Whisky/Bourbon/Scotch
Contributors to this thread:General Topic
From: Zackman
21-Nov-17
There seemed to be plenty of interest in this on another topic. I put this under here because I consider it “gear”
My go to is Crown...
From: Zackman
21-Nov-17
Although I have gotten into bourbon this past year...
From: BIG BEAR
21-Nov-17
Boy you sure excluded beer drinkers didn't you ?? Ha !!!!
From: Zackman
21-Nov-17
My favorite, but it isn’t cost effective...
From: trkyslr
21-Nov-17
I’m with ya zack.. crown here as well. But it’s almost season for the flaming donkeys even though I’m not on Kodiak.
From: Zackman
21-Nov-17
Not at all Big Bear, I consider myself an equal opportunity drinker!
From: Medicinemann
21-Nov-17
Zackman, As many will confirm, I am also an avid fan of Crown Royal. However, on a couple hunts in Canada, I received a couple other recommendations that also ranked quite high, and wanted to share them here....at risk of a mild case of hi-jacking. Rich 'n Rare and Gibson's Finest are a couple others for people to consider, and, if memory serves correctly, they won't shred your wallet either.
From: jstephens61
21-Nov-17
X2 on the Blantons, best I’ve found. Only problem is, quite drinking 3 years ago.
From: Pigsticker
21-Nov-17
Nectar of the Gods but doesn’t meet thread title and yes that is a gun safe.
From: kota-man
21-Nov-17
Nothing goes better with Mac and Cheese and Bacon Wrapped Tenderloin...
From: Zackman
21-Nov-17
Jake,
I do enjoy Gibson’s and will have to check out Rich ‘n Rare. I also do like Pendleton and it is not too expensive
P.s. there is no chance of anyone being considered a hijacker if they point me in the direction of a good booze!
From: drycreek
21-Nov-17
George Dickel or Jim Beam. I used to be on Dickel’s prostaff, but I had to cut back due to a conflict of interest. It made me interested in conflicts.......
From: BIG BEAR
21-Nov-17
The Two Hearted River is not too far from my property in Michigan's U.P.,, So This is appropriate at my camp .....
From: No Mercy
21-Nov-17
Pendleton 1910 tickles my fancy.
From: BigOk
21-Nov-17
Pigsticker for the win!!!
From: kota-man
21-Nov-17
There's a reason my wife only lets me hang out with Zack once a year in a social setting. Now, you all know why...
From: Jack Harris
21-Nov-17
I believer the Woodford Reserve double-oaked reserve is the best bourbon I have ever tasted... Blanton's is a little to heavy for me, and Basil Haydon is too light. Woodford - perfect... For the money, hard to beat Jim Beam black... Had some Old Forrester recently that was on sale - solid bourbon as well. Eagle Rare not bad, Jefferson's not bad, Bouillet Bourbon and Maker's Mark also right down the middle, but if I had to pick the absolute best - Woodford Reserve Double Oaked.
From: HUNT MAN
21-Nov-17
Whiskey man here. Makers mark. But like all good whiskey. This was a good one!! Hunt
From: Zackman
21-Nov-17
Here’s another “trophy photo” Huntman!
I may have seen some bottles emptied on that Island you visited
From: midwest
21-Nov-17
++ on the Woodford. Never used to care for the brown stuff but have developed a taste for it the last couple years.
For those who might like to grow their own...
From: Brotsky
21-Nov-17
If you can find a bottle of Pappy Van Winkle’s you are in for a real treat. Booker’s is good, Eagle Rare, Four Rose’s single barrel is also excellent. I’m not a Scotch guy but I’ll never turn down Irish like some Jameson or Bushmill’s. At the end of the day though I generally have a Crown or a Pendleton in my hand.
From: Shawn
21-Nov-17
46 Peaks, I am a Vodka man. Shawn
From: Bowbender
21-Nov-17
Makers, Makers 46, Knob Creek (single barrel), & Woodford are my favorites. Would like to try a bottle of Pappy's, but damn $$$. More often than not it will be a bottle of Knob Creek.
