Hello Everyone :)

[theginguy]

Hello everyone.

I'm glad I found you all. I've been looking at AVB's whiskey reviews now for some time and I just never found this page.

This thread section is right up my alley. I don't smoke, so this will be the only one I will frequent. I've been "slowly" building a liquor cabinet for the past couple of years now and I've really narrowed what I like to drink down pretty well. But It's a fun process trying new brands and finding new tastes.

Anyway, I do have a question for everyone here to start things off.

I'm still looking for my everyday bourbon. Sure... there are a few labels that I like a lot but I'm trying to find something that I can buy often that won't break the bank. Something that is easy to drink on the rocks and mixed, cheap and won't give me a headache.

I live in Virginia, so alcohol is pretty much doubled in price. I think Canadians might pay more, but not much. I've been pretty much relying on Buffalo Trace to be my Go-To bourbon.

I have bought a couple of bottles of Elijah Craig, but the only problem I have with EC is that it's just too dry. It is very woody and after a couple of glasses, my tongue feels like I have two pieces of oak stuck to it's sides.

I have friends who drink Jim Beam and Jack, but I've never really cared for ether of them.

My Go-To Scotch is hands down, no dispute, Dewar's White Label. I love Dewar's.

So, Buffalo Trace is pretty darn good. It gives a good buzz and it won't give me a headache. But what I was hoping, was to find something a little less expensive.

So I've been looking at Even Williams 1783. Everywhere I read, it gets nothing but good reviews. So I thought I would go out and buy a bottle of it today. But I was hoping if I could get any comments on it here.

I drink my bourbon mostly on the rocks, sometimes with coke and or as an Old Fashioned. I'm not looking for a top shelf bourbon, but I was hoping maybe that 1783 would hold up with some ice? I was also hoping that it would give a decent buzz and not cause a pounding headache. I know that's a lot to ask for in a cheap whiskey, but you can't blame a guy for trying can you?

Thanks and again, it's great to be a new member.

 

[AVB]

Click on the link in my signature. I've done a review of the Evan Williams 1783. You might want to look for Ancient Ancient Age too since I believe I got my last bottle of it in VA.

So I've been looking at Even Williams 1783. Everywhere I read, it gets nothing but good reviews. So I thought I would go out and buy a bottle of it today. But I was hoping if I could get any comments on it here.

Thanks and again, it's great to be a new member.

 

[theginguy]

Hello AVB.

Thanks for the reply. Yes, I have read your review and it was mainly why I decided to give the 1783 a try.

In the review you replied that you had drunk a considerable amount of the bottle. I was wondering if you could let me know how good you thought the spirit was distilled? Again, I'm mainly interested in whiskey that won't give me headaches.

I was also wondering if it was strong enough for ice?

Thanks.

 

[AVB]

In my experience headaches are caused more by volume then by the spirit itself. So either I don't drink enough, or from your way of thinking, drink well distilled products since I only very rarely get headaches.

At 86 proof almost any whisk(e)y is marginal for ice.

Hello AVB.

Thanks for the reply. Yes, I have read your review and it was mainly why I decided to give the 1783 a try.

In the review you replied that you had drunk a considerable amount of the bottle. I was wondering if you could let me know how good you thought the spirit was distilled? Again, I'm mainly interested in whiskey that won't give me headaches.

I was also wondering if it was strong enough for ice?

Thanks.

 

[khari]

Hi ginguy,
I really like Knob Creek as a daily pour. Plus it's 100 proof so it'll take to dropping a cube or two.

 

[theginguy]

Hi ginguy,
I really like Knob Creek as a daily pour. Plus it's 100 proof so it'll take to dropping a cube or two.

Yes, Knob Creek is very good. It will most certainly hold up to ice. But it is too expensive for my everyday Bourbon.

I am trying to find brands that our close to $20.00 and under.

I have tried Even Williams Single Barrel and liked it very much. But it was just a tad bit on the dry/charred woody side for me. It is around $25.00 for me.

Buffalo Trace is also $25.00 and Like I said, Elijah Craig is very dry and woody for my taste.

So I bought three other brands a couple of nights ago.

I bought Even Williams 1783, Jim Beam Black and Wild Turkey 101.

First I tried all three side by side.

The Even Williams 1783 I confess is the weaker of the three. Although it does have a good nose and taste, it's just not as strong in flavor as the JB and the WT.

When using three ice cubes in all three, the Jim Beam and Wild Turkey were noticeably more flavorful. I preferred the Wild Turkey over the Jim Beam, but the Jim Beam Black was still pretty darn good.

Yesterday, I tried Even Williams by itself. I casually drank around 6oz within about an hour and a half. I didn't even really get a buzz off of it. But.... there were absolutely no side effects, which is a good thing. So.... I have to conclude that it's just one of those labels that takes twice as much to give you a buzz. But it's still good and it would be a good starter for someone who is trying bourbon for the first time.

Last night, I drank Jim Beam, same thing, around 6oz casually in about an hour or so. I got a better buzz and it was right after I ate dinner.

Today, I tried the Wild Turkey, same thing as above, and boy does it pack a punch!

So, even though the Wild Turkey is around $22.00 a fifth for me, I think it's a pretty good bargain, especially because of the high alcohol percentage.

So it looks like Wild Turkey is probably going to be my Go-To bourbon. I have to admit, I like it better then Buffalo Trace.

 

[AVB]

If you're drinking a quarter of a bottle per day (6oz) then you do need to watch the pennies.