Basil Hayden is for weaklings. It's only 80 proof! Man up and drink Old Grand Dad 114 (same mash bill). It's not aged quite as long, but it's barrel-proof and costs half as much.
Elmer T. Lee is legit. Blanton's is okay, a bit overpriced.
Whoever mentioned Jack Barrel Proof, now that's a sleeper. Absolutely excellent (even though it's Tennessee whiskey). Get it while you can.
Jefferson Groth, I never had. But I heard good things.
Top Five Bourbons You Need to Try (And Won't Be Able to Find):
Russell's Reserve 1998 -- Came out this year, $250 a bottle. Best Bourbon Wild Turkey has ever made!!! Only 2,000 bottles released
John E. Fitzgerald -- $300-plus a pint! Also came out this year, also super limited release. It's like drinking angel tears.
William Larue Weller -- Part of the BTAC release. $80 retail. Consistently ranked as the best bourbon every year (yes, better than Pappy -- of course, it's made by the makers of pappy)
Pappy -- Yes, it's here because it is the best. If you ever had some, then you know what I'm talking about. If you haven't, then... don't bother looking for it.
Four Roses Limited Small Batch -- Another once-a-year-release. Around $120 per bottle. So good, so smooth, so flavorful.
Top Five Bourbons You Need to Try (and can find)
Booker's -- Beam puts out a lot of good stuff, including Knob Creek. But of all the juice in their lineup, Booker's is the way to go. No doubt.
Wild Turkey Rare Breed -- Like Booker's it's barrel-proof. It's complex, yet smooth. Highly versatile, net, rocks, mixer... it works anyway you want.
Elijah Craig 12 -- A bourbon aged 12 years for $30? It's an impossibly great value. But the jig is up. Soon, EC will no longer be aged 12 years, HH is disbanding its aged statement. Get it while you can.
Four Roses Single Barrel -- If you can't score the limited small batch release, try a bottle of single barrel.
Henry McKenna Single Barrel -- Bottled in Bond, aged 10 years (100 proof), around $30... need I go on?
