The Best Whiskey and Bourbon
What makes a great whiskey or bourbon? Is it the flavor notes? Is it the coloring?
Another thought is the labeling or the bottle. This captures our mind and our eye. Or maybe it’s just by word of mouth or a suggestion someone has made. For me it has to have a certain kind of flavor to it.
If it’s a Canadian style I’m looking for those caramel or vanilla flavor notes and that smooth finish. If it’s Irish I’m looking for that bite and that oak barrel finish. If it’s a Bourbon I’m looking for that mash, corn finish. Some can be made with a wheat base.
Nowadays there are also ones that are clear like vodka. There are also Japanese whiskeys(which I have never had the chance to try.)
Are you looking for an expensive bottle or a cheaper one?
Let’s take a look at the best whiskey and bourbons.
The Best Whiskey and Bourbon
(in no particular order):
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Jameson Irish whiskey is a triple-distilled blended Irish whiskey, as versatile as it is smooth. First, we take the best of pot still and fine grain whiskeys. Then we triple distill them. Not because we have to, because we want to – this gives Jameson its signature smoothness. This tradition began in 1780 with John Jameson, and we continue his legacy to this day. Finally, we age our whiskey in oak casks for a minimum of 4 years. The result? A unique whiskey with a perfect balance of spicy, nutty and vanilla notes with hints of sweet sherry. We always like to say that everything you need to know about Jameson is right here – either on our bottle or in our bottle – encapsulating our full story. The label features our family crest and motto. Proclaiming Sine Metu’, it means Without Fear’. It’s the reason John Jameson first triple distilled Irish whiskey, creating Jameson Irish Whiskey as we know it. So in the spirit of Sine Metu, let us take you on a journey. Pull up a chair
Basil Hayden Toast is a uniquely crafted 80 proof whiskey consisting of an entirely new mash bill, replacing the traditional rye grain with brown rice, which adds a hint of sweetness and a touch less spice with increased depth of flavor that comes from secondary aging in a toasted then flash-charred oak barrel. Rather than charring the barrel with open flame, the toasting process exposes the barrel to a long and gentle heat at a level proprietary to Basil Hayden. The softer notes from the Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey receive the flavors from the toasted barrels, which is then blended back with non-Toasted bourbon to add complex flavor grounded in sweet vanilla, complemented by rich roasted notes. Perfect sipped and savored neat or on the rocks with close company.
Ancient buffalo carved paths through the wilderness that led American pioneers and explorers to new frontiers. One such trail led to the banks of the Kentucky River where Buffalo Trace Distillery has been making bourbon whiskey the same way for more than 200 years. In tribute to the mighty buffalo and the rugged, independent spirit of the pioneers who followed them, we created our signature Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey.
Unwind in luxury with a glass of Crown Royal Reserve Blended Canadian Whisky. With a velvety texture and strong notes of clove, cinnamon and rye, our reserve-grade whisky is blended with 50 deep-bodied whiskies for a refined and rich flavor. Made with the signature smoothness of traditional Crown Royal, our whisky is matured to perfection and follows the standard of excellence for Canadian whisky. Simply serve in a chilled glass for a refreshing tasting whisky neat. Includes one 80 proof 1 L bottle of Reserve Blended Canadian Whisky. Please drink responsibly.Nose: Rich and complex with a slight apple flavor and floral tones Taste: Velvety, smooth and mellow, with defined oak tones, rich, spicy flavors of cinnamon and vanilla Finish: Expansive and long-lasting
Black Velvet first came out of the barrel in 1951 and has grown to become the second largest Canadian Whisky in the world. Using crystal clear Canadian water, plus the finest rye, grains, and corn, the whisky is painstakingly distilled, Blended at Birth, and put up in premium oak barrels to gently mature. The result is an uncompromised flavor with steadfast popularity. Aged for 3 years, Black Velvet is a remarkably smooth, medium bodied whisky with hints of caramel, vanilla, coconut, and rye.
Four Roses Bourbon blends up to 10 of our distinct Bourbon recipes, resulting in a versatile, easy-drinking Bourbon that appeals to casual fans and enthusiasts alike. Perfect for cocktails. Crafted from up to 10 of our distinct Bourbon recipes NOSE Fruit, floral essences, gentle spice and honey. PALATE Crisp, soft and smooth, fresh fruit, hints of pear and apple. FINISH Mellow, long and pleasant. 80 proof Aged 5 years minimum
Our Kentucky Straight Bourbon is full of character and simply done right. Named after Evan Williams, who opened Kentuckys 1st Distillery in 1783. Evan Williams Black is aged longer than required by law and bottled at 86 proof. The result is a Bourbon that is smooth, rich and easy to enjoy. Evan Williams is medium amber in color and has aromas of vanilla and mint with a taste of oak, brown sugar and caramel. Evan Williams is the #2 selling Kentucky Straight Bourbon brand in the world.
