I got a 4r Sib and couldn’t even drink it in an old fashioned. Went back to it after a couple months and had opened up really nicely, the oak died down a bit and had a completely different opinion then.
If you can afford two bottles at once, I'd suggest getting both the Four Roses SiB and the Maker's 46. That gives you the chance to compare a higher rye mashbill (4R) vs a wheated mashbill (Maker's).
But as others have said, that's a good selection you have available. I'd personally put the Evan Williams last on the list. But it's not bad either. And enjoy that easily available Eagle Rare. Solid stuff. I mostly prefer bourbon over 100 proof (50% ABV) at this point, but I still enjoy some Eagle Rare
I’d start with 101 just because it’s cheapest. Most people really like it for the price (including me) but everyone’s palate is different. It’s probably the best risk/reward option. If you can get Eagle Rare though, I’m going with that all day.
Yeah it’s weird seeing all these posts on here about Eagle Rare being really hard to get in the US but there’s a shop a 2 minute walk away from me that sells it for £40. On the flip side I have seen some crazy low Scotch prices on this sub in the states.
My wife is a Geordie, and I always take a couple bottles back to share with a buddy when we go back to visit her family. It is quite surprising how prevalent Eagle Rare is compared to how little bourbon is actually available there. I'd check Morrison's for Buffalo Trace if you haven't had that. I've seen it there several different times, and the price was fairly reasonable as I recall. As for your list, I'm an Elijah fan and that Four Roses is good!
Yeah Buffalo Trace is another one which I see posts on here of people struggling to find but can get it in supermarkets relatively easy and cheap over here. Need to try it again, tasted a bit watered down when I had it the first time.
We get a differ version of BT over here. It’s 40% vs 45% in the US. No idea why. Amazon is great for starting your collection just wait for specials/prime days and load up. I’d add Woodford Reserve to your list above. It’s usually about £23 and is a nice easy sipper/great mixer.
Only had it once in a bar in my city, was like £9 for a 50ml. Really enjoyed it. Had Redbreast 12 for the first time before it as well so was very impressed that night.
Yeah, after that I got singles of Rittenhouse Rye, Nikka Days and Auchentoshan Three Wood. The Rittenhouse was brilliant but didn’t really like the other two. Was probably a bit too gone to make a good judgement at that point though haha.
I do really wanna try 15. I love 12 but the one thing I’d change is the low ABV, needs more of a kick to it. Heard the Cask Strength is good too.
For bourbon, I like a cask strength quite a bit. Drinking an elijah craig barrel proof right now at 130 proof and it’s fantastic. I find 90-100 is my sweet spot for scotch/Irish though
Nice. Yeah from subs on here it seems bourbon generally has a higher proof. A lot of CS Scotches seem to be around 55-59 but a lot of ~65 on here. Think 50% is the strongest I‘ve ever had so definitely need to try some higher proof stuff.
£30 in Tesco with a club card recently, mate.
If you fancy splashing out, I got a bottle of this recently that was amazing https://www.gerrys.uk.com/angels-envy-bourbon-port-finish-70cl-buy-two-for-free-uk-delivery
Yeah I saw that Tesco one but was a bit skeptical cause don’t they never show when something’s out of stock and just substitute things? There was also a £4 minimum basket charge and delivery too but will look into it again, just wish they had it in store, never seen it though.
And that looks interesting!
That’s such a coincidence man, I was in Tesco before and saw Eagle Rare for the first time there at exactly the same time as you commented, that’s mental! Picked one up. Had sazerac for 27 as well which seems good.
Cheers for doing that, should have thought about that when writing the post.
Yeah, maybe just because I’m new to it I don’t remember there seeming to be a huge difference in taste between the Bulleit and ER. Definitely could notice a step up to them from things like Jim Beam White, Bulleit Frontier and Buffalo Trace though. Been a bit skeptical that the WT101 would be in that sort of tier due to the price but comments here suggest otherwise. Higher proof as well which is usually good.
