Whoever Old Grand-Dad was, he didn't pull his punches. But Evan Williams is a value brand. Explore menu, see photos and read 879 reviews: "Wow, what an overall experience. And this is where brands like Evan Williams come in handy. The Woodford Reserve Distillery has been distilling on the same site for more than . Despite whatever institutional turmoil it has endured, Barton 1792 produces low-key, understated expressions. If God gave birth to a bourbon child, this is what it would taste like, Minnick says. So, Woodford Reserve is near the middle of our list not because it's mediocre, but because it's solidly respectable it delivers exactly what you'd expect from a mid-range bourbon, no more and no less. Distillery: Jim Beam. It can be a blend of multiple straight bourbon whiskeys as long as they're all produced in the same state. [] crafted at the Jim Beam Distillery is present in the Knob Creek; this note is shared by Jim Beam, Basil Haydens, Old Grand Dad, Bookers, Old []. This has an incredible sweetness to it, Minnick says. You can get a lot of satisfaction out of that. It's a classic tasting bourbon with notes of oak, caramel and brown sugar. I believe that to be the definition of nuance. Among that plethora of lingering notes, you'll find interesting tastes like maple syrup, green peppercorn, coriander, and even a s'mores-like finish of chocolate, graham cracker and toasted marshmallow. This delayed batch proved to have a winning flavor, which the current distillers reproduced via a secondary six-to-nine-month maturation in heavily charred barrels. Its got so much flavor to it, so much complexity its just brilliant whiskey., Are we including bottles that are impossible to find? Minnick asks. And while not as well-known as reputable mid-range brands like Maker's Mark, it's still worth investigating. Malt likewise found pleasantly fruity notes in its Old Forester 1910. For an all-around, crowd-pleasing bourbon, it's hard to go wrong with this corn, barley, and rye mash bottle. brined chicken thigh, breaded and fried, yuzu aioli, spicy-honey glaze, yuzu pickles. Comparison: Jim Beam Double Oak vs Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Bourbon. If you love cinnamon notes, youll love this, Minnick says. And that something is offering up decent bottles at affordable prices. Tasting notes include monkey bread aroma and Texas-style Dublin Dr. Pepper, making for one interesting palate. Its flagship product, Wild Turkey 101, is a classic bourbon expression, with a typical mash bill of corn, rye, and malted barley. Also, it has been the official bourbon of the Derby since 1999. It's also known for its distinctive flavor, due to its unusual mash bill. Thats nuts in todays whiskey world. This suggests their tried-and-true middle-shelf expressions may be a safer bet for most tastes than their limited-edition experiments. Basil Hayden's is such a case. Basil Hayden, Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, NAS, 40% ABV, 750 ml. Basil Hayden Toast is perfectly acceptable when judged by its own merits, but it's not how I'd choose to spend $50 in the bourbon aisle. While not as big a name as Jim Beam or Wild Turkey, it's a widely distributed brand that you can serve at a big party without breaking the bank, yet won't be ashamed to mix into a cocktail for that bourbon snob friend. Basil Hayden's Two by Two Rye. On the other hand, Malt gave low marks to their pricey ($85) Single Barrel 73-IV, noting its "awkward and unbalanced sensations." Diving into the straight bourbon category is wide, deep, and can be overwhelming. You can expect to pay well beyond that if youre trying to buy one from another source, and the few that weve seen left on retail shelves remain there because of heinous mark-up. Discover the differences between Basil Haydens vs Woodford Reserve in this in-depth comparison and decide which bourbon is better for You! Four Rosess upgrade over its standard offering blends 180 barrels of four different recipes per bottling. Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey. Straight Bourbon Whiskey: Bourbon that is stored in charred new oak for at least two years. Not all great bourbon comes from Kentuckytake for example this New York based bourbon which uses limestone-rich water (the same type of stone that proponents say gives Kentucky bourbons their distinct flavor) from New York's Rosendale Mines to create a lightly tannic, sweet flavor profile rich in spices. As The Whiskey Reviewer noted, the Black Bourbon, in particular, "would be appropriate for an inexpensive go-to, for cocktails or mixers.". Notes of stone fruit, brown sugar, and oak and a 90 proof bottling make for a profile that's pleasing on the rocks or mixed into a cocktail. Basil Hayden's Kentucky Straight Bourbon. It's got a good amount of heat on account of being 117 proof, but you'll still be able to make out classic bourbon tasting notes like caramel, brown sugar, vanilla and oak. tsochicken90 1 yr. ago. It'll be interesting to see how Widow Jane evolves once its own distilled products start to enter the picture. