A Beginner's Guide to....Bourbon

tsolomon · 03-25-2009, 12:21 PM

I started with Evan Williams Single Barrel and Eagle Rare 10 year. Both are very smooth with Evan Williams having a slight caramel or vanilla taste. Small batch and single barrel bourbons all have a unique taste, so you should try several. Woodford Reserve is my current go to bourbon, both smooth and tasty. When I want a little more flavor I grab the Knob Creek for a sweet and rich caramel flavor, but it can overpower some cigars.

I drink bourbon neat or with 1 ice cube. I always keep a bottle of Maker's Mark around as it's good for drinking neat or mixing.

Scottw · 03-25-2009, 12:47 PM

Evan Williams single barrel or Eagle Rare 17 are great was to start. EW, in my opinion is a tremendous value at $20 per bottle.

awsmith4 · 03-25-2009, 12:54 PM

Definitely check out the other thread...but a great starter bourbon is Makers Mark.Yeah yeah its not the best but it is very mild to start with. Start with pouring bourbon on the rocks with a tad bit of water and work up to sipping it neat. Personally I think bourbon goes better with cigars than any other beverage

Whee · 03-25-2009, 12:55 PM

Let me phrase it another way.

If a buddy of mine, who had never smoked a cigar before, asked me for a smoke, I would not reach into my humi and pull out an Opus or an RP Edge maduro. That would kill him! I would probably reach in and give him a 5 Vegas Gold, an Ashton or a CAO Gold to start with. Nice and mild, get the cigar flavor, but won't put you off to cigars as a stronger first smoke might.

So what is the "mild cigar" bourbon?

The Bourbon thread has lots of different kinds, years, etc., but I am not sure what would be the best one to start with to get into the world of Bourbon.

Thanks for the input so far!!

Savvy · 03-25-2009, 12:59 PM

Buffalo Trace and Four Roses are two good introductory bourbons. They are a little sweeter, and don't have as bad of a bite as some of the others. They are both about $25 too, so they're not going to kill your wallet.

tsolomon · 03-25-2009, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by illinoishoosier

Let me phrase it another way.

So what is the "mild cigar" bourbon?
Thanks for the input so far!!

For a starter bourbon, I don't think you could go wrong with either of these.
Evan Williams Single Barrel
Woodford Reserve

03-25-2009, 12:21 PM	#1
tsolomon Have My Own Room Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Tom Location: The Villages, FL Posts: 1,249 Trading: (31)	Re: A Beginner's Guide to....Bourbon I started with Evan Williams Single Barrel and Eagle Rare 10 year. Both are very smooth with Evan Williams having a slight caramel or vanilla taste. Small batch and single barrel bourbons all have a unique taste, so you should try several. Woodford Reserve is my current go to bourbon, both smooth and tasty. When I want a little more flavor I grab the Knob Creek for a sweet and rich caramel flavor, but it can overpower some cigars. I drink bourbon neat or with 1 ice cube. I always keep a bottle of Maker's Mark around as it's good for drinking neat or mixing.

03-25-2009, 12:47 PM	#2
Scottw Going Commando Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Scott Location: Sussex, NJ Posts: 2,815 Trading: (6)	Re: A Beginner's Guide to....Bourbon Evan Williams single barrel or Eagle Rare 17 are great was to start. EW, in my opinion is a tremendous value at $20 per bottle. __________________ "Ray when someone asks you if your a GOD you say yes."

03-25-2009, 12:54 PM	#3
awsmith4 Simple Pleasures - 2oL Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Albert Location: Marietta, Georgia Posts: 4,602 Trading: (111)	Re: A Beginner's Guide to....Bourbon Definitely check out the other thread...but a great starter bourbon is Makers Mark.Yeah yeah its not the best but it is very mild to start with. Start with pouring bourbon on the rocks with a tad bit of water and work up to sipping it neat. Personally I think bourbon goes better with cigars than any other beverage __________________ Its THIS easy to support our troops

03-25-2009, 12:55 PM	#4
Whee formerly illinoishoosier Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Sean Location: Bishopville, SC Posts: 3,593 Trading: (17)	Re: A Beginner's Guide to....Bourbon Let me phrase it another way. If a buddy of mine, who had never smoked a cigar before, asked me for a smoke, I would not reach into my humi and pull out an Opus or an RP Edge maduro. That would kill him! I would probably reach in and give him a 5 Vegas Gold, an Ashton or a CAO Gold to start with. Nice and mild, get the cigar flavor, but won't put you off to cigars as a stronger first smoke might. So what is the "mild cigar" bourbon? The Bourbon thread has lots of different kinds, years, etc., but I am not sure what would be the best one to start with to get into the world of Bourbon. Thanks for the input so far!! __________________ "Maybe I'm wrong, when they tell me they're right…..naaaaahhhhhh, I'm an asshooooooleeee"--Denis Leary

03-25-2009, 12:59 PM	#5
Savvy Bull Goose Loony Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Jordan Location: Wherever the AF takes me Posts: 381 Trading: (11)	Re: A Beginner's Guide to....Bourbon Buffalo Trace and Four Roses are two good introductory bourbons. They are a little sweeter, and don't have as bad of a bite as some of the others. They are both about $25 too, so they're not going to kill your wallet.