From: Jaquomo
21-Nov-17
The Glendronach highland single malt Scotch if I want something special. Found two bottles on sale a few weeks ago for $47 each - regular price was $67. Bargain!
When I retired a Bowsiter I've never met sent me a bottle of Macallan 18 year old Special Reserve that was, well, extra special. Every bit as good as the Macallan 25 I've had.
From: llamapacker
21-Nov-17
In the Rye category, 1792 and Whistle Pig are both solid choices. And for something a bit lesser priced, High West is a good "everyday" choice.
From: Rob in VT
21-Nov-17
Crown guy here. Kinda like the Crown Maple.
From: EmbryOklahoma
21-Nov-17
Bowbender and myself would get along fine. Well, truthfully, we'd all get along just fine if whiskey is involved.
From: Pyrannah
21-Nov-17
My preference is some woods ford with a little sweet vermouth bitters and a cherrry..
Knob creek is pretty nice too
I’m still developing my tastes but along with that I’ll also enjoy some gin!!
From: tobinsghost
21-Nov-17
Crown XO for me.
From: kakiat kid
21-Nov-17
I'm with Jaquomo, single malt for me. Oban 14, Macallan 18, some peaty Ardberg, and I even like some of the Japanese whiskey...Hakushu and Suntory...try it.
From: Ben
21-Nov-17
In the rye division I like Bullet. I also like the Woodford Reserve and the buffalo Trace is really good. Unfortunately I can't always afford what my palate enjoys. Luckily one of my son in laws works for a company that makes both fuel and drinking alcohol. His is in the upper leadership and gets some very good whiskey from some of his buyers. What a great perk since he shares it with me and lets me drink some great stuff I could never afford on my own.
From: BOWUNTR
21-Nov-17
This.... Ed F
From: wyobullshooter
21-Nov-17
Vanilla Crown for me.
From: Sean D.
21-Nov-17
Woodford reserve double oaked is my fav followed by Angels Envy. Blantons is right up there too! One of these days I'm gonna find me a bottle of Pappys
From: RJ Hunt
21-Nov-17
I am a Pendleton man myself. Tried quite a few but keep coming back to it.
From: BK
21-Nov-17
Woodford Reserve X 2
Question for you Crown Royal drinkers. I use to be in the bar, liquor store business. Is Crown Royal still being made by Seagrams. Haven't bought or looked at a bottle for a while. I see that they have come out with several flavors of it now.
From: cnelk
22-Nov-17
My top 3 - depending on the day - no particular order
From: IdyllwildArcher
22-Nov-17
I'm a single malt scotch guy too. My go to is Glenlivet 12 because I don't want to spend thousands of dollars per year on scotch. I really like all the Oban scotches, but Balvenie is my preference. I love the 12 year Double Wood and the 21 year Portwood is my favorite. Costco's 12 year is actually pretty good and only like $33 for 1.75L - not bad.
When I drink bourbon, I prefer Makers.
From: Scoot
22-Nov-17
Question for you gurus- my dad's favorite is Crown Royal. Given that, what would be a different/better option for me to get him? Something that is kinda similar, but even better... Sorry if this is too "sidetracky" for the thread.
From: Nick Muche
22-Nov-17
Rich 'n' Rare, also known as R&R... It'll shred your wallet in rural Alaska as it can go for well over 300$ for a small bottle in the villages. It's about the cheapest whiskey you can buy at the store everywhere else so it's a favorite among bootleggers. My 73 yr old neighbor drinks it exclusively so while I am out moose hunting with him I end up having a little, it's not terrible but there are much better choices out there.
From: TEmbry
22-Nov-17
Still waiting for my bottle of Pappy to show up. I like Woodford, Buffalo Trace, Bulleit Rye, and Larceny for the daily go to. Nicer ones for special occasions.
That said, that single barrel Buffalo on Kodiak was about as smooth as it gets.
From: Nick Muche
22-Nov-17
I like whatever Trevor and Hunt are serving!
From: venison
22-Nov-17
Crown Royal vanilla is my favorite and my buddy drinks R and R , the R and R is a lot cheaper , but definitely not as smooth .