Experience smoothness and depth that only time and quality craftsmanship can imbue with George Dickel Hand Selected Barrel 9 Year Old Tennessee Whisky. Cascade Hollow Distillery has set aside a limited number of barrels holding our most precious and richly complex whisky at peak periods of maturation. As our whisky ages and mellows, each barrel imparts its own unique taste and aroma, ensuring that no two are the same. Exceptional in taste and aged at least 9 years, this hand-selected, handcrafted whisky is a testament to Tennessee whisky’s rich and bold character. Simply enjoy neat or with iced water on the side. Includes one 103 proof 750 mL bottle of George Dickel Hand Selected Barrel 9 Year Old Tennessee Whisky. Please drink responsibly.
This cask strength expression gives a glimpse of Redbreast 12 in its natural, full flavoured taste. Redbreast 12 Cask Strength provides a glimpse of how the whiskey tastes directly from the cask in its natural, untreated, full bodied state with a rich, fully rounded and mellow with luscious fruit and spices.
Tullamore D.E.W. Cider Cask Finish is the brands Original Triple Blend Irish Whiskey finished in hard apple cider casks. The first whiskey in the world to be finished this way, it is bursting with a light, golden amber glow with a hint of crisp green apple and sweet malt. Best enjoyed on the rocks, in a cocktail, or however you please! Tullamore DEW Irish whiskey is crafted in our state-of-the-art Tullamore Distillery which brought whiskey production back to the village of Tullamore, Ireland, where it was originally made in 1829. D. E. W. are the initials of Daniel Edmund Williams who was our General Manager and one of the greatest distillers Ireland has ever had, whom we honor on every bottle. Glasses up to responsible drinking!
These are just some examples of the choices out there today. Many of these companies like Jamison and George Dickel have multiple kinds to choose from. The selections can be overwhelming at times. I suggest trying ones that sound good to you and form your opinions from there.
On a Personal Note
On a personal note I have tried many different kinds of whiskeys and bourbon throughout my life. I started as a Black Velvet kind of guy. Then I moved on to Jamison as my pallet became more sophisticated. For a while I drank Pendleton until I found out that it is not really Pendleton anymore.
Nowadays I drink mostly Bourbons. I started out with Evan Williams because a couple of good friends drank it all the time. Then I went to Bulleit Bourbon for a while, but quit for personal reasons. Now I drink Buffalo Trace and George Dickel mostly. If I really want a treat I will save up some money and get a bottle of Basil Hayden or Redbreast.
Experiences and Memories
However you create your journey, just be sure to make it an epic one. I drink for the experiences and the memories that can come with it. When you are on this journey just remember one thing. What is the best Whiskey or Bourbon? In your opinion of course.
One of my favorite memories of this spirit is having band nights with my friends. We would get together to play music and drink. We drank PBR(Pabst Blue Ribbon for the novices out there) and Jamison. Sometimes we had some great sessions. Other times it turned into a drunken slop fest of poorly played music and joking around. The days of Sock Monkey Devil will live forever in my mind and heart.
Later we started what we called the Family Band. This was a cover band we came up with. We played mostly folk bands like The Avett Brothers and The Devil Makes Three. At this point we had traded in the good old PBR for a more sophisticated palate of craft beers. These most were from Deschutes Brewery and other Oregon Craft beer makers. The craft beer story I’ll get into at another time. Oh damn, another blog idea. Man, I’m on a roll. Sorry for another side track.
Other memories I have of my journey through the world of whiskey come from my own experiences of just buying and trying different kinds of whiskeys or bourbons. I’ve had some good ones and some real bad ones.
One bad memory I have was the time I tried Black Bush by Bushmills. Oh crap, I didn’t include Bushmills in the original list above. That’s why I called it the Best Whiskeys and Bourbons(in no particular order). Anyway, Black Bush is Bushmills aged in Sherry casks. I thought to myself, “It can’t be that bad, right?” Man I was wrong. I spit out the very first sip I took as soon as it hit my lips. I eventually finished off the bottle by finding a mixed concoction. This concoction was equally gross, Pepsi, Black Bush and a scoop of ice cream. I was an early 20’s kid at the time with no sense of taste or any idea on how to properly mix alcohol. I was just trying to find a way to mask the horrible Sherry taste in that whiskey.
History
Now for a little history on the subject. Whiskey was first made in Ireland and Scotland by Medieval monks in the early 1000s. Each country created its own distinct flavors when creating this liquor. The Scots and Irish did not have grapes to make alcohol with. So they used fermented grain mash and whiskey was born.
