Weller Antique 107 and Weller Full Proof's proof points are a typo in this video at the 11:34 and 11:38 mark respectively. Weller Antique 107 is 107 proof and Weller Full Proof is always 114 proof.
Thank you for putting this video together. I walked into a local liquor store and saw Buffalo Trace products on the top shelf. From Weller LaRue to GTStagg to ER 17 to older bottles of EH Taylor. All $1400-$2500. I am so over the hype when there are so many other good Bourbons out there. Thanks for the suggestions.
My cousin was a sommalier at a higher end restaurant and people would often ask about what a good wine to get was. He said the best wine to get is the wine you enjoy drinking the most. I think that plays well into your "don't buy the hype, get what you like" message. Buffalo Trace, 1792 and Russell's are my personal top three. So smooth and nice, not aggressive at all but great flavor. After a long search I was finally able to find a bottle of Russell's single barrel and have been looking forward to cracking it at the right time. My "every day" drinker? Costco label bourbon. That one is unbelieveable. After your 1st taste, THEN you can raise your glass to The Black Toed One for turning you on to it if you aren't already. You're welcome. 😉
Great unbiased review. I will not pay more than MSRP for any bourbon. Once got a Blantons for 60 bucks this year. I haven't been able to find another. My wife would love to collect all eight of the race horses, but I told her that would be impossible in our state. I can find Buffalo Trace and Eagle Rare at MSRP on occasion.
I tried Cooper's Craft for the first time yesterday. It is good and similar in taste to Woodford Reserve Double Oaked, but costs $20 less. I find that Benchmark Bonded is a viable alternative for Buffalo Trace. Bought some Benchmark Bonded for $7.49 per 750ml bottle today!
Was gonna say this. Larceny Barrel Proof was the only high proof wheater I could think of. Some the last few batches have been absolute hitters too. Still somewhat hard to find in many markets but with three releases a year much easier than a WLW by a long shot.
I am enjoying your channel. I did get confused with the Weller proof graphics at 11:34 and 11:39. I couldn't read the proof on the bottles but that is on me for watching on a phone. Cheers.
Bardstown origin white label is an excellent alternative (if not better) than any of buffalo trace's mash bill 2 products. Distribution is ramping up and should be available everywhere soon
I have often said that I have a love/hate relationship with Buffalo Trace products. I love the flavor profile, but hate the availability. Buffalo Trace products are a great value ( except maybe Blanton's) , if you get them for suggested retail. Which I have been fortunate enough to do . Also I like the makers private select series, as a alternative to Weller.
Green River is owned by Bardstown. We were at Bardstown last year. We were impressed. Once more of there bourbon comes on line its going to get very interesting for the buffalo
I always suggest TinCup 10 Year to people who can't find Eagle Rare, which I used to buy all the time and haven't seen in a while. I like Evan Williams 1783 over Buffalo Trace, which isn't my favorite.
A fine video! Because availability is such a problem, the only Buffalo Trace product I've seen in my area has been standard Buffalo Trace (and only occasionally). With BT spending $2-billion to expand, maybe in several years, their products will be available at sensible prices. Until then, I'll be happy living with many other bourbons. Keep up the good work you're doing- it helps! The 1783 -Evan Williams BIB blind came up yesterday, and I had just purchased some BIB. I compared it with the 1783 (almost always in the cabinet) and agree with your impressions. The opinions you offer are helpful.
Luckily living in Ohio I come by WSR and Antique 107 fairly regularly. The rest of them are either something you have to stand in line for or win the bottle lottery. I don’t think their core release “Buffalo Trace” is that great, but it’s a good value for the price for sure.
I'm in Texas which is often also referred to as a Weller paradise, but its pretty much only Weller SR. 107 is instantly grabbed by the secondary market and anything else is pretty much lottery or special event only.
Love your channel. What I'd like to see is the two of your square off with a facilitated blind tasting of 3 states local craft distillers. Good example: Colorado, Texas, Alabama (Yes, I'm pushing you towards Dettling, lol), or same deal, King of the Crafts. Ex: Frey Ranch, Dettling, ASW, Copper Sky. And...perhaps, Queen of the MGP finishers, maybe a blind face off with wine/port finishes, vs. their own aged products (ex: Art of the Spirit, Magnus, World Whiskey Society, etc)
Eagle Rare always wins in our blind tastes against other 90 proofers. I have never tried the Tin Cup, but I have found I don't care as much for MGP in general. I can find it though so once I make some room I will have to try one and let you know how I like it. Calumet 16 is fantastic, in my opinion. Thanks for the great video!
For us, Buffalo Trace products shine with age and/or proof (preferably both), so Eagle Rare is a favorite from their lineup for us as well. Tin Cup 10 definitely gives it a good fight though, and at least in our market is dramatically easier to find. Cheers and thanks for watching Timm!
My recommendation for a high proof wheated bourbon is Fiddler Georgia Heartwood. One of my favorite wheated bourbons, and wheated bourbon isn't usually my thing.
Regular Buffalo Trace is around 40 here. I can find them regularly but would rather have WT101 at 33 for a 1L. Haven't seen any other products you showed locally other than Maker's (don't care for wheated) and one bottle of 1792 SB. The latter is about the same price as BT.
Love this topic. Nauseating that 600 unwitting lemmings stood in line for The Horse Bottle. I had several bottles of Blanton’s (all gifts) before the insanity and I would take so many other bourbons over it, starting with Wild Turkey 101. Blanton’s is utterly unremarkable. No character. It’s all about that bottle design.
