Bourbon Question

[Leroy Jenkins]

Got a friend that wants to buy me a good bottle of bourbon. Told me my budget was $150 and I have to pick it out. Booker?s is the most expensive bourbon I?ve ever tried. I liked it. Any suggestions?

If I had a $150 budget I would go 3 bottles of Woodford Reserve double oaked. (around 50 bucks)

The thing with whiskey is it's about finding what you like. There are no right answers, but there are some wrong ones.

[BiscuitEater]

If I had a $150 budget I would go 3 bottles of Woodford Reserve double oaked. (around 50 bucks)

Leroy's got it right. Find what you like and a reasonable price. Double Oak at ~$50 is a good buy.

[MaroonFlounder]

The thing with whiskey is it's about finding what you like. There are no right answers, but there are some wrong ones.

Yep.

To be honest, the Jim Beam Black Label Double-Oaked Twice Barrelled is pretty damn good.

And around $24

[Prediction? Pain.]

If I had a $150 budget I would go 3 bottles of Woodford Reserve double oaked. (around 50 bucks)

I was about to write the same damn thing, dude. I love Woodford Double Oaked.

On the OP's question, personally, I've never had a bourbon that I'd pay $150 for. The most expensive bottle I've ever bought was right at that price point -- a $75 half-bottle of 17-year-old Dickel -- and it was solid but nowhere near worth what I paid. So I wouldn't focus on spending as close to $150 as you can. If the challenge is to buy the single "best" bottle you can for under that price, well dude, just buy your favorite bourbon and roll with it. Unless you've got crazy tastes, you're going to come in under $150.

My tastes change so much that the bottle I'd pick right this second probably isn't the one that I'd pick a month from now. If pressed, I'd be picking between these three:

Eagle Rare

Woodford Double Oaked

A Dickel product (either Barrel Select or a 10-year single barrel, assuming the barrel is on point)

All of those are between $30 and $50 in most markets and are widely available. I enjoy the high-proof, small batch stuff as much as the next guy -- I'm drinking Baker's as I write this and am working on a bottle of 13-year-old, 120 proof Knob Creek Single Barrel, too -- but, at least right now based on what I've been drinking, I don't fee like I can go wrong with the three I listed.