Wild Turkey 101 is under rated by most people. It's not flashy or expensive but it is exactly what a bourbon should be. When i want to unwind after a particularly difficult day, 101 is there.
I've always felt the best Bourbon is the one you like best. All of these brands are highly rated. Of the ones I've tried, I like Four Roses best. However, I've never tried Evan Williams so thats definitely on the list. Funny thing. I was pouring myself a Bourbon one evening and my mom saw the bottle and said, "I didn't know you liked Four Roses. That was my grandpa's brand." I never knew him as he died before I was born, but I found an old photo of him with some friends at a saloon and on the table was a bottle of Four Roses. Maybe it's genetic...
@@mikesweeney5619 Never been a fan of Jack Daniels. My only experience with Evan Williams was a poor holiday nog I bought a couple years ago. But I have seen it on many lists as a great yet inexpensive sipping whiskey.
Very Well Said!! I like Markers Mark, I got turned on to it at thee EM club Osan AFB in1968, by my Flight Chief. That said I have a real problem with these Ranking of something that is so subjective. Smacks of elitism.
No Elijah Craig because the shit is nearly impossible to find . I live in PA and I’ve only seen it on shelves 1 time and I’ve been looking for it since
They have a single barrel for about $30 that’s a good sipper. I like their white label for mixed drinks. Most bartenders keep plenty of it on hand because it has the most bang for your buck.
A few years ago, Evan Williams Bottled in Bond (not sure what year) sold at a discount liquor store for about $9.00 a bottle. I liked the idea of bottled in bond, but figured, how good could it be for 9 bucks? I passed. A few days later I read all these amazing reviews for this bourbon and ran back to the store - Gone! I'll never let price get in the way of my judgment again.
Preach it C~ I don't consider it low end at all. I bought it for 1/2 the price of Jack on a whim & love it at any price. It's America's OLDEST distillary~
You are so right. Evan Williams is so under rated, as well as overlooked by many bourbon snobs. For less than $20 a bottle it's an exceptional value. It's my go-to brand when ever I want to just relax and sip some bourbon straight up, or on the rocks.
I’m a big bourbon fan and for my value Eagle Rare 10 year has to be one of my top choices. Four Roses single barrel is very good and smooth. Bulliet is another good choice. All under $50 and very good.
My guess is that BT didn't make the list because it's too hard to find in many places. Whereas, all of those that did make the list are readily available.
I am a Scot and tend to go for a single malt whisky but over the last three years have sampled and really enjoyed a few Bourbons. Out of the dozen or so I have bought, Woodford Reserve is my favourite by some margin. Delighted the video also ranks it so favourably. Great in an Old Fashioned as well.
@hastysardine1 here Buffalo Trace is about £20 to £25 while Woodfords is about £35 to forty. In the UK, most bars and restaurant type pubs will sell Woodford, and therefore, everyone knows about the brand. Buffalo Trace is only available at supermarkets and then only in a limited number of bottles.
My very first Whiskey/Bourbon experience was by chance: Woodford Reserve. That was August 2020 and ever since I have bought 17 other, mainly Scotch but Woodford Reserve is still my favourite. I have finished the reverse and last week also the double oak. I have a closed bottle of Wheat and a Reserve. I do have another 6 bottles that I never tasted, but till now it is still my number one.
Buddy of mine was a bar tender in Chicago before covid. I asked him for advice on building a bar. He highly recommend old grand dad and aviation gin. Definitely buy both. I never tried gin in my life.
@@mrthomas7511 Gin ranges from "rubbing alcohol" to like a gorgeous perfume. Aviation is good but a little flat, I HIGHLY recommend you try "Bombay Saphire East" sometimes branded as "Far East". It's like a gorgeous perfume, so fragrant and light/delicate. It has this really juniper and pepper forward smell and taste, you'll love it. Try mixing it with Fever Tree tonic and you'll like it even more. Start with just half an ounce of it in a glass with tons of ice and tonic water, then you'll adapt to that beautiful fragrant flavour and taste. The other best option if you can't find that is Tanqueray, a beautifully citrus tasting gin that's still very oily and fragrant.
When I started drinking bourbon the first one I tried was Evan Williams and couldn't really find a reason to drink anything else. I've tried a few others since then, but taste and value always bring me back.
@@MesaperProductions No doubt about it, I didn't really discover bourbon until I was in my forties. I mostly drank Jack Daniels and Crown Royal, but after I got a bottle of bourbon I was like, what the hell have I been drinking all these years?!
I drink a lot of bourbon, and have tasted all those you reviewed. And more. In the 'pure Jim Beam' line, I like Jim Beam Black. But I've become a Evan Williams fan over the past several months. Makes a great Manhattan or Old Fashion,. and a very tasty Mint Julep!
I was surprised that my favorite Bourbon rated so high. I do know that when you say Evan Williams many turn up their nose. However in blind served neat taste tests most of "those folks" always seem to say "now that's a good sipping whisky!'. I very much agree with this video on the hugely overrated Jim B. If I wanted my whisky watered down I prefer to do that myself. I admit I'm a Neat drinker of Bourbon and do not mix it with anything and prefer my drink at room temperature. I enjoy a heavy Stout beer also at room temperature........probably just be me. One very nice Bourbon that I drink when I can find it is Buffalo Trace. Trace is nice but no more complex than Evan Williams. I've tried a bunch of Bourbons and over paid (IMO) for a lot of them. I'm extremely happy with a three finger full tumbler of E.W. in the late evening scanning thru RUclips videos or something on TV of interest. Just my $.02
Not only didn't they mention Buffalo Trace, but the bourbons mentioned were all heavy on the rye portion of the mash bill. BT is wheated and right now, (tastes seemingly change overnight) wheated bourbons are in. I was in the Tampa Bay area last year where the liquor store I frequent was having a party because they found some Buffalo Trace and limited the sales to two bottles per customer. I really like BT, but I've never seen it treated like Pappy.
I'm glad I read your reply because it save me 9 min. of my life. No mention of Buffalo Trace shows this is nothing more than snobs thinking rather than knowing...
@@antares8281 Buffalo trace does have a wheated mash bill but it is not used for 80% of their products. Pappy and Weller lines are the only Buffalo Trace products that contain wheat in the mashbill.
Woodford is seriously good, and I love the cask influence as is. I do like oak but feel that bourbon as is already has such aggressive barrel influence, I almost feel it’s too much to double it
A poker friend 10 years ago gave me a bottle of Rebel Yell bourbon for hosting a poker tournament. I have to tell you that it was 100% Great! I have since purchased this bourbon a number of times. It is smooth and great tasting. I like to sit back on my deck on our pond with a cigar at night and a glass or two or three go great with a cigar or two or three. I am really enjoying your video on bourbon tonight as I sit back with a glass and cigar. Shalom
I am definitely a bourbon nerd, and have worked for multiple distilleries, so grain of salt there. However, this video came off really half assed to me. I wouldn’t have included bourbons brands who don’t own their own distilleries. Also Maker’s is not a Jim Beam product. They are owned by the same parent company, but that’s it.
As a WildTurkey101 and a MakersMark guy since college(70s), recently discovered JimBean “BLACK”(extra aged). It is FANTASTIC. Not as sweet as Turkey, regular JimBeam or Makers. Very smooth, not too bold, and not so sweet. A true Bourbon taste. Priced right.
Both Wild Turkey 101 and the Jim Beam Black Label series (Double Oaked, Extra Aged) are new to me as of this past year (2021) and they are excellent. Maker's Mark is just an all around excellent bourbon and an 'easy sipper' if ever there was one. If you like these, be sure and try Evan Williams Black Label. It punches way above its class when it comes to nose, taste and drinkability.
Biggest miss here on this list is evan williams single barrel. Wonderful bourbon. Better than most $100 bourbons ive tried. Eagle rare climbs my list fairly high as well
Oh I was so looking forward to blasting away for how great welller, vanwinkle etc etc but thank goodness you left these unicorns out. They have no place in affordable available whiskey. The most ridiculous useless reviews are those Buffalo trace brands and the extremely overpriced ($2000) junk out there. Thank you for being honest and sane in this review.
