Old Grand-Dad, $14.99, 80 Proof, BSBB Rating: 4.5 Stars

A co-worker first recommended the ol' Grand-Dad to me about a year ago. I had mentioned my burgeoning interest in bourbon and he excitedly relayed to me a couple of his favorite cheaper options...in fact, it's more than a little likely that our conversation is what eventually encouraged me to start this blog. 

Although Old Grand-Dad is clearly already one of my favorites, I still think I can give him an honest review. This bourbon is the best option I've found at this price. If you can't afford the $15 or so for this fifth, I've listed cheaper options in my blog already; if you can afford the fifteen bucks though, look no further than Old Grand-Dad.

Grabbed this grand-dad by the neck and I'm not letting him go

Smells like a classy bourbon, tastes good, not too watery

If you've read my previous reviews, you know that a common problem with cheap bourbon is a watery, unsatisfying finish. Every bourbon that I've reviewed has had unique flaws and unique benefits, but only Old Grand-Dad completely avoids the watery character that marred the other bargain drinks. This bourbon just makes it to the quality mark that awards a real texture, even though OGD has the price-tag of a cheaper drink.
The taste is sweet and dry, with just the right amount of bite following the sip. It doesn't bite hard enough that you'll have trouble getting this Dad down, but it's not so smooth that you have to question its bourbonal integrity. Don't look up the word "bourbonal" just yet; it's not officially a word, but it will get there. 

PROS

                Smells good
                Tastes good

                Right amount of burn
                No watery texture

CONS

                Not an incredibly complicated flavor (not always a drawback)

AND?

                If you want the smoothest bourbon in the world, you need to spend more money. This blog is about finding tasty bourbons with the right amount of bite at a reasonable price. OGD is the kind of bourbon this blog is really looking for. I'm ranking out of 5 stars though, and this guy only got 4.5 because I still believe I can find an even better bourbon at a bottom-shelf price. The adventure continues, readers. 

New posts starting 7/21!

Hey bourbon fans!
I've been wandering the world the past couple weeks, so I apologize for suddenly going dark without warning. I'm happy to announce I'll be back to my weekly bourbon reviews every Tuesday starting one week from today, so get your piggy banks ready!

Rebel Yell, $12.99, 80 Proof, BSBB Rating: 4 Stars

I saw this bottle in my favorite position of the store – the bottom shelf, and I was instantly drawn back in time. It’s been over a year since I’ve had the Yell and I couldn’t remember what it tasted like, but the bottle itself just reminded me of good times. This was one of the first bourbons I really tried, so I can say that even as a very amateur bourbon-drinker this one was inoffensive. Sipping it again, it’s clear why I’ve always liked this whiskey, and I’m proud to award it my highest score yet with a 4 star rating.

I enjoyed Rebel Yell so much I forgot to snap a picture. Here's my new kitty because he's also delicious!

Smells sweet, tastes good…this is a great budget bourbon.

This is the kind of drink I started searching for when I first opened the blog. It’s definitely a little strange for me that the drink I’m complimenting so strongly here is one that I’ve had many times before (and simply forgot about,) but I’m just glad to have it back in my life. Every other bourbon I’ve tried for the blog had a watery quality that clearly marked it as a cheaper drink, but Rebel Yell somehow avoids this.  Instead the Yell comes in with good flavor and a small bite right away, preparing you for a very decent whiskey at a reasonable price.

The more I drink this whiskey, the easier it goes down…although this isn’t a particularly unique quality for any bourbon, this particular drink is smooth every sip you have, from your first taste of the night to the hundredth. It goes down easy, you can bring this drink anywhere (more portable skinny bottle,) it's tasty, and it has just the right burn. It doesn’t have quite the flavor that more expensive bourbons do, but you just can’t beat Rebel Yell at this price.

PROS

                Smells good, tastes better

                Right amount of burn

CONS

                Lacks the depth of flavor that more expensive bourbons have

AND?

                This bourbon has good taste, it smells nice, and it’s cheap. You’re not going to beat Rebel Yell without spending more money. 

Bird Dog, $13.99, 80 Proof, BSBB Rating: 2 Stars

About a year ago I tried Bird Dog for the first time, but my local liquor store only had a couple of the flavored versions. I found the peach was pretty tasty, but quickly became sickeningly sweet so I just couldn't keep it on my shelf as a regular sipper. I was pleased to find this unadulterated bottle of Bird Dog in a shop across town so I could finally give it an honest try. 

Bird Dog: Just Put This Dog Down

 Not great...very watery start with a maple aftertaste that I don't love.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this one, given that the only times I've had it in the past, the folks that distilled it decided to obliterate all whiskey flavor from the drink by adding unnecessary syrups. I understand that flavored bourbons can be good, and I certainly enjoy some Jim Beam Red Stag occasionally, but it's clear to me now that the syrups in Bird Dog are only there to cover a truly bad bourbon. This Bird Dog starts with minimal flavor, has almost no initial bite, and then slowly trickles down my throat with a feeling of unpleasantness. 

When the Dog gets to your throat the bite finally hits, which is just backwards and uncomfortable for me. I mentioned it in my first post but it's relevant again; when I try a new bourbon I want to smell something sweet, feel it bite me a little, and then quickly feel the whiskey flavor rush over my tongue. The Dog got it all wrong with a fairly unpleasant smell (definitely not as bad as the Crow though,) no initial bite, and a slow draw on the whiskey flavor itself. 

PROS

• Watery character should be inoffensive for new bourbon drinkers

CONS

• Slow to bite, slow to show flavor
• Only seems to bite my throat (like a dog I guess, but the novelty of that isn't worth the unpleasantness of this backwards drink)

AND?

            This Bird Dog moves slow to bite and has little character; it should go the way of Old Yeller and make room for a better bourbon.