I remember when Elmer T. Lee was on shelves for $45. Last bottle I saw they were asking $420. I love Maker's 46 Cask Strength as an alternative to Weller Antique 107. I like the Russell's Reserve 10 year over the Tin Cup 10 year. Better price and 6 proof points higher. As far as lower proof bourbon, other than RR 10, I prefer the Elijah Craig Small Batch over Buffalo Trace. The flavor profiles are completely different, so probably isn't a good alternative. Buffalo Trace products have a sweeter profile to me. I also like the 1792 SB. I am going to have to revisit Green River. I bought a bottle when it recently came into this market. It wasn't anything special to me, but maybe my palate was off. Cheers!
Cheers to all that Mike! And Green River isn’t special by any means, but it’s a solid product for the money, as are most BT products. We’re with you on Elijah Craig Small Batch being a good easy sipper.
3:42 The 1792 is easy to find here in Albuquerque, but I've never found anything from Bowman. But I do like Bluff Springs bourbon (I know, I know, I've mentioned that ad nauseam 😂), and it's a good alternative to Buffalo Trace. 🙂
Got my first bottle of Blanton's just now. $79 way better than online prices. Glad i started a VIP with my store otherwise wouldn't have been able to purchase
That’s funny. When I started my bourbon journey it was probably that same Whisk[e]y Tribe video that had me convinced Buffalo Trace was one of the best and all I needed. I had no interest in trying anything else until coming across a bourbon thread on a forum. I was a few bottles of BT into my journey at that point but decided to try something else. Bourbon #2 was a Bakers 107 small batch. Then things just got out of hand from there.
Great video. On the alternative to Blantons which I have a bottle, I recommend the bardstown fusion #6. It reminds me of the Blantons with more spice. Delicious.
I love the options. I love the idea of having other Bourbons, but I’m looking for samples of them first before I buy bottles. What is the best way to acquire 3 ounce or bigger samples of this suggested replacement whiskey? I would be happy to follow directions on acquiring those 😅
Outside of buying them, building relationships within the community and sharing is always the best way if you ask us. A ton of folks do just that through our Patreon and Discord but we also know a lot of people who share and sample a lot of things on a local level as well.
I always love your videos, thanks for some great ideas. I agree that BT and Eagle are good, but not worth the hype. Weller 12 is really good, but no way I am spending $300. But a couple comments on this one. Bowman is available in SC but not Savannah GA (didn't see it in NC or OR either). Next trip to SC I will get a bottle to try. Green River nowhere to be found in my state (GA) - looking when I travel. Going to OH in June - maybe. As for the Benchmark Top Floor, I have tried Benchmark 8 and Benchmark BiB and did not like either one so I am nervous about trying another Benchmark, although it is not expensive. I like the MM46.
We get Wellers 12 for $60 CAD ($42 USD) up here when it is available. I think Bourbon may be the only thing that is more expensive in the US than Canada.
@@MrWookie1981 the cheapest I have seen Weller 12 is $150 about 2 years ago. Since then, $300 and up. I'd come shopping in your fine country, but it is a really long drive from Georgia!
@@stewartwallace5741 Thanks - that's a long way away from me. I found Green River somewhere (I forget where) and now I have a bottle. I have about 25 bottles of bourbon, so I need to take a break from buying (I only have one drink a night). I am making my wife crazy!
Buffalo Trace is currently my favorite “budget” (under $30) bourbon, but I agree there are many great alternatives when it’s unavailable for retail price.
Considering that Eagle Rare is 42 - 45.00 when you can find it and Tin Cup is more expensive I'm not sure that I consider that a substitute. Having said that when I got a bottle of Eagle Rare I did not understand what the hype was about it's a good bourbon but not worth chasing in my opinion
Extraordinary presentation, as always. Even if the video is a concept seen in many places, the explanation you provide throughout each step makes this a fantastic comparison.
Thanks so much for noticing that Alfonso. The “why” behind the alternative recommendations is the most important thing for sure. Cheers and thanks for watching!
We’re big fans of 15 in general and for 16 we’re specific fans of the Rack W4005.09 release. We’ve not had Calumet 14 but we have had Sam Houston 14 which is comparable and it’s quite good, but we do tend to prefer 15 and 16 (although definitely prefer the price of 14).
I've been to the distillery on a Blanton's release day. It is wild. We were there on a cold, wet, sleeting November morning and still the line was hundreds of people deep waiting hours to get their hands on Blanton's. The next day was Weller Special Reserve and while not nearly as chaotic, it was still dozens and dozens of people deep waiting in the cold wind. I saw another channel (can't remember which one) recommend Yellowstone as an alternative to Blanton's. It's also 93 proof. I've tried it myself and I have to agree it's a pretty solid substitute.
Buffalo Trace is a BEAST of a distillery, and I honestly wish I didn't like so many bourbons that they make. I'm fortunate that I can at least find Buffalo Trace and Eagle Rare in my area for a solid price. Blanton's are such a gamble that I always warn people not to be bamboozled by the bottle. I've seen them at stores in my area for $100. E.H. Taylor is nonexistent around me, as are the Weller lines, but thankfully I did receive some Smoke Wagon recently. Weller 107 is one of the few bottles I just WANT in my collection. Finished off my only bottle earlier this year, and as I said, nonexistent in my area. I don't even look at or for the Pappy's, I've had samples and do enjoy it. But the hype and secondary market have destroyed the actual price point of those bottles. They aren't worth having at all just due to that problem. Stagg is one I like the taste of, but don't go looking for. Again the hype and secondary destroyed the actual price point of those bottles. If I had the money for Stagg or Pappy's, I'd have plenty of other things I should be spending that cash on. 🖖😎🥃
Cheers to all that KillCo. Stagg, Eagle Rare, and store picks are really the main Buffalo Trace products we tend to enjoy (save for Erin despising Batch 17 of Stagg Jr). Totally get why a lot of folks dig most of their products though.