I have learned not to always trust Mashed reviews and to rarely trust them when it comes to alcohol and this episode is no exception. There are a number of MUCH better sources for bourbon reviews!
@@Remember_when I like both Woodford and Bulleit. Bulleit is my daily and at Costco the big bottle is the still cheaper than a 750ml of anything comparable.
The Woodford Double Oaked is one I get every holiday for sipping neat, Evan Williams is great as a mixer, and Bulleit Rye makes an amazing old fashioned or sour
Woodsford Reserve Double Oak is the best Bourbon i've ever had. I did a blind taste test with 12 top notch bourbons and my favorite came out to be the Double Oak. Still to this day it packs the most flavor and perfect neat or over Ice.
Its A Mashed list. They pretty much just google Shit and dont fact check much. I just watched a fast food in every state one fast food place they listed didnt even exist in the state.
I've tried them all... (1) Eagle Rare (2) Old Forester (3) Double Cask Woodford (4) Knob Creek Small Batch. (5) 1792 I can't really find better. Maker's Mark is also decent. Never get wild turkey (except rare breed), jim bean, and especially NOT bulleit. Obviously, there are more expensive kinds that I didn't mention in my list.
I prefer the regular Woodfords to the double barrel. I found the double barrel to be a little overpowering, and too much of a "tobacco" feel. Rare Breed is fantastic, I love barrel strength bourbon over ice, and just let the ice melt a little. I am in Australia, and have often been told that the range of bourbon available here is bigger than the U.S.A., is the Old Forester you rate at 2 the 12 year old? I have had that and it was like liquid velvet.
@@red5standingby419 I had serious doubts about the statement myself when it was said to me. What I have noticed in the comments of various bourbon videos I have seen is it seems there are access issues between states for different brands in the US. This may be what the person was referring to, In Australia, the access to different brands and their stables seem to be uniform across the country. The more I watch these videos, the more I realize hey hang on, we get a very narrow selection of the good stuff here. (we also get lower proof whiskeys. Beam white label is only 37%/74 proof in Aus due to the Excises paid on ethanol content - its shit). Knowing what I now know after watching several more vids, I ask myself the same question.
Russell's Reserve 10yr Bourbon.Seems to be gaining in popularity. Heard guy talking about it in store I work in. A couple other guys bought it. Now it seems to have taken off a bit. Its funny watching old guys running from parking lot to store when they hear the store has some hard to get bourbons. Its like an adult Cabbage Patch Doll craze.
I used to LOVE bourbon, but I loved it and other booze a little too much and quit drinking for two years. Once I could drink responsibly, I couldn’t WAIT to have a glass of whiskey, but was horrified to find that I now hated my prior favorite libation! The only bourbons I can genuinely enjoy nowadays are Wild Turkey Rare Breed, Buffalo Trace, and Bulleit. Thank the gods I never lost my taste for Scotch, particularly the Islays. I’ve learned now that there’s SO much more to be discovered in the world of single-malt whisky than ANY bourbon could ever provide.
I started with single malt scotches and couldn’t abide bourbons. Now my pallet has shifted and I like bourbons, but scotches not so much. Walking out of my market in California, I saw the Macallan 18 was over $400 and Macallan 12 (my favorite Macallan) was over $100! Buffalo Trace was under $20 on sale, Benchmark was around $20 in the huge bottle and $11 for 750ml in a glass bottle. Benchmark is now my “go to” bourbon.
@@donelmore2540 Yeah, it is ridiculously expensive, so I don’t enjoy it terribly often. My favorite by a MILE is Laphroaig Quarter Cask, which is WAY cheaper than a lot of (in my opinion and for my palate) much less impressive and interesting whiskies. I think I gave roughly 75 or 80 dollars for my last bottle, but that was several months ago, I know certain Scotches got way more expensive for a while recently but they may have gone back down by now, I don’t know. I’m not ashamed to admit that I regularly enjoy a few Johnnie Walker Black Labels with a splash of soda and a twist of lime, too, there’s nothing wrong with blended Scotch or Scotch cocktails in my opinion. Good single-malts I tend to have with just a few drops of water or neat. I used to like bourbon with a single ice cube and sometimes also a splash of soda.
Woodford reserve is my go to when it comes to bourbons. If I want to fork out and go for broke, Bakers, or Blantons uncut straight from the barrel. Bakers and Blantons uncut are high proof, hot and best sipped over ice. Allow the ice to melt a little to open up a whole world of caramel, vanilla oak and butterscotch spiciness. I am in Australia, so Woodfords retails for around AU$60-70 depending on the store. Bakers and Blantons uncut you are looking at AU$ 130 - 170 and at selected retailers. They can be a little difficult to find.
There was no mention of how they taste while coming back up. I find the Jim Beam to have a acidic/burning flavor coming up while the Even Willies comes up much easier. I had some Oban once. That sh*t was so good I drank it twice.
I got 2 free Woodford minis on a plane as an "I'm sorry" for a long delay. I hadn't tried bourbon neat before and was really pleased. Glad to see it so high.
Looks like they're excluding allocated bourbon off this list. Which is for the better since it's getting more expensive/harder to find in a lot of the country.
@@Vortex1988sure it's easier to find from an allocation standpoint but you still have to go hunting in most states and know when the drop off day is. The fact that the rest of the bourbons on the list are readily available no matter what state you're in, allows anybody and everybody just getting into bourbon to start trying some of these, and at some point or another they'll probably be introduced to the BT hype train.
I discovered Buffalo Trace a few years ago and really like it. Near our house in Texas, it’s gone off the shelf the day it comes in. That same shop turned me on to Benchmark, which they said, is made by the Buffalo Trace Distillery, but the whiskey maker didn’t think it made the cut. So they renamed it Benchmark and they blow it out. It’s really nice at about $20 for a huge bottle (plastic) and $11 for a 750ml glass bottle. It is a fine sipping whiskey. And I have had virtually every whiskey on the list.
they missed alot of stuff on this list that is better than most of these. the issue is that they are trying to stay on a low price point. Buffalo Trace will blow almost all these away. And if you know your bourbons there is alot better things out there for the price point of Woodford
Agreed, however here in Florida I can't seem to get Buffalo Trace and when I do the good thing is its price point at $28 for 7:50... just just received a birthday gift of Widow Jane 10 year old. If you're interested in something different try it
@@wesleyburke7514 it's amazing to me that you can't find Buffalo Trace in Florida when I can go to my local off-licence (liquor store) and pick up a bottle for about €30 in Ireland. I'm going to Florida next year and I'm hoping to pick up Elijah Craig small batch which is harder to find here and can go for about €55 - €60+
@@M0J0jojo I was at the liquor store on Friday Elijah Craig was readily available. At this particular liquor store I have to ask the salesperson if they have Buffalo Tace hidden behind the counter . Sometimes they do but most of the times they don't. Safe travels for your trip to America
Woodford Reserve has always been my favorite, but I usually drink Evan Williams because it's 1/4 the cost. I'm surprised and pleased that my two go-to's are so high on this list. I've always loved bourbon but have never considered myself an aficionado. Maybe I'm a better judge than I thought.
I started drinking bourbon with Evan Williams because of the price. I'm not an expert so to my taste it felt great. I opened a big smile when I saw it on this list, I thought it was mocked by the expert community
Evan Williams Single Barrel is quite on par with Woodford Reserve in my book, but it surely isn't 1/4 of the latter's price. Rather, it' costs about 80 percent of Woodford. Currently, Total Wine is selling EW SB for $27.5 and WR - for $29.99.
@@brunoalc5422 Well, perhaps in Brazil there's more demand for Evan Williams Single Barrel or maybe it's just more scarce. But if I were from/in Brazil, it would not upset me a bit since I love Woodford every single bit as much. By the way, if you are from Brazil, is there a type of spirit that is considered a national trademark? Sort of like bourbon in the US, Żubrówka in Poland, vodka in Russia, etc.? Rum, probably?
