Best bourbon varieties?

[bbhstiger5]

Any bourbon drinkers have a favorite?

[angeleast]

Angels Envy!! Followed by Whistle pig. Close second is 4 roses special batch and Jefferson's single barrel.

[RedTails]

My favorite bourbon you don't have to hunt for? Old Forester 1897 neat.

[angeleast]

My favorite bourbon you don't have to hunt for? Old Forester 1897 neat.

Good choice too. I always keep a bottle on hand. Bottled in bond is good too

[Turbine]

Wild Turkey Honey.

[VObserver]

Best bourbon at a reasonable price?

Ezra Brooks Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. 90 proof and smooth as silk.

[RaginCajun309]

Best budget bourbon: Buffalo Trace

Best Rye: Sazerac Rye

Best overall: Blantons

So many other really great choices and some mentioned above I’ve not tried.

If anyone has a chance to visit Woodford’s distillery. It’s heaven on earth!!

[bbhstiger5]

For someone just beginning their bourbon adventure, would Makers Mark be a good place to start?

[RaginCajun309]

For someone just beginning their bourbon adventure, would Makers Mark be a good place to start?

To me Makers was the only bourbon you could regularly find in bars, especially where I was living UON north, about 20 years ago. Because of that, it was my go to then but now there are so many better options.

Makers reminds of a buddy who used to swig whiskey then look at you with a wince on his face and he’d say in a deep raspy voice “smooooth.”

[RaginCajun309]

To clarify my post, Makers I would not recommend to a bee bourbon drinker. Get a bottle of Buffalo Trace and enjoy. It’s great with a mixer, pretty darn good on the rocks and serviceable neat.

[RedTails]

For someone just beginning their bourbon adventure, would Makers Mark be a good place to start?

The following advice is if you're looking to drink bourbon neat or on the rocks:

If I were you, I'd cut my teeth on one or more of these:

Makers 46 (90 proof)
Elijah Craig Small Batch (94 proof)
Old Forester 1870 or Statesman (90 & 95 proof)
Makers Mark 101 (relatively new offering)
Wild Turkey 101

If it's in the budget, my first purchase would be these three: Makers 101, one of those Old Foresters, and Wild Turkey 101.

Tasting those side by side you can see a wheated bourbon vs. a Brown-Forman offering vs. WT profile.

Depending on which you like more, you can branch out from there.

[leeman]

Beam

[zephyr]

Whistlepig

[Ragin' Realtor]

Pinhook Rye.

[zephyr]

I like some Elijah Craig for random night sipping since its cheaper than many others but feel it has a nice body to it