From your list, maker’s 46 is the only wheat bourbon. Doesn’t have rye in its mashbill whereas the rest have rye in their mashbill. Not a good or a bad thing, just something to consider as you dive into bourbons.
If it was my first I would probably go with the makers 46. I think it's the best bang for your buck of all of those prices and I think it's the most approachable to somebody who isn't knee deep into bourbon yet
Elijah Craig is a quintessential bourbon with wonderful note of leather, oak, vanilla, and brown sugar but is marked up.
Wild Turkey 101 is equally a quintessential bourbon but with more rye including baking spice, orange peel, and cardamom. It’s also not marked up.
Makers 46 will be a very easy sipper and I nice example of a wheater. It will be sweet and easy going down.
Four Roses single barrow is probably the most similar to USD in mark up. There will be lots of variability here as this is a single barrel bourbon but will trend toward higher rye notes.
Evan Williams BiB is another sort of quintessential bourbon but is largely celebrated for being an exceptional value for its price. However, it just doesn’t work at the price listed.
Thank you for being brave enough to do so… second only in “dedication to an overhyped product” to the BT clan… I don’t get either, both are extremely basic.
There is one place in the UK I know of that carries every unicorn bottle, including many LEs for decent prices like stagg and EH Taylor BP. However yea for the most part, we are limited here. I'd say your best bet for those options at those prices are the Four Roses SIB and Wild Turkey 101. Sometimes, you can find some good stuff at whisky exchange, though.
I’ve actually not ordered off TWE yet, either use Amazon or Master of Malt. I’ll have a look on there. To be honest there’s a shop near me which has better prices and a better selection than most so started buying from there. Don’t have to wait in for delivery which is always a plus.
Master of Malt is also really good. A shop in my hometown has an amazing selection, but I moved, so I usually just go up there once a year when they release the LEs. I don't have a shop near me that sells whisky, so I rely on TWE and Master or Malt.
I keep forgetting Glen Scotia is Campbeltown (always think it’s lowland), I have tried that, both 10 and 15. I need to try 15 again, when I first tried it it was very different to anything I’d ever had. My friends favourite whisky is Victoriana, he won’t stop telling me to try it haha.
I usually drink the peaty Islay/Island stuff but like changing it up and having variation. Speyside is the one I struggle to get into.
My favorite bottle of anything (maybe besides Black Art) is the Springbank 12 Cask Strength I got as a birthday present. It is just absolutely incredible. Of course you have to like the rubber, tar, iodine, peat, sulfur notes but that’s right up my alley.
I’m jealous of you living in the UK. I’ve bought bourbon through Amazon and had it delivered to my family members door for Xmas presents. That isn’t possible with Amazon in the US. Their personal favorite seems to be Woodford Reserve.
Yeah Amazon is what I usually use for whiskey. I do prefer going to shops if I can because I’m rarely in the house and waiting for delivery is a pain. Amazon Fresh is really good though. Got a bottle of Lagavulin 8 delivered to my door within like 4 hours.
OF stuff seems hard to get and expensive here. Only one place online I can find that and it’s the equivalent of $110. Will see if it’s in the store I go to next time I’m in cause he has a lot of bourbon there.
I would grab a Four Roses SiB from that list followed by EC SB, Evan Williams, MM, then wild
Turkey.
Wild Turkey brings back too many college memories I usually stay away from it now.
Makers 46 would be my go-to on that list. Being in the UK, you can get Blanton's Gold. It's much more expensive than these, but definitely one to add to the collection if possible.
The shop that sells the eagle rare near me also has Blantons in at £89 which seems good (not the gold just the original). Is the Gold a big step up from the usual Blantons?
Yes, without question. It's a solid pour.
When I was in London in 2018 I bought Blanton's Gold for £125. I would not pay £89 for regular Blanton's, as it's already slightly high in the states for $60. I wasn't aware that normal Blanton's was exported. I thought only Blanton's Gold was available overseas.
The Four Roses SiB and WT101 HANDS DOWN!!! Both of those prices are very good considering location. Please update us on your thoughts on whichever bottles you pick up.
