Favorite bourbon, favorite Scotch?

[COL Daub]

Bourbon: 1792 Single Barrel, Blantons, Makers Mark Single Barrel Cask Strength
Scotch: Balvenie Double Wood 12 yr

[GregS]

Someone mentioned Johnnie Walker Blue. My father in law passed away. We cleaned out the house and came across this. His friend was a high roller in Atlantic City and brought my FIL a bottle each time he went, and he went A LOT.



All unopened except that center bottle of Blue.

[Hi, my name is Joe]

That's quite the find. Too bad you can't trade that back in for your FIL.

[GregS]

Yep, it's a shame. He was an awesome guy.

[JCinPA]

[Sasquatch]

Been a scotch drinker a long time. I just finished a bottle of Balvenie double wood......one of the best bang for your buck single malts....."performs" above its age statement. Also if you can find it try GlenDronach 12 year original. If you like a sharried scotch whiskey like The Macallen 12 this is better in my opinion for the same price. As for Islay malts (very smoky and peaty) I have been a big Laphroaig fan but recently I bought a bottle of Ardbeg and I think I like it better. As for a blend to drink on the rocks or make godfathers with I have been drinking Teachers Highland Cream....I found it has a higher percentage of singlemalts in the blend then other blends do. Best part of scotch drinking is to try as many as you can until you find one or two that you really love.

[Bruce54]

Second on the GlenDronach. As with the 12, I like their 18 (Allardice) better than the much more costly Macallan 18.

[Craigar]

Received this for father's day from the good twin and just polished it off last night. I would say this is my new favorite Irish whiskey. IMHO it has more a Scotch character to it.

[Attjack]

[Nightrayne]

Hmm, I have several at the house and have tried a few more over the years, but I would not call myself an expert by any means. The best scotch I have owned so far was a Macallan 12, though I have enjoyed a Macallan 18 and would have it if I could afford it. The best Irish Whiskey I have owned (and had so far) was a bottle of Jameson Gold Reserve. American side - Wild Turkey American Honey is a definite favorite.

[Cheef]

Back when I partook it was ALWAYS George Dickel #12.
Regular Dickel if I couldn't find the 12.

[BigJoe]

Macallan is my favorite Scotch, Blanton is my favorite bourbon.

Does not mean I get them often though. 😂

[Hi, my name is Joe]

Burbon: Blantons, Blood Oath, Col Taylor
Scotch: Literally Everything from Glenlivet I've had them all up to the 18yr, Balvenie double wood, Talisker storm,

If I can't decide I'll reach for a Glenfiddich 14: scotch finished in bourbon barrels; pretty dang exciting...

I like my bourbon neat and my scotch with a single ice cube.

[EdF]

Me too!

[shify]

Scotch: Lagavulin is my fav. Bowmore small batch is my everyday drinker

bourbon: prefer four roses, Few cask strength and some of the Jefferson options

rye: Rittenhouse is my go to for mixing. High West (campfire or double) is my go to for drinking neat or on the rocks.

[Pirate Scott]

Love Four Roses Small Batch! Been trying a lot of different ones lately and that one still shines.

[Huskee]

My new additions to the collection. The Balvenie Double Wood is is the only one I haven't tried before, and I gotta say it is excellent. I believe it was Northside Brian who recommended it to me. Kudos!

[Northside Brian]

Huskee I'm glad you like the Balvenie. If you ever get a chance, you should pick up a bottle of the 14 yr old Caribbean cask. It is aged in rum barrels and is like no other.

[Huskee]

Northside Brian I've had it, although don't currently have it. It reminded me of bourbon at the time, it was more potent & spicy than the typical Scotch. Would you say the same, or was my experience out of context?

[realdocBBQ]

Doublewood is my fav!!! I like the Caribbean Cask, as well, but at $70 a bottle, I can't do much of that. Just finished off a bottle with my step-dad 3 nights ago, though. The Doublewood, I usually get a couple of bottles per month.

[Huskee]

If anyone has seen this in their local liquor store but was afraid to try it due to its shockingly low price (~$10-11ish), give it a go!



Benchmark is one of Buffalo Trace's cheapest offerings. Similar to Basil Hayden's (not Buffalo Trace's)in that it's a rye-forward bourbon, this is a GREAT tasting and high value whiskey! Sweet up front, smooth, has a kick of course, but honestly I didn't notice the grassy herbal minty-ness of rye, I wouldn't have known it was high in rye unless I'd read it. Personally I think (without a side by side) it tastes closer to Buffalo Trace, yet a touch smoother, than anything rye-forward.

My score: 8/10. Considering its price of $10-11/bottle, I adjust that to a 9.9/10. I am anxious to throw this in my next blind bourbon tasting with my pals and see how it stands up against the heavy hitters.

[Hi, my name is Joe]

I've passed over this a thousand times. I'll be sure to pick on up soon.

[Mr. Bones]

Thanks fer blazin' th Trail, Huskee!
If I see some, I'll give it a go...
Curious to see more of yer Blind Taste results

[ColonialDawg]

Old thread, I know, but don’t want to reinvent the horse. My favorite bourbons so far:

1) Four Roses Single Barrel
2) McKenna 10 year single barrel BIB
3) Baker’s 7 year
4) Wild Turkey Rare Breed
5) Eagle Rare 10 year

And here’s a little bonus I recommend that everyone needs to try - Knobb Creek Rye (I know, not bourbon, but a close American cousin)

Least favorite:
1) Buffalo Trace - I know a lot of people like it, but I was disappointed given all the hype
2) Russel’s Reserve 10 year

[Huskee]

Never heard of anyone not liking Buffalo Trace, but thanks for sharing. Good picks.

[ColonialDawg]

Huskee, maybe I just got a less than stellar batch of BT, I don’t know. I was disappointed, though, because everyone raves about it.