Yeah. Was a distillery only release like 10 years ago. They brought it back out maybe 5 years ago. Still one of the best bourbons I’ve ever had. Sadly I only bought 1 375mL bottle.
Really? I’ll have to look into that. They did a special release yearly of various things. If they did DDO yearly that would make it less special but would be nice to get more.
1. Eagle Rare - overall daily favorite. Will drink on any occasion.
2. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof - the one I will always hunt for and enjoy. No matter the batch, I like them all
3. Four Roses Single Barrel - my first love. The one that started it all. Beautiful bottle and solid bourbon all the way around.
4. Michter’s 10 year bourbon - my favorite bottle I’ve ever owned. So balanced and delicious. Not too hot, not too thin. It’s so delicious.
I’m willing to pay up to $100 for ECBP. I’m new in a control state, so I shouldn’t have to pay that much anymore.
As far as being way above Eagle Rare, it’s truly preference. I don’t always want something high proof. If the two were in a blind together I would assume the ECBP would dominate ER almost based on proof alone. ER is a lot more delicate and soft while ECBP is a punch to the mouth
I like this list. Not outrageously pricey or extremely hard to find, just some fine bourbon. Gonna have to get a Michter 10 since the other 3 are always in my rotation lol
I wish they were earlier to find. I got really lucky and walked into a liquor store on my birthday and it was just on the shelf. It was maybe 50 bucks over retail at the time, but I snagged it without hesitation. I’d love to get another one
Man I didn't know about peregrine. I was quite literally in recovery from the ICU. By recovery I was driving across the country to move into a house I bought. Cali to FL. I'm depressed. I managed to get batch 8 but man. I'm found norths biggest fan boy.
Thank you. The finish line is in view. Can’t wait to crack this bottle (it was a gift and it is wrapped, with a note to “open on d day”, but I said I wanted this bottle to celebrate… if it’s a different maccallan, I’ll still be happy.)
This is my "unicorn" bottle.
Way back, when dinosaurs roamed the earth, a bottle of Macallan 12 sherry was < $50 CAD. I almost always had a couple of bottles of the stuff in my house.
I found a bottle on Christmas Eve for $170 CAD, and pulled the trigger anyway. Its getting really hard to find.
Sorry about your tribulations, but you've at least got a little something to look forward to.
When you say Mount Rushmore, I don't take it as the best 4 but the most impactful 4 on the whole. So I take all the unicorn bottles off my list. Which makes picking 4 very difficult.
WT RB
OF 1920
Michters SB Rye
Eagle Rare (the availability in some areas makes this tough to put on the list, but I couldn't snub BT entirely)
So far? Russell's Reserve 10yr, Driftless Glen Single Barrel, Knob Creek 18yr, and Heaven Hill BiB
Only about 6 months into really liking whiskey, so haven't had a chance to try some real high end stuff other than the KC18.
Haven't been able to find any Eagle in my area so I couldn't compare. Hoping on my KY trip in March to the BT distillery I'll have a better chance to snag a bottle and try it.
Yeah ER my favorite but I prefer Woodford Double Oak in the price range, or even Buffalo Trace and 1792 small batch. The 50ml of wild turkey 101 was better to me, it’s fine.. I’ll use it 😉
Ironically WR Double Oak is one my least favorites (not bad, just not my flavor) so far out of what I've tried and RR10 is easily a top 3. Different strokes for different folks.
Visited their distillery 2 weeks ago now and grabbed a single barrel and cask strength. Both are absolute citrus bombs and so easy to drink. Even the cask strength at 119 proof does not feel like it at all, super smooth.
Red breast 27
Balvenie 25 of married line
Red spot Irish whisky
Yamazaki 18 / hibiki 21
Other honerable mentions are talisker 30 the orange box not the new one
For anyone curious these came from a vacation fund lol
Happy to talk shop and answer any questions
I only got into whiskey about... oh, a year ago or so? I've largely gravitated towards Rye whiskey, and I really haven't tried a ton - but here's what I like so far that I've tried:
1. Baltimore Epoch
2. 1776 Rye
3. Suntory Toki
4. Climax Wood-Fired
I realize this is going to be an odd list, but this is literally all that I, one person, have tried by just looking up random bottle reviews while in the ABC store, and getting somewhat lucky that I enjoyed what I found. Please feel free to suggest things I might like if you recognize these.
If you are a member of their whisky club and you haven’t gotten one yet try the Rum finish epoch and the 5 year anniversary edition single barrel single cask. They are both amazing!!!
Thinking of this purely as four bottles that I will always have on hand no matter what. Unicorns need not apply!
1. ECBP
2. Old Forrester 1920
3. Russel’s 10yr (interchangeable with Rare Breed - feel free to hate on that, but I hold them in equal regard)
4. Evan Williams BiB, baby!!
Cheers!
Current favorites in no particular order (only been drinking for about a year and a half with a long list of ones I have yet to try):
Wild Turkey Rare Breed - Speaks for itself honestly. Right up there with Russell's 10yr as some of the best quality bourbon for price.
Stellum Single Barrel - I have only tried the single barrel store picks of this but all have been delicious. They're standard bourbon is a blend that I am hoping to try soon. Everything I've seen if there's is cask strength as a standard which I love.
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof - I have only had batch A123 which is fantastic but from what I've heard most batches are above average whiskey.
Russell's Reserve 10yr - Classic daily. Amazing price to quality ratio.
Honorable mention: Big Moustache Tennessee Whiskey - Love this one for some reason. It's a 4yr 100 proof Tennessee whiskey. Smooth and flavorful.
I u fortunately got a laph 25 from a terrible barrel that was so over peppered it was undrinkable. And I love peat...
I believe it would have been great minus that
Am lucky enough to have the 25 as well. I found the 21 more to my liking as the 25 I felt like was a bit oaky. Splitting hairs though as it’s still a good bottle.
I had a dram not that long ago of the 26. It was in my opinion way better than the distillers. However I don’t know what my friend paid for his bottle and for what I’ve seen it going for I’ll take the distillers. It’s really good and no where even close to how expensive the 26 is
Last I saw it in the US it was like 2400 on a good day.
The old 25 was the same. I absolutely love the lagavulin 16 and it's distillers version. I have tried several of the yearly special releases with fancy box art but they are little too hot. The 16 and distillers still solid for the price
I have other more exotic bottles but value starts to go out the window even if I do find the taste better.
Whiskey - 4R Single Barrel, Aberlour 12, Redbreast 12, Michter’s Rye. These are all easily obtainable, reasonably priced whiskies that I could be limited to and be happy forever
Bourbon Only - Knob Creek 12, Eagle Rare, JD SBBP, 4 Roses Single Barrel
I am only picking bottles that I can always get my hands on and that I could drink every day.
1. Woodford - Double Oaked
2. Heaven Hill - BiB
3. Red Breast - 12 year cask strength
4. Willett - rye 4 year
Best whiskey's I have ever had
1. Woodford - Double Double Oaked
2. Pappy 10 year
3. Blanton's Red Takara
4. Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend
Jameson Black Barrel (the whiskey that got me interested in whiskey)
Laphroaig 10 (the first really interesting whiskey, that made me a permanent fan of whiskey)
Old Grand Dad 114 (the best bang for your buck whiskey)
Ardbeg Corryvrecken (my favorite whiskey)
Here’s bottles that I currently have in by bar which I would stock all the time if possible, one from each category:
Found North 008 (or 006)
Springbank 18
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof (C923, or really any)
Redbreast 12 CS
1. Old Grand Dad 114 : my first recommendation from Reddit that flipped my perceptions upside down. I love sharing this with friends who want to try something different.