I had to look it up. There are 5 requirements to be Bourbon. First, it has to be made in the U.S. Contrary to popular belief it doesn't have to be from Kentucky, but 95% of Bourbon is. Next, aging must be done in new, charred oak barrels. Next, the mash must be 51% corn. Next, the whiskey cannot enter the barrel at higher than 125 proof, and cannot be bottled at less than 80 proof. Finally, nothing can be added other than water to change the proof. No color, no flavor as with other whiskeys. Bourbon must be completely natural in color and flavor.
@mrchilli5618 not according to the United States Congress. Under the law of the United States of America, Tennese whisky cannot be defined as Bourbon. Its due to the bad reputation of Bourbon in the 1960's and seventies. Bourbon was then considered a inferer style of whisky. Jack Daniels didn't want its global reputation being undermined and went to the United States Congress and got them to stop it from being called a Bourbon. Today Bourbon as a great reputation and this piece of legislation seems weird given that it is in a none legal sense a Bourbon.
@@davidvarley1812 actually the only difference between the two, in the case of say, Jack Daniels is a part of the filtration process which is not defined by law. It meets all the legal requirements to be called bourbon as set forth by Congress.
In a world where people are now taught to believe that beer should taste like grapefruit juice I can't really count on anyone else to tell me what bourbon I should be drinking.
@C B Tenessee whiskey is a subcategory of bourbon. The only difference in categories (besides place of production) is the "Lincoln County process," i.e., charcoal filtering
Honestly, I love Basil Hayden when I want a smooth bourbon. I can't stand Jim Beam, a single shot will give me hangover, plus it has a mop water aftertaste. The only thing worse is Canadian Mist, gives me a lot of time on the throne. But as someone stated, I think this varies a lot with personal taste, best one is probably the one you personally like.
same, I love Basil Hayden and Jim Beam even Makers Mark give me really bad headaches. Which was weird to see it at the bottom. I guess to each their own.
@@michaelscott181 Yeah, I would compare it to a Philly cheese steak vs pizza... they are both amazing, but personal preferences will pull people one way or the other
@ItsStillRealToMe DamnIt Hence, the comment about liking Russell's 10 more than BT. Russell's is $20 here. BT is hard to come by and is $30. If BT was $20-23 and easy to find, it would be good for sure, but not Russell's 10 good. WRDO is $33 here and I'd take that over 1920 for the price alone. Granted, 1920 is better, but it's $60.
@ItsStillRealToMe DamnIt IMO, there are a lot of quality bourbons in the $20-30 range (Knob Creek, Woodford, 4R, OGD114, 101 to name a few). I think that the secondary market has had people chase names and think that quality comes with price. As you said, Weller should be easier to find and it's honestly not worth more than MSRP. I've seen Weller go for $200-500 here. The same would apply to the other BT offerings (Blantons, EHT, etc). Not bad stuff, but not worth much over MSRP. I'll take a Knob Creek Store Pick, JDBP or 4R SR all day in the $50 range vs hunting for any of those "unicorns."
Great descriptions on why you like or didn’t like it. What you rated low might be what someone prefers. I sold wine for 33 years and appreciated your explanations. I would call the first couple selections the Pinot Grigio of bourbon.
Canadian whisky is rye whisky, Being Canadian the reason I prefer Bourbon is because of the sweetness. This commentator seemed to prefer the Bourbons that used lots of rye and had the typical rye spiciness. If I wanted rye spiciness I'd drink my native whiskies instead. Of the limited selection available in Canada I like the Four Roses.
i am also canadian and honestly dont care much for canadian whiskey. too soft to mellow no flavors. my favorite was weisers small batch but they dont make it any longer. where as a good bourbon is like a bar fight in your face and full of drama. sweet vanilla woody cherry and also the low end grunt like a punch to the face. guess thats why i love single malt and bourbon so much, they are not afraid of strong flavors.
@@zomgz932 There's a Canadian brand called Pendleton's (which I think is actually bottled in the US.). It's pretty nice. That said, my favorite whiskies are from Islay, so I'm not a big fan of Canadian whisky. Nice to have something easy around for guests who don't enjoy bar fights, though.
@@mikestewart505 yea i am also partial to a good islay. Quarter cask is my fave it used to be cheap( not any more) it was young enough to not loose any of that peat but old enough to not be harsh.
Old Crow didn’t even make the list? Try a blind comparison with several top brands. You will be pleasantly surprised. Old Crow is smooth and leaves a pleasant aftertaste. My favorite for many years!
Bulleit is super smooth and at 90 proof, it's my preference over Makers at this price point. I had some Old Forrester recently and was shocked how good it was. It's not at a lot of stores here in SoCal.
I am 76 years old, and I'm pretty sure that when I first started drinking that Bourbon had to be a) distilled in Kentucky, and b) had to be made of corn only, no rye, wheat, or rice allowed. You could always find Jack Daniels and George Dickel in the bourbon section at the liquor store, even though they were technically "Tennessee Sippin' Whiskey". My Dad, Grandad, and Sister all pounded Jim Beam, while I was a black Jack guy. Had to give it up some years ago for health reasons, but I can still remember the taste!
I am only 63, but I am certain you are incorrect on both a and b. and c too, jack Daniel's and George Dickel are BOTH technically "bourbon", but most bourbons are NOT technically Tennessee Whiskey. Your welcome, or sorry, whichever applies.
My 4 favorite bourbons (in no particular order) are: 1) Angel's Envy 2) Bulleit 3) Evan Williams 4) 1792 Small Batch I'll try the Wild Turkey 101 and Woodford Reserve as I have heard positive things about them.
@@kennethhulsebus7194 I've seen good reviews with Knob Creek. As for WT 101, maybe that's why it was in the 2004 Punisher movie as it probably tasted like a punishment. 😄 I'm still curious enough to want to try like a small bottle of it though.
Have gone from the top shelf to the bottom and Evan Williams has become my favorite. I keep a bottle of black label and apple in my selection at all times. So smooth and delicious.
Of the bourbons discussed, I can't disagree with any of these rankings. There are others, however. WT and Knob are my favorites. I wouldn't rate Evan Williams that high, and I would rank Jim Beam 12th on a list of 10.
Buffalo Trace should be here. It fits in with the price points of these whiskeys and is very sought after where I live. In terms of the whiskeys they talk about, I've tried them all and the list isn't too far from how I would rank them. A little tweak here and there but not a bad review.
Buffalo Trace and most of its products are difficult to get outside of a few areas. Even the base product gets held back by store owners for its special stock in the back. I think that is why these lists just don’t include them.
Jim Beam white label is the root note of "oaky" bourbons. It's simple, familiar, and constant. There are more complex bourbons, and there are more simple bourbons, but to rate Jim Beam "worst" when millions of people choose it every year says more about the people doing the rating, than what is being rated.
It's just a word. It's #10 on the list. Still... taste test Beam vs Knob Creek, for instance. Beam is rough, palpably rough, compared to a smooth spirit like Knob Creek. I know, because one day I stopped after work and all they had was Beam. Then I drove five minutes and had a KC. Knob Creek was vastly smoother and much more enjoyable. No contest.
Unfortunately best-selling and good rarely go hand in hand. Just look at the top 10 best-selling beers in the world. There isn't one I'd feed to a dog I didn't like on the list. ;)
I hate Jim Beam because it almost killed me back in 1987. OYE! Can't stomach the stuff anymore and wont give the Beam a second chance to seal my fate :-)
I have tried all but 2 bourbons on this list. Basil Hayden’s feels a touch too low, other than that I feel like it is a good ranking. How could I argue when 2 of my favorites are #1 and #3. I would also recommend Knob Creek Single Barrel. Thank you for the list. I am going to have to try Evan Williams and Wild Turkey 101 now.
