At 76 years old I am new to drinking bourbon and also a new subscriber. I quit drinking spirits about 40 years ago and went to red wine and dark beer. My son recently introduced me to bourbon. My first two bottles are Maker's Mark 46 and Elijah Craig small batch. I am enjoying going back and watching your videos. Very in formative. Cheers from WA state.
Thank you sir! I am humbled and honored that you enjoy the channel! You have two great bourbons to start your journey! Thanks for taking the time to share with me!
Love your real bright bar atmosphere, with all the bottles behind you all lit up and the bar! Your personality and knowledge and and the way you explain the taste is very entertaining and informative. And love it when your wife makes you explain something you forgot or didn't mention that makes sense, lol. Love your basement bar show! Keep it up!
My hubby and I enjoy Bourbon together. My favorite vacation was our own Bourbon trail we took a few years back. Had so much fun and enjoyed the bourbon immensely! LOVE your You Tube channel and your comments. Very down to earth. Your daughters sound adorable for getting you that wonderfully funny and charming decanter! Loved and laughed when you took a sip!!
I toured the Buffalo Trace distillery in 2017 and got to taste the Eagle Rare 10 year and a Buffalo Trace 8 year. I have found both in Alliance, Nebraska which pleasantly surprised me and the Eagle Rare 10 year is definitely a nice product in that price range,
Holy Moly I live In Alliance! I'm a Jim Beam Black lover and I remember getting Weller's at Kloch's for 17 bucks a few years ago! Cheers friend! Hit me up!
On your recommendations I just finished a bottle of Elijah Craig Small Batch and tried Maker's Mark 46 today. Mark was a bit higher priced here in NY at $36 but not unreasonable. Both very nice. Gotta give Maker's Mark the edge. Smooth and flavorful. Thanks!
I just started to watch your channel. I don't drink much but like getting a good bottle to share with my friends during our yearly camping trip. Its surprising that the prices of these bottles haven't really changed in price range.
Larceny is great, Makers Mark you can't go wrong with. 1792 is a solid juice for around $30. Don't forget 4 Roses. Would love to be lucky enough to find your special mentions.
@@slbdrinksthese are pretty much what I have in my own little collection. Eagle Rare, surprisingly is kinda hard to find around here (in Indy) unless you know somebody in the biz who can reserve it. Same with Blanton’s… yeah you can buy it on the secondary market, but that’s akin to buying scalped concert tickets. 🤨
Have had 5 of the 7 shown, need to try the Cooper's Craft and Larceny...I usually get my juices on the lower price end from the Naval Exchange Class VI store...no major mark ups...love your selections and enjoy your videos as I navigate my Bourbon journey!!
My favorite $30 is Evan Williams Single Barrel. I just moved to NC and have to deal with state stores so I’m not sure what my choices are now. In GA, I could walk into my favorite liquor store and he would have a bottle of Blanton’s in the back if I needed it. Just started watching your videos and enjoy them very much.
Great choices. I haven't had the Coopers or the McKenna - so I'll add those to my list. And for $33 ea I'd add Redwood Empire Pipedream and/or Lost Monarch to your choices.
I’ll have to try the coopers craft sometime. The only one I’ve never tried. Thanks for the video suggestions. I’m glad the algorithm steered me to your channel.
Great list! Coopers Craft 100 has taken over as my “most often reached for.” I love it and always keep at least 2 on the shelf. Elijah Craig small batch is always a solid choice, can’t go wrong with it.
I love this topic. There are 100 bottles that can go on this list. Great price point for bourbon ... OGD 114 takes the gold for me (of the readily available options anyway)
IT has been said that with aging, OGD turns into Basil Hayden. Still I would rather have any of the OGD expressions over Basil Hayden. And OGD 114 makes an incredible Old Fashioned or Manhattan.
Maybe I shouldn’t be giving these secrets away but I enjoy your channel so I feel I need to contribute. Way under rated around $30, at least around here, Evan Williams Single Barrel and Old Grand Dad Bonded, 100 proof. You aren’t doing Rye but Rittenhouse and Sazerac are amazing and at the price point. Cheers!
Fantastic choices! Little story. I had an EW single barrel a few yrs ago that I just didn’t like to much. After all the comments like yours I bought another bottle just a couple days ago. This one is much better than what I remembered! Thanks so much for chiming in!
Henry McKenna 10 is fantastic. I bought my first 2 bottles for 33 a piece. Shortly thereafter, state minimum in MI went up to 49. Not terrible but what a huge jump!
Very nice list. I will say, I no longer buy Maker's Mark (which was my fave) or any other Beam product since they sold out to a foreign conglomerate, but it is excellent.
Seriously! That line up is my bottom shelf and it is on YT for the whole world to see! If company comes over, I'd be proud to offer them a pour out of these bottles.
The Henry McKenna single barrel has been a favorite of mine since had it 2 years ago. Now at my state run liquor store it has almost doubled in price. So now it is one of my favorite $60.00 a bottle bourbons.
I get that. Unfortunately pricing varies so much from state to state. Giving away another HM single barrel on the next live show. Hope to see you there!
Kurt, Recently stumbled across your channel😎 Just getting into responsibly and respectfully whiskey enjoyment😎 This list is exceedingly helpful and your other offerings are exceedingly accessible! Thanks!
Chris so good to hear from you! Hope all is well with you and your family! Thank you for your interest in the channel and for repeating a constant theme of responsibility and not over imbibing!
I've tasted most of these, but when I go into a restaurant with a bourbon menu (I'm from Frankfort, Ky) I ask for Angel's Envy. Have you tried it? Getting quite popular around here.
Just stumbled across your post, no pun intended. Wow, thank you for some really good info! I look forward to seeing some other posts. I'm new at this, all I know is from college where you just drank for the buzz, now that I am mellowed myself I want to stop and smell the char.
