A discussion/ranking among barrel proof bourbons

^These numbers did not carry over when I posted but imagine 1-5 from top to bottom.

@casualtorture my preferences are very close to your own across the board with respect to the more available products.

I have NEVER much liked Maker's Mark CS either. I also have never had any very good experiences with Heaven Hill's Larceny, though I have only had the standard proof and not the BP/CS version. Heaven Hill is all over the place with batches and products. They have had some Parker's Heritage Collection 10 yo wheated bourbon to die for. And I really really like the old defunct Old Fitzgerald BIB. But I've never had a taste of Larceny which I liked.

Try more batches of Booker's. Booker's does vary quite a bit batch to batch, but most of them are quite striking-- kind of a mid-pitch electric current coming at you.

I surmise that you are accepting the 'near-barrel-strength' standard offerings of 120 proof Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve and Old Grand-Dad 114 proof as close enough to consider as Barrel Proof. They are close enough for me too. .

I’m sure I have not tasted enough CS American whisky to be an expert, but that never stopped me from having an opinion.

I would have to rank Booker’s (esp. 2015-01), Stagg Jr. and OGD 114 among my top three.

I actually prefer OGD114 to wild Turkey rare breed. To the point that I actually gave away my spare bottle of rare breed.

As for old Ezra 8YO CS, I did a blind tasting with @paddockjudge comparing it to OGD114 and it was practically indistinguishable. He was blinded, not me. I think I prefer the OGD 114 but I have a soft spot for that particular bourbon so I am likely biased.

Of course, my all time favourite bourbon is George T Stagg. But it simply is not available.

And an honourable mention to N7 3 and 4 grain. Single cask bourbons in everything but name, and delicious.

I am a fan of the “available” barrel proof bourbons out there. I like the discussion idea. This is the information I was looking for 15 years ago trying to get into bourbon. I had fallen in love with George T. Stagg and wanted something that I could buy year round (fool that I was). That said, there are still very good Barrel Proof Bourbons out there that are not that hard to get your hands on.

@casualtorture I really like your list and mostly agree. I think I put the Rare Breed slightly higher.

@Victor I will have to bring up my three batches of Larceny BP next time we taste. I don’t put them as high as ECBP in my estimation, but they are interesting and very different from regular Larceny. I can see you really enjoying one of my three batches.

@Nozinan, I can’t thank you enough for that sample of Stagg Jr. #7 it is a fantastic example of that bottling. And I agree with your assessment of GTS and OGD. I also think Ezra Brooks seems very similar to OGD. They both have lots of cherry notes. I think where I diverge from you and @Victor is over Booker’s. I just have never had a batch I enjoy. And I also hate Baker’s.

So, here is my list with average scores for all my tastings of that release. Obviously, trust more where there is more experience:

1. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof – this is a no brainer. I will buy it whenever I see it, but I won’t pay more than $90. Of the 31 batches that have been released since 2013 I have been fortunate to get my hands on all but 6. And most of the ones I have missed have been recent. It is much harder to find these days than it once was. Thankfully, I still have 38 bottles in the bunker. I have found that the quality has slipped in recent years. I have C922 open now . . . and it isn’t close to the old pirate bottles. Average score over 97 tasting notes across 26 batches = 91.2%

2. Stagg (formerly Stagg Jr.) – I haven’t seen this on shelf in years. But there was a time I could regularly pick it up. I would pay up to $100 for a bottle. Maybe slightly more. Average tasting score over 43 tasting notes across 9 batches = 91.1%

3. Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 120 proof – This is my go-to readily available Barrel Proof (almost) Bourbon for $50. I have bought 4 or 5 of the aged store picks over 14 years of age. I actually, just like the regular old 9 year old just fine. Granted I stocked up a few years ago and I haven’t bought one of the recent 9 year olds since 2019. I think the price is now closer to $60. So, instead I might reach for . . . the next one. Average tasting score over 17 tasting notes = 89.9%

4. Wild Turkey Rare Breed – I am not a huge Wild Turkey fan. But in blind Cask Strength tasting this has done really well for me. I did a huge blind tasting of 23 bourbons. And this beat out all three batches of ECBP from 2020. So, I probably need to go get myself another bottle now since it is still available for $49.99 plus tax. This might just become my new go to Barrel Proof Bourbon. If only the ABV were higher. Average tasting score over 6 tasting notes = 89.9%

