Great topic for a video, Jason. I mostly agree with your list but, like someone else commented, I wouldn't pay anything close to $100 for Eagle Rare. Bottles I would add to the list are Col. E.H. Taylor Small Batch and Weller SR or 107. Knob Creek SiB store picks usually get my attention, as well.
I really appreciate this video. I’m fairly new to bourbon and try not to double up on bottles but there are a number of bottles on your list that I really like (KC12, ER, RR Private) and it’s nice to know that I shouldn’t feel bad about having a backup of.
Love this video. I live in an area (VA) with ABC, but store drops give hope, and occasionally I travel regionally. Very helpful to know what to grab, and I already trust your palate. Keep up the great work😎
1. Russell's Single Barrel 2. Blade & Bow 3. Old Forester 1920 4. Eagle Rare 5. Saginaw Rye Double Oak 6. Maker's Mark 46 Cask Strength 7. Weller SR 8. Red Breast 9. Jack Daniels Single Barrel Barrel Proof 10. Widow Jane 10 Year
Snagged my first 4 Roses single barrel store pick yesterday. It’s a 10 year 1 month tear 6 OESK. That damn bottle blew my socks off. Definitely on my radar now.
Agreed $100 for ER is crazy. Please don’t encourage people to pay that much for a $30-40 bottle. It’s great and I buy it every time I can find it near retail.
Great list Jason! Knob 12, EC BP, Eagle, russels SB SP all on my list too. One SB I'll always get if different than what I have is New Riff! Especially store picks.
For a single barrel Bakers 7 is my go to. Agree with you on Eagle Rare such a solid bourbon here in Colorado its findable some stores have it around $59-69 lucked out and got one for $34 at a Total Wine in Denver earlier this year. Jason also lastly tried the Clermont Steep first time this week. I know you werent a fan but I loved it😋🥃
That's the point. They are all over the place price wise. It's a 40-50 dollar bourbon. But some places it's even cheaper and some places it's marked up. Again...either way....I'm buying it.
Love the video. I agree with your single barrel picks. For me, I'm always picking up a Four Roses, I'm almost always picking up a Russell's Reserve, and I'm sometimes picking up a Jack Daniels. I've also started to grab Blue Note Juke Joint picks. Other than those, I agree with the Four Roses Small Batch LE and the Stagg. The others, I'm probably passing on, but that's probably more because I'm trying to be somewhat fiscally responsible.
The largest local liquor store here in Fargo, North Dakota regularly does store picks of Buffalo Trace, Eagle Rare and Blanton’s. A few years back I was able to buy multiple 1.75L Eagle Rare store picks for $60 each. The 750ml were $35. Their Buffalo Trace store picks are usually fantastic and you can’t got wrong for $24.99!
JD Single Barrel Barrel-Proof and Bakers 7 are on my list of essentials. I am also a fan of Four Roses Single barrels so I will start looking out for the barrel strengths and LE versions. I like most things from Buffalo Trace, apart from their namesake bourbon. Bourbons that I have yet to try that could make my list are some of the New Riff Single Barrels / Ryes, Rare Breed, and Elijah Craig Barrel Proof. I am also curious about Knob Creek Single Barrels and things from Chattanooga.
Great list Jason. Here in Ohio, as you probably know, we get OHLQ picks of Old Scout SB Bourbon and Rye usually a couple of times a year. It's MGP juice, but Smooth Ambler does a great job of picking barrels and they're always hitters in my book. And at $50 they're a steal. Have a bourbon from a 2022 release open now and it's one of my favorite bottles of 2023!
Great hunting list! I scored a case of Eagle Rare for 29.00 each, 9 Staggs for 42.00 each and made a trade and got a Jos A Magnus cigar blend batch a 86 that’s incredible! Cheers
@@fredgrebner526 I have a friend who’s best friend works at a big box store and he lets me in on bottles so I get them for myself, my sons and a few of my bourbon friends. A couple of weeks ago I spent a little over 2,700.00 dollars and got 3 G T Staggs, 2 Thomas H Handy, 2 Rock Hill Farms, 1 Elmer T Lee, 5 EH Taylor straight rye, 5 Blanton’s, and 1 Blanton’s Gold! I also got the box that the three Staggs were in and the nice paperwork that comes with them and the paperwork that comes with the TH Handy bottles. I spread the good fortune and I’m weekly hoping for another text! Cheers!