I have tried each one of these except the coopers, and they're all good. The Henry McKenna is the stand out for sure, it's a shame I'll probably never find another bottle under $80
You should try Cooper's, it's a Brown-Foreman so if you like Old Forester you'll love the Cooper, just be sure to buy the BIB. Ditto on McKenna, the cheapest i ever found it was $56 over the last 2 years & that was only ONE bottle, everything else was $70-$90 because the dirtbags here in the Carolinas gouge every chance they get. sad.
Glad to see you picked Elijah Craig as your top aside from McKenna. Haven’t heard of it but will keep an eye out. Love Elijah tho…. Thx love your vids.
Haha! One night while traveling for work I found a good bourbon liquor store and bought me an Old Forester 1910. But I didn’t want to open it that night. At the register I bought two little Cooper bottles. I never had had Coopers and didn’t expect much. Oh my! Next time I have a hole on my bourbon shelf I’m gonna fill it with Coopers. Now I LOVE your choice of Makers 46. If I ask my wife for “a couple fingers of sedative” she knows to pour me 46. I love it when I’m whooped tired physically and mentally. Two fingers and I’m ready for sleep. Now - Larceny! I love it. Shared it with my middle son and he looked at me and whistled! And smiled. I like you put Eagle Rare on this list. And Elijah! You got a great list my friend.
Started my bourbon journey about 2 years ago. Have gone through a few different bottles: Mellow Corn, Four Roses, Makers, Bookers and Elijah Craig. My go to bottle is ofc the Elijah Craig, very good price range and the one I enjoy the most.
First I've heard of the Eagle Run. Plain old Buffalo Trace is my goto for regular drinking when I can get it and for it's price point. Thanks for the review.
I just came across your channel and I'm loving the reviews. I've really been getting into Bourbons for the last few years. I really like Bulleit and Woodford Reserve in that $30 range also. Kinda surprised you haven't mentioned them.
Woodford reserve double oaked is a mainstay in the bar. Believe it or not I have never tried the baseline Bulleit but I do have the 10 yr and Founders reserve that I think are good. Thanks for joining us!
Woodford Reserve is my absolute got to. I do love their double oaked too, but in my humble opinion regular Woodford Reserve doesn't get the credit it deserves - especially for an under $50.00 bourbon! Great channel though and pretty sweet bar!
Excellent list! I really appreciate that this wasn't just a rehash of "WT 101, EW BiB, etc" that every video like this trots out. And they're fine, but I appreciate the variety. For me, I'd give some love to the Old Granddad line, especially bonded and 114 which are both in this range.
Love the 114 especially in bourbon cocktails that need some backbone! Kind of embarrassed to say but I have never had the bib. Has to be next on my list!
In Austin TX, I’ve only ever seen one or two bottles of Eagle Rare, both times they were over $80. The Henry McKenna has only been spotted once, and they wanted over $130 for it. I had some while living in Dallas about ten years ago and loved it. I think I paid $35 for it back then.
I can endorse the Maker's Mark 46, and I can absolutely endorse the Knob Creek 9 (which I love straight). I didn't like Larceny when I tried it, but I plan to try it again some day, since I've learned considerable since then. The Elijah Craig is delicious. The rest, alas, I either can't find or can't afford. I do love the decanter. It's perfect for a man who's Strong Like Bull. 🐂🙂
After you commented after my comment on the Maker's Mark 46 on your last video I went and found this show,and WOW ! I have everyone of those bourbons in my bar except for the Cooper's craft, I've never seen that one in store, but that tells me me you and I could sit around and enjoy drinking bourbon together ,,,we have a lot of similar tastes,,I guess great minds think alike.... lol
This is great, I love bourbon but I don't love spending mega money on it. I'm not a fan of regular Makers Mark but will try the 46. Love the rest. Have you tried Lazy River? It's a tougher one to find and more in the 40-50 range but one I love to always have on hand.
I picked up a bottle of Buffalo Trace bourbon here in town (Orange Massachusetts) for just under $30 today. to me this stuff is pretty tasty. However at first I tried it neat but, I found I prefer it on the rocks. The store I bought it from has had trouble keeping this stuff on the shelf
My wife just bought me some eagle rare and I love it. We live in Phoenix and we had to order it, I would love find a way to get some more- please reach out to me, thanks
Hi Nick. Not sure what your options are in Phoenix but you need to find a store who takes care of their customers and sell at close to retail. Once you find a store keep going in and get to know the employees. They can be huge help in securing desired bottles.
You've convinced me to get some Cooper's Craft, looking forward to it! I've been lucky to have a local store that was selling Knob Creek 9 yr for $23 for quite a while. They bumped up to $28, but everyone else around me has it for $32-36.
EW Single Barrel is ten year old , 86 proof whiskey. I keep a bottle on the shelf for company that doesn't want the higher proof whiskeys. this whiskey and Elijah Craig are two whiskeys that that are wonderful to drink compared to many more expensive whiskeys. OGD uses a higher rye mash and is well worth keeping on the bar.
Several times you mentioned 'your area' but never stated just what that is. West Coast? East Coast? State? MSA? Glad I found your channel, very informative, very well done.
@@slbdrinks Cool, thank you. This provides a lot of perspective and comparison. I'm in Southern Nevada, likely to be different in several ways, many regions over. Thank you again!
Love your reviews and agree with everything you said about this list. McKenna is awesome and usually available but best to keep two bottles in reserve though.
We all know it’s all about what taste good to the person drinking it. I have had Eagle Rare many times and even pass it up when buying bourbon. We hit Buffalo Trace once in a while and find it there or even in the stores. It’s ok to me but I have no plans on getting more. The McKenna is def one that I have purchased many times. 👍🏼
Same, I see eagle rare here often and pass it up. I've had a half bottle on my shelf for a year. I'd pick buffalo trace over eagle rare, but that's just me. Everyone has different tastes.
