We all have sentimental favorite whiskies. Those “must have” bottles we cannot live without. The ones with back-ups (and even back-ups of back-ups). Some may even be secret indulgences. You know the ones, whiskies only you can love.
SENTIMENTAL FAVORITE WHISKIES
So, what makes a favorite? Maybe it’s a first bourbon, or bottles which tug at past experiences and fond memories. Or the first whiskey with which you connected – its aromas and flavors leapt from the glass – begging you to smell and savor each one. And then there’s the bottle for an evening’s nightcap – after trying something new.
HUMBLE BEGINNINGS
Years ago, I subcontracted for a software company and was asked to talk at a business event in Louisville, Kentucky. At the close of each day’s events, our hosts had scheduled meet and greet networking sessions.
To highlight Kentucky’s greatest export, the event promoters arranged a pseudo bourbon “tour” in a hotel breakout room. There, samplings from Brown-Forman, Buffalo Trace, Four Roses, Jim Beam, and Maker’s Mark were poured by distillery emissaries. I knew little about bourbon, but to be sure, I partook and my fascination began.
Today, after all these years and many purchases and pours, I’ve come up with ten bottles which are always open in my bunker. Certainly there are others, but these are in some sort of irregular rotation. I’ll share them with you below.
FIRST WHISKIES
In those early days of this great adventure, Four Roses and Maker’s Mark made quite an impression. Caramelly brown sugar and nice bourbon spice – What more needs to be said. There is always an open bottle of Four Roses Small Batch in my bunker. This bourbon is readily available in here in Idaho where I live, so as each $35 bottle nears empty, it’s easy to grab another.
Over the years, my palate has matured and I’ve moved on from basic Maker’s. My bunker now houses a recent Maker’s Mark Cask Strength release at $60. In addition, I also have several wonderful bottles of Idaho State Liquor Division (ISLD) picks (think Store Pick Whiskey) produced by Maker’s Mark. They are next level takes on the popular Maker’s 46 Stave Selection process.
VALUE WHISKIES
As with most of us in the early days of our bourbon educations, I stayed under the $40 mark. An early standout for me was Eagle Rare. And even today, I believe it is near impossible to find a better value for the money. At about $35 (in Idaho), Eagle Rare offers great aroma and flavor, and it’s a 10 year old bourbon. There’s always an open bottle on the shelf and as it is now becoming a bit challenging to find, I’m always on the lookout for a back up (or two).
Another bargain bourbon I enjoy is Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond. While I’m certain it has its detractors and will never win any awards, I think it’s a nice pour. And for me it’s just good enough for an evening’s last dram when I want just a wee bit more. Best of all it’s often on sale for $15.95 (or less). Being a Bottled-in-Bond 100 proof bourbon it’s a no-brainer for it to be a staple on my shelf.
HIGH PROOF WHISKIES
As I’ve previously blogged, Adam, my local Liquor Store Manager coached me along this whiskey trek. He turned me on to my first high proof bourbon, Old Forester 1920. My palate was maturing and he had been suggesting I might be ready for some heat. At $60 and 115 Proof, 1920 was both the most expensive and the highest proof whiskey I’d had to that point. But oh-my what a bourbon. Aroma and flavor and finish. I always have a bottle on my shelf.
With the additional proof, I’d found my mother lode: big, bold, high proof bourbons which are earthy, sweet and full of oak – and I wanted more. Five of my top six all time bourbons fall in this group. There is no single bourbon here, these are batched offerings – Stagg Jr ($50), Elijah Craig Barrel Proof ($60) and Booker’s ($85).
Each year, Buffalo Trace releases two batches of Stagg Jr. (Spring and Fall), Heaven Hill three batches of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof (January, May and September), and Jim Beam, 3-4 batches of Booker’s (about every 3-4 months). All releases are different, and all above 125 proof (some even exceed 130 proof). Mmmm … bold, high proof, earthy, sweet and full of oak … my favorite. There’s always an open expression from each distillery on my ready to go shelf.
RARE WHISKEY
Early on Adam also told me about the ISLD Lottery which is open to the Idaho public. At regular intervals, the state offers the opportunity for its patrons to purchase rare and hard to find whiskeys at MSRP. One of my early lottery entries yielded a bottle of Weller Antique 107. While there may be better bourbons, an open bottle of Weller Antique graces the shelve allowing me to revel in my first lottery win. At about $50, this bourbon is increasingly difficult to secure, so I seldom pass when I get the chance to buy.
SECRET INDULGENT WHISKEY
And my secret indulgence? A bourbon from DryFly Distilling out of Spokane, WA. I am a fly fisherman, so I feel OBLIGATED to try their offerings. I began with DryFly Straight Wheat, then the DryFly Straight Triticale, and a DryFly Wheat finished in Huckleberry Port barrels. My favorite is DryFly Bourbon 101. At about $40 (often less on sale), I always have a bottle on hand.
YOUR TURN
So, there’s my list, in all its ragged glory. I know some of you will like a few of the ones I’ve listed and others will question my palate – and I’m good with that. It’s MY list!
So now it’s your turn. What are your sentimental favorite whiskies?
Click the ..LEAVE A REPLY.. button in the field below to enter your favorite “must haves”.
Sentimental Favorite Whiskies written by Brian Dawson
Whiskey for the Ages editor
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