@stuffandwhiskey man I just don't know what to make of your opening comments. For the record I like Wild Turkey and Jim Beam bottles the most. But the more I taste Buffalo Trace bottles the more I think its a great quality drink at the lower price point. One thing I noticed is that not much from their line is non-chiled filtered. The hype is there and its not like its miles better then anything but if good tasters says its good then its good. And above all that, If its good to you then it is good. Again I'm lucky to get the basic EH Taylor small batch at 50. It kills most bourbon at that price and its not even close.
We’ll have to agree to disagee on EH Taylor as we’ve had many $30-50 bottles best it in blinds for us, but the rest we wholeheartedly agree with. Regardless of what anyone says, if it’s good to the person buying and drinking it, then that’s all that matters at the end of the day.
Cooper's Craft sounds great & has many fans but it's not distributed in California. I could buy all the Buffalo Trace I wanted for $21.99 a bottle around here. (It does make a good Manhattan.) Calumet 16 is $125 near me though that's well above my whiskey interest level. In short, the whiskey market reminds me of airfares where sometimes tickets for adjoining seats came at $400 price differences.
After watching this, I agree. Bourbon is bourbon. This is all mainstream media. I have Evan Williams Small batch. It’s like Buffalo Trace. What I like about Evan Williams small batch better than Buffalo Trace are one that is easy to get and it’s cheaper. Although Elijah Craig small batch is my go to, that’s my first choice. I like this video you put out and I agree. Cheers!
Great Video. You can discuss some of the shady ongoings of the bourbon industry.. hype.. low inventory.. secondary crazy prices shinanigans... why is the bourbon industry so crazy..??? and is the crazy about to end.. because the latest year or so the amount of bourbon sales has been going down year on year. did they kill the golden goose with greedy marketing and shortages??Time will tell.. just remember .. back in the 70s through 90's distileries could not GIVE IT AWAY!!
Recording a Q&A today for quite a while down the road (April) but this is a great question and we're definitely answering it! If you dig through the archives there are several videos we've done, either in Q&A format recently or in topical format on our Tuesday "Whiskey Talk" videos (there's a playlist for those) that address a lot of this.
I live in upstate NY and most stores carry Buffalo Trace at $32.00 a bottle a couple sell it for $50.00 so either way I’m happy and close Elijah Craig is close and $3.00 cheaper.
Russell's 10 is very different in taste than Eagle Rare. I like WT products but Russell's 10 rates below 101 for me. I've yet to try Tin Cup so I'll have to consider it. You see it everywhere but I never see anyone talk about it.
We hear ya. RR10 is a classic example of “comparable on paper but not on palate” since the profile differs so much. That’s where TC10 comes in. Also a big reason we prefer to let blinds influence our recommendations over “on paper” comps. Great comment and thanks for watching Andrew!
Thanks for another great video. I was able to taste Weller 12 year at my brother-in-law's and it was good but it's not under $300 any place I've seen so I can't imagine ever wanting to buy that even at $100
Very good video, thank you for alternatives to Buffalo trace products. Sometimes I feel like I’m chasing a ghost, specially in my Area. Looking forward to your next alternative video.
This is hilarious to me. 1792 got me into this bourbon journey. Russels 10, Green river, Coopers Craft 100, Smoke wagon uncut unfiltered, Makers Cask strength haven't had the rest but those are on my shelf. I still haven't had any buffalo trace so if what yall say, I'm gonna be like bla if I try them.
What a practical, useful video this was. Thank you! I am ONLY about the taste and am so over celebrity bottles and FOMO-driven whiskey lust. I have always liked 1792 for its girl-next-door approachability and was happy to see you spotlight it. I will definitely put Tin Cup 10-year on my list. I see it around sometimes. Great stuff Josh and Erin.
What Four Gate do you recommend? Seelbach has a Nashtucky (Nashville bourbon), it is worth to buy it? Love this video. I hope you know that you got me into Pursuit United, it's such a good bottle. Thank you for all you do. Happy Birthday Josh!!🎉🎉🎉
The Kelvin Collaboration releases and basically any bourbon finished on a rum cask are pretty great from Four Gate. I’d suspect that Seelbach picked a great Nashtucky release but it’s hard to say how good for sure without trying it first. Big fan of 95% of the Nashtucky bottles we’ve tried so far though so if you’re going to take a chance on a single barrel, it’s likely a pretty safe bet.
We haven’t had WT81 neat it ages so can’t readily say unfortunately. With that big of a proof gap, you’re going to get kite sweetness and less spice on the lower proofer though and more spice and flavor on 101.
Y’all are the best. Great video. I lucked out with Eagle Rare once and fell in love. I think I’ll be trying Russell’s reserve 10 soon! And ADHD whiskey really hyped up the tincup 10yr as well, so dang, I guess I should try both!
They’re batched, but batches over time can vary as much as single barrels. In our book that isn’t really a selling point for something unless it’s a barrel pick from someone you know doing the picking.
