A Beginner's Guide to....Bourbon
 

I'm a gin guy. Love the pine tree floats. Martini's with blue cheese stuffed olvies....mmmm mmmm mmmm.

But I don't drink too much of anything, else. So I thought I would start some threads so those of you with experience in various beverages could help those of us less enlightened.

So here's what I am looking for. Post up a good beginning brand of Bourbon. Something to ease into, a "gateway" bourbon if you will. Also, if there is a certain method to drink it, ie neat, on the rocks, straight up, swiggin from the bottle, post that as well.

Any other knowledge that you feel a newbie Bourbon drinker can benefit from, please post that as well.

Push us down the slope....:al

Re: A Beginner's Guide to....Bourbon
 

You can't go wrong with either Maker's Mark or Jack Daniels. I prefer to drink my Bourbon either on the rocks or with coke. If I'm out and about and want to swig from a bottle or I know that I'll be drinking without ice available, I go for Southern Comfort because it's sweet and it goes down smooth.

Re: A Beginner's Guide to....Bourbon
 

Jack Daniels is not a bourbon. :tu

Check out this thread...

http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showthread.php?t=337

Re: A Beginner's Guide to....Bourbon
 

I say go for Bulleit. It's a great entry level, classic style bourbon.

Re: A Beginner's Guide to....Bourbon
 

Lots of good info in that thread Patrick linked to.

As for my opinion... I'd say give Woodford Reserve a try. I find that it is most excellent neat, on the rocks, with coke (1:1 ratio), and yes... even straight from the bottle. :tu

Re: A Beginner's Guide to....Bourbon
 

Knob Creek if a widely available Bourbon and goes down smooooth, A couple ice cubes and you are good to go

Re: A Beginner's Guide to....Bourbon
 

I have been through that thread, lots of great info, but was looking to narrow it down to those that would be good bourbons to try for those of us who don't drink it.


Thanks for the input so far!:tu

Re: A Beginner's Guide to....Bourbon
 

My bad, while both Jack Daniels and SoCo are not technically bourbons (SoCo is mixed with bourbon). They sure do taste like bourbon to me. :al

Re: A Beginner's Guide to....Bourbon
 

There is a 14 page thread on bourbon here:
http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showthread.php?t=337

Re: A Beginner's Guide to....Bourbon
 

I started with Evan Williams Single Barrel and Eagle Rare 10 year. Both are very smooth with Evan Williams having a slight caramel or vanilla taste. Small batch and single barrel bourbons all have a unique taste, so you should try several. Woodford Reserve is my current go to bourbon, both smooth and tasty. When I want a little more flavor I grab the Knob Creek for a sweet and rich caramel flavor, but it can overpower some cigars.

I drink bourbon neat or with 1 ice cube. I always keep a bottle of Maker's Mark around as it's good for drinking neat or mixing. :al

Re: A Beginner's Guide to....Bourbon
 

Evan Williams single barrel or Eagle Rare 17 are great was to start. EW, in my opinion is a tremendous value at $20 per bottle.

Re: A Beginner's Guide to....Bourbon
 

Definitely check out the other thread...but a great starter bourbon is Makers Mark.Yeah yeah its not the best but it is very mild to start with. Start with pouring bourbon on the rocks with a tad bit of water and work up to sipping it neat. Personally I think bourbon goes better with cigars than any other beverage :2

Re: A Beginner's Guide to....Bourbon
 

Let me phrase it another way.

If a buddy of mine, who had never smoked a cigar before, asked me for a smoke, I would not reach into my humi and pull out an Opus or an RP Edge maduro. That would kill him! I would probably reach in and give him a 5 Vegas Gold, an Ashton or a CAO Gold to start with. Nice and mild, get the cigar flavor, but won't put you off to cigars as a stronger first smoke might.

So what is the "mild cigar" bourbon?

The Bourbon thread has lots of different kinds, years, etc., but I am not sure what would be the best one to start with to get into the world of Bourbon.

