I’ve got a mate whos a big fan of Bourbon. He’s tried all the standard brands like Buffalo Trace, JD, Jim Beam and Wild Turkey.
I want to get him a bottle for Xmas of something he might not have tried before, something I can say was recommended by Americans as a good bourbon. Doesn’t need to be some weird flavour like Red Stag, just old fashioned American bourbon that maybe flies under the radar in other countries.
Thanks to everyone who suggested something. I’ve settled on a bottle of Angel’s Envy.
I’m late to the game but I just wanted to say that that is a solid choice.
This was going to be my suggestion, it’s such a delicious bourbon.
Basil Hayden, Woodford Reserve, Knob Creek, Angel’s Envy, Old Grandad, Bulleit are all great choices.
Basil Hayden or Woodford would definitely be my first choice though.
Huge fan of Basil Hayden
These are all my very last choices except the knob creek rye or single barrel 120 proof.
The rest of these taste like household cleaner.
Angel’s Envy is one of my favorites. Runs about $45 here in the states and is relatively easy to find. I’m not sure if they export though.
Oh! Have they fixed their supplying issues? I haven’t had a drink in a while, but for years they were having trouble keeping stock in most stores because they had a distillery fire and had to run with what they had stored. Even after that, any time I’d find a place that would get some, they’d only be able to get a single case in and it would be sold out within a day or 2. I basically had to get lucky and happen to stop by the same day they got it in, but before they stocked the shelves. It was probably solid 5-6 years of never seeing it on a shelf and only getting it if I asked for it and they go it from the back.
I’m not sure. That’s the first I’ve heard of a fire. It’s pretty easy to find in my area, but I can’t speak for the rest of the country. I have noticed the price go up some in recent years, but I assumed it was from popularity and just general inflation.
Woodford Reserve is my go-to. It’s not hard to find, it has a reliable taste being a blended bourbon, and is generally well regarded. They are a big sponsor of the Kentucky Derby, so it’s got some cachet across the luxury brand spectrum. However, my grandpa worked for Brown-Forman his whole life so it has an emotional connection for me and makes me a little biased.
Weller Special Reserve (green label) is pretty easy to find these days, about $50 a bottle and considered by some to be one of the more accessible PVW-adjacent bourbons.
I’ll add Booker’s to this list, if your friend enjoys sour mash flavor profiles like Jim Beam/Jack Daniels. It’s pricier, maybe over $100 now, and a bit harder to find.
Woodford’s Double Oaked may be my favorite.
Maker’s Mark is pretty popular and they have a few price tiers.
Also a great looking bottle with the red wax.
I’m a fan of Elijah Craig, personally. I’m not a drinker, but that’s my go-to when I decide I want a drink
To me it’s the best value for price bourbon I’ve found, and it’s very good. I haven’t tried very many of their higher end or limited offerings though.
I got one of their limited runs from a buddy about two years ago. I can’t really say it was better than the standard. A little “hotter”, even, swish which isn’t something I tend to prefer.
It’s not “fancy,” but Old Granddad’s Bottled In Bond is delicious. It’s just a very good, rye heavy bourbon.
That’s my standard, but it can be a bit hard to find
I just got done living in KY for about 5 years, the one I like for a reasonable price was Basil Hayden, I think it’s from the Jim beam distillery but it’s not too expensive and it’s nice and smooth. But there are literally thousands of different bourbon and even one distillery group might have several brand names, like the owners of Jim beam actually makes old grandad, makers mark, and knob creek as well
Jim Beam does make a ton of other brands as the biggest distillery, but Maker’s Mark has their own distillery. They are owned by Beam Suntory though, but they still have their own distillery, aging warehouses, etc. that you can tour. You even get to dip your own bottle into the red wax - I still have mine!
Sold in 2014
Good to know I went on my first toured before they got bought out.
Recently went on a tour and didn’t think that much had changed tho.
I like to buy from vineyards and distilleries I’ve been to. But conglomerates are buying everything up :/
I went in August 2014, and while they had a new cask strength blend they were doing, nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
I did get to dip a bottle of that new stuff and still have it. I can’t remember how they explained it to me, that it wasn’t the first run but was still the first batch, or first batch but not the first run or something. Anyway I figured some collector might want it some day, or maybe I’ll just drink it when I find out it’s worthless in 20 years. It’s still decent bourbon!
Have you thought about giving him a rye whisky? It is still a very American style of whisky. It might be a neat treat to have something just a little different.
Some good recommendations in this thread. You should give the following a try.
- Woodford Reserve Wheated. It’s very smooth and I think it’s the best value for money you can get. This is my personal favorite right now
- Michters Small Batch. Good and robust flavor
- Weller. If you can find it, but you probably won’t.
- Angels Envy is very good and smooth
- Four Roses Small Batch
- Penelope Toasted is alright. I enjoyed it, but it wasn’t wow value for the price. It’s a good bourbon though
- 1792 is good.
- Rabbit Hole is good
- Blade and Bow is good
Back when I was a drinker (7 years sober now) my drink of choice was whiskey in general, bourbon in particular.
That said, the best whiskey I ever had was a bottle of Yamazaki 12 year single malt. I got it as a gift when they just entered the US market and picked up a second bottle for ~$45 at the time. Highly recommended to any whiskey drinker.
Those bottles now run north of $150, so you’re better off being sober in more ways than one!
For sure! Though at the end of my drinking it was Ten High Kentucky as that’s all I could afford with the amount I was drinking.
What’s your budget? If your friend is into bourbon then most everything here he’s probably tried. To get a unique gift bottle will cost a bit more, depending where you are.
Elijah Craig. 94 proof. First company to age in Oak barrels. Around here 750ml goes for around 25-30 so it won’t blow ur bank
Their single barrel rye is great as well. Good intro to rye for someone that likes bourbon
Stubb’s Hickory Bourbon BBQ Sauce
It’s all high fructose corn syrup
Is there anything more American than that?
Gotta be pendatic here, Stubb’s is sugar free
You’re absolutely right I was thinking of sweet baby rays bbq sauce
BBQ sauce is just smokey ketchup, so go with the brand made with the best ketchup.
It’s a cheap option and often overlooked, but my go to has been Jim Beam Devil’s Cut for years now.