Tag Archives: Whiskey/Bourbon

Whiskey Dreams

WHISKEY DREAMS – Jameson Blender’s Dog

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I’ve bought the vast majority of bourbons from my local liquor store, which is admittedly not that big, so I’m expanding into the Irish Whiskey section, where is where this bottle of Jameson Blender’s Dog found its way into my hands.

How did I actually pick it? The lady next to me in aisle grabbed a bottle and I asked her if it was good. She said she had no idea, but it was all her dad would drink, so I figured I’d give it a try.

How is it? This is an easy whiskey to drink. It is smooth and sweet, and has just the right amount of vanilla and cinnamon. It is almost delicate.

It is so good that I almost feel bad giving it 73/100, and I may have to revisit that in the future. I’m honestly a little hungover from a get together last night, and it might be impacting how much I can enjoy this find Irish Whiskey at the moment.

Pros

  • Smooth.
  • Light, sweet butterscotch notes mixed with cinnamon and honey.
  • Easy to find.

Cons:

  • A bit pricey.
  • Better than Proper Twelve, but maybe not $40 better
BottleScorePrice
Bib & Tucker91$75 / 750ml
Angels Envy90$65 / 750ml
Tin Cup85$30 / 750ml
Old Forester 187080$55 / 750ml
Michters US 1 Small Batch79$45 / 750ml
Old Forester 189779$55 / 750ml
Yellowstone78$35 / 750ml
Basil Hayden's75$35 / 750ml
Eagle Rare 10 Year Old Bourbon75$35 / 750ml
Hirsch Small Batch74$35 / 750ml
Jameson Blender's Dog73$67 / 750ml
Proper Twelve71$30 / 750ml
Teeling Whiskey70$50 / 750ml
Cruzan No. 9 Spiced Rum67$20 / 750ml
Four Roses Small Batch66$30 / 750ml
Beer Barrel Bourbon66$35 / 750ml
Gentleman Jack65$35 / 750ml
Kraken Rum64$25 / 750ml
Jefferson60$25/ 750ml
Elijah Craig57$27 / 750ml
Bulleit Bourbon56$28 / 750ml
Buffalo Trace55$25 / 750ml
Jack Daniels`51$25 / 750ml
Widow Jane45$70 / 750ml
Redemption40$30 / 750ml
Woodford Reserve30$13 / 50ml
Winchester Extra Smooth15$23 / 750ml
Jack Daniels Tennessee Honey10$20 / 750ml
Hill Billy9$20 / 750ml
Fireball5$18 / 750ml
Whiskey Dreams

WHISKEY DREAMS – Bulleit Bourbon

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I normally stay away from rye bourbons. I find rye to be overpowering in a lot of whiskeys, so I was pleasantly surprised when I tried this Bulleit Bourbon and the bite I associate with rye was tamed and actually enjoyable.

Bulleit Bourbon slides across your tongue with spice, pepper, and opens up nicely with an ice cube or a touch of water, which lets you taste the caramel and woodiness from the cask.

Overall Bulleit Bourbon is a decent everyday drink, and one that will make an awesome Manhattan, so don’t let the 56/100 score fool you, at just $28 you can keep a bottle on the shelf and make a few Manhattans for people who aren’t sure if they like bourbon (yet).

Pros

  • Full of spice.
  • A good mixer for a Manhattan.
  • A good, everyday bourbon that is affordable.

Cons:

  • The rye creates a burn that some may not enjoy.
  • Rye adds a bit of an aftertaste on the back of the tongue.
BottleScorePrice
Bib & Tucker91$75 / 750ml
Angels Envy90$65 / 750ml
Tin Cup85$30 / 750ml
Old Forester 187080$55 / 750ml
Michters US 1 Small Batch79$45 / 750ml
Old Forester 189779$55 / 750ml
Yellowstone78$35 / 750ml
Basil Hayden's75$35 / 750ml
Eagle Rare 10 Year Old Bourbon75$35 / 750ml
Hirsch Small Batch74$35 / 750ml
Jameson Blender's Dog73$67 / 750ml
Proper Twelve71$30 / 750ml
Teeling Whiskey70$50 / 750ml
Cruzan No. 9 Spiced Rum67$20 / 750ml
Four Roses Small Batch66$30 / 750ml
Beer Barrel Bourbon66$35 / 750ml
Gentleman Jack65$35 / 750ml
Kraken Rum64$25 / 750ml
Jefferson60$25/ 750ml
Elijah Craig57$27 / 750ml
Bulleit Bourbon56$28 / 750ml
Buffalo Trace55$25 / 750ml
Jack Daniels`51$25 / 750ml
Widow Jane45$70 / 750ml
Redemption40$30 / 750ml
Woodford Reserve30$13 / 50ml
Winchester Extra Smooth15$23 / 750ml
Jack Daniels Tennessee Honey10$20 / 750ml
Hill Billy9$20 / 750ml
Fireball5$18 / 750ml
Whiskey Dreams

