Best Bourbons Under 50 Dollars: Part II

Earlier this month, Julio’s Liquors owner, Ryan Maloney had his article “Five Under $50, The New Bargain Bourbon” published in Foodies of New England. Since the article was published, we have been focusing in even closer on the great bourbons that Ryan discussed. Today, we will talk about the final two bourbons discussed in the article: Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon 90 Proof and Johnny Drum Private Stock 101 Proof.

To read Best Bourbons Under 50 Dollars: Part I, click here

Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon 90 Proof

Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon 90 Proof has, as Ryan described, a nice vanilla, oak, and maple caramel smell while having a nice taste of cinnamon spice, wood, and a hint of black pepper. What makes Four Roses unique is their process. The distillery uses two mashbills and five proprietary yeast strains to produce each of their 10 distinct bourbon recipes.

For those of you who love Four Roses, you already know that the distillery has quite the impressive track record in the awards department. For those of you who don’t know, here is just a short list of the awards Four Roses has won in recent years:

• 2015 Double Gold Medal – San Francisco World Spirits Competition
• 2014, 2010, and 2008 Gold Medal – San Francisco World Spirits Competition
• 2014 Gold medal – Denver International Spirits Competition
• 2012 World Whiskies Awards – Best American Whiskey Bourbon 7 Years and Under
• 2012 Highly Recommended, 94 Points – Ultimate Spirits Challenge

Johnny Drum Private Stock 101 Proof

Ryan’s final bourbon is a charcoal filtered Kentucky Straight Whiskey and is the most alcoholic of the five. Johnny Drum Private Stock 101 Proof tastes of oaky spices mixed with nutty caramel, mixed with cinnamon, toffee, and toasted sugar. The bourbon also has a delightful smell, as opening a bottle will fill the air with an aroma of caramel.

But what you don’t know is the long history of the distillers behind Johnny Drum Private Stock 101 Proof: the good people from Kentucky Bourbon Distillers. Shortly after the end of the Civil War, John David Willett opened the Moore, Willett, and Frenke Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky. The Willets had a long history of selling alcohol, dating back to 1743 when William Willett Jr. opened an ordinary, or tavern, in Prince George’s County, Maryland. The distillery stayed with the Willett’s until 1984, when it was sold to Even G. Kulsveen, who is still working at the facility today.

So there you have it folks, the ins and the outs of Ryan’s top five bourbon picks under $50. If any one (or all) of these bourbons suit your fancy, swing by Julio’s Liquors in Westborough, MA to pick them up. While you’re here, be sure to come to the Loch & Key Whisk(e)y Society’s Whisk(e)y Wednesday meetings every Wednesday night. Who knows, we may just turn you on to your new favorite whisk(e)y!