Level 1 Whiskey Tasting

This line up of whiskeys I would recommend as the level 1’s, they are lower proof, a lower price point and will be available at almost all local liquor stores or grocery stores. Looking into getting into whiskey? This is where I recommend you start to see what you like and dislike without spending a fortune.

I also rated these ones by my personal preferences, depending where you fall on the scale of what you like we may be totally different than one another and that is the wonderful thing about bourbon!

• Makers Mark – Caramel smell, Smooth light spice on the end Proof:90 #5
• 1792 Small Batch- Smooth, More spice than Makers Mark Proof: 90 #1
• Four Roses- Mild spice, light flavor, light sweet aroma Proof: 80#3
• Bulleit- Slight Ethanol taste, low spice Proof: 93.7 #6
• Elijah Craig Twisted Oak Store Pick- More full bodies than the other options less spice than 1792, good sipper Proof: 94 #2
• Woodford Bensteins Liquor Store Pick- Classic Woodford taste, a little bit more of a bite than standard Woodford’s. Good Sipper Proof: 90.4 #4

Now you may be to a point whether you would drink these neat (no ice or water), on the rocks or in a cocktail.

For the newer bourbon drinker, the recommendation is pick some of my #3 -#5 and start with those in a cocktail, then move up to the #1 and #2 in a cocktail. If you are looking for a little more of a kick, I would then move to #1 in a cocktail are start drinking some of the lower scored picks on the rocks.

I think this will be a good starter guide to figuring out where you are at. Now if you are saying you are beyond this point and you are already drinking some whiskeys neat and even drinking more on the heavier side like cask strengths and barrel proofs, I am going to give you some quick suggestions below but will provide a full review of a full line up of the more complex, higher proof options that I enjoy on a more regular basis. As always, my goal is to keep my suggestions to items you can all find more easily at your local store. If anyone here is ever having trouble finding my suggestions, please let me know as I have some really great relationships with some of my local store owners and can see what I can do to help you out.

Next Level:

• 1792 Single Barrel
• Woodford Double Oak
• 4 Roses Small Batch

Also, as a disclaimer, with anything food or drink related we all have different taste buds and our perception of what we experience when tasing a bourbon is going to vary widely. So take my scorings with a grain of salt, every single one of them. Try all these bourbons for yourself, see what you think. The joy of bourbon is the journey in figuring out what you like and what you don’t.

Cheers!