On the nose, there are faint notes of vanilla, and cooked corn, along with some caramel and oak notes. Theres a sense of sweet yet slightly bitter tea next to rye spice and a flutter of fresh mint. The 1920 is a crowd favorite on r/bourbon and for a good reason. The sip leans more into the caramel apples on the end and skips the citrus yet stays warm and mellow. Last I heard it was going for about three thousand a bottle if you could find it. 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 label launched with just two bourbons in its portfolio: the two-year Colonel James B. Beam and the more premium Jacobs Well. It made my Top 5. At the end of the day, it's a blue-collar spirit, made by thirsty farmers, for thirsty farmers. It was very, very nice bourbon, he says, wistfully. Will be looking to sample some others on your list particularly the Makers Cask Strength. I was more akin to the standard Makers than 46. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. This tends to produce a softer, less spicy whiskey. The whiskey is produced by. They were right. The finish is long, creamy smooth and sweet, with a persistent caramel and brown sugar note and a lingering note of bitterness at the end. Head on over to Distiller, or download the app for iOS and Android today! A wheated bourbon brand contract distilled at Heaven Hill Distillery, Rebel Yell is owned by Luxco. On the nose, there is a distinctive sweetness, along with ripe apple, caramel and a little vanilla. Flavor Profile: Sweet & Rich Larceny is based on a mash bill of 68% corn, 20% wheat and 12% malted barley. The first Black blender at a major distillery, Major previously made waves as the Whiskey Blender at Bulleit. Pappy Van Winkle, in his infinite wisdom, allegedly chose wheat in his recipe because he felt is matured more quickly, and bourbon could be moved to market at a younger age. The whiskey is produced by Brown-Forman. Top 10 Most Overrated Whiskeys - Bourbon Sippers Redwood Empire Bottled in Bond Rye . Weller Special Reserve, 12 Year Wheated Bourbon Blind Tasting: Weller 12 vs. Old Fitz 12 vs. Van Winkle 12, Four Gate Whiskey Announces Release 15.1, 15.2, & 15.3: The Bluegrass Trilogy, Old Forester 21st Release of Annual Birthday Bourbon, Press Release: Old Foresters Next Release in the 117 SeriesFeatures a Blend of Barrels Aged Solely in Warehouse K, William Larue Weller (Buffalo Trace Antique Collection), Rebel Yell Single Barrel 10 Year (added October 2016). 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. It is a small batch barrel selection based on casks hand-picked by Wild Turkeys father and son master distillers Jimmy and Eddie Russell. Just bought a bottle of Larceny and the more I get into the bottle the more Iike it. Retail - $80; Secondary - $250; Old Forester 117 Series High Angel's Share or Warehouse K (375ml) - T3. The palate carries that spice into peppery territory with hints of oak, vanilla, tart apples, and honey. Elijah Craig Small Batch came in sixth. Hi Dave! No, this isnt a single barrel expression. I admit I have gotten extremely lucky obtaining a few of these bottles. Here we go.. Barrell is a blender, not a distiller, and the flavor mastery of founder Joe Beatrice and master distiller Tripp Stimson have won the old bourbon guard over. They all use a similar mash bill, andsome reportedly even use yeast strains derived from the original Stitzel-Weller batch. The 2021 Old Forester Birthday Bourbon is bold, spicy, and fruit forward. ABV: 40% What are your top 5 bourbons? - General Bourbon Discussion It's a cask strength blend created by the blending masters at Barrell Craft Spirits and it is a doozy. But underneath its fundamentals swims a deep sea of factors additional rules and regulations, hype machines and deceptive marketing, false myths and a boom that began in 2008 and is still going strong today that make bourbon more complex than it seems. Makers is my flagship wheated bourbon. In fact, a lot of bourbons are cut from the exact same mash bills (grain recipes), barrels, and even proofs when they start aging. I'd say this is a bit of a draw on the nose. Theres a light, floral fruitiness upfront with a wisp of tobacco, flourishes of mint, and plenty of vanilla. These bargain bourbon brands can all be had for $25 or less, so make sure keep your home bar stocked! 