WHISKEY DREAMS –Tin Cup

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I’m not a whiskey snob.

Really.

So don’t hate me for what I’m about to say.

When I grabbed this $30 bottle of Tin Cup off the budget shelf at my local liquor store I didn’t have massively high hopes for what I’d be getting in return for my hard earned dollars. Yes, I know that $30 is not cheap – but as my tastes in whiskey have grown I’ve found that a lot of lower priced bottles just don’t cut it anymore. So I was really happy with Tin Cup.

I opened this bottle on Friday…

By Sunday night I’d drank enough to form a solid opinion of the whiskey.

So how was it, I have to say that this is by far the best bottle of whiskey I’ve had at this price point. You can’t beat Tin Cup at $30 a bottle. It tastes like it is far more expensive than it is. Tin Cup more than earns its 85/100 score, and will be my new go to bottle when I want to enjoy a bourbon while relaxing over the weekend.

Pros

  • Smooth.
  • Wonderful spice and licorice on the tongue.
  • Can’t beat the quality to price ratio.

Cons:

  • I didn’t find Tin Cup earlier.
BottleScorePrice
Bib & Tucker91$75 / 750ml
Angels Envy90$65 / 750ml
Tin Cup85$30 / 750ml
Old Forester 187080$55 / 750ml
Michters US 1 Small Batch79$45 / 750ml
Old Forester 189779$55 / 750ml
Yellowstone78$35 / 750ml
Basil Hayden's75$35 / 750ml
Eagle Rare 10 Year Old Bourbon75$35 / 750ml
Hirsch Small Batch74$35 / 750ml
Jameson Blender's Dog73$67 / 750ml
Proper Twelve71$30 / 750ml
Teeling Whiskey70$50 / 750ml
Cruzan No. 9 Spiced Rum67$20 / 750ml
Four Roses Small Batch66$30 / 750ml
Beer Barrel Bourbon66$35 / 750ml
Gentleman Jack65$35 / 750ml
Kraken Rum64$25 / 750ml
Jefferson60$25/ 750ml
Elijah Craig57$27 / 750ml
Bulleit Bourbon56$28 / 750ml
Buffalo Trace55$25 / 750ml
Jack Daniels`51$25 / 750ml
Widow Jane45$70 / 750ml
Redemption40$30 / 750ml
Woodford Reserve30$13 / 50ml
Winchester Extra Smooth15$23 / 750ml
Jack Daniels Tennessee Honey10$20 / 750ml
Hill Billy9$20 / 750ml
Fireball5$18 / 750ml
Whiskey Dreams

Whiskey Dreams – Elijah Craig

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I had high hopes for Elijah Craig after having a couple of Manhattan’s at dinner one night and really enjoying them. What I found out from cracking open my own bottle is that it is better as a mixer than it is straight up. At under $30 bucks I guess I shouldn’t be too harsh on Elijah Craig, but I really did have high hopes for this bottle.

I’m going to give Elijah Craig a 57/100. I will finish the bottle, and I might buy another bottle, but only if I want to have a few bourbon cocktails (mixers).

Pros

  • Sweet honey that fills your mouth and hangs on a few seconds after you swallow.
  • Pleasant spice that blends well with the honey.

