight in the junction to drinking blantons in your first house.


Nice find on Blantons, it's tough as hell to get a hold off.