I thoroughly enjoy Buffalo Trace (and the others), but I'll only buy it when I find it at MSRP (or very close). But I've never even seen a bottle of Weller, E.H. Taylor, Rock Hill, or BTAC. Lots of great bourbon out there, though, so I'm not too fussed.
it's crazy... people say regular weak sauce buffalo trace is impossible to get.... I've honestly never NOT seen it available... usually it's a bit overpriced ... I don't like it really... if it was less diluted and at 100 proof sure... same with Larceny... although I like Larceny more... still 100 proof is when it starts getting good... now eagle rare is next to impossible to find.... Russell's 10 put me off... I was spoiled on Rare Breed.... still need to try more WT as I love the flavor profile .
You should mention KO barrel proof as another alternative to Stagg. Especially the KOs that use Kelvin barrels. Their stuff is readily available and reasonably priced. I'm guessing you haven't tried that KO sample I sent yet.
We haven't yet gotten the chance, Jarod, but appreciate the reminder. Sometimes we need that for as many samples as we get in. We definitely need to give that one a shot. It can be tough to recommend such a limited distribution item, but considering Seelbachs carries them, it could definitely be worth mentioning. And to answer @Aidan it's KO Distilling from VA and their Bare Knuckle cask strength barrel picks that Jarod is referencing.
One store told me to get Elmer T Lee I'd have to give him $500. Great to see Benchmark Top Floor is a great alternative as it is readily available to me. Also found Bourbon Pursuit United for $59 so I can't wait to get back to the store to get it.
It’s marketing as well. And if someone famous backs your product you’re on fire and then the secondary market gets crazy. Of course you have to have a product that is above average. Have a local distillery in Ohio that their juice is not something I’m a fan of. But Ohio isn’t really known for bourbon.
Weller Antique 107 and Weller Full Proof's proof points are a typo in this video at the 11:34 and 11:38 mark respectively. Weller Antique 107 is 107 proof and Weller Full Proof is always 114 proof.
Thank you for putting this video together. I walked into a local liquor store and saw Buffalo Trace products on the top shelf. From Weller LaRue to GTStagg to ER 17 to older bottles of EH Taylor. All $1400-$2500. I am so over the hype when there are so many other good Bourbons out there. Thanks for the suggestions.
Agreed..
Coopers Craft 100 is a great buy. Esp for the price and its easily my go to sipper. Can't go wrong with Makers 46 either.
Coopers Craft was a surprise find awhile ago for me, always good stuff.
My cousin was a sommalier at a higher end restaurant and people would often ask about what a good wine to get was. He said the best wine to get is the wine you enjoy drinking the most. I think that plays well into your "don't buy the hype, get what you like" message.
Buffalo Trace, 1792 and Russell's are my personal top three. So smooth and nice, not aggressive at all but great flavor. After a long search I was finally able to find a bottle of Russell's single barrel and have been looking forward to cracking it at the right time. My "every day" drinker? Costco label bourbon. That one is unbelieveable. After your 1st taste, THEN you can raise your glass to The Black Toed One for turning you on to it if you aren't already. You're welcome. 😉
Great unbiased review. I will not pay more than MSRP for any bourbon. Once got a Blantons for 60 bucks this year. I haven't been able to find another. My wife would love to collect all eight of the race horses, but I told her that would be impossible in our state. I can find Buffalo Trace and Eagle Rare at MSRP on occasion.
I tried Cooper's Craft for the first time yesterday. It is good and similar in taste to Woodford Reserve Double Oaked, but costs $20 less.
I find that Benchmark Bonded is a viable alternative for Buffalo Trace. Bought some Benchmark Bonded for $7.49 per 750ml bottle today!
Yep, TinCup 10 is a sleeper. A buddy bought me a buddy and it grew on me fast.
The James E Pepper Decanter is a superior alternative to Blehntons and still has a cool bottle.
Tho the flavors won’t line up exactly, a good alternative to WLW IMO is Larceny Barrel Proof
Was gonna say this. Larceny Barrel Proof was the only high proof wheater I could think of. Some the last few batches have been absolute hitters too. Still somewhat hard to find in many markets but with three releases a year much easier than a WLW by a long shot.
I am enjoying your channel. I did get confused with the Weller proof graphics at 11:34 and 11:39. I couldn't read the proof on the bottles but that is on me for watching on a phone. Cheers.
Appreciate you watching!
Bardstown origin white label is an excellent alternative (if not better) than any of buffalo trace's mash bill 2 products. Distribution is ramping up and should be available everywhere soon
Hoping we get it in our market soon. We’re itching to try it!
The comparison between Bowman's in Buffalo it's funny because it is Buffalo Trace redistilled in Virginia
I have often said that I have a love/hate relationship with Buffalo Trace products. I love the flavor profile, but hate the availability. Buffalo Trace products are a great value ( except maybe Blanton's) , if you get them for suggested retail. Which I have been fortunate enough to do . Also I like the makers private select series, as a alternative to Weller.
Buffalo Trace 4 grain... mix BT & Weller special reserve.
i ageee with myself.
I get benchmark top floor and single Barrell and love them sometimes more then ER and Buffalo Trace. They are 15-20 bucks too
Green River is owned by Bardstown. We were at Bardstown last year. We were impressed. Once more of there bourbon comes on line its going to get very interesting for the buffalo
I always suggest TinCup 10 Year to people who can't find Eagle Rare, which I used to buy all the time and haven't seen in a while. I like Evan Williams 1783 over Buffalo Trace, which isn't my favorite.
