Sipped some Knob Creek yesterday...I liked it a lot...it has tons of flavor and a nice spicy/smoky feel. For my updated favorites so far I would have to say Eagle Rare>Makers Mark>Knob Creek and I have concluded the others I have had so far are just a waste of money. I think Bulleit Rye or Knob Creek Rye are next on my list. Really looking forward to trying to my first rye.

~JB

You need some better friends...

Kind of a philosophical question here:

I tried a couple glasses of Pappy Van Winkle (the 15 I think) for the first time last year and have since bought several nice ryes/bourbons/scotches off of recommendations in this thread in the interim. Not sure how much the good cigar/friends/bar experience contributed to my perception but I'm not going to lie it was easily the best tasting whiskey I can remember having by a lot. I spent some time yesterday looking into buying bottles and have learned about the enduring shortage/fall single release/etc. So here is the question for people that would know better than me:

Is it worth bothering to get price gouged on a bottle of the Rip Van Winkle 10/12? I've never had it so is it a decent poor man's substitute for the Pappy? Is there absolutely any bourbon out there that I can get and be happy with to give a Pappy 15/20 a run for its money so I don't have to go spend 300++ to try to track down a bottle from a private seller at this time of year?

r4,

I'd look for some older (16+) bottles of Willett and Black Maple Hill.

Awesome will do. It's funny because I tried the templeton, Willet, and something else a couple months ago and was blown away by the Willett so got it again off klwines. If there is any maker that could put out a 16+ to make me forget about Pappy a little bit that just might be it.

Edit: just ordered a bottle of Willett 21 at like 110 proof so assuming cask strength or close to it. Should be great I'll let you know in a couple days.

Didn't see a review of this in the thread. Anyone try this one yet, Aberfeldy 21? I have no idea if its any good, but it was marked to sell at $45. I have never seen a 21 year that cheap, and didn't know if it was just a really crappy 21 or maybe mislabeled.

cobra,

I've had Aberfeldy 21 at some whiskey tasting events and it was very good. Based on a quick Google search, looks like market price is ~$150.

Jura Superstition didn't get much love here but I think it's a very nice single malt. Much better than the 10 y/o

RP,

Agreed.

Lol, who priced that one up? Whisky makers don't box a $45 bottle like that one.

im sure this is a newby question as i follow this thread from time to time but not everyday, but what whisky would most of you recommend in the $100-$200 range? i know it depends on the indiviuals taste but ive been asked for a bottle in that range for my bday and wants some experienced opinions. to best describe my inexperienced personal taste, id say i prefer jonny walker to most other low end whiskys. constructive help is most appreciated fellas.

Team,

Go read the thread, that has been covered at least a couple times previously.

only 96 pages? thx for the warm welcome!

Team,

Welcome! Change your posts per page settings and it'll be only 15.

Team,

Which Johnny Walker are you referring to? There are many different levels.

Also, a brief rundown of what you've tried and which you've liked?

johnny walker green label, havent had the blue yet but im sure that i would enjoy it

Honestly I don't see a point to you jumping to a 1-200 dollar bottle.

In your place I'd ask for a few less expensive bottles to get a better feel for what you like.

Something along the lines of:
Balvenie 12
Macallan 12
Oban 14

Should start to cover a few bases if you want to stick with scotches.

Eagle Rare 17, if you can find it is a great bottle. I recently bought 1 bottle of pappy years 10,12,15,20 each. I love em all but of course hard to find and therefore over pay for them. The Eagle Rare 17 was just as good IMO, also just the regular Eagle Rare is a great bottle, especially for it's price.

Other notable bottles I recently had: Stag and the Willet you've already mentioned.

If you're into scotches a few recommendations I have: The Balvenie 12 yr old Doublewood is one of my all time favs, excellently priced. Also all The Balvenie years are great. Oban 14 yr old.

Bought my second bottle of Jameson Special Reserve 12, and regretting it. Now definitely know I'm not liking it. But guess what, it's all drunk up now, so no big deal.

I don't like it at all either. Bought a bottle some time ago and decided not to do it again, had it at a friend's house and confirmed my desition.

Do you guys like standard Jameson but not the 12? Or not at all?

Jameson used to be a standard of mine. These days its on the sweet side. Never had the 12 but was toying with it.

I had some Woodford Reserve last night. My buddies and I had been wanting to try it. Overall, I was not very impressed. I noticed a pronounced wood flavor and a bit of spiciness, but it had quite a potent taste for a small moment then faded.

I think my main problem with bourbons now is that I have already had the best one (Eagle Rare), and am now comparing every one to it and the smoothness of the others don't even compare.

~JB

JB,

Eagle Rare is quite good, but it's not even close to the best one. You have a whole world of bourbon in front of you!

Team:

50 posts per page is the correct setting; making this page 29, not 15.

Also, between $100-200 (USD I assume?), a great bottle would be Macallan 18, IMO.

Also, just grabbed a bottle of lagavulin 16. Will probably crack it open within the next week or so and will write a quick post if I like it.

Over the last little bit, I have been on a scotch tasting quest and have concluded my top three (so far):
1. Highland Park 12
2. Macallan 18
3. Glen Livet 12