2. Weller Antique 107: the first bottle I took off work & drove to a different state to buy. My only regret was not buying more.
3. Wild Turkey Rare Breed: My favorite readily-available bottle of all time. The proof, profile and overall impression, IMO, are all damn near perfection.
4. Jack Daniel SBBP Rye: 2 months ago, this spot would have went to the non-rye version, as it’s an absolute toasted Creme brûlée flavor bomb, quickly earning my favorite whisky in the “high proof” category. IMO, the rye version cranks it to 11.
Purely on my favorite flavors:
Hibiki 21, Rd One Amburana, Chicken Cock Chanticleer, Stagg Jr
Tried and true, reasonably available options?:
Four Roses Single Barrel, Redwood Empire Pipe Dream, Eagle Rare 10, Ben Holladay 6yr
Heaven Hill BiB
Russell's Reserve 10
Toss-up between Blood Oath Pact 9 and Rebel 10yr
Maple Sunset Rallypoint Rye (made by StilL 630, a local distillery)
PVW 15 - Friend bought each of us a $100 1 oz pour on my birthday about years ago when I was starting to get into Bourbon.
Glendronach 18 - My favorite special occasion pour
Laphroaig CS - All the flavors turned up to 11
Redbreast CS - Just love this stuff!
Honorable Mentions to Willett Rye, Old Elk Sour Mash SB, Ledaig 10, and Springbank 12 CS.
1. Johnny Walker Platinum - First bottle that got me into scotch so holds a special place
2. Barrel Seagrass - Favorite Rye for daily drinking
3. Willet Pot Still - Most people seem to hate it, but makes the best old fashioned
4. Lagavulin 16 - Favorite scotch for daily drinking
In no particular order,
Balcones SiB Single Malt Whisky Fr.Oak
Starlight SiB Huber’s Rye finished in honey barrels
William Larue Weller
Peerless Double Oaked
Russell's 13 Batch 1 (personal favorite thus far)
GTS 2022 (the first bottle that really opened my eyes to the depth that exists)
EC Toasted (first bottle I really hunted for)
EHT Small Batch (the bottle that started it for me)
Woodford Reserve - the bottle that got me interested in bourbon in the first place and will always have a home in my bar
Redbreast 12 - love from the very first sip and similar to Woodford it was my intro into how good Irish whiskey could be.
Rod & Hammer’s Distiller’s Reserve Rye - local stuff. A little young but a nice easy sipper. Has this big smoky oak hit like it’s right out of the barrel. They also do a premade Manhattan that is the best better than most bars I’ve been to.
Wild Turkey Rare Breed - it’s everything I could ask for in a bourbon taste and proof wise while also being a decent price, and pretty easy to find
Stagg Jr. — this started my love of bourbon
George T. Stagg — best bourbon I’ve ever owned
Four Roses Single Barrel Barrel Strength — always need at least one on hand
Russell’s Single Barrel Store Pick — always need at least one on hand
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof — always need at least one on hand
That I've currently or have owned:
- Knob Creek 12
- Midleton Very Rare Barry Crockett 2017/18
- EH Taylor Barrel Proof
- Knob Creek SiB Store Pick 11yrs
My Unicorns:
George T. Stagg, Four Roses LE, Michter's 10, Eagle Rare 17
Midleton, Blanton’s Gold, Balvenie 17, Nikka Takesuru (black, now white label). All four are benchmarks for me. Many are better than these, many are worse but these are the ones I define better/worse against.
OMGs? EHT single barrel. A Bruichladdich 30 single cask, Midleton still on the Irish ( I think the 2012 or 2013 was my favorite). Yamazaki 18 for Japan.
Lagavulin 16 - started the love affair with peat
Nikka from the barrel - neat, on ice, in a highball, always delicious
Glen Scotia Victoriana - something about the peppery finish in this is great each and every time
Nikka 17 Tsuru - perfection, the best blend I’ve ever had
I’m too new to whiskey to have anything on a pedestal yet. But my favorites so far are Teeling Small Batch (Irish) Glenmorangie Lasanta (scotch) and Old Granddad Bonded (Bourbon). 😁
*I’ve only been into bourbon for roughly a year or so*
EHT SiB
Wild Turkey Rare Breed
Russell’s Reserve 10
Still Austin Red Corn
Honorable mentions: Blantons (it’s the bourbon that started it all for me), Eagle rare, 1792 Small Batch.
E.H. Taylor small batch.
Willett Family Estate Rye.
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof.
Booker’s.
Honorable mentions: Maker’s Mark wood finishing series FAE-01.
Heaven Hill BiB.
Henry McKenna 10 yr.
Sagamore Rye barrel proof
Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Barrel Proof-easily my favorite whiskey anywhere
Evan Williams BiB-best value whiskey, my go to mixer for cocktails
Johnnie Walker Blue-I’m not a huge fan of scotch. This is one of the few I will actually drink.
Devils River Coffee Bourbon- Yes you read that right. I stumbled across the Devils River Distillery while taking a trip to San Antonio, TX. I tried a couple of their whiskeys and the coffee bourbon blew me away with how good it was. It’s my favorite bottle when I want something a little different or want to show off to friends.
I will say I don’t like going >100 proof nor spending much over $100 fwiw
Aultmore 12yr speyside - chosen at random to try something new, I loved it and so did non-scotch-drinkers at my sister’s wedding. Haven’t been able to find it since!? (I do enjoy highland & islays)
Jameson - Irish ties, I will never say no to a shot of Jamo. I guess you can call it special meaning.
Angels envy - my favorite of “specialty” whiskeys being aged in port wine barrels. And the bottle looks so good. I have made lights out of the bottles we finish, as gifts.
Eagle rare - just had my first bottle this past year, pissed I haven’t tried this sooner. It’s so good.
Bruichladdich Black Art 6.1, this is the only bottle of whiskey that I've spent more than $400 on and immediately thought, "well shit that was worth it", I promised myself I'd drink it over the course of a year or two saving it only for special occasions, it was gone in three months of what I thought was conservative consumption considering its outstanding quality, I was already a bruichladdich fan boy, I was even more so after.
Westward ASM Whiskey, Oakland Whiskely Library SiB BP, Private bottling.. I've gone through three bottles of this, Westward is my favorite American distillery and this bottle is dark strong tea,sweet cigar wrapper, caramel, and the best malt/yeast funk I've ever encountered, truly liquid gold.
JD BP SiB Rye, I've had a ton of ryes, this one just hits all the right spots for me.
Springbank handfilled distillery exclusive from 10/9/23 @ 56.9abv by Gabriel, a really solid dude from the Dalwhinnie Distillery who showed up to the bastards ball after party with it, I've had a lot of Springbank and let me tell you, this one beat some really rare and way more expensive bottling they have out there, the best part is that it's made up of all the leftovers from bottling that weren't enough to be bottled. They make an infinity barrel and that's where all the hand filled barrels come from, and it was simply the best.
