Bourbon

[grippingthewheel]

I whole-heartedly endorse this castle-building in the swamp. And I'll bring my shovel. DOTW would be proud.

Bourbon is life.

[steved2112]

Heaven Hill

Price: $
Proof: 86

"Absolutely nothing finer. Mild and Mellow. No better Bourbon made."

This is my Ten High, if you will. I buy it for the cheap price. Liters are just over ten, fifths just under. I drink it neat, or equally often on the rocks. Picture a smooth, sweet Irish Whiskey's syrupy structure. Each nip is savory and enticing. But since it is bourbon, there is a smoky dark element. Slightly bitter notes like wet basement cardboard on the finish. If I were a cigarette man I'd burn them with great satisfaction to the tune of this affordable gem. It is a sneaky foe, though, dancing with its quarry for smiling hours before moving in for a hurried and unceremonious kill.

I like to walk into the store and grab this Heaven Hill without thinking about it. Sure there are better Bourbons. But this sets me back a little less, and I've never held a glass of it and wished for something else.

[Frankennietzsche]

If you like regular HH you should try the green lable.It's a tad bit privier but hardly that much more and ten times better.

[peetie44]

there are basically three brands of bourbon: Jim Beam, Four Roses and, of course, TJD

That's two brands.

Completely agree, sir...however, on this side of the pond, that's a distinction that doesn't translate to most folks.

I DID play a roadhouse/diner-style establishment in Turku, Finland (called "Graceland") that had Woodford Reserve on it's price-board (6 euros a shot). A positive, telling moment was, when I asked the owner for some, he said they were sold out of the Woodford.

[fizzmaster]

Sorry I don't post reviews, but I want to mention again that Jim Beam Black fifths are still $10 at the packy across the street from me here in Somerville. Best sale ever.

[Zippy]

Old Forrester isn't bad. I like to make Waldorfs with it.

[ivan]

Old Forrester

Brown-Forman product. Will not be reviewed by me, as per terms of the boycott.

[Frankennietzsche]

Old Forrester

Brown-Forman product. Will not be reviewed by me, as per terms of the boycott.

The only thing that needs to be said about OF is that it will remind you of when you used to steal liquor out of your grandpa's liquor cabinet.

[Glasgae Sam]

Good to see both Bulleit and Jim Beam Black Label getting props. For my money they're both exceptional value for what you get, and very versatile in how you like to drink your bourbon. I always have a bottle of one or the other in the flat =)

[ivan]

Wild Turkey Rare Breed

Price: $$$
Proof: 108.2

Our colleagues at Austin, Nichols in Lawrenceburg, KY bring us Wild Turkey Rare Breed. This is a blend of 6, 8, and 12 year old Bourbons, bottled uncut at barrel proof. Its color is a middle-of-the-road amber, and the initial aroma carries very heavy vanilla notes, along with a powerful alcohol smell due to the high proof.

The first sip is caramel heaven at first, followed by a powerful burn. Aftertaste is caramel and vanilla. This is a bold first taste. The only Bourbon I've reviewed that kicks in a similar manner is Booker's. My lips and tongue tingled for a good minute. Follow up sips are much easier. This is a creamy Bourbon, with a soft mouth-feel. The strong corn flavor of WT101 is almost non-existent here. It took me a moment to figure out the flavor I was tasting on the back-end, but it finally came to me- molasses. It's the same dark sweetness. Other than the mouth burn being gone, subsequent sips carry the same flavor notes as the initial taste.

It almost feels wrong to cut this Bourbon with a splash of water, but I'm trying to stay consistent.

I should have listened to my instincts. A splash of water doesn't improve this Bourbon one bit.

If you're looking for a Bourbon to mix, I would avoid this, although I could see it in a Manhattan. If, on the other hand, you're looking for something to share with a friend, preferably either outdoors on a cool evening or in front of a roaring fire, this Bourbon will fill the bill nicely. My final piece of advice with this exquisite whiskey is "be careful". From the initial sip to this point, I have spent 10 to 15 minutes typing this review, and I am already feeling the effects of the high proof. I feel like I've had a double Evan Williams. If you happen upon this in a restaurant or bar, bear that in mind, especially if you're a fan of doing shots. The rarest of Turkeys has sharp claws.

[ivan]

Old Crow

Price: $
Proof: 80

The Old Crow distillery in Frankfort brings us this, their namesake Bourbon- "The Original Sour Mash". This is a lighter-colored Bourbon, and its aroma is rather light charcoal.

The first sip has a heavy charcoal and corn flavor. There is a touch of burn, but not overwhelming. Pronounced corn notes for the aftertaste. The following drinks bring a bit more caramel into play, and the aftertaste virtually disappears.

A splash of water brings a few more notes of leather in play, almost paradoxically "darkening" the flavor. This Bourbon truly benefits from a splash, the flavors get far more complex.

Are there better Bourbons available? Absolutely. But this came in a plastic 750 mL "traveler" bottle, and set me back all of $6.65. To be honest, I did not have high expectations. I was predicting a similar experience to the one I had with Ancient Age. Instead, I have a new appreciation for this Bourbon. Don't let the price tag fool you- it may be cheap, but Old Crow is also quite nice.

Would I recommend it? Certainly. You want to mix it? Go ahead- again, $6.65 for 750 mL. It will do fine in most cocktails, it is quite acceptable neat, and it doesn't have the overwhelming burn associated with most cheap booze.

I tend to split my time fairly evenly between Evan and Ezra, and I'm quite content there. But, if funds get tight, it's nice to know that the Crow will be able to see me through. Think of this as the Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger on Wendy's dollar menu- it's not the best thing available, but it will fill your needs without emptying your wallet, and, as an added bonus, will taste good at the same time.

[old crow]

does anyone refute old crow's claim that it was the firstsour mash bourbon ?? seriously i drink that shit all the time and no on e here ever mentions that shit. supposedly it was an ill cheap whiskey until it got gougtht ought boufht bought there we go bought by jim beam a while ago and now it's basically jim beam white. so for $8 a fifth, why don't more people drink it? "often imitated but never duplicated" is on the bottloe i love old crow whiskey. i mean i'm drinking it right now but i don't find any mollassssses or fuckin oak or pine tyrees or rubber tires or ash or cinnamon or dog shit or whatever else you weriddos taste in your whiskey but it tastes exclellesnt and i love old crow

[Barney's Version]

Bullit! and Woodforde Reserve... although I am loaded on Canadian Rye watching Deadwood at the moment

[old crow]

i guess i was drunk enough last night to go on a "no one mentions old crow" rant in a post immediately following a review of it? goddamn

[ivan]

does anyone refute old crow's claim that it was the first sour mash bourbon?

Well... yes and no. Old Crow was named after Dr. James Crow, the Scottish chemist who perfected the sour mash process. However, he never worked for the Old Crow distillery. In fact Old Crow did not come into being until about 16 years after Dr. Crow's death. You could easily make the case that Old Taylor, where Dr. Crow worked, was in fact the original sour mash Bourbon, and that Old Crow simply claimed the name and title for marketing purposes.

When Old Crow was purchased by Fortune Brands (Jim Beam) in 1987, they closed down the Old Crow distillery, although they kept the warehouses. I don't know if they changed the formula on the Bourbon or not, but I do know that Old Crow was re-formulated in the mid-60's, to some public outcry. So, while what you're drinking now carries the Old Crow name, it is definitely not Dr. Crow's original recipe, which would be the true "first sour mash Bourbon".