January 27, 2007

Bourbon — A Quick Rule of Thumb.

Filed under: Uncategorized — Jim @ 1:52 pm

hotglassS.jpgPeople sometimes ask, “Yo, Jimbo, you drink a bit of bourbon now and again. Which is a good one?”

Yes, I have sampled a taste of bourbon from time to time, and I’ve even written about some of them to one degree of detail or another (see below). Truth is, there are many good ones.

“Yeah, but Jimbo, you’re not helping me here. I need something easy to work with.”

OK, OK, already. Here’s “Da Rule”. It’s really simple, so pay attention. Are you ready?

If there is a cork in the bottle, it’s a “good one”.

See? I said it was simple. There are also some corkless ones that I enjoy (e.g. Jim Beam), but you wanted a simple rule. Now go forth and purchase.

Note: I have written one thing or another about the following bourbons (usually with a link) . I assembled this list as a public service. You’re quite welcome.

Michter’s Ten-Year Old Bourbon

Jim Beam

One-Hundred Year Old Pugh Bourbon

Blanton’s, Wild Turkey Russell’s Reserve

Booker’s Bourbon

1792 Ridgemont Reserve Bourbon

Maker’s Mark, Basil Hayden’s Small Batch Bourbon

Baker’s 107 Proof Bourbon

Woodford Reserve

22 Comments »

  1. I have yet to acquire the taste of drinking bourbon straight, though I do enjoy the occasional whiskey sour or Jack & Coke.

    Comment by Craig — January 27, 2007 @ 2:28 pm

  2. Craig, Craig, Craig,

    A MONTANA guy drinking a whiskey sour????? Say it ain’t so, Bro.

    Jimbo

    Comment by Jim — January 27, 2007 @ 2:30 pm

  3. Well, it is more whiskey than sour, if that makes any difference.

    Oh, and there’s also the ever-popular whiskey ditch, which I can handle on occasion.

    Comment by Craig — January 27, 2007 @ 3:08 pm

  4. I figured you Montana guys pull the cork out of the whiskey bottle with your teeth and drink shots — lots of them. Then you plug some guy in the bar who thinks has faster’n you.

    But farookin’ whiskey sours? That is just so wrong.

    Jimbo

    Comment by Jim — January 27, 2007 @ 3:12 pm

  5. … I’ve got me a bottle of 1792 in the cabinet right now…. for when guests come over that don’t like Scotch….

    Comment by Eric — January 27, 2007 @ 4:10 pm

  6. Didn’t those cowboys in that movie drink whiskey sours?… heh.

    Comment by Jean — January 27, 2007 @ 4:39 pm

  7. I just started a blog about Bourbon. I hope to educate a lot and welcome all comments.

    Comment by Kent Lancaster — January 27, 2007 @ 8:56 pm

  8. I likes me some Woodford Reserve. Booker’s is damn good, too.

    Comment by That 1 Guy — January 27, 2007 @ 9:05 pm

  9. J.T.S. Brown is a good one and Evan Williams 12 year old is great also.

    Comment by Catfish — January 27, 2007 @ 9:43 pm

  10. I have been turned onto bourbon over the last few years.

    Woodford is too oaky for my taste, although DH loves it.

    I do like Makers Mark, and have learned to keep it in my flask.

    Comment by armywifetoddlermom — January 27, 2007 @ 9:59 pm

  11. *Drool*

    Comment by Maeve — January 27, 2007 @ 10:09 pm

  12. … gotta love your commenters, Jimbo….. not a tee-totaller in the bunch….

    Comment by Eric — January 27, 2007 @ 11:32 pm

  13. One problem…Wild Turkey is owned by the French.

    Comment by Yabu — January 28, 2007 @ 11:04 am

  14. Yabu,

    This is why I don’t buy Wild Turkey for myself, but I’ve received it as gifts, and you know what they say about a “gift horse” and all that, particularly when it’s good bourbon.

    Jimbo

    Comment by Jim — January 28, 2007 @ 11:24 am

  15. Gaaah, people still drink whiskey sours? That stuff gives me the absolute worst heartburn.

    Comment by Erica — January 28, 2007 @ 4:04 pm

  16. Definitely a much-needed sharing of knowledge, Jimbo. As much as I like bourbon, though, it’s down the list for me. I like a good Scotch first; Jack Daniels second. Then it’s Maker’s Mark and further down to the lesser bourbons.

    The kickin’ chicken is always a good choice, too, despite being owned by the French.

    Comment by Rube — January 28, 2007 @ 8:21 pm

  17. back when I was a drinking man I figured there was no such thing as ‘BAD’ bourbon..just some better than others..

    Comment by GUYK — January 28, 2007 @ 9:40 pm

  18. If I’m drinkin’ bourbon, I usually drink either Weller or Maker’s Mark. Crown ain’t too bad either.

    Comment by Dash — January 29, 2007 @ 12:05 am

  19. This is a painful subject for me. You ruined Wild Turkey for me when you told me it was Eau de Frog. I entirely agree with you, though. There is no happier sound in the world than a cork being pulled from a whiskey bottle.

    Comment by Sluggo — January 29, 2007 @ 11:01 am

  20. Wild Turkey no longer owned by the French, it was for a very brief time…

    drink up and be merry. I do like Wild Turkey it is sweet and cheap!!

    Comment by armywifetoddlermom — January 29, 2007 @ 11:53 am

  21. As of today, Wild Turkey is still owned by Pernod Ricard, which is a French Company…

    Just so we’re clear on this.

    Comment by Yabu — January 29, 2007 @ 12:27 pm

  22. shhhh yabu…

    shhh”

    Comment by armywifetoddlermom — January 30, 2007 @ 12:48 am

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