In the all-encompassing , beautifully boozy world of whisky , bourbon stands out for its note value . Unlike its Scottish Brother , you may get the good dogshit for a just few Hamiltons . But there is one major prank for getting means more bash for your horse .
Matthew Landan , owner of Haymarket Whiskey Bar , clued us in on how to spot the serious value whiskey . The gentleman’s gentleman stocks more than 100 bourbons at the Louisville , Kentucky governing body , so if anyone knows , it ’s him . Most Bourbon clock in at 80 test copy , but he recommends looking for the bottle - in - bond category . Under the 1897 Bottled - in - Bond Act , these spirits must forgather two of import essential : they ’re maturate for a minimum of four year and are at least 100 substantiation – meaning you ’re getting more alcohol per bottle .
“ The fact is a whisky that has more substantiation is more valuable than a whisky that has low proof , ” says Landan . “ You ’re getting more alcohol by volume for less money . " Now , that ’s all good , but which ones are worth drinking ? Here are his favorites .
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Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond
Price:$15If you – or a very , very kind friend – are crossing through Kentucky or Southern Indiana , be on the sentry for this bottle and corrupt several : the straightforward mundane sipper is Landan ’s favorite bottom - ledge Bourbon dynasty . “ You ’re not going to notice another product that ’s going to give you as much historic period and as much cogent evidence as the Heaven Hill 6 Year Bonded will at this monetary value . "
Old Forester Signature 100 Proof
Price:$24-$25This more full-bodied ( read : boozier ) adaptation of the beloved Old Forester bourbon work especially well as a cocktail base . “ It ’s a rattling time value with a strong spirit visibility , ” says Landan “ It ’s great in cocktails because it ’ll stand up to the other flavour you ’re mixing in . ”
J.W. Dant
Price:$17Dating back to the nineteenth century , the historic Bardstown , Kentucky brand is the Bourbon dynasty of selection for older – ahem , more mature – drinkers . “ It ’s a steal of a feeding bottle , ” says Landan . “ They have n’t tried to market it to a larger population and by - and - large , that ’s what you find with in force bottom - shelf Bourbon dynasty – they ’re old sword . Matthew McConaughey is not going to stand up and do commercial for these . ”
Old Grand-Dad 100 Proof
Price:$23-$30First bottle in 1882 by Basil Hayden ( the namesake “ deluxe - dad ” ) , the deal - friendly bourbon is also a virile one . “It ’s a high rye formula , " say Landan , referring to the fact that it is made with more rye whiskey than most bourbons , which typically have a much mellow ratio of the corn and/or barley ( Bulleit and Four Roses Single Barrel are also high rye whiskey ) . It gives it a peppery bound .
Mellow Corn
Price:$13-$19While it is n’t technically a bourbon ( corn whiskey is aged in reprocess cask , not Modern single ) , the amber - colored spirit should still be rent severely . “ It ’s also a Heaven Hill Distilleries label and Heaven Hill is the king of the stick , ” says Landon . Though it has , as the name suggests , a aristocratic profile live on on due to the high corn proportion , it is more vivid than many other whiskeys on the market because of its bottle - in - bond makeup .
Wild Turkey 101
Price:$24The house - run for still – helm by “ Bourbon dynasty buddha ” Jimmy Russell – ages its rye - forward-moving feel in American ashen oak tree barrels , resulting in a punchier punch . “ It ’s get a kick in it and that 101 proof makes it suitable for sip on the rock-and-roll or a poke - in - the - brass form of scene . ”
Maker’s Mark
Price:$20-$30Despite the tagline of “ It try out expensive … and is , ” Landan considers Maker ’s Mark a budget - favorable choice . “ It ’s no longer an expensive whiskey , but it ’s still a solid product with a very exchangeable formula to the famous Pappy Van Winkle . If you like a dulcet whiskey , this would be the one to go for . ”
Johnny Drum Private Stock 101
Price:$32This smoky blend bourbon comes from the little Willett Distillery based in Bardstown , Kentucky . “ Just like the Wild Turkey , it ’s start to have a backbone , ” says Landan . “ If I hear it on a back bar , I ’d absolutely say give me that Johnny Drum 101 . ”
E.H. Taylor Jr., Small Batch
Price:$43As the world responsible for for initiate the Bottled - in - Bond Act of 1897 , Colonel Edmund Haynes Taylor , Jr. is deserving of a bottle named in his honor . “ E.H. Taylor get the practice of law passed and there ’s still a bottled - in - bond in his name produced today by Buffalo Trace , ” says Landan . “ When we talk about pre - Prohibition style whisky , this was the gold standard . ”
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Old Forester Bourbon
Flickr/Dominic Lockyer
Flickr/Dominic Lockyer
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