Wish I could find eagle rare again for a decent price. First found the 750 for 60, and I was alright with the price. Now I'm seeing it for 120 so I don't go to that liquor store anymore 😅
On your recommendation I gave the Elijah Craig Small Batch a try and yes, two thumbs up! It's an excellent $30 bourbon! I've been mainly drinking Noah's Mill and Wellers's, but I'm tired of the gradual price escalation- suddenly a bottle is $10 more and you squint and wonder why- maybe I should keep my mouth shut! Eagle Rare, the same thing- it was great at $30, not anymore...
Noah's Mill is a secret around where I am, I always find bottles and the guy that works there told me "the people here don't try new things". I'm glad he told me about it because I always have a few bottles in my stash
I do have to agree on Knob Creek, Larceny, & Elijah Craig. All very good well Bourbons both drinking straight and in cocktails. HOWEVER, my go-to bourbon comes in slightly higher @ $35-$37/bottle: 🔸1792 Small Batch. Flavorful, aromatic, smooth, & an easy drinker! SO GOOD! 😋
New subscriber. Very nice job. Have you tried Rock Town Arkansas Bourbon Whiskey? The distillery (Rock Town) is on Main St. in Little Rock, Ark. it goes for around $38. Wonderful.
I had the pleasure once of going on a private tour at Buffalo Trace. I worked at a decent liquor store in Indiana, and the boss drove us down one Sunday in his Suburban. Back then, no liquor sales in IN. So we go down and have the tour. We got to taste 5 barrels pulled for us to decide which two would be bottled just for our store! We voted on our favorite two barrels. I voted for the two sweetest barrels, and both my choices won the day!
I jump wholeheartedly with your lineup. With the exception of the two unicorns, both of which are unavailable in my area. The hype on those bottles_ whether justified or not: I have no idea _ even if you find them has raised their respective prices mightily. Count me out. I'm not one to play games on the "bourbon stock market".
I've looked in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Texas, and Tennessee for Eagle Rare and Henry McKenna. The chance of me seeing one on a shelf are close to zero.
Not sure where you’re getting $30 Eagle Rare. You can sometimes buy it at Buffalo Trace Distilleries for $65. At KY liquor stores it sells for $100. But I agree it’s good stuff.
Definitely cannot find Henry McKenna 10 for love nor reasonable money around here (Bloomington, IN), I suppose the trade off is that we had access to Early Times BiB for $23 and Knob Creek 9 for $21(!!!) so at the end of the day you'll hear few complaints from me!
Picked up two Eagle Rares and 1 Henry McKenna Bottled in Bond during the Weekends of Whiskey event at my local liquor superstore. ER easily became my favorite bourbon, pound for pound, out of everything I've tried (also the best of the Buffalo Trace / Weller Special Reserve / EH Taylor Small Batch / George T Stagg / Blanton's that I also managed to pick up).
@@slbdrinks That was only a small part of everything picked up in September...had to wake up early to get in line every Saturday...very limited supplies, and we were all capped at a certain # of each bottle, beyond the super-special table items, which was capped at only one from the table. Big scores, beyond the Buffalo Trace items were an 18yr Jameson, 21yr Dewar's Small Batch, a bottle of Ardbeg Scorch Scotch, a 10yr bottle of Brenne (French, aged in Cognac barrels), Blood Oath Pact #7 and Old Forester Cask Strength. Never really considered myself a whiskey guy until last Christmas. Between a gift of Dewar's 21 and a box of Glencairns, numerous discussions with VERY passionate whiskey drinkers, and many discoveries from fine RUclips providers, such as yourself, I now consider myself a full-fledged CONVERT. Thank you, good sir, for your content...sláinte!!!
Love the channel and love the videos. My fave so far has been the weller alternatives video but this one was great too. I also love rebel 100 spicy wheated and I can currently get it for 20 dollars on sale. Keep em comming and four roses...is there a better four horsemen in burbon?
Could you do a top 5 or 10 on rye whisky? I've been getting into rye lately because scotch wasn't enough of a drain on my wallet. I've just been buying random rye whiskies so far when I see them. I kind of want to try a few more but probably should stop doing it blind.
I just recently discovered the Pendleton 1910 bottling, which is a 12 year old rye. It’s bottled at 80 proof, so it’s excellent neat or with an ice ball. I just went back to Total Wine and bought three more bottles at $35 each. A 12-year old anything at that price point is a steal, and this one tastes [to me at least] like it should be $50 or above.
I just discovered your channel a few nights ago & I really enjoy it, so thanks! 1 quick question - where are you located? I ask because all the prices you mention are consistently $10-$15 less than in my area (Chattanooga, TN). So far, from what I've watched, our tastes line up very closely to one another!
Appreciate the kind words, thank you! I live in NW Indiana not far from lake Mi and about 60 mi from Chicago. We are fortunate to excellent liquor store owners who treat their customers fairly.
Elijah Craig for $30 is a Fantastic Bottle. Eagle Rare and McKenna do not exist in VA any longer. I used to be able get ER regularly but not any more. Now, I have a last bottle anxiety :)
Thanks for another fun video!, featuring some favorites and some intriguing possibilities for trying. I'm always glad to see a review on the 10 Year Old McKenna, a personal favorite for years, although since they started winning awards the price has gone up...it used to be under 30 bucks. Still a great buy, a little hard to find but worth looking for (my liquor store will usually let me know when they have it, and will hold a bottle for a day or two). Not sure why, but I understand there's a dispute over which is better, this current product or the "pre-fire" 10 Year Old Single Barrel Mckenna. Seriously? Who's got a bottle of THAT behind the bar or in their cabinet? And if it was ever opened, I'd consider it pretty suspect by now, so this seems like argument for its own sake. Makers 46 is another nice pour...I got to dip my own bottle in the hot wax at the distillery, as well. Just finished a bottle of the Knob Creek 9 Year Old, and it was excellent in all applications. And there is no way to go wrong with almost anything from Elijah Craig; it's frequently what I have in what I call my "traveling bottle" that I take on road trips for relaxing at the end of the day! Thanks again!