5. Larceny Barrel Proof– Not all of the batches have been good. But the recent ones are much better. Lots of sweetness and depth of flavor. I am willing to pick up one for $59.99. Average tasting score over 7 tasting notes and 3 batches. = 90%

6. New Riff Single Barrel – I have only had two bottles and both were really good and worth the price around $50. Not epic, but solid. Average tasting score over 4 tasting notes and 2 batches = 90%

7. Old Granddad 114 – I can still get this for $29.99 . . . and on sale for $26.99. This is the best bang for your buck higher proof bourbon. And scored the exact same in my 23 blind bourbon off with the next one (1792). Average tasting score over 9 tasting notes and multiple bottles = 86.1%

8. 1792 Full Proof – Typically over 120 proof. I am not a huge fan. It is good for around $50 . . . but not when it scores the exact same as Old Granddad for me blind. Average tasting score over 6 tasting notes. = 85.5%

9. Pinhook 7yo 115 Proof – This was surprisingly good. But at $70 I will likely not buy again. Thankfully, I picked it up for $40 at a charity auction. Average tasting score over 4 tasting notes. = 88.5%

10. Old Scout 9yo Bourbon Barrel Strength – I have had three bottles over the years. They were all solid. I find them a little too rounded and tame for my tastes. Still, it is good solid bourbon. Average tasting score over 7 tasting notes. = 87.8%

11. Four Roses Single Barrel (8yo-10yo Barrel Proof) – I have had four bottles over the years. I even have an unopened bottle of the Al Young release that I am not sure what I am going to do with. I have always liked them on their own, but whenever I put them in a blind flight it never seems to do well. I typically score it in the high 80’s but it never seems to crack that 90 point threshold for me. So, I have stopped buying them. Average tasting score over 11 tasting notes. = 87.1%

12. Old Forester 1920 Prohibition 115 Proof – Similar in proof to OGD114. I like it slightly more, but it costs twice as much at $59.99. It is currently on sale for $5 off . . . but will pass. I have had two bottles. It is my step-son’s favorite bourbon I have regularly available so I keep it around for him. Many people love it. I think I just don’t care for the Old Forester flavor profile. Average tasting score over 6 tasting notes. = 86%

13. Penelope Barrel Strength Batch 10 115.8 Proof – Another I picked up at the charity auction. This one has four grains. My guess is that @Victor will not be a fan. It is interesting and reminds me more of Texas whiskey. It is young at 4 years. It is both interest and rough. I like it . . . and I don’t. Again, I won’t buy again . . . but interesting for sure. Average tasting score over 4 tasting notes. = 84.9%

14. Bulleit Bourbon Barrel Strength 60.1% Batch 07 – I picked it up to check it out. Not very sweet, not very much of anything at 120 proof. It really seems like a low flavors barrel proof bourbon. Maybe better for mixing? I am disappointed and won’t buy again unless it is a really great price. Average tasting score over 4 tasting notes. = 85.9%

15. Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Barrel Proof – I have split a bottle with @Victor and just picked up my second bottle. And I am not a fan. Maybe I just don’t like the Jack Daniel’s profile. There are strange notes I just don’t like. Maybe I just need to give this new bottle some time and come back to it. Average tasting score over 6 tasting notes. = 84.8%

16. Ezra Brooks Distiller’s Collection 107 Proof (not the 7 year old at 117 Proof) – I paid $40 for it . . . and that was priced correctly at the time. I would never rebuy. It has some of that sour cherry note I just don’t care for . . . but I need to revisit the bottle. I would likely buy either OGD114 or Rare Breed before this one. Average tasting score over 5 tasting notes. = 83.3%

17. Booker’s – I have had three batches over the years since 2015. Tasted from a few others. Granted I have never tasted a batch over 7 years of age. But every batch in the 6 year range seemed too youthful and hot and raw to me (and I am a proof hound). I not a fan of this style. It always scores in the mid 80’s for me. I think it might be the “peanut” thing that most people love. I always find them sour. Whatever it is I stopped buying it years ago. And now that the price is up near $100 . . . never again. I am curious about this but the price is too high and the demand is out of control. I won’t fight anyone over this. Average tasting score over 6 tasting notes. = 84.6%

18. Maker’s Mark Cask Strength – Not a fan. I have had 357mL bottles of the standard CS, the 46 CS, and the Private Selection CS with the staves. None had done it for me. Again, another example of a flavor profile I don’t care for. I think it is too youthful. Always scores in the low 80’s for me. Average tasting score over 6 tasting notes. = 83.3%

@Nock - wow, that's a great resource to have to hand when thinking about bourbon buys. Thank you!

