Kentucky Bourbons

If you’re a Scotch whisky aficionado, and you’ve always turned your nose up at the thought of bourbon, it’s time to reconsider! After all, bourbon (and other American whiskey) is NOT Scotch’s poor relation. They are a delicious alternative; sometimes sweet, sometimes “bitey”, and in some ways more authentic than Scotch. After all, some Scotches put so much caramel color in their whiskies; they could have started out green, for all you know. But, bourbon is pure. No artificial colors – just corn, barley, rye &/or wheat (or sometimes both), water, and yeast. What you see (and taste) is what you get. There are some excellent bourbons out there.

Recommended by the Whisky Guild
For the Collector
A good value


$ - Under $25         
$$ - $25 to $45       
$$$ - $45 to $65      
$$$$ - $65 to $85      
$$$$$ - $85+
 

Glen – 82

A nice smooth easy drinking whiskey. Jim Beam is used mostly as a mixer but it’s a nice whisky neat. Has a nice finish. Not an overly complex dram but still pleasant and easy drinking. This one cries for a porch on a hot summer day with maybe a tall glass of lemonade as a chaser.

Nose: Fresh, a crisp fall breeze, lightly charred oak, fruity, honey, oranges, musty
Body: Light, easy
Finish: Short but flavorful, pronounced sweetness, oak, warming

A good sipping whisky that will surprise you.
 

Brett – 83

A pretty nose, at first earthy and musty, then giving way to lightly-charred oak, mint, and bruised oranges. There were also hints of maple syrup, and of course rye. White label was very lightly sweet on the palate, which complemented its lithe body. This litheness was continued on to the (relatively short) finish, which, though warming was nonetheless fresh and vibrant, with a floral, juniper berry quality to it. A straightforward whiskey, not complex, but still quite pleasing.
 

Glen – 87

Now this is more like it. A big rich dram that holds up well over ice, but try it neat first. This one screams toughness and attitude and we loved it. A great sipping whiskey that’s not overly complex. Lacks that sticky sweetness that so many bourbons seem to have in abundance. A great finish rounds off this impressive dram.

Nose: Oak, fruit, strong and robust, burnt caramel, a little bitter
Body: Chewy
Finish: Medium length and smooth, oak, fruit, rich, caramel, char

A tough, robust whiskey!
 

Brett – 88

This is a Big Whiskey. It has a rich, full nose, bursting with caramel, peach pits, and a “soft” oakiness that just wants to stay in your nose and hang-out there for a while. It’s no surprise, then, that Jim Beam Black has a medium/full bodied, chewy mouthfeel, slightly bitey. And the finish doesn’t disappoint either. Heavy notes of burnt sugar, toffee, and caramel perfectly counterbalance a mélange of fruits, as this whiskey slowly wafts away. A Southern gentleman’s sippin’ whiskey.

Glen – 88

A beautiful subtle bourbon that I enjoy over ice in the summer months. Has a high rye content which adds some spice and helps balance out the dram. If you're new to bourbon, Basil's is a good choice. Nice and subtle but still very flavorful. Almost too smooth.

Nose: Subtle and sweet, candy corn, vanilla, honey, spice
Body: Medium to thick
Finish: Short but flavorful and big at the start, honey and spice, very smooth, does linger a bit

Lovely.
 

Brett – 91

Not to encourage angry e-mails, but just as some heavier whiskies are referred to as “masculine”, those that are lighter-bodied can be thought of as “feminine”. Basil Hayden’s is a feminine whiskey, and delicious. It is incredibly complex, with a sweet, floral (dare we say Scotch-like) nose; lightly crisp, balancing sugar wafers versus toasted oak. A surprisingly medium/full body transitions beautifully to a finish of vanilla beans and more toasted oak, which keeps echoing in your consciousness for quite some time. Basil Hayden’s is considered a beginner’s whiskey, but this is nonsense. Instead, I think of Basil Hayden’s as a gorgeous, well-rounded, subtle, and smooth whiskey. (I always did like the ladies).
 

Widely Available

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Glen – 90

BIG! In my opinion this is one of the best Bourbons on the market today. It’s all here, all the robust flavors that made bourbon ‘America’s Whiskey’. Throw in a long dry finish and you have one heck of a dram. The desert Island Bourbon.