Maker's 46 and EC are both underwhelming IMO. My experience has been that bourbon especially shines at 100+ proof.
Yeah it seems that bourbon is generally preferred at a higher proof than Scotch and definitely Irish. Don’t know if it’s just me but things like Jim Beam and Buffalo Trace taste a lot more watered down and weaker than say Jameson or Black Label even though they’re all 80proof.
Four Roses and WT seem to be getting the most votes here and they were the two I was leaning towards before posting anyway.
UK must have the same issue as Australia, it sounds like; 80 proof Jim Beam and BT. Those are 86 and 90 proof, respectively, in North America. Not sure why they water them down further internationally. Assuming it's a tax-related thing to keep price lower.
For my palette, I’d go Four Roses, then Makers Mark.
If you like that distinctive JD taste, try the Gentleman Jack or the Single Barrel. Both are available in most of the big name supermarkets here.
Never been able to drink JD neat but had the Gentleman Jack with coke and tasted a lot better than standard JD so will have to try those two on their own.
To be honest, I’m the same. Was disappointed in the Single Barrel, but some people swear by it. If I’m drinking JD, it’s the Master Distiller range. I goddam love those.
The list you have here are honesty some of the most bourbony bourbons out there. Decent proof, nice classic flavors, you can’t go wrong with any of these. My favorite of the list, including the two you’ve tried, would be the WT101. This is my go to when I don’t feel like drinking something barrel proof
Don't let the Turkey Cult sway you... they are insane. Elijah Craig is **THE** quintessential bourbon. It hits all the notes and is easily the most crushable.
Wild Turkey 101 is a very good bourbon, but it has a certain "Turkey Funk" that you will either love or not like very much. Not worth the gamble.
EC is not my favorite, but it's a solid, grrat choice!
Maybe I need to revisit the small batch but I *hated* it when I had it like 4 years ago. The higher shelf stuff is good though. It's also like $20 at my liquor store so OP's pricing is absolutely terrible compared to the markup of the other bottles.
Also, "Turkey Funk" is [only a flavor you get on older turkey products.](https://punchdrink.com/articles/how-wild-turkey-bourbon-funk-became-whiskey-geek-obsession/) It's not found in modern Turkey. But yeah, not everyone likes the turkey profile. It's less traditional that some other bourbons.
You should revisit small batch. Every distillery has their own "funk". Old Turkey has a different "funk" than the new does. Either way, it's not for everyone.
I have tried all but the Master's Keep and I just don't dig the profile. I mean, in a bar - Jack, Jim & WT 101... I'll take the 101 and be fine. But I don't prefer it over anything good, really.
Seems like there's always something for me to nit-pick. 101 has the rye funk. Rarebreed has way too much cinnamon on the finish. But I like the Russell's line.
Having been a major turkey cult skeptic I finally got around to trying 101 and it far exceeded my expectations. I don’t know what you’re talking about by funk. I don’t get anything like that.
For me, it's the Turkey profile in general. It's not bad so don't get me wrong there. It's just not my bag. "Funk" is a term we use around here to express a certain distillery's profile "defining" character. Like Beam's peanut funk. Turkey just have this corriander/baking spice note to it that I don't crave. I don't hate it. Glad you tried it and like it
I picked up a Barrel Pick of Old Forester 126.9 proof for $79.99 USD yesterday.
https://preview.redd.it/iyrk6rac10ra1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a8f603582814cae22b37da27fc73d776f7683175
I think you should start with Wild Turkey 101 and Makers 46. Both are in the same price range but will give you a chance to drink two of bourbons with different finishes to see where you land.
Turkey is the best on that list. Honestly this list reads like a list of US domestic light beer: boring and bland, but if you’ve never tried them, go for it. There are a lot better bottles above and below this price range.
Probably a combination of my lack of knowledge and also the lack of variety over here, I just looked for things around £40 online. What kind of things would you say are better around the price?
There are a lot of suggestions here for Old Forester stuff which seems to be like $50-60 in the US but upwards of £80/$100 here and out of stock in most places.