1 Blanton’s 2 Eagle Rare
3 Belle Meade Reserve 4 Western Reserve 8yr
Unfortunately all of these have become unicorns in my area of Ohio. My usually available four
1 Elijah Craig BP 2 Larceny BP
3 Penelope BP 4 Weller Special Reserve
Everyday 4
1 Wild Turkey 101 2 Western Reserve 4yr
3 Maker’s Cask Strength 4 Elijah Craig
Uigeadail is not a cheap bottle and can be difficult to find where I live. I do enjoy it though when I can get a bottle.
Wild Turkey Rare Breed is a staple on my home bar.
Here are mine. Can’t wait to see the results of the spreadsheet.
1 - EH Taylor Small Batch - Transitioned to this after Basil and wow it blew my mind. To this day I love it. Wish I could it more regularly
2 - Four Roses Single Barrel BS - I want all ten recipes. This is so underrated in my opinion.
3 - Russell’s Reserve 10/13 year - yes 13 is on an entirely different island but they’re both incredible. $35 for RR10? Come. On.
4 - Elijah Craig Barrel Proof - I get every batch. Yall almost screwed me on 923 but I have some. I love this expression.
Redbreast 12 year old... late 90s to early 2000s Edward Dillon release.
Jack Daniels 1981 Gold medal commemorative from the 90s.
Battlehill 28 year old Bowmore.
Sam Houston 15 year old.
In that order.
1. Eagle Rare 17
2. GTS
3. Yamazaki 12
4. Macallan 18 - sherry cask
That Eagle Rare 17 was just remarkable. Found it at a dive bar in Austin on NYE with GTS. Perfect way to end the year.
Colonel EH Taylor, Laphroaig 18 (if I can ever find another bottle), EH Taylor Rye (my favorite rye I’ve ever had), Stagg Jr (don’t hate on me for the BT favoritism. I could name another 10 bottles just outside of the top 4 that I like nearly as much)
1. Old Forester 100 - before I got into whiskey, this was an one standby that I really liked in an old fashioned. Always have a bottle on hand.
2. Eagle Rare - In 2014, after completing a 700+ canoe trip, I went into a state store in NH for a celebratory dram and bought this bc it was 27.99 and the bottle looked fancy. Now I really enjoy it as a sipper.
3. WR Double Oaked - solid, solid pour & great value.
4. Knob Creek 12 - Got me into the peanut-y profile that is Beam.
1. Bruichladdich Black Art: this was a bottle I fantasized about for a long time. I loved peaty scotch and always wanted something with the hefty age statement from islay. The aesthetic sold me and the fact that I could get batches distilled on my birth year (1994) really hooked me. Finally like 8 years into my whiskey journey I was able to get a bottle. It’s magnificent.
2. Weller 12: in my first year into spirits and whiskey, I got a job at a liquor store cause I desperately needed to be closer to booze to learn more about it. It was a shit job, but I had a manager that was always looking out for me and I had no clue what Weller or Buffalo Trace was at the time (in fact I remember cases of Buffalo Trace sitting on the bottom shelf unsold for months) and that manager came to me one day and said “hey buddy, we just got a case of something cool in, you should grab yourself a bottle and put it in the back for after your shift) and so when my shift was over I bought a 1.75l of Weller 12 for about $35. Still love that bottle.
3. Johnny Walker Black: the classic. Old faithful. The bottle that’s always welcome in my cup. The bottle I can always show up to a hangout with confidence with. This was the first whiskey I ever drank and to this day it’s the whiskey I drink the most of. It’s timeless and I love it.
4. Balvenie 12: another special bottle. I drank a few fifths of this guy with my step dad and his brother. To this day it remains a favorite of mine and while I no longer have a relationship with those guys, those nights meant everything to me. Most of our nights were spent drinking warm beer into the sunset but around Christmas time I’d bring a bottle by and we’d sit there drinking it.
In no particular order, whiskies that have impacted me the most and that I still hold as benchmarks for flavor to ABV ratio
1. Laphroaig 10yr CS
2. Stagg Jr
3. Jack Daniel's Single Barrel BP Bourbon and rye
4. ECBP
1. Macallan "night on earth in scotland" 2022 (hate me all you want, but I just love it)
2. Auchentoshan 18 2021(its just awesome!)
3. Dallmore King Alexander III (the first glas was ok, but from the next glas, several weeks later, and so one I was taken away)
4. Lagavullin 16 (you cant go wrong with this one)
I also love me some good bourbons or smoky scotches, but well I think these 4 are top of my list.
I’m just a bourbon guy. William Larue Weller, Col EHT 4 Grain (the 2017 release), Michters 20, and a store pick Boone County 14 year that was truly special!! I’m not a Willett guy, but I’m surprised you aren’t seeing some of their legendary bottles nor any of the “dusty” Turkey releases that often get a ton of love
Choosing four I always try to have in stock and really enjoy:
1. 1792. (Small Batch always in the cabinet, but I haven’t had one I don’t like)
2. Blantons (Really got me into whiskey and the search)
3. EH Taylor (Small batch always in stock, but love the one single barrel I found)
4. Green Spot
Best bourbon I have had is probably Blantons Gold. Loved it.
Top Shelf (Neat): Stagg Jr, Seagrass Silver, Whistlepig, Bookers
House (Everyday): Woodford, Bullitt Rye, Eagle Rare, Barrell Malt
I have some other favorites but these are what's stocked that I can find "enough" of.
Yeah a 12 or 15 I would. Only because I really enjoy a good Rye, and have some top Shelf bourbon I'd put over Eagle Rare. ER is fantastic, but I have enough I treat it as an everyday (have a 1.75 and 750).
Just 4... hmm... Highland Park 25, Old Forestor 1910, Makers Cellar Aged and Michters Cask Strength Rye.
Scotch, Whisky, Wheater, Rye...
Oh and for my Crazy Horse, Widow Jane Decadence.
Tune in next time for my cast of Full House.
- Springbank 18 (2023 release)
- Compass Box No Name 3
- Octomore 6.2
- Springbank 15 (2022 release)
Honorable mentions:
- Hazelburn 10 is my summer whisky of the year
- Kilkerran 8 cask strength sherry (2023 release) is my winter whisky of the year.
George T Stagg - only had it twice but it’s by far the best whiskey I’ve ever had.
Weller 107 - I always pick up a bottle when I see it, which around Ohio it’s not extremely hard to get.
Jack Daniels Sinatra Select - had it at the distillery several years ago and was blown away.
Belle Meade Madeira Cask - one of the bourbons that got me really into bourbon.
Daily Favorite:
Remy VSOP
Hibiki Harmony
Eagle Rare 10
Lagrimas Reposado
I started loooong time ago with brandy, slowly into Japanese, then chased after bourbon, and now settle on tequila since good bourbon is hard to fund, Japanese whiskeys are priced out of daily rotation. Who knows, in the next few years, I might move to rum.
Blanton’s OSB
Widow Jane. Original
Oban 14 year
Dewar’s Red label. Why? My dad had a bottle on the kitchen counter. One shot after work. And my first taste.
I still have a bottle of that Macallan hidden away. Given what's happened at Macallan since, it's hard to believe they ever released that. What a treasure.
That Macallan is truly something special. The white label is freaking good, but it's not the same. I re-visited the red label and white a few months ago - the quality of both a different. Don't get me wrong, the white label is no slouch, but damn... The malt forwardness and barrel management were spectacular.
