Is it safe to say that I don't like bourbon?

@stakenblocken I personally wouldn't jump into the Stagg if you don't already enjoy bourbons or if you don't think you will enjoy it. Stay small. $25 to $50 a bottle, give the whisky time, don't just make a judgement based off one or two tastes. Sometimes a whisky needs time to grown on you. Always be willing to take a taste whenever your at a bar or at a friend's house. I find that I generally don't care for many Lowland whiskies, but I've found a couple that I love through just being open to trying them.

Also it would more likely then not be helpful to try and put a finger on WHAT about bourbon and rye whiskies you don't care for, that will give you another reference point for what about them you don't care for and what you might enjoy.

Until you can pinpoint the reason why you don't like bourbon, I'd stop purchasing the high end stuff. In my opinion most of the high end bourbons are similar to the older single malts, the basic expression magnified and made more complex. No use spending more and more money on something there is a good chance you won't like.

Last thing though, if you really dislike so many of the bourbons and ryes you've purchased please feel free to ship them to me in Perth, Australia.

@stakenblocken I kind of feel the same way..tried many bourbons that is highly regarded by many,, But I do not really care for them.. I am not saying that they are bad, but i personally dont enjoy them as much as Scotch. Personally, I dont think they have the depth of a good Scotch

@stakenblocken: Keep an open mind and perhaps try the readily available and affordable 'Knob Creek' 9yo. cask or maybe one of the better Blantons - These two Whiskies changed my rather blinkered vision vis-a-vis Malt V Bourbon.

Good Luck..

@stakenblocken While I've only tried a few bourbons over the past several plus years - I too am rather indifferent towards them...Strange when ya consider how it's mainly ex-bourbon barrels that our beloved scotch whisky matures in.

When someone says they've tried Pappy Van Winkle 15 I usually ask "when?". The mashbill in PVW has changed; most recently in 2011 when the mashbill changed over to pure BT wheat vice the older "blend" of SW, Bernheim and/or BT. Prior to that say 2005 and before, most likely pure Stitzel Weller. I think the suggestions about moving away from the big, hard to find, cask strength (Stagg, etc.) or uber aged expressions is a good idea. Keep in mind that bourbon is aged is new charred oak, not refill like scotch or irish where the barrel influence is less. Aged bourbon like a PVW15/20/23 or Saz 18 can have significant barrel notes to those not used to it. If you primarily drink scotch, you may not pick up on the oak influence or it may be subtle, complimenting the other flavors in the whisky. Somewhere around 80% of the flavor in bourbon comes from the barrel so it's just a different style of whiskey.

Here are some suggestions:

Very Old Barton 86 pf Makers Mark 46 Evan Williams Bottled in Bond Weller Special Reserve Wild Turkey Russells Reserve 10 yr 90 pf Elmer T. Lee

These are just a couple of easily found, cheaper expressions that may (or may not be) to your liking. While I started solely with bourbon, I've branched out to other whisky expressions and see it as a compliment to my overall drinking experience. I pretty much like them all in some form or fashion.

Of course it is possible you don't like bourbons, just as some people don't like peaty whiskies. As Squidgyash already stated, I wouldn't pay that amount of money for the George T Stagg, because chances are you won't like it either. Maybe corn-based whiskeys just aren't your thing, and they don't have to be. No one says you have to like all styles of whisk(e)y. I'd recommend you try a sample of a bourbon you're interested in, before purchasing a bottle, if you do feel like buying another bourbon.

I'm of a similar mind. Lots of good bourbon's out there, but I have a hard time imagining any of them making it into my top 10. In my albeit limited foray into the world of bourbon, my reactions tend to range from indifferent to "that's nice." Personally speaking, if I'm in the mood for something different than my standard fare, I often find myself reaching for the cognac before I head for the bourbon.

That being said, I've sifted through quite a few bourbon reviews here and I can say with humility that I'm simply not familiar enough with the style to outright dismiss it. All I can do is wait until I do find that magical bourbon dram that will peek my interest and segue me into the world of bourbon.

So, as you've all said, to each his own and keep an open mind and all that jazz. :)

Bourbon is not my thing. I have yet to taste a bourbon that I have really enjoyed, and I've tasted some very well regarded bourbons in my day.

Presently, I own a bottle of Pappy Van Winkles 20 year and I'm in no hurry to open it. If anyone out there in Portland Oregon wants to trade a really nice bottle of scotch for my Pappy's, I'm all ears. Send me a buddy request.

