NYT: "If you love whiskey but haven’t thought of bourbon as being in the same league as a good Scotch, Irish and even, these days, rye, you owe it to yourself to give it another try."
More: "Some of the biggest names in bourbon did not make our list. Wild Turkey just missed. It was good bourbon, but the panel did not find it distinctive enough in this company. We also liked the Van Winkle’s 10-Year-Old, which we thought would be great for cocktails. Maker’s Mark did not come close."
I tried the Evan Williams that's on this list last weekend after seeing an ad for it somewhere. Pretty damn good.
Posted by: David Boyd | Nov 28, 2007 at 01:07 PM
I have always liked Knob Creek. Glad to see they agree.
Posted by: drfranklives | Nov 28, 2007 at 01:23 PM
Rebel Yell has always been my favorite. It is only sold south of the Mason Dixon Line. That's probably why it didn't make the list.
Posted by: Eric | Nov 28, 2007 at 02:32 PM
RY probably didn't make the list because it's not generally regarded as a premium brand to be savored on its own, but as something you mix or give to friends up north. I know my college friends loved that whole "Fourteen years before the great victory at Chickamauga..." spiel on label.
Posted by: Ed Cone | Nov 28, 2007 at 02:59 PM
Anyone care to taste some 100 year old Jack Daniel's ?
Well not if these bureaucrats have their way.
This would be a sin
Posted by: Fred Gregory | Nov 28, 2007 at 03:40 PM
I do not believe Van Winkle is available hereabouts. If it is someone let me know where. It is very good. Knob Creek is excellant but I will disagree on Makers Mark. Me likes and not too awful high priced. On fishing trips we always start with Makers Mark and end with Bench Mark (1/2 - 1/3 the price and well worth it if you get my drift).
Never been a Jack kinda guy and WT just doesnt do it for me.
Posted by: mick | Nov 28, 2007 at 04:02 PM
Ol' George Dickle has always been my favorite. But when it comes to sippin' I'll take any brand of Bourbon over Scotch, Irish, Rye, Gin or Vodka any day.
Posted by: Billy The Blogging Poet | Nov 28, 2007 at 04:31 PM
Crown Royal Reserve
Posted by: meblogin | Nov 28, 2007 at 06:46 PM
I figured you'd pick this article up when I saw it on the NYT email this morning.
Don't trust those Yankees at the NYT to know anything about bourbon - Maker's may not be single barrel or any of that, but it's still quality at a great price point.
Plus, there's the apocryphal quote from Ms. Samuels to go on when asked by some intrepid/insipid reporter about their infamous Kentucky Derby party when asked if she'd ever been drunk.
"No, but I have been overserved."
You want to play a joke on your Yankee friends, though, give them a pint of Heaven Hill. Disgusting but works providing hangovers.
Posted by: Mark | Nov 28, 2007 at 09:39 PM