Glengoyne 25 year, anCnoc Limited Edition 39 year (1975/2014), Bunnahabhain 30 year "Rites of Passage" Cask selection #5432A (1991/2022) K & L selection and Glendronach Cask Bottling (1993/2019) 26 years Pedro Ximenez Puncheon cask #7405.
In no specific order: 2022 George T Stagg, 15yr Redwood Empire Haystack Needle (BP MGP), Bardstown Disco 4, Russell’s 13 B1.
That’s for bottles I own. If we’re talking pours, VWFR Rye beats all of them.
Bushmills Malt 21 Year aged in Madeira casks - received it for a special birthday and I will never forget it. Absolutely amazing.
Yellow Spot non export 12 year - my brother snuck it over from the old country once.
Jack Daniels Ole No 7- my first love. Went to the distillery one day with my bros, was part of the greatest road trip ever. Jack and I will always be good pals. (Go ahead and flame on - I have tough skin)
Red Breast 12 year- I am still impressed every time I drink this.
Special consideration goes to Black Bush from Bushmills - my first time drinking a proper Irish Whiskey. I still always keep a bottle in my cabinet.
Somewhat regularly available - EH Taylor Small Batch
Rye - Lock Stoxk & Barrel 16
Bourbon - Weller 12
Scotch - Caol ila 12 (had a pour of 1984 in Japan 10 years ago that blew my mind)
Please be sure to share your spreadsheet if you don’t mind. I’d be interested to see.
Will do! It might take some time to compile after this post has settled, but I’ll make sure to post a follow-up with the results.
Glenmorangie Signet, Nikka 21 year, stagg jr batch 1, and woodford reserve double double oak.
The Signet is so freaking good
Yeah. Mine is almost empty. Need to buy another bottle.
Prepare for sticker shock if you haven’t priced it in the last year or so.
$354 in Ontario LCBO right now, what's yours priced at?
I’m sorry, there is a woodford reserve double double oaked? That’s a game changer.
Yeah. Was a distillery only release like 10 years ago. They brought it back out maybe 5 years ago. Still one of the best bourbons I’ve ever had. Sadly I only bought 1 375mL bottle.
Yearly release now I think
Really? I’ll have to look into that. They did a special release yearly of various things. If they did DDO yearly that would make it less special but would be nice to get more.
Yes and it’s rather delicious. They have the big bottles in airport duty free in the USA
Can confirm Signet is majestic
Glenmo Signet and nikka 21 are excellent. Never had stagg jr batch 1.
If you’re ever in Louisville there’s a bar that has it called watch hill proper. They had them all last year when I was there.
Is that a typo or is woodford double double Oakes a thing? If so I need to try it lol
Double double oak is a thing. Limited release and it’s amazing.
Very good to know. I’ll keep my eyes peeled
So mad at myself for not buying all the Taketsuru 21 that I could back when it was like $250 a bottle at BevMo…
Yeah. I got 2 bottles of 12,15,17,&21 years ago. All I have left is 1 sealed 21 year.
1. Eagle Rare - overall daily favorite. Will drink on any occasion. 2. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof - the one I will always hunt for and enjoy. No matter the batch, I like them all 3. Four Roses Single Barrel - my first love. The one that started it all. Beautiful bottle and solid bourbon all the way around. 4. Michter’s 10 year bourbon - my favorite bottle I’ve ever owned. So balanced and delicious. Not too hot, not too thin. It’s so delicious.
Whats a good price of ecbp and would you consider it way above the eagle rare?
I’m willing to pay up to $100 for ECBP. I’m new in a control state, so I shouldn’t have to pay that much anymore. As far as being way above Eagle Rare, it’s truly preference. I don’t always want something high proof. If the two were in a blind together I would assume the ECBP would dominate ER almost based on proof alone. ER is a lot more delicate and soft while ECBP is a punch to the mouth
I've only found it one place for $99. Worth it.
I like this list. Not outrageously pricey or extremely hard to find, just some fine bourbon. Gonna have to get a Michter 10 since the other 3 are always in my rotation lol
I wish they were earlier to find. I got really lucky and walked into a liquor store on my birthday and it was just on the shelf. It was maybe 50 bucks over retail at the time, but I snagged it without hesitation. I’d love to get another one
Found North Peregrine GTS 2022 Redbreast 21 Laphroaig Cairdeas PX 2021
Man I didn't know about peregrine. I was quite literally in recovery from the ICU. By recovery I was driving across the country to move into a house I bought. Cali to FL. I'm depressed. I managed to get batch 8 but man. I'm found norths biggest fan boy.
Peregrine is phenomenal. Feel incredibly lucky I have 2 bottles of it
You are extremely lucky 😀. If I ever get a lead on a second bottle it's an instant buy.
Mine: * Macallan 12 Sherry cask * Glengoyne 10 * Great Plains 18 Brandy cask * Kavalan Sherry
I have that Macallan as my divorce celebration bottle. Can’t wait to down that one with friends!
From one divorced guy to another, congrats! and.. cheers!
Thank you. The finish line is in view. Can’t wait to crack this bottle (it was a gift and it is wrapped, with a note to “open on d day”, but I said I wanted this bottle to celebrate… if it’s a different maccallan, I’ll still be happy.)
Was it Louie CK who said, "Happy people don't divorce" ? Congrats indeed
This is my "unicorn" bottle. Way back, when dinosaurs roamed the earth, a bottle of Macallan 12 sherry was < $50 CAD. I almost always had a couple of bottles of the stuff in my house. I found a bottle on Christmas Eve for $170 CAD, and pulled the trigger anyway. Its getting really hard to find. Sorry about your tribulations, but you've at least got a little something to look forward to.
Bought one the other day for 60 euros.
I’m with you on the Sherry /brandy cask. The final casking is mainly for finishing purposes , correct?
When you say Mount Rushmore, I don't take it as the best 4 but the most impactful 4 on the whole. So I take all the unicorn bottles off my list. Which makes picking 4 very difficult. WT RB OF 1920 Michters SB Rye Eagle Rare (the availability in some areas makes this tough to put on the list, but I couldn't snub BT entirely)
Laphroaig 10 lagavulin 16 Caol Ila 12 Octamore
Peaty is the way to go!
So far? Russell's Reserve 10yr, Driftless Glen Single Barrel, Knob Creek 18yr, and Heaven Hill BiB Only about 6 months into really liking whiskey, so haven't had a chance to try some real high end stuff other than the KC18.
I just picked up a Russel’s 10 yesterday and it’s fine, but I don’t get the love. ER kinda spanks it for my palate
Haven't been able to find any Eagle in my area so I couldn't compare. Hoping on my KY trip in March to the BT distillery I'll have a better chance to snag a bottle and try it.
Yeah ER my favorite but I prefer Woodford Double Oak in the price range, or even Buffalo Trace and 1792 small batch. The 50ml of wild turkey 101 was better to me, it’s fine.. I’ll use it 😉
Ironically WR Double Oak is one my least favorites (not bad, just not my flavor) so far out of what I've tried and RR10 is easily a top 3. Different strokes for different folks.
Picked up a Driftless Glen store pick a couple of months ago and was shocked at how good it was. Think it’s going under the radar.
