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Started By
Message
Can you tell a big difference between premium and non premium Bourbons?
Posted on 9/11/25 at 10:27 am
Posted on 9/11/25 at 10:27 am
If Y, how significant? And, is the price worth it?
What is your go to Bourbon?
What is your go to Bourbon?
24
Posted on 9/11/25 at 10:49 am to Artificial Ignorance
I'm not a bourbon snob. I just stick with Buffalo Trace. Works for me.
Posted on 9/11/25 at 11:00 am to Artificial Ignorance
Simple answer is yes Depending on age style proof etc
Wild Turkey Rare Breed is my go to. Neat in a glyn
For soda mixers Buffalo Trace
Old fashions - Wild Turkey 101 Rye has been nice
Wild Turkey Rare Breed is my go to. Neat in a glyn
For soda mixers Buffalo Trace
Old fashions - Wild Turkey 101 Rye has been nice
Posted on 9/11/25 at 11:07 am to Artificial Ignorance
good bourbons at good prices I'd say start with these
All available and under or at $40
Heaven Hill Bottle in Bond
Four Roses single Barrel THE 100 PROOF recipes are great
Michters
Buffalo Trace
Old Grand Dad 114
Eagle Rare
Wild Turkey 101
Russells 10
Early Times
All available and under or at $40
Heaven Hill Bottle in Bond
Four Roses single Barrel THE 100 PROOF recipes are great
Michters
Buffalo Trace
Old Grand Dad 114
Eagle Rare
Wild Turkey 101
Russells 10
Early Times
This post was edited on 9/11/25 at 11:15 am
Posted on 9/11/25 at 11:11 am to Artificial Ignorance
I have been going to Whiskey Wednesday almost every week for a long time now. Every first Wednesday is a mystery blind. The results have been shocking. I have loved some cheap bottles and hated some $100 plus bottles. Different people like different profiles. I have learned there's at least two popular distilleries that would be glad to never have another thing from them. But in general, yes, the higher priced stuff is better than the bottom shelf. So many great, for me, bottles between $40 and $70. Because I like to discover, I cannot say I have a go-to bottle right now. I can say I liked Penelope Wheated enough to immediately buy a backup which is uncommon for me. I cannot imagine my bar not having: Rare Breed, Eagle Rare, a Maker's release(the 2025 Keeper's Release), Early Times(Mixers) and a Bardstown of some sort. I honestly doubt I buy anything over $70 again unless I know it's really special.
Posted on 9/11/25 at 12:34 pm to Artificial Ignorance
It depends on what you are doing. If you are drinking them neat or on the rocks, sure.
If you are making a cocktail, some are certainly better for particular cocktails without a doubt.
Its like wine though, drink what you like and what makes you happy.
If you are making a cocktail, some are certainly better for particular cocktails without a doubt.
Its like wine though, drink what you like and what makes you happy.
Posted on 9/11/25 at 12:57 pm to Artificial Ignorance
Like others have said, it depends and it depends on your definition of premium. If by premium you mean the hyped stuff then yea, a lot of that is average IMO. There are great bourbons that are hyped too but are they worth the secondary asking prices? No IMO. Then there are some great bourbons in the $40-$60 range that are really what I buy these days.
Crawdaddy has a good list and I'll add Penelope wheated and Penelope Architect, Blue Note Crossroads, Still Austin Straight Bourbon (many of their more expensive offerings aren't as good as their basic straight bourbon IMO), and even the JT Melnick basic straight bourbon is solid.
Crawdaddy has a good list and I'll add Penelope wheated and Penelope Architect, Blue Note Crossroads, Still Austin Straight Bourbon (many of their more expensive offerings aren't as good as their basic straight bourbon IMO), and even the JT Melnick basic straight bourbon is solid.
This post was edited on 9/11/25 at 1:02 pm
Posted on 9/11/25 at 1:31 pm to Artificial Ignorance
Yea there is a general difference between cheap and expensive bourbon, but to be called bourbon it has to use a specific set of ingredients so you don’t have as wide of a flavor profile spectrum as you do with scotch or Japanese whiskey. Quality sure, but flavor profile differences with scotch are much wider which is why I like exploring scotches much more than bourbon.
Preferences for me when I’m on domestic whiskey: drinking, makers mostly. Celebrating, pappys is good but rare old fitz is my favorite.
Preferences for me when I’m on domestic whiskey: drinking, makers mostly. Celebrating, pappys is good but rare old fitz is my favorite.
