I like that your list was off the beaten path. There are so many great options for newcomers and enthusiasts alike that I rarely buy the same bottle twice. We're all spoiled for choice and that makes it a sweet journey!
Spoiled for choice is an excellent way of putting it. We definitely love all the standard offerings but thought this was a fun and different list--glad you enjoyed it Jason!
Listen, it’s the Jazzy version of “Beautiful Lies” that had me at “Hello” ( Yes, that was a corny joke 🤣). So happy I found you guys! I’m 35 and just NOW getting into bourbon and enjoying them in a more fun and informed way. Keep it up y’all and THANK YOU! 😊😊
I like this list a lot! This is not like some List that are simply 5 pretty similar low Proof, low cost bottles. I like that you considered progression in this list. I'll be recommending this to any friends who may be looking to get into Bourbon. I can't wait to see Erin's Rye list!
Maker’s Mark No. 46 is a great choice, in my opinion. It’s currently my favorite wheater. Overall, I think it tastes significantly better than the standard Maker’s Mark, and I find it has a softer and more pleasant finish, which should be good for a beginner.
I appreciate your comments on Basil Hayden‘s. I know some of the community is upset about price point versus quality, possibly similar to how it views Angel’s Envy. Glad to see you through it in regardless. Interesting list. Appreciate your style and approach, keep doing what you’re doing.
When I started drinking more bourbon, I started with lower quality bourbons because I didn't really know much about them. It's really great to see these kind of videos out. I always recommend Buffalo Trace to my friends , but it has been hard to get where I'm from so I usually recommend Evan Williams single barrel. And Wild Turkey Rare breed is awesome.
Thanks so much. Glad you enjoyed! We always try to keep our content relatable even when we (Josh) gets nerdy about bourbon. Cheers and thanks for watching!
Basil Hayden and Blanton's were my gateway bourbons that brought me over from Scotch and Irish whiskeys. This was when Blanton's was readily available and $50. I see both sides of the Basil "controversy". It is an excellent beginner bourbon. Even as a seasoned bourbon drinker now, I can appreciate it. I am also a beer enthusiast, and I equate Basil to a good Pilsner. Sure it might not pack all the flavor of an IPA or a porter, but sometimes you just want something light and easy. That said, Basil Hayden is dramatically overpriced for what it is (age, proof point, etc). The price is artificially set high to appeal to the "upmarket". When it was one of my gateways, I was able to routinely get it from my military Class Six store for $25 for 750ml. Overall, I really like your list and agree with it mostly. The Four Roses SB is a great "step up". I LOVE Rare Breed, but I'm not sure I'd go there for a beginner. I might substitute Eagle Rare. But if you want to do a step up in proof, Rare Breed is a great way to go!
Great input John! We’ll agree with pretty much all of it and add that Basil Hayden at $25 is a steal! The Pilsner analogy is especially fantastic and hits the nail right on the head. Cheers!
As someone who started drinking bourbon seriously a few months ago, I wish I had seen this video then. It's a really thoughtful approach. In a roundabout way, I wound up owning each of the bottles listed above. I started with Basil Hayden myself and...HATED it. So, I wouldn't start with that myself but the rest of the bottles mentioned I agree 100% for a beginner. What really kicked off my journey was EH Taylor small batch after visiting BT distillery. If asked, I would probably recommend 1783 or 1792 small batch instead of the BH or maybe a Russell's 10 year (it's a higher proof but they don't drink like it) for a beginner. The advice I would give is to find a proof range you enjoy. You do have to note that some higher proofs drink hotter than others. For example, OF 1920 doesn't drink too hot. My mistake was that I listened to too many TH-camrs advice and wound up with some great bottles but were too hot for me as a beginner. Next thing I knew I had a shelf of high proof and cask strength stuff burning a hole in my soul! Wild Turkey Rare Breed is awesomeness. I would max out at 100 proof just starting out. Keep up the good work!
Great comment Victor! Glad you enjoyed the video and we think 1783 would be a great starter ourselves. We hadn't yet gotten into that when we filmed this but if we had it to do over again, we think it's a great place to get going. We love your comment so much as it highlights how important it is to contextualize the feedback you hear about a pour, and your comment is a good reminder for us to always speak to who the pours are for. Cheers and thanks for watching!
I also didn't like Basil Hayden and I could barely finish the toasted one. I went and bought about 50 different bottles over 6 months and slowly worked through everything. I think I want more Old Grand Dad 114 over Rare Breed.
Good list. My daily drinker is four roses small batch. Good value and super solid and very approachable. I also love wild turkey 101 but I can't drink it everyday.
Sorry this comment slipped through the cracks on us Andrew! That's an awesome trajectory. Yours wasn't altogether too different from Josh's. All great pours in their own right. Cheers and thanks so much for watching!
Excellent recommendations and professionally done. You’re both relatable and humble. I’m looking forward to the tasting kit and your future content. I believe your channel is going to be hugely successful. Subscribed.
I watched this recently and was inspired to try Larceny for the first time- wow! I think it is a fantastic, easy sipping & flavorful pour. I have really been a MM - in particular 46 - fanboy historically and steered clear of this for whatever reason (none). Really good stuff. Thank you for the honorable mention recommendation- I likely would not have gone for it in all honesty. Extra bonus, just $27 here in my area my local store (Indianapolis, IN).
Another great video. I have not tried the Evan WIlliams but like the ECSB which you compared it to and also have not tried the Rare Breed and I agree with your list and like the idea of the progression. If I would have tried any of your first 4 25-30 years ago I would have drank a lot more bourbon and less Crown Royal by now. Still would drink CR on occassion because I do like it but these bourbons are all great. IMO if someone were to try your first 4 in order with the ECSB at #2 and did not like any by the time they got to #4 they might want to think about being done with bourbon and try something else. I did notice when you said Basil Hayden she said why in a way that she thinks you are crazy. I wonder if she agrees with your list.
