Best products from r/bourbon

Are you looking for help in finding that perfect present for your whisky-loving friend/business partner/SO/potential SO/etc. this holiday season? Well look no further, r/bourbon is here with a helpful holiday guide to the rescue with ideas for whisky, accessories, and books!
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Top Suggestions

Generally well-received and recommended for gifts across /r/bourbon.

Name | Avg Rating | Price range| Notes |

-----------|:----------:|:----------: |:-----------|
W.L. Weller Special Reserve | 85 |$18-22| Sweet, mellow wheated bourbon.
Rittenhouse Rye 100 | 86 |$19-24| Spicy Rye. Enjoy straight or mix in manhattans
Evan Williams Single Barrel | 86 |$23-28| Great all-around, easy drinking single barrel at a great price.
Four Roses Small Batch | 86 |$23-28| Light and approachable. A good step up for Bulleit Bourbon lovers
Four Roses Single Barrel | 89 |$40-50 | A spicier, more intense bourbon from a beloved distiller
Blanton's Original Single Barrel | 87 |$50-60 | Probably r/bourbon's most recommended bottle. Smooth flavor with a long finish and comes in a fancy bottle too!
High West Campfire | 88 | $50-55 | A unique blend of bourbon, rye and smokey scotch.
John J. Bowman Single Barrel | 89 | $50 | A delicious fruity, balanced bourbon that's not on many aficionados' radar.
Whistle Pig 10 Straight Rye | 88 | $65 |

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### Pappy & other fancy bottles

The upper end of bourbon can get really tricky. Firstly, the best limited edition bottles most often get snatched up before they hit the shelves then get resold at a huge markup. We don't recommend going down that route because of inflated prices, disappointing bottles and underhanded dealings. Secondly, most $60+ bourbons worth recommending are bottled at high proof which provide a rich, flavorful experience but the extra burn can overwhelm some drinkers.

###Barrel/High Proofers
A higher proof generally brings a deeper, more intense flavors at accessible prices which many here cherish. However, these bourbons often have a more ethanol burn which can turn off some casual drinkers.*

Name | Avg Rating | Price range| Notes |

-----------|:----------:|:----------: |:-----------|
Old Grandad 114 | 87 | $20-25 | Crisp, tangy, oaky
Booker's Small Batch | 90 |$50-60| Hot peanuty, yeasty yumminess
Maker's Mark Cask Strength | 89 |$50-60| A huge improvement over the standard Makers with deeper, more complex flavor.
Four Roses Private Selection | 89 | $55-70 | Smaller shops will sometimes choose, bottle then sell a barrel. These selections tend to be distinctive and tasty

###Scotch Whisky
Scotch actually has a much broader selection at higher levels. If they're open to scotch, be sure to check out /r/scotch's gift guide as well.


### There’s also a wide range of Whisky Accessories!

(Links are for reference, you can probably find them cheaper if you do a little research)

Glencairns – The traditional scotch glass – fairly inexpensive, you can find these in store for cheaper or just buy them off Amazon
Canadian Glencairns - A little bigger than their Scottish cousins, fun for a change of pace
Copitas - The quintessential nosing glass. Some people like it, some don’t…
Old Fashioned – You probably know what these are, just make sure you get ones with a nice heavy base
Water Jugs add a little water to your whisky, but not terribly important
If he/she enjoys ice in their whisky: Ice Molds - but most of us don't use them so buy with care.

### Books

You need something to do while enjoying a dram!

Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible
The World Atlas of Whisky




### I have no idea what they will like, and I’m afraid that I’ll buy them a bottle that they’ll hate, what do I do? ###

Another option is r/scotchswap – It’s a community of whisky drinkers who swap samples of whisky between each other. Some of them are willing to swap a bunch of samples for a full bottle. Post in there if you’re interested in this sort of thing and see if anyone is willing to swap with you


### This is all really good information, but I’d like some more personalized advice…

Post the details in this thread, and one of the friendly r/bourbon whisky enthusiasts will be along shortly to provide some recommendations.

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A lot of credit goes to /u/Father_Boddingtons and the guide he wrote for /r/scotch. Much of his guide was copied here. Thanks!

I would not normally mention this, but because your title could be interpreted as meaning that you are considering distilling whiskey, an expensive licensing and approval process is needed to legally distill it, which would make it cheaper to just buy it at a store.

That being said, if you are interested in information on the specifics of how alcohols can be distilled, there are some excellent books out on the subject. They have detailed plans for different kinds of stills, many specific recipes for whiskeys and other distilled spirits.

Search Amazon with the keywords alcohol distillation, for example.

