areopagite wrote:I may be wrong about Bulleit. I just remember thinking it was dangerous--too easy to drink. It is very sweet though.

I think Bulleit has great bang for the buck- BUT be warned. It gives me a fucking headache the next day- a crawl under a rock and die headache. It has the same effect on some of my other bourbon-consuming friends so it's not just me. Dirty water perhaps? It is very easy to drink, and has a nice bite, and spicy attack. One small glass with a single ice cube is all I can take.

I like em straight, one ice cube tops. I keep in the refrigerator though.

Bulleit is ok, rarely buy bottles but I'll get it in a bar.

Maker's bores the crap out of me. Started on that stuff.

I usually see it as the older, the better, but haven't had much older than seven years lately for some reason.

I used to have a bottle of fancy stuff which I'd drink a glass or two of, and then switch to rebel yell.

Anybody tried Willie Nelson's Old Whiskey River? That stuff is OK!

Drank my first glass of Turkey 101 at a Halloween party late in the night and woke up not knowing how I got where I was. Tasted goooood

abcgroupdocumentation wrote:what's the age statement on your Black Maple Hill? And...where was it made, that is, which city in KY?

No age statement that I can find, made in Bardstown. I'm guessing 12+ years...

I've found that Bulleit (straight) is my favorite of the "best bang for the buck" bourbons. I've never experienced any headaches though (except when occasionally drinking to excess).

Bulleit is a definite favorite for me. I only get headaches when I drink too much.

Sweet is not a characteristic of Bulleit, IMHO.

Table bourbons (ones you will drink regularly at low cost):

Knob Creek - In your face, spice and leather. About as good as it gets for the price.

Wild Turkey 101 - Spicy, long finish, good bite...not for the faint of heart

Bulleit - The best of the everyday bourbon's for me. Nothing especially unique about this bottle, just a nice solid drink. Good finish and moderately spicy tones.

Elijah Craig 12 year - Odd mix of sweetness with the rye heavy finish. Definitely worth keeping a 1.75 bottle in your bar.

Rittenhouse Rye - The best $15 you can possibly spend on a bottle of whiskey....period.

With all of these choices I honestly think that there is no excuse for Makers or Beam....you might as well get a bottle of Canadian Mist.

Special stuff (either harder to find or pricier):

Old Forrester 2007 B-day bourbon - Go grab a bottle of this now as only 8,500 bottles were produced. You will never be able to get a comparably complex 12 year bourbon for $30.

Old Granddad 114 - Really big burn, caramel and wood are very prevalent here.

Evan Williams Single Barrel (1997 vintage) - Very heavy on the cedar wood flavor...a bit leathery. I wish the finish was a bit longer but overall pretty stellar for the price.

Old Rip Van Winkle 10 year (107) - The introductory bottle from this legendary family of distillers is a watermark for 10 year old bourbons...great complexity for its age.

Ridgewood Reserve 1792 - I just discovered this and I am in love with this bottle. Very leathery with medium spice.

Rowans Creek - One of the few "mild" bourbon's that I enjoy. This one has a complex flavor that does not make me wish the burn was heavier. Very woody and sweet.

Woodford Reserve - Very sweet and almost vanilla in it's flavor. This is one that I have to be in the right mood for.

Pappy Van Winkle 20 year old - I got to try this only because I was on a company tab but this still stands out as a remarkable drinking experience. The perfect mixture of complexity and spice....I still have not bought a bottle of my own due to the price...

Elmer T. Lee - This is a bit strong for me. Have to water it down a bit.

blanton's and eagle rare, tonight.

great stuff, blanton's is a little higher quality.

Knob Creek tastes like a 2x4 soaked in turpitine, but isn't that bad with just a splash of coke. Smooths the whole thing right out.

Obviously, you've never had turpentine soaked wood.