@@harryborsalino1276 Open the Coopers Craft 100 and try it. Then let it sit on the shelf for a month or so then retry it. You'll find its a totally different whiskey and well worth the wait.
I like the ECSB a lot. Only other one I have tried is the ER which I tried for first time this weekend. I tried it neat and enjoyed it a lot and it was really good over ice as well. Funny thing was near the end of the glass I really felt I had had enough of it for the night. I have had things like Buillett, BT, JBDO, and Woodford's reserve and have been able to have 3-5 glasses and not had that happen like it did with the ER. I am curious if you have ever had that happen where even though you were enjoying the whiskey you were just not in the mood for it after a couple. Will be interesting to see if it happens the next time I try it.
Going back and watching the older videos before Trenton came out of hiding, seems like Kurt was a little more sauced 🤣 Really love the evolution of the channel.
At 76 years old I am new to drinking bourbon and also a new subscriber. I quit drinking spirits about 40 years ago and went to red wine and dark beer. My son recently introduced me to bourbon. My first two bottles are Maker's Mark 46 and Elijah Craig small batch. I am enjoying going back and watching your videos. Very in formative. Cheers from WA state.
Thank you sir! I am humbled and honored that you enjoy the channel! You have two great bourbons to start your journey! Thanks for taking the time to share with me!
Elijah Craig Small Batch is really tough to beat in that price range. Great video!
Love your real bright bar atmosphere, with all the bottles behind you all lit up and the bar! Your personality and knowledge and and the way you explain the taste is very entertaining and informative. And love it when your wife makes you explain something you forgot or didn't mention that makes sense, lol. Love your basement bar show! Keep it up!
Thanks so much! I love it to honestly along with the interaction with good folks like you!
Thanks for the help, and my wife and I love the videos. We appreciate your hard work. Thank you. 🙏
Thanks so much!
My hubby and I enjoy Bourbon together. My favorite vacation was our own Bourbon trail we took a few years back. Had so much fun and enjoyed the bourbon immensely! LOVE your You Tube channel and your comments. Very down to earth. Your daughters sound adorable for getting you that wonderfully funny and charming decanter! Loved and laughed when you took a sip!!
I toured the Buffalo Trace distillery in 2017 and got to taste the Eagle Rare 10 year and a Buffalo Trace 8 year. I have found both in Alliance, Nebraska which pleasantly surprised me and the Eagle Rare 10 year is definitely a nice product in that price range,
Fully agree! If you can get the ER at retail or close to it I feel it is an excellent bargain.
Holy Moly I live In Alliance! I'm a Jim Beam Black lover and I remember getting Weller's at Kloch's for 17 bucks a few years ago! Cheers friend! Hit me up!
Love the Knob Creek but my favorite is Elijah Craig. So smooth and a great flavor.
On your recommendations I just finished a bottle of Elijah Craig Small Batch and tried Maker's Mark 46 today. Mark was a bit higher priced here in NY at $36 but not unreasonable. Both very nice. Gotta give Maker's Mark the edge. Smooth and flavorful. Thanks!
Glad you liked them!
I just started to watch your channel. I don't drink much but like getting a good bottle to share with my friends during our yearly camping trip. Its surprising that the prices of these bottles haven't really changed in price range.
Larceny is great, Makers Mark you can't go wrong with. 1792 is a solid juice for around $30. Don't forget 4 Roses. Would love to be lucky enough to find your special mentions.
All great choices!
@@slbdrinksthese are pretty much what I have in my own little collection. Eagle Rare, surprisingly is kinda hard to find around here (in Indy) unless you know somebody in the biz who can reserve it. Same with Blanton’s… yeah you can buy it on the secondary market, but that’s akin to buying scalped concert tickets. 🤨
Have had 5 of the 7 shown, need to try the Cooper's Craft and Larceny...I usually get my juices on the lower price end from the Naval Exchange Class VI store...no major mark ups...love your selections and enjoy your videos as I navigate my Bourbon journey!!
I love the knob creek 9, EC small batch and the makers 46. I’d have to throw in woodford reserve as well for this price bracket.
Nice list!
My favorite $30 is Evan Williams Single Barrel. I just moved to NC and have to deal with state stores so I’m not sure what my choices are now. In GA, I could walk into my favorite liquor store and he would have a bottle of Blanton’s in the back if I needed it.
Just started watching your videos and enjoy them very much.
Hey thanks so much! So nice to have a local store you can have a relationship with.
Great choices. I haven't had the Coopers or the McKenna - so I'll add those to my list. And for $33 ea I'd add Redwood Empire Pipedream and/or Lost Monarch to your choices.
I’ll have to try the coopers craft sometime. The only one I’ve never tried. Thanks for the video suggestions. I’m glad the algorithm steered me to your channel.
Me to! Give the Coopers 100 proof a try. Very good for the money!
This was helpful for those like me who drink only occasionally. Thanks for doing this.
Appreciate it thank you!
Great list! Coopers Craft 100 has taken over as my “most often reached for.” I love it and always keep at least 2 on the shelf. Elijah Craig small batch is always a solid choice, can’t go wrong with it.
Coopers has been my biggest surprise lately in this price range. Very tasty! Thanks brother
@@slbdrinks you have to try the old bardstown you’ll be surprised.
I love this topic. There are 100 bottles that can go on this list. Great price point for bourbon ... OGD 114 takes the gold for me (of the readily available options anyway)
Great choice! REALLY great bourbon for the price!
IT has been said that with aging, OGD turns into Basil Hayden. Still I would rather have any of the OGD expressions over Basil Hayden. And OGD 114 makes an incredible Old Fashioned or Manhattan.
Can’t argue that at all. I see BH as a true beginner 1st time trying bourbon bottle. Past that, no thanks.
I've just started watching. This an honest review of bourbons I like and learned to look for the ones you review.
Thank you, certainly appreciated!