I think this was a well described reasoning for each ranking. While I may not rank this list the same way exact way, that's based on my personal taste. Wild Turkey Rare Breed, has always been under rated in my opinion. I'd like to see some of the higher tier bourbons ranked, so the arguing can begin.
I enjoy the EW BiB. Personally I would put Maker's Mark over any Knob Creek. I would substitute any of the Old Forester Whiskey Row series over Woodford Reserve, except their Double Oaked. Jim Beam was my first bourbon BTW, and I never could understand the desire to drink it. In the not a bourbon category, but brand listed, my favorite rye is Bulleit.
Knob Creek is my favorite too... If you haven't tried their Smoked Maple I highly recommend... I also use it when making my pancake syrup for maple bourbon favor 😋😋
Beam is like the F-150 of the Bourbon world. Cheaper for a reason. And Makers Mark has a totally unrefined sharp taste, almost like it isn't even aged at all. I have always liked a Sour Mash Whiskey better than a straight Bourbon Whiskey for that reason. Bourbon always tastes "unfinished" to me.
Angels Envy and Elijah Craig were left off this list but are excellent choices for bourbons. Of course everyone has their own favorite based on their taste buds. Whatever your is just enjoy.
What's your favorite brand of bourbon?
Jim Beam White Label bourbon for mixed drinks, Tullamore Dew Whiskey for sippin' straight.
The entire Old Forester line
Maker's Mark
Buffalo Trace, they don't even put it on the shelves out here, if you ask, and they have stock, they'll sell you a bottle.
Old Grand Dad, Bonded if I can afford it
Wild Turkey 101 is under rated by most people. It's not flashy or expensive but it is exactly what a bourbon should be. When i want to unwind after a particularly difficult day, 101 is there.
Second this. WT 101 is one of the best values in bourbon, imho.
I've always felt the best Bourbon is the one you like best. All of these brands are highly rated. Of the ones I've tried, I like Four Roses best. However, I've never tried Evan Williams so thats definitely on the list. Funny thing. I was pouring myself a Bourbon one evening and my mom saw the bottle and said, "I didn't know you liked Four Roses. That was my grandpa's brand." I never knew him as he died before I was born, but I found an old photo of him with some friends at a saloon and on the table was a bottle of Four Roses. Maybe it's genetic...
Evan is really pretty good.tasted a lot like Jack Daniels,and Jim Beam,but not as pricey as either....
@@mikesweeney5619 Never been a fan of Jack Daniels. My only experience with Evan Williams was a poor holiday nog I bought a couple years ago. But I have seen it on many lists as a great yet inexpensive sipping whiskey.
@@GrinderCB Never was a fan of Nog anyway,but just their regular bourbon is really good!!!!
Very Well Said!! I like Markers Mark, I got turned on to it at thee EM club Osan AFB in1968, by my Flight Chief. That said I have a real problem with these Ranking of something that is so subjective. Smacks of elitism.
Your Mom lets you drink?
Where’s the Buffalo Trace? Elijah Craig? Old Forester? WTF kind of list is this? Agree with the Turkey and Knob Creek though!
Elijah always gets a short shift…smh
Wtf!!! No Elijah Craig??? Stupid list.
No Elijah Craig because the shit is nearly impossible to find . I live in PA and I’ve only seen it on shelves 1 time and I’ve been looking for it since
Love seeing Evan Williams get some love. Under-appreciated among the low end bourbons.
They have a single barrel for about $30 that’s a good sipper. I like their white label for mixed drinks. Most bartenders keep plenty of it on hand because it has the most bang for your buck.
EW 100 proof bottled in bond
A few years ago, Evan Williams Bottled in Bond (not sure what year) sold at a discount liquor store for about $9.00 a bottle. I liked the idea of bottled in bond, but figured, how good could it be for 9 bucks? I passed. A few days later I read all these amazing reviews for this bourbon and ran back to the store - Gone! I'll never let price get in the way of my judgment again.
Preach it C~ I don't consider it low end at all. I bought it for 1/2 the price of Jack on a whim & love it at any price. It's America's OLDEST distillary~
You are so right. Evan Williams is so under rated, as well as overlooked by many bourbon snobs. For less than $20 a bottle it's an exceptional value. It's my go-to brand when ever I want to just relax and sip some bourbon straight up, or on the rocks.
What a pleasant surprise to find my favorite whiskey at #2. I have found Evan Williams much more drinkable than any of the others I've tried.
Same here, a very pleasant surprise!
And all this time I've been buying Evan Williams for use in my holiday fruit cakes (because it's cheap). Guess I'll have to give it a try.
Evan Williams is hands down the best value bourbon. They could double the price and it would still sell.
All the Hobo's under the bridge love it also..
@@Keith.Vieira nearly literally rofl 😆
Elijah Craig is a in your face bourbon that’s put out some very strong expressions. Barrel strength, toasted, etc.
I’m personally not a fan. But to each their own! Find what u like and keep on keepin on!
I’m a big bourbon fan and for my value Eagle Rare 10 year has to be one of my top choices. Four Roses single barrel is very good and smooth. Bulliet is another good choice. All under $50 and very good.
I like four Roses. And Bulliet.
Bulleit gets overlooked way to often, good to see it here. Buffalo Trace should be on here.
I like Bulleit... I've got both in my cabinet...
Meh
The fact that Buffalo Trace isn't even on this list completely discredits this list.
Yep. And Basil Haydens should not be that low on the list
My guess is that BT didn't make the list because it's too hard to find in many places. Whereas, all of those that did make the list are readily available.
@@xChemistryFTWx Hayden sucks dude, learn bourbon
Completely agree
agreed, and while I do like Woodford, if I'm in the store buying at this price point, I will buy go to Elijah Craig every time.
Everyone has a different take on bourbon...when you find your favorite, you know it.
*Lemmy* drank bourbon and coke.
Me, four roses small batch
Crown
I am a Scot and tend to go for a single malt whisky but over the last three years have sampled and really enjoyed
a few Bourbons. Out of the dozen or so I have bought, Woodford Reserve is my favourite by some margin. Delighted the
video also ranks it so favourably. Great in an Old Fashioned as well.
Woodford is fantastic but on if in the Uk then I'd argue Buffalo Trace better because its of equal quality but costs far less.
@@davidvarley1812it all depends on where you're from here in South Carolina you can pick up a liter of Buffalo Trace for 35 Woodford may be 37 or 38
@hastysardine1 here Buffalo Trace is about £20 to £25 while Woodfords is about £35 to forty. In the UK, most bars and restaurant type pubs will sell Woodford, and therefore, everyone knows about the brand. Buffalo Trace is only available at supermarkets and then only in a limited number of bottles.
Evan Williams is absolutely GO-TO!.
It is clear that the people who made this list did not actually try any of these or anything else.
Best post so far. Exactly.
Right!
I recently tried Makers Mark for the first time and it tasted pretty good. Going to try Woodford next.
I really enjoy makers mark and knob creek,...but Woodford is a step up. I don't think you will be disapointed.
Try the Woodford double Oaked. Mighty tasty 😋
My very first Whiskey/Bourbon experience was by chance: Woodford Reserve. That was August 2020 and ever since I have bought 17 other, mainly Scotch but Woodford Reserve is still my favourite. I have finished the reverse and last week also the double oak. I have a closed bottle of Wheat and a Reserve.
I do have another 6 bottles that I never tasted, but till now it is still my number one.
17 others? Let me know when you throw a Bourbon party!
Highly recommend going to the distillery. If you do the tasting you get a sample straight from the barrel.
@@tslomka6272 ......the best part of that tour was the small of the rick house! my grandmother's kitchen never achieved that level of aroma.
I am a fan of the "Double Oaked".
Old Grand Dad is probably the best buy for the money, especially the bonded and 114. High proof, fantastic flavour, and a rich oily mouthfeel.
Buddy of mine was a bar tender in Chicago before covid. I asked him for advice on building a bar. He highly recommend old grand dad and aviation gin. Definitely buy both. I never tried gin in my life.
