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I agree. Some of these allocated bottles, I can't get. I have had some great bottles and some not worth the money. I, myself started last year to find the best off the shelf bottles at reasonable costs. As for bad bottles, there are plenty. However Jim Beam white label or even Wild Turkey (80 proof) are not the best for slipping but great for mixing at their price points.
Great idea for a video. Would love to see you do other distilleries such as Heaven Hill, Makers Mark, Four Roses, etc. I have not had to top bottles of any of these, but agree with the best shelfers in all four. I had a sample of the Statesman in a bourbon tasting last month and did not care for it. Tasted like chewing on a piece of banana taffy.
Sadly, I loved Four Roses Small Batch. Last bottle I tried, was so horrible I couldn't believe it. It tasted like ethanol or Chemically. Disappointed was an understatement.
I hear a lot of folks absolutely hate four roses. Don't know if it's something that hits certain people's palates wrong or they have some bad quality control. I think most their stuff is pretty good but a little flat.
So I was digging into the SLB video archives recently to decide my next bourbon purchase. Comparing the old vids with current ones, it's nice to have the dynamic duo in front of the camera--a lot more conversational and you guys complement each other well. Kurt was a wealth of info with the old vids but there wasn't really an entertainment factor, and Trent seemed to be a reluctant participant when he first started, but you boys really put together a good show now and look comfortable doing them now. Great job.
SLB Classics 1:25 Trenton gets philosophical 2:50 Trenton apparently keeps none of the good bottles 😅 5:44 Trenton brings up his yard shrooms 🤢🍄 6:35 Agreed on least favorite, only one I have had and have been scared to try another one 8:15 Trenton’s memory is impeccable 9:31 just got my first wild Turkey today (went with rare breed)
Would love to see your take on MGP…it’ll be a video in itself with all the potential sourced products you could use. The new “Highest Rye” bourbon has me excited!
I'm all in on the Knob Creek nine-year-old but the Old Forester 1897 bottled in bond is my favorite old Forester product. I'm good with any of the Wild Turkey products except the 81. I've given up on finding Buffalo Trace products in NC. Great analysis!
Bourbon is so crazy to me. For me Benchmark Bonded might just be the best $20 bottle I've ever had. That stuff is sensational and has killed me in blinds before with how good it was. Wild how different everyone's palettes are. For me, my distillery of choice would be Wild Turkey with my favorite being Kentucky Spirit, shelf bottle is 101 > RareBreed and worst is my RR Single Barrel store pick. (But I adore RR10)
If Eagle Rare were more available here in OH, it would be my every-day drinker -- it's such an amazing bottle at the price point. Can't wait for the Buffalo Trace expansion to start yielding results...
@@jackhanson857Sadly the price has continuously gone up. I paid $59 for my last bottle and that's about my limit on one. It's going for 85-100 online secondary which is nuts.
Absolutely love what you guys are doing here with your channel. Father/Son duo is awesome. After each video, I want to sit and have a glass of bourbon with my buddies.
If I was on the Titanic on my way down......I would scoop up the Wild Turkey products as my one armful of bourbons allowed on the lifeboats......just say'in.
@@nwoz615atesman at least in FL where I’m at is a similar price to OF 1910 which is wild since it sucks. Edit: then again they also try to charge 100 bucks for Willett pot still lmao
Ya I was thinking that same thing. Entry level bottom shelfers are awesome mixers and cheap. Can't make a 75$ bottle a mixer that doesn't make sense at all.
If you are buying a car. It’s the same thing. The entry level doesn’t get all the bells and whistles as the top of the line. (To a point) pay more and get more (flavor, complexity, age etc) for the the most part when it comes to bourbon. Pay to play
My Baker's 7 is 8 years, 10 months, so they're often close in age. I love both Knob Creek and Baker's. I really like the KC12. I've never actually tried the Beam white label. I love the OF 1910 and 1920. I'm clearly a shelf-bottle guy. 😂 And Rare Breed, too. You guys just nailed all my favorite shelf bourbons.