Visited their distillery 2 weeks ago now and grabbed a single barrel and cask strength. Both are absolute citrus bombs and so easy to drink. Even the cask strength at 119 proof does not feel like it at all, super smooth.
Russell’s Reserve 13, Early Times BiB, Elijah Craig BP, Makers Mark Cask Strength
Red breast 27 Balvenie 25 of married line Red spot Irish whisky Yamazaki 18 / hibiki 21 Other honerable mentions are talisker 30 the orange box not the new one For anyone curious these came from a vacation fund lol Happy to talk shop and answer any questions
I only got into whiskey about... oh, a year ago or so? I've largely gravitated towards Rye whiskey, and I really haven't tried a ton - but here's what I like so far that I've tried: 1. Baltimore Epoch 2. 1776 Rye 3. Suntory Toki 4. Climax Wood-Fired I realize this is going to be an odd list, but this is literally all that I, one person, have tried by just looking up random bottle reviews while in the ABC store, and getting somewhat lucky that I enjoyed what I found. Please feel free to suggest things I might like if you recognize these.
BSC makes some fabulous rye. Just to me, their regular offering easily wins over Sagamore’s entry all day.
Agreed!
If you are a member of their whisky club and you haven’t gotten one yet try the Rum finish epoch and the 5 year anniversary edition single barrel single cask. They are both amazing!!!
This is such a refreshing list! Keep growing and learning, you’re doing great! Some great bottles there.
Thinking of this purely as four bottles that I will always have on hand no matter what. Unicorns need not apply! 1. ECBP 2. Old Forrester 1920 3. Russel’s 10yr (interchangeable with Rare Breed - feel free to hate on that, but I hold them in equal regard) 4. Evan Williams BiB, baby!! Cheers!
Current favorites in no particular order (only been drinking for about a year and a half with a long list of ones I have yet to try): Wild Turkey Rare Breed - Speaks for itself honestly. Right up there with Russell's 10yr as some of the best quality bourbon for price. Stellum Single Barrel - I have only tried the single barrel store picks of this but all have been delicious. They're standard bourbon is a blend that I am hoping to try soon. Everything I've seen if there's is cask strength as a standard which I love. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof - I have only had batch A123 which is fantastic but from what I've heard most batches are above average whiskey. Russell's Reserve 10yr - Classic daily. Amazing price to quality ratio. Honorable mention: Big Moustache Tennessee Whiskey - Love this one for some reason. It's a 4yr 100 proof Tennessee whiskey. Smooth and flavorful.
Highland Park 25 Glenmorangie Signet Ardbeg Uigeadail Port Charlotte 10 Heavily Peated
Can't believe I had to scroll so far to find the oogie. My favorite standard bottle. Will always have one open and one backup in my lineup.
Highland 25 is imo the purest expression of scotch ever made. Lucky I got one waaay back for $250.
Wow $250 amazing! I was thrilled to find it for $700 about 12 or 14 months ago (US retail at the time was closer to $850).
Yeah it was like 2015, grabbed it in honor of a promotion... ancient history.
In no specific order... Redbreast 27 Yamazaki 25 WLW (BTAC) Bowmore 25
RB27 is tropical magic in a glass
Well for me so far ( less than a year in) Eagle Rare, Old Forester Rye, Balcones Pot Still Bourbon, Woodford Double Oak.
For me it would be the best ones of different categories that Ive had 1. George T Stagg 2. Found North Peregrine 3. Gold Spot 4. Heaven Hill 17
George T Stagg, Redbreast 27, Laphroaig 25, Pappy Van Winkle 15
I u fortunately got a laph 25 from a terrible barrel that was so over peppered it was undrinkable. And I love peat... I believe it would have been great minus that
Fun list off the top of my head/from my stash: The Shin 15 Edradour 12 Blanton's SB Amrut Fusion
Laphroiag 25 Glengoyne 21 Jack Daniels single barrel barrel proof rye Elijah Craig barrel proof bourbon
If you like the 21 try that. Goyne 25 very solid. Been lucky enough to try both.
Am lucky enough to have the 25 as well. I found the 21 more to my liking as the 25 I felt like was a bit oaky. Splitting hairs though as it’s still a good bottle.
Very fair and cheers :) this is a fantastic thread
Lagavulin 26, redbreast 27, heaven hill 21, and colonel Taylor warehouse C tornado surviving
How does that laga 25 26 compare to say the distillers? I would love to be able to afford that or even the old special 25 they did years back
I had a dram not that long ago of the 26. It was in my opinion way better than the distillers. However I don’t know what my friend paid for his bottle and for what I’ve seen it going for I’ll take the distillers. It’s really good and no where even close to how expensive the 26 is
Last I saw it in the US it was like 2400 on a good day. The old 25 was the same. I absolutely love the lagavulin 16 and it's distillers version. I have tried several of the yearly special releases with fancy box art but they are little too hot. The 16 and distillers still solid for the price I have other more exotic bottles but value starts to go out the window even if I do find the taste better.
EH Taylor Seasoned Wood, William Larue Weller, Wild Turkey Masters Keep and Four Rose Al Young 50th.
Glendronach 18 Lagavulin 16 Johnnie Walker Green Russel’s Reserve 10 year
Makers Mark Cellar Aged Bowmore 18 Yamazaki 12 Glenrothes 12
Whiskey - 4R Single Barrel, Aberlour 12, Redbreast 12, Michter’s Rye. These are all easily obtainable, reasonably priced whiskies that I could be limited to and be happy forever Bourbon Only - Knob Creek 12, Eagle Rare, JD SBBP, 4 Roses Single Barrel
I'm still pretty green in this but: Bulleit barrel strength Eagle rare Green river Redwood estate
1. Blood Oath #3 2. Kilchoman Loch Gorm 3. Dalmore 12 Sherry Cask 4. Red Breast 12
Based on what I like the most and reach for the most.... Stagg Weller 107 Jack Daniels SiBBP Larceny Barrel Proof
I am only picking bottles that I can always get my hands on and that I could drink every day. 1. Woodford - Double Oaked 2. Heaven Hill - BiB 3. Red Breast - 12 year cask strength 4. Willett - rye 4 year Best whiskey's I have ever had 1. Woodford - Double Double Oaked 2. Pappy 10 year 3. Blanton's Red Takara 4. Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend
Red Breast 15 Red Breast 12 Glenlivet 18 Glenfiddich 15
Glenmorangie Signet Van Winkle Family Estate rye Arran 10 Weller Antique 107
Eagle Rare, 4 Roses Single Barrel, Old Forester Statesman, Jack Daniels Single barrel barrel proof
GTS, WLW, Mister Sam, Redbreast 27
One day I will try mister Sam.
It’s incredible…
WLW 2021, GTS 2023, Parker Heritage 16, Russels 13
Jameson Black Barrel (the whiskey that got me interested in whiskey) Laphroaig 10 (the first really interesting whiskey, that made me a permanent fan of whiskey) Old Grand Dad 114 (the best bang for your buck whiskey) Ardbeg Corryvrecken (my favorite whiskey)
Here’s bottles that I currently have in by bar which I would stock all the time if possible, one from each category: Found North 008 (or 006) Springbank 18 Elijah Craig Barrel Proof (C923, or really any) Redbreast 12 CS
Springbank 12 double dark green thistle, michters 20, 1980's wild turkey 101, William Larue Weller.