Great points all around! And we were on the same page with the list but that's a great catch. We always try to include a "why" behind everything we discuss. Speaking to the "why" is so much more informative than simply saying whether we do or don't like something. We hope to always touch on the "why" so you can decide whether our "why" aligns with your own, and hopefully whether or suggestions on a specific bottle are helpful to you or not. Keen eye, Glock!
1792 and Woodford Reserved are a must for us. We do agree on Basil Hayden 👍 …. Basil is super easy drinking. We actually use Basil Hayden dark rye for our introduction bourbon.
Just tuned in to ya'lls channel, really enjoying how you do your blind random comparisons. Really like how well you get along and have a really good flow to your conversation. Keep up the great work 👍
That’s such a compliment. Thank you so much for the incredibly kind words! Glad you’re enjoying the channel and glad to see our fun in making the videos shows through.
Enjoyed the review! I liked and subscribed Along with Basil Hayden’s I always suggest gentleman jack. I’ve given multiple 375’s to beginners and they enjoyed both of them.
Great list, I like how you progressed up the proof scale and included 1 wheater. I would say that you stayed with Kentucky style bourbons, maybe consider expanding by a couple into other regional best sellers.
Nice video! I appreciate the time stamps in the description. I can get the gist without spending the full 20 minutes. I totally agree on the Basil Hayden's. I think it's delicious if I'm in the mood for an 80 proofer, which is often. The rest of my list would be Evan Williams Black Label, Eagle Rare or Buffalo Trace, Larceny and Evan Williams White Label or Wild Turkey 101. I tried Four Roses SiB and Rare Breed when I got started with bourbon and found them just too hot to enjoy. I love them now but I don't think they are good choices for a beginner. But that's just me...
Definitely some solid recs there Fred. Most lists include them and BT/ER can be tough to find here and in many markets, so we purposefully left those out, but they’re hard to go wrong with. On our typical filming we like for folks to feel like they’re sitting in our home with us and enjoying a pour as we discuss a topic or do a tasting, but for lists like this time stamps will always be there (and we’ve got some fun lists coming up 😉). Appreciate the watch and the thoughtful commenting!
Those are some pretty pricey bourbons there to start with. My List would be Buffalo Trace, Bullet, Evan Williams 1783, Weller Special Reserve and of course Wild Turkey 101.
Those are some solid staples for sure, especially for folks who have easy access to Buffalo Trace and Weller Special Reserve. We had slightly different goals with this list but at some point we’ll be doing a strictly budget-focused list as well which will be a lot of fun. Thanks for watching!
the EW is a very nice flavor profile for only 86 proof....I was very impressed. I thought it was around 90 proof or slightly higher...when I had a pour of it.
I have a bottle of Basil Hayden. I use it to top off my infinity bottle. I can't see that it's significantly different from Jim Beam white. I'd recommend Knob Creek 9 instead, which costs less and is a ton better. I grant that at 100 proof the Knob Creek might be too hot for a beginner, but you can always proof it down. I have to confess this looks to me more like a list of personal favorites than a list of good bourbons for beginners. And the two aren't the same, at least not for me. If I were to make a list of the five bourbons I'd recommend to beginners, it would be different from my list of my five favorites. I have episodes planned for those two lists, but it'll be weeks before they appear. I didn't realize, when I first began the Whisky For Beginners channel, just how much basic information I hadn't been able to find in one place. If I had, it might have scared me off. 😂
Fair points, although we wouldn’t call these personal favorites. They’re on our list as we’ve found them to be pours that newcomers enjoy when we’ve shared these particular bottles with them. Pretty much everything we cover is informed by real world experience, and we always try to speak to the “why” behind including any product on any list.
@@stuffandwhiskey I think I might have come across more harshly than I intended. Usually I can express myself pretty well, but I'm fallible, and sometimes I think I've been perfectly clear when in fact I've been as clear as mud. If I came across judgmentally, I apologize - it wasn't my intention at all. :)
@@WhiskyForBeginners no offense taken at all! You raised a great point and one we try to speak too as often as possible, but we also don't want to sound like a broken record for regular viewers. Appreciate the point being raised!
the first time I tried Rare Breed, I thought it was came across as high proof. I'm not knocking' it ... just noting that I don't think it comes across as anything less than it's actual proof
I'm a new fan of your channel and realized I have these bottles in my collection. I am going through your progression again, but I'm not a fan of anything Evan Williams. Took forever for me to finish the 1783 I had, and the BIB will also linger or be a great option for guest cocktails. I introduce scotch drinkers to bourbon with Basil Hayden, and I'm undefeated at turning them into bourbon drinkers. I realized I like the Makers 46 more than I remembered. I haven't opened my current bottles of 4Roses or Rare Breed, but they will be cracked open soon. KBT '19!
Welcome aboard, Kevin! Curious if the 1783 you had was the older 86 proof offering or the newer 90 proof offering? We find the older variant to be pretty lackluster but the new 90 proof offering brings a rounder profile and more fruitiness to the mix which we do enjoy. And well said on Maker's 46. The market is lucky to have such a solid offering for such a low price. Cheers and thanks for tuning in!
@@stuffandwhiskey It was the older 86 proof, but I'm nervous since I haven't found an EW bottle that has impressed me. It just may be the yeast that's off-putting to me. I'll consider them in the future. I started with your first show and plan to work through them. Keep up the good content.
Hey, just found your channel and subscribed. I really like your list progressing through a beginner bourbon journey adding more complexity and proof step-by-step. I actually have all of the bottles you mentioned and think they are great choices. MM 46 and 4R SiB are two if my favorites, they give you everything I want in a bourbon. Great details in your descriptions too. Cheers
So sorry this comment slipped through the cracks on us NorthWest Bourbon! We really appreciate you watching and for the kind words (we are suckers for a good video description in particular)!
When recommending a 100 proof bourbon try to stick with non single barrel bourbons due to the fact that the proofing is always on the higher end and drinks hotter
Good recommendations, though for my money there are few bottles better at the price than Wild Turkey 101. That's actually what I started on in bourbon...
