Posted on 12/16/2020 11:45:31 AM PST by mylife
I can only speak for myself, but after the historic awfulness of 2020, I’d appreciate a gift of great whiskey wrapped up in a bow. I suspect I’m not alone. So I made sure my annual tradition of suggesting several bottles for the holidays was undertaken this year with extra rigor and, of course, adhering to stringent social distancing guidelines for my team of tasters to sniff, sip, and banter our way through the 30-plus candidates to land on this final list of 16.
As always, there’s a range of styles, prices and origins, from Europe to Asia, Kentucky, Philly, and Mexico (yes, for El Whisky). Each has their own virtues. But shared with a special person in your bubble, each can offer a taste to traverse the world, transcend the moment, and warm the mood with a sip of cheer.
BOURBON, TENNESSEE WHISKEYS, AND LOCAL STARS
Old Forester Straight Bourbon. Old Forester has been distilled continuously since 1870 and was the first American whiskey sold by the bottle. There are more complex editions of the brand, but the 86-proof standard remains a great value. This 72% corn-based spirit has bourbon’s classic profile of praline sweetness, fruit and grain, with a back note of tobacco. It’s also about as close to drinking a chocolate-cherry cordial as it gets. 86 proof, $21.99, (PLCB item #3290)
(Excerpt) Read more at cantonrep.com ...
I generally drink Maker’s Mark, and on occasion will have Woodford Reserve.
A good Scotsman like me will tell you there’s no ‘e’ in real whisky.
At least you haven’t lowered yourself to Evan Williams...
I’m a Jameson/Bushmills guy myself
I’m a Crown Black drinker but occasionally enjoy Blanton’s and Pappy Van Winkle. Hiccup.
Nothing wrong with Jim Beam. It’s a decent sour mash at a very nice price.
Is the “e” in the jar “o”?
“Knob Creek Straight KENTUCKY Bourbon.”
Keep your hands of my Knob! :)
Need to pick up another bottle soon.
If you can get a bottle of Yamazaki 12 y/o for $125 you got a bargain. It’s almost always more than $200 and finding it is akin to finding a unicorn...but totally worth it!
A happy medium would be Kavalan Classic which is actually Taiwanese and half the price of Yamazaki or less. Also, Hibiki Harmony is a great drink from the same maker of Yamazaki and kind of a nifty looking bottle to have on your shelf.
Pappy Van Winkle 20 Year (impossible to find!)ML/NJWeller Antique (generally unavailable)
Bookers (pretty good)
Elijah Craig (also, pretty good)
Evan Williams (good, cheap Bourbon)
Weller Green since I was 18. Hard to find but always good.
That was my choice for election night TV viewing. May need some Everclear for the inauguration.
I have a third of a handle of Old Crow, the VFW put out by the trash.
It has to remove paint or something...
Maker’s Mark is the one and only for me. My drink of choice is a cold Miller in a bottle, though. Cheap drunk fer sure.
Laphroaig, Famous Grouse, Tobermory, Oban, Macallan. Wife is a Scot and we go over the road every other year if we can. I get to try all the local distilleries. Cheers!
Whitle Pig Rye Whiskey. At $80 per bottle, it’s my only request for a birthday or Christmas present.
I like Tullamore Dew
May need some Everclear for the inauguration.
Nope. Champagne and fireworks.
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