Bowmore12 - UK only

Discount is great, though their SMS prices have been a bit stodgy for the past two years or so, from my experience. Though their pricing of A'Bunadh in the mid-$40's has been laudworthy. Elm Grove has had the occasional special that have been very worthwhile (e.g., cheap Bowmores, $20 Old Pults).

This is a wonderful article with a slideshow of some fave bourbons:

But this is an article that really delineates, from an historical and commercial perspective, what is happening in upper-range bourbon selections.

And I've found that it gets very difficult to pick a 'favorite' from among these boutique bourbons. I haven't had Bookers, Blantons, or Bakers--because they are pretty expensive, and the following under-$25 bourbons are simply too good to make me want to spend much more for the big B's. (Though I have bought in George T. Stagg cask-strength in the past--and it is knockout)

The things I have been most intoxicated by lately (figuratively speaking, of course) in a rough serial experiential order (not necessarily best to least) are:

Buffalo Trace -- Kentucky liquor stores have been selling individualized selections of Buffalo Trace (some spicier, some gentler) that are all good, but the differences between them emphasize the unique character of unique distillations and barrel differences; the 'standard' issue is still very good.

Knob Creek -- Lately a liter locally has been $22, which is a great price for a big, spicy, robust 'dram' (can I use that word?).

Elijah Craig 12 -- Apparently the 18 is fabulous, but my 12 has been gentle, rich, and sublime--an excellent substance.

Ezra B. 12 single barrel -- I just got this yesterday and the 49.5% gives it a light, ethereal kick while still tickling all kinds of sweet, rich, grainy corners of the nose and palate; I think bourbon really benefits from high proof--it turns it from something potentially murky into something celebratory.

Elmer T. Lee -- This apparently specialty bottling for Ottos (the MKE chain including Elm Grove) is also gentle but rich--hard to put down.

None of these differ all that radically--they tend to employ essentially the same flavor spectrum (not like comparing a Highland to a peaty Islay), but each differs from one another in palpable ways

I also just picked up Evan Williams Single Barrel and a Henry McKenna. The jury is still out, but they are not disappointing. Comparing all these boutiqueier bourbons to Old Granddad 100 proof and a plain old Evan Williams puts the basic Evan Williams into an "on the rocks and maybe better off in a Manhattan" category, while the Old Granddad 100 proof is very drinkable on the rocks, but does not have the thoroughgoing richness of the slightly more upscale bourbons.

I'm sure there are many more worth considering!

I have the Elijah Craig 18. It is, in a word, wonderful.

My favorite for daily drinking is Old Forester, perhaps because that was my introduction to Bourbon some 53 years ago. Of course, I keep Jim Beam around for cooking and Jack Daniels for lighting the charcoal in my smoker/griller. I never put whiskey or whisky on the rocks, as my dram keeps getting weaker if I don't drink it quickly.

They had a 3-bottle assortment of minis of...dangit memory fade. Mildly smoky/peaty, blue box, a 10 year, an 18 year, and a "choice finish". 39 bucks and a nic way to sample things. I mentioned that I'd buy more Scotch there if they had more samplers, so maybe that'll help.

It's like pretty girls - you know what you're getting, in general, but finding out the specifics is the fun part.

(snip great list - printed and saved, thank you)

Of course. Discovery is half the fun.

Talisker. I like it, and seeing how it changes from 10 to 18 years is very interesting.

Ah, yes, Talisker. I have both and am planning a H2H with the 10 and 18 this weekend. The 10 has been open about a month and the 18 is still sealed so it should be a fair comparison.