Thank you sir! A great service. Looking for something special for the holidays. Merry Christmas!
Same to you and your family!
Maybe I shouldn’t be giving these secrets away but I enjoy your channel so I feel I need to contribute. Way under rated around $30, at least around here, Evan Williams Single Barrel and Old Grand Dad Bonded, 100 proof. You aren’t doing Rye but Rittenhouse and Sazerac are amazing and at the price point. Cheers!
Fantastic choices! Little story. I had an EW single barrel a few yrs ago that I just didn’t like to much. After all the comments like yours I bought another bottle just a couple days ago. This one is much better than what I remembered! Thanks so much for chiming in!
Enjoying the content! Have you done a vid on best vanilla note bourbons? Love a strong vanilla finish!
No I haven’t but cool idea!
Henry McKenna 10 is fantastic. I bought my first 2 bottles for 33 a piece. Shortly thereafter, state minimum in MI went up to 49. Not terrible but what a huge jump!
I bought a bottle of Henry McKenna 10 for 54.99 here on 1/9/23
Elijah Craig Small Batch and Knob Creek 9 year are always on my bar. Lucky this week to also have found a bottle of Knob Creek SBR 9yr 120 proof!
You will love that one! Little tip, the KCSB will be on one of our upcoming videos. Enjoy!
Very nice list. I will say, I no longer buy Maker's Mark (which was my fave) or any other Beam product since they sold out to a foreign conglomerate, but it is excellent.
Info I was not aware of. I truly don’t spend a ton of time on details choosing to focus on taste, price, etc. Good to know, thank you.
Doesn’t Bourbon have to be produced in the US to be classified Bourbon?
Yes.
@@JJG86 Yes, otherwise it's just whiskey.
I have not had coopers yet but I have bottles of all the others. They all are solid choices
Awesome thank you!
They had the Elijah Craig at my local liquor store 2 bottles for $40. One of my favorites as well!
No doubt!
Seriously! That line up is my bottom shelf and it is on YT for the whole world to see! If company comes over, I'd be proud to offer them a pour out of these bottles.
No doubt! Check out our other 30.00 bourbon video as well. More ridiculously good bourbon for a good price!
The Henry McKenna single barrel has been a favorite of mine since had it 2 years ago. Now at my state run liquor store it has almost doubled in price. So now it is one of my favorite $60.00 a bottle bourbons.
I get that. Unfortunately pricing varies so much from state to state. Giving away another HM single barrel on the next live show. Hope to see you there!
Yea we have the Mckenna 10 most of the year here in southern Cali but it runs about 59.99 retail which I think is a tad bit steep.
Little steep yes but very good!
All are terrific choices! That's a fine-looking list of available bottles.
Thank you for your kind comment! Appreciate your support.
Kurt,
Recently stumbled across your channel😎
Just getting into responsibly and respectfully whiskey enjoyment😎
This list is exceedingly helpful and your other offerings are exceedingly accessible!
Thanks!
Chris so good to hear from you! Hope all is well with you and your family!
Thank you for your interest in the channel and for repeating a constant theme of responsibility and not over imbibing!
Really love Knob Creek too that one is my favorite at this price point other than Russell's 10.
Can’t go wrong with that choice!
I've tasted most of these, but when I go into a restaurant with a bourbon menu (I'm from Frankfort, Ky) I ask for Angel's Envy. Have you tried it? Getting quite popular around here.
Just stumbled across your post, no pun intended. Wow, thank you for some really good info! I look forward to seeing some other posts. I'm new at this, all I know is from college where you just drank for the buzz, now that I am mellowed myself I want to stop and smell the char.
Good for you. Stopped at the right place! Atmosphere of learning with no judgment!
I have tried each one of these except the coopers, and they're all good. The Henry McKenna is the stand out for sure, it's a shame I'll probably never find another bottle under $80
Very much a shame.
I'm only able to buy 1 every 4 months in my store
Wow, I haven’t heard that before.
You should try Cooper's, it's a Brown-Foreman so if you like Old Forester you'll love the Cooper, just be sure to buy the BIB. Ditto on McKenna, the cheapest i ever found it was $56 over the last 2 years & that was only ONE bottle, everything else was $70-$90 because the dirtbags here in the Carolinas gouge every chance they get. sad.
Sold about an hr from me for $40. I can usually get 2 bottles at a time and the occasional Weller 12. Its worth the drive for sure
Glad to see you picked Elijah Craig as your top aside from McKenna. Haven’t heard of it but will keep an eye out. Love Elijah tho…. Thx love your vids.
Appreciate that thank you!
I’ve been getting it at Costco.
I found Henry McKenna in Orem at the state store last year. Couldn’t find it in DFW 😀
Good for you!
Haha! One night while traveling for work I found a good bourbon liquor store and bought me an Old Forester 1910. But I didn’t want to open it that night. At the register I bought two little Cooper bottles. I never had had Coopers and didn’t expect much. Oh my! Next time I have a hole on my bourbon shelf I’m gonna fill it with Coopers. Now I LOVE your choice of Makers 46. If I ask my wife for “a couple fingers of sedative” she knows to pour me 46. I love it when I’m whooped tired physically and mentally. Two fingers and I’m ready for sleep. Now - Larceny! I love it. Shared it with my middle son and he looked at me and whistled! And smiled. I like you put Eagle Rare on this list. And Elijah! You got a great list my friend.
Thanks so much for all the kind words!
To me, Larceny tastes like steamed vegetables. Yech!
Started my bourbon journey about 2 years ago. Have gone through a few different bottles: Mellow Corn, Four Roses, Makers, Bookers and Elijah Craig. My go to bottle is ofc the Elijah Craig, very good price range and the one I enjoy the most.
Nice choice!
First I've heard of the Eagle Run. Plain old Buffalo Trace is my goto for regular drinking when I can get it and for it's price point. Thanks for the review.
Solid choice! Appreciate you !