Nose: Sharp and big, spicy, rye, big charred oak, a touch of vanilla, roasted nuts
Body: Very sweet
Finish: Long and dry with a big (well balanced) rye taste, in your face, stays with you

Very big and flavorful, a great one!
 

Brett – 89

This one’s easy. Knob Creek is beautifully full of everything. Big caramel. Big rye. Big char. Big vanilla. Big stewed fruits. I don’t really know how they cram all that bigness into that little bottle, but they do. The body is very full (of course), and the spicy, long finish stays with you like water on wool. The most popular of Beam’s Small Batch Collection, my only complaint with Knob Creek is that it is almost too serious. This whiskey is (I can’t resist) a heavyweight.

Widely Available

$$

Glen – 82

This is a rich warming bourbon that would be perfect in the Winter. I actually had this at an event that Baker Beam himself attended which made the experience unique and memorable.

Nose: Rich and syrupy, caramel, vanilla and maple sugar, char
Body: Medium
Finish: Long and sweet, has some bite, dominated by rye, caramel, warming, bitter

A nice ‘Winter’ Bourbon. Just a wee bit too much rye.
 

Brett – 82

Another “heavy” whiskey, Baker’s has a lightly vegetal nose with charred oak, pepper, and maple syrup. Medium-bodied and chewy, this whiskey has a hot, shortish finish full of rye bread, caramel (though not enough to overcome the rye), and quinine.

Widely Available

$$

Glen – 95

It all starts here, the bourbon that all others are compared too. Pulls you in and doesn’t let go. Very complex and is among the top whiskies in the world. Reminds me of waking up on a camping trip and smelling the previous nights fire in the air. Very big and not one you’ll pull on all day, one dram is enough. Amazing!

Nose: Deep and complex, caramel, honey, char, ash, oranges, graphite
Body: medium
Finish: Long and dry, oak, a touch of vanilla, caramel

Bourbon bliss!
 

Brett – 95

Heaven, I’m in heaven…An incredible nose that you could, quite literally, lose yourself in: sweet honey, citrus (grapefruits, oranges, lemons), candy caramels, traces of graphite, woodsmoke. One taster said it reminded him of waking-up at a campsite and smelling the wet earth and still-smoldering embers from the night before. Too true. Interestingly, the body of this whiskey is much lighter than expected, practically dancing in your mouth. And the finish! Dry, with light spice, the finish bursts with dried fruits, oak, blackberries, more caramel (but not “sticky-sweet”), and the lightest essence of vanilla. An absolutely elegant whiskey.
 

Widely Available

$$$

Glen – 89

This dram should come with a warning label since it seems to pull you back to the glass with each sip. Neat or on ice this is one great easy drinking whiskey. A drink all day type of bourbon. Well balanced with plenty of sweetness but not overly done. Has a wonderful finish. This one should always be in your liquor cabinet.

Nose: Fresh, honey, refreshing, fresh cut flowers, resin, fruit
Body: Chewy
Finish: Long, has some bite, honey, light char and oak, mint

Delicious.
 

Brett –

Widely Available

$$

Glen - 92

Lacks that sticky sweetness that’s common in bourbons which is a nice change. Unique and very different then your standard. The 1996 is the best one we've tried from this range.

Nose: Distinctive, dry (if dry had a smell), vanilla bean, earthy
Body: Creamy, chewy
Finish: Very dry and long, smooth, rye

A wonderful very distinctive bourbon!

 

Brett –

Glen - 89

A simply great bourbon! Very well balanced and drinkable while still maintaining that Kentucky frontier spirit. I love to sip this whiskey while kicking around the house cooking or doing chores. This isn’t a dram for those quiet moments, this one makes you want to move. Fresh fruit, vanilla and not overly sweet makes this bourbon a notch above most others.

Nose: Fresh fruit, burnt caramel, rich and deep, strong vanilla, not too refined
Body: Medium and dominated by malt and rye
Finish: Rye, very smooth, lingering

A drink all day premium bourbon.
 