@@mrthomas7511 Gin ranges from "rubbing alcohol" to like a gorgeous perfume. Aviation is good but a little flat, I HIGHLY recommend you try "Bombay Saphire East" sometimes branded as "Far East". It's like a gorgeous perfume, so fragrant and light/delicate. It has this really juniper and pepper forward smell and taste, you'll love it. Try mixing it with Fever Tree tonic and you'll like it even more. Start with just half an ounce of it in a glass with tons of ice and tonic water, then you'll adapt to that beautiful fragrant flavour and taste. The other best option if you can't find that is Tanqueray, a beautifully citrus tasting gin that's still very oily and fragrant.
@@JoshChristiane I appreciate your response! I will highly look into this idea Saturday.
@@mrthomas7511 Hope you enjoy it! :D
Absolutely correct. Have both in the cabinet right now. The giant bung hole of the 114, it just screams put the Bourbon in My belly.
Lemmy was known for Jack Daniel’s. They even made a bottle in his name.
Jack ain't bourbon, it's whiskey.
@Houston Paul It's not bourbon. It's Sour Mash Whiskey.
Indeed a jack n coke Is even refered to as a Lemmy 🤘
Buy in bulk he used to say 🥃
@Houston Paul Yep. Bourbon in whiskey out.
When I started drinking bourbon the first one I tried was Evan Williams and couldn't really find a reason to drink anything else. I've tried a few others since then, but taste and value always bring me back.
Their bottled in bond is worth a try too. Great stuff
@@jeffsnoddy1969 That's the white label, great stuff!
Dude I have had White Label Jim BIM mixed with Coke,that shit is good.
Hey, when you find a whisky you like, there's only one thing to do. Drink it!
@@MesaperProductions No doubt about it, I didn't really discover bourbon until I was in my forties. I mostly drank Jack Daniels and Crown Royal, but after I got a bottle of bourbon I was like, what the hell have I been drinking all these years?!
I feel like this list failed to include Jim Beam Devil's Cut, and that's a bit of a shame. It's a fantastic whiskey. One of my favorite bourbons.
Absolutely, as well as black label Beam wich I just tasted for the first time New years eve,very tasty and smooth
@@leebaldwin6015 Jim Beam Black is one of my favorites.
Both my favorites devils cut and black
.....it was really cool to watch this video and realize i've been in many if not most of those rooms!
Woodford Reserve Double Oaked and their Rye are my two favorites.
Jim Beam white label gets the job done just fine. Find it anywhere. Priced right.🥃👌🏻
I drink a lot of bourbon, and have tasted all those you reviewed. And more. In the 'pure Jim Beam' line, I like Jim Beam Black. But I've become a Evan Williams fan over the past several months. Makes a great Manhattan or Old Fashion,. and a very tasty Mint Julep!
Yep,I agree. Evan William Black is a great value. Don’t tell anyone else around here.
In my opinion if your mixing your bourbon your a mixed drink drinker a bourbon drinker enjoys it neat.
I was surprised that my favorite Bourbon rated so high. I do know that when you say Evan Williams many turn up their nose. However in blind served neat taste tests most of "those folks" always seem to say "now that's a good sipping whisky!'. I very much agree with this video on the hugely overrated Jim B. If I wanted my whisky watered down I prefer to do that myself. I admit I'm a Neat drinker of Bourbon and do not mix it with anything and prefer my drink at room temperature. I enjoy a heavy Stout beer also at room temperature........probably just be me. One very nice Bourbon that I drink when I can find it is Buffalo Trace. Trace is nice but no more complex than Evan Williams. I've tried a bunch of Bourbons and over paid (IMO) for a lot of them. I'm extremely happy with a three finger full tumbler of E.W. in the late evening scanning thru RUclips videos or something on TV of interest. Just my $.02
Love the Bulleit for an every day kind of bourbon. I couldn't agree more of your assessment.
Try Angel's Envy. This list is ok but you're missing a lot of great bourbons. Buffalo Trace is great for the price.
Buffalo Trace definitely belongs on this list, and closer to top than bottom.
I like both of those as well.
Basil Hayden dark rye is so damn smooth. My absolute favorite
Not even a mention of Buffalo Trace ? Evan Williams "New" 1783 much more enjoyable and @ 90 pf but usually WT101 beats all the budget offerings.
Not only didn't they mention Buffalo Trace, but the bourbons mentioned were all heavy on the rye portion of the mash bill. BT is wheated and right now, (tastes seemingly change overnight) wheated bourbons are in. I was in the Tampa Bay area last year where the liquor store I frequent was having a party because they found some Buffalo Trace and limited the sales to two bottles per customer. I really like BT, but I've never seen it treated like Pappy.
I'm glad I read your reply because it save me 9 min. of my life. No mention of Buffalo Trace shows this is nothing more than snobs thinking rather than knowing...
@@antares8281 Buffalo trace does have a wheated mash bill but it is not used for 80% of their products. Pappy and Weller lines are the only Buffalo Trace products that contain wheat in the mashbill.
I havent been able to find it since 2017
Bar was out of Bulliet the other night for my Old Fashioned and Buffalo Trace was recommended. Will be adding it to my shelf very soon. Am a fan!
I've tried almost all of the bourbons on this list plus a lot more expensive ones; Woodford Reserve keeps rising to the top of my list.
Their double casked is very nice!
@@alejandroleguizamo7722 double Oaked? Yeah. That's the one I love
I don’t really like woodford reserve. It’s on my shelf and I almost never reach for it
Woodford is seriously good, and I love the cask influence as is. I do like oak but feel that bourbon as is already has such aggressive barrel influence, I almost feel it’s too much to double it
It’s pretty damn good. Love the double oaked!
A poker friend 10 years ago gave me a bottle of Rebel Yell bourbon for hosting a poker tournament. I have to tell you that it was 100% Great! I have since purchased this bourbon a number of times. It is smooth and great tasting. I like to sit back on my deck on our pond with a cigar at night and a glass or two or three go great with a cigar or two or three. I am really enjoying your video on bourbon tonight as I sit back with a glass and cigar. Shalom
Find a bourbon you like. Drink it. Remember: Tulip bulbs, Pet Rocks, Beanie Babies, and Pokemon Cards were all the rage once, too.
Pokemon cards still are tho. Esp the older ones
My pet rocks are priceless now!
I am definitely a bourbon nerd, and have worked for multiple distilleries, so grain of salt there. However, this video came off really half assed to me.
I wouldn’t have included bourbons brands who don’t own their own distilleries. Also Maker’s is not a Jim Beam product. They are owned by the same parent company, but that’s it.
Old Grand Dad Bottled In Bond is probably my favorite bottle regularly found under $30.
As a WildTurkey101 and a MakersMark guy since college(70s), recently discovered JimBean “BLACK”(extra aged).
It is FANTASTIC. Not as sweet as Turkey, regular JimBeam or Makers. Very smooth, not too bold, and not so sweet.
A true Bourbon taste. Priced right.
Jim Beam black gives me bad hangovers. I'll stick with Maker's Mark
Both Wild Turkey 101 and the Jim Beam Black Label series (Double Oaked, Extra Aged) are new to me as of this past year (2021) and they are excellent. Maker's Mark is just an all around excellent bourbon and an 'easy sipper' if ever there was one. If you like these, be sure and try Evan Williams Black Label. It punches way above its class when it comes to nose, taste and drinkability.
Black Label was my first regular after white label, and it was WAY better, but I try to stay at 100 proof.
@@Joe_J-MT_Boy Jim beam black and maker's Mark are two of my favorites
I started drinking bourbon when I was 14 years old my all-time favorite is Wild Turkey 101 it has a sweet taste to me.
Biggest miss here on this list is evan williams single barrel. Wonderful bourbon. Better than most $100 bourbons ive tried. Eagle rare climbs my list fairly high as well
Oh I was so looking forward to blasting away for how great welller, vanwinkle etc etc but thank goodness you left these unicorns out. They have no place in affordable available whiskey. The most ridiculous useless reviews are those Buffalo trace brands and the extremely overpriced ($2000) junk out there. Thank you for being honest and sane in this review.
