Whiskey, Whisky, Whizzky… Yes Please

We caught up with Whiskey connoisseur Joe Condo who broke down his top 10 favourite Bourbons.

Bourbon whiskey has always been a go-to for me. I enjoy the history behind the product and the many flavors from the different brands. Living in Ohio, one would think the access to whiskey is better. Being next to Kentucky where Bourbon thrives, it is damn near impossible to find favorites. Five years ago, Blanton’s by Buffalo Trace was on the shelf for ~$40, but now hard to find and $60 – 90, depending on one’s source.

From store picks to limited releases, bourbon hunters snatch up everything to barter to get harder to get bottles, like Pappy Van Winkle. Just to be clear, in my opinion, these store picks have never tasted better than a regular release. You can’t get more of a single barrel Blanton’s and taste something new. The master distiller selects the barrels when they are ready.

My passion for whiskey started with Jameson Irish Whiskey, over 10 years ago. Yeah, of course, cheap nights were Beam and coke, but quickly escalated to finer whiskey like Jameson. The flavor was just there. I don’t discriminate when it comes to a great dram of aged oak juice and I sip what I find. I will be straight to the point for my top 10 bourbons and I mostly drink my whiskey neat or with 1 to 2 small cubes. Remember bourbon in America is 51% corn or greater and gives it that sweet nectar taste!

10 . Evan Williams 1783 by Heaven Hill

This is a great pour and you can’t beat the $15-17 price tag. There is a unique spice and nutty flavor in each sip.

9 . Pure Kentucky 107 by Willett Distillery

This high proof high rye bourbon is fantastic with a slab of ribs or steak. I love the earthy taste behind the Willett line. Their distillery is a great place for photography too.

8. Woodford Reserve Wheated Bourbon by Woodford

Very sweet and smooth. I would totally buy this again. I love anything by Woodford. It is slowly making its way into Ohio, but I picked it up at their gift shop.

7. Pot Still by Willett

I enjoy a great pour from a cool, good tasting bottle. The bottle speaks volumes when you see it, and the flavor compliments the exterior. This product is their best in my opinion and should be in any whiskey drinker’s cabinet. Their tour guide stated the bottle design is Italian and literally the shape of a pot still.

6. Eagle Rare by …yea… Sazerac

This 10-year Bourbon has a citrus flavor and a must have for me. This expression really got me into drinking whiskey neat sometime around 2011. Every bottle I have come across has Joe C. above the barcode. He seems like he knows bourbon.

5. 1792 Single Barrel by …Sazerac (Barton)

I came across this for the first time travelling through Arkansas. In Ohio we usually only see the Small Batch release from Barton. The profile reminds me of Weller Antique 107. I almost tasted a hint of cinnamon.

4. Ancient-Ancient Age 10 Star by Sazerac

This high rye bourbon is amazing for $16 a liter. Not kidding, rumors flood about it being Blanton’s rejects.

3. Henry McKenna 10 Yr. Bottled in Bond by Heaven Hill

The flavors in this bottle are compounded over the 1783 mentioned earlier. High caramel and oak notes are prominent.

2. Blanton’s by Sazerac of course

This Single Barrel Bourbon is all the craze with collectors, including myself. Each bottle has a horse and jockey in different positions during a derby race; each position represented by a letter. You can collect all letters to spell Blanton’s. Rumor has it, if you collect all 8, Buffalo Trace will mount in an oak stave. It pays homage to the great state of Kentucky where its aged at Buffalo Trace. This is what bourbon should taste like.

1. Colonial EH Taylor Small Batch oh yea… Sazerac again

This is my unsurpassed favorite. Small batch means a distillery takes several barrels to blend together for flavor consistency. In 3 bottles I have tried over the years, the caramel and spice are recognizable. I have picked it out of a blind tasting of a dozen whiskeys.

Enjoy!!