Need help chosing bourbon

One of the selling points of the older Pappy Van Winkle bottles is that they come from barrels from the old Stitzel-Weller distillery here in Louisville. If you don't find Pappy, and you probably won't, the Jefferson Reserve 17 year is from Stitzel-Weller barrels and is available at Liquor Barn for around $94. If you want to spend most of the $150, add a bottle of Old Pogue at around $44.

I'm pretty sure in order to be called bourbon it just has to be from a mash bill of 51% corn and aged in new oak, which is also charred. In order to be called straight bourbon, there is a two year minimum, and if it is less than 4 years, that must be stated. That's why Early Times is no longer called a bourbon, except their 354 label (they use some kind of wood chips or something and an "accelerated" aging process but the 354 follows the guidelines, and is actually pretty darned good, and a great value). So, there's this new bourbon called Town Branch that is 51% corn, and get this, 49% malt. No wheat, no rye. Made by a distiller whose experience is in Scotch of course. Oh yeah, if it says Kentucky Straight Bourbon on the label, it must be both distilled and aged in KY.

Early Times is no longer considered a bourbon because at least part of it is aged in USED barrels. To add insult to injury it was and may still be aged in Indiana. A tax situation. It still could be called bourbon if it was aged in new,charred barrels, but not KENTUCKY bourbon since it is aged in Indiana.

Blanton's and Rowan's Creek are very smooth

For $150, you could do a bourbon flight.....with bottles!