1 Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond | Kentucky straight, Bottled-in-Bond, 100 proof | Tuesday night debrief when you promised yourself “just one episode” and you know that’s a lie. | The definition of dependable: a little brown sugar, a little oak, zero drama. This is the bottle I pour while reheating leftover dumplings and pretending they’re ‘paired’ with the vanilla on the finish. |
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2 Buffalo Trace | Kentucky straight bourbon, 90 proof | Introducing a friend to bourbon when you don’t want to scare them off with jet fuel. | Yes, it’s a little hyped and occasionally annoyingly hard to find, but when you do? Caramel, light fruit, gentle spice. It’s the Spotify “Daily Mix” of bourbon: somehow always fine, sometimes perfect. |
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3 Elijah Craig Small Batch | Small batch Kentucky straight, around 94 proof | Late-night reading session where you pretend you’ll finish that novel this time. | Toasted marshmallow and baking spice in a glass. I sip this neat with a square of dark chocolate and call it ‘adult s’mores’ so I don’t have to admit I just wanted dessert. |
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4 Maker’s Mark | Wheated bourbon, 90 proof | When you’re making old fashioneds for a mixed crowd and don’t feel like explaining rye vs wheated for the fifth time. | Soft, friendly, with that little buttered-toast vibe. I reach for this when I’m stress-cooking pasta and want something that won’t fight the tomato sauce or my attention span. |
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5 Old Forester 100 | Kentucky straight, 100 proof | Game night bourbon for when the Celtics are playing and you need something sturdy for victory pours and consolation prizes. | Brown sugar, baking spice, and just enough heat to remind you it’s there. My favorite ‘house’ bourbon for cocktails—if I ruin a Manhattan experimenting with bitters, at least the base is solid. |
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6 Russell’s Reserve 10 Year | 10-year Kentucky straight, 90 proof | Quiet Saturday afternoon with a book and no meetings looming over Monday… yet. | Like Wild Turkey 101’s older, more composed sibling. Rich oak, toffee, a little orange peel. This is my ‘I actually sit and think about the whiskey’ pour, usually with jazz and a bowl of mixed nuts I pretend is fancy. |
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7 Four Roses Small Batch | Blend of four recipes, 90 proof | First drink after a long Greenway walk when the weather can’t decide if it’s spring or fall. | Floral, honeyed, and just interesting enough that I’ll start monologuing about yeast strains if no one stops me. Great with takeout sushi, weirdly—something about the ginger and the light fruitiness just works. |
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8 Knob Creek 9 Year | Age-stated small batch, 100 proof | When you’re logged out of work for real, the laptop is closed, and you’re victory-dooming your inbox from the couch. | Big oak, peanut, and vanilla bomb. It’s like someone put a campfire and a candy bar in the same memory. I sip this slow with sharp cheddar and feel vaguely like I know what I’m doing with my life. |
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9 Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight | Kentucky straight bourbon, 90.4 proof | Hosting people who ‘don’t really drink bourbon’ but mysteriously finish their glass first. | Balanced to the point of suspicious: citrus, cocoa, a little oak. It’s my default for boulevardiers and fancy-ish nights where I pretend my mismatched glassware is intentional. |
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10 Old Grand-Dad Bonded | High-rye Bottled-in-Bond bourbon, 100 proof | Last pour of the night when you should go to bed but instead put on ‘one more side’ of a record you’ve heard a hundred times. | Punchy, herbal, and wildly underrated. This is the bottle that makes me insufferable about value-for-money; I’ll defend it with charts if you let me. Perfect with salty popcorn and questionable life choices. |
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TheLysts
