Bourbon Suggestions

A friend of mine wants to find her husband a "special" bottle of bourbon to celebrate the birth of their first child.

The top of the list is Pappy 15, and I know it's being released sometime in the next 2 weeks, and she and I are both working on getting a bottle...

I was wondering if anyone had any other suggestions for special bottles.

Westport Wine and Whiskey was very helpful and suggested the Jefferson Reserve Presidential Bottle.

I think she is trying to keep it under $100. Does anyone have any idea for limited run stuff that would fit this bill?

Thanks!

This year's Old Forester Birthday Bourbon is good. It's about fifty bucks.

This year's Old Forester Birthday Boubon is good. It's about fifty bucks.

So appropriate. That would be what I go for...

There are a -lot- of good Bourbons out there in the price point you're after. If you drop me a PM I'll be happy to point you toward a -great- bottle of (Barrel Strength) Four Roses OESK for around 65 bucks.

I wish you the best of luck on the 15 year Pappy...I've been -extremely- lucky over the past couple of years to be in exactly the right place at exactly the right time when it comes to the bi-annual releases. That being said it has become extraordinarily difficult to find. "My people" tell me that this falls release...if there is one...will be extremely small. This is compounded by the reality that Bourbon is the new Tequila (remember that trend)...or Scotch (and that trend)...in other words it's what all the cool kids on the left and right coasts are drinking now days. To get a sense of what I'm talking about check out some of the Bourbon auctions on Ebay...fricking incredible what some of this Bourbon has sold for...it's equally incredible how many of these auctions originate in Illinois and New York (scratches head)...

http://www.ebay.com/csc/i.html?_ftrv=1& ... ld=1&rt=nc

They even want over $100 for a empty bottle from Pappy! Certainly ridiculous. http://www.ebay.com/itm/AN-EMPTY-BOTTLE-OF-PAPPY-VAN-WINKLE-15-YEAR-OLD-BOURBON-WHISKEY-/221134748493?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item337ca87b4d

They even want over $100 for a empty bottle from Pappy! Certainly ridiculous. http://www.ebay.com/itm/AN-EMPTY-BOTTLE-OF-PAPPY-VAN-WINKLE-15-YEAR-OLD-BOURBON-WHISKEY-/221134748493?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item337ca87b4d

Which brings me to believe (even more so than before) that what the bottle -says- and whats actually -in- the bottle may not always be one and the same. Case in point, recently I was pleased to see a bottle of 15 year Pappy anchoring the back rail at a local blue-collar-out-of-the-way-off-the-beaten-track watering hole. After ordering a round for the lovely bride and I, there is NO...repeat NO way that what was in the bottle was Pappy...

EBAY has finally banned the selling of alcohol... the Pappy facebook page has an article up on it.

Anyone have any feelings on the Jefferson Reserve Presidential?

I have offered my friend's wife my unopened bottle of the 12 year, but it's my last one! (someone drank my bottle of the 20yr)

Also, I had suggested the Birthday, but he apparently doesn't like Old Forrester. Which is sad, because Old Forrester Signature is the best value bourbon I know of.

That sounds nice. You could also spring for a bottle of Wild Turkey Traditions...

Also, I had suggested the Birthday, but he apparently doesn't like Old Forrester. Which is sad, because Old Forrester Signature is the best value bourbon I know of.

I have not had this year's version, but previous OF Birthday's I've had bore little to no resemblance to Old Forester or Old Forester Signature. I'd give it a shot.

Steve's recommendation for the FRSB Cask Strengh is good.

In the $50 range, Old Pogue is a great bourbon.

If you can find any of Buffalo Trace's Antique Collection, particularly George T. Stagg (aged around 16 years and bottled at approximately 140 proof) or William Larue Weller (aged around 12 years and bottled at approximately 120 proof) you should definitely go that route. These are pretty pricey bourbons, and I have heard can be more difficult to track down than Pappy.

Heaven Hill recently released Elijah Craig 20-Year Old Single Barrel, replacing the 18-year old. I haven't had it, but have heard good things. It's quite pricey at $130, and only 1,300 bottles were produced in this year's release, so it also could be difficult to find.

I haven't had the JR Presidential, but here are some reviews from Bourbon Enthusiast: http://www.bourbonenthusiast.com/forum/ ... aybottling
The general opinion seems to be that it's a good to very good bourbon, but questionable if worth the price.

* Edited because of "a tiny tad of linguistic pedantry. . ."

EBAY has finally banned the selling of alcohol... the Pappy facebook page has an article up on it.

Cool. Here's another article on how the deal went down and the reaction to it...

...eBay to shut down its informal marketplace for collectable spirits and infuriate scores of whisky and beer collectors. On one hand, this move is disastrous, as eBay provided an essential marketplace for moving products with extremely low allocation to regions that simply couldn’t get them. On the other hand, it’s also a slight favor to whisky lovers who began seeing the marketplace absolutely run away with almost any collectable spirit....


http://www.drinkspirits.com/other/ebay- ... ernatives/

Also, I had suggested the Birthday, but he apparently doesn't like Old Forrester. Which is sad, because Old Forrester Signature is the best value bourbon I know of.

I have not had this year's version, but previous OF Birthday's I've had bore little to no resemblance to Old Forrester or Old Forrester Signature. I'd give it a shot.

True this.

Also, I had suggested the Birthday, but he apparently doesn't like Old Forrester. Which is sad, because Old Forrester Signature is the best value bourbon I know of.

I have not had this year's version, but previous OF Birthday's I've had bore little to no resemblance to Old Forrester or Old Forrester Signature. I'd give it a shot.

True this.

.....and its good for deglazing a pan!!!
http://thatvampinlady.blogspot.com/

Also, I had suggested the Birthday, but he apparently doesn't like Old Forrester. Which is sad, because Old Forrester Signature is the best value bourbon I know of.

If you can find any of Buffalo Trace's Antique Collection, particularly George T. Stagg (aged around 16 years and bottled at approximately 140 proof) or William Larue Weller (aged around 12 years and bottled at approximately 120 proof) you should definitely go that route. These are pretty pricey bourbons, and I have heard can be more difficult to track down than Pappy.

Good luck. I just got a bottle of Stagg after 2 years of trying. Good thing too since my previous bottle is almost empty. The Stagg got to the stores around September 28 so I doubt there's any still around.

.....and its good for deglazing a pan!!!
http://thatvampinlady.blogspot.com/

Now you're talkin'. A swig for you, a glug into the pan, another healthy swig. Everybody's happy.

[Robin Garr]

May I jump in with a tiny tad of linguistic pedantry? I wouldn't do this if we weren't dealing with an icon of Kentucky nectar here, but Old Forester does not now, and never has, had a double-R in it. It is "Old Forester," an elderly gentleman who maintains the forest as his profession and pride.

http://www.oldforester.com/