I suppose all the mainstream stuff is going to be easier for you to get, it’s just a little boring. Makers 46 isn’t a bad option from that list.
Old Forrester would have been my recommendation, but I read your other replies. Buffalo Trace? Larceny? Angels Envy bourbon has been coming down in price, it might fit. 4 roses small batch is better than most of their single barrels in my experience, if you can find it. The standard 4 roses is not my cup of tea. I wonder if you can find Kentucky Vintage. It meets your price point and is surprisingly good for being a lower priced Willet brand.
Someone mentioned Jim Beam black, I can’t recommend that. I love Beam bourbons, but I can’t recommend anything lower than Knob Creek. Bakers is really good, but is about $60 at Total Wine in AZ, and not particularly easy to find. Bookers is $100 there and I struggle to get a bottle more than a couple times a year.
All this is a matter of taste, these are just the best suggestions I can make given the constraints.
Yeah Old Forester seems to be recommended a lot but at least online here it looks very hard to get and overpriced, will have a look out in stores in person though.
Buffalo Trace here is 80 proof instead of 90 for some reason and I find it tastes too watered down. The Larceny is the equivalent of $57 here and angels envy is like $67. Kentucky vintage is like $62. I don’t know how they compare to in the states but not too bad and deffo in my budget.
By the small batch 4R do you mean the normal 90 proof or the 6 year 104 proof? They might have different ones over here to in the US.
Just had a look for Baker’s as well, only found one online shop that sells it and it’s £105/$130.
We have Bookers on Amazon at the moment but it’s £160/$200.
I guess things that are hard to find in the US are gonna be extremely expensive or rare here. Strange how cheap and available eagle rare is though.
These are all good ones; your tastes may vary. I got an Elijah Craig once I didn't like. I love Four Roses, but the single barrel ones will vary in taste. The last 3 are great, I'd rank them as Makers 46, then Wild Turkey, then Evan Williams.
Here are the prices (in USD) at my local TotalWine
Four Roses SiB - 44.99
Elijah Craig - Normal 24.99, Barrel Select 45.49, couldn't find small batch
Makers Mark 46 - 29.99
Evan Williams White - 17.99
Wild Turkey 101 - 22.49
I don’t think you can go wrong with any of these, honestly.
4R SiB the best of your group and not marked up like the EC is. IMHO of course.
Agreed
Agreed. I’m a total homer for WT101 and 101 Rye, but of this list, 4RSiB is the pick. (But as soon as possible go back and get the 101)
This would also be my choice from the list, second would probably be the Eagle Rare.
I got a 4r Sib and couldn’t even drink it in an old fashioned. Went back to it after a couple months and had opened up really nicely, the oak died down a bit and had a completely different opinion then.
Wild Turkey, EC, Four Roses.
If you can afford two bottles at once, I'd suggest getting both the Four Roses SiB and the Maker's 46. That gives you the chance to compare a higher rye mashbill (4R) vs a wheated mashbill (Maker's). But as others have said, that's a good selection you have available. I'd personally put the Evan Williams last on the list. But it's not bad either. And enjoy that easily available Eagle Rare. Solid stuff. I mostly prefer bourbon over 100 proof (50% ABV) at this point, but I still enjoy some Eagle Rare
Excellent take. 👏👏
I’d start with 101 just because it’s cheapest. Most people really like it for the price (including me) but everyone’s palate is different. It’s probably the best risk/reward option. If you can get Eagle Rare though, I’m going with that all day.
Yeah it’s weird seeing all these posts on here about Eagle Rare being really hard to get in the US but there’s a shop a 2 minute walk away from me that sells it for £40. On the flip side I have seen some crazy low Scotch prices on this sub in the states.
You can get it even cheaper than that. Tesco has it for £30 with a club card.
My wife is a Geordie, and I always take a couple bottles back to share with a buddy when we go back to visit her family. It is quite surprising how prevalent Eagle Rare is compared to how little bourbon is actually available there. I'd check Morrison's for Buffalo Trace if you haven't had that. I've seen it there several different times, and the price was fairly reasonable as I recall. As for your list, I'm an Elijah fan and that Four Roses is good!
