My local tavern serves a "happy meal", which is a 20 oz PBR draft and a shot of their well bourbon for five bucks. I don't even know the brand, but this is how I get most of my bourbon. At home I usually keep two or three bottles of standard premium bourbons; Maker's Mark, Bulleit, Woodford, etc. But my "special occaision" bourbon is Evan Williams Single Barrel Vintage 2007, which I discovered at a blind taste testing a couple years ago. It's very good, but getting hard to find. I haven't found any expensive exclusive small batch product that is better.

My local tavern serves a "happy meal", which is a 20 oz PBR draft and a shot of their well bourbon for five bucks. I don't even know the brand, but this is how I get most of my bourbon. At home I usually keep two or three bottles of standard premium bourbons; Maker's Mark, Bulleit, Woodford, etc. But my "special occaision" bourbon is Evan Williams Single Barrel Vintage 2007, which I discovered at a blind taste testing a couple years ago. It's very good, but getting hard to find. I haven't found any expensive exclusive small batch product that is better.

My wife and I ventured to the Woodford back in September, very cool place. Haven't made it to Maker's yet, its about 2 hours from the house. I have been on a Weller kick lately, and it is so damn hard to find around here with all of Pappy hype. Eagle Rare is another of my favorites. Evan Williams Single Barrel is a great bourbon! I've never tried the '07 but one of my favorite "sleeper" bourbons is Evan Williams white label bottled-in-bond. Soooooo good for the price.

But, my #1 "budget bourbon" for life will be Heaven Hill 6 Year Bottled in Bond, go ahead and laugh it up like everyone else when they hear "Heaven Hill". People don't understand that Heaven Hill makes very expensive bottles as well as the ones you find scattered on the front lawns of fraternities. Try it one time and you will never forget it, $11 around here for a 750ml bottle, IF you can find it, people buy the entire cases when Kroger and Liquor Barn get them in.

Big fan of the bourbon trail... my wife and I have visited Maker's Mark, Four Roses, Woodford Reserve and Jim Beam...... I have some friends that really like bourbon - I have them over for a bourbon tasting and surround sound music - after the last one, I think they need Uber for the next one....

My favorite has always been Woodford Reserve, but lately I have really been liking Wyoming Whiskey - a little on the sweeter side, but very good.

oh..... and I am really liking all the bourbon barrel stouts (and some porters) that have been coming out - Goose Island Bourbon County Stout, Revolution Deth's Tar, and New Holland's Dragons Milk - especially the raspberry-lemon version......

Every time I start to really like a beer, they become hard to find.... I recently had Oskar Blue's Death By Coconut porter - it is outstanding..... by the time I went back to Binney's they were out of it.....tried a couple craft beer places and they were out too....

Big fan of the bourbon trail... my wife and I have visited Maker's Mark, Four Roses, Woodford Reserve and Jim Beam...... I have some friends that really like bourbon - I have them over for a bourbon tasting and surround sound music - after the last one, I think they need Uber for the next one....

My favorite has always been Woodford Reserve, but lately I have really been liking Wyoming Whiskey - a little on the sweeter side, but very good.

Woodford is one of my favorites as well. Check out Buffalo Trace, lots of history there and VERY good bourbon. A few years ago they had a pretty big bourbon heist that consisted of several employees taking around $30,000 of Pappy, it was a pretty big deal around here. My brother-in-law came across a fake 20yr Pappy Van Winkle last month a guy had listed on Craigslist for $600, when compared to a store bought PVW yout could easily tell it was not real. Apparently people are buying empty PVW bottles on eBay/Craigslist and the bottle cap foils can be easily ordered online, filling them up with "god knows what", and reselling them as legit Pappy Van Winkle. I didn't get a single damn bottle of 20yr PVW this year, Liquor Barn will hopefully have one more lottery drawing...

[Edited on 11/8/2016 by anthonyspare]

A few years ago they had a pretty big bourbon heist that consisted of several employees taking around $30,000 of Pappy, it was a pretty big deal around here. My brother-in-law came across a fake 20yr Pappy Van Winkle last month a guy had listed on Craigslist for $600, when compared to a store bought PVW yout could easily tell it was not real. Apparently people are buying empty PVW bottles on eBay/Craigslist and the bottle cap foils can be easily ordered online, filling them up with "god knows what", and reselling them as legit Pappy Van Winkle. I didn't get a single damn bottle of PVW this year, Liquor Barn will hopefully have one more lottery drawing...

I was invited to a condo of a gentleman we were doing business with about 2-3 years ago. He lived in NW KY and had a beautiful, highly perched spot overlooking the Ohio out onto the Cincinnati riverfront. He opened his cabinet and showed us some special bottle of Pappy he was all proud of, but before he did, the guy swore up and down it WAS NOT one from the batch that got heisted. Made sure we were very clear on that.

I'm not a bourbon guy at all and had no idea what he was referring to until a few months later and your comment reminded me of it all. I recall it being a very strange way to start a conversation. What made it stranger was that he didn't offer us any, either. Just talked about these precious bottles of his in a kind of worshipful way.....

 

I really enjoy a good bourbon. I've never had a taste of PVW, but it's on my bucket list. I gave up beer a few years back and only drink brown liquors: bourbon, scotch, irish whiskey, etc. Knob Creek and Woodford Reserve are my usual go-to drinks in a club.