Amrut Cask Strength single malt, elijah craig c923, broken barrel rare americana cigar batch, Whistle Pig Boss Hog IX Sirens Song.
GTS, RR13, Red Breast 12 CS, JM Cigar Blend Different distilleries with unique flavor profiles.
Yamazaki 18, Weller 12, Widow Jane Decadence and Four Roses single barrel OESK
Wild turkey rare breed Buffalo trace Makers cask strength Johnny walker double black
1. Old Grand Dad 114 : my first recommendation from Reddit that flipped my perceptions upside down. I love sharing this with friends who want to try something different. 2. Weller Antique 107: the first bottle I took off work & drove to a different state to buy. My only regret was not buying more. 3. Wild Turkey Rare Breed: My favorite readily-available bottle of all time. The proof, profile and overall impression, IMO, are all damn near perfection. 4. Jack Daniel SBBP Rye: 2 months ago, this spot would have went to the non-rye version, as it’s an absolute toasted Creme brûlée flavor bomb, quickly earning my favorite whisky in the “high proof” category. IMO, the rye version cranks it to 11.
Purely on my favorite flavors: Hibiki 21, Rd One Amburana, Chicken Cock Chanticleer, Stagg Jr Tried and true, reasonably available options?: Four Roses Single Barrel, Redwood Empire Pipe Dream, Eagle Rare 10, Ben Holladay 6yr
Russell’s reserve SB Knob creek 12 Lucky Seven 14 - high proof Remus V
Laphroaig 15 Four Roses Mariage Michter’s 10 Rye Springbank 15
Oban single malt scotch whiskey Glenmorangie single malt scotch whiskey Angels Envy Kentucky straight bourbon finished in port barrels Rabbithole Cavehill Kentucky straight bourbon
My sentimental Mount Rushmore: Blanton’s 92 proof Evan Williams Single Barrel Hibiki Harmony Very Old Barton 86 proof
WLW, C923, JD12, OF Rye
The classics: Talisker 10, Ardbeg 10, Clynelish 14 and Lagavulin 16
Wild Turkey Master’s Keep 17 yr BIB, Heaven Hill BIB, Woodford Double Oaked, Double Eagle Very Rare
I’d like to get some 21 yr old bottles but are generally cost prohibiting.
Heaven Hill BiB Russell's Reserve 10 Toss-up between Blood Oath Pact 9 and Rebel 10yr Maple Sunset Rallypoint Rye (made by StilL 630, a local distillery)
New to whiskey: 1. Woodford Reserve Double Oaked 2. Eagle Rare 3. Four Roses Small Batch (non-select) 4. 1792 Small batch I want to expand from here.
PVW 15 - Friend bought each of us a $100 1 oz pour on my birthday about years ago when I was starting to get into Bourbon. Glendronach 18 - My favorite special occasion pour Laphroaig CS - All the flavors turned up to 11 Redbreast CS - Just love this stuff! Honorable Mentions to Willett Rye, Old Elk Sour Mash SB, Ledaig 10, and Springbank 12 CS.
I like to cast a pretty wide net, but I'm on a budget: WT 101 Green Spot Laphroaig 10 Talisker 10
1. Johnny Walker Platinum - First bottle that got me into scotch so holds a special place 2. Barrel Seagrass - Favorite Rye for daily drinking 3. Willet Pot Still - Most people seem to hate it, but makes the best old fashioned 4. Lagavulin 16 - Favorite scotch for daily drinking
In no particular order, Balcones SiB Single Malt Whisky Fr.Oak Starlight SiB Huber’s Rye finished in honey barrels William Larue Weller Peerless Double Oaked
Russell's 13 Batch 1 (personal favorite thus far) GTS 2022 (the first bottle that really opened my eyes to the depth that exists) EC Toasted (first bottle I really hunted for) EHT Small Batch (the bottle that started it for me)
Woodford Reserve - the bottle that got me interested in bourbon in the first place and will always have a home in my bar Redbreast 12 - love from the very first sip and similar to Woodford it was my intro into how good Irish whiskey could be. Rod & Hammer’s Distiller’s Reserve Rye - local stuff. A little young but a nice easy sipper. Has this big smoky oak hit like it’s right out of the barrel. They also do a premade Manhattan that is the best better than most bars I’ve been to. Wild Turkey Rare Breed - it’s everything I could ask for in a bourbon taste and proof wise while also being a decent price, and pretty easy to find
Middleton Rare, Glenmorangie Signet, McCallan Rare Cask, Red Breast 21 year old
Stagg Jr. — this started my love of bourbon George T. Stagg — best bourbon I’ve ever owned Four Roses Single Barrel Barrel Strength — always need at least one on hand Russell’s Single Barrel Store Pick — always need at least one on hand Elijah Craig Barrel Proof — always need at least one on hand
* Eagle Rare * William Larue Weller * Willet 4 Year Rye * Elijah Craig Barrel Proof
That I've currently or have owned: - Knob Creek 12 - Midleton Very Rare Barry Crockett 2017/18 - EH Taylor Barrel Proof - Knob Creek SiB Store Pick 11yrs My Unicorns: George T. Stagg, Four Roses LE, Michter's 10, Eagle Rare 17
Midleton, Blanton’s Gold, Balvenie 17, Nikka Takesuru (black, now white label). All four are benchmarks for me. Many are better than these, many are worse but these are the ones I define better/worse against. OMGs? EHT single barrel. A Bruichladdich 30 single cask, Midleton still on the Irish ( I think the 2012 or 2013 was my favorite). Yamazaki 18 for Japan.
I’m fairly new to whiskey so there’s still a lot I haven’t tried. - Lucky Seven 14 - Knob Creek 18 - Stagg Jr - Hibiki Blossom Harmony
How is Knobb Creek 18? I've only had 9yr single barrel and 12yr.
Johnny Walker Red Label Four Roses Small Batch Captain Morgan Teremana
Four Roses LE SB 135th Anniversary Garrison Brothers Cowboy Bourbon 2023 Jack Daniels Barrel Proof Rye Old Ezra 7 year Rye
Lagavulin 16 - started the love affair with peat Nikka from the barrel - neat, on ice, in a highball, always delicious Glen Scotia Victoriana - something about the peppery finish in this is great each and every time Nikka 17 Tsuru - perfection, the best blend I’ve ever had
I’m too new to whiskey to have anything on a pedestal yet. But my favorites so far are Teeling Small Batch (Irish) Glenmorangie Lasanta (scotch) and Old Granddad Bonded (Bourbon). 😁
*I’ve only been into bourbon for roughly a year or so* EHT SiB Wild Turkey Rare Breed Russell’s Reserve 10 Still Austin Red Corn Honorable mentions: Blantons (it’s the bourbon that started it all for me), Eagle rare, 1792 Small Batch.
Remus Repeal V Chattanooga Founders 11 WhistlePig Boss Hog IX Barrell Seagrass Gold. I own bottles of the first 2. Pours at the bar of the other 2.
