![]() The whiskey is sourced from the Four Roses Distillery (for now) and then aged at Bulleit’s facilities, adding their own mark on the juice. That’s not some grave injustice - this is a perfectly fine bourbon, for what it is. It was almost impossible to get away from this whiskey at one point. ![]() So for each bourbon that we’re calling out as overhyped below, we’re also naming another (cheaper) bottle as a solid alternative.ĭistillery: Four Roses Distillery, Lawrenceburg, KY (Diageo) As drinkers and aficionados, we have a real love for the art of whiskey making and the craftspeople producing it - hating on expressions isn’t fun for us. Whiskey is about exploring and we’re encouraging you to do just that. What we mean is that you shouldn’t limit yourself. That’s not to say any of the bottles below are bad. And yes, some of them seem to get a little too much shine. In 2020, with more expressions on the shelf than ever, there are a lot of bourbons competing for your attention. Then there’s the awards circuit, where some bottles pile up win after win - adding a certain luster. The biggest reason people will trample their grandmothers for a bottle of Pappy is that Anthony Bourdain famously loved the stuff. And partially because of plain, old luck. Partially because the competition is improving the overall quality and “good” bottles slide down that ranking to “mediocre.” Partially because branding occasionally helps the wrong bottles get mainstream love. **Some of you refer to this as the “finish” but let’s be honest.When the market for any spirit grows saturated, people will soon start identifying overhyped and overrated expressions. If I’m drinking bourbon on the rocks I skip the waiting and dive in both feet first. I personally find that it’s better to let some of the alcohol waft off before diving in. But value! *I like to let my bourbon sit in the glass for at least 5 minutes before I start to smell it or have a drink. While I like this, I think it may be my least favorite of Buffalo Trace’s low rye mash bill. Worth The Price: I paid $12.95, which is quite reasonable.īottle, Bar or Bust: Bottle, because value. I shared it with some friends after they helped me move a 300 lb. ![]() As with most 80 proof bourbons, you’ll need less sugar if you’re making an Old Fashioned and less vermouth in your Manhattan. Straight, Old Fashioned or Manhattan:While the cocktails work reasonably well, I like this one straight. If you’re going to drink this, drink it neat. Neat, Splash or Rocks: I don’t really believe in adding water or ice to an 80 proof bourbon. My Nose Noticed:* Vanilla | Honey | Orange Peel How I Drank It: Neat, in Glencairn whiskey glass. To me, that’s not selling point, but let’s give it a taste. Sazerac/Buffalo Trace markets it as a cheaper alternative to Jack Daniel’s and it shows in the Old No. The brand name was purchased by Sazerac in 1992 and McAfee’s was added to the name in honor of the McAfee brothers who surveyed a site just north of Frankfort in the late 1700s. It was produced at the Four Roses distillery when Seagram’s owned it. 8 bourbon was created by Seagram’s in the late 1960s as a luxury brand and was originally named Benchmark Bourbon. We’ll be looking at that last one for today’s review.īenchmark Old No. Taylor, the eponymous Buffalo Trace, Old Charter and McAfee’s Benchmark. Their #1 mash bill is a low-rye bill (less than 10%) and makes some big names: Eagle Rare, George T. Age and placement in the warehouses determine the rest. We hope you enjoy this new series of reviews and hope you’ll help us shape future reviews by letting us know in the comments what sub-$20 bourbon you’d like us to review next.īuffalo Trace makes a lot of different bourbons but they only have a few mash bills. ![]() Knowing that not all sub-$20 bourbons will be great, Thomas will be adding a new category to our standard tasting notes – Straight, Old Fashioned or Manhattan – to see whether a classic cocktail improves on a straight tasting. Bourbon & Banter contributor, Thomas Fondano, will be trying out and commenting on bourbons priced under $20. 2 min read Welcome to a new tasting series on lower shelf bourbons.
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