In Nova Scotia our booze is EXPENSIVE so Evan Williams is my new go to!
I have learned not to always trust Mashed reviews and to rarely trust them when it comes to alcohol and this episode is no exception. There are a number of MUCH better sources for bourbon reviews!
Yeah, this seems to be a list of lower, if not bottom-shelf offerings.
The point was to rate the best selling bourbons, which these all are. Of course there are a million sources out there, this was just a specific topic.
Old Forester is ahead of most ranked here.
No
yes, they missed A LOT. It looks like they just ranked the best selling bourbon. How we're Woodford and Bullitt so high?!?
@@lukea.907 Woodford and Bulleit are my husband's favorites. I like Four Roses.
@@Remember_when I like both Woodford and Bulleit. Bulleit is my daily and at Costco the big bottle is the still cheaper than a 750ml of anything comparable.
Don't Woodford Reserve and Old Forester use the same mash bill?
The Woodford Double Oaked is one I get every holiday for sipping neat, Evan Williams is great as a mixer, and Bulleit Rye makes an amazing old fashioned or sour
Rye isn’t a bourbon, though.
My Dad absolutely loves this. I have one upstairs ready for Christmas for him👍
@@infidelheretic923 i know Bulleit Rye isn't a bourbon but personally I prefer their Rye over their bourbon in old fashioned or sours
Try bulleit rye with orange bitters for a nice change
Right on!
Woodsford Reserve Double Oak is the best Bourbon i've ever had. I did a blind taste test with 12 top notch bourbons and my favorite came out to be the Double Oak. Still to this day it packs the most flavor and perfect neat or over Ice.
Buffalo Trace, Heaven Hill and Old Forester should all be on that list!
Its A Mashed list. They pretty much just google Shit and dont fact check much. I just watched a fast food in every state one fast food place they listed didnt even exist in the state.
Jim Bean is for Beginners. I Still Like It.
As a beginner, I like it too
@@mothballs Touche', (smile)
As a retired cooperage employee of 40 plus years, the care and pride that goes into the bourbon process means to me, ENJOY what you like.
Four roses, especially the single barrel deserves a much higher place
Even the small batch is good
I completely agree, I would take it over quite a few of these.
Evan Williams has been around for a long time and is a great buy.
I agree. I'd grab Four Roses Single Barrel over all of these, except for maybe a couple of Wild Turkey's products.
@@jackkatzman1116 Evan Williams doesn't even come close to Four Roses though.
I've tried them all... (1) Eagle Rare (2) Old Forester (3) Double Cask Woodford (4) Knob Creek Small Batch. (5) 1792
I can't really find better. Maker's Mark is also decent. Never get wild turkey (except rare breed), jim bean, and especially NOT bulleit.
Obviously, there are more expensive kinds that I didn't mention in my list.
Eagle rare for the win imo, knob creek was a let down
I prefer the regular Woodfords to the double barrel. I found the double barrel to be a little overpowering, and too much of a "tobacco" feel. Rare Breed is fantastic, I love barrel strength bourbon over ice, and just let the ice melt a little. I am in Australia, and have often been told that the range of bourbon available here is bigger than the U.S.A., is the Old Forester you rate at 2 the 12 year old? I have had that and it was like liquid velvet.
@@dashamanstevo5326 How would the range of bourbon in Australia be bigger than in the US when all bourbon is literally made in the US?
@@red5standingby419 I had serious doubts about the statement myself when it was said to me. What I have noticed in the comments of various bourbon videos I have seen is it seems there are access issues between states for different brands in the US. This may be what the person was referring to, In Australia, the access to different brands and their stables seem to be uniform across the country. The more I watch these videos, the more I realize hey hang on, we get a very narrow selection of the good stuff here. (we also get lower proof whiskeys. Beam white label is only 37%/74 proof in Aus due to the Excises paid on ethanol content - its shit). Knowing what I now know after watching several more vids, I ask myself the same question.
Got news for you. Knob Creek is made by the same people that make Jim Beam! At the same distillery too.
Russell's Reserve 10yr Bourbon.Seems to be gaining in popularity. Heard guy talking about it in store I work in. A couple other guys bought it. Now it seems to have taken off a bit. Its funny watching old guys running from parking lot to store when they hear the store has some hard to get bourbons. Its like an adult Cabbage Patch Doll craze.
I used to LOVE bourbon, but I loved it and other booze a little too much and quit drinking for two years. Once I could drink responsibly, I couldn’t WAIT to have a glass of whiskey, but was horrified to find that I now hated my prior favorite libation! The only bourbons I can genuinely enjoy nowadays are Wild Turkey Rare Breed, Buffalo Trace, and Bulleit. Thank the gods I never lost my taste for Scotch, particularly the Islays. I’ve learned now that there’s SO much more to be discovered in the world of single-malt whisky than ANY bourbon could ever provide.
I started with single malt scotches and couldn’t abide bourbons. Now my pallet has shifted and I like bourbons, but scotches not so much. Walking out of my market in California, I saw the Macallan 18 was over $400 and Macallan 12 (my favorite Macallan) was over $100! Buffalo Trace was under $20 on sale, Benchmark was around $20 in the huge bottle and $11 for 750ml in a glass bottle. Benchmark is now my “go to” bourbon.
@@donelmore2540 Yeah, it is ridiculously expensive, so I don’t enjoy it terribly often. My favorite by a MILE is Laphroaig Quarter Cask, which is WAY cheaper than a lot of (in my opinion and for my palate) much less impressive and interesting whiskies. I think I gave roughly 75 or 80 dollars for my last bottle, but that was several months ago, I know certain Scotches got way more expensive for a while recently but they may have gone back down by now, I don’t know. I’m not ashamed to admit that I regularly enjoy a few Johnnie Walker Black Labels with a splash of soda and a twist of lime, too, there’s nothing wrong with blended Scotch or Scotch cocktails in my opinion. Good single-malts I tend to have with just a few drops of water or neat. I used to like bourbon with a single ice cube and sometimes also a splash of soda.
Bourbon is one thing, but Islay Scotch is the nectar of the gods!(especially Ardbeg)
Woodford reserve is my go to when it comes to bourbons. If I want to fork out and go for broke, Bakers, or Blantons uncut straight from the barrel. Bakers and Blantons uncut are high proof, hot and best sipped over ice. Allow the ice to melt a little to open up a whole world of caramel, vanilla oak and butterscotch spiciness. I am in Australia, so Woodfords retails for around AU$60-70 depending on the store. Bakers and Blantons uncut you are looking at AU$ 130 - 170 and at selected retailers. They can be a little difficult to find.
There was no mention of how they taste while coming back up. I find the Jim Beam to have a acidic/burning flavor coming up while the Even Willies comes up much easier. I had some Oban once. That sh*t was so good I drank it twice.
I got 2 free Woodford minis on a plane as an "I'm sorry" for a long delay. I hadn't tried bourbon neat before and was really pleased. Glad to see it so high.
My favorite cheap bourbon is Buffalo Trace great price with a nice bite!!! 🤤
Well, these rankings are all just a matter of taste, eh?
An entry level bourbon list that doesn't have Buffalo Trace on it? Obviously they're just going for views and not making a real list.
100% agree with this statement
Both Buffalo Trace and Elijah Craig should be on this list. Maybe Old Forester as well.
Looks like they're excluding allocated bourbon off this list. Which is for the better since it's getting more expensive/harder to find in a lot of the country.
@@danielshankula9054 As far as allocations go, Buffalo Trace is still relatively easy to find.
@@Vortex1988sure it's easier to find from an allocation standpoint but you still have to go hunting in most states and know when the drop off day is. The fact that the rest of the bourbons on the list are readily available no matter what state you're in, allows anybody and everybody just getting into bourbon to start trying some of these, and at some point or another they'll probably be introduced to the BT hype train.
