Remember to collect to drink! Once a bottle gets about halfway down, I push it to the back of the collection and decide if I want to buy another of the same bottle or try something new!

I first started drinking bourbon back in the early 2000’s. I tried several and liked Woodford Reserve the most. I then drifted towards craft beers and wine. I just recently restarted my bourbon journey last December with a vengeance. On suggestions from your channel and other KZfaq bourbon channels, I have accumulated 90 bottles of bourbons in a small period of time. I am planning to retire in 2 years, so I want collect and sample as many good bourbons as I can, while collecting a paycheck.

i can never make the bottles last long enough to start a collection lmao

My updated list: OF100 (23 on sale here now), elijah craig single barrel pick $40, wild Turkey rare breed $49, jack sbsbp RYE $70, knob creek 9 special reserve pick $70, knob creek 12 $73. Total $325

Great list and great education as well. Thanks for the effort David!

As a viewer based in the UK, love your videos and channel, envious of your collection lol but I'm building mine up gradually. Keep up the excellent work!

love your ending by making sure people put their health before the hobby. We'll said David!!👍

Was on the edge about subscribing until I heard you remind your audience about their health and priorities.

I just got into starting my bourbon collection. This is an awesome video, thank you!!

Glad you added that last message on behalf of your health and the excitement of whiskey. I embarked on my whiskey journey at 24 and I got all kinds of whiskey and I would enjoy sipping on it every night but like you said, it made worker harder.

Love these lists. I still consider myself a beginner, so this is super helpful.

ok...new fav video from you...and thats saying a LOT. You help educate those out there in some AMAZING bourbons which are ON THE SHELF. Thanks bud! take care! !

Great to see a few posts from UK bourbon drinkers. Interesting selection David. Just come back from a family holiday in the states, passed on a bottle if Smoke Wagon SB in favour of the HH 7 BiB also picked up a OF 100 (very excited to try this after reading/watching reviews) , OGD BiB and Russell's 10. Passed on the SW as I have not dabbled in any MGP yet, still getting acquainted with Kentucky Bourbon around the 95-100 proof range. Enjoyed looking around liquor stores as there are very few left here in England.

Best video Iv seen from whiskey tube in a while. I like the ‘back to basics’ take. Good selections too!

Excellent, thank you!

Having a spread of distilleries is a great tactic. Great video David!!

Another great list and video David

Great list :-) Smoke wagon and Old Forrester is sadly not possible to get over here in Denmark. My beginner collection is so far: Wild turkey 101 Blantons gold edition Buffalo Trace Eagle rare 10 year Evan Williams single barrel vintage (2010) Four roses single barrel Wild Turkey rarebreed Maker's mark 46 Elijah Craig Barrelproof (c921) 1792 small batch Knob creek 9y Jack Daniels single barrel barrel strength

Awesome list David!!! Cheers!!!

I have not had a sip of or a shot of whiskey for many years but started watching videos of noobs getting into whiskey so decided to start my collection. Yesterday I went and spent 115 dollars and got 2 bourbons and 1 rye and 1 whisky. I started with Sazerac rye, Wild turkey 101, Elijah Craig small batch, and I know I will be judged and laughed at, Skrewball peanut butter whisky. I am so new that even following the guidelines of tasting many of you teach they almost all smelled and tasted like varnish I was surprised the Wild Turkey 101 seemed to be the smoothest. Believe my untrained pallet or not but we tasted all the non flavored whiskies first then tried the peanut butter whisky and the aromas and flavors we picked up were amazing like a coffee flavored end note and the peanut butter flavor was not overwhelming and it also had kind of a marshmallow and coffee mid note easing into a really good coffee flavor in the end. Thanks for the videos and please don't judge me to harshly, LOL.

Great list David!!!

Thank you for the video I really enjoyed it everything you had to recommend I have on my bourbon bar and I totally agree with you on the wild Turkey rare breed that’s my go to bourbon!!!!! And Knobb Creek 9 year singel barrel 120 proof!!!!!!!

I like the closing message about being responsible. Wish health to all you guys. Cheers 🥃

Great list.

Good job, David! If you had the alternative bottles I think you should have shown them too in the video, it’s always more effective to see the actual bottle than to just mention them. Just my thoughts. Cheers from Sweden! 🇸🇪

ECSB is a great shelf staple even for "veteran" bourbon drinkers

Great video and real talk at the end,!

Great list. I’ve got most.

Love the list! I still need to get the Smoke Wagon. 👍

Can’t fault your list. I can’t get Smokewagon here in Florida though. I don’t have a massive quantity of bottles. I usually keep around 9 bourbons and 9 scotch in my home bar. Scotch is super pricey so I generally scale back in what I spend on bourbon. For me, it would be WT Rare Breed, MM Cask Strength, Old Forester 100, RR 10 Year, JD Triple Mash, & OGD 114 (if I were to keep it at seven bottles). That would run me roughly $220. I hear what you are saying about Benchmark. However, I really like the Benchmark Full Proof. It’s 125 proof and is tasty (IMO).

