What if Any American Bourbon Can Match the Jefferson's Presidential Select?!?

Beer and Spirits
1

Yo Berserkz,

So late last year, Mike Grammer brought a special treat over to an Aussie wine-themed dinner I hosted at my place I have not been able to get out of my head since – the Jefferson’s Presidential Select 18 Year Old Bourbon. Since the three servings I had of it that night, I haven’t been able to get it out my mind. flirtysmile

Unfortunately, our POS monopolies in Ontario and Quebec don’t carry it. [cry.gif] They carry some other Yankee bourbons but I have no idea if they are even as remotely close in quality to that one. Can any experienced bourbon drinking Berserkers come to my rescue and tell me if any of these are as great and worth my acquiring:

  • Blanton’s Gold Edition Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon
  • Rock Hill Farm’s Single Barrel Bourbon
  • Colonel E.H. Taylor Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon
  • Hancock’s President’s Reserve Bourbon
  • Booker’s Kentucky Straight Bourbon

FIrst Berserker to suggest Maker’s Mark gets force-fed Barefoot down their throat. Suggestions please.

2

Worth acquiring? Perhaps. As great as Jefferson’s Presidential Select? Nope.

3

That’s depressing. I was at least holding out some hope for the Blanton’s Gold.O_o

4

Try Pritchard

5

The Blanton’s Gold Edition is nice and all, but it’s not the same animal as Stitzel-Weller based JPS18.

6

Depends. From the few posts I’ve seen of yours in here, you are still relatively new to the bourbon game. I like the wheated profile of S-W, from which the JPS’s come from. In the same vein – of course there is Pappy (which is a cut above) and JPS17, which many folks think is a better expression as the honey barrels were bottled first.

That said, I’d much rather have either of the 4 Roses Limited Edition expressions from 2012 (SB, SmB), as I think those are the best thing going right now. As far as your list is concerned, go with the Col. Taylor as it is made at Buffalo Trace where the Pappy’s are now made with the same mashbill.

7

Have to agree here. Just had a bottle of JPS over X-Mas, and I won’t buy it again at that price tag. Just not as interesting as some of these other’s, esp. those being made at BT.

And Booker’s is much more high octane than JPS.

8

@William: Both the Four Roses Single Barrel and Small Batch are available here at the LCBO at rather reasonable prices. I’ll have to look into them. Thanks.

9

The regular SB/SmB’s are good – but look for the Limited Edition bottlings. Those are the next level – about $85 US.

10

I will admit upfront that I know less than nothing about Bourbon/Whiskey, but I did have an opportunity to spend a couple hours with Phil Pritchard at Pritchard’s Distillery in Kelso, TN earlier this week and the guy is first class. Sampled the single barrel, double chocolate and a few others including a cream liqueur that tasted a lot like a White Russian…little too sweet for me. The Whiskeys on the other hand are top notch and worth seeking.

11

I just had the 1792 Ridgemont single barrel. Very nice but I’m afraid it falls far short of the Jefferson’s.

12

For ones more easily found, I like both Blantons (yeah, probably I just like the little horsey on top) and Rowan’s Creek (tasty juice).

For higher end stuff, if even findable, I’d go for Pappy 15, 20, 23 (obviously), Black Maple Hill 16yo, Parkers Heritage 27yo and both the Hirsch (not AH Hirsch, but the one bottled by Preiss) 25yo and 28yo…

13

If you can make it over the border to NH a lot of their state owned stores have the Jefferson 18yr for $70/btl