My local liquor store runs a yearly bourbon raffle. Winners get an opportunity to purchase a bottle from a select list (below). There are 100 total bottles for 100 separate winners (I was notified that I was one of the winners!!). I now have the difficult task of rank ordering the bottles below from 1 to 28 in order of my preference to purchase (if available). Two caveats - 1. I do not know what my number is “in line.” I could be first to choose or 100th. 2 - I don’t know how many of each bottle is available. While I am moderately well versed in bourbon, a good number of the list below I am not overly familiar with. Any feedback regarding “must have,” “great deals” etc. would be super helpful. Only the Michter’s 20 yr is outside my price comfort zone.
Michter’s 20yo Bourbon - $1,350.00
King of Kentucky - $399.99
Mister Sam - $299.99
Old Fitzgerald Bib 11yo - $149.99
Heaven Hill 90th Anniversary - $120.00
Jack Daniels Tanyard Hill Rye - $84.99
Russell’s Reserve 13yo - $145.00
Russell’s Reserve Single Rickhouse - $320.00
E.H. Taylor Single Barrel - $79.99
E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof - $99.99
Stagg Bourbon - $69.99
Elmer T. Lee - $89.99
Four Roses Limited Edition 2025 - $250.00
Brook Hill 12yo Rye “Word” - $239.99
Brook Hill 13yo Bourbon “Moonshot” - $450.00
Rare Character Exc. Series Wheated - $175.00
Hancock’s Reserve -$64.99
Old Forester 1924 - $119.99
Old Forester Birthday Bourbon - $275.00
Weller CYPB - $79.99
Weller Single Barrel -$69.99
Wild Turkey Masters Keep Beacon -$279.99
Michter’s 10yo Rye - $209.99
Found North Goldfinch - $150.00
Found North Helldiver - $159.99
Parker’s Heritage 11yo American Whiskey - $169.99
Old Cassidy - $199.99
you could still pick that one and trade it cheap and fast for multiples of great bourbon. (Probably three Van Winkles or something if that’s your thing?)
For value drinking I’d want the JD Tanyard Rye. Probably the Birthday Bourbon, RR13, old Fitz, Parker’s, Weller CYPB (value), Weller SB, in something like that order.
Thanks for all the reply!! I was lucky enough to “win” a bottle choice 2 years ago and went with a bottle of Russel’s 13. Curious if anyone has opinion on the Rickhouse.
King of Kentucky should be first pick. Perennially one of the best and most sought after with highest markup factor vs retail pricing. WS Low is 2500
My order would be:
King of Kentucky
Jack Daniel’s Tanyard
Wild Turkey Beacon
Russell’s Reserve 13
Russell’s Reserve Single Rick
Old Fitz
Heaven Hill 90th
Birthday Bourbon
Weller Single Barrel (strictly due to rarity - single barrel is the toughest one to find with the highest markup)
EH Barrel Proof
Four Roses
Was one of only bottles I was unfamiliar with too. Quick search shows that it’s seemingly a sazerac product that does some blending of American and Canadian whiskies. Also seems to be quite allocated.
Seems to be around retail for Michter’s 20. In my local drop Michter’s 20 was first overall selection over all of the Pappy VW and BTACs (also priced at retail). I was surprised and also not sure if worth the tariff. Would love to try sometime though.
1- Michter’s 20yo Bourbon
2- King of Kentucky
3- Mister Sam
4- Old Forester Birthday Bourbon
5- Jack Daniels Tanyard Hill Rye
6- Rare Character Exc. Series Wheated.
Typically they set a quick deadline (2 or 3 days after original email is sent) as to when the “winners” need to send in their rank order. Didn’t see a deadline mentioned in this years’ email.