@@Robert.Sheard Not sure if you will find Stagg there...but they usually sell one of the harder to get bottles everyday. And it changes from one day to the next. Went down on a Friday and was able to pick up Weller Reserve...went back on Monday, was hoping for an Eagle Rare, but had to settle for Blanton's. Enjoy your time down that way!!!
@@lfd_eng9219 Well, a miracle happened today. I often troll the Total Wine website and saw Stagg available in store in Lexington, KY. That status is often misleading, but my KY friend raced over there and asked and it really was there. She snagged one for me for $58. I'll collect it when I visit BT next month. Can't believe I fell into one like that.
I'll take Four Roses SB over Eagle Rare. I finally had the chance to try ER and was left wondering why all the hype. It's a damn fine pour, don't get me wrong... but I'm with Trent - I'll take regular ol' Buffalo Trace over ER 9 times out of 10.
For me the worst of the Benchmark line is the full proof. I want to use it for lighter fluid for my charcoal. Mellow Corn is the worst out of Heaven Hill.
Great idea for a video! Respectfully, Jack Daniels single barrel barrel proof is by far the best shelf bottle that brown-forman offers... Also Coy Hill crushes bday bourbon in the allocated category imo.
For the love of god I will never figure out why Jim beam is the best selling bourbon , some of their other products such as knob creek are awesome but regular Jim beam is awful
Over the 4th of July weekend I bought what is my favorite bottle of bourbon, yet. Clyde May's Special Reserve. 60 bucks here in Michigan. Such a depth of different flavors unlike any of my collection. Review it boys. You have been hugely responsible for my recent interest in Bourbons and I thank you for it. My wife? maybe not as much!
I love the Buffalo Trace products and I love your videos! My daily drinker is Buffalo Trace, and we can get it regularly in Oregon at about $29 for a 1L bottle. We can also find Eagle Rare pretty regularly on the shelves out here too for around $39 for the 750ml bottle. Good luck finding much Weller or Blanton's out here but when you do find it the prices are reasonable as the state of Oregon regulates the retail prices. Keep up the good work!
I have only tried Eagle Rare once and really enjoyed it, but regular Buffalo Trace is just average to me given the difficulty in getting it in some areas. I have a bottle of it but there are a lot of other more readily available bottles out there with the same price point and quality.
In Louisiana up until recently we could get Buffalo Trace for $17 a bottle anywhere, $15 at Costco, it's $22 now. Didn't grow up drinking it I have no fondness for the brand but that value was incredible, I've totally acquired a fondness for its taste.
Baker’s seven year is actually a minimum. And they are all single barrel. It says on the bottle how old that particular single barrel is, I have a Baker’s seven year that is actually 8 years and 8 months. I’ve had some bottles that are not very good at all, and some that I liked even more than bookers.
I wouldn't mind a best of MGP. Both with their own juice and sourced. They are easy to knock but don't get enough credit for putting out high volumes of quality whiskey.
The distance between Wild Turkey 101 and the 81 is immense. I can't imagine the latter, while I often enjoy the 101--especially mixed. Agree on Rare Breed. My everyday sipper is Knob Creek. I enjoy both the regular (100p) and the single (120p).
Yea I'm a lifelong turkey 101 drinker and I read in a novel that it was considered trash, I never understood that until I discovered that turkey 81 existed. I didn't ever know that was a thing I had it, it's horrible. That must why turkey has a bad reputation and they should maybe discontinue it unless it has some fans out there
About the only thing I would change. I would swap E.H. Taylor small batch for the Eagle Rare. Just as easy to get, and a better pour in my opinion. Well worth the extra $10.
I love knob creek 9, wild Turkey rare breed and OF 1920! Can’t find Stagg, but also love Eagle Rare. I rarely pay more than $70 but I can stock my bar with these great bourbons! Your shows are great as always!