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. Both mash bills are utilized for this bottling. That brand was owned for a while by Julian P Pappy Van Winkle, and is considered the inspiration for the Pappy Van Winkle bourbon. I drink so much Makers with BBQ, he says. You may opt-out by. (Read the recap.). ABV: 45% The whiskey has already won an impressive array of awards. Bourbon drinkers who enjoy spice and dark fruit will be fans of this release. Limited edition and long-aged bourbons go as quickly as they hit the shelves. Makers Mark could double their price and people would still buy it by the case. Buffalo Trace is more bright, vibrant, tropical, fruity, and herbal. 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). Notwithstanding the number of bourbon brands, however, and the veritable explosion in craft producers, now close to 2,000 operating distilleries, over 95% of all of the bourbon made in the United States is produced by 13 large distilleries owned by eight major beverage companies. Despite the increasing demand (and price) for much-hyped bottles, bourbon is an every-person drink. 63 percent corn, 27 percent rye, ten percent malted barley. You may or may not see these bottles show up in a more official form in a future version of this guide once we've tried them ourselves. Larceny is a wheated bourbon made from a blend of selected barrels made in honor of this legend. The result is bottled at 93 proof. George Dickel 15 Year Single Barrel . This bourbon may benefit from some airtime. Old Forester does a slightly better job filling it in comparison. Elmer T Lee (Wish it was still as easy to find as it was a few years ago) 2. Once again, this wonderful bourbon was in the running to win it all. Crafted at the Brown-Forman Distillery in Shively, KY. I Was Wrong: Old Forester 1920 Review - Blog - Bourbonr Home There are a variety of Very Old Barton bourbons on the market including an 80 proof, an 86 proof and a 90 proof. A pioneering brand, it was originally released as an exclusively bottled 90 proof bourbon whisky. It now goes on to compete for Best American Whiskey. #4 barrel char. That lower entry proof lends to more flavor from the mash bill (corn, rye and malted barley). ABV: 50% Ive always found a bright nutmeg note, which can really stand out in blind tastings. Weve already talked about how Weller and Pappy are the same wheated bourbon, so lets give Heaven Hills wheated bourbons some love. Honey and fruit mix with a clear peppery rye note next to a slight hint of oak, apple, and more vanilla. From your daily sipper to the best bottle to bring to a party, here are the best bourbons to drink in 2023. Don't drink and drive. Wheaters are my favorites, but I like ryes too. ABV: 40% Proof: The percentage of alcohol, displayed as double that of the alcohol percentage. The whiskey is NAS, but is believed to be four to eight years old. Theres certainly less refinement at play. On the nose, Larceny is sweet, offering fruit notes of peach and apricot along with candied citrus zest, and cinnamon. There is also a 57% ABV (114 proof) version that is priced under $30. ABV: 43% This is a BETA experience. Were just sayin. His bourbon incorporated a large percentage of rye, giving the whiskey a spicy and powerful flavor. If you love cinnamon notes, youll love this, Minnick says. But it goes into the barrel a 114 proof instead of 125 proof. One is labeled recipe B and is 60% corn, 35% rye, and 5% malted barley. Old Forester packs a banana note that I thought could dominate the competition if I happened to be in a banana mood. Old Forester Birthday Bourbon comes in at #3 on our list of overrated whiskeys. Theres no way around it, Wild Turkey 101 is great for the money. 2020 ModernThirst. This bespoke (and admittedly cool-looking) bottle became extremely famous and then extremely expensive in retail. Old Forester Signature Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, NAS, 50% ABV, is the oldest bourbon brand in the US and the first bourbon to be sold in bottle. Neither is particularly better than the other. McKenna has a classic bourbon nose of caramel, vanilla and charred oak. Maker'sMark, Old Forester: Experts offer top picks for budget bourbons He has contributed frequently to our bourbon coverage over the years and is someone we regard as a friend. Retail - $250; . I do not covet, nor feel compelled to obtain something that is nearly unobtainable for the challenge. Case in point is the original wheated bourbon, Wellers signature 12-year bourbon. A touch of water brings out more sweetness. At the end of 2018, Kentucky had over 7.5 million barrels of bourbon being matured, along with 600,000 barrels of other spirits. Sure. Quite the contrary, I didnt care for the whiskey in the blind tasting. The look of it was like that of a reddened maple syrup. So lets divide them into two categories: Standard Production and Limited Release. Larceny Bourbon is a decent sipping bourbon. Our tester found that the 12-year is a little rough around the edges neat it is meant to be an affordable bourbon, after all but dropping in an ice cube really opens up its sweet wheat side. 