From: No Mercy
22-Nov-17
Scoot-Crown Royal Black is a nice upgrade.
From: Bowriter
22-Nov-17
No pictures since I quit all of it on June 10, 2010. But in my day, for a time, I would rink anything from charcoal lighter on up. By my faves were Wild Turkey bourbon and Grey Goose vodka. I was also partial to a good moonshine sup, now and then. In scotch, I do not know the name. I know it cost about $50 a fifth. Just before I quit, I was buying vodka by the case-a case of six, half-gallons would last eight to ten days. Had I been able to drink normally, I would still be drinking. But when I took the cap off a bottle, no matter what size bottle, there was no need to put it back on. It has now been, seven years, five months and 11 days since I had a drink. Thank you Lord. I have no problem at all with others drinking, don't mind if they drink around me. But putting the cork in bottle literally saved my life.
From: Crusader dad
22-Nov-17
BIG BEAR has it right! I have one of those after every round of golf I play. I normally drink beer brewed in WI though. I had way too much crown royal in high school to ever want it again. Even the smell makes me shudder.
From: longspeak74
22-Nov-17
Jameson, cask-aged for me. It's an acquired taste but I acquired that taste at a young age!
From: carcus
22-Nov-17
Crown royal is my go to, always
From: mgmicky
22-Nov-17
Elmer T Lee is my favorite but it’s been nearly impossible to get the last couple of years. This is a close second and reasonably priced...
From: otcWill
22-Nov-17
Poor it in a glass and I'll drink it but Makers has always been my favorite. Any more expensive and the cost vs benefit analysis doesn't add up :) The high end stuff can be dangerous. We drank that bottle in Hunt's pic in like 20 minutes
From: PAstringking
22-Nov-17
One of the best I have found.... almost too smooth lol
From: PAbowhunter1064
22-Nov-17
If you guys are willing to expand your whisky horizons, you have to give this Japanese whisky a try! It's made by Nikka, the oldest distillery in Japan, and is hands down the smoothest, best tasting whiskey I've ever had. My father in law from Chicago introduced it to me on his last trip home, and we made pretty short work of the bottle! I always enjoy Buffalo Trace or Makers Mark over ice, but there's no need for ice with this stuff!
From: lewis
22-Nov-17
Give Larceny bourbon a shot pun intended it’s good being brought up in east Tn got to try some really good shine made by families who had been doing it for several generations Lewis
From: TODDY
22-Nov-17
TODDY's Link
My choice straight up over ice. TODDY
From: SteveB
22-Nov-17
Some great whiskeys here for sure and Crown is always a good reliable one. However, not only are they good to drink but are fun to collect (if you can avoid drinking them all) :) Anything Weller is AMAZING but hard to find anymore. I just found a couple bottles.....and if you haven't tried it, MIchters 10 is a REAL treat. Their US1 is good, but the 10 years is amazing. Elmer T Lee is outstanding and for a daily drinker you just can't beat Clyde Mays Alabama Style Whiskey for the price. Just get some! I have over 50 different bottles.
From: Brotsky
22-Nov-17
Break glass in case of emergency:) Not my collection unfortunately, a friend of mine that owns a restaurant here.
From: SteveB
22-Nov-17
I also have no idea why it placed the last 3 images sideways and wont let me correct. Sorry!
From: Bear Track
22-Nov-17
Sad night the other night. This 66 pounder died during the hockey game.
From: Panhandle Bob
22-Nov-17
Scoot - Crown XR...simply the best!
From: BOWNUT
22-Nov-17
Just about any thing from here.
From: Stekewood
22-Nov-17
This stuff wasn't great but we sure wished we had brought more of it when the caribou decided to delay their arrival until we were gone.
From: APauls
22-Nov-17
Bad combo to read the venison ribs thread then this one. Now I'm hungry and thirsty
From: Kannuck
22-Nov-17
Whiskey... sweet, sweet whiskey.
Fun facts: to be considered "rye" whiskey - at least 51% of the mash must be made from "rye grain"
To be considered "bourbon" whiskey - at least 51% of the mash must be made from corn.