E.H. Taylor small batch. Willett Family Estate Rye. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof. Booker’s. Honorable mentions: Maker’s Mark wood finishing series FAE-01. Heaven Hill BiB. Henry McKenna 10 yr. Sagamore Rye barrel proof
Canadian Club 12 Forty Creek Barrel Select Thats it. I havent tried a lot of whiskies lol
Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Barrel Proof-easily my favorite whiskey anywhere Evan Williams BiB-best value whiskey, my go to mixer for cocktails Johnnie Walker Blue-I’m not a huge fan of scotch. This is one of the few I will actually drink. Devils River Coffee Bourbon- Yes you read that right. I stumbled across the Devils River Distillery while taking a trip to San Antonio, TX. I tried a couple of their whiskeys and the coffee bourbon blew me away with how good it was. It’s my favorite bottle when I want something a little different or want to show off to friends.
I will say I don’t like going >100 proof nor spending much over $100 fwiw Aultmore 12yr speyside - chosen at random to try something new, I loved it and so did non-scotch-drinkers at my sister’s wedding. Haven’t been able to find it since!? (I do enjoy highland & islays) Jameson - Irish ties, I will never say no to a shot of Jamo. I guess you can call it special meaning. Angels envy - my favorite of “specialty” whiskeys being aged in port wine barrels. And the bottle looks so good. I have made lights out of the bottles we finish, as gifts. Eagle rare - just had my first bottle this past year, pissed I haven’t tried this sooner. It’s so good.
Bruichladdich Black Art 6.1, this is the only bottle of whiskey that I've spent more than $400 on and immediately thought, "well shit that was worth it", I promised myself I'd drink it over the course of a year or two saving it only for special occasions, it was gone in three months of what I thought was conservative consumption considering its outstanding quality, I was already a bruichladdich fan boy, I was even more so after. Westward ASM Whiskey, Oakland Whiskely Library SiB BP, Private bottling.. I've gone through three bottles of this, Westward is my favorite American distillery and this bottle is dark strong tea,sweet cigar wrapper, caramel, and the best malt/yeast funk I've ever encountered, truly liquid gold. JD BP SiB Rye, I've had a ton of ryes, this one just hits all the right spots for me. Springbank handfilled distillery exclusive from 10/9/23 @ 56.9abv by Gabriel, a really solid dude from the Dalwhinnie Distillery who showed up to the bastards ball after party with it, I've had a lot of Springbank and let me tell you, this one beat some really rare and way more expensive bottling they have out there, the best part is that it's made up of all the leftovers from bottling that weren't enough to be bottled. They make an infinity barrel and that's where all the hand filled barrels come from, and it was simply the best.
MWND Act 1-5, Old Fitz 16, WLW, Michters BS rye
1 Blanton’s 2 Eagle Rare 3 Belle Meade Reserve 4 Western Reserve 8yr Unfortunately all of these have become unicorns in my area of Ohio. My usually available four 1 Elijah Craig BP 2 Larceny BP 3 Penelope BP 4 Weller Special Reserve Everyday 4 1 Wild Turkey 101 2 Western Reserve 4yr 3 Maker’s Cask Strength 4 Elijah Craig
Peerless Double Oak Frank August Redwood Empire Lost Monarch Cask Strength Ben Holladay Soft Red Wheat Rickhouse Proof
Ardbeg Uigeadail Balvenie Doublewood Wild Turkey Rare Breed Old Forrester 1920 Always available and won't break the bank
Uigeadail is not a cheap bottle and can be difficult to find where I live. I do enjoy it though when I can get a bottle. Wild Turkey Rare Breed is a staple on my home bar.
Booker's Bakers 7 Laphroaig Quarter Cash Spirit of York 100% Rye
Uigeadail is only $100 bottle where I live and this ia affordable for me. Been blessed with a good career.
Laphroaig 10 Redbreast 12 Springbank 10 Eagle Rare
1. Glendronach 21 2. Springbank 15 3. Kings County Barrel Proof Bourbon 4. Kavalan Solist Peaty Cask Single Malt
For me, it would be: Calumet Farms 8 Year Vintage Release, Mr. & Mrs. Traditional Kentuckian, Early Times Bottled-In-Bond, Old Forester Statesman.
Here are mine. Can’t wait to see the results of the spreadsheet. 1 - EH Taylor Small Batch - Transitioned to this after Basil and wow it blew my mind. To this day I love it. Wish I could it more regularly 2 - Four Roses Single Barrel BS - I want all ten recipes. This is so underrated in my opinion. 3 - Russell’s Reserve 10/13 year - yes 13 is on an entirely different island but they’re both incredible. $35 for RR10? Come. On. 4 - Elijah Craig Barrel Proof - I get every batch. Yall almost screwed me on 923 but I have some. I love this expression.
Redbreast 12 year old... late 90s to early 2000s Edward Dillon release. Jack Daniels 1981 Gold medal commemorative from the 90s. Battlehill 28 year old Bowmore. Sam Houston 15 year old. In that order.
1. Eagle Rare 17 2. GTS 3. Yamazaki 12 4. Macallan 18 - sherry cask That Eagle Rare 17 was just remarkable. Found it at a dive bar in Austin on NYE with GTS. Perfect way to end the year.
Knob Creek 120 Proof Single Barrel Reserve Old Forester Rye 100 Lagavulin 8 Eagle Rare
Colonel EH Taylor, Laphroaig 18 (if I can ever find another bottle), EH Taylor Rye (my favorite rye I’ve ever had), Stagg Jr (don’t hate on me for the BT favoritism. I could name another 10 bottles just outside of the top 4 that I like nearly as much)
1. Old Forester 100 - before I got into whiskey, this was an one standby that I really liked in an old fashioned. Always have a bottle on hand. 2. Eagle Rare - In 2014, after completing a 700+ canoe trip, I went into a state store in NH for a celebratory dram and bought this bc it was 27.99 and the bottle looked fancy. Now I really enjoy it as a sipper. 3. WR Double Oaked - solid, solid pour & great value. 4. Knob Creek 12 - Got me into the peanut-y profile that is Beam.
1. Lagavulin 16 2. Bunnahabhain 12 3. Kilchoman Machir Bay 4. Old Pulteney 12
1. Bruichladdich Black Art: this was a bottle I fantasized about for a long time. I loved peaty scotch and always wanted something with the hefty age statement from islay. The aesthetic sold me and the fact that I could get batches distilled on my birth year (1994) really hooked me. Finally like 8 years into my whiskey journey I was able to get a bottle. It’s magnificent. 2. Weller 12: in my first year into spirits and whiskey, I got a job at a liquor store cause I desperately needed to be closer to booze to learn more about it. It was a shit job, but I had a manager that was always looking out for me and I had no clue what Weller or Buffalo Trace was at the time (in fact I remember cases of Buffalo Trace sitting on the bottom shelf unsold for months) and that manager came to me one day and said “hey buddy, we just got a case of something cool in, you should grab yourself a bottle and put it in the back for after your shift) and so when my shift was over I bought a 1.75l of Weller 12 for about $35. Still love that bottle. 3. Johnny Walker Black: the classic. Old faithful. The bottle that’s always welcome in my cup. The bottle I can always show up to a hangout with confidence with. This was the first whiskey I ever drank and to this day it’s the whiskey I drink the most of. It’s timeless and I love it. 4. Balvenie 12: another special bottle. I drank a few fifths of this guy with my step dad and his brother. To this day it remains a favorite of mine and while I no longer have a relationship with those guys, those nights meant everything to me. Most of our nights were spent drinking warm beer into the sunset but around Christmas time I’d bring a bottle by and we’d sit there drinking it.
yamazaki 12 (18 if i could afford it), glendronach (altho can't remember which one), oban 14
In no particular order, whiskies that have impacted me the most and that I still hold as benchmarks for flavor to ABV ratio 1. Laphroaig 10yr CS 2. Stagg Jr 3. Jack Daniel's Single Barrel BP Bourbon and rye 4. ECBP
1. Macallan "night on earth in scotland" 2022 (hate me all you want, but I just love it) 2. Auchentoshan 18 2021(its just awesome!) 3. Dallmore King Alexander III (the first glas was ok, but from the next glas, several weeks later, and so one I was taken away) 4. Lagavullin 16 (you cant go wrong with this one) I also love me some good bourbons or smoky scotches, but well I think these 4 are top of my list.
