<p>Anyone have a suggestion for a very nice, smoothe, reasonably priced Bourbon? </p>
<p>Today was a challenging day. My assistant suggested I go home and open a nice bottle of wine. When I drink (not all that often), I am usually a wine drinker. Perhaps a nice Bordeaux, California Zin or Australian Shiraz. Tonight, however, was a Bourbon night. </p>
<p>The Bourbon I’d found in the past to be a true “sippin’ liquor” was something called Eagle Rare. Very smoothe, easy to drink and remarkably balanced for a medium-priced 10 yr old Bourbon. The bottle I’d had for about a gazillion years (at least 10, if not more) finally got finished off by our neighbor, at my behest. When it came time to replace it, someone recommended another 10 yr. old bottle - Elijah Craig. So, about a yr or so ago, I picked up a bottle. which sat, collecting dust, in the liquor cabinet. I finally opened it tonight, poured a shot or so over ice, let it sit, and took a sip. Aakkk! I think I am still coughing! Can you say shoe polish??? Or maybe nail polish remover?? Hope I am not offending anyone out there, but this stuff is nasty. </p>
<p>Which brings me to my question… Anyone have a favorite, modestly priced “ya gotta die for” Bourbon? If you have a wonderful 18 yr old recommendation, and it doesnt require refinancing my car (jk) thats fine, but I’d love to find a bottle of some “hidden gem”, along the lines of the Eagle Rare. In exchange, I’ll happily recommend some wines…</p>
<p>Just like anything else. Pick 5-6 brands,blends, agings. Line them up.
1st round. Sip (sip) each in turn from the most expensive to least. Make note of top 2.</p>
<p>2nd round. After a light meal or red meat appetizer. Sip from least to most expensive. Make note of top 2.</p>
<p>3rd round. Take the least expensive and the most expensive. Shoot each shot down. Make note. </p>
<p>Now you got 5-6 bottles of bourbon. You got your best and your worst. Save your best for good sipping. Use your worst for bad situations. Use your middles for everyday use.</p>
<p>itstoomuch-
Sounds like a plan! But I am too cheap to spend the $$ on 4-5 bottles. And with the frequency that I drink Bourbon, I’ll be leaving most of it to the kids in my will.</p>
<p>MOWC-
Is latetoschool an expert, or a lush ??</p>
<p>At a bar where the owner specialized in Irish whiskey I was curious one time as to what was what. The bartender was nice enough to pour small samples of a few makes I selected from dozens for a very reasonable price ($8).</p>
<p>It beat spending $60+ per bottle for whiskey I’d never drink…maybe this a solution.</p>
<p>Latetoschool writes, “Having said that, I absolutely dispise alcohol in all its forms. I cannot stand the taste, sight, or smell of it. I won’t walk into a bar under any circumstances, ever, and, I won’t be around people who are drinking. I have no moral objection to it - it’s just that I see no purpose in it, and it’s not appealing to me. Alcohol has no nutritional value, and no health benefits; it tastes disgusting, and smells horrible. It’s expensive. And I cannot see where or how drinking ever leads to anything good. Even considering it as benignly as possible it seems like a total waste of time and money, and it impairs people.”</p>
<p>I have nothing bad to say about Makers, but personally prefer Woodford. I am unable to compare either against Eagle Rare. In the end, I suspect it would come down to a simple matter of personal preference.</p>
<p>I agree - unless you taste many different types how can you tell what you like? There are some distinct differences. Personally, I’d not pay $60 for some name-brand liquor when the $15 stuff is as good or better.</p>
<p>I personally have not had any bourbon in the $15.00 range that I would consider exceptional. If you can direct me to one, I would be most appreciative. </p>
<p>On the other hand, I have tasted some very expensive bourbon that, at least to me, tasted no better than some of the less expensive brands. For me, it is a matter of personal preference and some compromise, as I have no inclination to spend $50-$60 for a bottle.</p>
??</p>