For the 9/8 post by Gerry

My recommendations:

Lighter bourbons (good for summer)
* Maker's Mark, $20, real easy to find
* Evan Williams Single Barrel, $20, not difficult to find

Full body bourbons (good for winter)
* Knob Creek, $25, easy to find
* Booker's, $50, easy to find

Best egg nog bourbon (home made nog, of course)
* Gentleman Jack, $20, easy to find

My favorites
* Old Rip Van Winkle 15 yr, $40, 15 states only, check out http://www.oldripvanwinkle.com/where.html
* Rip Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye 13 yr, $20, 15 states only
* I bring back several bottles of the Rip Van Winkle stuff every time I visit relatives in Louisville (How else do you think I became such a big bourbon fan?)

Good for mixing with soft drinks
* Any Jim Beam (white, green, black); not a bad bunch of bourbons; great for mixing; When on a plane and you have to choose between Beam and Jack Daniels, always go with the Beam.

Honorable Mentions (order in a bar when they don't have anything else)
* Anything by Wild Turkey

All of the above are highly rated and on my short list. There are many other good bourbons, though, so if I didn't mention yours, don't be offended. Drink whatever you like and enjoy it!

Drink the bourbon neat (no ice), on the rocks (my favorite), or slightly diluted with good water. Forget the Coke, Ginger Ale, etc.

P.S. Yes, all of those above and more are in my butler pantry. I got seven bottles for my last birthday. Still working on them.

No, I am not an alcoholic! I just love bourbon.

Now I'll have the proper stock for sipping while reviewing those Audi brochures and reviews. Can't seem to find the Booker's here in San Diego, must be cause for a road trip!

Booker's is very strong. It is uncut - barrel proof - about 126 proof. You may want to add some water if drinking it neat (as Booker Noe does) or let the ice melt a bit before drinking it on the rocks (as I do). But, either way, the taste is heavenly.

So, drive your Audi to your local beverage store. Ask them to order Booker's for you. It should be easy for them as Booker's is a Beam brand.

If you want to order the Rip Van Winkle bourbons, take your state's distributor name and phone number (from the url I gave in my original post) with you to the store. I've had this approach work for an acquaintance in Atlanta, even though they didn't have an Audi to enjoy on the way there.

Enjoy in moderation and after you have parked the Audi. ;-)

Chuck, it was not too long ago that any good bourbon made it north of the Mason Dixon line. I'm from Kentucky and come from a long line of bourbon drinkers. My grandfather drank Rebel Yell for many years before swithing to Makers Mark. I agree with you , it is truly great for everyday drinking (try the'gold label ' sometime. My personal favorite is Knob Creek with a splash. I have followed with interest the proliferation of small batch bourbons and a new found popularity in bourbons in general but lament the priciness in my favorite brands. A footnote to your primer, Jim Beam makes a very good mint julep. Thanks for a great OT.

So i ended up ordering a shot of turkey and a glass of coke! Good thing it was .25 cent drink hour from 5-6 pm. Was back in 1980, from 6-7 drinks were .50 cents 7-8 a buck and after 8 regular price.

I thought the Gold label was for export only. It's not listed on their website, either. I do want to try it, but I hadn't seen it in the liquor superstore I go to in Louisville when I am in town.

I may be making a visit to Louisville at the end of the month. Originally, my kids were flying there to visit my sister for a long weekend. But, with the Tuesday's events, my wife and I weren't going to let them fly alone - too scary for them. Besides, it turned out we didn't have a choice - yesterday, Midway Airlines went out of business. In a way that's good news because I get my money back. So, we are thinking of making a long road trip in the Audi - it's first road trip. I just broke 1000 miles this week.

My brother and cousin love the MM Mint Julep. They wouldn't have their Derby parties without it.

I love Knob Creek as well. It's my every day bourbon.