Cons:

  • Has the burn of a cheaper whiskey.
  • Rough edges that don’t every really smooth out, they just get hidden under the honey and spice.
BottleScorePrice
Bib & Tucker91$75 / 750ml
Angels Envy90$65 / 750ml
Tin Cup85$30 / 750ml
Old Forester 187080$55 / 750ml
Michters US 1 Small Batch79$45 / 750ml
Old Forester 189779$55 / 750ml
Yellowstone78$35 / 750ml
Basil Hayden's75$35 / 750ml
Eagle Rare 10 Year Old Bourbon75$35 / 750ml
Hirsch Small Batch74$35 / 750ml
Jameson Blender's Dog73$67 / 750ml
Proper Twelve71$30 / 750ml
Teeling Whiskey70$50 / 750ml
Cruzan No. 9 Spiced Rum67$20 / 750ml
Four Roses Small Batch66$30 / 750ml
Beer Barrel Bourbon66$35 / 750ml
Gentleman Jack65$35 / 750ml
Kraken Rum64$25 / 750ml
Jefferson60$25/ 750ml
Elijah Craig57$27 / 750ml
Bulleit Bourbon56$28 / 750ml
Buffalo Trace55$25 / 750ml
Jack Daniels`51$25 / 750ml
Widow Jane45$70 / 750ml
Redemption40$30 / 750ml
Woodford Reserve30$13 / 50ml
Winchester Extra Smooth15$23 / 750ml
Jack Daniels Tennessee Honey10$20 / 750ml
Hill Billy9$20 / 750ml
Fireball5$18 / 750ml
Whiskey Dreams

Whiskey Dreams – Four Roses Small Batch

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Four Roses Small Batch bourbon was actually one of the first bourbons I tried, and back then I was drinking Jack. Four Roses opened my eyes to a totally different level of quality, so I will always think of it fondly.

Now that my bourbon horizons have expanded, I still think of Four Roses fondly, but I also have some other bottles to compare it to. Four Roses earns a score of 66/100, putting it firmly ahead of two thirds of other other bourbons. I’m also calling it an “Everyday Whiskey” because its affordable enough to drink whenever you want.

Pros

  • Light and spicy on the tongue.
  • Great starter bottle for new drinkers and an everyday sip alike.

Cons:

  • Can have a little edge on the first sip. I find a little water or an ice cube opens up the whiskey and takes that burn away.
BottleScorePrice
Bib & Tucker91$75 / 750ml
Angels Envy90$65 / 750ml
Tin Cup85$30 / 750ml
Old Forester 187080$55 / 750ml
Michters US 1 Small Batch79$45 / 750ml
Old Forester 189779$55 / 750ml
Yellowstone78$35 / 750ml
Basil Hayden's75$35 / 750ml
Eagle Rare 10 Year Old Bourbon75$35 / 750ml
Hirsch Small Batch74$35 / 750ml
Jameson Blender's Dog73$67 / 750ml
Proper Twelve71$30 / 750ml
Teeling Whiskey70$50 / 750ml
Cruzan No. 9 Spiced Rum67$20 / 750ml
Four Roses Small Batch66$30 / 750ml
Beer Barrel Bourbon66$35 / 750ml
Gentleman Jack65$35 / 750ml
Kraken Rum64$25 / 750ml
Jefferson60$25/ 750ml
Elijah Craig57$27 / 750ml
Bulleit Bourbon56$28 / 750ml
Buffalo Trace55$25 / 750ml
Jack Daniels`51$25 / 750ml
Widow Jane45$70 / 750ml
Redemption40$30 / 750ml
Woodford Reserve30$13 / 50ml
Winchester Extra Smooth15$23 / 750ml
Jack Daniels Tennessee Honey10$20 / 750ml
Hill Billy9$20 / 750ml
Fireball5$18 / 750ml
Whiskey Dreams

Whiskey Dreams – Yellowstone

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I am always looking for new whiskeys to try and found a good deal online for a trio of bottles. Which I promptly ordered, and which my wife of course signed for and opened the box.

She understands I like to true new things, but doesn’t quite understand why I have a shelf full of different whiskeys.

Last night I started with the Yellowstone bottle.

I did not plan on having as much of it as I did. It is a strange whiskey. I honestly wasn’t sure if I liked it on the first sip, which made me keep sipping, and then refilling my glass. It starts sharp, and spicy, and gradually mellows.

Overall Yellowstone earned a 78/100, and it is one of those whiskeys I can already tell is going to call to me sometimes. Some whiskey I just need to be in the mood for, and I already know that Yellowstone is one of those. Now I just need to find a another bottle to put on the shelf for one this one is gone.

