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On the nose, there is a distinctive sweetness, along with ripe apple, caramel and a little vanilla. If you're looking for the best value in bourbon, just get this. Average Price: $26. Gear Patrol participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Its a little smoother and feels softer on the palate. Flavor Profile: Sweet At $30 per bottle, this is an outstanding value for an aged, over-proof, classic bourbon. But it goes into the barrel a 114 proof instead of 125 proof. In my early review days, I wanted to compare anything and everything that seemed similar. Really young wheat whiskey(4-5 years and younger)can be harsh and almost astringent, while rye-based bourbons tend to have a spicy characteristic that offsets that at a younger age. The mash bill here, made entirely of non-GMO grains, is 65 percent corn, 30 percent rye and 5 percent malted barley. And this year the brand got its 9-year age guarantee back, too. Wild Turkey is known to barrel its whiskey at a lower entry-proof, meaning the product is a lower proof as it comes off the still prior to maturing. Its also the recipe Pappy Van Winkle bought during prohibition. And the little factors between bottles do matter. Entry proof is 125 proof/62.5 percent. Had a shot in Kentucky a few years back when it was introduced. This is similar to the various Pappy expressions. There are obvious exceptions, most related to older rye based bourbons that are bottled at a higher proof such as George T. Stagg. Bourbon with an age statement and available at barrel strength for a good price? So lets divide them into two categories: Standard Production and Limited Release. But theres so many wonderful bourbons available. A store near me does private barrel selections of OWA and they are outstanding. Bottled in Bond: Under the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897, a bottled-in-bond spirit must be produced by one distillery in the same distilling season, then aged under federal supervision and cut and bottled at 100 proof. The toffee and oak mingle in the end as it slowly dissipates. No, this isnt a single barrel expression. Honey and fruit mix with a clear peppery rye note next to a slight hint of oak, apple, and more vanilla. Uncle Nearest Straight Rye . I like it. Nice, easy-drinking proof? By continuing to browse our website, you agree to first-party and third-party cookies being stored on your device. Old Forester does a slightly better job filling it in comparison. Larceny Barrel Proof A122 Bourbon . 68 percent corn, 20 percent wheat, 12 percent malted barley. This is the exact same juice thats just aged a little less. Kentuckys population is 4.3 million people. Seagrams closed the business in the 1970s, and Heaven Hill purchased the brand name in 1994, but no longer uses the original recipe; as Minnick notes in his book, The original yeast, mashbill, and flavor profile are gone, lost with time. But one thing the new bottle does have is time: its 10 year age statement makes it one of the older bourbons at this price range. In my past blind tastings, Old Grand-Dad did not fare well. So, I added it. I bought two. At 12 years, they become really nice sips, and out towards 20 years, they can still be outstanding whiskey. Sour Mash: A fermentation technique used by almost all bourbon distillers that employs pre-fermented mash from a previous distilling in a new mash. Im not ranking single barrel releases, or one-time releases. One of the comparisons I did was a side-by-side review of two Bottled-in-Bond bottlings: Old Forester's 1897 BiB versus Old Grand Dad BiB. Entry proof is 125 proof/62.5 percent. Early Times Bottled-in-Bond was a contender for Best Everyday Bourbon. Ive tasted vw 10 @$45 for a dbl in savannah. At $20 per bottle, this is a fantastic bourbon and an excellent introduction to wheated bourbons. It's a whisky I could drink any time and not get bored with and the 92 proof makes it a prime candidate for cocktails. The juice is really crafted as an entry point to Woodfords wider line that showcases their aging and blending prowess. The mash bill is undisclosed, but is believed to be the same, or very close, to that of Old Fitzgerald and the Pappy expressions. Old Forester was launched in 1870 by George Garvin Brown and named for Dr. William Forrester, who prescribed bourbon to his patients. At the end of 2018, Kentucky had over 7.5 million barrels of bourbon being matured, along with 600,000 barrels of other