Best Bourbon under $100 and easy to find?

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Posted: 8/17/2017 12:19:23 PM EDT

I know there are a lot of Bourbon aficionados on this site.

I am looking for the best sipping whiskey under $100 that I am likely to find at my local big chain liquor store or can buy readily online.

What say ye?

Posted: 8/17/2017 12:20:17 PM EDT

[#1]

Buffalo Trace

Posted: 8/17/2017 12:21:47 PM EDT

[#2]

EW Single Barrel

Posted: 8/17/2017 12:22:31 PM EDT

[#3]

Eagle Rare
Bulleit
Buffalo Trace

Posted: 8/17/2017 12:23:06 PM EDT

[#4]

Clyde May's

Posted: 8/17/2017 12:23:56 PM EDT

[#5]

Quote History

Quoted:
EW Single Barrel

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Best bang for the buck for sure! I'd add Bookers, Bakers, Basil Hayden's. Michters are Willet are excellent too.

Posted: 8/17/2017 12:25:00 PM EDT

[#6]

6 bottles of Jim Beam

Posted: 8/17/2017 12:25:18 PM EDT

[#7]

Quote History

Quoted:
EW Single Barrel

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This, or Knob Creek small batch rye.

NOT Sheep Dip.

(although I think it might make a good candidate for the Bad Idea Bar).

Posted: 8/17/2017 12:25:29 PM EDT

[#8]

Woodford Reserve

Posted: 8/17/2017 12:26:34 PM EDT

[#9]

Basil Hayden's
Buffalo trace .

Trust me, im a Kentuckian.

Posted: 8/17/2017 12:27:43 PM EDT

[#10]

Of the stuff currently somewhat available and on the shelf:

Blanton's
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof
Belle Meade 9r barrel proof
Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style

for starters

Posted: 8/17/2017 12:27:50 PM EDT

[#11]

Blanton's.

Posted: 8/17/2017 12:28:47 PM EDT

[#12]

Basil Hayden's.

Blantons. A little harder to find but my favorite.

Posted: 8/17/2017 12:32:22 PM EDT

[#13]

Knob Creek Single barrel
Blantons
Bookers

Posted: 8/17/2017 12:33:25 PM EDT

[#14]

Bookers. Don't drink it any way but neat.

Posted: 8/17/2017 12:40:33 PM EDT

[#15]

Quote History

Quoted:
Of the stuff currently somewhat available and on the shelf:

Blanton's
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof
Belle Meade 9r barrel proof
Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style

for starters

View Quote

Solid list.

I haven't tried the Belle Meade but if you are comparing it to the other three in the list, it is likely a fantastic bourbon. If I see it I will pick one up.

Posted: 8/17/2017 12:42:08 PM EDT

[#16]

Jim Beam

Posted: 8/17/2017 12:43:57 PM EDT

[#17]

Quote History

Quoted:
Basil Hayden's
Buffalo trace .

Trust me, im a Kentuckian.

View Quote

That's hard to argue with.

Posted: 8/17/2017 12:43:59 PM EDT

[#18]

Eagle Rare, Jefferson's Reserve, Woodford Reserve

Posted: 8/17/2017 12:45:02 PM EDT

[#19]

Noah's Mill

Posted: 8/17/2017 12:45:11 PM EDT

[#20]

Quote History

Quoted:
Jim Beam

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Jim Beam is a damn good everyday whiskey and I have had my share.

Posted: 8/17/2017 12:46:24 PM EDT

[#21]

Quote History

Quoted:
Knob Creek Single barrel
Blantons
Bookers

View Quote

Posted: 8/17/2017 12:51:28 PM EDT

[#22]

Knob Creek, elijah Craig, russel reserve

Posted: 8/17/2017 12:53:53 PM EDT

[#23]

Watkins.

Tastes like Scotch.

Posted: 8/17/2017 12:54:01 PM EDT

[#24]

Blanton's. the answer is always Blanton's.

Posted: 8/17/2017 12:57:13 PM EDT

[#25]

Larceny. $24.99/bottle. Sips better than many other more expensive bourbons.

You're welcome.

Posted: 8/17/2017 12:58:16 PM EDT

[#26]

So it looks like Blanton's is made by the Buffalo Trace distillery. Are they similar whiskeys, Blanton and Buffalo Trace? Can anyone describe the difference?

Posted: 8/17/2017 1:01:28 PM EDT

[#27]

Michter's and Noah's Mill are reasonably priced and very good for the money.

Posted: 8/17/2017 1:04:34 PM EDT

[#28]

Quote History

Quoted:
So it looks like Blanton's is made by the Buffalo Trace distillery. Are they similar whiskeys, Blanton and Buffalo Trace? Can anyone describe the difference?

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View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:
So it looks like Blanton's is made by the Buffalo Trace distillery. Are they similar whiskeys, Blanton and Buffalo Trace? Can anyone describe the difference?

They are both great bourbons...you can't go wrong with either.

Here's a breakdown...I'm generally a fan of wheated bourbons, but I do prefer Blanton's in this case.