Pros

  • Grows on you really fast.
  • If you like sharp and spicy with nice earthen tones you will really enjoy this whiskey.

Cons:

  • The opening salvo of sharp and spicy may put some new whiskey drinkers off.
  • Hard to find.
BottleScorePrice
Bib & Tucker91$75 / 750ml
Angels Envy90$65 / 750ml
Tin Cup85$30 / 750ml
Old Forester 187080$55 / 750ml
Michters US 1 Small Batch79$45 / 750ml
Old Forester 189779$55 / 750ml
Yellowstone78$35 / 750ml
Basil Hayden's75$35 / 750ml
Eagle Rare 10 Year Old Bourbon75$35 / 750ml
Hirsch Small Batch74$35 / 750ml
Jameson Blender's Dog73$67 / 750ml
Proper Twelve71$30 / 750ml
Teeling Whiskey70$50 / 750ml
Cruzan No. 9 Spiced Rum67$20 / 750ml
Four Roses Small Batch66$30 / 750ml
Beer Barrel Bourbon66$35 / 750ml
Gentleman Jack65$35 / 750ml
Kraken Rum64$25 / 750ml
Jefferson60$25/ 750ml
Elijah Craig57$27 / 750ml
Bulleit Bourbon56$28 / 750ml
Buffalo Trace55$25 / 750ml
Jack Daniels`51$25 / 750ml
Widow Jane45$70 / 750ml
Redemption40$30 / 750ml
Woodford Reserve30$13 / 50ml
Winchester Extra Smooth15$23 / 750ml
Jack Daniels Tennessee Honey10$20 / 750ml
Hill Billy9$20 / 750ml
Fireball5$18 / 750ml
Whiskey Dreams

Whiskey Dreams – Buffalo Trace

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The bottom line on Buffalo Trace is that if you can get it at $24 to $26 the value to cost ratio makes it a nice sipping whiskey to share with friends or to take out into the woods – times when you want to enjoy a sip, but maybe don’t want to spend a lot of money in the process.

Buffalo Trace earns a 55/100, and yes I did drink the whole bottle – but not at one shot.

Pros

  • Cheap.
  • Decent value for the price.

Cons:

  • Has some sharp edges.
  • Hard to tell where the spice and the stringent taste on the tongue blend together.
BottleScorePrice
Bib & Tucker91$75 / 750ml
Angels Envy90$65 / 750ml
Tin Cup85$30 / 750ml
Old Forester 187080$55 / 750ml
Michters US 1 Small Batch79$45 / 750ml
Old Forester 189779$55 / 750ml
Yellowstone78$35 / 750ml
Basil Hayden's75$35 / 750ml
Eagle Rare 10 Year Old Bourbon75$35 / 750ml
Hirsch Small Batch74$35 / 750ml
Jameson Blender's Dog73$67 / 750ml
Proper Twelve71$30 / 750ml
Teeling Whiskey70$50 / 750ml
Cruzan No. 9 Spiced Rum67$20 / 750ml
Four Roses Small Batch66$30 / 750ml
Beer Barrel Bourbon66$35 / 750ml
Gentleman Jack65$35 / 750ml
Kraken Rum64$25 / 750ml
Jefferson60$25/ 750ml
Elijah Craig57$27 / 750ml
Bulleit Bourbon56$28 / 750ml
Buffalo Trace55$25 / 750ml
Jack Daniels`51$25 / 750ml
Widow Jane45$70 / 750ml
Redemption40$30 / 750ml
Woodford Reserve30$13 / 50ml
Winchester Extra Smooth15$23 / 750ml
Jack Daniels Tennessee Honey10$20 / 750ml
Hill Billy9$20 / 750ml
Fireball5$18 / 750ml
Whiskey Dreams

Whiskey Dreams – Redemption

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I grabbed this bottle of Redemption because it was a new offering at my local store and the price, at $30 seemed reasonable to risk for a new offering. I am always hopeful I kind find a reasonable bottle that I enjoy so I having affordable to drink and to take to parties or get togethers – because it just seems wrong to let someone who doesn’t really enjoy bourbon drink the good stuff.

Sadly, Redemption is not that drink. It starts rough, ends rough, and leaves an unpleasant burn behind. My advice would to spend a few extra dollars and get something you will really enjoy. Redemption earned its disappointing score of 40/100.