spirits. ABV: 40% Okay, this isnt exactly a huge price tag for a quality spirit. A pioneering brand, it was originally released as an exclusively bottled 90 proof bourbon whisky. This is Buffalo Traces higher-rye bourbon mash bill even though its not that high comparatively. I am looking forward to trying Old Fitzgerald. Egg nog spices kick this sip off. Distiller Score: 88. So no Jim Beam Soft Red Wheat, none of the individual Willett bottlings, none of the Michters 10 year bottlings that were(or were reported to be) wheaters, and none of the Buffalo Trace Single Oak or experimental releases that were wheated. It is available everywhere and thus resistant to the price gouging associated with brands like Buffalo Trace. Jeffersons has released a few wheaters in their Presidential Select lineupthat were great, as did Parkers Heritage. It's probably a mixture of under-valued and underrated but Larceny is excellent bourbon for close to $25. It was very, very nice bourbon, he says, wistfully. Its a fantastic bourbon, especially for the money, he says. On the nose, the whiskey offers sweet caramel and candied cherries, along with a persistent oak note in the background. Whats really frustrating is that living in KY just an hour or so from all these distillers you can hardly find some of these choices, and theyre ridiculously expensive if you do. The other is recipe E and is 75% corn, 20% rye, and 5% malted barley. The finish is medium length, smooth, showing caramel sweetness and pralines, along with spice and some oak notes. At the end of the day, it's a blue-collar spirit, made by thirsty farmers, for thirsty farmers. The whiskey sells for around $25. Retail - $250; . Pick up *several* bottles of 46 Cask Strength! Larceny Bourbon is a decent sipping bourbon. Old Fitzgerald is a bottled-in-bond wheated bourbon released twice a year by Kentucky's . It is bottled at 92 proof. The brand has been on the shelves for over 150 consecutive years. 2020 ModernThirst. There is also a 57% ABV (114 proof) version that is priced under $30. . As with all Pappy releases, the actual price youll pay for a bottle will likely be significantly more, but in a welcome change of pace, the yields were higher in 2022 than in previous years, so more bottles were available than usual. Wheat bourbons are different. // < ! Old Forester is richer, so it's less prevalent in this comparison, but it's definitely still there on its own without Jack Daniel's to cover it up. The first Black blender at a major distillery, Major previously made waves as the Whiskey Blender at Bulleit. Old Forester packs a banana note that I thought could dominate the competition if I happened to be in a banana mood. Its really a question we get very often: What are the Best Wheated Bourbons? The look of it was like that of a reddened maple syrup. But, I seem to head back to the Makers 46 as my go-to bourbon. Similar to the straight version, it is smoother, with a little more citrus on the nose and palate and a little dried peach on the finish. #4 barrel char. The bourbon is distilled under contract by various Kentucky distillers. Name: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style Whisky Age: NAS Proof: 115 Proof (57.5% abv) Type: Straight bourbon whiskey Mashbill: 72% corn, 18% rye, and 10% malted barley Producer: Brown-Forman Corporation Website: https://www.oldforester.com/products/old-forester-1910-old-fine-whisky/ Glassware: Glencairn Review I had always found an over-oaked note here. On the palate, the Old Forester 86 has a decent body showing a medium texture. Don't tell your bourbon-drinking friends, but Russell's spicy-caramel-and-vanilla-tasting Reserve 10-year-old bourbon is one of the best values in the bourbon world. Regular Four Roses (formerly called Yellow Label), Old Forester 100 Proof (formerly called Signature), Wild Turkey 101, Jim Beam Black Label, Larceny Bourbon, Maker's Mark, and Buffalo Trace. Flavor Profile: Rich & Spicy The latter is a blend of a 16-year-old bourbon and a 15-year-old high-rye bourbon that pays tribute to the familys first distiller, Jacob Beam, and its said to be some of the best bourbon being produced at the busy distillery. High Rye: A bourbon with a higher than normal percentage of mash bill made up of rye (as opposed to using more corn, wheat, or barley, the other main grains used in bourbon mash). Old Elk Single Barrel Wheated Bourbon . Bourbon, the Great American Spirit, is not as simple as one might think. So funky, so rich with cornbread and