If he drinks Woodford I'd be careful getting him a high proof bourbon unless you know for sure he likes them. OF1896 or OF1910 are both readily available lower proof options.

When you start talking about $50+, most of the good options are pretty difficult to find.

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof would be a great bottle if you can find one. They usually sell out within a few hours of arriving at a store.

Bookers might be a good option if it hasn't gotten too hard to find. I honestly dont know if it has succumbed to the bourbon insanity yet. If not, it probably will soon.

What about Whistlepig Old World? It's slightly over $100, readily available, and lower proof.

jh0400 said:

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over $100, readily available, and lower proof.

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sounds like a formula for suckiness

Lower proof ryes are actually not bad. Micther's single barrel is a go-to of mine, and it's a good midweek sipper at 86 proof.

Bruce Almighty said:

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I need a bourbon recommendation. Long story short, our son's nanny is pregnant and my father in law is doing us a huge favor by coming down for a month to watch our son during the day. I want to buy him a nice bourbon as a thank you gift that he can drink while he's at our place. I would like to spend in the 75-100 dollar range and for reference, his bourbon of choice is Woodford Reserve. I was thinking Elijah Craig Barrel Proof, Old Forester 1920 or Barrell Bourbon 14, but I'm open to other recs. Thanks.

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EHT Single Barrel, Belle Meade Cask Strength are a couple.

A lot of the barrel strength stuff could be a big jump from Woodford. You may be able to find some Woodford Master's Collection could be a good fit if you can find it.

Hard to go wrong with ECBP. This year it should be easier to find.

Makers' Mark Cask Strength is really good if you can find some.

I have OF 1920, 1910, Weller Antique, and Weller 12 in my cabinet now, and the MM cask strength stands up just fine in that crowd in my opinion. It is high proof, around 115 depending on the cask it comes from, but still smooth enough for a Woodford drinker most likely.

barney94, I didn't want to go overboard on recommendations, but I did a MM Private Select barrel pick this summer which turned out very well. I still have some left if desired.

Ringo88 said:

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barney94, I didn't want to go overboard on recommendations, but I did a MM Private Select barrel pick this summer which turned out very well. I still have some left if desired.

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I've wanted to try this. WB had a MM Private Select, this is the ones with the added staves to the barrel?

Yes. Was Gift Shop only for awhile; was the only way to get 46 Cask Strength.
I've tried 11-12 of them now; some are great and some can be "meh". I honed in on a stave recipe a lot of folks liked, and came up with a smooth barrel that can really sneak up on you.

Gonna share the blend?

Ducks4Breakfast already has a bottle. He'll be able to give a more objective opinion.

Rowan's Creek is a good partial step up from Woodford.

I have found that it's a good one to begin to step people up from the 80-90 proof range to the ~100 range. Once they're comfortable with it, step up to Noah's Mill, which is about 115, but has a very similar flavor profile. Then at that point, they're hooked on higher proof bourbons.

If you don't go that direction, the MM Private Select is a good suggestion, too (as long as it's the right blend). Otherwise, it'll be much too hot for a Woodford drinker as primary.

What would be the most you fine people would consider spending on a bottle of the GTS Antique Collection?

$200

It's the 2018. I'm trying to negotiate and don't want to leave money on the table, but don't want to offend the guy by low-balling.

Grabbed a bottle of the OE117 today.

Had it over the weekend following a pour of GTS '17 and it wasn't completely blown away by the GTS which gave me hope.

Cracked it tonight, this is excellent. It's not GTS/quality years of PHC but it's damn good.

Pretty disappointed it got all the press it did the last month, this is one I've been waiting on since it was announced and was only able to get a bottle of the case my guy got in. Should get a back up after the first of the year.

How does OE117 compare with OE800?

CactusThomas said:

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How does OE117 compare with OE800?

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Tastier, but more dangerous to play Johnny FortyHands with.

He's stuck at $300. That's more than I feel comfortable with but if someone near Houston wants it I'll gladly pick it up

Wheatables02 said:

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If he drinks Woodford as his choice, there is a high chance he knows nothing about bourbon. Find something to expand his horizons.

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I don't think he's super knowledgeable or a connoisseur, I just know that he drinks Woodford a few times a week and thought it would be nice to have something a little different here while he's watching my kid. He's 70 years old, so I don't think he cares about having his horizons expanded at this point in life.

CharlieBrown17 said:

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CactusThomas said:

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How does OE117 compare with OE800?

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Tastier, but more dangerous to play Johnny FortyHands with.

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I thought it was Edward 40 Hands

Sounds like if you really want to thank him, just buy him 4 bottles of Woodford. My dad is 70 and is the same way ... has no desire to venture outside his daily sipper. And is happy as hell when someone buys him a bottle of it.

all this talk about top shelf unicorns,, what are your bottom shelf favorite go-to bourbons? i usually stick with evan williams, picked up a bottle of very old barton last night for $11, look forward to trying it out

TW Samuel's

It's not good. But its tradition.