Average

J.T.S. Brown Bottled in Bond
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

50% ABV
$10-$12
Website (ok, not their web-site, but the closest thing, eh)

What the Distillery Says

(No mention of this brand on their web-site, so below is what is on the bottle)
J.T.S. Brown Kentucky’s Finest
Established 1855
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
100 Proof
Distilled and Aged in Kentucky, Bottled by
J.T.S. Brown’s Son Company, Bardstown, Kentucky

Distilled by Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc
D.S.P.-KY-1
Louisville, Kentucky

What Gary Says

Nose:  A tad hot, charred oak and vanilla, hint of caramel with a bit of cinnamon, and a trace of dried mint.
Palate:  Crushed vanilla wafers with a watered-down caramel sauce, bit of oak with a sharp bite of cinnamon candies.
Finish:  On the shorter side, drying with cinnamon.
Comments:  This is definitely a ‘value brand’. No age statement, although as ‘Bottled in Bond’ it is at least four years old (I’d guess it is pretty close to exactly four years old). My Dad would point out that this was the whiskey that ‘Fast Eddie’ Felson (played by Paul Newman) drank in “The Hustler“.  If you like ‘smooth’ bourbon, this ain’t it – although adding a bit of water brings out some corn sweetness and softens the edges a bit – without completely losing them). This drinks a little hotter than 100 proof to me, and is edgy like bourbon aged at the top of the rickhouse. But for $10, it is a pretty serviceable bourbon – and there aren’t many at that price point that meet that bar in my opinion.

Rating: Average

Four Roses Super Premium

43% ABV
$50 (bottled for the Japanese market)
Website

What the Bottle Says

(No mention of this product on Four Roses website, and this is one of the worst labels I’ve seen on a bottle. The gold print is very difficult to read.)
Four Roses Super Premium
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Four Roses Bourbon was born and crafted in the traditions of old Kentucky. From producing a unique sour mash to ageing the Bourbon in hand made, charred oak barrels, the same traditions prevail to produce Four Roses Super Premium, a Bourbon of rare smoothness, richness and strength.

The Four Roses distillery is a Kentucky landmark and the home of one of the world’s premier Bourbons. Age old craftsmanship and the rugged Kentucky climate work a special magic to create this smooth, mellow Bourbon.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Freshly baked vanilla cupcakes with vanilla buttercream frosting, subtle baking spices, buttered popcorn, a hint of oak.
Palate:  Sweet vanilla ice cream with caramel sauce, a hint of corn sweetness.
Finish:  Short, sweet and slightly drying with notes of vanilla.
Comments:  They’re right about ‘smooth’. Its been a bit since I’ve had Four Roses Bourbon (sometimes referred to as “Yellow Label”, but it no longer has a ‘Yellow Label’ and during a tour they made it clear no one should refer to it that way), but this reminds me more of that than any other Four Roses product. From what I recall, that had more spice than this, and more of those floral notes I associate with Four Roses. I’m not sure I would have picked this out of a blind lineup as being a Four Roses bourbon. While nothing offputting, it is a little too smooth and bland for my taste. I definitely wouldn’t go out of my way to seek it out, being a Japanese offering.

Rating: Average

Breckenridge Distillers High Proof Blend Bourbon

52.5% ABV
$56-$60
Website

What the Distillery Says

Breckenridge A Blend of Straight Bourbon Whiskeys

Preserving the essence of our raw barrel character by bottling at a gripping 105 proof, our Distiller’s High Proof Blend represents the whiskey as our master blenders experience it (for the true experience sip 20 samples at 8:00 AM, before coffee). Deep burnt umber hue with aromas of rich butter caramel and toasted almond paste. Medium body with a luscious vanilla sugar flavor and a long balanced finish.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Musty oak, salted caramel, cinnamon, vanilla wafers.
Palate:  Warm, sharp sweetness, caramel corn, oak with pepper spice and hints of orange zest.
Finish:  Moderately long, drying with caramel and cinnamon.
Comments:  A bit oaky, but not excessive to the point where it is offputting. Appreciate the higher proof, but it doesn’t hold up well to water; thins out very quickly. After making my notes, I tried this side-by-side with Jim Beam’s Distiller’s Cut (100 proof), and I preferred that easily.

Rating: Average