Attached File

From Bourbonr Blog:

– All Van Winkle bourbons are now from the Buffalo Trace wheated mash bill

– The Van Winkle rye is still from a different source (probably Bernheim or Medley) and there’s no a official word on when this supply will run out. If I had to guess I’d say 2017.

– 2015 will be the last year of stainless steel vatted Sazerac 18. Starting 2016, Sazerac 18 will be from the Buffalo Trace rye mash bill.

Buffalo Trace uses two primary mash bills. While they don’t disclose the exact recipe we can make educated guesses at the mash bill percentages. Mash bill # 1 is probably 10% or less and mash bill #2 is somewhere between 10%-12%.

The wheated bourbon mash bill is a mystery as well. However, the rye portion (and maybe more) is replaced by wheat. This creates a very different flavor profile than the Rye. I also believe that wheated bourbons handle (even need) aging much better than bourbons that have rye in the mash bill. See Buffalo Trace Master Distiller, Harlen Wheatly’s comments about this in my post about bourbon aging.

The rye mash bill is thought to be 51% rye. Just enough to be legally considered rye whiskey but still enough corn to bring out the familiar taste of bourbon. These low-rye rye whiskies are much different than the currently popular high (some up to 95%) rye whiskies.

Posted: 8/17/2017 1:05:36 PM EDT

[#29]

Woodford Double Oaked, or Knob Creek Rye are my faves at many price points.

I also consider Hennessey VSOP Privilege cognac an acceptable option (~$60).

Posted: 8/17/2017 1:10:01 PM EDT

[#30]

Quote History

Quoted:
Knob Creek Single barrel
Blantons
Bookers

View Quote

This gentleman has excellent taste.

Also Angels Envy, quite tasty.

Posted: 8/17/2017 1:11:39 PM EDT

[#31]

Buffalo Trace and Texas 1835 are my go to bourbons

Posted: 8/17/2017 1:15:37 PM EDT

[#32]

Early times.

Posted: 8/17/2017 1:17:32 PM EDT

[#33]

Quote History

Quoted:
Buffalo Trace and Texas 1835 are my go to bourbons

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I have been reading good things about Balcones Single Malt Whiskey made right here. Anybody tried it?

Posted: 8/17/2017 1:19:41 PM EDT

[#34]

Quote History

Quoted:

Solid list.

I haven't tried the Belle Meade but if you are comparing it to the other three in the list, it is likely a fantastic bourbon. If I see it I will pick one up.

View Quote

It's a MGP bourbon, so if you've had Old Scout, you've tasted something very similar. I'm a great fan of MGP bourbon, especially when it's over 6 years and 100 proof.

Posted: 8/17/2017 1:19:49 PM EDT

[#35]

Buffalo Trace and WT101 are my go to, I try to never go below having an unopened bottle of each in the cabinet. I usually only drink an oz or so in the evening though so it takes me a pretty long time to go through a bottle, I could probably afford to spring for something a little more expensive, but to me those two seem to be such a great bang for the buck I keep coming back to them.

Posted: 8/17/2017 1:20:06 PM EDT

[#36]

Russell's Reserve Single Barrel
Knob Creek Single Barrel
Bookers
4 Roses Single Barrel

Posted: 8/17/2017 1:23:45 PM EDT

[#37]

My short list of go-to's:

Michters
Balvenie
Aberlour

Posted: 8/17/2017 1:27:20 PM EDT

[#38]

Quote History

Quoted:

Solid list.

I haven't tried the Belle Meade but if you are comparing it to the other three in the list, it is likely a fantastic bourbon. If I see it I will pick one up.

View Quote

I tried Belle Meade in Nashville. Great stuff.

Posted: 8/17/2017 1:27:37 PM EDT

[#39]

I'd take 3 bottles of WL Weller Special Reserve over most of the recommendations in this thread.

Posted: 8/17/2017 1:32:36 PM EDT

[#40]

Attached File

Posted: 8/17/2017 1:35:33 PM EDT

[#41]

Lately I've been liking Bulleit 10 Year and Bulleit Rye.

Posted: 8/17/2017 1:45:01 PM EDT

[#42]

Which Blantons are you guys buying?

Posted: 8/17/2017 1:46:49 PM EDT

[#43]

Jefferson's Reserve
Basil Hayden

Posted: 8/17/2017 1:47:26 PM EDT

[#44]

question for everyone ....why does it always taste better right after you first open it but later its not quite as awesome how do you keep that fresh taste ?

Posted: 8/17/2017 1:48:15 PM EDT

[#45]

Quote History

Quoted:
Blanton's.

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What he said

Posted: 8/17/2017 1:50:34 PM EDT

[#46]

Apparently trying to find Blantons in Central Texas is like trying to find hens teeth.

Posted: 8/17/2017 1:51:23 PM EDT

[#47]

Blanton's
Willet Still Pot Reserve
Basil Hayden

Posted: 8/17/2017 1:52:22 PM EDT

[#48]

Quote History

Quoted:
question for everyone ....why does it always taste better right after you first open it but later its not quite as awesome how do you keep that fresh taste ?

View Quote

Buy smaller bottles?