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy. Bulleit vs. 1792: Bulleit got 61% of the votes and beat 1792. This system was intended to make things fairer for consumers, but in some areas, there was the opposite effect, with fans crossing state lines in search of a bottle, according to The Bourbon Bard. Accomplished_Buy_119 1 yr. ago. Meanwhile, Basil Hayden is a smooth-sipping bourbon and has a thin mouthfeel. The whiskey inside Early Times' wicked affordable Bottled-in-Bond expression is Brown-Forman-made, though, and it has that sweet-and-smooth Basil Hayden's thing going on, just more a more solid boozy backbone with a recurring note of caramel corn throughout. Conundrum Red Blend is an enigmatic and complex wine that is sure to captivate your senses. The Beam (originally Boehm) family settled in Kentucky and began selling whiskey there in 1795, according to The Whiskey Reviewer. It's not lacking in sweetness, with tasting notes of nougat, figs, dates and caramel corn. It has a light mouthfeel and is less sweet than its aroma would suggest. Unlike many bourbons which aim for around 90 proof, Knob Creek hits shelves at 100 proof for a full flavor that won't get dulled down in your favorite cocktail (though it's equally delicious sipped neat, especially for those who want to test the waters of the cask-strength trend). The result is notes of toffee, maple, and oak, with a satiny smooth finish. And its the best cocktail bourbon out there. Four Roses is a highly regarded distillery, with a high-rye mash bill that produces an extra spiciness to go along with its fruity and floral notes, and a concentration on yeast that has been eye-opening for the bourbon world. But don't think of these unusual expressions as mere gimmicks Whiskey Reviewer gave Old Forester's 150th Anniversary Bourbon a grade of A for its intensely fruity nose, reminiscent of cherries and bananas, as well as a lush mouthfeel. The label launched with just two bourbons in its portfolio: the two-year Colonel James B. Beam and the more premium Jacobs Well. There really isn't a price difference with Woodford Reserve vs Knob Creek. . . Hence the hate. Theyll tell you everything there is to know about their whiskey they dont hide the mash bill, the distillation proof. Proof: The percentage of alcohol, displayed as double that of the alcohol percentage. $26.00. Nose: Heavy dried fruit notes with faint vanilla, tobacco spice, and hints of mints and oak. At a minimum, bourbon must be 80 proof (or 40 percent alcohol), with its mash never allowed to exceed 160 proof (or 80 percent alcohol). Wheated: A bourbon with a higher than normal percentage of mash bill made up of wheat (the main grain remains corn). As Malt Review shared, it's "mouth-puckeringly tart at first" with an "iron-like stiffness from the beginning to the end of the mouth" and "the spiciness of Big Red chewing gum." Online Ordering Unavailable. ($70 vs. $199). For those drawn to the peppery flavors of rye, this high-rye bourbon is sure to please. A blend of several red grape varieties, this wine boasts a rich and full-bodied flavor with notes of dark fruit, chocolate, and a hint of spice. New Riff Distilling was founded in 2014. Their Small Batch Bourbon took double gold in the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2018 and was named Best Small Batch at the same competition. [1]. I'd go makers 46, it's a much more bold unique flavor in my opinion. Woodford brings a smoother profile, given its lower price. Home / New York / Taru . Well, think again this venerable bottom-shelf brand deserves a lot more respect than it's been getting. This potent 115 proof bottle is a reimagining of what that early Prohibition era whiskey would have tasted like, with caramel and malt notes accented by green spices. Flavor is oak up-front, soaked grains and moves to sweet cherry in the middle. In Basil Hayden he created the kind of whiskey he loved; spicy yet smooth, both rich and sweet. Its more complex than regular FR, but still drinks easy. Basil Haydens mellow taste can be well-suited for classic bourbon cocktails. You may or may not see these bottles show up in a more official form in a future version of this guide once we've tried them ourselves. The bourbon from this grain-to-bottle Colorado distillery is made from heirloom grains from two family farms fermented in a traditional open air method and aged in white oak barrels for a complex, warm and spicy sip. Each of its releases makes clear what went into it distillery location, whiskey age, proof, etc. This tends to produce a softer, less spicy whiskey. Wilderness Trail does not make subpar whiskey. Yes. Buffalo Trace is like that brilliant, beautiful, and disgustingly successful girl from school that you wanted to hate but just couldn't because she was so very nice. Best Overall: Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon. CAPSULE REVIEW. 