I got a great book on this for Christmas a few years back called "Moonshine". It's about $8. Here's an Amazon link:

http://www.amazon.com/Moonshine-Drinking-Historical-Knee-Slappers-Recoverin/dp/1579906486/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1303878234&sr=1-1

I think it is a great, fun introduction, and I really enjoyed it, but reading it, it sounds like distillation is a lot of trouble, cost, would take up a whole lot of time, will require a decent amount of space set aside to do it in, and has a certain amount of health danger to it as well, so you need to be aware of all those things going into it and be OK with them.

I also want to quote one sentence from it for you. "Without inspection and proper approvals, you are not permitted to make any amount for personal use. Not one drop."

Starting with making beer or wine from scratch might be a good place to start. No licensing required, either.

Edit: I've only read this one book on the subject, so if I've got any of it wrong, please feel free to correct me and elaborate.

check out some documentaries while you're at it. Modern Marvels did 2 episodes about distilling, and also did an episode about whiskey where they visited the Jim Beam distillery, it was very interesting. You might as well watch the one about beer too. Here's a link to the MM episode guide

Also check out Three Sheets on Hulu. it's more of a drinking culture show but Zane visits other countries and explores not only the culture but the national drinks as well. I spent a few weeks watching all the episodes and they are really good. I learned quite a bit from this guy. He's a bit goofy and can be hard to watch at times but i thoroughly enjoyed the show.

If you're interesting in Moonshine at all check out this book: Moonshine! i used it for a project i did for college about moonshine and it was a good read into the history of the drink as well as how to make it and how to make a still. very cool book. There are also some good documentaries that the history channel did about moonshine culture and backwoods brewing as well.

Ideally you want a tulip-shaped glass when drinking neat, it will give you a better nosing experience by directing/concentrating the fumes. Same reason you use a large bowl-shaped or tulip-shaped glasses for red wine.

That said, I think a glencairn is less than optimal for anything more than a small taste of lower- to moderate-proof whiskey. It has the tapered shape to concentrate the nose, but it's actually a little too concentrated for stuff like barrel proof unless you just really enjoy smelling ethanol fumes.

The biggest issue with the glencairn though, is it's just too small. The nose develops due to air exposure, and the larger the surface area of your whiskey in the glass, the more quickly (and more fully) the nose will develop. When you pour 1.5-2 oz into a glencairn the surface area is actually quite small relative to the volume of liquid.

IMHO you'll get a better nosing experience for high-proof stuff by using a small rocks glass, or some sort of tulip-shaped glass with a larger bowl than a glencairn. My personal favorite is the Taylor'd Milestone.

Fair enough haha. A lot of the similar quality stuff is closer to $40 imo as well

It's a Norlan glass; I got it on Amazon and while they are a bit pricey I like them a lot. It works well as a rocks glass or a neat glass and the double paned glass insulates the whisky from your hand really well.

WL Weller special reserve is a great wheated bourbon to start out with. Good price and taste profile is sweeter than the ryes (my preference)

I've always been a fan of the 1792 Ridgemont reserve. Rich and velvety is what it says on the bottle and it's spot on.

After that, Old Overholt, George Dickel No 12, Old Grand Dad (Bottled in bond), Old Forester, and Old Fitzgerald are ones I prefer.

Try different bottles to see what your palette prefers.

Also, Bourbon, Straight is worth ordering.

Yeah bourbon and Vanilla is a great combination. Higher proof and lower rye works well IMO. I think something like Old Weller Antique would be perfect. Split open a few vanilla beans into a bottle of OWA, and then pour it into these bottles from Amazon for a great gift

Honestly if I'm doing anything more rugged than car camping, I just bring a flask.

These are good for backpacking, lightweight and they collapse.

This one is great, it holds quite a bit more than your standard 8oz flask. And the blue cap pops off to act as a kind of cup. I guess it doesn't help a lot if you're trying to drink with more than one person. Bonus points it will fit in your sock and get past metal detectors ;)

Otherwise maybe just go with some of those disposable shot glasses you can get for parties? I have a pack that I've brought along if a lot of people might want to take little tasters of. Like this

My wife recently got me this book and I've really been enjoying it. It goes through the science and history of whisky and what generated the flavors as well as how you can do your best to be able to taste them. I'm about 1/3 through the book and really enjoying it.

I have a few dram glasses, glencairns, and Canadian whisky glasses (came with the Jack Single Barrel Christmas set last year) that I prefer. Feel sturdy enough to me. I also brought back a Yamazaki rocks glass and a tasting glass from the distillery. I have enough options at reasonable price points for nosing, cocktails, rocks, or neat that I don't feel the need to pay a bundle for these pretty glasses that might break if I look askance at them.

I've seen these Brumate BN8G Nos'R glasses a few times that are pretty (except that they're opaque) and nigh indestructible for $24.95 each on Amazon.