Thanks for the input so far!!:tu:tu

Re: A Beginner's Guide to....Bourbon
 

Sean, I'm a scotch guy but I do like Woodford Reserve for a bourbon. Not an expert by any means but I have found as with most things, you get what you pay for.

Enjoy the hunt.

One last thought, see if you can find some small "tester" bottles. That way you haven't invested in a whole bottle of something you might not like.

Re: A Beginner's Guide to....Bourbon
 

Buffalo Trace and Four Roses are two good introductory bourbons. They are a little sweeter, and don't have as bad of a bite as some of the others. They are both about $25 too, so they're not going to kill your wallet.

Re: A Beginner's Guide to....Bourbon
 

That is exactly what I was thinking of doing.

Defnitely sounds like I have some choices to start out with.

Re: A Beginner's Guide to....Bourbon
 

For a starter bourbon, I don't think you could go wrong with either of these.
Evan Williams Single Barrel
Woodford Reserve

Re: A Beginner's Guide to....Bourbon
 

I have had many a bourbon in my day and would recommend Woodford Reserve or 1792 for someone looking to try a good bourbon. Hope that helps.

Re: A Beginner's Guide to....Bourbon
 

I personally dont have a refined pallet and since Im not of age I dont have a wide selection. But! Im not like the regular college kid who just does shots t oget drunk. Same thing goes with my beer. I love imported or micro brewed, dark, heavy, and bitter. For what its worth I like plain old Jim Beam. Ive drank my share of Jim Beam and have found Jim Beam mixes and tastes good for something cheap.

Re: A Beginner's Guide to....Bourbon
 

For starters I would recommend 1792, Elmer T Lee, and Woodford Reserve.

Re: A Beginner's Guide to....Bourbon
 

:tpd: Good choices!

Re: A Beginner's Guide to....Bourbon
 

Drinking on some Even Williams and coke right now!

Re: A Beginner's Guide to....Bourbon
 

Elmer T. Lee, JTS Brown and Four Roses are perhaps the finest introductory Bourbons out there, in IMHO!

Re: A Beginner's Guide to....Bourbon
 

Lot's of good choices out there. Here are some of my favorites:

Elmer T Lee
Old Rip Van Winkle (or Pappy Van Winkle) - any expression as they all are fantastic
George T Stagg
Old Forester 75th Anniversary
WL Weller
Rittenhouse Rye (straight rye whiskey - not bourbon)
Four Roses Single Batch

I drink all my whiskey neat but sometimes add a few drops of water to the higher proof ones (ie. George T Stagg)

Re: A Beginner's Guide to....Bourbon
 

Sean- Great topic!! :tu

Like you I've never been into the whole scotch/whisky/bourbon thing until just recently when I purchase a small bottle of Maker's Mark. I shared it with my bro in-law and fellow CA member Paul (CBI_2). We both agreed that it was smooooooooooooooth, especially after the 2nd bottle.

We drank it poured over a few cubes of ice and it has a distinct vanilla taste.

Not that I'm all that experienced in bourbon, but I highly recommend trying a bottle especially when it can be hand for under $15.00

Keep us posted!!

Re: A Beginner's Guide to....Bourbon
 

I know it may have seemed redundant, but I really didn't know high end from low end, smooth from a little kick. I thought this would be a good way to get to those that the bourbon heads would recommend for starters. I can then explore some of these others as I develop a pallette for it.

They sound fantatstic, but I just never developed the taste for anything else, but want to expand my horizons.

I want to do this for other liqours as well, but will post those up late ron down the line.

Thanks to everyone who threw out a recommendation.

Re: A Beginner's Guide to....Bourbon
 

Elmer T. Lee if you can find it.... if not Maker's Mark...

Re: A Beginner's Guide to....Bourbon
 

Woodford Reserve

Re: A Beginner's Guide to....Bourbon
 

I'll have to second Jim Beam, with an ice cube or two.

Re: A Beginner's Guide to....Bourbon
 

I had a bottle of Knob Creek which, when I first tried it straight up, made my hair stand up. (which is what prompted this thread.)