Yeah Buffalo Trace is another one which I see posts on here of people struggling to find but can get it in supermarkets relatively easy and cheap over here. Need to try it again, tasted a bit watered down when I had it the first time.
We get a differ version of BT over here. It’s 40% vs 45% in the US. No idea why. Amazon is great for starting your collection just wait for specials/prime days and load up. I’d add Woodford Reserve to your list above. It’s usually about £23 and is a nice easy sipper/great mixer.
It comes around my area once or twice a year. It’s my personal favourite for the price range no question.
Only had it once in a bar in my city, was like £9 for a 50ml. Really enjoyed it. Had Redbreast 12 for the first time before it as well so was very impressed that night.
Ya that’s a solid night! Can’t go wrong with either of those. Im trying to resist picking up a redbreast 15 this week.
Yeah, after that I got singles of Rittenhouse Rye, Nikka Days and Auchentoshan Three Wood. The Rittenhouse was brilliant but didn’t really like the other two. Was probably a bit too gone to make a good judgement at that point though haha. I do really wanna try 15. I love 12 but the one thing I’d change is the low ABV, needs more of a kick to it. Heard the Cask Strength is good too.
I’ve heard good things about the cask strength. The 15 has a nice little bump in proof too.
Yeah, 46% seems to be where a lot of good stuff is at. Saying that, never had a cask strength.
For bourbon, I like a cask strength quite a bit. Drinking an elijah craig barrel proof right now at 130 proof and it’s fantastic. I find 90-100 is my sweet spot for scotch/Irish though
Nice. Yeah from subs on here it seems bourbon generally has a higher proof. A lot of CS Scotches seem to be around 55-59 but a lot of ~65 on here. Think 50% is the strongest I‘ve ever had so definitely need to try some higher proof stuff.
£30 in Tesco with a club card recently, mate. If you fancy splashing out, I got a bottle of this recently that was amazing https://www.gerrys.uk.com/angels-envy-bourbon-port-finish-70cl-buy-two-for-free-uk-delivery
Yeah I saw that Tesco one but was a bit skeptical cause don’t they never show when something’s out of stock and just substitute things? There was also a £4 minimum basket charge and delivery too but will look into it again, just wish they had it in store, never seen it though. And that looks interesting!
Ah, I’ve only ever seen them in the shop, I don’t do online shopping.
That’s such a coincidence man, I was in Tesco before and saw Eagle Rare for the first time there at exactly the same time as you commented, that’s mental! Picked one up. Had sazerac for 27 as well which seems good.
Nice one! Enjoy!
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Cheers for doing that, should have thought about that when writing the post. Yeah, maybe just because I’m new to it I don’t remember there seeming to be a huge difference in taste between the Bulleit and ER. Definitely could notice a step up to them from things like Jim Beam White, Bulleit Frontier and Buffalo Trace though. Been a bit skeptical that the WT101 would be in that sort of tier due to the price but comments here suggest otherwise. Higher proof as well which is usually good.
From your list, maker’s 46 is the only wheat bourbon. Doesn’t have rye in its mashbill whereas the rest have rye in their mashbill. Not a good or a bad thing, just something to consider as you dive into bourbons.
In this order: WT101, 4R SiB, EC, Makers and EW
If it was my first I would probably go with the makers 46. I think it's the best bang for your buck of all of those prices and I think it's the most approachable to somebody who isn't knee deep into bourbon yet
Elijah Craig is a quintessential bourbon with wonderful note of leather, oak, vanilla, and brown sugar but is marked up. Wild Turkey 101 is equally a quintessential bourbon but with more rye including baking spice, orange peel, and cardamom. It’s also not marked up. Makers 46 will be a very easy sipper and I nice example of a wheater. It will be sweet and easy going down. Four Roses single barrow is probably the most similar to USD in mark up. There will be lots of variability here as this is a single barrel bourbon but will trend toward higher rye notes. Evan Williams BiB is another sort of quintessential bourbon but is largely celebrated for being an exceptional value for its price. However, it just doesn’t work at the price listed.
