Go to mixer is wild turkey 101 or maker's mark cask strength.
For sipping I mainly go for elijah craig barrel proof or larceny barrel proof, wild turkey rare breed or russels reserve single barrels. Stagg jr when I can find it. Four roses small batch select is high quality too.
I’ve had all the Pappy’s, they are over rated and so is Blantons. Blanton’s Gold is much better.
Weller 107, Old Forester 1920, and Wild Turkey Rare Breed are my favorites that one can find. Any EH Taylor small batch or my couple local store barrel picks are always excellent. Four Roses OSBO is my favorite of their ten.
My dad likes Weller, I have to get it in southern Ohio or WV. It was selling out that fast back home.
My cousin says Buffalo Trace cream bourbon and root beer is amazing.
Gzf bought a lot of maple flavored bourbon when she was working in Vermont.
It was damn good
My two Regulars right now are Four Roses Small Batch and Elijah Craig small batch. I’ve had most all of them and like some of you, think the big $ names are overrated. That said, I bought a bunch of bottles many years ago that are collecting dust. About to unload them to fund a trip.
Highly recommend everyone going to the Buffalo trace distillery tour, if you are into bourbon. It is very insightful as to how much bs hype is around bourbon currently.
So many great options these days. But if I'm choosing one "go-to", it's gotta be Wild Turkey 101. Good proof, decent age, stands up in a cocktail (if that's your thing), and a touch of that Turkey funk.