Shelf bourbons

Maya Hennessey

@nighttrainmaya

7Items

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This is the current state of my bourbon shelf, as inventoried after a late Tuesday where I was supposed to be doing expense reports but somehow ended up alphabetizing bottles instead. Think of this as a tasting flight for a friend who says “surprise me, but not too weird” while we’re arguing about whether the Celtics should switch more. I jotted these down with a Miles Davis record spinning, leftover North End pizza in arm’s reach, and exactly one ice cube melting in the glass next to me.

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Shelf bourbons — 7 items
Name	Style / proof	Best for	My take
1Buffalo Trace Bourbon	Kentucky straight bourbon, 90 proof	Weeknight pour that won’t break the brain or the budget	The default answer to “what are you drinking?” when I don’t want to think about it; soft caramel, a little orange peel, and just enough spice that I still feel like an adult.
2Eagle Rare 10 Year	10-year Kentucky straight bourbon, 90 proof	Quiet nights with a book you might actually finish	Reads like Buffalo Trace’s older sibling who moved to the suburbs and discovered patience—richer oak, darker fruit, and you actually notice the finish instead of checking Slack.
3Elijah Craig Small Batch	Small batch Kentucky straight bourbon, 94 proof	Sharing with friends who say they “don’t really taste the difference”	Brown sugar, baking spice, a hint of smoke—this is the one I pour to prove bourbon has layers without sounding like I’m about to start a podcast.
4Four Roses Single Barrel	Single barrel Kentucky straight bourbon, 100 proof	Slow sipping when the playlist is better than the conversation	Florals, honey, and a little rye zip; this is the bottle that makes me swirl the glass like I know what I’m doing while I’m actually just queuing up another playlist.
5Maker’s Mark 46	Stave-finished wheated bourbon, 94 proof	Date nights where you pretend dessert is “just one more pour”	All about the toasted oak and vanilla sundae energy; sweeter, rounder, and the one I reach for when I’m already contemplating a second slice of cheesecake.
6Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon	Kentucky straight bourbon, 90.4 proof	Cocktails you’d actually serve to someone you respect	Balanced to the point of suspicious—citrus, cocoa, and oak in a way that disappears into an Old Fashioned and still somehow leaves a calling card.
7Russell’s Reserve 10 Year	10-year Kentucky straight bourbon, 90 proof	End-of-week debriefs when everyone talks over the game	Nutty, toasty, and just oaky enough that I slow down a half-step; this is the bottle I grab when I want something a little grown-up without going full library-leather-chair mode.

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