It's made by taylor'd. Called milestones. Basically a super sized glencairn. Here's a link to Amazon. I like doing the high proof stuff in it. Let's the alcohol fumes out but keeps the rest in.... Kinda

Taylor'd Milestones Reserve Whiskey Glass - Set of 2 10.5 oz Scotch Glasses. Premium Bourbon Rocks Glass Shaped for Improving Tasting and Aroma of Spirits. Crystal Clear Glassware https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01ATV2Q5Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_KkR1CbKG73JTE

King Cube ice trays, however, are totally worth it even if you don't use them for your whiskey (I do). They fit perfectly in an Old Fashioned glass and have massive surface area to cool the whiskey quickly without watering too much (just a splash). The cubes also last forever.

I got these http://www.amazon.com/Glencairn-Crystal-Whiskey-Tasting-Glass/dp/B005LR3P1I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1419988901&sr=8-1&keywords=glencairn

but you can get a 6 pack of the same for $37, I would do that if I were to do it again. Or get a couple of the Canadian Glencairins as well to see which you like better.

http://www.amazon.com/Glencairn-Crystal-Canadian-Whisky-Glass/dp/B005LSA4GQ/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1419988901&sr=8-8&keywords=glencairn

Here are some links for the product in the above comment for different countries:

Amazon Smile Link: Schott Zwiesel


|Country|Link|
|:-----------|:------------|
|Canada|amazon.ca|




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I feel like the point of ice is really the water, not necessarily the cold. Whiskey takes time to get cold, and the immediate melting of the ice helps open up the whiskey more. Something you can't get from stones.

The best investment in my opinion are king cubes. Larger surface area so it takes much longer for your drink to become diluted too fast.

check amazon, here's the first hit when I searched for decanter. Just try & get one with a tight fitting stopper. Or you can possibly macguyver something to get a tight seal & prevent air exposure. But for mixers, you really need something fancy & decorative? Guess I understand the impulse to class up the joint


Another good idea, buy a bottle of Bulleit, then when you're done drinking it remove the label & use it to hold other whiskey, bottle is great

Very interesting, thank you for doing this and for sharing. On a related note, I've had this "spirit aerator" on my wishlist for a while: http://www.amazon.com/Vinturi-6712-Spirit-Aerator/dp/B0051GXI2K/ref=sr_1_1

That's what I've been using lately and I love it (these ones).

And to the OP: I recently ordered a bourbon neat at a bar and it ended up being served chilled in a martini glass ಠ_ಠ. Whatever you do, do not do that.

These. You get the best of both worlds of the similar shape of a traditional Glencairn. It's big enough for ice if you desire. It fits 10.5 ounces if you want to really throw down.

I flew back from California last year with three bottles of wine in my checked bag -- I just wrapped them all in t-shirts and then nestled the bottles between other layers of clothing to add a layer of "suspension". Worked flawlessly and had no issues with checking it. Any modern hard-shell luggage and you shouldn't have much to worry about. As u/doggodadcare mentioned, there are some helpful products online mostly used for shipping purposes, but they can help you rest easy and are fairly cheap.


https://www.amazon.com/Protector-Airplane-Transport-Inflatable-Packaging/dp/B07G822YZ5

http://www.amazon.com/American-Still-Life-Making-Bourbon/dp/0471444073/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1381930343&sr=8-7&keywords=JIM+BEAM+BOOKS

American Still Life: The Jim Beam Story and the Making of the World's #1 Bourbon by Pacult.

My mother-in-law gave me this book for XMAS last year.
It was an excellent book! While this book focuses on the Beam Clan and the rise of the Beam corporation, it delves into the bourbon community as a whole.
It was extremely interesting about the consumption trends of bourbon, especially in regards to its arch enemy vodka.
How the generation of the 60’s and 70’s, rebelled against their parent’s drink of choice, and made vodka the number one consumed spirit.
Then in the 80’s, how the whiskey industry started to fight back with the advent of the single barrel bourbon and single malt scotch.
Overall this was an excellent book and one I would recommend.

Check out Warren Bobrow's book Whiskey Cocktails, jam packed of great ideas for good whiskey cocktails: http://www.amazon.com/Whiskey-Cocktails-Rediscovered-Classics-Contemporary/dp/1592336396/

I have this set (actually I have 10 of the sets!) and I love them.

The issue /u/DancesWithElectrons describes about the "mushroom" effect is less prevalent I find with the round balls since you can roll the ice ball in the glass. Plus they fit in most all the glasses I've found.

[I have this](http://www.amazon.com/Tovolo-KING-Cube-T
rays-Blue/dp/B00395FHRO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UT
F8&qid=1341871374&sr=8-1&keywords=big+ic
e+cube+tray), and I love it. Didnt care for whiskey stones, but I also don't mind some dilution. OP: Favorite bourbon is Wild Turkey Rare Breed or Woodford Reserve, although I've been on a Rye kick lately.

