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A collection of the best Bourbons
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The Best Bourbons
Data Taken From OutdoorLife
http://www.outdoorlife.com
Compiled By : AniruddhaRay
What distinguishes a bourbon from other whiskeys?
1. Made from a fermented mash with a minimum of 51% and a maximum of 79% corn
2. Distilled at less than 80% alcohol/volume (160 proof)
3. Stored in a new, charred, white oak barrel at a maximum of 62.5% alcohol/volume (125 proof) for at least 2 years
4. The original color and flavor of the whiskey can not be filtered or altered in any way.
5. Must be produced and stored (for at least one year of the aging) in Kentucky to be called Kentucky Bourbon
6. The Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1894 is another important legal measure that applies to the bourbon process.NOTE:
JACK DANIELS USES A CHARCOAL
FILTERING PROCESS THAT DISQUALIFIES
IT FROM BOURBON CLASSIFICATION
Pappy Van Winkle
15 Year Old
Richer than molasses, this deep, dark bourbon checks in at an easy-sipping 107 proof.
If you want to respect your elders, there's no need to add water or ice. Just kick back, put your feet up and let Pappy do the rest.
Price: $80
Buffalo Trace
The flagship bourbon of the heralded Buffalo Trace distillery starts off with vanilla mint spiciness and mellows on the palate with a deep molasses finish.
Keep a bottle of this in your liquor cabinet at all times and call it your 'house bourbon' and you'll be sure to impress your connoisseur friends.
Price: $20
Woodford ReserveThe official bourbon of the Breeder's Cup and Kentucky Derby, this 90.4 proof bourbon walks the line between complexity and mix-ability.
Woodford bourbon comes from a small but growing distillery in Kentucky.
You can enjoy its notes of corn, caramel and oak in a rocks glass by itself or you can use it in a mint julep or Manhattan.
Price: $30
Booker's
Aged six-to-eight years, this heavy duty bourbon is not for the light of tongue.
At 121 proof it can be a little more intense than your average bourbon.
But its notes of vanilla, tobacco and oak help you ride the long, intense finish.
Price: $50
Knob Creek
Sweet and rich, this 100-proof
bourbon has hints of brown
sugar and toasted nuts.
It's aged nine years and was
named National Whiskey
Champion by Wine Enthusiast.
Price: $40
Eagle Rare 10 Year Old
This 90-proof well balanced bourbon is brimming with vanilla and toasted nut flavors which garnered it a double gold at the prestigious San Francisco spirits competition.
If you're feeling flush, pick up a bottle of the even rarer Eagle Rare 17-year-old
Price: $30
Bulleit
Incorporating more rye into its
mash bill than most other
bourbons, Bulleit gives your
palate an added spicy kick.
The bottle that houses this 90-
proof tipple was designed in
tribute to the old-fashioned
brown medicine flasks.
Price: $23
Maker's Mark
These distinctive wax-dipped bottles are like snowflakes-each one is different.
But on the inside, each bottle contains the same smooth signature 90-proof bourbon that starts off with sweet corn and leather notes and sits on the palate with a long, rich caramel finish.
Price: $21
Wild Turkey Rare Breed
The Thunder Chicken got its name after a distillery executive used to bring this bourbon on turkey hunting trips.
This 108 proof bourbon is a blend of six, eight and 12-year old barrels that gives it hints of citrus, caramel and sweet tobacco.
Price: $33
George T. Stagg
The grand daddy of all
bourbons, this 140+ proof
bourbon has been nicknamed
'Hazmat' because of its high
alcohol content.
Add a little water to this 15-
year old and it will open up the
coffee, citrus and oak flavors.
Price: $60
ALSO RANS
Elija Craig
(18 years)
At 18 years old, this is the oldest single
barrel bourbon in the world. Each barrel
is hand selected by Parker and Craig
Beam (descendants of Jim Beam
himself). When the barrels are finally
selected about 2/3 of the original
contents have evaporated.
Comments: "Yummy, vanilla!"
Elijah Craig
(12 years)
This 12-year-old 94 proof bourbon has
some high accolades. It recently won
Double Gold at the San Francisco
World Spirits Competition and was
named winner in the Premium
Bourbon category in Whisky Magazine
's bi-annual “Best of the Best” tasting
competition. The OL editors liked it
too.
Comments: "Nice middle-ground
flavor"
Evan Williams Single Barrel
This 86 proof is the standard Evan
Williams' older, classier cousin. It's
more expensive, but it tastes
better too. It has been voted
Whiskey of the Year five times.
Comments: "Smooth and sweet
and woods"
Evan Williams
This was the big sleeper of the group.
It was by far the cheapest bottle in the mix (you can buy a bottle of Evan Williams for $12 in many parts of the country) but it still finished in the middle of the pack.
Comments: "Very nice. Good color, well-balanced."
Wild Turkey
This Kentucky straight bourbon holds a special place in hunter's hearts and the country in general; it's one of the best selling bourbons in the U.S.
It was introduced in 1940 and is made in a variety of different proofs. Our sample was 80 proof (personally I prefer the standard 101).
Comments: "Buttery smell and taste--smooth."
Baker's
This is a 7-year-old 107 proof
bourbon from the Small Batch
Distillery in Kentucky.
It's named after Baker Beam, the
grand nephew of Jim Beam.
According to the distillery, Baker's
is best served in a sniffer with a
splash of spring water.
Comments: "Very harsh up front,
but nice color."
CONTROVERSIAL
Jack DanielsWe know that Jack Daniels is not actually a bourbon, it's a Tennessee whiskey.
The distinction lies in the way its made. Jack Daniels is dripped slowly through 10 feet of firmly packed charcoal before it goes into charred oak barrels for aging.
We couldn't help but see how Old No. 7 stood up against the competition so we included it. Turns out Jack did pretty well.
Comments: "Smooth. Very nice"