We’re very much in agreement there. We wanted to include some things a little more off the beaten path but we’re huge Turkey fans here and have to restrain ourselves from every video turning into a “just drink Turkey” rant. 😂
I started drinking bourbon with Elijah Craig small batch. I didn't care for it and I was told about Knob Creek 9 year. At first I had to mix with gingerale. I started trying bourbon neat. I revisited Elijah Craig and love it. Also, I tried Rare Breed. I agree, Rare breed is very good. Have you tried Makers Cask Strength? This is also very good.
Maker's Cask Strength is one we do enjoy, although we're not sure if we'll rebuy as long as Maker's 46 Cask Strength is available. That said, wheated bourbons aren't our favorite profile. We tend to like a little more spice.
ahh the good ol days when the Evan William's Single Barrels were available in stores. By me they're gone so I'd replace that with Evan Williams 1783. At first I didn't like the Basil Hayden's due to the 80 proof BUT a beginner should know what 80 proof Bourbon tastes like. I like the higher proof picks to round out the bunch. Just in case if those are too high of a proof maybe the 4 Roses Small Batch would be better. A beginner Bourbon that I enjoy that is super readily available is Bulleit or Elijah Craig. At $30 you can't go wrong imo.
Good choices and I liked your sequence as to when to drink them--left to right. Im still amazed at how great EWSB is and especially compared to their very mediocre regular
@@stuffandwhiskey btw, you 2 are indeed whiskey experts. You pick up flavors i don't 😉😊 I Guage taste on how and what u taste on my tongue, roof of my mouth and on the way down and aftertaste, but I don't pick up as many flavors as y'all
Those are some great beginner choices for sure, and they even hold up as great sippers for seasoned bourbon drinkers too. Cheers and thanks for watching Curt!
Excellent list, and thanks for the great review. And every one of those (including the Larceny) is in my favorite store. I have not tried the Four Roses, but if it’s high-rye, and since (apologies in advance) I like rye whiskey better than bourbon, I’ll have to give the Four Roses a shot. Keep up the great work!
If you're a rye fan then you definitely need to give it a shot. We'd also recommend the Four Roses Small Batch Select if it's in your market. It's a bit of a splurge at $60-65 but it's one of the more rye-forward bourbons we've tried in recent memory and quite good.
Curious if you have tried Brothers Bond and evaluated as a starter bourbon? On TotalWine it has 124 reviews with a 4.8 rating. It’s only 80 proof so a starter. I want you to review for us.
Hi guys, I have been watching your channel for a while. I just did subscribe. I have a question. If you were going on a road trip through Tennessee and Kentucky what distilleries would you definitely want to visit. I am a newbie to bourbon.
Leiper's Fork in Tennessee is one of the best stops in the state. For Kentucky we're big fans of Bardstown Bourbon Company (great tour and restaurant), Willett (great restaurant), and Heaven Hill (great tours and tastings). If you're more in the Louisville area then stop by Michter's and Old Forester. Cheers and enjoy your trip!
Appreciate you watching. The audio delay may be a Bluetooth, headphone, or some other device delay on your end. We record our video and audio to the same track on the same camera at the same, so it’s impossible for it to be out of sync, but I definitely get delay on some of my headphones and devices.
Oof, I cringed when that first bottle came out haha. My first bottle was Buffalo Trace. The Wild Turkey was my second from all the hype I was reading...and price:)
The prices for these bottles are really throwing me off. When I think beginner friendly bourbons, I try to consider price as well. Maybe it is just the crowds I am in, but people kind of gawk at anything over $30, and all of those are over $30 in our market. Evan Williams SiB recently jumped over that line. Price of whiskey I find is a high barrier to entry into the whiskey community and I don't want people to think that you must spend "a lot" of money to get started.
Those are fair points for sure. Would have to rewatch but think we covered our take in the video in that we feel the slightly higher price of these products gets folks a significant jump in quality over a lot of truly budget bottles, which we think in turn makes it easier for people to get into bourbon. The 375ml Basil Hayden, Maker’s 46, and at the time of this filming the Evan Williams SiB (before it became a KY only release) were all $29.99 or less in our market and we feel Four Roses SiB and Rare Breed are worth $40 and $50 respectively. That said, we’re due for a “5 Best Budget Bourbons for Beginners” list. Cheers and thanks so much for watching and commenting Thrifty Whiskey!
@@stuffandwhiskey You did, I just take a different approach, that is all. And your prices are ridiculously good. :P Normal Maker's here is $30, EW 1783 is is $20. Maker's 46 is $40. Basil Hayden 375 is $25, and EW SiB was $32.
To save money and not find out you screwed yourself over by buying a bottle that you didn't like for close to 50 dollars, I would suggest you find a liquor retailer that sells the 50ml and 375ml bottles of all the bottles you want to taste. If you are actually dropping more than 40 dollars on a bourbon, I would probably risk buying a Rare Breed, Eagle Rare, Russell's Reserve 10 year, or Smoke Wagon Small Batch in order to let yourself taste much more premium bourbon that most people consider top notch without breaking the bank. And if you find you don't like it, I don't think there are many people that wouldn't consider taking the bottle off your hands.
Great point! A lot of what we want to try isn’t available in smaller bottles so we do share and trade samples a lot as well. That can be a great way to try a lot of whiskey before you buy as well, whether it be local trades or an online community.
I disagree on Basil Hayden. Buy Old Grand Dad bonded and add water. It’s the same high rye mash bill from Jim Beam at half the price…plus OGD has enough proof to make a cocktail if you choose.
Fair point Todd. To be fair as well, Basil Hayden is reportedly aged for 8 years compared to OGD Bonded 4 years, so while we do lean toward the proof of OGD Bonded ourselves, we still stand by the age and subsequent “rounder” profile of Basil Hayden being the better “premium beginner bourbon” as it were (despite the same mashbill).