Pros

  • Potentially useful to clean carburetors.
  • Is pleasant on the nose, but lets down the palate.

Cons:

  • All rough edges.
  • Burns, and not in a pleasant way.
BottleScorePrice
Bib & Tucker91$75 / 750ml
Angels Envy90$65 / 750ml
Tin Cup85$30 / 750ml
Old Forester 187080$55 / 750ml
Michters US 1 Small Batch79$45 / 750ml
Old Forester 189779$55 / 750ml
Yellowstone78$35 / 750ml
Basil Hayden's75$35 / 750ml
Eagle Rare 10 Year Old Bourbon75$35 / 750ml
Hirsch Small Batch74$35 / 750ml
Jameson Blender's Dog73$67 / 750ml
Proper Twelve71$30 / 750ml
Teeling Whiskey70$50 / 750ml
Cruzan No. 9 Spiced Rum67$20 / 750ml
Four Roses Small Batch66$30 / 750ml
Beer Barrel Bourbon66$35 / 750ml
Gentleman Jack65$35 / 750ml
Kraken Rum64$25 / 750ml
Jefferson60$25/ 750ml
Elijah Craig57$27 / 750ml
Bulleit Bourbon56$28 / 750ml
Buffalo Trace55$25 / 750ml
Jack Daniels`51$25 / 750ml
Widow Jane45$70 / 750ml
Redemption40$30 / 750ml
Woodford Reserve30$13 / 50ml
Winchester Extra Smooth15$23 / 750ml
Jack Daniels Tennessee Honey10$20 / 750ml
Hill Billy9$20 / 750ml
Fireball5$18 / 750ml
Whiskey Dreams

Whiskey Dreams – Hirsch Small Batch

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Hirsch Small Batch was actually one of the first bottles I bought when I started to drink bourbon, so I owe a lot to Hirsch for making me really like bourbon.

How does it rank? It is a solid 74/100, and is very drinkable. I will always keep a bottle on the shelf, but I try and buy it when it is at the $33 to $35 price point, which increases its price to value substantially. I only have three or four liquor stores within a half hour of me, and the prices tend to vary drastically (probably because of me buying everything on the shelf when I see something I like) – but what this means is that bourbon that you might be able to find for $35 bucks jumps up to $50.

My local stores will sometimes have Hirsch and Basil Hayden and Eagle Rare all priced within a few dollars of each other. If that happens I’m going with one of the others to be honest with you.

Having said that, Hirsch Small Batch is a great bourbon and is well worth sipping, especially if you can find it in the low $30 price ranges.

Pros

  • Well balanced and warm.
  • If like like spice and rich flavors this is a bourbon for you.

Cons:

  • Depending on what is on the shelf and local prices, there are better options at this price point. Like Basil Hayden and Eagle Rare.
BottleScorePrice
Bib & Tucker91$75 / 750ml
Angels Envy90$65 / 750ml
Tin Cup85$30 / 750ml
Old Forester 187080$55 / 750ml
Michters US 1 Small Batch79$45 / 750ml
Old Forester 189779$55 / 750ml
Yellowstone78$35 / 750ml
Basil Hayden's75$35 / 750ml
Eagle Rare 10 Year Old Bourbon75$35 / 750ml
Hirsch Small Batch74$35 / 750ml
Jameson Blender's Dog73$67 / 750ml
Proper Twelve71$30 / 750ml
Teeling Whiskey70$50 / 750ml
Cruzan No. 9 Spiced Rum67$20 / 750ml
Four Roses Small Batch66$30 / 750ml
Beer Barrel Bourbon66$35 / 750ml
Gentleman Jack65$35 / 750ml
Kraken Rum64$25 / 750ml
Jefferson60$25/ 750ml
Elijah Craig57$27 / 750ml
Bulleit Bourbon56$28 / 750ml
Buffalo Trace55$25 / 750ml
Jack Daniels`51$25 / 750ml
Widow Jane45$70 / 750ml
Redemption40$30 / 750ml
Woodford Reserve30$13 / 50ml
Winchester Extra Smooth15$23 / 750ml
Jack Daniels Tennessee Honey10$20 / 750ml
Hill Billy9$20 / 750ml
Fireball5$18 / 750ml