A fine video!
Because availability is such a problem, the only Buffalo Trace product I've seen in my area has been standard Buffalo Trace (and only occasionally). With BT spending $2-billion to expand, maybe in several years, their products will be available at sensible prices. Until then, I'll be happy living with many other bourbons.
Keep up the good work you're doing- it helps! The 1783 -Evan Williams BIB blind came up yesterday, and I had just purchased some BIB. I compared it with the 1783 (almost always in the cabinet) and agree with your impressions. The opinions you offer are helpful.
Great video. BT fan boy living in Maine where everything is retail including BT. Great options! Thank you!
Widow Jane 10 is my favorite alternative to Weller Antique 107.
Luckily living in Ohio I come by WSR and Antique 107 fairly regularly. The rest of them are either something you have to stand in line for or win the bottle lottery. I don’t think their core release “Buffalo Trace” is that great, but it’s a good value for the price for sure.
I'm in Texas which is often also referred to as a Weller paradise, but its pretty much only Weller SR. 107 is instantly grabbed by the secondary market and anything else is pretty much lottery or special event only.
Love your channel. What I'd like to see is the two of your square off with a facilitated blind tasting of 3 states local craft distillers. Good example: Colorado, Texas, Alabama (Yes, I'm pushing you towards Dettling, lol), or same deal, King of the Crafts. Ex: Frey Ranch, Dettling, ASW, Copper Sky. And...perhaps, Queen of the MGP finishers, maybe a blind face off with wine/port finishes, vs. their own aged products (ex: Art of the Spirit, Magnus, World Whiskey Society, etc)
Eagle Rare always wins in our blind tastes against other 90 proofers. I have never tried the Tin Cup, but I have found I don't care as much for MGP in general. I can find it though so once I make some room I will have to try one and let you know how I like it. Calumet 16 is fantastic, in my opinion. Thanks for the great video!
For us, Buffalo Trace products shine with age and/or proof (preferably both), so Eagle Rare is a favorite from their lineup for us as well. Tin Cup 10 definitely gives it a good fight though, and at least in our market is dramatically easier to find. Cheers and thanks for watching Timm!
My recommendation for a high proof wheated bourbon is Fiddler Georgia Heartwood. One of my favorite wheated bourbons, and wheated bourbon isn't usually my thing.
Putting shoes on now to go grab that tin cup,, Ty for the info and input guys!!!
Update; it’s amazing, probably my new favorite bottle to play with
Regular Buffalo Trace is around 40 here. I can find them regularly but would rather have WT101 at 33 for a 1L. Haven't seen any other products you showed locally other than Maker's (don't care for wheated) and one bottle of 1792 SB. The latter is about the same price as BT.
Love this topic. Nauseating that 600 unwitting lemmings stood in line for The Horse Bottle. I had several bottles of Blanton’s (all gifts) before the insanity and I would take so many other bourbons over it, starting with Wild Turkey 101. Blanton’s is utterly unremarkable. No character. It’s all about that bottle design.
Make sure you get the black tin cup, the silver one is really bad, can’t believe the difference between the two
Gotta be the 10 Year for sure. The standard non-age stated one is flat out awful with malt whiskey blended in.
I remember when Elmer T. Lee was on shelves for $45. Last bottle I saw they were asking $420. I love Maker's 46 Cask Strength as an alternative to Weller Antique 107. I like the Russell's Reserve 10 year over the Tin Cup 10 year. Better price and 6 proof points higher. As far as lower proof bourbon, other than RR 10, I prefer the Elijah Craig Small Batch over Buffalo Trace. The flavor profiles are completely different, so probably isn't a good alternative. Buffalo Trace products have a sweeter profile to me. I also like the 1792 SB. I am going to have to revisit Green River. I bought a bottle when it recently came into this market. It wasn't anything special to me, but maybe my palate was off. Cheers!
Cheers to all that Mike! And Green River isn’t special by any means, but it’s a solid product for the money, as are most BT products. We’re with you on Elijah Craig Small Batch being a good easy sipper.
Buffalo Trace is my absolute favorite. I keep it on shelf. WIld Turkey 101 is my next go to.
3:42 The 1792 is easy to find here in Albuquerque, but I've never found anything from Bowman. But I do like Bluff Springs bourbon (I know, I know, I've mentioned that ad nauseam 😂), and it's a good alternative to Buffalo Trace. 🙂
We've heard that about Bluff Springs before. Good recommendation for folks that have it in their market!
Got my first bottle of Blanton's just now. $79 way better than online prices. Glad i started a VIP with my store otherwise wouldn't have been able to purchase
That Tin Cup might be good, but I have a hard time shelling out $55 for an 84 proof whiskey.
That’s more than fair and we’re with you there. It’s only reasonable when the alternative is paying $99 for Eagle Rare.
That’s funny. When I started my bourbon journey it was probably that same Whisk[e]y Tribe video that had me convinced Buffalo Trace was one of the best and all I needed. I had no interest in trying anything else until coming across a bourbon thread on a forum. I was a few bottles of BT into my journey at that point but decided to try something else. Bourbon #2 was a Bakers 107 small batch. Then things just got out of hand from there.
Great video. On the alternative to Blantons which I have a bottle, I recommend the bardstown fusion #6. It reminds me of the Blantons with more spice. Delicious.