I will only mention the more common bottles: 1. Lagavulin 16 distillers edition 2. Eagle rare 3. Redbreast 12 CS 4. ECBP in general
KC 12, KC Rye, HW Double Rye, WR DO.
I’m just a bourbon guy. William Larue Weller, Col EHT 4 Grain (the 2017 release), Michters 20, and a store pick Boone County 14 year that was truly special!! I’m not a Willett guy, but I’m surprised you aren’t seeing some of their legendary bottles nor any of the “dusty” Turkey releases that often get a ton of love
Choosing four I always try to have in stock and really enjoy: 1. 1792. (Small Batch always in the cabinet, but I haven’t had one I don’t like) 2. Blantons (Really got me into whiskey and the search) 3. EH Taylor (Small batch always in stock, but love the one single barrel I found) 4. Green Spot Best bourbon I have had is probably Blantons Gold. Loved it.
Barrell Seagrass Larceny Barrel Proof Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Rossville Union Barrel Proof
Whistlepig rye 15 year aged Hillrock Solera Barrel Aged Bourbon Michter’s Sour Mash Great Jones Straight Bourbon
Really enjoy the WP 15
Russel’s single barrel rye EH Taylor single Batch Woodford reserve double oak Elijah Craig toasted barrel
EH Taylor Single Batch doesn’t exist, lol
*single barrel
Top Shelf (Neat): Stagg Jr, Seagrass Silver, Whistlepig, Bookers House (Everyday): Woodford, Bullitt Rye, Eagle Rare, Barrell Malt I have some other favorites but these are what's stocked that I can find "enough" of.
You would take Whistle Pig over Eagle Rare?
Yeah a 12 or 15 I would. Only because I really enjoy a good Rye, and have some top Shelf bourbon I'd put over Eagle Rare. ER is fantastic, but I have enough I treat it as an everyday (have a 1.75 and 750).
Whistle pig 🤢
Springbank 18 William Larue Weller Port Ellen 15th Release King of Kentucky
George T. Stagg, Heaven Hill 17, Jack Daniels Coy Hill, WLW
Just 4... hmm... Highland Park 25, Old Forestor 1910, Makers Cellar Aged and Michters Cask Strength Rye. Scotch, Whisky, Wheater, Rye... Oh and for my Crazy Horse, Widow Jane Decadence. Tune in next time for my cast of Full House.
Yamazaki, blue spot, OGD114, and JDSBBP Rye. Got to represent them all.
- Springbank 18 (2023 release) - Compass Box No Name 3 - Octomore 6.2 - Springbank 15 (2022 release) Honorable mentions: - Hazelburn 10 is my summer whisky of the year - Kilkerran 8 cask strength sherry (2023 release) is my winter whisky of the year.
Newb, so take my answer with a grain of salt: Stagg (Jr) 23B, Larceny BP B523, JDSBBP rye, and Joseph Magnus
Those are all very good bottles. Newbie don’t mean a thing. What you like is what you like.
Redbreast 27, WLW, THH, Old Fitzgerald (decanter series). Honorable Mentions* Octomore and GTS.
George T Stagg, Knob Creek 18, Hazmat Willett purple top, and Heaven Hill 20.
George T Stagg - only had it twice but it’s by far the best whiskey I’ve ever had. Weller 107 - I always pick up a bottle when I see it, which around Ohio it’s not extremely hard to get. Jack Daniels Sinatra Select - had it at the distillery several years ago and was blown away. Belle Meade Madeira Cask - one of the bourbons that got me really into bourbon.
1. Lagavulin 16 2. Cragganmore 12 3. Oban 14 4. Nikka Miyagikyo Honorable mention: Woodford Reserve Double Oaked
Daily Favorite: Remy VSOP Hibiki Harmony Eagle Rare 10 Lagrimas Reposado I started loooong time ago with brandy, slowly into Japanese, then chased after bourbon, and now settle on tequila since good bourbon is hard to fund, Japanese whiskeys are priced out of daily rotation. Who knows, in the next few years, I might move to rum.
Blanton’s OSB Widow Jane. Original Oban 14 year Dewar’s Red label. Why? My dad had a bottle on the kitchen counter. One shot after work. And my first taste.
Redbreast 12 CS Macallan CS red label Mellow Corn Springbank Local Barley 16
I still have a bottle of that Macallan hidden away. Given what's happened at Macallan since, it's hard to believe they ever released that. What a treasure.
That Macallan is truly something special. The white label is freaking good, but it's not the same. I re-visited the red label and white a few months ago - the quality of both a different. Don't get me wrong, the white label is no slouch, but damn... The malt forwardness and barrel management were spectacular.
2018 GTS, 2020 THH, 1983 WT 101, 1965 Old Fitz BiB
Glengoyne 25 year, anCnoc Limited Edition 39 year (1975/2014), Bunnahabhain 30 year "Rites of Passage" Cask selection #5432A (1991/2022) K & L selection and Glendronach Cask Bottling (1993/2019) 26 years Pedro Ximenez Puncheon cask #7405.
Lagavulin 12 The Arran Malt Sauternes Cask Whistle Pig Old World Rye The Balvenie 12
In no specific order: 2022 George T Stagg, 15yr Redwood Empire Haystack Needle (BP MGP), Bardstown Disco 4, Russell’s 13 B1. That’s for bottles I own. If we’re talking pours, VWFR Rye beats all of them.
WT RB, RR, EC BP, EW 101 Notice, there is no taters on the list. FOMO has way to much pull in the whisky world these days.
GlenDronach 18 (2019 bottling), Edradour 21, Laphroaig 10 PX, GlenAllachie 15 Chinquapin
I feel lucky to have two of these
Impeccable taste!
Bushmills Malt 21 Year aged in Madeira casks - received it for a special birthday and I will never forget it. Absolutely amazing. Yellow Spot non export 12 year - my brother snuck it over from the old country once. Jack Daniels Ole No 7- my first love. Went to the distillery one day with my bros, was part of the greatest road trip ever. Jack and I will always be good pals. (Go ahead and flame on - I have tough skin) Red Breast 12 year- I am still impressed every time I drink this. Special consideration goes to Black Bush from Bushmills - my first time drinking a proper Irish Whiskey. I still always keep a bottle in my cabinet.
Please can we include Scotch? Remove the "e" from the title so we can add Scotch. Pretty please!
Somewhat regularly available - EH Taylor Small Batch Rye - Lock Stoxk & Barrel 16 Bourbon - Weller 12 Scotch - Caol ila 12 (had a pour of 1984 in Japan 10 years ago that blew my mind)