I Helped Review Hundreds of Whiskeys. This Cheap Bourbon Is My New Favorite.
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On a Saturday night at my local tavern a month ago, low light refracting cherry red off the wooden bar’s shiny finish and the jukebox blasting Bob Dylan, I ordered something I couldn't have imagined a year ago: whiskey on the rocks. Not just any whiskey, but one fittingly designated by the Men’s Journal Spirits Awards as the best for bartenders: Wild Turkey 101.
I never ordered whiskey; I was a beer guy. But, like a kid discovering his first chest hair, biology thrust me into my new age group. That Saturday night, my palate craved something stronger, more complex, more emblematic of my nearly 30 years of life.
Within reason, of course. We’re talking Wild Turkey here, not Pappy Van Winkle. But I’d spent a long week preparing stories for Men’s Journal’s Spirits Awards, our 20 expert-backed round-ups of the best liquor on the market. I read enough tantalizing booze blurbs that I craved Scotch’s smoky peat and bourbon’s sweet spice in the middle of the workday.
Related: The Best Spirits to Stock for the Holidays
I don’t even have a liquor cabinet; untouched holiday gifts and leftover bachelor party shooters sit adjacent to my television, which now scoots further and further towards the edge of the entertainment center to make room for my swiftly growing bottle collection.
Going into the project, I appreciated whiskey. But I finished the project loving whiskey—and one whiskey cocktail in particular.
Inspired by our best bourbons for an old fashioned, I poked through online recipes to find a simple cocktail to make at-home. No excess ingredients, no extra equipment, just something I can throw together in a rocks glass while watching my Philadelphia Eagles blow another game.
At that point, I sampled numerous different whiskeys at bars and at home, so I didn’t feel singularly attached to bourbon. I enjoyed the creamy subtlety of Jameson, Bulleit Rye’s spicy dryness, and the peppery burn Johnnie Walker Blue left on my tongue. But I kept returning for a pour from my favorite bottle, Larceny Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Affordable yet punching well above its modest $24 price, I decided that I’d build my perfect cocktail around the citrusy, 92-proof delight.
Related: The Best Bourbons of 2023 to Drink Neat or as a Highball
But, it wouldn’t be an old fashioned. I wanted something simple, my definition of which meant no more than three ingredients. An internet dive led me to bourbon, sweet vermouth, bitters, and boom—my delicious kick-back cocktail, a bourbon Manhattan. My tumbler became a nightly companion as I put up my Christmas tree, read a book, or watched a goofy romcom with my partner.
And, gradually, whiskey’s appeal became clear. The faithful spirit warms your chest, eases your angst after stressful days, and fires up your tongue to brighten conversation. Sips are passed between friends, bottles are wrapped and gifted to family, and rounds are purchased for strangers in spontaneous jubilation. It tastes damn good too, especially as my tastebuds evolved to critically evaluate every dram.
Alas, the Spirits Awards have wrapped. My midday pangs have ceased. And I have a long way to go before I’m a whiskey expert. But I still plan to order Scotch neat and mix my favorite cocktail on quiet evenings. In fact, I think I’ll make one right now.