Brett –

Glen - 89

Just another example of why I love bourbon. Not as roughed as the 12 year old, this dram is more refined and sophisticated. Not as sweet and more honey and roasted nuts come through. A nice compliment to the 12 year old but not a step up in class, just different. Something about this whiskey is just appealing.

Nose: Fresh wet paint, currants, hints of orange, woody, honey, roasted nuts & spice
Body: Medium
Finish: A great finish, long and dry, smooth and flavorful, spicy, lingers

Dryer and more refined. A thinking man’s bourbon.
 

Brett –

Glen – 86

It’s all here, a rich mellow classic bourbon. Big and flavorful. They should put a picture of this one next to Bourbon in the dictionary.
Nose: Big, very fragrant, vanilla extract, oak char
Body: Mellow, oak
Finish: Long, sweet, rich, raisins and honey

A classic full flavored bourbon.
 

Brett –

Widely Available

$$

Glen – 91

This bourbon was extremely complex and you could pick out each grain in its own understated way. The grains worked perfectly together and the dram came off very well balanced even through it had dozens of different flavors at work.

The nose started off sweet and slowly carried into a fresh rye and nutty perfume. The body was chewy and syrupy without being overly sweet. The finish was long, flavorful, and warming with a subtle rye, toasted almonds and spicy make up.

 

Brett –

Glen – 87

Jan 2008
Brown-Forman introduced this premium line in 2002 to honor of its founder George Garvin and releases a new expression every year. I can’t say I’ve had them all but I always look forward to this annual release. The dram has a high rye content which adds a marked spiciness to the end product but it doesn’t have an oppressive heavy rye character. Adding a fair amount of water (maybe 1 parts to 4 bourbon) seemed to bring out the most flavor. The dram was well balanced and intense and it definitely gives you that feeling that you’re drinking something special.

Nose: Rich and intense, spicy, well balanced rye, char, caramel, honey, vanilla, oak
Body: Flavorful and medium bodied, smooth
Finish: Spicy and long, char, a touch of rye

Classic.

 

Brett –

Glen – 78

Earthy and complex, Buffalo Trace is one of those whiskies you either love or like (hates too strong a word). I found this dram enjoyable but a little too earthy in the finish. The nose is rich with oak, vanilla and fruit. The body is thick and satisfying. The finish was slightly on the short to medium side dominated by wet earth.

Nose: Oak, light char, vanilla, fruit, rich, orange zest
Body: Thick and satisfying
Finish: Medium length, earthy, caramel, candy corn

A great nose but the dram never seems to come together.
 

Brett – 92

A wonderful nose; full of tangerines, a hint of cinnamon, vanilla, and a
pronounced sponge cake essence. Buffalo Trace has a very honeyed palate, full of lively heat that seems to dance around on the tongue. My co-taster seemed to pick-up some toffee, but that was lost on me. A medium finish, Buffalo Trace seemed to waft away with a spicy, toasty goodbye. A classy bourbon, yet one that I could drink all day at a barbeque.

Glen – 77

A wheated bourbon that had a strong distinctive character. The flavors didn’t come together for me but I enjoyed the dram. It had a pungent nose with grass and burnt maple syrup notes. The finish was medium and dry.

Nose: Pungent, grassy, spirity, burnt maple syrup and touch of honey
Body: Syrupy, chewy
Finish: Medium length and dry, vanilla

One that you will either love or hate.

Brett – 82

A fresh, grassy nose gives way to a slightly chewy body. The body
has a cereal character with reminiscences of burnt almonds. To me though, this one is about the finish – the heat comes at you in waves, alternately tame and fierce. There is vanilla here, and I just know that I picked-up a little marzipan as it sat in my glass.

 

Glen – 92

A tremendous bourbon that is very reasonable priced. Every whisk(e)y drinker should have a bottle of this one. A complex nose that had an explosion of flavor, like caramel, oak, hard candy. I could nose this one all day between long pulls of course.

Nose: Sticky sweet, caramel, oak, hard candy, a wonderful nose
Body: Creamy and hot
Finish: Long and flavorful, some spice, citrus and creamy

Wonderful!
 

