by coffeecupman » Thu Apr 03, 2014 10:52 pm
So far, with what I know, I'd say that you want something that is good, and yet also good value, and something that will still be around and be good value again, year over year.
The Blanton's is a wonderful suggestion but might be higher priced than you're looking for if you're going to buy them by the case for giveaways. That bottle design would be hard to beat.
At present I'd say Elijah Craig 12. It's exceptional value, tastes very good, and its supply is not threatened by the whirlwind of rising demand in the industry. Heaven Hill has the capacity to keep producing it just fine.
My current fave price/performance bourbon is the Russell's Reserve 10yr small batch (I haven't yet tried the "Small batch single barrel" (lol)). But that's a small batch - who knows what will be offered next year?
The Weller 12 might have been a good choice but it is a little rougher on the palate than the above 2, plus it's been under some heavy buying pressure from people trying to sample the Pappy mash bill at a lower price. I had a hard time finding it recently on a casual bourbon mission through Bardstown, Frankfort, and Versailles.
ccm