When I drink bourbon, it's either shots or cocktails. It's always Jim Beam.
I discovered Buffalo Trace a few years ago and really like it. Near our house in Texas, it’s gone off the shelf the day it comes in. That same shop turned me on to Benchmark, which they said, is made by the Buffalo Trace Distillery, but the whiskey maker didn’t think it made the cut. So they renamed it Benchmark and they blow it out. It’s really nice at about $20 for a huge bottle (plastic) and $11 for a 750ml glass bottle. It is a fine sipping whiskey. And I have had virtually every whiskey on the list.
My wife and I love Buffalo Trace. It’s readily available up here in Alberta, but a 750 costs us around $34.cdn.
Buffalo Trace is the best bourbon I have ever had and, best thing, it's cost benefit is great. If I want a great scotch, I get a Glenlivet.
@@rafaelfernandes1853 Well, you should try Eagle Rare, then.
I loved Buffalo Trace but can't find it anymore (in Texas)
@@SB-qm5wg Skip’s liquor in New Braunfels supposedly gets it, but it’s gone the same day. Maybe you could get on their call list?
I like the use of high-end alcoholic phrases such as "workday liquor" and "everyday liquor"
they missed alot of stuff on this list that is better than most of these. the issue is that they are trying to stay on a low price point. Buffalo Trace will blow almost all these away. And if you know your bourbons there is alot better things out there for the price point of Woodford
Agree on Buffalo Trace. Elijah Craig also. I guess they wanted to keep it incredibly simple.
AGREE!
Agreed, however here in Florida I can't seem to get Buffalo Trace and when I do the good thing is its price point at $28 for 7:50... just just received a birthday gift of Widow Jane 10 year old. If you're interested in something different try it
@@wesleyburke7514 it's amazing to me that you can't find Buffalo Trace in Florida when I can go to my local off-licence (liquor store) and pick up a bottle for about €30 in Ireland.
I'm going to Florida next year and I'm hoping to pick up Elijah Craig small batch which is harder to find here and can go for about €55 - €60+
@@M0J0jojo I was at the liquor store on Friday Elijah Craig was readily available. At this particular liquor store I have to ask the salesperson if they have Buffalo Tace hidden behind the counter . Sometimes they do but most of the times they don't. Safe travels for your trip to America
Woodford Reserve is my favorite for sure!
Woodford Reserve has always been my favorite, but I usually drink Evan Williams because it's 1/4 the cost. I'm surprised and pleased that my two go-to's are so high on this list. I've always loved bourbon but have never considered myself an aficionado. Maybe I'm a better judge than I thought.
I started drinking bourbon with Evan Williams because of the price. I'm not an expert so to my taste it felt great. I opened a big smile when I saw it on this list, I thought it was mocked by the expert community
@@brunoalc5422, Yep, who knew?
Evan Williams Single Barrel is quite on par with Woodford Reserve in my book, but it surely isn't 1/4 of the latter's price. Rather, it' costs about 80 percent of Woodford. Currently, Total Wine is selling EW SB for $27.5 and WR - for $29.99.
@@sashole1 In Brazil, Woodford its actually cheaper than Evan Williams Single barrel
@@brunoalc5422 Well, perhaps in Brazil there's more demand for Evan Williams Single Barrel or maybe it's just more scarce. But if I were from/in Brazil, it would not upset me a bit since I love Woodford every single bit as much. By the way, if you are from Brazil, is there a type of spirit that is considered a national trademark? Sort of like bourbon in the US, Żubrówka in Poland, vodka in Russia, etc.? Rum, probably?
I know Jack Daniels insists it's a Tennese whisky but in reality it is the world most popular bourbon and Jim Beam is a close second.
I had to look it up. There are 5 requirements to be Bourbon. First, it has to be made in the U.S. Contrary to popular belief it doesn't have to be from Kentucky, but 95% of Bourbon is. Next, aging must be done in new, charred oak barrels. Next, the mash must be 51% corn. Next, the whiskey cannot enter the barrel at higher than 125 proof, and cannot be bottled at less than 80 proof. Finally, nothing can be added other than water to change the proof. No color, no flavor as with other whiskeys. Bourbon must be completely natural in color and flavor.
Tennessee whiskey is bourbon
@mrchilli5618 not according to the United States Congress. Under the law of the United States of America, Tennese whisky cannot be defined as Bourbon. Its due to the bad reputation of Bourbon in the 1960's and seventies.
Bourbon was then considered a inferer style of whisky.
Jack Daniels didn't want its global reputation being undermined and went to the United States Congress and got them to stop it from being called a Bourbon. Today Bourbon as a great reputation and this piece of legislation seems weird given that it is in a none legal sense a Bourbon.
@@davidvarley1812 actually the only difference between the two, in the case of say, Jack Daniels is a part of the filtration process which is not defined by law. It meets all the legal requirements to be called bourbon as set forth by Congress.
Oh and under trade agreements approved by Congress Tennessee Whiskey is legally defined as bourbon.
In a world where people are now taught to believe that beer should taste like grapefruit juice I can't really count on anyone else to tell me what bourbon I should be drinking.
Beam is hands down better than Jack. The white label is fantastic and I can only drink Jack in Coke 'cause it's way to syrupy-way more than Beam
@C B Tenessee whiskey is a subcategory of bourbon. The only difference in categories (besides place of production) is the "Lincoln County process," i.e., charcoal filtering
Honestly, I love Basil Hayden when I want a smooth bourbon. I can't stand Jim Beam, a single shot will give me hangover, plus it has a mop water aftertaste. The only thing worse is Canadian Mist, gives me a lot of time on the throne. But as someone stated, I think this varies a lot with personal taste, best one is probably the one you personally like.
same, I love Basil Hayden and Jim Beam even Makers Mark give me really bad headaches. Which was weird to see it at the bottom. I guess to each their own.
@@michaelscott181 Yeah, I would compare it to a Philly cheese steak vs pizza... they are both amazing, but personal preferences will pull people one way or the other
Blantons bourbon by far is the best I’ve had lately out of all the ones that you talked about
Try weller 12 year
Buffalo Trace...consistent, smooth, and great flavor...at a wonderful price point...tough to beat.
Russell's 10 all day over BT. The problem with BT is that you can't find it everywhere or it's allocated.
Touche'.
@ItsStillRealToMe DamnIt Hence, the comment about liking Russell's 10 more than BT. Russell's is $20 here. BT is hard to come by and is $30. If BT was $20-23 and easy to find, it would be good for sure, but not Russell's 10 good. WRDO is $33 here and I'd take that over 1920 for the price alone. Granted, 1920 is better, but it's $60.
@ItsStillRealToMe DamnIt IMO, there are a lot of quality bourbons in the $20-30 range (Knob Creek, Woodford, 4R, OGD114, 101 to name a few). I think that the secondary market has had people chase names and think that quality comes with price. As you said, Weller should be easier to find and it's honestly not worth more than MSRP. I've seen Weller go for $200-500 here. The same would apply to the other BT offerings (Blantons, EHT, etc). Not bad stuff, but not worth much over MSRP. I'll take a Knob Creek Store Pick, JDBP or 4R SR all day in the $50 range vs hunting for any of those "unicorns."
Great descriptions on why you like or didn’t like it. What you rated low might be what someone prefers. I sold wine for 33 years and appreciated your explanations. I would call the first couple selections the Pinot Grigio of bourbon.
Canadian whisky is rye whisky, Being Canadian the reason I prefer Bourbon is because of the sweetness. This commentator seemed to prefer the Bourbons that used lots of rye and had the typical rye spiciness. If I wanted rye spiciness I'd drink my native whiskies instead. Of the limited selection available in Canada I like the Four Roses.
i am also canadian and honestly dont care much for canadian whiskey. too soft to mellow no flavors. my favorite was weisers small batch but they dont make it any longer. where as a good bourbon is like a bar fight in your face and full of drama. sweet vanilla woody cherry and also the low end grunt like a punch to the face. guess thats why i love single malt and bourbon so much, they are not afraid of strong flavors.