Most CS bourbon are too highly priced here for me to.think about them any more bar maybe JD SB, WT RB and Four Roses. Not had the latter and enjoy their small.batch stuff so might have to get one at some point.

Interesting what you say about Booker's and Baker's re. the peanut note. I find this in all Beam products and simply can't get on with it - I thought I was an oddity, outlier, so it's nice to have some company and to know I'm not imagining it

@Nock I laughed out loud when I read about your 38 bottles of ECBP. And I thought that I had a lot of them stored away with 12 or 15--which is the largest number of bottles I have stored of any single label of whiski. That's a lot of bourbon on hand for a peathead Islay Scotch guy!!!

One of the "calls" I made of which I am most proud was that as soon as I tasted ECBP Batch #1 back in 2013 I announced publicly and loudly, "This is it! This is the new opportunity in American whiskey, now that the supply of BTACs, Parker's Heritage Collection, Van Winkles, Four Roses LEs, etc is drying up. This is the one to buy whenever you see it." (except at a scalper's price)

It shows how well you know my taste in whiskey when you can confidently predict which of your three batches of Larceny Barrel Proof I will like.

@RianC – Ya, I wouldn’t be into barrel proof bourbon if it were harder to get or more expensive. If I lived in your neck of the woods I am sure I would be in the race/fight for Campbeltown whisky. We almost never see any of the three where I am (Springbank/Kilkerran/Glen Scotia). I have to pay twice what it goes for in the UK here in D.C. corridor. There is a bottle of Springbank 10yo and Kilkerran 12yo on a shelf near my place in Maryland both for $100. That is just too much for those bottles in my opinion. But they are very good. Do I buy the Springbank 10yo at 46% for $100 or the ECBP at 62.4% for $65? The answer is simple for me - ECBP. Granted if the prices were reverse . . . it would be a much more difficult call. I would probably go for the Springbank.

I do find that Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve is my favorite Jim Beam product over Booker’s, Baker’s, Basil Hayden’s, etc. OGD114 is great because of the price and ABV. But, I honestly rarely sip it neat (sorry @Nozinan). I use it for cocktails and as a base for my constantly running “home bourbon blend.” I find that a healthy of mixture of OGD114, Virgin 7yo 101, a cheap bottom shelfer (like Virginia Gentleman, Old Crow, or Evan Williams) and a little ECBP really makes a delightful basic bourbon that my casual bourbon drinkers enjoy and works great in cocktails.

I remember calling you @Victor in 2013 from a store in Virginia Beach. They had one bottle of the very first batch of ECBP. I had been really burned on standard Elijah Craig 12 year old up to that point. So, I was very dubious. You told me to go for. I am so glad I did. It is a shame I never found another bottle of Batch 1 for posterity’s sake. It was special. Now, ECBP has really become my favorite barrel proof bourbon (aside from GTS and WLW). I just love the flavor profile which to me is baked brown sugar on crumble cake with occasional hints of maple syrup, cinnamon, and honey. But the sweetness is dialed back by the age. And there is typically little to no fruit notes. I don’t get along with those bright cherry, lemon, and dark cherry notes in my bourbon. I have never been much of a fan of cherries. If you enjoy those flavors then please ignore all of my advice.

As to the Larceny BP . . . @Victor you are very particular about wheat in your whisky. So, I am honestly not positive. But the three batches I have open offer some variety in the profile range. My guess is you will like one of the two extremes. I am just not sure which one . . . but I bet you will like one of the three, possibly two of the three. That said, you won’t go crazy over any of them. Still, an experiment worth trying.

@Nock no offence taken. To each their own. I have used OGD 114 in an old fashioned with good results.

My favourite cask strength and available bourbon? I’m not ready to share that information. I can say it is extremely limited and the best kept secret in bourbon-drinking-circles.

@Nock , @Victor, you will have some catching up to do when we next meet.

@Nozinan , shhhhhhhh

@paddockjudge As long as you keep me supplied…