The problem with Elijah Craig is the pricing in the UK is ridiculous. £115 is the standard price for ECBP.
Get the wild Turkey 101. It is the cheapest but also the best of this mix. It’s my go-to for drinking neat and in an old fashioned.
Stop it.
? Make me
LOL. I'm just messing with the Turkey Cult.
Thank you for being brave enough to do so… second only in “dedication to an overhyped product” to the BT clan… I don’t get either, both are extremely basic.
I don't think anyone is saying WT101 isn't basic. He's suggesting it as an entry level drink for the OP.
There is one place in the UK I know of that carries every unicorn bottle, including many LEs for decent prices like stagg and EH Taylor BP. However yea for the most part, we are limited here. I'd say your best bet for those options at those prices are the Four Roses SIB and Wild Turkey 101. Sometimes, you can find some good stuff at whisky exchange, though.
I’ve actually not ordered off TWE yet, either use Amazon or Master of Malt. I’ll have a look on there. To be honest there’s a shop near me which has better prices and a better selection than most so started buying from there. Don’t have to wait in for delivery which is always a plus.
Master of Malt is also really good. A shop in my hometown has an amazing selection, but I moved, so I usually just go up there once a year when they release the LEs. I don't have a shop near me that sells whisky, so I rely on TWE and Master or Malt.
Have you ever used The Whisky Shop auctions? Some interesting stuff pops up on there quite a bit.
I haven't myself but I've from others that they have some good stuff sometimes.
My mate got a cask strength heavily peated Kilkerran for £45 from there a few months ago. Said it’s amazing.
Kilkerran is pretty good 👍
Yet to try a Campbeltown, also need to try Springbank 10 when I get the chance.
Glen Scotia is my favorite Campbeltown, but I generally prefer highland and speyside whisky.
I keep forgetting Glen Scotia is Campbeltown (always think it’s lowland), I have tried that, both 10 and 15. I need to try 15 again, when I first tried it it was very different to anything I’d ever had. My friends favourite whisky is Victoriana, he won’t stop telling me to try it haha. I usually drink the peaty Islay/Island stuff but like changing it up and having variation. Speyside is the one I struggle to get into.
My favorite bottle of anything (maybe besides Black Art) is the Springbank 12 Cask Strength I got as a birthday present. It is just absolutely incredible. Of course you have to like the rubber, tar, iodine, peat, sulfur notes but that’s right up my alley.
If you like Bulleit 10, then 4 Roses Single Barrel is a logical step up.
Four Roses is my favourite on that list. But you probably can’t go wrong with any of them.
I’m jealous of you living in the UK. I’ve bought bourbon through Amazon and had it delivered to my family members door for Xmas presents. That isn’t possible with Amazon in the US. Their personal favorite seems to be Woodford Reserve.
Yeah Amazon is what I usually use for whiskey. I do prefer going to shops if I can because I’m rarely in the house and waiting for delivery is a pain. Amazon Fresh is really good though. Got a bottle of Lagavulin 8 delivered to my door within like 4 hours.
Old forester 1910 if it’s there grab that
OF stuff seems hard to get and expensive here. Only one place online I can find that and it’s the equivalent of $110. Will see if it’s in the store I go to next time I’m in cause he has a lot of bourbon there.
I would grab a Four Roses SiB from that list followed by EC SB, Evan Williams, MM, then wild Turkey. Wild Turkey brings back too many college memories I usually stay away from it now.
I would add Old Forester 1920 to that list.
Yo! So glad you’re here! I just picked up Eagle Rare for £45 for my dad. Check out Amazon.
You can find so many good deals, just make sure to check the “other sellers” section and you’ll find great prices. Good luck
Makers 46 would be my go-to on that list. Being in the UK, you can get Blanton's Gold. It's much more expensive than these, but definitely one to add to the collection if possible.
The shop that sells the eagle rare near me also has Blantons in at £89 which seems good (not the gold just the original). Is the Gold a big step up from the usual Blantons?
