I’ve got a mate whos a big fan of Bourbon. He’s tried all the standard brands like Buffalo Trace, JD, Jim Beam and Wild Turkey.
I want to get him a bottle for Xmas of something he might not have tried before, something I can say was recommended by Americans as a good bourbon. Doesn’t need to be some weird flavour like Red Stag, just old fashioned American bourbon that maybe flies under the radar in other countries.
I just got done living in KY for about 5 years, the one I like for a reasonable price was Basil Hayden, I think it’s from the Jim beam distillery but it’s not too expensive and it’s nice and smooth. But there are literally thousands of different bourbon and even one distillery group might have several brand names, like the owners of Jim beam actually makes old grandad, makers mark, and knob creek as well
Jim Beam does make a ton of other brands as the biggest distillery, but Maker’s Mark has their own distillery. They are owned by Beam Suntory though, but they still have their own distillery, aging warehouses, etc. that you can tour. You even get to dip your own bottle into the red wax - I still have mine!
Sold in 2014
Good to know I went on my first toured before they got bought out.
Recently went on a tour and didn’t think that much had changed tho.
I like to buy from vineyards and distilleries I’ve been to. But conglomerates are buying everything up :/
I went in August 2014, and while they had a new cask strength blend they were doing, nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
I did get to dip a bottle of that new stuff and still have it. I can’t remember how they explained it to me, that it wasn’t the first run but was still the first batch, or first batch but not the first run or something. Anyway I figured some collector might want it some day, or maybe I’ll just drink it when I find out it’s worthless in 20 years. It’s still decent bourbon!