But, I filled a rocks glass with ice, poured in a finger and a half's worth, (I know, I know) and gave it a shot. Hair still stood up, but, noticed some flavors this time before my eyes began to water.

I am going to pick up some of the aforementioned bottles and go from there.

Practice, practice, practice...right?:al

Re: A Beginner's Guide to....Bourbon
 

Well I am sre this will cause controversy, denial and distain for some but according to Sir Jeremy Bell (http://www.maninaskirt.com/), professional whiskey taster (scotch, works for the Chivas people at this time) NO whiskey is blended to be consumed neat, scotch or bourbon. In the tastings he puts on ( I have been to two) he has you taste straight up and then after adding a teaspoon of water. He then explains how the water releases esters in the liquor which you can see as little lines when you hod it up to the light after the water is added. To my pallet a little water or some ice ALWAYS tates better, he explains that the US is really the only pace people drink whisky this way everywhere else is a with a bit of water. Try it and see what you like better.
Mike

Re: A Beginner's Guide to....Bourbon
 

That's not the esters....that's just the water and alcohol mixing. You can see the same effect by adding water to methanol or ethanol. But I do agree that adding a little water can open up a whiskey or a whisky. I try it with and without water and drink it how I prefer it.

Re: A Beginner's Guide to....Bourbon
 

I've been preaching that for years. One jigger of bourbon, scotch, whiskey or whatever and one tablespoon of chilled spring water, swirl and then let sit for a few minutes before enjoying!

Re: A Beginner's Guide to....Bourbon
 

THE best cigar I've found that goes with Evan Williams Single Barrel
is the Punch Gran Puro Pico Bonito.

Normally, I'm a Makers Mark kind of guy ("Mothers Milk"). Lots of smokes pair very well with it - Padron 2000, Perdomo Reserve Cabinet Series Cameroon, Perdomo Lot 826 Slow-Aged, Maria Mancini Magic Mountain, Gurkha Fuerte, Don Pepin Garcia Black Label (Cuban Classic), the list goes on....

Oh, and while it probably doesn't even need to be said, I'll say it:
The ONLY way to truly enjoy a bourbon is neat or with a couple of ice cubes.

If you have to mix it, it probably isn't worth drinking.:D

Re: A Beginner's Guide to....Bourbon
 

woodford reserve is great

Re: A Beginner's Guide to....Bourbon
 

Well i took a long time to get around to it, but I made a purchase. I have to admit, I had some Knob Creek here but after this thread decided to go out and buy what seemed to be a popular first choice.


And the winner is....


http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t...dandcohiba.jpg

Woodford Reserve.:ss The above is my feeble attempt to stage a nice photo. That monkey glass looks so familiar.....

I have broken the rule and put some ice in it at first. Still getting a very strong burn as it goes down, but then picked up some smoky flavor on the after taste. Still nursing through it, but at least now I can taste some flavors and not just the burn.

Thanks for all the opinions and help. Time to start thread #2.

Re: A Beginner's Guide to....Bourbon
 

Good for you!

I picked up a bottle of Evan Williams Single Barrel 1998 today -
on sale for $23, so I couldn't say no.

Re: A Beginner's Guide to....Bourbon
 

Pappy Van Winkle, any will do.

Re: A Beginner's Guide to....Bourbon
 

Good call on the Woodford.

I'm not a huge bourbon guy (more of a scotch man) but for a nice, smooth and balanced bourbon that is great for beginners I would recommened Basil Haydens. It is a little pricey but man is it smooth.

Re: A Beginner's Guide to....Bourbon
 

Been drinking bourbon awhile... As with cigars, no right or wrong, just what hits ya.

Evan Williams 10 year old Single Barrell is my goto. Mild bite, fairly smokey, easy on the wallett.

Maker's Mark is my bar bourbon as most don't carry EVSB. A bit more bite.

Pappy Van Winkle - liquid crack. When I get rich I'll just drink this night and day. 10 out of 10.