To answer somebody's question... Crown Royal is no longer owned by Seagrams, it was bought by Diageo distilleries in 2000. They also own Smirnoff, Jonnie Walker, Bailey's, and Guinness.
Crown Royal is pretty good rye whiskey... if you like it, you owe it to yourself to try 40 Creek Double Barrel Reserve... or Gibson's Finest - Small Batch Rare (aged 18 years).
Canadian Rye whiskey is definitely my favorite, but I would never turn down a snort of Woodford Reserve Bourbon... or Jonnie Walker Blue Label scotch whiskey either.
Cheers!
From: AndyJ
22-Nov-17
+1 PAstringking-
High West is my new favorite. They don’t make a bad whiskey. Their double rye is my current favorite. Extremely smooth with a little spice.
From: Heat
22-Nov-17
More of a beer drinker, but hard to turn down a nip of Jack Daniels Single Barrel or Gentleman. Pendleton works too! High West sounds enticing.
Would like to taste a little of Pigsticker's stash I must say!
From: Pigsticker
22-Nov-17
Heat, that’s all the hard stuff that I drink. Made in small batches by a mad scientist in a lab. Same guy wore a wetsuit on extremely cold days on stand this year. How is that for out of the box thinking?
From: EmbryOklahoma
22-Nov-17
This thread is better than Cnelk's 420 thread. Well done, Zackman. Thought you were joking about starting a thread. :)
From: jjs
22-Nov-17
PBR & JD, has always been and always will.
From: DL
22-Nov-17
If sugar was alcohol I’d be a drunk.
From: farmer33
22-Nov-17
Usually just a lurker but this thread seemed fun. We have a local place that specializes in just about everything so we get to try just about anything without buying whole bottle. SiP is the name and they have half price Monday nights so we go then. One of the guys is a Kentuckian so we get pushed to the "real" bourbon as he puts it. After much deliberation, I have settled on the below list as my staples. Scotch: Auchentoshan 12 YO Larceny (Made by same folks as Pappy but tastes much better IMO) and fairly cheap Winter Jack (Easy drinking over ice) Wild Turkey American Honey (Stronger than Winter but easy drinking) recently added Yellow Rose Rye but never turn down Weller or Dickel I never learned to appreciate Woodford but we use it when we brew a bourbon barrel cream ale - best of both worlds!!!
From: Zackman
22-Nov-17
Rick,
I don’t joke around when it comes to booze!!!
From: IdyllwildArcher
22-Nov-17
R&R has killed more Eskimos than snow.
From: Matt Palmquist
22-Nov-17
Great to see another W.L Wellers in there:) Makers would be my first pick probably, but Wellers is a close 2nd and much cheaper. I prefer a straight bourbon over a blended whiskey regardless of brand. Ancient Age is the R&R of bourbons and I will drink it as well.
From: Sean D.
22-Nov-17
Brotsky, Its an emergency, break the glass please! How many years has he been collecting to get that many bottles of Pappy?
From: Ace
22-Nov-17
From: prezboys
22-Nov-17
WOW some great Bourbon aficionados here....
From: Brotsky
22-Nov-17
Sean, he has some connection that he scores them through so not all that long. He protects his source like I protect my mule deer spots and rightly so!
From: No Mercy
22-Nov-17
My two favorites.
From: EmbryOklahoma
22-Nov-17
LOL... Ike!
Zack... yea, we know.
From: Habitat for Wildlife
22-Nov-17
Seldom drink, but entertain a bit. CR Special Reserve over rocks in the winter (kept in the cabinets), Absolute Citron and lemonade frozen with salt in the summer.
The scotch is for my attorney friends, I never touch it.
The Dirty Bird, 101, is to occasionally recall the years I am lucky enough to have survived.
From: Ben
22-Nov-17
Nice bar Frank! Didn't know you partake! LOL
From: Habitat for Wildlife
22-Nov-17
You have to come over some time Been.
From: TravisScott
22-Nov-17
I've had the pleasure of hunting with a couple of folks on the site and the general consensus for their favorite whiskey is whatever is placed in front of them. If I had to choose my camp drink it would have to be Jameson or Makers.
