My Personal Mt. Rushmore of Bourbons

Who are my personal George, Thomas, Teddy and Abe?
Read this to find out.

As Presidents Day Weekend is upon us, and next week our local Arts Center has a fundraiser with a bourbon tasting and silent auction among the itinerary, I got inspired. And then I saw an article that asked various bartenders what they thought were The Mt. Rushmore of Bourbons. I read the article, and honestly, most of the bourbons listed were ones that I'd never tried before, and, will probably never see where I live in rural Eastern North Carolina. So I got to thinking about my own personal history with the whiskey that must be at least 51% corn mash (but not necessarily distilled in Kentucky, believe it or not).  And I came to my own conclusion.

George Washington is our first President, and honored as the Father of our Country.  So, I thought, what were the first bourbons I ever enjoyed.... I went back in my time machine and ended up back in Harrisonburg Virginia, to my fraternity, wearing blue blazer and tie, watching JMU Football with a bottle of Virginia Gentleman in my inside pocket, and yelling for the Coke vender to bring us "mixers" in the stadium. (Shhh. Don't tell anyone. I think it wasn't allowed, but we did it anyway.) 

While this may have been the first bourbon I drank regularly, and will always have a place in my heart . It was kind of our fraternity kindred spirit. One of our brothers even painted the label on our party room wall. Thanks Doug. I really don't buy it anymore.... but maybe I should, for old time's sake.
I rate it 2 stars... but 5 for the memories!
(And it is still a good bourbon for either my eggnog or a bourbon and ginger.)

There was one other bourbon that I met my freshman year. My "big sister" in my fraternity gave me a pint of Henry McKenna bourbon. And one night at an event we had, that bottle was my date. Unfortunately that was after our D-hall served manicotti for dinner for the students. Let's just say my date didn't end well (thanks Judy), and to this day I can't eat manicotti - or anything Italian with a lot of ricotta cheese. Oof. Having said that, Henry McKenna 10 year bourbon is one that is on my bar often now.  But never again the old regular one. Still can't touch that either.

This is NOT the same Henry that I had a bad experience with in college, thankfully. I enjoy this one, and have had it on my bar at times. I rate it a 3.5 out of 5 starts.

Beyond these wild and crazy guys back in their youth, is displayed the artistic creation of a brother who would go on to wonderful career in art.

As my taste buds matured, I didn't like bourbon and coke anymore, but I did like a bourbon and ginger (ale). So, towards the end of college I started drinking Jim Beam. A little more flavor in this spirit than the Ol' VG. A few bucks more, but worth it, in my humble opinion. And it was the first bourbon I drank with a splash of water. (I still had to wait a few more years until I liked it, however.) But because I do still buy it occasionally (for mixed drinks, eggnog, mint juleps and other medicinal purposes) I have ranked Jim Beam as my George Washington of Bourbons - the first on my Mt. Rushmore.

The first of my personal bourbons on my Mt. Rushmore. My George Washington, as it was the first I started drinking with no sodas - and I still buy it.  Overall, I'd only give it 2.5 stars, but it is certainly not a bad bourbon for the price.

As I raised my family and my tastebuds along the way, we had a family reunion out in Kentucky. It was a wonderful time with several generations on my father's side, and that is when I really started to get into "premium" bourbons. There were really just two that I liked and started drinking at this time: Makers Mark and Woodford Reserve. Makers Mark was a nice "wheated" bourbon that made it smooth and sweet. Much easier to drink on the rocks, or even "neat". But it is definitely too sweet to mix with any soda, in my opinion. Woodford Reserve is just all around a flavorful bourbon in a really cool bottle. it became my go to premium bourbon. And so for that reason, it is my Thomas Jefferson; the second bourbon on my Mt. Rushmore of bourbons.

A great sweet bourbon always on my bar. It is the bourbon I recommend to people, if they want to "learn" to like bourbon. Not too strong in burn, and sweet and soft on the palate. But while it's close, it did not get the cigar and make it to my Mt. Rushmore. I rate it 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Woodford Reserve stands out today as a wonderful, moderately priced bourbon. And the Double-Oaked bourbon has a nice, nutty, flavor perfect for a glencairn glass. I rate it 3.75 out of 5 stars.

Okay, so that leaves two spots left on my Mt. Rushmore. Teddy Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. As my tastebuds progressed and the offerings increased, I branched out and discovered more bourbons that I really enjoyed. Among those were Eagle Rare (which I gave a good friend when he recommended me for my current job) Elmer T. Lee, and Four Roses Small Batch.

None of these were even $30 at the time, and all were excellent. I remember even keeping a bottle of Elmer T. Lee in my office under my desk on the frame, due to its square bottle. That way neither clients nor cleaning crew could see it. And I could still enjoy a nice glass if I was working at the office in the evening after hours. I haven't even seen a bottle of Elmer T. Lee in a decade.

Elmer T. Lee's compact square size was perfect for my office, or a kayak fishing for Striped Bass with a friend or two in late fall. Right Jerry? The squeaky sound of its cork coming out still evokes a Pavlovian Dog response in me. ;) I rate it 4 out of 5 stars.

When my fishing week "brothers" decided to also have a "shooting" weekend, we turned it into a bourbon tasting as well. (Of course, not at the same time.) We all brought some wonderful bourbons and had a blind taste test. Blantons, Elmer T. Lee and Four Roses Small Batch were among the participants with our crew. After all was said and done, however, it was the Four Roses Small Batch that won the night. Elmer got second. And so, because of its win, its smooth drinkability without ice or with, and its easy availability, Four Roses Small Batch is my Teddy Roosevelt: my third bourbon on my Mt. Rushmore. And I always have a bottle in my bar.