@@maness2112 hard to believe but I had another massive score not long after. 3 GT Stagg, 2 Thomas H Handy, 2 Rock Hill Farms, Elmer T Lee, 6 E H Taylor rye, 5 Blanton’s, Blanton’s Gold, gave some to friends for what I paid and made some awesome trades. Still have the receipt over 2,800.00 and the box the three pack of GTS came in with some cool paperwork with the GTS and the THH
There are some bottles I like that will always be picked up if found at MSRP: Stagg Jr, Larceny BP, EH Taylor Small batch, EH Taylor Single Barrel, Weller 12, Blanton’s, Blannton’s SFTB, CYPB, and Weller Full Proof. There are some I don’t like but can’t help myself from buying: Eagle Rare, Antique 107. I either love or hate Eagle rare, depending on mood or bottle. I legitimately don’t like the Antique 107 unless it follows Maker’s mark, but it’s a good gift. The only things I’m hunting are Old Carter and Stagg Jr 16 … at MSRP. I’ve kind of given up on finding BTAC at MSRP. 😢
Salute to you Jason for buying the RR and 4 Roses SB BS. In my area the RR store picks are now $88 min. 4 Roses SB BS are $92 min. Lucky 7 I may give a go on.
This is a great topic to share. Thank you. Per your request- bourbons I will always purchase given the chance are mashbill based. I prefer some rye in the mashbill, less than 20%, and a bourbon aged 6 years. Ior more. I have run out of space to store in my liquor cabinet (Florida) and have 4 other cubby holes in my condo for overflow as well as a full cabinet in Maryland, so I search for palate over brand. Cheers to you as I finish a bottle of Redbrest 12 year opened in December last year for a whiskey tasting we hosted. 😊
I started drinking bourbon about 15 years ago and ER10 quickly became my favorite. I never had a problem finding this for $30-35 until about 5 years ago and now it is almost a unicorn with most stores limiting purchases to a single bottle.
Funny, I started the other way: bourbons first and recently into single malts! Eagle Rare is great for its price, but increasingly harder to find here in Canada
When I was in college back in 2017 I bought a bottle of Eagle Rare for $35. I wasn't "into" bourbon yet, and I gave the bottle away to some frat guys. Hunted it for years after until I found it for $65 in Bolton Landing, NY. I didn't let her go this time.
Wow, a $100 for Eagle Rare. That is way more than I am willing to pay. I would much rather have a Baker's 7. I pretty much agree with the rest of your selections, however.
Freal, that is full secondary pricing for something that IMO is way too light to spend that kind of money on. I about lost my shit when he said he'd buy it at "$100 or cheaper." Cheaper by half, maybe! FFS
Literally drinking my Lighthouse “Schoolbus” Russel 10yr as I watch this. I would have the Knob single barrel store picks over the JD, but otherwise I’m pretty lock step with your picks. The 1792 single barrel picks have typically been winners for me as well. Cheers!
I like that many of my favorites are on this list. I've always respected your views. Now I know that our palettes are similar and will follow your videos a little more closely. Thank you!
Recently I bought two bottles of Eagle Rare and I infused one with a lot of different Brazilian woods for a few days That sounds like sacrilege, but the end result was absolutely awesome
Wow JC, lined up with 9 out of 10 of your picks including the first 2 in order 😳 Only miss was #10, the Four Roses LE. Not that I disagree with the pick, only that the only ones I have ever seen in the wild were around $500 so nope... If I could ever find one at $200ish, yup, absolutely ! Keep keeping it real
Enjoyed your list! I think I would enjoy everyone of them. However, being retired, my budget limits me to, at most, $75 per bottle. I passed on Eagle Rare a couple weeks ago for a supposed store pick at $80 after they initially said it was $45. But I did score a Jack Daniels Single Barrel Barrel Proof for $70 at the same place.