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. ABV: 45.2% Made using a single recipe and barrel per bottle, its between seven and eight years old and has more complexity than the Small Batch. Flavor Profile: Sweet & Rich ModernThirst's Comparison Reviews of Wheated Bourbons: 2020 ModernThirst. You might notice there isnt a price, proof, tasting notes or distillery information listed on this pick. This mash bill leans more heavily into the rye, creating a solid base for two very closely related bourbons. Larceny is a small batch bourbon (100 barrels or less) of barrels from the middle three floors of the aging warehouse. Old Forester is the more dark, banana-y, oaky, apple-y and earthy bourbon. I am looking forward to trying Old Fitzgerald. [CDATA[ Please be responsible. Plum, pear, cocoa and vanilla are among the tasting notes here. Old Forester 1897 Bottled in Bond Bourbon The 15 YO version is similar but far richer and complex. It has a suggested MSRP of $150, and Reserve Bar is your best bet for snagging a bottle.Garrison Brothers Cowboy Bourbon: Every year for the past eight years, Texas-based distillery Garrison Brothers has released their fan-favorite Cowboy Bourbon: an uncut and unfiltered straight bourbon thats produced in limited numbers. The rest of the nation is just kinda getting to know em, Minnick says. brands are now allocated and outside of the consumer's reach. Bourbon always has to be aged in new charred oak barrels at no more than 125 proof (or 62.5 percent alcohol), and it's not allowed to include any additives or colorings. Old Forester released the "Whiskey Row" line in late 2014 to celebrate the distillery's history. Rebel Yell has been a registered brand since 1936, although the recipe for the bourbon dates back to 1849. Bernheim wheated whiskey a bit harsh imo. The brand was resurrected by Diageo in 2015 as both a NAS and a 15 YO version. The mash bill here, made entirely of non-GMO grains, is 65 percent corn, 30 percent rye and 5 percent malted barley. Going in, I didnt give this much of a chance for my palate. Roughly 1,000 are currently active. On the nose, there is a creamy sweetness, along with cinnamon, vanilla and a little bit of charred wood. Maker's Mark Cask . 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). Henry McKenna Single Barrel, 10 YO, 50% ABV, is bottled by the Heaven Hill distillery. I had always found an over-oaked note here. Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond won the taste for Best Everyday Bourbon. San Francisco World Spirits Competition a few years ago, The 25 Best Whiskies to Try Before You Die, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. Medley Brothers bourbon is made by the father and son team of Charles and Sam Medley. This is similar to the various Pappy expressions. Tasting notes include monkey bread aroma and Texas-style Dublin Dr. Pepper, making for one interesting palate. Wheated: A bourbon with a higher than normal percentage of mash bill made up of wheat (the main grain remains corn). Either way, I W Harper is a brand in transition and one well worth watching. I have always found a peanut butter note in this bourbon, and that can be incredibly enticing during a blind tasting. Old Forester 1920 celebrates the Distillery history since 1920 was the year . This bourbon over-delivers for its price and continues to be one of the best value picks on the market. The brand has been on the shelves for over 150 consecutive years. I didnt find this note, however, and it failed to impress in the field. Learn how your comment data is processed. