The Bottom Shelfers

Buffalo Trace & Woodford Reserve Double Oaked

These two need to be on everybody's shelf! Buffalo Trace at $30-ish is a solid, all-around choice. You can't go wrong with it. As for the Woodford Reserve Double Oaked... There's a reason it's known as "Dessert in a glass." Wow! Stick with it neat, though. While it does hold up well to ice, it's just plain better solo!

Horse Soldier Straight Bourbon Whiskey & Redwood Empire Pipe Dream

Two choices with really interesting back stories this time... Horse Soldier, named for the Green Berets who fought in Afghanistan after 9/11, and Redwood Empire that sources distillate from four different states. Two solid sippers here, with the west coast offering winning by a nose!

Clyde May's SBW & Yellowstone Toasted

A pair of light, easy-sippers this time. We both rated both at 3.0 and recommend against using them in cocktails. For sure, neat is the best option, although the Yellowstone Toasted on a big rock is a solid choice.

High West & Early Times Bottled In Bond

We both got pretty excited about this episode! The High West was a nice surprise, and we gave it a solid "2" rating. The big winner, however, was the Early Times Bottled In Bond. We both agreed on a "3" rating and that, for certain, it earns the "Great bourbon at a reasonable price" designation. A Bottom Shelfer Winner! Any good 750 ml bottle for $25 is a deal, and this ET was a full 1 liter! A word of caution... Brown-Forman was the original Early Times producer, but sold the brand to Sazerac in 2020. There are three different versions of the Early Times Bottled In Bond. The original Brown Foreman produced stuff is no available at retail. We got the "transition era" stuff, distilled by Brown Foreman, than aged and finished by Sazerac. That's the round bottle blue cap version. Going forward, Sazerac kept the blue cap but swapped in a square bottle. So bottom line, The Bottom Shelfers give a gold star to the round bottle blue cap. In our quest to serve humanity, we're going to need to do an episode with the square bottle blue cap stuff. Watch this space!

George Dickel 8 Year & Heaven Hill Bottled In Bond

Two winners this time. The Dickel 8 Year is quite simply a solid sipper. It's not going to blow you away, but it's solid stuff at a great price point. Heaven Hill BOB earned a permanent spot in Todd's Office Bar. It might even make it up to the main stash periodically!

Weller Antique 107 & Bluegrass Toasted Oak

Wow! The Bottom Shelfers strayed pretty far from the bottom shelf this time. We tasted Todd's (former) favorite bourbon, Weller Antique 107, as well as his new favorite, Bluegrass Toasted Oak. Rick & Mark did not declare any favoritism, but both agreed with the 4.0 rating for the Weller and 4.5 for the Bluegrass. Also, we need to give Shane, our Bluegrass tour guide, another shout-out. By far the best tour on our recent foray to Louisville!

Monks Road and Daviess County Straight Bourbon Whiskey - Live from Louisville!

The Bottom Shelfers hit the road to Louisville! Thomas, Mark, Matt & Josh joined Rick & Todd for in-depth research in the heart of bourbon country. More on the trip coming in the next few episodes. Shrotly after arrival, we headed out to Angel's Envy following a quick stop in the hotel's watering hole. The Bottled In Bond was the consensus favorite. Dinner at Doc Cro's was amazing. Get the mac & cheese! Back at the ranch that evening, we opened up some Monk's Road and Daviess County Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Ummmm..... Not great choices - earning a consensus 1 & 2 rating respectively. Bourbon bus tomorrow morning!

Blue Note Crossroads & Bernheim Wheat

This time we tried something we never tried before, a wheat whiskey! The 51% wheat really came through. A very low-key, easy-sipping experience. I say, "Drink it neat!" Also... Do NOT forget to grab a bottle of the BlueNote Crossroads. Great stuff!

Peneleope Wheated & 1792 Bottled In Bond

A step up for the boys this time. Penelope Wheated & 1792 Bottled In Bond. Both are winners! Stock up for your Holdiay guests! The 1792 BIB struck us both as an especially good choice.

Woodinville Straight Bourbon Whiskey & Benchmark Full Proof

Woodinville is a great everyday bourbon choice. Solid sipper both neat on a rock. The Benchmark Full Proof might be better used as a stain remover or paint thinner. WAY to hot! ...even on ice.

Benchmark Top Floor & Yellowstone Select

We had high hopes for Benchmark Top Floor, but... We both went with 1.5 and were maybe a bit generous. The Yellowstone is pretty good! One caveat though... Rick got it for $30 which makes it a good buy. For Todd at $37, not such a bargain.

Kentucky Vintage & Remus

Neither of us had heard of these two before... The Kentucky Vintage, well... sadly, it's going under the sink. The Remus wasn't too bad at all, but not a big favorite. We took one for the team on this one!

Episode 21 - Old Bardstown & Benchmark Bonded

Heading to a lower shelf set of bourbons this time... Old Bardstown 90 Proof vs. Benchmark Bonded. While the Benchmark #8 did not impress, some of the other expressions - like this one - are pretty good!

Bowman Brothers Small Batch & Eagle Rare

Got a pair of 90-proofers this time around. LOTS of similarities between these two... The biggest difference is the rye spice in Bowmans. We both called these "classic mid-tier" bourbons. Both have a great mouth feel with the edge going to Eagle Rare. We recommend the Bowmans neat and the Eagle with a big cube. Two winners here!

Smoked Bourbon! Benchmark #8 & Woodson

The Bottom Shelfers have a theory... Using a smoker (from Smokeshow) it is possible to turn mediocre - or even bad - whiskey into something quite palatable. Rick has been a fan for quite some time. FINALLY, Todd gives it a try!

Woodson & 13th Colony

An Independence Day special!!! Woodson, a 6-month "accelerated-aged" Kentucky Bourbon was... eh..., but the 13th Colony was quite a pleasant surprise. Not exactly true bottom shelf picks, but the GA product is a winner in any case.

Tin Cup & Breckenridge

The Tin Cup cup hexagonal bottle with the literal tin cup lid is very cool. That said, it's a 1. It's going under the sink. Not offensive by any means, but unremarkable. The Breckenridge was a good bit better, but only earned a 2 rating. Rick & Todd are warning you away from these two. Although if you find Breckenridge for $25 or so, that would be a decent buy. Oh.... Here's a link to Todd's choice for a large ice cube tray!

Jim Beam Black & Benchmark Single Barrel

Episode 15 - 1792 Small Batch & Knob Creek 9-Year Small Batch

Sticking with the Small Batch designation and welcoming the first guest on The Bottom Shelfers. Welcome to Mark! While our guest couldn't get hold of the 1792, he kept Rick & I in line. All three of us were clear fans of the Knobb!

Jim Beam Devil's Cut & Old Forester 100

The Devil's Cut from Jim Beam was OK. Maybe a little gimmicky marketing... The Old Forester 100 though! One of us just might put this one on the "my everyday bourbon list." Pricey in NJ at $34, but a great deal in GA at $23.