Well, BH lost that 8 year age statement in 2014 so who knows for sure...and how much character remains at 80proof. I agree that BH is a “beginners” bourbon, but I also think (in good conscience) it’s important to educate beginners about value, that way they aren’t being primarily seduced by marketing.
@@toddsuter3783 again very fair points. Wish we had a device to proof whiskey in real time. OGD Bonded proofed down to 80 vs Basil Hayden would make a fascinating entry into our double blind head-to-head pool. Maybe we’ll spring for a proofing solution on Amazon and get that in.
That would be an interesting comparison. You shouldn’t need a proofing machine though. A digital kitchen scale and some math should get you there. P1 x V1 = P2 x V2-> so, an initial 1.6oz, 100p OGD + 0.4oz water should be close to a final 2oz, 80p pour.
Why is Josh not focusing on camera and constantly looking at Erin every one second ? When you're speaking your focus should be 95% on camera, 5% shift is natural.
Josh here. Definitely not a professional broadcaster nor all that comfortable on camera. It’s something I’m working on. Cheers and thanks for watching Kuldeep. 🥃
@@stuffandwhiskey well, that's an honest reply and i heartily appreciate your frankness. Everything is new in the beginning and we all get accustomed gradually to what we do repeatedly. That's fine. I wrote what i observed and sorry for being a bit blunt. Your video content is very interesting, your voice and explanation is also fantastic. Do make more of such videos. My best wishes to you ❤ Cheerrss and wish you happiness.
@@kuldeepgadhvi1788 you’re all good. We appreciate the input and are always working to get better. Thank you for the kind words regarding the content. Glad to hear our message comes through even if we’re still honing the delivery. Truth be told we’re happy to sip together off camera, and wouldn’t have started the channel if we wanted to stay in our comfort zone, but we feel that our double blind tastings and perspectives gleaned from them brings something worthwhile, so we’ll keep showing up. We appreciate you watching and commenting!
Completely disagree with your selections, at least for beginners. I'd have to put Buffalo Trace in there, even tho I hate it, Old Forester 86 proof would have to be on the list, Russell's Reserve 10yr over Rare Breed and its cheaper. I cant really recommend a good wheated bourbon because I have hated every one I've tried. I'd prob also throw Woodford Reserve in there somewhere, i havent had anything from them other than the Double Oaked, but its in my top 3 bourbons overall. For ryes, at least for people familiar with bourbon, I'd highly recommend anything from Sagamore Spirits. Their Double Oak Rye is my #1 whiskey, period. Beats out all of the bourbons I like and I'm not typically a big fan of straight ryes.
We've long thought the same thing, however Bourbon Pursuit had a discussion about this recently and their intel directly from Beam said that Old Grand Dad has its own unique mashbill. While we're doubtful about that, Basil Hayden is definitely aged longer than OGD, which combined with the low proof makes it a good intro pour for beginners, but on pure value alone we're right there with you. Hard to beat the incredible deal that OGD Bonded is. Cheers and thanks for watching!
@@stuffandwhiskey Interesting. I also don't believe them lol. Ya, OGD 114 even more so. But... that's not great for beginners. I get why you wanna offer then an 80p.
@@stuffandwhiskey I’m a beginner bourbon drinker. Just started my journey in December. Just for my palette, Basil Hayden is too low proof and overpriced. I would say Old Forester 1910, Knob Creek 9 year 100 proof, Woodford Double Oaked or 1792 Bottled in Bond.
@@thecougarexperience OF1910 is a favorite around here too. Great taste! We wish 1792 Bottled-in-Bond was more available here but it's heavily allocated and only released once annually.
I like that your list was off the beaten path. There are so many great options for newcomers and enthusiasts alike that I rarely buy the same bottle twice. We're all spoiled for choice and that makes it a sweet journey!
Spoiled for choice is an excellent way of putting it. We definitely love all the standard offerings but thought this was a fun and different list--glad you enjoyed it Jason!
Listen, it’s the Jazzy version of “Beautiful Lies” that had me at “Hello” ( Yes, that was a corny joke 🤣). So happy I found you guys! I’m 35 and just NOW getting into bourbon and enjoying them in a more fun and informed way. Keep it up y’all and THANK YOU! 😊😊
I like this list a lot! This is not like some List that are simply 5 pretty similar low Proof, low cost bottles. I like that you considered progression in this list. I'll be recommending this to any friends who may be looking to get into Bourbon. I can't wait to see Erin's Rye list!
Thanks so much. Glad our thought process showed through. We appreciate you watching and commenting!
You two are doing a great job! I really appreciate your channel. It is quickly becoming one of my favorites.
Maker’s Mark No. 46 is a great choice, in my opinion. It’s currently my favorite wheater. Overall, I think it tastes significantly better than the standard Maker’s Mark, and I find it has a softer and more pleasant finish, which should be good for a beginner.
That's how we feel overall as well. Great comment Chris!
I appreciate your comments on Basil Hayden‘s. I know some of the community is upset about price point versus quality, possibly similar to how it views Angel’s Envy. Glad to see you through it in regardless. Interesting list. Appreciate your style and approach, keep doing what you’re doing.
Thanks so much Tanner. Really appreciate the kind words!
When I started drinking more bourbon, I started with lower quality bourbons because I didn't really know much about them. It's really great to see these kind of videos out. I always recommend Buffalo Trace to my friends , but it has been hard to get where I'm from so I usually recommend Evan Williams single barrel. And Wild Turkey Rare breed is awesome.
Thanks so much. Glad you enjoyed! We always try to keep our content relatable even when we (Josh) gets nerdy about bourbon. Cheers and thanks for watching!
Basil Hayden and Blanton's were my gateway bourbons that brought me over from Scotch and Irish whiskeys. This was when Blanton's was readily available and $50. I see both sides of the Basil "controversy". It is an excellent beginner bourbon. Even as a seasoned bourbon drinker now, I can appreciate it. I am also a beer enthusiast, and I equate Basil to a good Pilsner. Sure it might not pack all the flavor of an IPA or a porter, but sometimes you just want something light and easy.
