[majorvices]

According to Bruce Willis in The Seige, M16s are "ubiquitous". I always wondered what that meant, but now I know it means "from Tennessee" .

FTW!!!

[punatic]

According to Bruce Willis in The Seige, M16s are "ubiquitous". I always wondered what that meant, but now I know it means "from Tennessee" .

FTW!!!

The movie Lawless combines sour mash and carbines, but that was Virginia whiskey and back then I believe Thompson .45s and BARs were ubiquitous.  I've shot all three.  The Tompson is very cool (tends to pull off target), but I like the BAR the best. (.45 vs .30-06).   M16 comes in a pale 3rd place.

[majorvices]

I have never had J.T.S. Brown and can't find out much about it except that it is a Heaven Hill product and that it was also Fast Eddie's drink of choice in the Hustler, which I admit to finding worthy in of itself to be at least sampled.

But Euge, I think you are missing the point. I don't consider the whiskeys you are trying to be "entry level" whiskey's at all. This is like trying to get an entry level craft beer and starting at Meister Brau. None of those bourbon's are going to give you a good idea of what a good bourbon is going to taste like.

Maker's Mark is like the Sam Adams of craft beer. Its a good place to start. I think you will find the flavors more pleasant and smoother than any of the cheap ass rot gut whiskey you are attempting to try to understand. Just sayin'.

[1vertical]

Available in a pint is one I enjoyed and worth a mention IMO 
Walkers Deluxe.....a pint won't break the bank and you can have
a little taste.

[tschmidlin]

I have never had J.T.S. Brown and can't find out much about it except that it is a Heaven Hill product and that it was also Fast Eddie's drink of choice in the Hustler, which I admit to finding worthy in of itself to be at least sampled.

But Euge, I think you are missing the point. I don't consider the whiskeys you are trying to be "entry level" whiskey's at all. This is like trying to get an entry level craft beer and starting at Meister Brau. None of those bourbon's are going to give you a good idea of what a good bourbon is going to taste like.

Maker's Mark is like the Sam Adams of craft beer. Its a good place to start. I think you will find the flavors more pleasant and smoother than any of the cheap ass rot gut whiskey you are attempting to try to understand. Just sayin'.

I'm with Keith.  Trying all of the crap to work up to the good stuff makes no sense.  Start with the good stuff, save up for the great stuff.  Long ago I counted myself among those who do not like beer.  Turns out I just didn't like the crappy lagers I had been drinking (and still don't).

[euge]

I understand guys on setting the bar a bit higher for the entry point. The JTS Brown ain't half bad at all so for the price it may go into rotation. Maybe I just got lucky but there were other labels that weren't so appealing- like McCormicks!

[Joe Sr.]

Maker's Mark is like the Sam Adams of craft beer. 

Good way of putting it.

I do think (obviously from my earlier comments) you can find decent bottom shelf whiskey, but a random shotgun sampling of the bottom shelf is not what I'd advise.

Just checking prices on-line at Binny's, you could get Four Roses yellow label for the same price (at least here) as JTS Brown.  Interestingly, Brown gets some decent reviews on the bourbon forums.  Who knows?  I'm sure someone out there likes Evan Williams.

Eagle Rare and Buffalo Trace both are available in 375ml and under $20.  I really think small bottles and comparison tasting is a good way to go.

[punatic]

Taste a few.  Find a whiskey reviewer whose tastes align with yours, and try ones they recommend.

[guido]

I used to be a big fan of Makers Mark...until I found Woodford Reserve.  You can get a small bottle for around $20.  Great deal.

[coastsidemike]

Maker's Mark is like the Sam Adams of craft beer. 

Good way of putting it.

I don't think the comparison works, saying that after visiting Maker's Mark in Louisville.  What I observed was slightly more than 75 bourbons on their menu, with some surprisingly unbiased opinion to try bourbons grouped by style.  My takeaway from visiting with them was to appreciate the regional culture and the efforts of individual distillers.   I'm not much of a bourbon drinker but now like to see some variety on hand.

[majorvices]

I used to be a big fan of Makers Mark...until I found Woodford Reserve.  You can get a small bottle for around $20.  Great deal.

I like woodford a lot. It is about $10 more than Makers 'round here. Still buy a bottle every now and then but rotate my mid shelf purchases.

FWIW woodford, when it first was released, was close to sublime and a great deal @ ~$30 per fifth. It's lost a little of it's complexity over the years and is not quite the whiskey it once was, but still very good.

[euge]

Worked last evening so on my lunch break ran over to SPECs and picked up some Makers and Bulleit 95 rye. I'll address price first: the Makers was $17 and the Bulleit was $19. The lady by my house wanted $26 and change for the same Makers!

Secondly: I can see Makers as an entry-level Bourbon. Not harsh just about the right dark sweetness and nice finish. The Bulleit I really like. Floral and spicy. Sharper but not harsh. Slight medicinal quality. Will most likely become my house whiskey...

Still I'd like to give a thumbs up for the JTS Brown though it is significantly harsher, less sweet and has a mouthfeel sorta on the thin side.

[majorvices]

Hooray! I definitely keep my eye out for the JTS Brown now, especially for the novelty of Fast Eddie.

[Joe Sr.]

FWIW woodford, when it first was released, was close to sublime and a great deal @ ~$30 per fifth. It's lost a little of it's complexity over the years and is not quite the whiskey it once was, but still very good.

I bet this is related to the increased popularity of whiskey and rye.

There are a couple labels that I know hit the shelves and are gone quickly.  Last time I looked for Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye you couldn't get it and probably not for a couple years.  Which also factors into the crazy prices for Pappy.

Maybe Woodford is rushing (I know, hard to rush aging) some part of the process or taking a short cut to get more product to the market.

[MDixon]

I'm late to the party, but do enjoy trying Bourbon's. I'm not a purist, but always try it neat and on the rocks before heading off in other directions. I personally don't like Woodford, to me it is harsh, alcoholic and has an acidity I despise. I also don't like Booker's, too alcoholic for my tastes.

I like Buffalo Trace, Eagle Rare and Blanton's and all come from the same distillery. That might explain why I like them all. For the money BT and ER are tits.

I also like Knob Creek, Basil Hayden, and Bakers.

I've been working on Four Roses Small Batch and to me it is just a little boring and slightly harsh. If you really, really want boring get some Jefferson. Lexington bourbon (the brand) is pure monkey juice. Larceny wasn't bad at all when I got it for $15 after a $10 rebate. At $25 I'd go for something else.

I recently had some Reservoir from Richmond, VA which is stupid expensive and just not enjoyable to consume. Harsh, acidic and alcoholic.

Bulleit I like, but I'm currently out of at home.

I believe Four Roses Single Barrel is on sale at our state owned liquor stores so I may go out today and grab a bottle.

If you want to know the lineage of Bourbon, GQ had a recent article which had a nice graphic.
http://mashbang.wordpress.com/2013/11/17/gq-the-bourbon-family-tree/