Wild Turkey Long Branch or Elijah Craig's standard offering are available and easy drinking.

quote:

Originally posted by MRBTX:
Jim Beam Black.

Going to open a bottle of that tonight.

quote:

Originally posted by Il Cattivo:
They could not be more mutually exclusive, and that goes for all distilled spirits. If you mix what you're drinking with something else (except maybe a drop of branch), it's because you don't actually like what you're drinking.

I'm in absolute agreement with you about them not liking the taste, so they put something in to mask it.

One of the best sipping whiskies I've had is Red Breast - 12 year old Irish single pot still. Then there's Middleton which is even better but a bit more expensive.

I'm not as knowledgeable about Bourbon though.

Blanton's

On the subject of sipping whiskey, why would a place give you one large ice cube in a second glass? I sometimes like it on the rocks but two glasses confused me. I made a splash sadly.

And Woodford is a nice bottle to have around.

Depends on what you are mixing it with.

Soda? Jim Beam, Seagrams 7, Jack, Evan Williams and the like.

Mixed Drink like an Old Fashioned? I’ll go with a higher shelf like Bulleit or Woodford. I tend to gravitate more towards Rye in my old fashioned and like Bulleit, Knob Creek, Woodford, Redemption, Basil Hayden’s and Old Overholt.

Sipping? Blantons is great of course, but for the money I think Buffalo Trace is my favorite. I also really like Knob Creek and Makers 46. Recently I have been drinking a lot of Old Forester as well and think it’s a great bourbon for the money. My fallback when I’m at a bar with limited selection is regular Makers.

Evan Williams bottled in bond is cheap and good for sipping or mixing. I wouldn't recommend a $50 bottle for mixing. There are a lot of cheaper options when it comes to mixing bourbons.

That said for sipping without breaking the bank. Buffalo Trace, Eagle Rare, Basil Hayden. Old Forrester, Wild Turkey 101 are all fine examples. I find the Larceny to have a medicinal taste to it when sipping neat or on the rocks.

I’ll second the Evan Williams bottled in bond. Not so expensive you’ll cringe if someone wants a mixer but smooth enough to sip. It’s my go to bourbon, and I live a short drive from Woodford, Buffalo Trace and Wild Turkey. Don’t overlook Four Roses yellow label. It’s also good enough to sip but not so expensive you’ll cringe at a mixer. The Four Roses single barrel has gone up in price. Definitely sipping worthy, maybe too good to mix. Just my opinion. It’s all good.

I guess it depends on your viewpoint. Those that like the spirit would sometimes argue that it is sacrilege to pour coke or some other crap into good booze that is going to overpower the taste. I’ve always believed water was the appropriate mixer.

Depending on your space, your budget, and how often you have friends over that use a mixer, you may decide it makes sense to have something cheap for them to mix that you won’t feel bad about them polluting, or you may just let them mix your one bourbon and try not to cringe when they do it. It is all a personal choice.

Get what you enjoy for yourself, figure out what works best for you when it comes to entertaining friends who mix. Remember, this is all supposed to be fun.

quote:

Originally posted by ChuckFinley:
Blanton's

Please do not buy Blanton's with the assumption that someone might throw some coke in it. I mean seriously. Goodness gracious.

The answer to this question couldn't be simpler. Maker's Mark, Woodford, Jim Bean, Bulleit, even Knob Creek (my preferred sipping whiskey) will satisfy any bourbon drinker. Old Grand-Dad is another acceptable bourbon just to have on the shelf. But please, for the love of God, don't offer Blanton's if you think that person is one who truly doesn't appreciate bourbon.

Just look for bottled in bond offerings because then you're getting the minimum of 4-year age stated product. And as others have said Evan Williams white label is perfect for this.

But if you're really wanting to spend $50 on a bottle I'd go with a single barrel offering from starlight, wilderness trail, Woodinville.

Unless it's some ultra rare bottle it isn't sacrilege to mix it as long the person enjoys it

To the OP question yes you can have both in one bottle. My two favorites are Bullet and Jim Beam Black.

Any guest that is going to sip your whiskey neat will most likely have a preferred blend, and usually it won't be what you have on the shelf.

They will still accept a pour for politeness. And they will most likely still enjoy it.

More will likely mix it, and so I would stay in the lower price point areas. Makers is a good middle of the road, clean enough to be had straight, and not to expensive to cringe at a mixed beverage.

I’m going to go against the grain here, and this is coming from someone who flat out loves sipping a good Speyside:

Everyone is different, and if you have the funds and the palate to enjoy mixing coke and whiskey, then go ahead and serve yourself a Pappy and Coke if that floats your boat!

I’d never do that in particular, but that’s me. I have family in the spirits industry, and mixing a high-end rum or whiskey really makes a perceptible difference with Coke as opposed to bottom shelf brands.

Buy something YOU like, but with the knowledge that others, if you serve them, might break the taboo and mix it. That’s ok!

Thanks all for the many replies. To reiterate, this isn't for me (not a fan of any of the whiskey varieties) but to have on hand for guests. Scotch is covered and I know 1 (maybe 2) that like bourbon. I'm happy to spend $50 for a good dual-purpose bottle but I'm not dropping $100 for stuff to sit in the pantry and be sampled 2 or 3 times a year. The scotch is almost 2 years old and still a third full.

quote:

Originally posted by erj_pilot: ...to answer your actual question, which I believe is, "Are sipping whiskeys and mixing whiskeys mutually exclusive?"...

lol, yeah. Mutually is what I actually said but I was using Siri on my phone and she's rather stupid at times. She once transcribed bulb as blowjob. Fortunately I caught that before sending the text.

Dan

quote:

Originally posted by KBobAries:
She once transcribed bulb as blowjob.

I'll cast another vote for Buffalo Trace or Woodford Reserve Double Oaked.

I also think the Old Forester line is great...1910, 1920, Statesman.

Price depends on your area (distribution, etc). If I can find one of my favorites, Col E H Taylor, around here in SC, it's ballpark $70. My buddy down around Atlanta can get it for $39 quite often. The same with another of my favorites, Weller...$40-50 around here, and less than $30 in Atlanta.

My "mixing" bourbons sitting around for guests, should they prefer mixing, are Jim Beam Black, or basic Makers Mark...both of those, I can handle on the rocks just as well.

I'm also a fan of Buffalo Trace. I can sip on that neat or with a little ice and wouldn't feel bad about mixing as I can usually find that for $30 - although it has been getting a bit harder to find.


I've never seen E H Taylor for less than $70 around here.

I forget what I paid for the Eagle Rare, but pretty sure that was less than $50 too - I don't think I'd mix that one as it's as smooth as can be.

For mixers I like Jack Daniels and Knob Creek (I can sip on that too).

I like the white label bottled-in-bond Evan Williams for inexpensive whiskey that can be sipped too.