You've known us a long time, and you could always count on us for quality. But even more than that, you've known us to make great bourbon. Well, we just got better. We’ve begun using a chill filtration system for our bourbon, which improves our color, flavor, and all around taste experience.

We've always taken great pride in what we put in our bottles. Now even more so.

80

Bourbon

USA

The eponymous Basil Hayden's® Bourbon dates back to 1796, when Master Distiller Basil Hayden Sr. created a recipe unlike any other. He used a traditional corn base, but mixed in small grains in his mash to capture the spicy flavor of rye and complement the sweet smoothness of corn. More than 200 years later, Basil Hayden's is a singular bourbon that bridges the flavor of rye whiskies and small batch bourbons together.
Distinctions

Basil Hayden's is unequalled in that it utilizes twice as much rye in it as the other bourbons in the Collection. Enriched by a hint of peppermint, it impresses with notes of pepper balanced by slight citrus overtones, and a spicy, warming finish. Aged eight years at a relatively mild 80 proof, Basil Hayden's has a broad appeal and is equally enjoyable alone or in cocktails such as a Juicy Basil and Basil Bubbly.
Comments

“The group liked its clean, dry and most decidedly delicate palate. Elegant and soft.” — Patterson's Beverage Journal, January 2005

80

Bourbon

USA

The Original Single Barrel Bourbon

Winner of 5 Gold in International spirits competition in the last 5 years

The nose is very deep and satisfying. The taste has a masterful start with powerful dry vanilla notes in perfect harmony with hints of honey amid the strong caramel. The long, creamy caramel holds the fort until some late soft peppers arrive to spice things up. The underlying dryness amid the spice and honey really makes for bourbon that should suit all tastes and one to keep the discerning whiskey drinker almost purring with delight.

Jim Murray
Classic Bourbon, Rye and Tennessee Whiskey

80

Bourbon

USA

In 1992, Booker Noe introduced his own signature bourbon, Booker's® True Barrel Bourbon. Inspired by a 200-year-old tradition, Booker's is the first bourbon bottled straight-from-the-barrel, uncut and unfiltered. First created as a holiday gift for his special friends, Booker's whiskey was so well-received that he decided to make it available to bourbon lovers worldwide; much to the joy of spirit connoisseurs everywhere.
Distinctions

Unlike anything you have ever tasted, Booker's is one of the only uncut, unfiltered, straight-from-the-barrel, bourbons available today. It's bottled at its natural proof of between 121 and 127, and aged between six and eight years. Booker's Bourbon delivers a range of intense flavors from oak tannin and smoky vanilla to lighter tones of mocha and coffee. Add spring water to customize the taste and finish to your palate. The complexity provided by this straight-from-the-barrel bourbon makes Booker's the rarest, absolute best bourbon you'll ever taste.
Comments

“The richest in this group is Booker's. The oaky, smoky, unfiltered bourbon has complexity, intensity, depth and a long finish.” — Newsday, Peter M. Gianotti, May 2007

 

121 - 127

Bourbon

USA

Ranchers and cowboys behave by an unwritten set of rules that have come to be known collectively as the Code of the West.

Enshrined in the Code was the freedom of the plains, as cowboys travelled long distances across these barren plains, it was not uncommon to encounter another man enjoying a bottle of whiskey beside his campfire. This whiskey, when shared amongst cowboys and ranchers, was the ultimate expression of the cowboy’s code.

Buck Bourbon Whiskey is that whiskey, steeped in an age-old tradition that will continue to thrive as we share this spirit with our friends and acquaintances.

So be sure to remove your sharp spurs when entering another man's house and most of all, don’t forget to bring along a bottle of Buck Bourbon.

90

Bourbon

USA

Nose: A complex procession of vanillas and the usual citrus presence offering a thin veneer.

Palate: A series of soft explosions light up the taste buds, but again it is the corn that dominates, its soft oils acting as a buffer for the rye and spice.

Finish: Long and improbably elegant with the smaller grains at last finding a coherent voice; the sweeter vanilla joined by a dry, toasty oakiness.

Comment: As an everyday bourbon, there is little to match this one. It's all about balance and complexity and injections here and there of the elements that make bourbon unique.

Rating 93.5
Jim Murray's 2009 Whisky Bible

Double Gold Medal winner
2009 San Francisco World Spirits Competition

Wine Enthusiast rating:
Superb (90 - 95)
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Initial aroma displays elements of spice, sautéed butter and old leather gloves; following aeration the fat/butter component dominates. Palate entry is corny sweet and almost fruity; at midpalate tastes include sweet oak, cinnamon, nutmeg, honey, tar and beeswax. Concludes spirity and feisty. One of the greatest values in the worldwide whiskey category. Best Buy.