I just came across your channel and I'm loving the reviews. I've really been getting into Bourbons for the last few years. I really like Bulleit and Woodford Reserve in that $30 range also. Kinda surprised you haven't mentioned them.
Woodford reserve double oaked is a mainstay in the bar. Believe it or not I have never tried the baseline Bulleit but I do have the 10 yr and Founders reserve that I think are good.
Thanks for joining us!
Woodford Reserve is my absolute got to. I do love their double oaked too, but in my humble opinion regular Woodford Reserve doesn't get the credit it deserves - especially for an under $50.00 bourbon! Great channel though and pretty sweet bar!
Excellent list! I really appreciate that this wasn't just a rehash of "WT 101, EW BiB, etc" that every video like this trots out. And they're fine, but I appreciate the variety. For me, I'd give some love to the Old Granddad line, especially bonded and 114 which are both in this range.
Love the 114 especially in bourbon cocktails that need some backbone! Kind of embarrassed to say but I have never had the bib. Has to be next on my list!
In Austin TX, I’ve only ever seen one or two bottles of Eagle Rare, both times they were over $80. The Henry McKenna has only been spotted once, and they wanted over $130 for it. I had some while living in Dallas about ten years ago and loved it. I think I paid $35 for it back then.
35-40 is where it should be and an excellent buy! Sad how the bourbon world spins these days. What I can’t get you can and vice versa. Shame.
If you have a costco in your area they occasionally have eagle rare for 26.99. They go super fast though..
@@joshuasteele5108 I do have one nearby, but I rarely visit. Guess I'll have to make friends with the staff to get an idea when they might stock it...
Evan Williams Single Barrel is great only about $25. The taste is amazing
Can’t argue with that!
Russells 10 year is phenomenal and is usually around the $30-35 range.
Agree 💯!
Agree. Love Russell’s 10 year. $31.99 at Costco in NKY. Drinking it as I watch this video. 😊
I can endorse the Maker's Mark 46, and I can absolutely endorse the Knob Creek 9 (which I love straight). I didn't like Larceny when I tried it, but I plan to try it again some day, since I've learned considerable since then. The Elijah Craig is delicious. The rest, alas, I either can't find or can't afford.
I do love the decanter. It's perfect for a man who's Strong Like Bull. 🐂🙂
I always grab Eagle Rare and Henry McKenna bib when I see them! Both a couple of favorites when I can find them! Especially at the price points!
Without a doubt! Excellent choices!
After you commented after my comment on the Maker's Mark 46 on your last video I went and found this show,and WOW ! I have everyone of those bourbons in my bar except for the Cooper's craft, I've never seen that one in store, but that tells me me you and I could sit around and enjoy drinking bourbon together ,,,we have a lot of similar tastes,,I guess great minds think alike.... lol
You got that right! All good choices! Honestly, keep your eye out for that Coopers 100 proof. Might be the best of the bunch!
Just bought Elijah Small Batch- thanks for the info!
Awesome! I hope you enjoy it!
This is great, I love bourbon but I don't love spending mega money on it. I'm not a fan of regular Makers Mark but will try the 46. Love the rest. Have you tried Lazy River? It's a tougher one to find and more in the 40-50 range but one I love to always have on hand.
Unfortunately I have not.
@@slbdrinks Well I showed my newbishness here. I did some research on Lazy River and it's a total wine scam. My wife likes it though.
Should give a mention to Weller green label, as well. But it’s almost impossible to find.
I couldn’t agree more with your choices!
Thanks!
My new favorite whiskey channel. Thanks for the great content and suggestions.
Certainly appreciate you!
I picked up a bottle of Buffalo Trace bourbon here in town (Orange Massachusetts) for just under $30 today. to me this stuff is pretty tasty. However at first I tried it neat but, I found I prefer it on the rocks. The store I bought it from has had trouble keeping this stuff on the shelf
BT is darn tasty for the price but as you say, can’t always find it. As far as neat vs ice I always say drink what you like and how you like it!
Great lineup. Try Redwood Empire Lost Monarch $34! Also, Redwood Empire American Whiskey same price if you can find one.
I did have a Red Empire Rye but drained that bottle bout a month ago. I will keep my eye out for the others. Thank you!
That Henry McKenna is $150 here in Australia if you can find it. The Eagle Rare is about $80-$90. 😞
That’s to bad. I have heard similar reports from other comments.
My wife just bought me some eagle rare and I love it. We live in Phoenix and we had to order it, I would love find a way to get some more- please reach out to me, thanks
Hi Nick. Not sure what your options are in Phoenix but you need to find a store who takes care of their customers and sell at close to retail. Once you find a store keep going in and get to know the employees. They can be huge help in securing desired bottles.
Great list definitely Knob Creek 9 is one of my favorite and also worth to mention Redemption Rye
Found Redemption Rye for 37 and it’s blowing the Larceny and Elijah Craig I have out of the water. Worth the extra few bucks.
You've convinced me to get some Cooper's Craft, looking forward to it!
I've been lucky to have a local store that was selling Knob Creek 9 yr for $23 for quite a while. They bumped up to $28, but everyone else around me has it for $32-36.
Give that CC 100 proof a try!
wow I had to pay $33 for knob creek 9
A few others to consider. Evan Williams Single Barrel, Evan Williams BnB, OGD BnB and 114. Can't go wrong.
All excellent choices! Especially fond of the ogd 114.
If they'd pump that evan williams single barrel up close to 100 proof it'd fly off the shelves.
EW Single Barrel is ten year old , 86 proof whiskey. I keep a bottle on the shelf for company that doesn't want the higher proof whiskeys. this whiskey and Elijah Craig are two whiskeys that that are wonderful to drink compared to many more expensive whiskeys.
OGD uses a higher rye mash and is well worth keeping on the bar.
Several times you mentioned 'your area' but never stated just what that is. West Coast? East Coast? State? MSA?
Glad I found your channel, very informative, very well done.
