After reviewing some 60 odd bourbons and trying quite a few others, I am willing to go against what I have said before and step right into the quicksand.
I now have a favorite bourbon.........again. It used to be ORVW 15 YO and then I said I could not choose from among the likes of Hirsch 16 YO, Pappy 20 YO, Pappy 15 YO, Jefferson's Reserve, Wild Turkey Tribute, Noah's Mill, and Black Maple Hill 21 YO.
Well, call me wishy washy if you want to (hell, I'm about to be 64 years old.....call me anything you want to). But I say now that my favorite bourbon is Wild Turkey mid nineties 12 YO.
Why do I say that? This bourbon has great complexity, great body, great balance, great taste, and tops it off with a long lasting, satisfying finish. If you list all of the qualities of a great bourbon, this one has them all, in my opinion.
On the bottle it says 'Beyond Duplication' and I would say, 'Beyond Comparison'. I know full well that it won't be everyone's favorite bourbon, but I doubt that any serious and experienced bourbon drinker would deny its greatness..............well, there will be some, but that is a small matter.
I say this because I sometimes think I have fallen into the trap of continually trying more bourbons when a few will do me at this point. It is unfortunate that there are so few bottles of the WT 12 YO left. But I will enjoy my two bottles (shucks, down to just a bit more than one and a half already) to the last drop.
One of you Kentucky, Ohio, VA, or WV guys ought to drop down to Cumberland, KY (sorry, I can't remember the name of the beer/liquor store, but there are only two in Cumberland and they are next to each other, and one of them, Tucker's, is closing) and get that bottle I left there...........you might find yourself willing to declare a new favorite too!