@@jerrybarr3354 I live in WA, I've been to 7 stores in Oregon and haven't found an Eagle Rare yet. So I got the base Buff Trace liter for $29, tried it last night, didn't do anything for me so I hope it gets better in a few weeks of opening up.
Nice choices! Would like to see a video of top 10 bourbons with great up front palettes like Elijah Craig Small Batch. Nose is cool, finish is cool. But what about that upfront experience?
Nice list and it's a individual choice to pay what they believe is a price they are comfortable with. My cap is 150 regardless of what it is. So I certainly won't be getting the upper tier but I'm okay with that. Enjoy!!
I love this list. What I don't love is that these bottles, with the exception of JD SBBP, are impossible for me to find unless I'm willing to pay 2 and 3 times retail. Some of these I've never even seen in person, and I've only ever had the chance to own and try the JD SBBP and Stagg (Jr Batch17). For detail, I live in upper middle TN.
Love your list Jason. Definitely with you on the 4R and JD Sib barrel strength store picks, and any Stagg Jr if I see them at $200 or less. The rest of my list is kinda weird. I always buy Elijah Craig 94 proof Sib store picks (never the barrel proof Sib’s), Knob Creek Cask Strength Rye, Kentucky Spirit Sib store picks, pre-2021 ECBP batches, and any older bottles of Wild Turkey products from years past.
Just got the JD SB Barrel proof yesterday haven't tried it yet, it will be the highest proof for me so far, I hope I like it. WT Rare Breed is the highest I've tried and I love it. Tried 4 Roses 1st time(Small Batch Select) last night MEH, I hope it gets a lot better or I'll sell it.
I need to get a Lucky Seven, Stagg, JM Cigar blend. I love JD SBBP Rye or bourbon. On the 4 Roses, I like the OESO. This is a great list. I'm buying on all too.
Realy nice video Jason. While I have not had most of the bourbons on your list, I have had, and still have, is the Elijah Craig C922. For me there are two borbons that if I see on the shelf I will buy. The first is Widow Jane Decadance and ASW Fiddler Store Pick. In fact I just found the ASW at I local bottle shop and I am heading there tomorrow. Wish me Luck. Thanks for your time and effort.
A lot of these are not available to me but some are. I just picked up an ECSBBP and looking forward to trying that. Most of these are kind of rich for my budget. The JDSiBBP is a good value and I liked it but will only buy it occasionally. We can get FRSB but not in the barrel proof version. That is good and something I will try again. I like ER but that is a unicorn around here and I would not come close to paying $100 for it. I am not sure if I would go above MSRP for it. There are too many other options out there for the $40-$60 range.
there are not many that will buy right away if i can always get them. i always have woodford double oaked and rare bread on my shelf. i will always get store picks of any whiskey i really enjoy. anything from wild turkey, BT, and old elk are my go to's right now.
Thanks as always Jason! Sounds like several Single Barrel Store Picks are about to hit Alberta, so I'll be looking for the Russell's Reserve! Cheers 🇺🇸 🥃 🤝 🥃 🇨🇦
Wow! $100 or less for Eagle Rare? Everything here in Maine is very heavily allocated. Eagle rare is not always around, but when it is, it’s always $39. And delicious!!
Again, I am old enough to know that my Dr Harvard MD grandfather prescribed bourbon for a cold when I was 4. I am of legal drinking age, I love this topic. I am now only interested in figuring out how to taste everything I have collected. Still missing some. I have to day Benchmark single barrel but only because I am finishing up my 1st bottle. As I am working on finishing up a ECBP vertical fight solo (over many months) - C921 through C922 - I droo my thoughts at Stagg and 6 year plus MGP I have
Single barrels are usually awesome! I have three EC picks, 4 Knob Creek picks, 2 Tumbling Dice picks, Jack Daniels pick, Sagamore pick, Makers pick, and 1 El Tesoro reposado pick! I would buy any Russell’s pick if I see one:(
Great video! I am always just a simple jack or bourbon and coke drinker, lower to mid grade. I wish i could enjoy these better brands for what they are worth and sip them for all the flavor they contain. Someday?
