The finest bourbon I have tasted. Yet.

**Benny Profane** · 12-03-2009, 10:51 PM

http://www.bardstownwhiskeysociety.c...gle-barrel.php

Elijah Craig 18, the Lagavullun of American whiskey.

But the same bar has this on the shelf:

http://www.oldripvanwinkle.com/newbs...2?opendocument

but the 23 year old. Pappy Van Winkle 23 year old. Anybody ever tried it? Because he wants $20 for a neat glass.

**Tye 1on** · 12-03-2009, 10:59 PM

Nice. Like the way the title ends 'yet'.

Cruiser had an opinion on the Pappy [ame="http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php?t=177463"]here[/ame]

**barnescli** · 12-03-2009, 11:01 PM

I haven't had the old pappy because I can't justify spending that much for a bottle, but the van winkle regular stuff is damn good.

**Captain Awesome** · 12-04-2009, 12:10 AM

I bought a bottle of Elijah Craig 12 a few weeks back... Wasn't that impressed. Is the 18 'better'? or just 'a stronger example of the same'? (i.e. "if you like the 12, the 18's even better... if you didn't like the 12, you'll like the 18 even less")

I just ordered a bottle of Stranahan's online today. I've never had more than 1 or 2 shots of that in a night (since bars here don't serve it, and i don't like to pay bar prices for whiskey, most times)... I hope it's as good as I remember...

**Cruiser** · 12-04-2009, 08:51 AM

I haven't had the Elijah Craig although I think I probably should ask for them to bring it in for our crew to try. I have had all of the Pappy bourbons (one after the next at work). Personally I think that the 23yo is getting on a bit. I liked the 20yo better which is nice since it sells for about $100 less a bottle than the 23. IMO the 23 has begun to pick up some of the charcoal notes that leave it feeling kind of flat. Sure, it's still a great whiskey and it's totally worth a taste if you can afford it. But, I think it loses some of the exuberance that it had when it was a bit younger. FWIW, I feel the same way about cognac and scotch. Anything over about 30yo starts to taste a little lackluster to me. I'd rather drink the 20's despite the fact that the older stuff has a more intriguing texture.

**mushmouth** · 12-04-2009, 09:09 AM

I bought a bottle of the PVW 23yo a couple of years ago for a special event and though it was enjoyable, frankly I don't remember its characteristics.

My personal favorite right now is Jefferson's Reserve. To cross the line into rye whiskey's, if I had to pick one liquor to have on my shelf for a year, it would be Old Portrero. Also tried their Hotalings offering recently and it was very good.

**allTandA** · 12-04-2009, 10:46 AM

Pappy makes good bourbon, of all ages.

The 10 year is one of the best whiskey bargains I've found. Usually $21-$26, which is about what that makers swag costs!

**surrender_monkey** · 12-04-2009, 11:01 AM

makers is now $28/1.75L at costco or .70c/shot

best i ever had was blantons at $40/750ml

$20/shot is $320/750ml.nothing is worth that

**Woodsy** · 12-04-2009, 11:03 AM

George T Stagg
the best of the best

old Grandad 114 is a great value as is Jeffersons

**BmillsSkier** · 12-04-2009, 11:22 AM

I recently picked up a couple bottles of this year's Woodford Reserve Masters Collection. One for me and one as a gift. Of course I sampled it right away to make sure that the recipient would enjoy it as well... taaaaaassssttttyyyy stuff!

~$90/btl

**jibij** · 12-04-2009, 11:40 AM

I've only recently started researching and sampling different bourbons, so take this for what it's worth, but the Pappy Van Winkle is my hands-down favorite. Soooo smooth.

**stew130** · 12-04-2009, 01:09 PM

Originally Posted by BmillsSkier

I recently picked up a couple bottles of this year's Woodford Reserve Masters Collection. One for me and one as a gift. Of course I sampled it right away to make sure that the recipient would enjoy it as well... taaaaaassssttttyyyy stuff!

~$90/btl

Seconded.