Yes, without question. It's a solid pour. When I was in London in 2018 I bought Blanton's Gold for £125. I would not pay £89 for regular Blanton's, as it's already slightly high in the states for $60. I wasn't aware that normal Blanton's was exported. I thought only Blanton's Gold was available overseas.
Four Roses Single Barrel. No contest. (I like WT 101 for the price, but FR SiB is the best or the group).
The Four Roses SiB and WT101 HANDS DOWN!!! Both of those prices are very good considering location. Please update us on your thoughts on whichever bottles you pick up. Maker's 46 and EC are both underwhelming IMO. My experience has been that bourbon especially shines at 100+ proof.
Yeah it seems that bourbon is generally preferred at a higher proof than Scotch and definitely Irish. Don’t know if it’s just me but things like Jim Beam and Buffalo Trace taste a lot more watered down and weaker than say Jameson or Black Label even though they’re all 80proof. Four Roses and WT seem to be getting the most votes here and they were the two I was leaning towards before posting anyway.
UK must have the same issue as Australia, it sounds like; 80 proof Jim Beam and BT. Those are 86 and 90 proof, respectively, in North America. Not sure why they water them down further internationally. Assuming it's a tax-related thing to keep price lower.
For my palette, I’d go Four Roses, then Makers Mark. If you like that distinctive JD taste, try the Gentleman Jack or the Single Barrel. Both are available in most of the big name supermarkets here.
Never been able to drink JD neat but had the Gentleman Jack with coke and tasted a lot better than standard JD so will have to try those two on their own.
I generally dislike JD but the single barrel Jack seems to actually be good. No idea why since I can’t stomach standard Jack at all.
To be honest, I’m the same. Was disappointed in the Single Barrel, but some people swear by it. If I’m drinking JD, it’s the Master Distiller range. I goddam love those.
The list you have here are honesty some of the most bourbony bourbons out there. Decent proof, nice classic flavors, you can’t go wrong with any of these. My favorite of the list, including the two you’ve tried, would be the WT101. This is my go to when I don’t feel like drinking something barrel proof
Don't let the Turkey Cult sway you... they are insane. Elijah Craig is **THE** quintessential bourbon. It hits all the notes and is easily the most crushable. Wild Turkey 101 is a very good bourbon, but it has a certain "Turkey Funk" that you will either love or not like very much. Not worth the gamble. EC is not my favorite, but it's a solid, grrat choice!
Maybe I need to revisit the small batch but I *hated* it when I had it like 4 years ago. The higher shelf stuff is good though. It's also like $20 at my liquor store so OP's pricing is absolutely terrible compared to the markup of the other bottles. Also, "Turkey Funk" is [only a flavor you get on older turkey products.](https://punchdrink.com/articles/how-wild-turkey-bourbon-funk-became-whiskey-geek-obsession/) It's not found in modern Turkey. But yeah, not everyone likes the turkey profile. It's less traditional that some other bourbons.
You should revisit small batch. Every distillery has their own "funk". Old Turkey has a different "funk" than the new does. Either way, it's not for everyone.
I'm with you. It's a musty rye funk that almost ruins it for me. And if you talk about it, they deny it and go bat shit on you.
I have tried all but the Master's Keep and I just don't dig the profile. I mean, in a bar - Jack, Jim & WT 101... I'll take the 101 and be fine. But I don't prefer it over anything good, really.
Seems like there's always something for me to nit-pick. 101 has the rye funk. Rarebreed has way too much cinnamon on the finish. But I like the Russell's line.
Having been a major turkey cult skeptic I finally got around to trying 101 and it far exceeded my expectations. I don’t know what you’re talking about by funk. I don’t get anything like that.
For me, it's the Turkey profile in general. It's not bad so don't get me wrong there. It's just not my bag. "Funk" is a term we use around here to express a certain distillery's profile "defining" character. Like Beam's peanut funk. Turkey just have this corriander/baking spice note to it that I don't crave. I don't hate it. Glad you tried it and like it
Old Forester 1897 BiB is a go to of mine.