In my area Eagle Rare is hard to find and it goes for an average of 82 bucks a bottle. YIKES! I just bought a bottle of Blantons for 69.00 Washington is a very expensive state for Alcohol.
WT Rare Breed Bourbon and FR small batch select are on my list. KC 12 at retail is a no brainer, so much flavor. It’s insane to think of paying $100 for ER 10, but we will get there. So many ppl I know would not touch a fine bourbon with a 10 foot pool 10 years ago and now claim to be whiskey connoisseurs.
Agree with you on Eagle Rare 10. If I see it on the shelf at my grocery store, I grab it because it won't be there for long. I have not paid anywhere close to $100 for it. I can't recall, but it's usually in the $60-ish range...? Interesting that you have no Wellers on your list. That's another that I grab when I see it - but only if I can get it/them at my grocery store, because they're always marked way up at the chain ans and ma and pa shops.
Curious if Cigar Blend is still on the auto-buy list at retail. Feels like they are releasing more and more of this, the tasting notes have kind of fallen behind, and the batch to batch variations are so significant. This used to be an auto-buy for me but I've passed on this multiple times within the last month.
My list is nearly identical with the exception of Lucky Seven(only because I haven't tried it). However if I were to swap that out, I'd put New Riff picks....I find they are excellent for ~$55, but no other changes... Great episode!
I'm always an auto-buy on the Knob Creek 12. I currently have 3 backup bottles, and will probably get a 4th. Not to hard to find currently, but I'm worried that the word will get out soon.
Have 9 of your top 10 & backups on most, one has eluded me…. Lucky 7 - 14 or 15 year, poor or no distro in MI., & miss out on it in IL., hook me up 😊, great video JC 👍
bought 2 eagle rare and 2 weller 12 for under 200 bucks a few years ago then reviewers said its great and boom, tripled the price without tripling the quality. moved to scotch due to "taters" propping up bourbon prices
Eagle Rare is still 32.00 if you go to the distillery. Which is just magic. As far a good 10 year. If I see a Widow Jane 10 yr. It's mine. Now I just bought a Widow Jane Lucky 13 (13year) for 95.00. The most beautiful dark color you've ever seen. I'll crack it open this Christmas. As far as a 70 ish range, if I see a Sagamore Spirts Rye Cask Strength. It's mine. The juice from MGP is just magic. Cheers all!
Single barrels for me: Four Roses, Buffalo Trace, Blue Note, Angels Envy. I am Actually drinking the 4 roses barrel strength while watching your video.
Love the concept and the list... I'm a big 4R fan and recently came across one on the shelf in CO; unfortunately at 359.99 + tax... pretty disappointed. Thanks for the continued content!!
I have a pretty decent collection of really good, but maybe not hyper allocated Bourbons. I can't drink a lot these days, so I like to do 1/2 oz side by side blind comparisons of those on my shelf, back to back. Usually ends up about 2oz total for that day (like four labels). I have come to the conclusion that Eagle Rare 10 beats all the other bottles I have on the bar. That includes EJBP B520 (I have a backup bottle of that one), Rare Breed, Russell's 10yr, Old Forester 1910 and 1920, etc. etc. etc. I know I won't get through everything I own now, but I will always buy Eagle Rare 10 whenever I see it (which has become never in the last few years, but I always look for it.). If I got to say 10 spare bottles, then I might quit buying... :)
Love this video. Your first 2 would be my top - 2 ECBP and KC12. After that there are several I never see. The only time I have seen Eagle Rare in 5 years is when I would have had to buy their tequila for $100 with it 🤦♂️
I try to always have a JD special release or a JDSBBP at all times. If I ever see another SiB Riverset Rye, I'm buying multiple. I also love Knob Creek single barrels, and George Remus single barrels.
You would be purchasing a lot of bottles of EC barrel proof ($69 - 79) and Eagle Rare 10 ($45) where I live as it is easy to find. I believe Dalmore Cigar Malt predates the Joseph Magnus Cigar Malt.
