I just wanted to tell you all that I'm in Kentucky, so if anyone is having trouble finding a bourbon they want to try, we may be able to work something out.
That being said, I'm definitely on a Four Roses Small Batch kick right now. I tried it for the first time a couple of weeks before attending this year's Bourbon Festival. I think it has the smoothest finish of any bourbon I've had. It's nice and sweet, without too much of that strong oak flavor, so a newer bourbon drinker could probably handle it. The last bottle I picked up was $27.79, an excellent value, in my opinion. Try it with a cube of ice, as it seems to really bring out the aroma. Ooh, that sounds delicious...
[break to go pour myself a glass]
Buffalo Trace is another excellent choice. Compared to the Small Batch above, I think it's less sweet, and slightly stronger on the finish. Still a must-buy. I always keep some of this in the cabinet!
I know a lot of people like the Heaven Hill products (Evan Williams, Elijah Craig, etc.). To me, it seems that they all, even their top-of-the-line, limited edition releases, have a wood finish that just doesn't suit my palette. I really hate it, because most of these are priced very well.