Agreed. That was such a great release!
I love the options. I love the idea of having other Bourbons, but I’m looking for samples of them first before I buy bottles. What is the best way to acquire 3 ounce or bigger samples of this suggested replacement whiskey? I would be happy to follow directions on acquiring those 😅
Outside of buying them, building relationships within the community and sharing is always the best way if you ask us. A ton of folks do just that through our Patreon and Discord but we also know a lot of people who share and sample a lot of things on a local level as well.
I always love your videos, thanks for some great ideas. I agree that BT and Eagle are good, but not worth the hype. Weller 12 is really good, but no way I am spending $300.
But a couple comments on this one. Bowman is available in SC but not Savannah GA (didn't see it in NC or OR either). Next trip to SC I will get a bottle to try.
Green River nowhere to be found in my state (GA) - looking when I travel. Going to OH in June - maybe. As for the Benchmark Top Floor, I have tried Benchmark 8 and Benchmark BiB and did not like either one so I am nervous about trying another Benchmark, although it is not expensive. I like the MM46.
We get Wellers 12 for $60 CAD ($42 USD) up here when it is available. I think Bourbon may be the only thing that is more expensive in the US than Canada.
@@MrWookie1981 the cheapest I have seen Weller 12 is $150 about 2 years ago. Since then, $300 and up. I'd come shopping in your fine country, but it is a really long drive from Georgia!
Green Rivers is available at Toco Giant in Decatur,Ga
@@stewartwallace5741 Thanks - that's a long way away from me. I found Green River somewhere (I forget where) and now I have a bottle. I have about 25 bottles of bourbon, so I need to take a break from buying (I only have one drink a night). I am making my wife crazy!
No wife to worry about, but no money either.😢
Buffalo Trace is currently my favorite “budget” (under $30) bourbon, but I agree there are many great alternatives when it’s unavailable for retail price.
I like Green River Wheated alternative for low proof Weller. And Redwood Empire Pipe Dream alternative for regular Buffalo Trace. Cheers
Considering that Eagle Rare is 42 - 45.00 when you can find it and Tin Cup is more expensive I'm not sure that I consider that a substitute. Having said that when I got a bottle of Eagle Rare I did not understand what the hype was about it's a good bourbon but not worth chasing in my opinion
Extraordinary presentation, as always. Even if the video is a concept seen in many places, the explanation you provide throughout each step makes this a fantastic comparison.
Thanks so much for noticing that Alfonso. The “why” behind the alternative recommendations is the most important thing for sure. Cheers and thanks for watching!
Surprised Ko bareknucle high rye cask strength is never mentioned by anyone. 6yr mgp aged in Virginia in Kelvin Barrels.
Can’t say we’ve ever seen it in it market but will definitely keep an eye out for it!
Got a Blanton last week, in the box, $99
Sadly retailers are pushing it higher and higher. It’ll be $120-150 before long at this rate.
Elmer T Lee is a lower rye mashbill 12 to 14 percent. It just happens to be higher than their other main mashbill.
How does Calumet 16 compare to 14? I love the 14 just havent pulled the trigger on 16.
We’re big fans of 15 in general and for 16 we’re specific fans of the Rack W4005.09 release. We’ve not had Calumet 14 but we have had Sam Houston 14 which is comparable and it’s quite good, but we do tend to prefer 15 and 16 (although definitely prefer the price of 14).
Finally got a bottle of BT, a solid bourbon for $25 in my area. Still prefer OF100, WT 101 or EW BiB.
I've been to the distillery on a Blanton's release day. It is wild. We were there on a cold, wet, sleeting November morning and still the line was hundreds of people deep waiting hours to get their hands on Blanton's. The next day was Weller Special Reserve and while not nearly as chaotic, it was still dozens and dozens of people deep waiting in the cold wind.
I saw another channel (can't remember which one) recommend Yellowstone as an alternative to Blanton's. It's also 93 proof. I've tried it myself and I have to agree it's a pretty solid substitute.
Buffalo Trace is a BEAST of a distillery, and I honestly wish I didn't like so many bourbons that they make. I'm fortunate that I can at least find Buffalo Trace and Eagle Rare in my area for a solid price.
Blanton's are such a gamble that I always warn people not to be bamboozled by the bottle. I've seen them at stores in my area for $100.
E.H. Taylor is nonexistent around me, as are the Weller lines, but thankfully I did receive some Smoke Wagon recently.
Weller 107 is one of the few bottles I just WANT in my collection. Finished off my only bottle earlier this year, and as I said, nonexistent in my area.
I don't even look at or for the Pappy's, I've had samples and do enjoy it. But the hype and secondary market have destroyed the actual price point of those bottles. They aren't worth having at all just due to that problem.
Stagg is one I like the taste of, but don't go looking for. Again the hype and secondary destroyed the actual price point of those bottles. If I had the money for Stagg or Pappy's, I'd have plenty of other things I should be spending that cash on.
🖖😎🥃
Cheers to all that KillCo. Stagg, Eagle Rare, and store picks are really the main Buffalo Trace products we tend to enjoy (save for Erin despising Batch 17 of Stagg Jr). Totally get why a lot of folks dig most of their products though.
Got a Russell's single barrel store pick that is phenomenal! 85 bucks well spent
Great video! Journeyman Corsets and whips makes a great replacement as it’s 100% wheat.
The video shows both Antique 107 and Full Proof as 90 proot. Mistake?
