# Recommend a good whiskey or bourbon **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** liquor-alcohol\ **Created:** [January 27, 2011, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-whiskey-or-bourbon/569220 "2011-01-27T19:08:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TheMerchandise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b487fb/32.png) [@TheMerchandise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheMerchandise)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2011, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-whiskey-or-bourbon/569220/1 "2011-01-27T19:08:20Z")
I am having my birthday party at a bar this evening and I thought I’d get myself a treat. Usually, I drink Jamesons, Dewars or Makers Mark, but tonight I’d like to try something new (and perhaps pricier). I’m looking for advice on good whiskies and bourbons that can be commonly found at a normal bar. I’ve read through [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=402504&highlight=whiskey&page=2) thread, but most of the suggestions are for buying bottles to have on hand at home. ---
**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:** [January 27, 2011, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-whiskey-or-bourbon/569220/2 "2011-01-27T19:22:01Z")
Where to start… For a step up from Maker’s, try their latest expression: **46**. For a real step up, try either **Russell’s Reserve** or **Kentucky Spirit** from Wild Turkey. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Righteous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Dr.Righteous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Righteous)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2011, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-whiskey-or-bourbon/569220/3 "2011-01-27T19:45:16Z")
You can usually find Woodfords Reserve at bars. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2011, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-whiskey-or-bourbon/569220/4 "2011-01-27T19:48:14Z")
> [@Dr.Righteous](#): > > You can usually find Woodfords Reserve at bars. That would be my choice as well. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2011, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-whiskey-or-bourbon/569220/5 "2011-01-27T20:03:48Z")
Booker’s or Baker’s ---
**Author:** ![Scubaqueen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c0e974/32.png) [@Scubaqueen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scubaqueen)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2011, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-whiskey-or-bourbon/569220/6 "2011-01-27T20:12:18Z")
McCallan. None better. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2011, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-whiskey-or-bourbon/569220/7 "2011-01-27T20:16:39Z")
Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel. None better. ---
**Author:** ![TheMerchandise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b487fb/32.png) [@TheMerchandise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheMerchandise)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2011, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-whiskey-or-bourbon/569220/8 "2011-01-27T20:23:36Z")
> [@Scubaqueen](#): > > McCallan. None better. > [@garygnu](#): > > Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel. None better. Hmmm, both these posts can’t possibly be true… 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Randy\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ee7513/32.png) [@Randy\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randy_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2011, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-whiskey-or-bourbon/569220/9 "2011-01-27T20:28:39Z")
> [@Dr.Righteous](#): > > You can usually find Woodfords Reserve at bars. Hm. Not really a step up from Makers. Maybe a step sideways. If you want something a little fancier, I’d try Blanton’s. It’s good stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2011, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-whiskey-or-bourbon/569220/10 "2011-01-27T20:45:17Z")
I’ve had Blanton’s, and for my taste, still nothing beats Woodford Reserve. It’s my all-time favorite spirit. Obviously tastes differ, but if you’ve never had it before, I definitely recommend giving it a try. Sipped neat, it’s like the distilled essence of the world’s best caramel sundae. ---
**Author:** ![tr0psn4j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@tr0psn4j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tr0psn4j)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2011, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-whiskey-or-bourbon/569220/11 "2011-01-27T20:56:21Z")
Highest end whiskey I’ve tried has been Makers Mark. I don’t know, it seemed good enough but I’ll probably stick to beer. My birthday just passed a few days ago and I contemplated getting myself a Duvel Tripel Hop but never got around to it. ---
**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:** [January 27, 2011, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-whiskey-or-bourbon/569220/12 "2011-01-27T20:57:23Z")
Pappy van Winkle. ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2011, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-whiskey-or-bourbon/569220/13 "2011-01-27T20:57:54Z")
Hmm. I see MOL hasn’t posted. Has anyone busted down the door of her apt. to check that she is ok? ---
**Author:** ![mrklutz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ebca7d/32.png) [@mrklutz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrklutz)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2011, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-whiskey-or-bourbon/569220/14 "2011-01-27T22:25:26Z")
Four Roses Single Barrel is very tasty, though it’s probably hard to find at a bar. I’m another who considers Woodford a step up from Maker’s. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2011, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-whiskey-or-bourbon/569220/15 "2011-01-27T22:46:51Z")
Elijah Craig 12 or 18, or the Evan Williams Single Barrel are all 3 excellent bourbons. So are Blanton’s and Woodford Reserve. Glenmorangie Astar or Nectar d’ Or are interesting and great Scotch whiskies. For something interesting (if you can find it at your bar) try Yamazaki 12 or 18 yr old Japanese Malt Whisky. Really good… but not Scotch either. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2011, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-whiskey-or-bourbon/569220/16 "2011-01-27T22:52:57Z")
If you want to try some nice scotch, Glenmorangie, Glenlivet and McCallan are all excellent and relatively easy to find. ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2011, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-whiskey-or-bourbon/569220/17 "2011-01-27T22:53:38Z")
I understand this is a connoisseur’s thread, but as far as a good mid-priced bourbon goes, how is Early Times regarded? What about Wild Turkey? I usually mix bourbon with ginger ale or Coke, and the last bottle I got was Old Grandad, which was a little overpowering for my tastes. Any good, not crazy expensive labels I should seek out? ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2011, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-whiskey-or-bourbon/569220/18 "2011-01-27T22:55:28Z")
Woodbridge (bourbon). ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2011, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-whiskey-or-bourbon/569220/19 "2011-01-27T22:55:49Z")
> [@Scubaqueen](#): > > McCallan. None better. I enjoy an occassional glass of Macallan 12 myself. You might also enjoy Bruichladdich, although they may not have it unless you go to a bar that serves a lot of different whiskeys. ---
**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:** [January 27, 2011, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-whiskey-or-bourbon/569220/20 "2011-01-27T23:18:14Z")
> [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](#): > > I understand this is a connoisseur’s thread, but as far as a good mid-priced bourbon goes, how is Early Times regarded? > > What about Wild Turkey? > > I usually mix bourbon with ginger ale or Coke, and the last bottle I got was Old Grandad, which was a little overpowering for my tastes. > > Any good, not crazy expensive labels I should seek out? Early Times is disgusting. Wild Turkey is pretty decent stuff. I’d recommend as an answer to your last question. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-whiskey-or-bourbon/569220.md?page=2)