@@GeauxRillaI'm suspecting that I've got a sour bottle of Russell's. I'm hesitant to buy another bottle to verify though. McKenna that I've tried is far superior, but then again I'd almost rather a pour of ten high than the bottle of Russell's I own.
Great video! Is it possible to increase the depth of field in the camera focus? I like to zoom in to look at the bottle labels and they were more out of focus this time. Thanks!
I liked the Wild Turkey Longbranch flavor but there was not enough of the flavor. I'd like to see a Longbranch in a higher proof and then compare them. Great show!! TonyB
Great choices! I have to say that with Buffalo Trace products, the least favorite was very easy to pick in Benchmark. However, that shelf choice is relatively hard since a majority of BT is allocated. I can’t imagine the amount of time that you guys took in discussing! Truly appreciate your efforts! Thank you for the content!
Buffalo Trace Distillery... I enjoyed Buffalo Trace bourbon for a while... then it disappeared from my local stores... Rare Breed? NEVER have seen it on the local shelves.
Please continue with other line ups from other distilleries sister brands as well like for brown formen Jack and Woodford line up for example. P.S. I love your guys content. Keep it up!
Birthday bourbon over JD Single Barrel Barrel Proof? That’s a surprise considering its 1/20 the price and price was a factor in KC9 Vs Bakers 7. (No hate, just an observation)
I agree on Knob 9 - love it. And I really do not like Jim Beam white label. Not good. I used to like WT101, but so many others beat it in blinds, so I am no longer buying it. But Rare Breed - love it. I didn't like Benchmark bonded, but I REALLY didn't like Benchmark 8.
Gotta agree with your evaluations . Obviously never had the Wild Turkey "best" bottle and probably never will... As always, a fair and honest review from SLB And if "hands are ever thrown", betting the farm on Kurt!!! Old guys rule!
I’m not much of a Wild Turkey fan. I did like the Longbranch and the 101 Rye, but I’m just not a fan of Rare Breed, regular 101, or Russell’s. I definitely prefer the flavors from a Buffalo Trace product compared to anything from Wild Turkey.
Nice comparison! Could maybe expand it to a part II with the next 4 largest distilleries. I'd particularly be curious about the Heaven Hill family, as many of my favorites come from them. I haven't had any of the top selections from the distilleries you chose, but of them I pretty much agree with what you have except for Old Forester. I do like the Statesman, and all the varieties. Some are better than others so while I can't choose which one would be my least favorite, it's still something I'd drink handily. Jim Beam gives me a special kind of shiver down my back, and not a good one. I had the WORST hangover of my entire life from that stuff. So bad it put me off all bourbon for 15-20 years. Now that I've discovered the pleasures of what a good bourbon is, I still won't drink it!
Eh Taylor over Eagle rare....if you consider it a shelf pick? OHLQ had a Russell's barrel proof "store pick", if you want to call it that, and it is excellent
+1 Knob Creek - but Bakers is wonderful and Basil Heyden is dengerously drinkable. Have never appreciated Wild Turkey so have never bothered with Russels. Bufallo Trace left me so unimpressed have never revisited their offerings. The one Old Forester I encountered was really disappointing - ditto the one Pappy Van Winkle I had - not worth the bother. We have some decent bourbons here but Australia has been a bif of a dumping ground for 2nd rate American whisky. Fortunately we're making heaps here now.
I'd have to disagree on the JD/Brown Foreman opinion that Kurt stated because the JD special releases are some of the absolute best things out there and their SiBBP is an outstanding shelf bottle. Shelf Buffalo Trace just isn't for me. I liked the Colonel E.H. Taylor and Blanton's, but I'll pass on ER or BT every time.
I agreed with everything except the birthday bourbon being the best from Old Forester. I actually think the OF Single Barrel Barrel Strength blows the Bday away.