a honey butter, the only reason it did not win this tasting was it lacked the finish of the winner. I W Harper was widely popular in the 1950s and 60s, and was exported to more than 100 countries around the world. This bourbon over-delivers for its price and continues to be one of the best value picks on the market. While Eagle Rare made it through the nomination stage, when it come to buy at the retailer, Westport Whiskey & Wine did not have it. Early Times had already won a blind tasting with me previously, having captured gold in theBourbon Pursuit blind BIB Showdown. One is labeled recipe B and is 60% corn, 35% rye, and 5% malted barley. Buy as much as you can as this price isnt going to last. It now goes on to compete for Best American Whiskey. But those whiskeys are cut from the exact same distillation. Lingering caramel, apple, cinnamon and oak. There have been quite a few individual barrels of wheated bourbon released, or reportedly released over they ears. Age statement in the double digits for $40 or less? Flavor Profile: Sweet & Rich ABV: 45% Distiller Score: 82. It is 115 proof and reminiscent of the style of bourbon distilled by the brand during the prohibition era. Have tried, and enjoyed, the Makers Cask Strength. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. That leaves lots of expressions of excellent bourbon, many made by those same national producers, which are available only on a regional basis or have limited distribution. My personal opinion is a little different. Weller Special reserve has much in common with its more famous cousins, but sells, at least officially, at an average price of around $30a fraction of the cost of the Pappy expressions. The bourbon category has never been more popular than it is right now. It's got a good amount of heat on account of being 117 proof, but you'll still be able to make out classic bourbon tasting notes like caramel, brown sugar, vanilla and oak. Id keep my eye out for the upcoming single barrel Rebel Yell as well as any private barrel selections you can find from Weller, or Makers Mark in particular. If I tasted this flight again, theres a very good chance Id have different results. Elijah Craig Small Batch came in sixth. The first is as a collectors item. Minnick has a unique use for one of bourbons classic names. Each release represents a historical year for the distillery. Flavor Profile: Vanilla & Sweet At a retail price of under $50, however, it is an outstanding value, although very difficult to find. As the bourbon opens up, rye spice emerges along with a pronounced alcohol burn. ABV: 46% Flavor Profile: Sweet & Rich Distiller Score: 88 Very Old Barton 100 Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Very Old Barton, owned by the Sazerac Company, is produced in Bardstown, Kentucky. This whiskey is also BIB and is bottled at 50% ABV. First, bourbon can only be made in America, and its grain bill must include at least 51 percent of corn. As Bourbon Heritage Month rolls on, were taking a look at some expensive bottles of bourbon to see if we can find some cheaper bourbon counterparts from the exact same mash bill, barrel char, and barrel proof. Jimmy Russell is the worlds longest tenured master distiller. Really enjoyed reading it and appreciated your message. For my qualifications, I limited them to products under $40, available in the majority of the states and it could not be a limited edition. This makes a wonderful sipper or gift to a friend, and since Woodford Reserve is the official bourbon of the Kentucky Derby, you best believe this makes an excellent base to a mint julep with its myriad notes of fruit and spice. Boy, was I wrong! Get This Headphone Stand, Complete Guide to Buying Boots This Season, You've Never Heard of 2022's Most-Awarded Whiskey, Tasting WhistlePig's New 21-Year-Old Single Malt, The Best New Whiskey Releases of 2023 (So Far), Psst, Pappy Van Winkle Is Doubling Production, How to Build Your Own Bottle of Whiskey Online, Is Fireball Whiskey? This tends to produce spicier flavors in the bourbon. This was so complex, with a 20-second finish and layered in vanilla that it was easily the winner. Old Forester 1920 celebrates the Distillery history since 1920 was the year . Evan William's Black Label is hard to beat for the money. (Read the recap.). Fourth - Larceny With wheated bourbons riding a tidal wave named Pappy, Larceny flies under the radar. Fred Minnick is a longtime American whiskey writer and author of multiple bourbon books. Take