That said, Basil Hayden is dramatically overpriced for what it is (age, proof point, etc). The price is artificially set high to appeal to the "upmarket". When it was one of my gateways, I was able to routinely get it from my military Class Six store for $25 for 750ml.
Overall, I really like your list and agree with it mostly. The Four Roses SB is a great "step up".
I LOVE Rare Breed, but I'm not sure I'd go there for a beginner. I might substitute Eagle Rare. But if you want to do a step up in proof, Rare Breed is a great way to go!
Great input John! We’ll agree with pretty much all of it and add that Basil Hayden at $25 is a steal! The Pilsner analogy is especially fantastic and hits the nail right on the head. Cheers!
I think WT 101 is a first bourbon because is budget, not too overwhelming and its classic with nuance..ie beginners and veteran drinkers can enjoy it
As someone who started drinking bourbon seriously a few months ago, I wish I had seen this video then. It's a really thoughtful approach. In a roundabout way, I wound up owning each of the bottles listed above. I started with Basil Hayden myself and...HATED it. So, I wouldn't start with that myself but the rest of the bottles mentioned I agree 100% for a beginner. What really kicked off my journey was EH Taylor small batch after visiting BT distillery. If asked, I would probably recommend 1783 or 1792 small batch instead of the BH or maybe a Russell's 10 year (it's a higher proof but they don't drink like it) for a beginner. The advice I would give is to find a proof range you enjoy. You do have to note that some higher proofs drink hotter than others. For example, OF 1920 doesn't drink too hot. My mistake was that I listened to too many TH-camrs advice and wound up with some great bottles but were too hot for me as a beginner. Next thing I knew I had a shelf of high proof and cask strength stuff burning a hole in my soul! Wild Turkey Rare Breed is awesomeness. I would max out at 100 proof just starting out. Keep up the good work!
Great comment Victor! Glad you enjoyed the video and we think 1783 would be a great starter ourselves. We hadn't yet gotten into that when we filmed this but if we had it to do over again, we think it's a great place to get going. We love your comment so much as it highlights how important it is to contextualize the feedback you hear about a pour, and your comment is a good reminder for us to always speak to who the pours are for. Cheers and thanks for watching!
I also didn't like Basil Hayden and I could barely finish the toasted one. I went and bought about 50 different bottles over 6 months and slowly worked through everything. I think I want more Old Grand Dad 114 over Rare Breed.
Good list. My daily drinker is four roses small batch. Good value and super solid and very approachable. I also love wild turkey 101 but I can't drink it everyday.
Josh here. Love that Gary! Four Roses SmB was one of my go-to options back in the day. We need to revisit it. Cheers!
First bourbon was four roses small batch at £30. Next was Elijah Craig small batch and third was wild turkey rare breed
Sorry this comment slipped through the cracks on us Andrew! That's an awesome trajectory. Yours wasn't altogether too different from Josh's. All great pours in their own right. Cheers and thanks so much for watching!
Excellent recommendations and professionally done. You’re both relatable and humble. I’m looking forward to the tasting kit and your future content. I believe your channel is going to be hugely successful. Subscribed.
That’s an incredibly kind compliment. Thank you!
@@stuffandwhiskey You’re welcome.
Basil Hayden was my first bottle a month ago, taste testing in the bottle shop, I loved it. Followed it up with WT 101 2 weeks later
Great list. Great progression of proof and I love that you focused on quality more than cheapness.
Thanks so much Ray! A lot of thought went into it and we appreciate you noticing. Cheers!
I watched this recently and was inspired to try Larceny for the first time- wow! I think it is a fantastic, easy sipping & flavorful pour. I have really been a MM - in particular 46 - fanboy historically and steered clear of this for whatever reason (none). Really good stuff. Thank you for the honorable mention recommendation- I likely would not have gone for it in all honesty. Extra bonus, just $27 here in my area my local store (Indianapolis, IN).
Cheers to that Rob! Glad to have helped and thanks so much for watching!
Just picked up The Evan Williams SB last week. In Ontario it is on allocation. It is a very good pour. Keep the content coming.
Another great video. I have not tried the Evan WIlliams but like the ECSB which you compared it to and also have not tried the Rare Breed and I agree with your list and like the idea of the progression. If I would have tried any of your first 4 25-30 years ago I would have drank a lot more bourbon and less Crown Royal by now. Still would drink CR on occassion because I do like it but these bourbons are all great. IMO if someone were to try your first 4 in order with the ECSB at #2 and did not like any by the time they got to #4 they might want to think about being done with bourbon and try something else.
I did notice when you said Basil Hayden she said why in a way that she thinks you are crazy. I wonder if she agrees with your list.
Great points all around! And we were on the same page with the list but that's a great catch. We always try to include a "why" behind everything we discuss. Speaking to the "why" is so much more informative than simply saying whether we do or don't like something. We hope to always touch on the "why" so you can decide whether our "why" aligns with your own, and hopefully whether or suggestions on a specific bottle are helpful to you or not. Keen eye, Glock!
1792 and Woodford Reserved are a must for us. We do agree on Basil Hayden 👍 …. Basil is super easy drinking. We actually use Basil Hayden dark rye for our introduction bourbon.
Just tuned in to ya'lls channel, really enjoying how you do your blind random comparisons. Really like how well you get along and have a really good flow to your conversation. Keep up the great work 👍
That’s such a compliment. Thank you so much for the incredibly kind words! Glad you’re enjoying the channel and glad to see our fun in making the videos shows through.
Not me diving in head first and drinking rare breed and loving it! Thanks Jimmy!
Enjoyed the review!
I liked and subscribed
Along with Basil Hayden’s I always suggest gentleman jack. I’ve given multiple 375’s to beginners and they enjoyed both of them.