I actually enjoy Wild Turkey Longbranch. Smooth and no bitter after taste. I'm overseas and can only get what they get in stock so I haven't tried Rare Breed, but I will...
Yeah, I happen to be one of those guys. I can do Russels but have given Wild Turkey a many-bottle chance and it turns out that I just don't like anything that has the name WT on it. Sadly, I really did want to seeing how it was the favorite bourbon of a dear, late, brother-in-arms of mine who passed well before I discovered my love for whiskey.
Old Forester Rye was my least favorite from OF. I love ryes and I can't enjoy it. Maybe it is because I started with Castle and Key Restoration Rye and Hard Truth Chocolate Malt Rye, Corsair Rye etc...
Have to agree with your shelfers. I haven’t had your top picks, but those would be my shelf picks for most. Would like to see a similar comparison of ryes and wheated bourbons.
I love the channel and watch every chance I get. Probably within the first day of posting! If I had one request, it would be the bottle placement when showing your rankings. Please put the #1 bottle or sample A on your right, so we, the audience, can see #1 on our left presenting in numerical order. Right now, we're always seeing #1, or A, on our right.
There is no denying that Jim Beam 80 proof is not a sipping bourbon. But, it does stand up well to a Beam and Coke. It is strong flavored, you may say, like Knob Creek - and I think that is good in a drink if you mix with a soda like Coke. The bourbon smell comes through well which is desirable. But by itself, its not good. Knob Creek on the other hand is great under all conditions, definitely my go-to. Thanks guys.
For some reason, I really like and keep buying bottles of Turkey 101, but I’m not a fan of either Rare Breed or the 80 proof. But my palate not sensitive enough to pick out exactly why….
Well now that you brought it up, I got to say buffalo trace is my least favorite and in my opinion the absolute worst bourbon ever. I think it's so bad I'd rather just drink straight water. As a matter of fact I'd rather have Jim Beam white label over Buffalo Trace any day of the week.
I agree with this list. Although I’m a certified sommelier and I come from the wine world, I do love Bourbon. I’d have to say Jim beam is the best of these 4. I’ve had them all. Hudson was just bad. To me like burned popcorn and graphite. I hated it. The willett too me reminds me of green tea and if I wanted a watery green tea, I’d brew one. I’ve never been a fan of basil hayden. I concur with your list.
My brother introduced me to Jefferson’s Reserve last year. I’m sad that I can’t get it here in Australia. My best that I can get here is Woodford’s Reserve….
I do prefer Buffalo Trace over Eagle Rare. I have a thing for BT Store Picks. That being said, I have all the shelf choices and none of the bottom or the top choices, I call that a win...
Not a fan of A. Nichols. When I tasted Longbranch rather blind (I mean I didn't know where it was from, not blind d., ya know) I was really surprised to discover where it was from. I swear I've had Eagle Rare 10 that was amazing and E.R. 10 that was dirt. You've got to go deep into the weeds for batches and vintages, and I'm just not going to do that. But the last E.R. 17yo I had was stunning! Bourbon hounds love those high proof bottlings; where generally the Scots are happy at 92 or 86 proof with only occasional barrel strength bottles, and Irish happy at even less. What do you think are the most interesting, best tasting low (80ish) proof bourbons? I'm a sipper, not a mixer. It's summer heat. I don't want to send 60+ ABV down the gullet all the time. What do you think?
How about each goes to liquor store with a budget and see who can get the worst new bottle of bourbon made. Blind them up, see who picked the worst of the worst.
I have a new pull that will not break the Bank... Wheel Horse Rye.... They also have a Good Bourbon. And I heard they may be coming out with a Double Toasted.... What I need to find out is that it hard to send you a bottle of the Rye, Bourbon, or even the toasted if I ever find it..
It doesn't surprise me that the least favorites are lower proof stuff. In tempering the whiskey down to a lower proof, a distillery also, of necessity, is diluting the aroma and flavor.