Posted on 9/11/25 at 1:51 pm to TyOconner
quote:The new 7 year is damn good.
old fitz is my favorite
Posted on 9/11/25 at 1:55 pm to Artificial Ignorance
I like Old Forester 100 enough to not spend any more on a bottle. I like OF 1920, better, but I don’t like enough to pay double the price.
This post was edited on 9/11/25 at 1:58 pm
Posted on 9/11/25 at 2:12 pm to Artificial Ignorance
Usually I drink Knob Creek 9 or Jefferson's, I have Colonel E.H. Taylor small batch etc but store it more than drink it. If you end up with some bourbon you are meh about get some Luxardo cherries and that might perk you up a little.
If you want to get the most bang for your buck (minimize bottles you don't like) taste wise go to Total Wine and you can get tasting sips and keep yourself from pissing $ away on something you might not like. At the end of the day people have varying tastes. TW carries a lot of scotch as well which I like to taste before buying. You likely can do the same at stores that carry significant volume of bourbon/whiskey, etc.
If you want to get the most bang for your buck (minimize bottles you don't like) taste wise go to Total Wine and you can get tasting sips and keep yourself from pissing $ away on something you might not like. At the end of the day people have varying tastes. TW carries a lot of scotch as well which I like to taste before buying. You likely can do the same at stores that carry significant volume of bourbon/whiskey, etc.
Posted on 9/11/25 at 3:11 pm to Artificial Ignorance
Not much, smoothness is the biggest difference i find between the $25 bottles and $50 bottles. Im fine with Makers or Buffalo Trace but I'll drink some EH Taylor if someone else is buying.
Posted on 9/11/25 at 3:56 pm to Artificial Ignorance
quote:
Can you tell a big difference between premium and non premium Bourbons?
If the bottles are in front of me I can.
Without the bottles, in a blind, often not. And neither can the bourbon experts often times.
There are good bourbons at every price point starting with Early Times Bottled In Bond.
Many premium 15+ year aged bourbons have a leathery, almost dusty taste that many pallets don't like at all.
Posted on 9/11/25 at 6:56 pm to Artificial Ignorance
I’m in a whiskey club that meets once a month. We taste 5 bottles, all blind, and have a scoring system. We average out the scores at the end of the night and reveal to the participants what the bottles were. It’s often eye opening for dollars spent vs score given and several of the sought out bottles don’t hold up compared to less expensive, readily available bottles.
All that being said, I could be happy drinking Old Grandad 114 for the rest of my life. It’s a great $30 bottle.
ETA: I know it’s not a bourbon, but our highest scoring bottle after 4 years of tasting and 200+ bottles has been Red Breast 12yr.
All that being said, I could be happy drinking Old Grandad 114 for the rest of my life. It’s a great $30 bottle.
ETA: I know it’s not a bourbon, but our highest scoring bottle after 4 years of tasting and 200+ bottles has been Red Breast 12yr.
This post was edited on 9/11/25 at 7:01 pm
Posted on 9/11/25 at 7:01 pm to Artificial Ignorance
Most people can’t. But, you’ll find a couple that are expensive and blow the mid-range bottles out the water. Everyone has a different palate though.
Posted on 9/11/25 at 7:15 pm to AlxTgr
What is this Whiskey Wednesday you speak of?
Posted on 9/11/25 at 7:29 pm to Artificial Ignorance
I’m a little bit of a bourbon snob. I only drink Pappy with my Dr Pepper.
Neat/rocks - drink whatever profile you like
Mix cocktails - a little less important
Neat/rocks - drink whatever profile you like
Mix cocktails - a little less important
Posted on 9/11/25 at 7:47 pm to Artificial Ignorance
Depends on what I'm in the mood for.
Sipper- Woodford Double Oaked/Eagle Rare
Mixer-Makers/Buffalo Trace
Favorite- Antique 107
But I'm partial to Wheated, and love almost everything BT puts out.
Sipper- Woodford Double Oaked/Eagle Rare
Mixer-Makers/Buffalo Trace
Favorite- Antique 107
But I'm partial to Wheated, and love almost everything BT puts out.
Posted on 9/11/25 at 8:50 pm to biglosdaddy
quote:
What is this Whiskey Wednesday you speak of?
Hokus Pokus in Prairieville - it’s usually $10-$25 a flight depending on what they are pouring that evening.
Posted on 9/11/25 at 8:53 pm to npt817
quote:Yes, but I go to the Ellick one. Has turned Wednesday into one of my favorite days of the week
Hokus Pokus in Prairieville - it’s usually $10-$25 a flight depending on what they are pouring that evening.
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