Kentucky Bourbon

[Charmin One]

Since Beshear is governor of Kentucky, I only drink Kentucky Bourbon. No Tennessee whisky. Right now I have a bottle of Bulleit, but while I like it, it’s not my favorite (Old Forrester 1870 is). What brand do you think I should try (under $50)

[Tbear]

1. Makers Mark

A standard “go to”.

[Mike 03]

2. Hunter S. Thompson fans would no doubt steer

you towards Wild Turkey.

Now, I was dumb enough to try that one in college, after never having tried hard liquor before in my life--because at the time I idolized Hunter. I don't actually know if it is regarded as a good Bourbon or not.

[badhair77]

3. I prefer to stick with small family craft distilleries

like Neeley Family and Willet. VA has a good one in Silverback. PA has a terrific governor with Shapiro and Stoll & Wolfe has a rich heritage and is highly regarded.

[Charmin One]

5. You're not the first to recommend Willet

I’ll buy it if I see it

[brush]

4. You might try "Uncle Nearest", a fairly recent brand founded by...

the descendants of the Black man who taught Jack Daniels how to distill bourbon.

It's a premiun brand so it's slightly higher than your price range but it's so smooth and quite good. I have a bottle I will open when the relatives get here for Christmas.

[Charmin One]

6. Very interesting

Never heard of it

[brush]

7. Google it for more info on the story.

[LakeVermilion]

8. I like Buffalo Trace...

A nice bourbon with a hint of chocolate.

[Shambala]

9. Give Three Chord bourbon a try and let me know what you think.

I just started drinking bourbon a few years ago during the pandemic when I was gifted a whiskey sampler kit and Three Chord became a standard on my bar. It’s “sourced” in Kentucky - not sure what that means. But nice notes of vanilla and a little caramel, hint of spice. Right in your price range.

[chia]

10. Recently I read a Costco magazine article highlighting bourbon that Kentucky produces 95% of the world supply

[TexasBushwhacker]

11. You can go on a "bourbon tour"

to visit several distilleries. Of course, someone else is doing the driving.

[chia]

15. Of course! I don't know much of anything about Bourbon, though.

[CivicGrief]

12. I second Maker's Mark

Just finished a bottle last night. Knob Creek is also good.

[Redleg]

14. Knobb Creek is good

I haven't had it for a while but have fond memories.

[Redleg]

13. Michter's Bourbon

I liked Maker's Mark for quite a while. My wife and kids took me on a distillery tour of Boone County Distillery (in the county I reside) and we sampled some of their products and liked several of them. The tour itself was quite interesting and informative.

Living in Kentucky gives us many choices of bourbon and I have tried expensive bourbons and mid-ranged and even a few less-expensive ones. I still prefer single-malt scotch but sometimes have a hankering for a nice bourbon. I tend to prefer the small-batch bourbons though I don't like paying the high prices for them, even though I can afford to.

My favorite american whiskey distillery is Michters. I like their bourbon, sour-mash, and their American Whiskey, which is my favorite American whiskey, but somewhat hard to find here in KY due to the numbers of bourbons crowding the liquor store shelves.