# It's time for some bourbon/whiskey recommendations **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking, liquor-alcohol\ **Created:** [December 9, 2020, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-some-bourbon-whiskey-recommendations/927677 "2020-12-09T20:43:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2023, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-some-bourbon-whiskey-recommendations/927677/81 "2023-02-23T20:32:25Z")
I listed Eagle Rare as my favorite bourbon upthread - not bad for an ignorant Brit, huh? I like Old Forester a lot too, but I’ve only ever seen the 86 proof version in this country. 1792 Small Batch is carried by Waitrose, a top-end supermarket over here. £45 - so I’ll wait to see if they have it on offer any time soon. The others from @Johnny_L.A 's post look like they’re _very_ specialist in the UK. j ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2023, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-some-bourbon-whiskey-recommendations/927677/82 "2023-02-24T16:26:14Z")
Couldn’t you just shake the bottle up ahead of time and get rid of any first-few-oz difference? This seems like a sort of enthusiast virtue-signal (or maybe dog-whistle?) to show by calling out a neck pour that they’re one of the cool kids, and not one of the unwashed masses. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2023, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-some-bourbon-whiskey-recommendations/927677/83 "2023-02-24T16:28:29Z")
I’ve got a botlte of the Old Forester 100, and it’s squarely in the same tier as WT 101 and OGD BiB. Great stuff for a modest price. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2023, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-some-bourbon-whiskey-recommendations/927677/84 "2023-02-24T16:37:32Z")
I was quite pleasantly surprised by the 100. Their other “specialty” bottlings (save Birthday) have left me unimpressed. But the 100 is tasty and affordable. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2023, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-some-bourbon-whiskey-recommendations/927677/85 "2023-02-24T16:57:37Z")
I recommend bourbon. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2023, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-some-bourbon-whiskey-recommendations/927677/86 "2023-02-25T03:09:41Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Since then, I’ve tried a handful of other bourbons. They’re fine, but nothing comes close to the caramel-and-vanilla-sundae aroma of Woodford Reserve. On a cold winter day, I can sit with a snifter of it and just sip it and breathe the aroma for an hour or so and be perfectly cozy. That was me weathering the pandemic. I decided that I wanted to be in lockdown with Stuff I Like. So I turned my back on our family’s Clan MacAlpine, who distilled Scotch… that they then poured through a colander full of moss from the sheep meadow. Instead, I said, hey, I’d rather just sip bourbon. And snuggle with a snifter of Woodford Reserve. So I bought a bottle, and one of Woodford Reserve Double Oaked. Your “caramel-and-vanilla” comment is right on. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2023, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-some-bourbon-whiskey-recommendations/927677/87 "2023-02-25T03:45:50Z")
Just fyi, the double oaked is significantly sweeter and more desserty than standard. If you see that or toasted on a label you’ll likely get a similar profile. For my money the Woodford DO or Old Forrester 1910 are excellent and better + easier to find than Elijah Craig toasted. ---
**Author:** ![fordgt100](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@fordgt100](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fordgt100)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2023, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-some-bourbon-whiskey-recommendations/927677/88 "2023-02-25T09:07:06Z")
I only discovered Bourbon a few months ago. Before that I was a confirmed wine drinker for maybe 50 years, but one day I bought a bottle of Jim Beam just to ck it out. Unlike all the other hard liquor I tried, Bourbon doesn’t need to be mixed w/ anything to cover up the taste. After trying many of the more expensive brands, I actually prefer the bottom shelf Evan Williams. Usually mix it 1 to 3 or 1 to 4 w/ water, but neat it’s good too. Tasty stuff. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2023, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-some-bourbon-whiskey-recommendations/927677/89 "2023-02-25T18:54:23Z")
FYI - Bourbon-spiked Hazelnut cocoa is just the thing for “staring out the window at the falling snow on a Saturday morning.” ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2023, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-some-bourbon-whiskey-recommendations/927677/90 "2023-02-26T04:05:02Z")
Good rum doesn’t need to be mixed with anyhting, and nor does good Scotch or good brandy/Cognac. > [@silenus](#): > > FYI - Bourbon-spiked Hazelnut cocoa is just the thing for “staring out the window at the falling snow on a Saturday morning.” That sounds uncommonly pleasant. I’d amend to it to “falling rain” around here, as snow is uncommon around here, but otherwise spot on. (tonight is tiki drinks for us; tomorrow night may be bourbon for me; probably OF 100 or maybe some Ben Halladay from Weston, MO) ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2023, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-some-bourbon-whiskey-recommendations/927677/91 "2023-02-26T04:15:21Z")
> [@bump](#): > > tonight is tiki drinks for us… I’ll be right over! I got interested in tiki culture since my dad saw it firsthand serving on tiny Pacific islands during WW2. I’m older now, and love a good tropical drink with unknown ingredients… as long as it’s in a tiki head with an umbrella (or a swizzle stick topped by a colorful monkey). ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2023, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-some-bourbon-whiskey-recommendations/927677/92 "2023-02-26T16:29:06Z")