Thank you for joining us! My area is NW Indiana just about 60 miles outside of Chicago.
@@slbdrinks Cool, thank you. This provides a lot of perspective and comparison. I'm in Southern Nevada, likely to be different in several ways, many regions over.
Thank you again!
Just purchased Coopers' Reserve - looking forward to enjoying a pour tonight.
Love your reviews and agree with everything you said about this list. McKenna is awesome and usually available but best to keep two bottles in reserve though.
No doubt for this one!
We all know it’s all about what taste good to the person drinking it. I have had Eagle Rare many times and even pass it up when buying bourbon. We hit Buffalo Trace once in a while and find it there or even in the stores. It’s ok to me but I have no plans on getting more.
The McKenna is def one that I have purchased many times. 👍🏼
With you on that! I do have the ER but don’t reach for it on a regular basis.
Same, I see eagle rare here often and pass it up. I've had a half bottle on my shelf for a year. I'd pick buffalo trace over eagle rare, but that's just me. Everyone has different tastes.
Wish I could find eagle rare again for a decent price. First found the 750 for 60, and I was alright with the price. Now I'm seeing it for 120 so I don't go to that liquor store anymore 😅
Wow, that is to bad. I hate to hear that stuff 😕
On your recommendation I gave the Elijah Craig Small Batch a try and yes, two thumbs up! It's an excellent $30 bourbon! I've been mainly drinking Noah's Mill and Wellers's, but I'm tired of the gradual price escalation- suddenly a bottle is $10 more and you squint and wonder why- maybe I should keep my mouth shut! Eagle Rare, the same thing- it was great at $30, not anymore...
Good for you! Glad you enjoyed it!
Noah's Mill is a secret around where I am, I always find bottles and the guy that works there told me "the people here don't try new things". I'm glad he told me about it because I always have a few bottles in my stash
I do have to agree on Knob Creek, Larceny, & Elijah Craig. All very good well Bourbons both drinking straight and in cocktails. HOWEVER, my go-to bourbon comes in slightly higher @ $35-$37/bottle:
🔸1792 Small Batch. Flavorful, aromatic, smooth, & an easy drinker! SO GOOD! 😋
I like Larceny bourbon too, but where I live (I'm a denizen of the Mojave Desert), I have to drive over an hour to the nearest place that sells it.
Ya that’s quite a drive for bourbon!
New subscriber. Very nice job. Have you tried Rock Town Arkansas Bourbon Whiskey? The distillery (Rock Town) is on Main St. in Little Rock, Ark. it goes for around $38. Wonderful.
Check out Old Grand Dad 114! It is delicious, high proof, good mouth feel, and only $29!
💯 agree! It is a must have in the bar. Great quality at an excellent price!
OGD 114 is such a solid buy! It is good enough to drink neat, strong enough to stand up to a cocktail, and easy enough to replace.
I had the pleasure once of going on a private tour at Buffalo Trace. I worked at a decent liquor store in Indiana, and the boss drove us down one Sunday in his Suburban. Back then, no liquor sales in IN. So we go down and have the tour. We got to taste 5 barrels pulled for us to decide which two would be bottled just for our store! We voted on our favorite two barrels. I voted for the two sweetest barrels, and both my choices won the day!
Great video, and I'm really liking this channel.
Appreciate that! Thank you!
Not sure about the availability in your area, but Ezra Brooks 99 Proof is very good for the price: $25-$35. Punches well above it's weight class!
Thank you for the recommendation!
I jump wholeheartedly with your lineup. With the exception of the two unicorns, both of which are unavailable in my area. The hype on those bottles_ whether justified or not: I have no idea _ even if you find them has raised their respective prices mightily. Count me out. I'm not one to play games on the "bourbon stock market".
I can understand that and appreciate your opinion. There are plenty of available bourbons that are exceptional!
I've looked in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Texas, and Tennessee for Eagle Rare and Henry McKenna. The chance of me seeing one on a shelf are close to zero.
That is such a travesty how that can even happen. In my area, NW In, we don’t see those bottles regularly but def several times through the year.
@@slbdrinks It's frustrating. Good news is I do have some Buffalo Trace and Early Times BIB, which many people have difficulty finding.
Good for you! I haven’t seen Early Times here for a while now.
great choices, glad to see I'm not the only one who uses a bar decanter, do you worry about the whiskey going off?
No not really. I have several open bottles of whiskey for 2-3 yrs now and can’t tell a difference.
I love Henry McKenna, but I is $50 where I live. Eagle Rare is a favorite in the rotation!
I would consider the HM for 50, possibly. To bad you can’t find it in that 35-40 range. Excellent choice with the ER!
Can you find the McKenna regularly? $50 is still pretty good.
No def not regularly. I felt good to find 2 this year for 34-36. It seems to come through my area 3-4 times a year.
Not sure where you’re getting $30 Eagle Rare. You can sometimes buy it at Buffalo Trace Distilleries for $65. At KY liquor stores it sells for $100. But I agree it’s good stuff.
I found it twice this year here in NW In for upper 30’s. Who knows what next year will bring.
Also get it Wisconsin a few times a year. Usually around $35.
A store in MA that frequent has it on the regular for $32, plus the Henry McKenna for $35 a few times this summer🥃
Definitely cannot find Henry McKenna 10 for love nor reasonable money around here (Bloomington, IN), I suppose the trade off is that we had access to Early Times BiB for $23 and Knob Creek 9 for $21(!!!) so at the end of the day you'll hear few complaints from me!
Great content by the way!
Thanks so much. To bad on the McKenna but looks like you scored big time on the other 2. Fantastic!
Elijah Craig Small batch hits way above it's $25 @ Sam's here in Iowa. Great list BTW
Yes it does!
Picked up two Eagle Rares and 1 Henry McKenna Bottled in Bond during the Weekends of Whiskey event at my local liquor superstore. ER easily became my favorite bourbon, pound for pound, out of everything I've tried (also the best of the Buffalo Trace / Weller Special Reserve / EH Taylor Small Batch / George T Stagg / Blanton's that I also managed to pick up).