Brett – 91

Wow! This is like drinking a carnival, which may not make much sense, until you nose this. Candy corn, raspberries, lavender, french toast (without the syrup), cotton candy, with soft burnt caramel undertones. To use a technical term: very yummy. The caramel on the palate doesn’t disappoint, and neither does the finish, full of orange zest, the missing maple syrup, and unpopped popcorn kernels. A beautifully complex bourbon. Get some!

 

Glen – 89

Eagle Rare is one of the best (and least expensive) bourbons on the market and doesn’t nearly get the ‘props’ it’s due. This expression was a Bayway Liquors exclusive and was selected by the knowledgeable Bayway staff. They never fail to select the best casks and this dram is no exception. My co-taster enjoyed this dram without water but I found it much too harsh. I added just a touch of water and the dram smoothed out and opened up nicely.

Nose: Charred oak, caramel, vanilla, orange, musty
Body: Chewy
Finish: Long & flavorful, warming, burnt caramel, butterscotch, stays with you

Another great Eagle Rare.

 

Brett –  

 

Glen –
 

Brett – 84

An earthy nose, full of hay, and something that reminded me
of a New York egg cream. The Blanton’s had flavors of licorice and
roasted nuts, with a nice medium body, and a dry, warming toffee
finish.
 

Glen – 77

A nice dry bourbon that has a heavy rye content. The rye is the most predominant feature to this dram and it has very little of the sticky sweetness that is typical of bourbons. Very different than most bourbons on the market. The cross over of the bourbon world. The dram had a nice sharp character that catches you in the back of the throat while still being fairly smooth.

Nose: Rye with an underlining sweetness
Body: Medium, smooth and spicy
Finish: Long, starts with a smoothness that gives way to a sharpness in the back of the throat

Unique.
 

Brett –

Glen –
 

Brett – 83

Tastes much younger than its age. There’s oranges in the initial nosing that give way to a sweeter oak with
water. The vanilla and peppermint flavors on the palate carry over
into the finish, and help tame the heat. If you like your whiskeys
straightforward, then this is the bourbon for you.

 

Tennessee
 

Glen – 83

Has that familiar JD feel but isn’t as rough around the edges as their World Famous No. 7 whiskey. A nice smooth Tennessee sipping whisky. This one is made to sip on the porch on a hot summer day. A touch of water really opened this one up.

Nose: Charcoal, Sweet, burnt sugar
Body: Has some legs, sweet
Finish: Medium, smooth, toasted nuttiness

Much better then the standard JD No. 7. Water greatly improves this one.
 

Jeff –

Available only in select States

$$

Glen – 86

A very nice easy drinking whiskey. I was very impressed with this one. Much better and more mellow then Jack Daniels. This one is a gem.

Nose: Sweet, pumpkin spice, reminds me of a crisp fall day
Body: Smooth, has some legs, satisfying
Finish: Long and sweet, clean

A beautiful undiscovered Tennessee whisky. Buy this one before the secret gets out.
 

Jeff –

Widely Available

$

Other States
 

Glen – 89

Whiskey from Iowa? Iowa is a beautiful place but it’s never been know for producing great whiskey. Until now. Templeton rye was produced illegally during prohibition and was said to be Al Capone’s favorite. Templeton is now available legally and is bottled by single barrel. This is definitely not your Father’s (or Grand Father’s) rye. This whiskey has a very smooth character and the rye is dominant but is not overdone. Limited availability for now, but it’s only a matter of time before this one breaks out.

Nose: Rye, sweet, understated
Body: Silky smooth
Finish: Rich, smooth, sweet

Simply delicious.
 

Jeff –

Very limited

$$$

Glen –

Jeff – 88 Editor's Pick Spring 2008

You always want to root for the little guy. This whisky is “Rudy Ruettiger”. Except that he can actually play, and this time some of the big boys should take notice! They can learn a thing or two from the new kid on the block. This spicy, honey-amber nectar has a sweet floral nose that almost begs you to take a sip. Very light on the palate, but this one is all in the finish. It has a charred, warming finish that
doesn’t want to seem to ever end. It’s hard to imagine this is only 2 years old.
GO RUDY!
 

Very limited

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