A while back several WhiskeyTubers challenged each other to create a list of “You only need 5 Whiskies.” This list was to include whiskies, bourbons, or ryes that you would use as a daily drinker, to impress your guest, as a Friday night sipper, for a cheap mixer, and as a special occasion bottle. Watching these enthusiasts make their lists, I too began to think about what bottles would go on my list of five.

As I began to stare at my shelves and look over the reviews I have already posted, this task became a bit harder than I thought it would be. Nonetheless, I decided on the bottles below, but have placed a bit of a caveat in the title; that this list is for 2022. I like the concept, so perhaps I will revisit this list in the future, but either way, these five bottles below will stand the test of time on any list.

• Daily Drinker: Eagle Rare Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Impress Your Guest: E.H. Taylor, JR. Single Barrel Straight Bourbon
• Friday Night Sipper: Knob Creek 15 Year
• Cheap Mixer: Sazerac Rye Whiskey
• Special Occasion: Old Fitzgerald Bottled in Bond Fall 2021

Below are a few quick reviews of each of these above bottles, just in case you might not know them or might be a bit more curious about them. With that said, let’s get our taste on!

• Eagle Rare Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (Daily Drinker)
  • Nose: Deliciously sweet but truly one-note. Subtle hints of vanilla, nutmeg, and honey.
  • Palate: Easy sipping, sweet, notes of toasted and very mild oak.
  • Finish: Dry with a lingering sweetness that hugs you like a warm and cozy fireplace.

• E.H. Taylor, JR. Single Barrel Straight Bourbon (Impress Your Guest)
  • Nose: Classic Bourbon notes of Oak, Vanilla, and Brown Sugar. Subtle hints of Bubblicious Gum and ethanol
  • Palate: Front forward Vanilla moving to flavors of Oak Barrel, Raisins, Brown Sugar, and Butterscotch
  • Finish: Medium in length, with continued dry notes of Oak Barrel, Leather, and ending on sweetness; Perhaps the Butterscotch continuing on

• Knob Creek 15 Year (Friday Night Sipper)
  • Nose: Predominately Oak with some hints of Brown Sugar, Dark Cherry/Fruitiness, and Caramel.
  • Palate: Continues with Strong Dry Oak leading to Sweetness of Brown Sugar, Vanilla, and Raisins.
  • Finish: Lacking to say the least. Quite short with ending notes of continued Dry Oak, Sweet Dried Dark Fruits and a bit of Rye Spices.

• Sazerac Rye Whiskey
  • Nose: Starts with your typical rye spices developing to lighter notes of honey, raisins, and cloves.
  • Palate: Simplistic flavors, lacking a bit of depth; probably due to proof. Mild notes of typical rye spices, dark fruits, caramel, and vanilla.
  • Finish: Full force of rye spices upfront ending quite abruptly. Lingering notes of dark fruits, anise, and rye/baking spices.

• Old Fitzgerald Bottled in Bond Fall 2021 (Special Occasion)
  • Nose: Oak Barrel, Marshmallow, Vanilla, Light Brown Sugar, Spices, and Apples
  • Palate: Brown Sugar, Cinnamon, Tart Green Apples, and Heavy Oak
  • Finish: Dry, Medium Lasting Heat with Light spices on the Tongue

Please remember, drinking bourbon is a personal adventure, so do not be afraid to drink it neat, with ice, or add some water. It’s your bourbon, you bought it, and you should enjoy it how you want to enjoy it!

Cheers! Prost! Sláinte!

Bourbon Bossman