If so, definitely yes. Oversight in the edit. Our bad. 107 is of course 107 proof and Full Proof is always 114 proof.
Is the new makers 46 bottle called the French oaked?
Yep!
Right on..Blanton’s is a marketing stunt
Crazy. I can pick up a standard bottle of Buffalo Trace at my local big chain liquor store at any time at under $22.
@stuffandwhiskey man I just don't know what to make of your opening comments. For the record I like Wild Turkey and Jim Beam bottles the most. But the more I taste Buffalo Trace bottles the more I think its a great quality drink at the lower price point. One thing I noticed is that not much from their line is non-chiled filtered. The hype is there and its not like its miles better then anything but if good tasters says its good then its good. And above all that, If its good to you then it is good. Again I'm lucky to get the basic EH Taylor small batch at 50. It kills most bourbon at that price and its not even close.
We’ll have to agree to disagee on EH Taylor as we’ve had many $30-50 bottles best it in blinds for us, but the rest we wholeheartedly agree with. Regardless of what anyone says, if it’s good to the person buying and drinking it, then that’s all that matters at the end of the day.
Wish I could add a picture. Just got lucky to pick up a stagg store pick 141.6 proof. It’s amazing. $50 msrp
Great find!
What about Rock Hill Farms alternatives?
Would definitely start with Smoke Wagon Small Batch at a lower priced option and any Remus Repeal Reserve batch should handily trump RHF.
Cooper's Craft sounds great & has many fans but it's not distributed in California. I could buy all the Buffalo Trace I wanted for $21.99 a bottle around here. (It does make a good Manhattan.) Calumet 16 is $125 near me though that's well above my whiskey interest level. In short, the whiskey market reminds me of airfares where sometimes tickets for adjoining seats came at $400 price differences.
That’s actually a great analogy!
After watching this, I agree. Bourbon is bourbon. This is all mainstream media. I have Evan Williams Small batch. It’s like Buffalo Trace. What I like about Evan Williams small batch better than Buffalo Trace are one that is easy to get and it’s cheaper. Although Elijah Craig small batch is my go to, that’s my first choice. I like this video you put out and I agree. Cheers!
Great Video. You can discuss some of the shady ongoings of the bourbon industry.. hype.. low inventory.. secondary crazy prices shinanigans... why is the bourbon industry so crazy..??? and is the crazy about to end.. because the latest year or so the amount of bourbon sales has been going down year on year. did they kill the golden goose with greedy marketing and shortages??Time will tell.. just remember .. back in the 70s through 90's distileries could not GIVE IT AWAY!!
Recording a Q&A today for quite a while down the road (April) but this is a great question and we're definitely answering it! If you dig through the archives there are several videos we've done, either in Q&A format recently or in topical format on our Tuesday "Whiskey Talk" videos (there's a playlist for those) that address a lot of this.
I live in upstate NY and most stores carry Buffalo Trace at $32.00 a bottle a couple sell it for $50.00 so either way I’m happy and close Elijah Craig is close and $3.00 cheaper.
John J Bowman SiB for Blantons. Widow Jane is available but more expensive than ER. I'm not a fan of Elmer T Lee either.
I was in Nashville and eh Taylor small batch was 300 and stagg was 250
That’s wild pricing but I’m not surprised.
Russell's 10 is very different in taste than Eagle Rare. I like WT products but Russell's 10 rates below 101 for me. I've yet to try Tin Cup so I'll have to consider it. You see it everywhere but I never see anyone talk about it.
We hear ya. RR10 is a classic example of “comparable on paper but not on palate” since the profile differs so much. That’s where TC10 comes in. Also a big reason we prefer to let blinds influence our recommendations over “on paper” comps. Great comment and thanks for watching Andrew!
Thanks for another great video. I was able to taste Weller 12 year at my brother-in-law's and it was good but it's not under $300 any place I've seen so I can't imagine ever wanting to buy that even at $100
Very good video, thank you for alternatives to Buffalo trace products. Sometimes I feel like I’m chasing a ghost, specially in my Area. Looking forward to your next alternative video.
Hey Josh and Erin great show!
What would a Stagg jr batch 3 go for these days??
Thanks for watching! Not sure on an old batch of Stagg Jr.
I helped do a Nashville barrel pick that is fantastic. I'll have to put it head to head with my store pick Stagg when I open it up.
This is hilarious to me. 1792 got me into this bourbon journey. Russels 10, Green river, Coopers Craft 100, Smoke wagon uncut unfiltered, Makers Cask strength haven't had the rest but those are on my shelf. I still haven't had any buffalo trace so if what yall say, I'm gonna be like bla if I try them.
What a practical, useful video this was. Thank you! I am ONLY about the taste and am so over celebrity bottles and FOMO-driven whiskey lust. I have always liked 1792 for its girl-next-door approachability and was happy to see you spotlight it. I will definitely put Tin Cup 10-year on my list. I see it around sometimes. Great stuff Josh and Erin.
Cheers and thanks for watching and commenting Larry!
It might not be as good, and it's also made by Buffalo Trace, Benchmark 8 at only $10 a bottle. It makes me happy.
Not sure if you have checked out the Green River Wheat bourbon yet. As enjoyable as the original!
I get the red fruit on Bowman Brothers, but it is twice the price of Buffalo Trace in my neighborhood.
Really!? That’s super interesting. Both are $25-30 here.
What Four Gate do you recommend?
Seelbach has a Nashtucky (Nashville bourbon), it is worth to buy it?