WINE Enthusiast Magazine

The flagship Bourbon from the Distillery of the Year is The Spirit to Explore

 

90

Bourbon

USA

Unaged American Spirit
The fad for distilleries releasing their new make spirit continues, this time in the form of Buffalo Trace's 'White Dog', the affectionate name given to unaged whiskey. Competitively-priced and attractively packaged, we reckon that Buffalo Trace's extra style credentials could well see this becoming a hit cocktail ingredient.

www.thewhiskyexchange.com

90

Bourbon

USA

Eagle 17 Year is 90 proof and, of course, is made by Old Prentice Distillery of Frankfort, Kentucky. It's darker than the copper 10 Year Old, almost red-brown. Straight up it is nearly overwhelming, but quite enjoyable, flushing the head with apple, nuts, chcolate, caramel, barrel...Wow

90

Bourbon

USA

Paul Pacult, The Spirit Journal

The bright honey/topaz color shows sparkling bronze core features impeccable purity; the early aromas include gentle grain, toasted honey-wheat bread, and tobacco leaf with aeration, the aroma quickly transforms into a pedal-to-the-metal Bourbon bouquet as evolved scents of ripe banana and charcoal tweak the olfactory sense in the middle stage whiffs -- fragrances of lanolin, almond butter, melon, and oil accent the toastiness beautifully -- it's a somewhat restrained, or better, understated aroma but I sense lots of power lying just beneath the surface; my, my, my, what have we here -- in the mouth, this oily, toasty beauty seduces the taste buds at palate entry with dry flavors of cereal grain and mild oak resin -- the mid-palate tastes explode on the tongue in unabashedly sweet and oily flavors of black raisins, grape- fruit, charred oak, and candied almonds; the finish is long, corny sweet, moderately fiery, and lasciviously oily; easily one of the most tactile yet assertive and expressive Bourbons I've tasted in the last two years; fasten your seat belts.

90

Bourbon

USA

At Early Times we constantly work toward this goal - "the peak of perfection" - in every step as we craft our whisky. Our unique grain recipe with its greater-than-average rye content, use of pure water to cook our grains, proprietary yeast fermentation, batch distillation and consistently controlled maturation in company-crafted barrels all contribute their part. These assure you that Early Times will always have that same smooth flavor that has made it a favorite of whisky drinkers over the years.

80

Bourbon

USA

 

90

Bourbon

USA

Elijah Craig 12-Year-Old is a true Small Batch premium Bourbon, and had that distinction before the term even existed.

Bottled exclusively from a dumping of 70 barrels or less, the brand carries the name of the Rev. Elijah Craig, the man who discovered the method of making true Kentucky Bourbon when he stored his wares in barrels that had been charred in a fire.

"Nose: About as compete as bourbon aroma as you are likely to find...Near miraculous: one of the most beautiful noses found anywhere in the world today. Taste: A bourbon to keep in the mouth forever...Comments: Perhaps one of my favorite five or six bourbons and ... perhaps at its best just before bed. Brilliant."
-Jim Murray, Classic Bourbon, Tennessee, & Rye Whiskey

94

Bourbon

USA

Elijah Craig 18-Year-Old Single Barrel Bourbon is bottled solely from one barrel hand-selected by Master Distillers Parker and Craig Beam, not from the mingling of many barrels, which is the practice for standard and Small Batch Bourbons.

Elijah Craig 18-Year-Old Single Barrel Bourbon is the oldest Single Barrel Bourbon available in the world. Only a handful of the millions of barrels of Bourbon aging in Kentucky have been allowed to mature this long.

The brand carries the name of Rev. Elijah Craig, the man who discovered the method of making true Kentucky Bourbon when he stored his wares in barrels that had been charred in a fire.

"A buttery vanilla nose with some winey notes, a hint of caramel, a medium body presents a dry, almost cognac-like palate with eucalyptus notes and some hints, in the backdrop, of deep rich caramel; the finish is crisp, dry, and lasts a lifetime. Sip it neat."
Rating: 95
-Gary and Mardee Haidin Regan, Co-authors, The Bourbon Companion

90

Bourbon

USA

Wine Enthusiast rating: 91

Medium gold in color; the nose brings notes of butterscotch, clover, vanilla, and old leather. The big body bears a palate with an almost wine-like character that balances intense fruits, honey, and vanilla with a light spiciness that shows off the distiller's craft. The finish is long and warm.

Wine Enthusiast Magazine

80

Bourbon

USA

1783 was a pretty big year, in terms of American history. For one thing, Washington Irving was born. OK, so Sleepy Hollow and the Headless Horseman isn't enough for you? It was also the year the Revolutionary War ended! Is that a big enough deal for you? Of course, good things happen in threes, so the other important event is that Evan Williams started distilling his Bourbon in this prestigious year.