I recommend 3 books to get your started.

1. [Bourbon, Straight: The Uncut and Unfiltered Story of American Whiskey] (http://www.amazon.com/Bourbon-Straight-Unfiltered-American-Whiskey/dp/0975870300) by Charles Cowdery
   
   
2. Bourbon, Strange by Charles Cowdery
   
   
3. Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey: An American Heritage by Mike Veach
   
   You'll learn how brands and distilleries were started, shuttered, shuffled, and sold. You'll learn who influenced and inspired brands and names.
   
   The two authors of the three books are arguably the foremost authorities on the subject of bourbon, most especially its history. Besides, the books are phenomenal reads IMO.

2 great books!

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1612123015/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1501820866&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=tasting+whiskey&dpPl=1&dpID=51nfRA8yIaL&ref=plSrch



https://smile.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0760351724/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1501820905&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=fred+minnick&dpPl=1&dpID=61AcooO-E0L&ref=plSrch

Try these.

I got some for Christmas and they are nice in drinks. They melt slower so wont dilute as much, but still give you a nicely chilled bourbon.

No worries, I don't use a Crystal Decanter. When I first started looking for a decanter, I discovered all of the lead concerns. Thankfully I found a lead-free, non crystal, glass decanter. It looks great, and it was really cheap. I can vouch for its quality, and thankfully it has gotten even cheaper in the last few years (was $40 when i bought it)

Bormioli Rocco Selecta Decanter

Bormioli Ice Container

These two are both great reads

1

2

I'm not sure if it's all-encompassing, but Veach's "Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey" has a pretty extensive discussion about sales and mergers after prohibition.

Not enough thermal mass to cool off anything.

I really like the 2.5" ice balls - you can find them here:

http://www.amazon.com/Tovolo-Sphere-Ice-Molds-Set/dp/B007ACTN54/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1380899755&sr=8-5&keywords=big+ice+ball+maker

I've owned a few different brands, and I recommend this one. The silicone cap is easy to peel off and it releases the sphere pretty easily. It can be a pain in the ass to ge the sphere out of some brands.

Also, I got mine at Marshall's, it was cheaper than Amazon.

It wasn't actually named after today's Bourbon County, but an older Bourbon County that housed a major port. Eventually all whiskey that flowed from the port was marked bourbon and the name stuck. (More info on that in this great book). Bourbon is geographically protected, but only in as much as it has to be produced in America.

The state of Kentucky, the Bourbon Trail folks, and Kentucky-based bourbon producers want you to think bourbon (or at least real bourbon) comes from their area. However, bourbon is America's spirit, not just Kentucky's.

I have three of these. The blue or red sleeve is actually it's own cup, and the top pulls off the threaded cap to be a shot glass. Cheap, durable, and hold a good amount for a flask.

Note, you probably want to take all that tracking garbage off the end of your Amazon links. It's enough to list:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/0993298605/

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1845339428/

For beginners, I would also recommend Tasting Whiskey:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1612123015

Mostly a glencairn, but I'm starting to like the Taylor'D glasses for bourbon. They're basically a wider, shorter glencairn.

Schott Zwiesel has some really nice rocks glasses

Clear cubes are nice, but cloudy ones work the same. Unless you work at a hipster cocktail bar you can buy one of these for $8

Unfortunately none come to mind that would have mash bills. If you don't mind paperback on the table, Lew Bryson's Tasting Whiskey is a great choice.

It's not electric, and it's more associated/used for wine. You can read more about it here: http://www.amazon.com/Vinturi-6712-Spirit-Aerator/dp/B0051GXI2K

tl;dr version is that the aerator kind of smoothes out and evens out the proof, which is why I only use it every now and then for stronger drams.

I've got those, and the King cubes (and the rocks, three sets as presents, actually).

I think I prefer the King cubes slightly since they're easier to fill and make a ton of and they tend to come out clearer.

I like these.

Fancy ice molds can be cool.

You know what the requirements are? This is worth buying and reading too.

Have you tried the spirit aerator? It opens bourbons up quite a bit without have to wait around 20-30 min

http://www.amazon.com/Vinturi-6712-Spirit-Aerator/dp/B0051GXI2K/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1394112905&sr=1-1&keywords=spirit+aerator

IDK but i got some a while back..

just found it in my amazon history paid ~$13 for this. its a lot more now...
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005LSA4GQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

r/scotch seems to not like them.

Someone recommended getting a big ice cube tray instead for not that much more.

One big ice cube, made by one of these: http://www.amazon.com/Tovolo-KING-Cube-Trays-Blue/dp/B00395FHRO

I was looking at these

http://www.amazon.com/Kentucky-Bourbon-Whiskey-American-Heritage/dp/0813141656

This guy has literally spent most of his life researching the history.