In 1250, the first records of distilling were found in Italy. Alcohol was being distilled with wine. This technique was recounted by Ramon Llull.
The first written record of ‘whisky’ appears in the Irish Annals of Clonmacnoise in 1405. It was written that the head of the clan died after”taking a surfeit or excessive amount of aqua vitae” at Christmas.
By 1494 the distilling of whisky in Scotland was fully underway. This is evident by a record in the Exchequer Rolls of 1494. King James IV of Scotland granted a large amount of malt “To Friar John Cor to make aquavitae.” This was an order in decree.
In the 1530’s whiskey production went public with King Henry VII and his dissolving of the monasteries. Because of this monks were forced to find other ways to practice their craft.
In the 1600’s whiskey production was brought to the American colonies. In America they found new grains to make their mash with.
In 1608 The Old Bushmills Distillery was licensed in Northern Ireland and nowadays holds the title as the oldest whiskey distillery in the world.
In 1725 the The English Malt tax threatened the production of whiskey in Great Britain. Because of this many Scottish distilleries were forced to go underground. This time helped create one of the most famous alcohol nicknames there is, Moonshine.
During the late 1700’s Whiskey was used by distillers as a form of currency during the Revolutionary War. This was due to its value to the general population in the Americas at the time.
In 1783, along the banks of the Ohio River in Louisville, Kentucky Evan Williams was founded as the first commercial distillery in the USA.
In 1791 the Whiskey Tax was created in the USA. Much to the dislike of the people and the distilleries. This tax was created to help fund the American Revolution. This excise tax was levied on all domestically produced spirits. This was the first of it’s kind by the new national government. Considering that Whiskey was the most popular spirit of the day, this tax was named the, you guessed it, “Whiskey Tax”.
In the following years up til 1794. The”Whiskey Rebellion” began. This was because of the unrest between the grain farmers and the US government over the Whiskey Tax. The farmers used their excess grains to produce whiskey. They created a united front that protested the collection of the Whiskey Tax. This rebellion gained great strength particularly in western counties of Pennsylvania where officials were denied the ability to collect this tax.
This rebellion met its end in July of 1794 after the home of the tax inspector General John Neville was attacked by about 600 armed men. Afterwards President Washington responded with a militia of about 13,000 men.
In 1801, Thomas Jefferson, the leader of the newly formed Democratic-Republican Party vowed he would revoke the Whiskey Tax if placed in power. He did so after he was elected to office later that year.
A certain Scottish grocer by the name of John Walker began producing his own whisky in 1820. This would become one of the most famous and widely distributed brands of Scotch whisky in the world. John Walker was a teetotaler.
In 1823 the production of “moonshine” came to an end. This was because the United Kingdom gave Scottish distilleries the option to have legal operations for a fee.
1823 was also the year that the process of sour mash was developed by Dr. James C. Crow at what is now the Woodford Reserve Distillery. This process is done by adding an amount of spent mash to new mash. This allows for a balance of acid and live yeast to control the growth of foreign bacteria. In turn this improves the consistency from one batch to the next. This also would become a legal requirement in the production of Tennessee whiskey.
An Irish inventor by the name of Aeneas Coffey created the Coffey still in 1831. This was known as a “continuous still.” This breakthrough allowed manufacturers to make their whiskey more efficiently and at a lower cost.
In 1840 the first label with “Bourbon Whiskey” printed on it was done by Jacob Spears. This was the first time this alcohol was given the name Bourbon. At first it was called Old Bourbon. This was to differentiate from other whiskey because a company by the name of Old Bourbon County was the first to produce corn whiskey.
The first blended whisky came into production in 1850. This was done by Andrew Usher, who took a traditional pot still and mixed it with a new batch produced in a Coffey still. This met with stubborn resistance as traditional distillers claimed that it was not whisky at all. However, Usher and his company produced and distributed through Nicholas & Co. in 1853.
Starting in 1920 and ending in 1933, the American Prohibition era banned all alcohol production, sale and use. There was an exception that the federal government made. A prescription of medicinal whiskey from a doctor could be sold by a licensed pharmacy. The pharmacy chain Walgreens used this as an advantage. Growing from 20 stores to nearly 400 during the Prohibition.
1964 signaled the height of bourbon’s popularity in America. Congress declared bourbon whiskey as the official distilled spirit of the US. Specific regulations were laid out that determined what was a whisky and what was a bourbon.
In 2004 the American Whiskey Trail was launched to promote many historical sites and operating distilleries in Kentucky, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Virginia and New York.