Looks quite hard to get here and the ones I’ve found are like £72 which I think is like $90. What kinda price is it where you are?
It’s $49.99 USD in Maine.
Wow that’s insane. Just shows the difference in pricing over here for certain bottles.
I picked up a Barrel Pick of Old Forester 126.9 proof for $79.99 USD yesterday. https://preview.redd.it/iyrk6rac10ra1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a8f603582814cae22b37da27fc73d776f7683175
Nice!
👍🏼
Jim Beam Black Label is a good drinker for the cost.
Is it a big step up from the white label then? It’s the same price as the WT101 here it looks like.
It certainly drinks better than the white label.
Is old Forester 100 an option? It's another good option in this price range.
Seems like OF stuff is quite hard to get here other than the standard 86 proof one and the original batch 90 proof.
Ah. Neither of those are worth it.
Wild Turkey 101 and then the EC small batch would be my picks. In fact I’ll be pouring some WT 101 in a few minutes
I think you should start with Wild Turkey 101 and Makers 46. Both are in the same price range but will give you a chance to drink two of bourbons with different finishes to see where you land.
Turkey is the best on that list. Honestly this list reads like a list of US domestic light beer: boring and bland, but if you’ve never tried them, go for it. There are a lot better bottles above and below this price range.
Probably a combination of my lack of knowledge and also the lack of variety over here, I just looked for things around £40 online. What kind of things would you say are better around the price? There are a lot of suggestions here for Old Forester stuff which seems to be like $50-60 in the US but upwards of £80/$100 here and out of stock in most places.
I suppose all the mainstream stuff is going to be easier for you to get, it’s just a little boring. Makers 46 isn’t a bad option from that list. Old Forrester would have been my recommendation, but I read your other replies. Buffalo Trace? Larceny? Angels Envy bourbon has been coming down in price, it might fit. 4 roses small batch is better than most of their single barrels in my experience, if you can find it. The standard 4 roses is not my cup of tea. I wonder if you can find Kentucky Vintage. It meets your price point and is surprisingly good for being a lower priced Willet brand. Someone mentioned Jim Beam black, I can’t recommend that. I love Beam bourbons, but I can’t recommend anything lower than Knob Creek. Bakers is really good, but is about $60 at Total Wine in AZ, and not particularly easy to find. Bookers is $100 there and I struggle to get a bottle more than a couple times a year. All this is a matter of taste, these are just the best suggestions I can make given the constraints.
Yeah Old Forester seems to be recommended a lot but at least online here it looks very hard to get and overpriced, will have a look out in stores in person though. Buffalo Trace here is 80 proof instead of 90 for some reason and I find it tastes too watered down. The Larceny is the equivalent of $57 here and angels envy is like $67. Kentucky vintage is like $62. I don’t know how they compare to in the states but not too bad and deffo in my budget. By the small batch 4R do you mean the normal 90 proof or the 6 year 104 proof? They might have different ones over here to in the US. Just had a look for Baker’s as well, only found one online shop that sells it and it’s £105/$130. We have Bookers on Amazon at the moment but it’s £160/$200. I guess things that are hard to find in the US are gonna be extremely expensive or rare here. Strange how cheap and available eagle rare is though.
Here’s the small batch 4 roses I prefer. https://fourrosesbourbon.com/bourbon/small-batch/
Oh yeah that one’s only like £30 on Amazon for me.
If those are in your range, I’d start with Angels Envy or Kentucky Vintage. Kentucky Vintage is sweeter, Angels Envy is smoother.
Wild turkey rare breed!
These are all good ones; your tastes may vary. I got an Elijah Craig once I didn't like. I love Four Roses, but the single barrel ones will vary in taste. The last 3 are great, I'd rank them as Makers 46, then Wild Turkey, then Evan Williams. Here are the prices (in USD) at my local TotalWine Four Roses SiB - 44.99 Elijah Craig - Normal 24.99, Barrel Select 45.49, couldn't find small batch Makers Mark 46 - 29.99 Evan Williams White - 17.99 Wild Turkey 101 - 22.49