Love this video. I hope you know that you got me into Pursuit United, it's such a good bottle. Thank you for all you do. Happy Birthday Josh!!🎉🎉🎉
The Kelvin Collaboration releases and basically any bourbon finished on a rum cask are pretty great from Four Gate. I’d suspect that Seelbach picked a great Nashtucky release but it’s hard to say how good for sure without trying it first. Big fan of 95% of the Nashtucky bottles we’ve tried so far though so if you’re going to take a chance on a single barrel, it’s likely a pretty safe bet.
I just picked up 2 Buffalo Trace at $34 out the door and 1 Eagle Rare for $69.
For Handy, Knob Creek Rye Store picks or a Rare Character Rye pick. Cheers!
How does Wild Turkey 101 compare to Wild Turkey 81 proof?
We haven’t had WT81 neat it ages so can’t readily say unfortunately. With that big of a proof gap, you’re going to get kite sweetness and less spice on the lower proofer though and more spice and flavor on 101.
What was the one on the right--your side--of EH Taylor?
Those two bottles were Smoke Wagon Small Batch and Cooper's Craft Barrel Reserve.
Y’all are the best. Great video. I lucked out with Eagle Rare once and fell in love. I think I’ll be trying Russell’s reserve 10 soon! And ADHD whiskey really hyped up the tincup 10yr as well, so dang, I guess I should try both!
If you love Eagle Rare then we’d definitely say start with TC10. It’s maybe the best comp on this whole list. Cheers and thanks for watching Kyle!
I just started trying whiskey a month ago and I found a bottle of Buffalo Trace the third store I tried. 🤷♂️
Interesting to see you displaying Bowman Brothers and 1792 as alternatives to Buffalo Trace, given that all three distilleries are owned by Sazerac.
Are the Green River and Blade and Bow single barrels? Are they more similar to Blantons than other single barrel options?
They’re batched, but batches over time can vary as much as single barrels. In our book that isn’t really a selling point for something unless it’s a barrel pick from someone you know doing the picking.
two days ago I paid $36.95 for Eagle Rare and Buffalo Trace for $25.95 at an Oregon store.
Maker 46 French Oaked Cask Strength is stellar.
Great video! Thanks for saying it for the new people to hear it.
Coopers Craft 100 is a huge sleeper bottle! It’s beat out a ton of our higher priced, higher proof bourbons. Great video. Cheers
Tell ‘em Kathy! Couldn’t agree more!
I just learned there is a new label stating non chill filtered, comparison coming soon
If you're a collector, it's all about the shelf appeal 😊
For some it definitely is. In that regard we're certainly not collectors.
I thoroughly enjoy Buffalo Trace (and the others), but I'll only buy it when I find it at MSRP (or very close). But I've never even seen a bottle of Weller, E.H. Taylor, Rock Hill, or BTAC. Lots of great bourbon out there, though, so I'm not too fussed.
There’s a whole wide world of whiskey out there to be sure. No reason to fuss over almost any of it. We’re of like minds there. 🥃
WE LOVE YOUR SHOWS! AND YOUR A VERY LUCKY GUY AS YOUR WIFE IS SO BEAUTIFUL. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO TO BRING US THESE SHOWS.
it's crazy... people say regular weak sauce buffalo trace is impossible to get.... I've honestly never NOT seen it available... usually it's a bit overpriced
... I don't like it really... if it was less diluted and at 100 proof sure... same with Larceny... although I like Larceny more... still 100 proof is when it starts getting good...
now eagle rare is next to impossible to find.... Russell's 10 put me off... I was spoiled on Rare Breed.... still need to try more WT as I love the flavor profile
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It’s pretty interesting huh? The availability from one market to the next is always fascinating to us.
@@stuffandwhiskey even moreso since I am in Canada... literally everyone has BT and usually Bulleit and regular Wild Turkey
I picked up some Walcott and it is fantastic
Great video guys. Thanks for the alternatives.
You should mention KO barrel proof as another alternative to Stagg. Especially the KOs that use Kelvin barrels. Their stuff is readily available and reasonably priced. I'm guessing you haven't tried that KO sample I sent yet.
What is ko referring to? If its kentucky owl i wouldnt exactly call those at all reasonable
We haven't yet gotten the chance, Jarod, but appreciate the reminder. Sometimes we need that for as many samples as we get in. We definitely need to give that one a shot. It can be tough to recommend such a limited distribution item, but considering Seelbachs carries them, it could definitely be worth mentioning. And to answer @Aidan it's KO Distilling from VA and their Bare Knuckle cask strength barrel picks that Jarod is referencing.
@@stuffandwhiskey ah ive always seen ko refer to kentucky owl so i was confused
One store told me to get Elmer T Lee I'd have to give him $500. Great to see Benchmark Top Floor is a great alternative as it is readily available to me. Also found Bourbon Pursuit United for $59 so I can't wait to get back to the store to get it.
Picked up the Bowman Brothers per this recommendation and wow is it good!
Great video!! I agree with most of your alternatives 👍🏻
Coopers 100 Proof is great. Awesome channel. Subbed
Cheers and thanks for subscribing!
I used be able to find Blanton's on the shelf untouched all day long until is was showcased on John Wick.
It’s marketing as well. And if someone famous backs your product you’re on fire and then the secondary market gets crazy. Of course you have to have a product that is above average. Have a local distillery in Ohio that their juice is not something I’m a fan of. But Ohio isn’t really known for bourbon.