I'm really enjoying Booker's these days.
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Picked up a bottle of Widow Jane which is finished with water from the Widow Jane limestone mine. Very smooth. |
"best" is a heavily biased personal value judgement at best. With a modification from "best" to "worthy" .... One more to pile onto this thread that has arguably run it's usefulness: " Very Very Old Fitzgerald" 100 proof 12 year old Bottled 1982 Still got a virgin bottle uncracked in it's " collector's item" box. |
My Last comment In this thread..... Another virgin hand sealed bourbon bottle I have kicking around in my stash of quality spirits Blanton Distilling Company Frankfort KY Single barrel bourbon Registered bottle no 132 Dumped 10/21/94 from barrel # 173 stored in whse. H on Rick No. 44 Individually selected, filtered and bottled by hand at 93 proof |
Actually, it does not have to be from Kentucky to be called Bourbon. It cannot be called "Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky" if made elsewhere - and there are now many bourbons being distilled all over the United States including here in good 'ol New York State. In order to be labeled "bourbon" all a distiller need do is have a mash containing a minimum of 51% corn no matter the state of origin. Koval from Chicago makes a superb bourbon along with many other whiskies AND all organic. Excellent Kentucky Straights (minimum 2 years old) Rowan's Creek, Willet Pot Still Reserve, Noah's Mill, J. R. Ewing, Redemption & Redemption High Rye Bourbon, Prichard's Double Barrel.... The small batch Bourbon business is totally out of control right now - every single label is experiencing difficulty keeping up with consumer demand - including the more commercial brands like Makers - and don't even try mentioning Pappy Van Winkle! Pappy at auction costs more than some equipment does! While I do have a vested interest in the labels I mentioned above the paragraph above the second, I do have a keen interest in the category overall. Fortunately in my position I get to taste/sample hundreds of whiskies during the course of the year, unfortunately I have to BUY audio equipment and then decide!! Woe is me. |
Blanton's single barrel, Russell's Reserve Single Barrel, and Russell's Reserve 10-Year are probably at the top of my list. Tried the 12-yr Van Winkle once at a restaurant in Louisville and it was superb. Can't find a bottle anywhere and not sure I could afford it if I did (to say nothing of the Pappy's ...anybody know where people get the Van Winkle stuff?). I have an unopened Rowan's Creek I have yet to try but I remember it as being nice at a tasting once. For inexpensive everyday bourbon I prefer Wild Turkey 101. And 1792 Ridgemont Reserve is $21 at my local chain store. As good a $21 bottle as I've had. |
Update on the Rowan's Creek: it is a real winner, just as I remember it from a tasting I attended a few years ago. I highly recommend Rowan's Creek. I will compare it to Booker's in flavor, but at a significantly lower price for "everyday" sipping. (but at a lower proof too: Rowan's Creek is 100 proof, versus 128 barrel proof for Booker's). |
Maker's Mark is my favorite bourbon for regular drinking or mixing. It has wheat instead of rye as its second grain, which gives it a smoother and less hot taste but is inexpensive enough for everyday use. W.L.Weller and 1792 brands are my go-to for sipping. A bit more expensive, but not extravagant. |
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I was living in Lexington in the late 1980's. That was the first I drank bourbon and still do to this day. Bourbons came alive back then with great marketing and some excellent distillers. There are now a few NY bourbon makers and it just isn't the same. Kentucky Bourbon is from the air, water and oak of the place....same as French or Italian wine. |