Henry McKenna Single Barrel 100 proof.

Very good and reasonably priced

IMO PVW overrated and not worth the money

Henry McKenna Single Barrel 100 proof.

Very good and reasonably priced

IMO PVW overrated and not worth the money

Yes, I agree PVW is often overrated due to the rarity. I just enjoy the hunt and pick them up for trade/resell purposes, unless its a really good year then I may crack it open. I'm a big fan of wheated bourbons (Weller, Makers, Elmer T. Lee), the Weller bourbons have the same mash bill as Pappy apparently, they are just stored in a different warehouse and aged for a shorter period.

Unfortunately, up here in our state run liquor stores (Pennsylvania), there is not a ton of choices.

I usually go with 1792 or Woodford. Bulleit is good, but I actually prefer the Bulleit Rye to their bourbon.

I tried a bottle of Makers 46 recently and really liked that too.

And my go to whiskey for years and years when I'm in more than just a slow sipping mood is good ole' Jack Daniels.

Elmer T Lee was my go to but it has become very scarce...

Bookers and Blanton's have always treated me well... being a travelling sales manager has afforded me the opportunity to try many different variety's over the years. Perhaps some of the luster has come off of the pappy to let us regular guys get a crack at it for a reasonable price.

Now if we are talking Scotch - Lagavulin all the way

Now if we are talking Scotch - Lagavulin all the way

I like the way you think! And if you live in a state that sells liquor at Costco, you can pick it up at a damn good price!

The bourbon market over the last year has become flooded with so many options it makes my head spin, just like the beer market also.

I drink Old Crow and Old Grand Dad . For special occasions I will get Wild Turkey or Four Roses.

I am kinda tired of all the craft bourbon and beers with "kitschy" names and flavors.

Former Kentuckian here. I've emptied my share of bourbon, hood AND rot gut. Woodford is my favorite. Couple good ones not mentioned yet, Knob Creek and another favorite, Angel's Envy. Bulleit is right up there. I've been digging Rye's as of late

I used to drink Jack Daniel's, rare eagle, Jim Beam, Wild Turkey, Maker's Mark, and pretty much any type a bar or my friends had.

[Edited on 11/9/2016 by The_Newt]

Rebel Yell is $10 a bottle at Trader Joes.

Anyone tried Old Grandad? I have. It's absolutely putrid....

Former Kentuckian here. I've emptied my share of bourbon, hood AND rot gut. Woodford is my favorite. Couple good ones not mentioned yet, Knob Creek and another favorite, Angel's Envy. Bulleit is right up there. I've been digging Rye's as of late

Where at in Kentucky? Occasionally I will buy a rye, Willet 3yr rye is one of my faves. I have tried the Bulleit rye too, I think its the green label, good stuff and always available!

The bourbon I'll buy when the mood strikes is Buffalo Trace. Works for me.

Been reading about a bourbon called Widow Jane and would like to try it.

A shame it's only 1:20 in the afternoon.

The bourbon I'll buy when the mood strikes is Buffalo Trace. Works for me.

Been reading about a bourbon called Widow Jane and would like to try it.

I bought Buffalo Trace for a while as well, good stuff!

I used to live right down the street from Widow Jane and it was only the second best distillery in the neighborhood (ugh...Brooklyn). They buy someone else's Kentucky-made Bourbon, mix it with water from their limestone mine in upstate NY, and then finish it off at their distillery in Brooklyn. It's good, but you are paying extra for fancy water.

The bourbon I'll buy when the mood strikes is Buffalo Trace. Works for me.

Been reading about a bourbon called Widow Jane and would like to try it.

I bought Buffalo Trace for a while as well, good stuff!

I used to live right down the street from Widow Jane and it was only the second best distillery in the neighborhood (ugh...Brooklyn). They buy someone else's Kentucky-made Bourbon, mix it with water from their limestone mine in upstate NY, and then finish it off at their distillery in Brooklyn. It's good, but you are paying extra for fancy water.

A company down here bottles limestone water for bourbon mixing too. I never really understood the whole concept until I tried it during a test taste with some friends. It definitely brings more flavor out, and you can tell the differences in bourbons better when sampling them with a dash of water mixed in. Always try it neat first though, have to get that raw flavor.

When I drink Bourbon I drink Blantons

90% of bourbon was produced within 50 miles of where I lived. Four Roses, a good one, was 10 minutes from the house. When I moved to Georgia, it was 6 bucks cheaper than in KY. Legendary Kentucky Tavern is pushing to get back in the lime light. I heard new distillery and master distiller. Keep ya'lls eye peeled.

Anyone tried Old Grandad? I have. It's absolutely putrid....

lol!! Very putrid indeed.

Here in Pittsburgh we have a new distillery called Wigle. Been around for a few years. You can get it pretty cheap at the local bars.

A few weeks ago I'm at a whiskey bar in D.C. and there's Wigle Rye on the menu. Third-highest price in the joint. I had to laugh to myself. Taking advantage of ignorance there.

My dad and I love to drink bourbon.

We enjoy Makers Mark, Blanton's, Buffalo Trace, Jim Bean, and Woodford Reserve.

Hoping to find out soon when his barrel is ready at Makers Mark and take a week vacation in KY to visit all the Distilleries.

Am buying him Angel's Envy and a bottle of Eagle Rare for Christmas this year. Try something new each Christmas.

This.