The Color: Brown!
Surprise, surprise.

The Nose: Big and Rich
This one has a very subtle and rich smell, with hints of vanilla and a tiny rye bite. If you ask us, this is what Bourbon should smell like.

The Flavors: Nice and Smooth
Very smooth, and not the slightest bit harsh, sweet as it hits the tongue. When we swished it around our mouths we felt an herbal, almost minty twinge, without much alcohol burn as we swallowed. The finish wasn't too aggressive, and we really liked the balance between the sweetness of the corn and the quick bite of the rye.

86

Bourbon

USA

Amber with a golden cast. Medium-bodied. Reminiscent of clove, citrus, smoke, dried herbs. Buttery, smooth texture. Attractive in its viscosity and warmth on the palate. Nicely balanced by whiffs of campfire scents, soft fruit notes, and a light streak of fragrance.

80

Bourbon

USA

Like a fine wine, each bottle of Evan Williams Single Barrel Vintage Bourbon contains a vintage date telling the exact day it was put in an oak barrel to age. Every year, a new vintage of Evan Williams Single Barrel Vintage is released to critical acclaim. The 1990 Vintage was the first Bourbon to be awarded "Whiskey of the Year" by The Spirit Journal. The 1991 Vintage was awarded "Domestic Whiskey of the Year" by The Malt Advocate and "Spirit of the Year" by Wine & Spirits. Most recently, the 1992 Vintage was named "Spirit of the Year" by Food & Wine and "Best Bottling of 2001" by Wine Enthusiast.

86

Bourbon

USA

Evan Williams, the second largest selling brand of Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey in the U.S., is named for Kentucky's first distiller of 1783. As the flagship brand of Heaven Hill's Bourbon portfolio, Evan Williams' extra aging gives it a richer, smoother Bourbon taste than the competition. It was give a 90-rating by Wine Enthusiast who commented that Evan Williams has, "a deep vanilla nose...and the palate shows notes of oak, vanilla and dark berries."

100

Bourbon

USA

David Sherman has released a new entry in the single-barrel bourbon category: Ezra B. Single Barrel, a 12 year old spirit bottled at 49.5% ABV. Bottled and labeled by hand and finished with a blue wax sealed cork, Ezra B. is said to be smooth and mellow.

99

Bourbon

USA

Still bottled at an honest 90 proof, Ezra Brooks is a genuine sour mash; aged naturally in new charred white oak barrels and charcoal filtered for a mellow flavor. Through seven generations it is, and will always be, the bourbon for those with a rugged spirit and a taste for adventure.

80

Bourbon

USA

The “bad boy of Bourbon” is bottled at a robust 103 proof, but its 6 years of aging smooth out the feathers real well. Through award-winning packaging and point-of-sale, and a unique and irreverent marketing campaign, Fighting Cock appeals to both male Gen X-ers and serious Bourbon lovers alike.

103

Bourbon

USA

Firefly Sweet Tea Flavored Bourbon Whiskey starts with handcrafted Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey from the world renowned Buffalo Trace Distillery. It is then infused with South Carolina tea and real sugar cane. The experience is a perfect blend of sweet tea and bourbon, two southern traditions. Try it with spring water over ice.
bourbonbuzz.com

The Firefly Manhattan
Mix 2 part Firefly Sweet Tea Bourbon, 1 part sweet vermouth and 2 dashes of Peychaud’s Bitters with ice. Strain into a cocktail glass and top with a maraschino cherry.

The Charleston Julep
Fill a tall glass half full with crushed ice, mix in 2 parts Firefly Sweet Tea Bourbon and ¾ ounce of simple syrup. Fill glass with crushed ice and top off with fresh mint.

The Sweet Old Fashioned
In a double old-fashioned glass combine an orange slice, cherry, 3 dashes of Peychaud’s Bitters, 1 teaspoon water and ½ teaspoon superfine sugar. Muddle ingredients then fill the glass with ice cubes. Stir in 2 ½ parts Firefly Sweet Tea Bourbon.

The Firefly Bourson Sour
Shake 2 ½ Firefly Sweet Tea Bourbon, 1 ½ parts fresh lemon juice and ½ part simple syrup. Strain and garnish with an orange slice and cherry.

Firefly Sweet Tea Bourbon and Cola
Fill a large glass with ice. Pour in 2 parts Firefly Sweet Tea Bourbon into the glass. Then proceed to fill the rest of the glass with cola.

Firefly Sweet Tea and Ginger
Pour one part Firefly Sweet Tea Bourbon into a highball glass that is full of ice. Then top it off with ginger ale.

70

Vodka

USA

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