Four Roses Small Batch is reasonably priced (I've seen it as low as $24 even still!) and in my opinion, better than the Single Barrel. The Four Roses regular bourbon is good, as well. Congratulations on being my third bourbon on Mt. Rushmore. I rate Four Roses Small Batch 4 stars out of 5.

Almost a dozen years ago, this motley crew (as well as a couple of others including my brother) judged all these bourbons in front of us. Elmer came in 2nd to Four Roses Small Batch. Blantons was 3rd.  I'm not knocking Blantons, however. Very cool bottle, and John Wick drinks it, so....

So now we get into the last ten years or so. The bourbons have continued to increase in variety and quality in my opinion, and also they've grown tremendously in popularity. Bourbons that I could find and buy anywhere and very reasonably priced, have now become "allocated" or very expensive in any other "free state" not with ABC laws and stores. My favorite "go to"s have all disappeared from store shelves and are now hiding in the back - if they are ever even available. Having said that, about 2 years ago I became friendly with a store manager and told her I was having a bourbon tasting with friends, and could she look out for me over the next few months before the event. She did, and we had a good tasting. (Again Four Roses did well.) Then I told her I wanted to have a "High End" exclusive bar for my daughter's upcoming wedding (reception) for the bridal party and family/close friends. She took care of me as the months rolled by leading up to it. I had a private bar greatly to be admired!

These bourbons (and a couple of Irish Whiskies mixed in) made the basis for the "brown liquor" part of my exclusive bar for my daughter's wedding weekend. Surprisingly, (and thankfully) it was not totally depleted. It was an exceptional bar envied by many.

After the wedding, due to my cancer and a bad reaction to my immunotherapy, I had to go four months without a drink. It wasn't a problem for me, and I had a blast on National Bourbon Day at a friend's house, watching all my friends partake and maybe even partake too much. (THAT is an understatement). But even during this time, I was able to obtain a couple more bourbons that I am saving for a special event. One of them is for the day I get to RING THAT (Cancer Free) BELL!

Stagg is no longer Stagg, Jr. I know this will be a "hot" bourbon, so I'll mix it with water when I finally crack it open. I haven't needed to yet, though, as I'm determined to finish the few remaining open bottles first. So maybe it won't be long...

These two Wellers are some of the finest bourbons you can find... IF and WHEN you can find them. The advantage of an ABC state store is that they cannot increase the price above what it's supposed to retail for. In a "free state", these bottles can list for $279 for the Weller 12 and $700+ for the white-labeled Weller CYPB. THAT is the bottle I will crack open when I get to ring that damn bell!!!

Okay, so if the Weller CYPB is the one I'm saving for that great day, is it my Abe Lincoln? I don't know. I haven't tasted it yet. I have had the Weller 12 before, thanks to my son. It's excellent, and known as the "Poor Man's Pappy", as it is distilled in much the same way at the same distillery as Pappy. (Buffalo Trace). The flavor profile is apparently just different enough, though, that one is the Weller 12 and the other is Pappy. I have yet to be offered any Pappy. It's simply not been available to me yet.

The Weller Family. I've had each of these, except for the brown labeled Single Barrel. They're all outstanding, and almost made my Mt. Rushmore. But they're harder to find than even Colonel Taylor.

So that leaves one more. it was the back row of that Wedding Bar photo. Colonel Taylor small batch is hard to find, but very reasonably priced when you can find it. It tastes nutty and sweet, with hints of toasted caramel. For its price point, there is no other bourbon I'd rather have. (The ABC price, NOT the Free state price of $100-300). I'd take it over Blantons, Bookers, Baker and IW Harper - none of which are cheap. I'd even take the Colonel Taylor Small Batch over the Colonel Taylor Single Barrel. I just like it better. Abraham Lincoln is said by many to be our greatest President. I think the same about Colonel Taylor Small Batch. It is my Abe Lincoln on Mt. Rushmore.

Colonel E.H. Taylor Small Batch. My Abraham Lincoln on my Mt. Rushmore. To me, there is no better bourbon that I can buy somewhat regularly at a reasonable price. I give it 4.5 out of 5 stars.
(I have to leave room for improvement for something else.)

So there you have it. My Personal Mt. Rushmore of Bourbon

George Washington is Jim Beam

Thomas Jefferson is Woodford Reserve

Teddy Roosevelt is Four Roses Small Batch

Abraham Lincoln is Colonel Taylor Small Batch.

Now, having said that, I reserve the right to change my mind if and when I try the Weller CYPB (Create your personal best) and a Pappy one day. But both would have to become more readily available, as well. That's the thing. Most of these, if not all, are at least available sometimes in Virginia and North Carolina. You just have to know a guy, or be on the Facebook page, or texting list, or whatever. Wait, why am I sharing my secrets? I don't need to make this harder for me? I'm an idiot. ;)

I know, if you're a bourbon lover, you will probably disagree and make a Mt. Rushmore list too. Please share it with me. I'd love to hear it. And if you want to debate me sometime about what deserves to be where, I'm happy to have that discussion... over a bourbon, ... or two.

Now, I've got to go. The JMU Dukes are about to tip off in Men's Basketball. I have to go get a bourbon before the game. And don't worry. I don't need a Mixer guy anymore. Go Dukes! And cheers!

The Buffalo Trace distillery creates many of my favorite bourbons. But the original Buffalo Trace, for the money, is pretty much one of the best damn bourbons you can buy. It is my go to "Thursday night" bourbon, if I want something good and it's not a special occasion (other than game night.)
I give it 3.75 stars out of 5.

My current Bourbon Bar is below. It's protected by a few handguns, two rifles and three dogs. But if you're invited, you will enjoy a few good ones. Until next time, Cheers.