One of us (Josh) cut his teeth on Gentleman Jack. Definitely an easy sip for the beginner. Great recommendation John!
Great list, I like how you progressed up the proof scale and included 1 wheater. I would say that you stayed with Kentucky style bourbons, maybe consider expanding by a couple into other regional best sellers.
I would go with Buffalo Trace or Larceny Small Batch as a good starter. Jim Beam as a easy to get find everywhere is also a good starting bottle.
Nice video! I appreciate the time stamps in the description. I can get the gist without spending the full 20 minutes. I totally agree on the Basil Hayden's. I think it's delicious if I'm in the mood for an 80 proofer, which is often. The rest of my list would be Evan Williams Black Label, Eagle Rare or Buffalo Trace, Larceny and Evan Williams White Label or Wild Turkey 101. I tried Four Roses SiB and Rare Breed when I got started with bourbon and found them just too hot to enjoy. I love them now but I don't think they are good choices for a beginner. But that's just me...
Definitely some solid recs there Fred. Most lists include them and BT/ER can be tough to find here and in many markets, so we purposefully left those out, but they’re hard to go wrong with.
On our typical filming we like for folks to feel like they’re sitting in our home with us and enjoying a pour as we discuss a topic or do a tasting, but for lists like this time stamps will always be there (and we’ve got some fun lists coming up 😉). Appreciate the watch and the thoughtful commenting!
Those are some pretty pricey bourbons there to start with. My List would be Buffalo Trace, Bullet, Evan Williams 1783, Weller Special Reserve and of course Wild Turkey 101.
Those are some solid staples for sure, especially for folks who have easy access to Buffalo Trace and Weller Special Reserve. We had slightly different goals with this list but at some point we’ll be doing a strictly budget-focused list as well which will be a lot of fun. Thanks for watching!
Nice job!!!
Thanks Judge!
the EW is a very nice flavor profile for only 86 proof....I was very impressed. I thought it was around 90 proof or slightly higher...when I had a pour of it.
Can I just say how much I love your counter top? You guys seem super chill.
- Brian
Haha, thanks Brian! And all credit to the previous owners of the home for the awesome countertop-they had great taste, we’re just living here. 😂
Larceny small batch is a budget bourbon at 92...94..proof...One of those....but sweet and delicious
I have a bottle of Basil Hayden. I use it to top off my infinity bottle. I can't see that it's significantly different from Jim Beam white. I'd recommend Knob Creek 9 instead, which costs less and is a ton better. I grant that at 100 proof the Knob Creek might be too hot for a beginner, but you can always proof it down.
I have to confess this looks to me more like a list of personal favorites than a list of good bourbons for beginners. And the two aren't the same, at least not for me. If I were to make a list of the five bourbons I'd recommend to beginners, it would be different from my list of my five favorites.
I have episodes planned for those two lists, but it'll be weeks before they appear. I didn't realize, when I first began the Whisky For Beginners channel, just how much basic information I hadn't been able to find in one place. If I had, it might have scared me off. 😂
Fair points, although we wouldn’t call these personal favorites. They’re on our list as we’ve found them to be pours that newcomers enjoy when we’ve shared these particular bottles with them. Pretty much everything we cover is informed by real world experience, and we always try to speak to the “why” behind including any product on any list.
@@stuffandwhiskey I think I might have come across more harshly than I intended. Usually I can express myself pretty well, but I'm fallible, and sometimes I think I've been perfectly clear when in fact I've been as clear as mud. If I came across judgmentally, I apologize - it wasn't my intention at all. :)
@@WhiskyForBeginners no offense taken at all! You raised a great point and one we try to speak too as often as possible, but we also don't want to sound like a broken record for regular viewers. Appreciate the point being raised!
Another great video! Love how y’all are approaching this community! Cheers!
-Scott K
Thanks Scott! We appreciate you, buddy!
the first time I tried Rare Breed, I thought it was came across as high proof.
I'm not knocking' it ... just noting that I don't think it comes across as anything less than it's actual proof
I loved this video. Great information and I like Erin’s hair! 😉
Pretty spot on list of bourbons that align with my flavor preferences
Cheers to that Corey. Thanks for watching!
I'm a new fan of your channel and realized I have these bottles in my collection. I am going through your progression again, but I'm not a fan of anything Evan Williams. Took forever for me to finish the 1783 I had, and the BIB will also linger or be a great option for guest cocktails. I introduce scotch drinkers to bourbon with Basil Hayden, and I'm undefeated at turning them into bourbon drinkers. I realized I like the Makers 46 more than I remembered. I haven't opened my current bottles of 4Roses or Rare Breed, but they will be cracked open soon. KBT '19!
Welcome aboard, Kevin! Curious if the 1783 you had was the older 86 proof offering or the newer 90 proof offering? We find the older variant to be pretty lackluster but the new 90 proof offering brings a rounder profile and more fruitiness to the mix which we do enjoy. And well said on Maker's 46. The market is lucky to have such a solid offering for such a low price. Cheers and thanks for tuning in!
@@stuffandwhiskey It was the older 86 proof, but I'm nervous since I haven't found an EW bottle that has impressed me. It just may be the yeast that's off-putting to me. I'll consider them in the future. I started with your first show and plan to work through them. Keep up the good content.
Rare Breed was an awesome choice. It's hotter but you get so much flavor. Cheers!
Felt like a nice curveball. Cheers and thanks for watching y’all!
Hey, just found your channel and subscribed. I really like your list progressing through a beginner bourbon journey adding more complexity and proof step-by-step. I actually have all of the bottles you mentioned and think they are great choices. MM 46 and 4R SiB are two if my favorites, they give you everything I want in a bourbon. Great details in your descriptions too. Cheers
So sorry this comment slipped through the cracks on us NorthWest Bourbon! We really appreciate you watching and for the kind words (we are suckers for a good video description in particular)!