> [@digs](#): > > I’m older now, and love a good tropical drink with unknown ingredients… as long as it’s in a tiki head with an umbrella (or a swizzle stick topped by a colorful monkey). Do these count? > **[Han vs. Greedo 2-Pack](https://www.geekitikis.com/products/han-vs-greedo-2-pack)** > > Who shot first? Featuring the elite smuggler and pilot of the Millennium Falcon, Han Solo, as well as a deadly bounty hunter commissioned by Jabba the Hutt, Greedo, these tiki style mugs represent their fateful Mos Eisley encounter! The 19 ounce Han... ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2023, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-some-bourbon-whiskey-recommendations/927677/93 "2023-02-26T19:32:11Z")
Depends. Does anyone sell light saber swizzle sticks or teeny umbrellas with the Imperial crest as a logo to go with the mugs? I’m no SW geek, but those mugs are cool. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2023, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-some-bourbon-whiskey-recommendations/927677/94 "2023-02-26T19:40:01Z")
Well, they do make these: > **[Empire Swizzles 6-Pack](https://www.geekitikis.com/collections/shop-accessories/products/empire-swizzles-6-pack)** > > Come to the Dark Side, we have swizzles! Every tiki mug needs a swizzle stick to stir things up!  Now available is a Star Wars Geeki Tikis® Swizzle Stick 6-Pack.  Each set includes six 9in Empire swizzle sticks, featuring... and these: > **[Stacked Stormtrooper Helmets Metal Swizzle](https://www.geekitikis.com/collections/shop-accessories/products/stacked-stormtrooper-swizzle)** > > Every tiki mug needs a swizzle stick to stir things up!  The Star Wars Geeki Tikis® Stacked Stormtrooper Helmets Swizzle is now available for Pre-Order exclusively on GeekiTikis.com. Inspired by an episode of The Mandalorian, which revealed... And ohh, light saber chopsticks! > **[Lightsaber Chop Sticks Light up Color Changes 9 Colors All - Etsy](https://www.etsy.com/listing/1253005910/lightsaber-chop-sticks-light-up-color?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=star%2Bwars%2Bwhiskey%2Bglasses&ref=sr_gallery-6-22&bes=1&sts=1&organic_search_click=1)** > > This Cooking Utensils & Gadgets item by Bossaber has 1354 favorites from Etsy shoppers. Ships from Gilbert, AZ. Listed on Feb 26, 2023 ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2023, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-some-bourbon-whiskey-recommendations/927677/95 "2023-02-26T20:27:19Z")
Get yourself a copy of [the “Smuggler’s Cove” book](https://www.amazon.com/Smugglers-Cove-Exotic-Cocktails-Cult/dp/1607747324/ref=sr_1_1?crid=24JM0WI6NRA42&keywords=smuggler%27s+cove&qid=1677443130&sprefix=smuggler%27s+cov%2Caps%2C252&sr=8-1) by Martin Cate, who owns and runs the bar of the same name in San Francisco. It’s probably the best overall reference to tiki drinks that I’ve found. It also goes into Tiki culture quite a bit as well as being a cocktail and rum book. Easy Tiki and Beachbum Berry Remixed are also good, although the Kindle version of the latter stinks something awful- however they adapted it doesn’t let you zoom or change the font size. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2023, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-some-bourbon-whiskey-recommendations/927677/96 "2023-02-26T21:12:40Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > I’m no SW geek, but those mugs are cool. I may have to buy that set for my birthday. I already have Chewie, Yoda, R2D2, Vader, Boba Fett and a Stormtrooper. Han and Greedo will keep balance to the Force. ---
**Author:** ![xanthous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/53a042/32.png) [@xanthous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xanthous)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2023, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-some-bourbon-whiskey-recommendations/927677/97 "2023-02-26T21:46:05Z")
Old Grand Dad (bonded) is my favorite affordable sipper. EH Taylor Small Batch is my favorite $$$ (that I’m willing to pay). My BIL gave me a bottle of Iron Fish Maple Barrel bourbon that’s pretty tasty. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2023, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-some-bourbon-whiskey-recommendations/927677/98 "2023-02-26T22:47:54Z")
Isn’t EHT Small Batch \<$50 msrp? ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Burden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/958977/32.png) [@Jack\_Burden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Burden)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2023, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-some-bourbon-whiskey-recommendations/927677/99 "2023-02-27T05:25:08Z")
It’s certainly not cheap, but enjoying a glass of Garrison Brothers Single Barrel out of Hye, TX. Complex would an understatement. Definitely putting a bow on a delightful evening. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2023, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-some-bourbon-whiskey-recommendations/927677/100 "2023-04-05T04:02:58Z")
> **[We Asked 11 Bartenders: What’s the Most Overrated Bourbon? (2023)](https://vinepair.com/articles/wa-bartenders-most-overrated-bourbon/)** > > We asked bartenders and beverage professionals which bourbons they think are the most overrated. Here's what they said. > ### The most overrated bourbons, according to beverage professionals: > > - _Bulleit_ > - _Maker’s Mark_ > - _Jim Beam_ > - _Jack Daniel’s_ > - _Blanton’s_ > - _Basil Hayden_ > - _W.L. Weller_ > - _Pappy Van Winkle_ Bulleit was mentioned four times. I know I’ve bought it before; but Bulleit, for me, is rye. I’m sure I liked Bulleit bourbon. I also like Maker’s Mark and Jack Daniels. I even like Trader Joe’s Tennesee Whiskey. I’m not a bourbon connoisseur. So sue me. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-some-bourbon-whiskey-recommendations/927677.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-some-bourbon-whiskey-recommendations/927677.md?page=6)