From: PAOH
22-Nov-17
I enjoy some variety
I enjoy some variety
From: rattling_junkie
22-Nov-17
Crown Royal Apple
From: Fulldraw1972
22-Nov-17
I am no whiskey connoisseur. However I have drank enough Windsor/Lake water while ice fishing to float a boat.
From: LINK
24-Nov-17
I’m not an aficionado by any stretch and my wife tells me I am a cheap drunk. I don’t shoot 20$ arrows and I don’t buy expensive whiskey. This is my gear of choice, on the rocks of course.
From: JulianT
24-Nov-17
I've been a bourbon nut for about a decade now. Lots of good ones mentioned here. The good news is that there are so many that are good. I'm in Texas for the holidays and enjoyed seeing plenty of Weller SR on the shelves. Texas gets the largest allotment in the US and it's just too hard to find in SC now, since most folks now realize it is the same juice that is barreled for the Pappy lines. Booker's was the original hook for me when I was trying to travel the single malt scotch world. Had some time on my hands Wednesday and read a biography on Booker Noe. Great read. Go spend some time in Kentucky and you'll start enjoying this stuff even more. Really good American history in these bottles. One to look out for in the next few years is Castle and Key. I'm in on a barrel there and have visited the distillery. It's something else entirely.
From: JulianT
24-Nov-17
Another thought....get some buddies together and buy different bottles and do blind tastings. You'll be surprised at what you like when you don't know what you're drinking. The bottle of Weller 12 yr someone posted up here I saw beat Pappy 15 in a blind tasting with several attendees. It costs less than $50 if you can find it.
If you like a high rye content bourbon, Mckenna 10 Yr Bottled in Bond is my favorite value right now. I love watching folks grab stuff like Larceny on the shelf beside it and pay twice as much for a pour that doesn't come close.
From: Zackman
24-Nov-17
Great input everyone! I have some “research” to do over this off-season.
There are some guys that on here that might get to sample some of these ideas on 2018 hunts with me. Everyone, bring your drinking shoes!
From: kota-man
24-Nov-17
Zack...Is that a threat or a promise? ;)
From: lewis
25-Nov-17
Got to try Blade and Bow as soon as I find it pretty cool name Lewis
From: BOWUNTR
28-Nov-17
Balls or no balls??? Ed F
From: Deertick
28-Nov-17
Like others, it looks like I have some research to do. Had Woodford Reaerve most recently (on a hunt on Afognak with my son) and have to say it was wonderful. Really don't like to drink whiskey until drunk. Whiskey is really only good while sober. Almost the perfect drink that way .... you want to avoid drunkenness to enjoy the drink.
From: jordanathome
28-Nov-17
Bourbon.....go wheated vs rye in my opinion. The Welllers, Evan Williams (1783 is best), and my #1 fav is Larceny. Damn.....now I'm thirsty.
From: Zbone
28-Nov-17
I like Irish Car Bombs... KABOOM!!!...8^)
From: jordanathome
28-Nov-17
Balvenie Double Wood.....for scotch......damn.......my fav.
From: Beav
30-Nov-17
Pendleton is my favorite but like one of my buddies said "when it comes to booze Beav is a like a coyote with meat, it's all good!"
From: Al Dente Laptop
01-Dec-17
I keep at least 4 bottles of different scotches and single malts in my freezer. No dilution from ice at all.
From: Zackman
01-Dec-17
If there is anyone looking for an intervention on this topic. I will be holding nightly meetings in my room at Sheep Show and Pope & Young.
I’m willing to help anyone looking to get back in track.
From: SBH
01-Dec-17
ELMER T LEE......can't seem to get my hands on it anymore though. That stuff is the chrons
From: Outside
01-Dec-17
From: kellyharris
02-Dec-17
LMAO and to think I got totally flamed on a beer thread!
Frank that is one very nice bar my friend!
From: pa bowhunter
02-Dec-17
Wild Turkey 101, but I am more of a Beer guy, or snob as my wife tells me, hard to beat a good IPA!