When recommending a 100 proof bourbon try to stick with non single barrel bourbons due to the fact that the proofing is always on the higher end and drinks hotter
Good recommendations, though for my money there are few bottles better at the price than Wild Turkey 101. That's actually what I started on in bourbon...
We’re very much in agreement there. We wanted to include some things a little more off the beaten path but we’re huge Turkey fans here and have to restrain ourselves from every video turning into a “just drink Turkey” rant. 😂
I started drinking bourbon with Elijah Craig small batch. I didn't care for it and I was told about Knob Creek 9 year. At first I had to mix with gingerale. I started trying bourbon neat. I revisited Elijah Craig and love it. Also, I tried Rare Breed. I agree, Rare breed is very good. Have you tried Makers Cask Strength? This is also very good.
Maker's Cask Strength is one we do enjoy, although we're not sure if we'll rebuy as long as Maker's 46 Cask Strength is available. That said, wheated bourbons aren't our favorite profile. We tend to like a little more spice.
Love to see Four Roses and Rare Breed on your list.
Two of our absolute favorites. Cheers Scott!
I am new to Bourbon and this video is great.
That’s really great to hear Michael! Thanks for watching and so glad you enjoyed it!
ahh the good ol days when the Evan William's Single Barrels were available in stores. By me they're gone so I'd replace that with Evan Williams 1783. At first I didn't like the Basil Hayden's due to the 80 proof BUT a beginner should know what 80 proof Bourbon tastes like. I like the higher proof picks to round out the bunch. Just in case if those are too high of a proof maybe the 4 Roses Small Batch would be better. A beginner Bourbon that I enjoy that is super readily available is Bulleit or Elijah Craig. At $30 you can't go wrong imo.
Good choices and I liked your sequence as to when to drink them--left to right. Im still amazed at how great EWSB is and especially compared to their very mediocre regular
We're with you there Clyde. It's one of our absolute favorite bottles and we always keep 1-2 around. Cheers!
@@stuffandwhiskey btw, you 2 are indeed whiskey experts. You pick up flavors i don't 😉😊 I Guage taste on how and what u taste on my tongue, roof of my mouth and on the way down and aftertaste, but I don't pick up as many flavors as y'all
Beginner bourbon....I prefer the EW or Larceny......over the EC or the or the Basil Haden...the Maker's 46 is also delicious....
Those are some great beginner choices for sure, and they even hold up as great sippers for seasoned bourbon drinkers too. Cheers and thanks for watching Curt!
Excellent list, and thanks for the great review. And every one of those (including the Larceny) is in my favorite store. I have not tried the Four Roses, but if it’s high-rye, and since (apologies in advance) I like rye whiskey better than bourbon, I’ll have to give the Four Roses a shot. Keep up the great work!
If you're a rye fan then you definitely need to give it a shot. We'd also recommend the Four Roses Small Batch Select if it's in your market. It's a bit of a splurge at $60-65 but it's one of the more rye-forward bourbons we've tried in recent memory and quite good.
Nice selection. Fooled me🥃 Cheers
Curious if you have tried Brothers Bond and evaluated as a starter bourbon? On TotalWine it has 124 reviews with a 4.8 rating. It’s only 80 proof so a starter. I want you to review for us.
We’ve got a video of it against Basil Hayden in the back catalog. Cheers!
WT Rare Breed is one of my favorite Bourbons. but I do not recommend for beginners. it is very delicious Bourbon. my favorite bourbon for the $.
We're right there with you on it being our favorite bourbon for the money!
Hi guys, I have been watching your channel for a while. I just did subscribe. I have a question. If you were going on a road trip through Tennessee and Kentucky what distilleries would you definitely want to visit. I am a newbie to bourbon.
Leiper's Fork in Tennessee is one of the best stops in the state. For Kentucky we're big fans of Bardstown Bourbon Company (great tour and restaurant), Willett (great restaurant), and Heaven Hill (great tours and tastings). If you're more in the Louisville area then stop by Michter's and Old Forester. Cheers and enjoy your trip!
Watching the video it just bugs me that the audio and the video are not in sync.
Appreciate you watching. The audio delay may be a Bluetooth, headphone, or some other device delay on your end. We record our video and audio to the same track on the same camera at the same, so it’s impossible for it to be out of sync, but I definitely get delay on some of my headphones and devices.
I wish I could get a bottle of four roses single barrel for around $40....it is around $60.....in my state....
Ah man, that's a bummer! At $60 we're out on Four Roses SiB.
Oof, I cringed when that first bottle came out haha. My first bottle was Buffalo Trace. The Wild Turkey was my second from all the hype I was reading...and price:)
Hard to beat that 101 pricing and versatility. Cheers and thanks for watching Ben!
The prices for these bottles are really throwing me off. When I think beginner friendly bourbons, I try to consider price as well. Maybe it is just the crowds I am in, but people kind of gawk at anything over $30, and all of those are over $30 in our market. Evan Williams SiB recently jumped over that line.
Price of whiskey I find is a high barrier to entry into the whiskey community and I don't want people to think that you must spend "a lot" of money to get started.
Those are fair points for sure. Would have to rewatch but think we covered our take in the video in that we feel the slightly higher price of these products gets folks a significant jump in quality over a lot of truly budget bottles, which we think in turn makes it easier for people to get into bourbon. The 375ml Basil Hayden, Maker’s 46, and at the time of this filming the Evan Williams SiB (before it became a KY only release) were all $29.99 or less in our market and we feel Four Roses SiB and Rare Breed are worth $40 and $50 respectively. That said, we’re due for a “5 Best Budget Bourbons for Beginners” list. Cheers and thanks so much for watching and commenting Thrifty Whiskey!
@@stuffandwhiskey You did, I just take a different approach, that is all. And your prices are ridiculously good. :P Normal Maker's here is $30, EW 1783 is is $20. Maker's 46 is $40. Basil Hayden 375 is $25, and EW SiB was $32.
How did I know number 5 at the very beginning.....?