@@zomgz932 There's a Canadian brand called Pendleton's (which I think is actually bottled in the US.). It's pretty nice. That said, my favorite whiskies are from Islay, so I'm not a big fan of Canadian whisky. Nice to have something easy around for guests who don't enjoy bar fights, though.
@@mikestewart505 yea i am also partial to a good islay. Quarter cask is my fave it used to be cheap( not any more) it was young enough to not loose any of that peat but old enough to not be harsh.
Devils cut is another great one as well as double barrel Jim beam
Old Crow didn’t even make the list? Try a blind comparison with several top brands. You will be pleasantly surprised. Old Crow is smooth and leaves a pleasant aftertaste. My favorite for many years!
For stripping wallpaper, it can't be beaten.
Old Crow is Jim Beam white label mash bill aged for 3 years. Probably a higher cask strength also.
Bulleit is super smooth and at 90 proof, it's my preference over Makers at this price point. I had some Old Forrester recently and was shocked how good it was. It's not at a lot of stores here in SoCal.
Old Forester is a stunningly good bourbon straight or mixed. Easily priced at a third of its output.
Just had some. An excellent bourbon.
I am 76 years old, and I'm pretty sure that when I first started drinking that Bourbon had to be a) distilled in Kentucky, and b) had to be made of corn only, no rye, wheat, or rice allowed. You could always find Jack Daniels and George Dickel in the bourbon section at the liquor store, even though they were technically "Tennessee Sippin' Whiskey". My Dad, Grandad, and Sister all pounded Jim Beam, while I was a black Jack guy. Had to give it up some years ago for health reasons, but I can still remember the taste!
Those are " sour mash whiskey.
I am only 63, but I am certain you are incorrect on both a and b. and c too, jack Daniel's and George Dickel are BOTH technically "bourbon", but most bourbons are NOT technically Tennessee Whiskey. Your welcome, or sorry, whichever applies.
Try 1792 Small Batch
No such thing as the worst bourbon. It's all subjective. Where are all my magnificent bastards at???
Well there are some bad ones on here but some of these folks don't even know what bourbon is (or isn't) MB right here !
My 4 favorite bourbons (in no particular order) are:
1) Angel's Envy
2) Bulleit
3) Evan Williams
4) 1792 Small Batch
I'll try the Wild Turkey 101 and Woodford Reserve as I have heard positive things about them.
Don't waste your money on WT 101,Nobe Creek 100 proof is a lot better.
You probably won’t be disappointed in either of those whiskies. Cheers.
I love Angel's Envy
@@JorgeGonzalez-sm9ld 🥃😉👌🏼
@@kennethhulsebus7194 I've seen good reviews with Knob Creek. As for WT 101, maybe that's why it was in the 2004 Punisher movie as it probably tasted like a punishment. 😄
I'm still curious enough to want to try like a small bottle of it though.
Bulleit over Wild Turkey, Knob Creek, and Four Roses? Who the hell wrote this?
Exactly what I thought. Bulliet is a marketing scheme...
All a matter of taste….
Have gone from the top shelf to the bottom and Evan Williams has become my favorite. I keep a bottle of black label and apple in my selection at all times. So smooth and delicious.
With a bar of over 60 whiskeys, mostly bourbon I can tell you whoever made this list knows nothing about bourbon.
It's because they are using price point as one of their criteria. You palate probably likes $100+ bottles of bourbon.
@@Remember_when True, but there are many $40-$60 bottles that are just as good if not better.
Buffalo Trace! Great brand and a damn good Bourbon. Shawn.
Of the bourbons discussed, I can't disagree with any of these rankings. There are others, however. WT and Knob are my favorites. I wouldn't rate Evan Williams that high, and I would rank Jim Beam 12th on a list of 10.
Evan Williams shouldn’t even be on this list I was shocked
Buffalo Trace should be here. It fits in with the price points of these whiskeys and is very sought after where I live. In terms of the whiskeys they talk about, I've tried them all and the list isn't too far from how I would rank them. A little tweak here and there but not a bad review.
Buffalo Trace and most of its products are difficult to get outside of a few areas. Even the base product gets held back by store owners for its special stock in the back. I think that is why these lists just don’t include them.
where would you rank Buffalo Trace in this list?
I was amazed when I found a bottle of it.
I like my 10 year old bottled in bond McKenna, Blanton's, Widdow Jane and Angel's Envy to name a few.
Jim Beam white label is the root note of "oaky" bourbons. It's simple, familiar, and constant. There are more complex bourbons, and there are more simple bourbons, but to rate Jim Beam "worst" when millions of people choose it every year says more about the people doing the rating, than what is being rated.
Jim Beam white label is definitely the worst on this list.
It's just a word. It's #10 on the list.
Still... taste test Beam vs Knob Creek, for instance. Beam is rough, palpably rough, compared to a smooth spirit like Knob Creek. I know, because one day I stopped after work and all they had was Beam. Then I drove five minutes and had a KC.
Knob Creek was vastly smoother and much more enjoyable. No contest.
Unfortunately best-selling and good rarely go hand in hand. Just look at the top 10 best-selling beers in the world. There isn't one I'd feed to a dog I didn't like on the list. ;)
I hate Jim Beam because it almost killed me back in 1987. OYE! Can't stomach the stuff anymore and wont give the Beam a second chance to seal my fate :-)
Beam is an outstanding value bourbon
I have the wild turkey 101 here and although I never drank Sunlight.. this Bourbon tastes like soap.
Wild Turkey, the Mad Dog 20/20 of bourbon.
Where does Larceny rate among these ??
You missed the best bourbons
Woodford Reserve (for my budget) - Blantons (for extremely special occasions - just ordered a bottle for my bro-in-law's birthday!)
I have tried all but 2 bourbons on this list. Basil Hayden’s feels a touch too low, other than that I feel like it is a good ranking. How could I argue when 2 of my favorites are #1 and #3. I would also recommend Knob Creek Single Barrel. Thank you for the list. I am going to have to try Evan Williams and Wild Turkey 101 now.
Go for the white label. Evan Williams 101 is my daily driver.
i like 101 but i like 101 rye better got the last 2 bottles yesterday. sure hope he can get more in.
Woodford reserve and Buffalo trace are my fav
I think this was a well described reasoning for each ranking. While I may not rank this list the same way exact way, that's based on my personal taste. Wild Turkey Rare Breed, has always been under rated in my opinion.
I'd like to see some of the higher tier bourbons ranked, so the arguing can begin.
The problem is that the rankings would almost be reversed for people who actually drink bourbon.
I enjoy the EW BiB. Personally I would put Maker's Mark over any Knob Creek. I would substitute any of the Old Forester Whiskey Row series over Woodford Reserve, except their Double Oaked. Jim Beam was my first bourbon BTW, and I never could understand the desire to drink it. In the not a bourbon category, but brand listed, my favorite rye is Bulleit.
For the money, these are all very good choices.
I don’t care, I like Jim Beam!
I am no expert but Knob Creek is about the best i've had. Bulliet bourbon is pretty good but Bulliet rye is great stuff!
Knob Creek is my favorite too... If you haven't tried their Smoked Maple I highly recommend... I also use it when making my pancake syrup for maple bourbon favor 😋😋
I'll take Eagle Rare over any of these
Beam is like the F-150 of the Bourbon world. Cheaper for a reason. And Makers Mark has a totally unrefined sharp taste, almost like it isn't even aged at all. I have always liked a Sour Mash Whiskey better than a straight Bourbon Whiskey for that reason. Bourbon always tastes "unfinished" to me.
It's all like kerosene.
Angels Envy and Elijah Craig were left off this list but are excellent choices for bourbons. Of course everyone has their own favorite based on their taste buds. Whatever your is just enjoy.
There is no bad bourbon, only better bourbon.
But angels envy deserves a slot on any favorite
I like Jim beam. And alot of others.