From: TEmbry
02-Dec-17
I moved from the whiskey capital of the world to the hunting capital of the world... I'm not the best hunter but I can still drink with the best of them. I look forward to sharing a whiskey bottle with fellow hunters, just please don't offend me with Tennessee Whiskey...
From: Jaquomo
02-Dec-17
I'm really pleased that the tee-totalers who ranted and raved and judged on the 420-themed threads have kept to themselves on this one. Maybe they fear the wrath of drinkers more than stoners? :)
From: BOWUNTR
02-Dec-17
I'm here.... Wearing my hypocrite hat... Ed F
From: EmbryOklahoma
02-Dec-17
Kelly... if you kill stuff consistently, like Zack, you can talk about whiskey, weed and women. If you're a beer drinker and just talk about hunting/killing stuff... you're likely to get flamed.
From: Jaquomo
02-Dec-17
Ed, have a cocktail and relax! ;-)
From: BOHNTR
02-Dec-17
All you drinkers have at it.........I'll raise my glass of water when I see you. :)
From: bad karma
04-Dec-17
Auchentosan Bartender's Malt.....nice scotch, a lot of flavor, but not too peaty....and only $50 instead of the $115 or so for Lagavulin 16 year. Very nice, a number of us were complimenting it last night.
From: bigeasygator
04-Dec-17
Lots of great whiskeys on the list. I will not venture into the field without some type of whiskey in tow. Usually, it's a scotch. I prefer a smokier Islay -- Lagavulin, Laphroaig, etc. I picked up a Lagavulin 12 when I was in Scotland this year and that's what accompanied me on my mountain goat hunt in September.
When it comes to Bourbon, there are a few. Lately I've been drinking a bottle of McKenna 10 year that I've really liked. For anyone that needs more research, there is a yearly Bourbon festival in New Orleans in March that will expose you to all kinds of whiskeys you didn't know existed. (http://www.neworleansbourbonfestival.com/)
One more whiskey that I've been drinking lately that is pretty rare but you can find it online. It's an Irish whiskey called Middleton Very Rare. Smoothest whiskey I think I've ever had. It's not cheap but it's worth it.
There's also absolutley NOTHING wrong with the ol' standbys -- Crown, Jack, Maker's, Knob Creek, etc.
Zack, you ready to do some research at Sheep Show?? #sheepshowshape
From: bigeasygator
04-Dec-17
One more thing. I've been using the above flask from GSI to pack my whiskey in on backpack hunts. It weighs next to nothing and can hold up to 750 ml of your drink of choice. I highly recommend it.
From: kota-man
04-Dec-17
Way to go Bigeasygator...Even "I" did not think to do a gear review on a whiskey thread! Good stuff...
From: bigeasygator
04-Dec-17
You know folks like cajunarcher and iceman call me "kota jr" haha
From: Outdoorsman
04-Dec-17
My favorites are Buffalo Trace, Knob Creek and Maker's Mark , in that order.
From: Zackman
04-Dec-17
I need that Gator! That will be essential gear.
P.S. I’m always in Sheep Show Shape. It’s a lifestyle...
From: bigeasygator
04-Dec-17
Way less weight and less bulky than a traditional flask. I stayed with me in my bag on my mountain goat hunt and was put through some abuse and held up just fine. They make a big one (750 ml) and they also make a small one (more of a typical pocket flask size). I recommend the big one as they weigh about the same and the small one to me wasn't quite big enough from a volume perspective (I have them both). I didn't fill the 750 ml all the way up cause I didn't want to carry that much whiskey around, but I definitely put in more than the small size could handle. When we broke it out after I arrowed my goat I know my guide appreciated that ;-)
From: kota-man
04-Dec-17
Zack...Put that on the gear list for '18 AND '19.
From: Zackman
04-Dec-17
Kota,
It’s done. Now I just need to find one that is 1.5 liters...
From: kota-man
04-Dec-17
Here you go. Not real "portable" though.
From: bigeasygator
04-Dec-17
Look, I just weighed mine. Comes in at 1.6 oz. just buy two...that means you can pack in two different whiskeys ;-)
From: kota-man
04-Dec-17
It’s not the “empty” weight I’m worried about...;)