To save money and not find out you screwed yourself over by buying a bottle that you didn't like for close to 50 dollars, I would suggest you find a liquor retailer that sells the 50ml and 375ml bottles of all the bottles you want to taste. If you are actually dropping more than 40 dollars on a bourbon, I would probably risk buying a Rare Breed, Eagle Rare, Russell's Reserve 10 year, or Smoke Wagon Small Batch in order to let yourself taste much more premium bourbon that most people consider top notch without breaking the bank. And if you find you don't like it, I don't think there are many people that wouldn't consider taking the bottle off your hands.
Great point! A lot of what we want to try isn’t available in smaller bottles so we do share and trade samples a lot as well. That can be a great way to try a lot of whiskey before you buy as well, whether it be local trades or an online community.
I disagree on Basil Hayden. Buy Old Grand Dad bonded and add water. It’s the same high rye mash bill from Jim Beam at half the price…plus OGD has enough proof to make a cocktail if you choose.
Fair point Todd. To be fair as well, Basil Hayden is reportedly aged for 8 years compared to OGD Bonded 4 years, so while we do lean toward the proof of OGD Bonded ourselves, we still stand by the age and subsequent “rounder” profile of Basil Hayden being the better “premium beginner bourbon” as it were (despite the same mashbill).
Well, BH lost that 8 year age statement in 2014 so who knows for sure...and how much character remains at 80proof. I agree that BH is a “beginners” bourbon, but I also think (in good conscience) it’s important to educate beginners about value, that way they aren’t being primarily seduced by marketing.
@@toddsuter3783 again very fair points. Wish we had a device to proof whiskey in real time. OGD Bonded proofed down to 80 vs Basil Hayden would make a fascinating entry into our double blind head-to-head pool. Maybe we’ll spring for a proofing solution on Amazon and get that in.
That would be an interesting comparison. You shouldn’t need a proofing machine though. A digital kitchen scale and some math should get you there. P1 x V1 = P2 x V2-> so, an initial 1.6oz, 100p OGD + 0.4oz water should be close to a final 2oz, 80p pour.
I swear I saw you folks in a bourbon documentary ?
That’s news to us! Doppelgängers perhaps?
Looks like somebody started drinking before recording the video. Lol
Nah we're just this weird sober. 😂 Thanks for tuning in!
Why is Josh not focusing on camera and constantly looking at Erin every one second ? When you're speaking your focus should be 95% on camera, 5% shift is natural.
Josh here. Definitely not a professional broadcaster nor all that comfortable on camera. It’s something I’m working on. Cheers and thanks for watching Kuldeep. 🥃
@@stuffandwhiskey well, that's an honest reply and i heartily appreciate your frankness. Everything is new in the beginning and we all get accustomed gradually to what we do repeatedly. That's fine. I wrote what i observed and sorry for being a bit blunt. Your video content is very interesting, your voice and explanation is also fantastic. Do make more of such videos. My best wishes to you ❤
Cheerrss and wish you happiness.
@@kuldeepgadhvi1788 you’re all good. We appreciate the input and are always working to get better. Thank you for the kind words regarding the content. Glad to hear our message comes through even if we’re still honing the delivery. Truth be told we’re happy to sip together off camera, and wouldn’t have started the channel if we wanted to stay in our comfort zone, but we feel that our double blind tastings and perspectives gleaned from them brings something worthwhile, so we’ll keep showing up. We appreciate you watching and commenting!
Completely disagree with your selections, at least for beginners. I'd have to put Buffalo Trace in there, even tho I hate it, Old Forester 86 proof would have to be on the list, Russell's Reserve 10yr over Rare Breed and its cheaper. I cant really recommend a good wheated bourbon because I have hated every one I've tried. I'd prob also throw Woodford Reserve in there somewhere, i havent had anything from them other than the Double Oaked, but its in my top 3 bourbons overall.
For ryes, at least for people familiar with bourbon, I'd highly recommend anything from Sagamore Spirits. Their Double Oak Rye is my #1 whiskey, period. Beats out all of the bourbons I like and I'm not typically a big fan of straight ryes.
Basil Haden is just overpriced Old Granddad. Same juice. Just buy that instead.
We've long thought the same thing, however Bourbon Pursuit had a discussion about this recently and their intel directly from Beam said that Old Grand Dad has its own unique mashbill. While we're doubtful about that, Basil Hayden is definitely aged longer than OGD, which combined with the low proof makes it a good intro pour for beginners, but on pure value alone we're right there with you. Hard to beat the incredible deal that OGD Bonded is. Cheers and thanks for watching!
@@stuffandwhiskey Interesting. I also don't believe them lol. Ya, OGD 114 even more so. But... that's not great for beginners. I get why you wanna offer then an 80p.
Missed the point of this video! This is “beginner bourbons” not “Journey through bourbon”
Pretty sure we said it was our pick for beginner choices at each stage up front.
Are Erin and Josh married to each other? Or two friends who enjoy a good Whiskey and just happen to be married...
Definitely a little from Column A and a little from Column B. 😉 Thanks for watching William!
you not ados
??
You lost me at Basil Hayden.
We hear ya. Beginner friendly is a tough category and there’s not as much quality well aged bourbon on the market at lower proof points as we’d like.
@@stuffandwhiskey I’m a beginner bourbon drinker. Just started my journey in December. Just for my palette, Basil Hayden is too low proof and overpriced. I would say Old Forester 1910, Knob Creek 9 year 100 proof, Woodford Double Oaked or 1792 Bottled in Bond.
@@thecougarexperience OF1910 is a favorite around here too. Great taste! We wish 1792 Bottled-in-Bond was more available here but it's heavily allocated and only released once annually.
@@stuffandwhiskey Wow! That’s crazy! It’s somewhat easy to find here. Thanks for the list! I’ll subscribe!
Sit the bottle down and stop shaking it around
What can I say, I talk with my hands, haha. Appreciate you watching Ron. Cheers!