I don't hate it, it's just that I don't love it, and I really wish I could appreciate it more. A lot of people seem to be afraid of scotch and look at it as the ultimate 'manly man's drink' and think they won't be able to handle it, but I find scotch to be a much more delicate and complex spirit. Even the Islays, as fiery as they can be, are easier for me to drink. With Booker's for instance it's just a tad to strong for me, and I can drink many cask strength scotches with relative ease in comparison. Even adding water to it didn't really do the trick. I'm not saying the taste of bourbon is terrible to me though. They're not bad. It's just that whenever I've spent money on a bourbon I find myself wishing I spent it on a scotch. Thanks for the advice everyone.

@Bourbondork I keep hearing that Makers 46 is great and I intend to try it eventually. It's priced pretty low and I've heard nothing but great things about it. If I end up not liking it I won't be out too much money.

@A'bunadhman What do you mean better Blanton's? I was only aware of the one bourbon that they make, which I've had and thought it was one of the smoothest bourbons I've had but not that flavorful.

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stakenblocken: Check out my discussion about bourbon in which I speculate why I don't digest bourbon as well, and also why I don't like the flavor nearly as well as single malt scotch. I also don't find bourbon to be nearly as complex as a good complex scotch. No comparison in my book, and I've tasted Pappy's 20, 15, George T. Stagg, Angel's Envy, Bookers, etc., etc. Just not in the same league to me. Hey, everybody's entitled to their opinion, right?

BTW: Your original post had a "-1" until I gave it a "+1" and cancelled out the negative. I find your statements worth considering.

I'd think of it this way: If you were introducing someone to scotch for the first time, would you hand them an advance peat monster? This works for some people, but a lot of people don't really appreciate the whole drinking a camp fire thing until later, when their palate has developed a little.

Bourbon is similar. If you want to get into it, I wouldn't start with the Pappy Van Winkle and Bookers. Drink more Buffalo Trace, which you said you liked. If you work your way through a bottle and it still does nothing for you, I'd suggest moving on -- maybe bourbon isn't your thing. And there's nothing wrong with that, of course.

Lots of good advice here - I definitely agree you can't just go buy Stagg and start to like bourbon. If you really want to try one that might peak your interest, I suggest maybe Four Roses Single Barrel. This is quite an different profile for a bourbon - it's soft and much less sweet and powerful than typical bourbons. I think it would be more to the liking of a scotch drinker. However I doubt that you will find one that makes you say "oh, this is it! I love it!" So... maybe just spend your money on some scotch and don't bother ;-)

I think, if you dont like the bottles you mentioned, that bourbon might not be your thing (temporarily) I´d advise to take a dive in Japanese spirits if you want to spend that kind of money. Make a pitstop in India on the way back, try some cognacs from France and maybe then go back to America.

Buffalo Trace, Woodford Reserve and Four Roses Single Barrel may be a few bottles worth checking out. All three have arguably lighter but complex flavor profiles. Herbal, floral and spicy notes abound along with the traditional bourbon notes with these.

They are worth a look before you close the door on bourbon, for sure!

@stakenblocken:The Original Private Reserve @ 46.5% abv. is far superior to the Single Barrel Special Reserve @ 40% abv. (here in Aust. 40%, anyway): Or so it seems to me.

There is another bourbon no one has mentioned: good ol' fashioned Bulleit. The pros here are that it's inexpensive, it's got a high rye content so it does taste a little different from other bourbons, and it has, for lack of a better word, a simplicity about it. All in all it's hardly the best bourbon around, but I think it's an okay place to start.

I never thought I would defend "Bourbon"...

My experience with Bourbon is part of my personal whisky journey which I am still on. Having an adventurous spirit, I jumped into Bourdons last October.

Bourbons certrainly are a different beast or experience. That's part of the fun for me. I am enjoying the journey. I have even had the honour of hosting a "Bourbon Tasting" between Christmas and New Years. What I look for in Bourbon is a "balance" and smoothness.

There are certain ones that have risen to the the top. The Van Winkles are great ambassadors for what I am looking for in a Bourbon. Craps, I can't believe I have been able to find 12 bottles so far and I wouldn't hesitate to buy more. As equal to the Van Winkles, IMHO, is Jefferson Reserve. Just a well made expression.

My Bourbon journrey is far from over. But there are some mighty find expressions that I have tried and my hope is that as the journey continues, I happen upon the few more. BTW Bulleit is quite worthy IMHO.