0. Read our review for Woodford Reserve Distillers Select here. Basil Hayden's Caribbean Reserve Rye. Don't tell your bourbon-drinking friends, but Russell's spicy-caramel-and-vanilla-tasting Reserve 10-year-old bourbon is one of the best values in the bourbon world. Id rather use the Woodford Rye that has many tasting notes in common but with additional rye in the mash making it more spicy and punchy. In the case of Woodford Reserve, that's century after century. ABV: 45.2% Average Price: $38. IN-DEPTH REVIEW. . It has none of the harshness youd expect from a 133.2 proof bourbon, and doesnt undergo chill filtering instead just using light filtration to remove barrel char flakes. The truth may be lost to time, but many of the original family-owned distilleries from the 1700s are still going strong, albeit under new corporate ownership in some cases. Named for a prominent 18th century distiller (the same one pictured on the label of Old Grand-Dad, . Color: It has a clean, brilliant honey-amber color. Basil Hayden and Woodford Reserve are both excellent kinds of straight bourbon whiskey. Espresso. It was very, very nice bourbon, he says, wistfully. If you're making drinks, we prefer the light and spicy Four Roses bourbon. The idea of secondary maturation, or "finishing" as it is more commonly referred to, is a relative newcomer to bourbon. It is available everywhere and thus resistant to the price gouging associated with brands like Buffalo Trace. Style: Brown . Whiskey. Made in small batches, the color and weight on the tongue is lighter, with a bright spiciness and a dry finish that will convert any whiskey lover who deems bourbon "too sweet.". Rounding out the list is the classic Bulleit Bourbon. Gear Patrol participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. According to Breaking Bourbon, the original Elijah Craig was a Baptist preacher and said to be the inventor of the process of aging bourbon in charred oak barrels. We don't believe there is one "best" bourbon, but there are bottles that are best for certain moments. While Woodford Reserve may be younger than some of the other brands on this list (it was officially founded in 1996) don't mistake youth for lack of experience or quality. And while there are plenty of classics to stock your shelves with, numerous expressions and innovative bottles can make choosing the perfect bourbon for your home bar a touch overwhelming. Buffalo Trace earned a reputation as a brand that turns casual drinkers into serious bourbon fans. The . This whiskey is Basil Hayden's entry level bourbon. Lots of rye spices mingle with sweet vanilla on the palate here. This bourbon won Whisky Advocates whiskey of the year, and Minnick was on the tasting panel. Dont know if this peanut note is by design or by accident but is the common theme at Jim Beam. $30.00. So if you've ever enjoyed bourbon from Maker's Mark or Jim Beam, know that you've experienced a taste of early American history. Woodford Reserve Bourbon, Combier Cassis Liqueur, Fee Brothers Orange Bitters, fresh lime ~Cassis & chocolate foam*~ $ 18 (240 cal.) Here's the rub. Case in point is the original wheated bourbon, Wellers signature 12-year bourbon. Beer Barrel Bourbon. She used to work as a bar manager in Paris and is a self-taught mixologist whose passion for crafting unique cocktails led her to create Liquor Laboratory. We recommend that you look into other types of bourbons that share Basil Hayden's profile, such as Buffalo Trace, Eagle Rare, Four Roses, George T. Stagg, Old Forester, Old Grand-Dad, and Woodford Reserve. But Old Forester, which got its start in 1870, is unusual in that it's stayed in the hands of a single family since its founder, a pharmaceutical salesman, decided to dive into distilling, according toMalt. The holy grail of bourbon brands announced its annual slate of whiskeys in October 2022, and the release includes a total of five bourbons along with a rye. While it has an MSRP of just $40 (and costing half that much just a couple of years ago), its become one of the industrys hottest bottles more recently, and these days market prices hover around $300. We asked whiskey personality and author Fred Minnick to uncover which bottles of bourbon lining the shelves are actually worthy of your bar cart. That's because the palate of this bourbon is sweet and soft, with just a bit of spice lingering in the background. Like Evan Williams, Elijah Craig is a Heaven Hill distillery brand named for a legendary figure in bourbon history.