Jack Daniels is called a “Tennessee whiskey”. At one time, by law, bourbon had to be made in Bourbon County, Kentucky, although, now, it can be made anywhere in the U.S. and still be called “bourbon” (as long as it was made from at least 51% corn mash). It is illegal for corn whiskey produced outside the US to be called “bourbon” though.
Olive
I like a little Wild Turkey in my diet Coke, but for sipping I like Knob Creek.
OK, during football games I like a lot of Wild Turkey in my diet coke.
Do you recommend neat or rocks for a good bourbon?
Jack Daniels and George Dickel differ from bourbon in that they are filtered through charcoal before being barrelled. This is called the “Lincoln County Process.” Otherwise the mash bills are pretty much the same.
If that was off-topic, then I don’t want to be on-topic.
I was recently stopping on the way home for the usual provisions (beer and wine to you) when I saw that the store had Evan Williams bourbon on sale for $5 a bottle. Yup, a full sized fifth for $5, which is about half price. I bought, um, 10 of them and I’ve been loving it ever since. Yeah, it’s cheap, but it’s not like Ten High cheap or anything. It’s really pretty good stuff and since I have enough to last well into next year that’s all I’ll be pouring at my house.
Personally, I drink mine neat most of the time. If I’m having a bourbon & Coke on a hot day, ice will be involved, but for just sipping in the evening, neat can’t be beat. Get yourself a good whiskey glass and savor the aromas while you swirl the wondeful liquid. Then drink that puppy!
Jack Daniel’s is not bourbon - it’s Tennessee whiskey. But it’s not being made in Tennessee that keeps it from being bourbon - it’s the charcoal filtration process it goes through after being distilled.
By law, to be bourbon, the whiskey must be distilled from a mash containing at least 51% corn (the rest of the mash can be wheat or rye) and malted barley. Also it must be aged in new charred oak barrells. To be called “straight” bourbon, it must be aged at least two years. In practice, most bourbons are aged at least four years.
Like silenus, I do love bourbon, especially once the air gets a bit chilly.
Currently on top of my bar are the following:
Booker’s
Basil Hayden
Old Rip Van Winkle (10 year old, 107 proof)
Van Winkle Special Reserve (12 year old, 90.4 proof)
Blanton’s
Inside the bar with the vodka, rum, scotch, etc. is a bottle of Makers Mark and a bottle of Knob Creek. Maker’s Mark is perfect for Manhattans, old-fashioned and whiskey sours.
But, of late, I’ve discovered the joys of rye. So on top of the bar with the aforementioned bourbons is a Bottle of Michter’s 10 year old single barrell rye, and the newest acqusition: I treated myself to an early Christmas present last Saturday and bought a bottle of Black Maple Hill 23 year old rye. So far, I’ve had 3/4 of an ounce of of the Black Maple Hill (I dole it out in a quater ounce tasting glass).
From The Cocktail Chronicles:
Have you tried an Old Fashioned with rye? That’s the only way I ever make them anymore, since a wise old barman made one for me. Unfortunately, I have a hard time finding any rye besides Old Overholt. I’d like to try some others one of these days.
No, but I’d like to. There’s a bartender here in Atlanta who makes a Manhattan with Rittenhouse rye that is fabulous.
Surely there’s a bottle of better rye than Old Overholt somewhere in Cincinnati! 
Well, that and it being swill unfit for human consumption. Bleah!
Yeah, I could probably find it if I looked a little harder. There is a mondo liquor store just over the river in Covington, KY that probably has a good selection (they have four kinds of grappa fer Pete’s sake, so they’re bound to have more than one rye). But I’m usually lazy and just go to the local Kroger, which has a pretty good selection of other whiskeys but just the Overholt for rye.
Beam Black for mixing.
Bulliet for sipping.
The rest of the bar is standard citrus vodka, dark rum, raspberry liquor, vermouth (dry & sweet).
I need a new bottle of Bulliet, and a good scotch to round things out.
Dood! Cross the river and go to the Party Source! Plenty of great ryes, at least when I was there this time last year. I picked up a bottle of the Black Maple Hill 18yo rye that may be the single greatest drink I’ve ever had.
Yeah, the Party Source has a good selection of Rye. Actually, a pretty damn good selection of almost any alcoholic beverage.
Sigh, I miss that store. Stupid Tennessee liquor laws.
Oh - I forgot to mention that my brand of bourbon is “Old Crow” - hubby keeps it around for cooking, and one night, we decided to try it (he’s an Old Granddad drinker). Wasn’t bad - better than Jack Daniels (that’s official from a friend who only drank JD - now, he won’t touch the stuff, and has moved on to Maker’s Mark).
Olive
PS: he’s making his crockpot bourbon BBQ pork for me tomorrow!! Yay me!!!
I was actually thinking of the Cork & Bottle in Covington. And…whaddya know, they have Michter’s 10-yr. In another thread, I mentioned that it might be time for my semiannual cigar, since my wife is out of town this week. Cork & Bottle has a few cigars… That settles it. Tomorrow after work, I’m there.
On, boy! Are you in for a treat!
Try it on the rocks or neat before you make an old-fashioned with it.
But of course!
Bourbon is the only hard liquor I enjoy drinking anymore. And Knob Creek is by far one of my favorites. Although I haven’t delved into the more expensive realm of bourbons because my wallet can’t really afford it. And my trip to Kentucky was simply divine because of all the factory tours. Angel’s share indeed. Long live bourbon and all its drinkers!
I’ve only been through Kentucky once or twice and don’t think I’ve ever spent more than an hour of outside of a vehicle while there so I can’t really comment on it. I was actually referring to Tennessee, which is dry by default per Tenn. Code Title 57, Chapters 2 and 3.
I’m not even much of a drinker (my post before this was in the “What Booze do You Have?” thread and I have half a case of Natural Light stashed in my closet 'cause it’s cheap and three or four’ll get me buzzed when I feel the need) but I think it’s stupid to restrict its sale to that degree.