Wow nice haul!
@@slbdrinks That was only a small part of everything picked up in September...had to wake up early to get in line every Saturday...very limited supplies, and we were all capped at a certain # of each bottle, beyond the super-special table items, which was capped at only one from the table. Big scores, beyond the Buffalo Trace items were an 18yr Jameson, 21yr Dewar's Small Batch, a bottle of Ardbeg Scorch Scotch, a 10yr bottle of Brenne (French, aged in Cognac barrels), Blood Oath Pact #7 and Old Forester Cask Strength.
Never really considered myself a whiskey guy until last Christmas. Between a gift of Dewar's 21 and a box of Glencairns, numerous discussions with VERY passionate whiskey drinkers, and many discoveries from fine RUclips providers, such as yourself, I now consider myself a full-fledged CONVERT.
Thank you, good sir, for your content...sláinte!!!
Certainly appreciate your kind words! You have def put in the work to get those awesome bottles! Well done!
Love the channel and love the videos. My fave so far has been the weller alternatives video but this one was great too. I also love rebel 100 spicy wheated and I can currently get it for 20 dollars on sale. Keep em comming and four roses...is there a better four horsemen in burbon?
Could you do a top 5 or 10 on rye whisky? I've been getting into rye lately because scotch wasn't enough of a drain on my wallet. I've just been buying random rye whiskies so far when I see them. I kind of want to try a few more but probably should stop doing it blind.
I think that’s a great idea! Thank you
I just recently discovered the Pendleton 1910 bottling, which is a 12 year old rye. It’s bottled at 80 proof, so it’s excellent neat or with an ice ball. I just went back to Total Wine and bought three more bottles at $35 each. A 12-year old anything at that price point is a steal, and this one tastes [to me at least] like it should be $50 or above.
I just discovered your channel a few nights ago & I really enjoy it, so thanks! 1 quick question - where are you located?
I ask because all the prices you mention are consistently $10-$15 less than in my area (Chattanooga, TN).
So far, from what I've watched, our tastes line up very closely to one another!
Appreciate the kind words, thank you! I live in NW Indiana not far from lake Mi and about 60 mi from Chicago. We are fortunate to excellent liquor store owners who treat their customers fairly.
Elijah Craig for $30 is a Fantastic Bottle. Eagle Rare and McKenna do not exist in VA any longer. I used to be able get ER regularly but not any more. Now, I have a last bottle anxiety :)
Sorry that blows. I just don’t get why certain bottles never get to a given state even??? Just doesn’t make sense.
EC is a solid buy though.
Thanks for another fun video!, featuring some favorites and some intriguing possibilities for trying. I'm always glad to see a review on the 10 Year Old McKenna, a personal favorite for years, although since they started winning awards the price has gone up...it used to be under 30 bucks. Still a great buy, a little hard to find but worth looking for (my liquor store will usually let me know when they have it, and will hold a bottle for a day or two). Not sure why, but I understand there's a dispute over which is better, this current product or the "pre-fire" 10 Year Old Single Barrel Mckenna. Seriously? Who's got a bottle of THAT behind the bar or in their cabinet? And if it was ever opened, I'd consider it pretty suspect by now, so this seems like argument for its own sake. Makers 46 is another nice pour...I got to dip my own bottle in the hot wax at the distillery, as well. Just finished a bottle of the Knob Creek 9 Year Old, and it was excellent in all applications. And there is no way to go wrong with almost anything from Elijah Craig; it's frequently what I have in what I call my "traveling bottle" that I take on road trips for relaxing at the end of the day! Thanks again!
Excellent points for sure. Thanks so much!
@@slbdrinks Picked up the Eagle Rare (got lucky) and the Cooper's Craft...I must thank you again for spot-on advice! Both very enjoyable pours!
That’s fantastic! I am really glad you enjoyed them!
@@harryborsalino1276 Open the Coopers Craft 100 and try it. Then let it sit on the shelf for a month or so then retry it. You'll find its a totally different whiskey and well worth the wait.
@@JE-western-rider I'm about to take your advice!
Knob Creek is my go to. I may try the Elijah Craig. McKenna is about $50 in my area.
Thank you!
I love your shows!!! Keep up the good work!!!!
Thank you!
I like the ECSB a lot. Only other one I have tried is the ER which I tried for first time this weekend. I tried it neat and enjoyed it a lot and it was really good over ice as well. Funny thing was near the end of the glass I really felt I had had enough of it for the night. I have had things like Buillett, BT, JBDO, and Woodford's reserve and have been able to have 3-5 glasses and not had that happen like it did with the ER. I am curious if you have ever had that happen where even though you were enjoying the whiskey you were just not in the mood for it after a couple. Will be interesting to see if it happens the next time I try it.
Most definitely. Kind of like chili. I love the stuff but after a couple bowls ya that’s it.
We’ve only scratched the surface with American whiskeys and bourbons but we’re happy with the malts and irish
Have you tried the George Dickel rye? It’s in this price range.
I have not but sounds like I should!
Herry McKenna now today I bought for a bit over 58$ today!! But still bomb!!!
Awesome!
Maker's 46 is about $50-$55 in my area
Ohh snap Meijer. Are you also in Michigan? Been really enjoying your videos!
Thanks so much! Actually in NW Indiana but do get to Michigan at times during the summer to enjoy your state!
Drinking from the but of the bull. OMG that is the best. I've recently discovered your channel. Keep it up.
Lol, couldn’t help myself. Appreciate you!
1843 by David Nicholson out of St Louis is one of my favorites ($25-$30).
Heard good things about this one.
Going back and watching the older videos before Trenton came out of hiding, seems like Kurt was a little more sauced 🤣 Really love the evolution of the channel.
Makers 46 was my first bourbon and still my favorite