**carvedog** · 12-04-2009, 01:33 PM

Van Winkle = good brown liquor.

As an added bonus the three grand daughters of Pappy lived here in town for a while. At least one still does.

Triplets I think, and they are all smoking hot. No pics sorry. But they ski and spend the old man's money in a ski town, being ski bums of sort.

**Buzzworthy** · 12-04-2009, 01:45 PM

Just starting to acquire a taste for the brown.

Played with this last night for the first time and it was pretty good:

**Benny Profane** · 12-04-2009, 05:58 PM

I just stopped in my local store looking for the Elijah 18, but only found the 12 for 25 bucks, so, WTF. I sit here telling you it's a superb value. Let it breath a little.

Cheers. Happy Holidays. Call your mother.

**Stu Gotz** · 12-04-2009, 06:28 PM

Much like jibij, I am a rank amatuer in the ways of brown liquor, but I think that Tuthilltown Spirts’ Hudson Baby Bourbon is very nice.

I have no idea how it would stack up against the others, however.

Which makes the value of my post limited at best.

**OSECS** · 12-04-2009, 06:41 PM

It's a repost, but Russells Reserve, by Wild Turkey $25 (in Va.) a bottle I believe.

Best I've had fore the price. Drinks like Blantons at less cost.

**Crock** · 12-04-2009, 07:13 PM

Originally Posted by Buzzworthy

Just starting to acquire a taste for the brown.

Played with this last night for the first time and it was pretty good:

I was really disappointed with the 1792. Maybe it's just me, but its got a pretty harsh alcohol bite to it, and is just kinda boring. Fine for mixing, but for the price I wasn't pleased with it. I'm no connoisseur or anything. I started liking bourbon just a few years ago when my buddy turned me on to Woodford Reserve. Since then I pretty much stick to Knobb when I want something nice to sip on cuz I'm poor and cant afford to gamble on something I wont like.

**masterofgreenbeans** · 12-04-2009, 08:17 PM

Those look delicious. I will be trying some soon. I have a new more everyday Bourbon that I find to my liking called Buffalo Trace, give that a shot or 2 or 3.

**Benny Profane** · 01-13-2010, 06:25 PM

Jeez, I was wrong. The Pappy Van Winkle 20 year old is $20 a shot a my local "pub". The 23 year old is $40! Anybody tried it? The 20 year old is superb, but, dear lord, I swore off coke a very long time ago for this very reason.........

**mtnreed** · 01-13-2010, 06:45 PM

How is it for sippin? I always have on hand a bottle of Gentlemen's and Maker's. I do not either mix with anything except ice and a glass...Maybe a novice here, yet these are what I like...

**Cruiser** · 01-13-2010, 09:51 PM

^^^ It's gud. I'm still working on my bottle of the Pappy 20yo. May have to have a glass right now.

Mixing anything more than a splash of branch water into whiskey like the ones mentioned in this thread will make baby Jesus cry. You don't wanna make baby Jesus cry, do you?

**Tippster** · 01-13-2010, 09:55 PM

One standard ice cube. Warm whiskey makes the baby Jeebus vomit... it's meant to be Cellar Temp.

MakersTeleMark and I drank some yummy Willett in a place here in DC called "Bourbon." The seection was amazing - at least 100 different bourbons.

**BmillsSkier** · 01-13-2010, 11:37 PM

Originally Posted by Tippster

One standard ice cube. Warm whiskey makes the baby Jeebus vomit... it's meant to be Cellar Temp.

MakersTeleMark and I drank some yummy Willett in a place here in DC called "Bourbon." The seection was amazing - at least 100 different bourbons.

Funny you mention the Willett, Tippster. I had never heard of the brand until Monday night when my wife and I headed to this craft cocktail place in Dixie and had a sampling of Willett's single barrel variety at the request of the barmaid:

Honestly, my favorite tasting of the night was another unknown to me called Noah's Mill:

Really enjoyed this one, nice smooth carmel flavors and very smooth sippin.

Lots of good bourbon out there that is yet to be tried I guess!