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. In addition, Minnick is the editor-in-chief of Bourbon+ Magazine and host on the Spirits Network. So its whiskey, at a great proof point of 86 and an age that Minnick says is roughly five-and-a-half years old, goes for less than $20. This high percentage makes the whiskey sweet and complex, a great choice for those looking for something inexpensive but rich with flavor. That said, I felt strongly Jack Daniels puts out worthy whiskey and deserved to be in this Best Everyday tasting. Great mouth flavors. Distiller Score: 86. Minnick has a unique use for one of bourbons classic names. Today we tasted Larceny and Old Forester, watch and see which one we liked best This is an easy drinking whiskey with a classic bourbon nose and taste and a smooth mouthfeel. Sign up for his free drinks newsletter. The brand was withdrawn from the US market in 1997, but continued to be exported. It's not lacking in sweetness, with tasting notes of nougat, figs, dates and caramel corn. On the palate, the whiskey is smooth and sweet, with vanilla and caramel and a little dried fruit. This is the Bottled-In-Bond version of Old Grand-Dad Bourbon, meaning it was all distilled in the same calendar year. Theres more of sweetness at play with toffee and vanilla up top. But this blind tasting was not its day. 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. Evan Williams Bottled in Bond Its a little smoother and feels softer on the palate. Early Times Bottled-in-Bond was a contender for Best Everyday Bourbon. The sour mash prevents wild yeast from entering the mash and causing infections. #4 barrel char. The sip leans into the toffee with a subtle dose of cinnamon spice lingering in the background with more of that honeyed corn. ABV: 46.5% It is aged longer than Jim Beam Original, also known as Jim Beam White Label. The 23 Best Bourbons to Drink in 2023 - Gear Patrol Buffalo Trace vs Old Forester 86 Comparison . No need to wait for a special occasion, these are great for any day of the week. Though it shares DNA with other Heaven Hill bourbons like Evan Williams and Henry McKenna, Elijah Craig Small Batch is balanced, with extra maltiness. Lingering caramel, apple, cinnamon and oak. Each of its releases makes clear what went into it distillery location, whiskey age, proof, etc. Distiller Score: 82. With tasting notes that include butterscotch, toffee, caramel and honey, this is one for the sweet tooths. Yes, aging and blending can have a big impact on taste. Little did I know, this substitute would play a big role in my blind tasting. It's probably a mixture of under-valued and underrated but Larceny is excellent bourbon for close to $25. Of course, its pretty good, too. Makers 46 is a good pick. Hence, I find the 20 year Van Winkle offering to be a truly fine bourbon, while the 23 year is a mess in the bottle. At $20 per bottle, this is a fantastic bourbon and an excellent introduction to wheated bourbons. Distillery: Brown Forman Distillery in Shively, KY (Brown-Forman) Makes it easy to see why some newbies often cant tell the difference between some of these bourbons, right? Its bottled at 115 proof for this distillery, thats the perfect proof, Minnick says. With all the easily available wheaters around, it really makes little sense to go through the Herculean effort and expense to obtain the limited editions. It's also the first brand. The toffee and oak mingle in the end as it slowly dissipates. That works out to 1.75 barrels of bourbon per resident or over 500 bottles of whiskey per capita. This is a BETA experience. Flavor Profile: Vanilla & Sweet They deserve to be on every Best Everyday Bourbon list for their massive fan base alone. You can get a lot of satisfaction out of that. It's a classic tasting bourbon with notes of oak, caramel and brown sugar. Its excellent. Old Elk Single Barrel Wheated Bourbon . This is a NAS Straight bourbon, so it is at least four years old. Evan William's Black Label is hard to beat for the money. Perhaps thats why it was in the running to win it all. 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. Larceny - Definition, Examples, Cases, and Processes Thanks for a great article. Today, Evan Williams Bourbon is distilled only blocks from the site of his original distillery. Hes pictured on the bottle. And the little factors between bottles do matter. Best I ever had was a couple weeks ago in a Chicago speakeasy the Office. The bourbon is made by Jim Beam, and retails for around $20 per bottle. Charles is a 50-year veteran of the Kentucky distilling industry and his familys history is closely intertwined with Kentucky bourbon. He has written multiple books on bourbon, has served as a judge at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and the World Whiskey Awards, is the founder of Bourbon+ magazine, was the former lead American whiskey reviewer at Whiskey Advocate, hosts The Fred Minnick Show podcast (about bourbon) and is the Bourbon Authority for the Kentucky Derby Museum.