heed, though, since it somewhat controversially took home Best in Show, Whiskey at San Francisco World Spirits Competition a few years ago its been harder to come by, and more expensive than it used to be. This is a side by side comparison review of the Old Forester 1920 and 1910, both are part of their Whiskey Row series. I want to really sit there and think about it when Im drinking it, Minnick says. Division 1: Old Grand-Dad Bonded (Whiskey 1) vs Larceny (Whiskey 2) Pre-Reveal Thoughts: Both noses are sweet, but Whiskey 2 is showing a bit more graininess. That bottling is aged at least four years in new, charred American oak. It is an heir to the Old Fitzgerald franchise; one of the first wheated bourbons. The Controversy Explained, Love Buffalo Trace Bourbon? Now, bourbon fans grow angry over their inability to find precious gold they once regularly consumed. Though it shares DNA with other Heaven Hill bourbons like Evan Williams and Henry McKenna, Elijah Craig Small Batch is balanced, with extra maltiness. In 1870, George Garvin Brown, founder of Old Forester, created the first bottled bourbon. This is a BETA experience. Ive had or have everything on the easy list. The exact mash bill is kept a secret but word on the street is that its a fairly low-rye mash bill with 12 to 15 percent rye. Glad to find your listing. This is a classic bourbon thats been around for a long time. Its price, proof and age suggest it could be your next home bar staple. Thats because Barrell is, at this moment, the best blender of American whiskey there is (they have the trophy case to prove it). If God gave birth to a bourbon child, this is what it would taste like, Minnick says. The palate carries that spice into peppery territory with hints of oak, vanilla, tart apples, and honey. Dont drink and drive. The Brown-Forman distillery also uses the same mash bill for their premium, high-end market bourbon, Woodford Reserve. New Riff Distilling was founded in 2014. 1870 Original Batch is also blended by Marianne Barnes, the protg of Brown-Forman's master Ninety-five percent of all of the bourbon distilled in the US is made in Kentucky. If Evan Williams were to sell this whiskey to someone else, that brand would mark it up to $40, and people would be happy buying it, Minnick says. This is typically a cornbread-laden favorite of mine. With no effort and normal market prices, I can have Makers, Larceny, and OWA. Note: the portfolio for Rebel Yell all received a makeover with updated labels in April 2019. Flavor Profile: Sweet & Rich In the case of Old Forester, it comes from the recipe used by distiller Brown-Forman during the prohibition era when the government ordered them to keep their doors open to make bourbon "for medicinal purposes." It's 115 proof with vanilla, nuts, and seasoned oak that has a bulky belly which shows its exceptional age. Im going through a bottle a month. Hardins Creek Jacobs Well: In summer 2022, bourbon legend Jim Beam launched a new high-end label called Hardins Creek. Going in, I didnt give this much of a chance for my palate. There is no shortage of good bourbon available today, although prices keep rising and will likely continue to do so for the foreseeable future. A slice of citrus arrives to lighten everything up on the short end. For instance, Jim Beam, Bakers, Knob Creek, Old Crow, and Old Taylor all have the exact same mash bill (75/13/12 corn/rye/barley), barrel char (level #4), and barreling proof (125 proof). Basil Haydens is a well-crafted bourbon thats pulled from specific barrels, blended, cut down to proof, and small-batch bottled under the watchful eyes of Jim Beams masters. This treasure from Buffalo Traces Antique collection does its namesake a service, representing some of the worlds best wheated bourbon, a style Weller himself pioneered. Both mash bills are utilized for this bottling. Average Price: $12. The bourbons range from the $70, 107-proof Old Rip Van Winkle Handmade Bourbon 10-Year-Old to the top-shelf, 95.6-proof Pappy Van Winkles Family Reserve Bourbon 23-Year-Old, which has a suggested retail price of $300. Regular Old Forester goes into those burnt barrels for another six to nine months. It's not lacking in sweetness, with tasting notes of nougat, figs, dates and caramel corn. Distillery: Brown Forman Distillery in Shively, KY (Brown-Forman) ABV: 46.5% Below are 8 brands of bourbon that retail for less than $50, many are under $30, that represent excellent values and that you have probably never heard of.