Great list, and I have them all, but the Smoke Wagon. I haven't seen it in Maine for a long time.

Great list

Love the video. Being in Virginia myself (Northern Virginia) I am on that spirted ABC email where certain stores have the limited drop. Was able to get a knob creek 12

The problem with Elijah Craig is that if I have a dram or two people think that I smell like stale old wiskey. I love the taste of it. I believe that the stale wiskey smell is coming from the charred oak flavors in the Elijah Craig bourbon. I love Bowman Brothers and it is a good replacement for Buffalo Trace.

subbed. ive alwayed enjoyed an old fashioned/ manhattan here and there... it is time to neat. Perfect collection. Frankly, rich or poor, these are still IT. Thx.

Decent list with some surprises, I'd probably say if someone can go to a bar and get some pours of different brands they could also find a distillery flavor profile they like without investing in whole bottles too. I understand we all can't be blessed to have our local watering hole offer everything but they should be able to cover the well known ones to scratch off the list 😉

Great list, I've got all of 'em. :)

Excellent picks

What I have and what I intend to get is the - Elijah Craig Small Batch, Makers Mark (Regular), not going to get the Buffalo Trace but will keep the Eagle Rare, Smoke Wagon Small Batch, Old Forester 1920, Knob Creek 9, Wild Turkey Rare Breed. The Jack Daniels bottles seem a little too expensive in my area. Is the Old Forester 1910 dramatically different to the 1920? I'm in no rush to get the Knob Creek, but restocking for Eagle Rare, Rare Breed, Russell's Reserve 10, and Smoke Wagon is something I do not mind getting more of. Thanks for the list. It's a good starter pack of whiskey for those that want the popular set

Evan Williams Bottled in Bond great budget bottle too

Great video. I think that some of these might be a little high proof for a beginner, but I would be more than willing to have any of these bottles.

You talking about any whiskey in Indiana got me thinking about George Dickel Rye. It’s distilled in Indiana so I bet it’s made by MGP.

Very nice video

Mine is Eagle Rare, Russell's Reserve, Smoke Wagon small batch or uncut/unfiltered, Woodinville, and Bulleit Single Barrel.

Smoke Wagon also covers the high rye bourbon. If that’s not available I would put Four Roses Single Barrel on the list

Glad to see the Rare Breed on the list. A must have and 101 a must also, for me. Unfortunately living in Utah, Rare Breed is, let's just say, rare.

New collector here ! Thank you for the video

Solid choices for any bourbon drinker

Recently started my "collection" if you'd call it that, I'm in Alabama so super hard to find certain things, stumbled across this video making a list of things to look for enjoyed it alot liked and subbed keep it up.

I have tried and enjoyed all of these with the exception of Smoke Wagon. I really like OF1920 so I am inspired to try OF1910. Great video.

I though the list was very good but I liked most of your alternative bottles better. Great base to start

Michters sour mash is what got me into drinking neat. Still till this day it proves in blinds to be the best

Hell Yea ! Mine would be Jack Daniels SBBP, Russell’s Reserve SB, Woodford Reserve Wheat, Old Forester 1920 and probably ECBP. I’ve Never had Old Forester 1910 but will soon. RC

Solid video, I don’t disagree with a single one of these selections

24.1K!? YES! The site groweth beautifully.

Nice list. Agree for the most part. Prefer 1920 to 1910.

Buffalo Trace, OGD114, Early Times Bib, Old Tub, Smoke Wagon,EHT.

I think I would have put a wild turkey rarebreed rye. Just my opinion. I’m new and the ryes are nice to include.

My local Sam's club has that buffalo trace for 18 dollars

I walked in to my local total wine and saw ecbp on the shelf and heaven hill 10 yr and was so bummed when I didn’t buy them due to trying to be responsible and not spend any money on bourbon for a year until I work through some bottles.

Calumet Farm 16 year ($170). Rare Breed ($50). Rare Breed ($50). Rare Breed ($50). $5 to the good. WIN!

Jack Daniels Barrel Proof is impossible to find in Minnesota

I wish Bourbon prices were so reasonable in Australia. Elijah Craig Small Batch is normally $89 AUD / $59 USD in Australia

I was in frankenmuth. And markers mark makes a special kind of MM for just that hotel. That’s what they said on the Bavarian inn channel said when we stayed there. I didn’t get to try it though.

I started with Old Forester 1910, WT 101, Makers Mark 46, WT Rare Breed, 4 Roses single barrel. What do you think? Forgot I have Knob Creek 9 also.

Jack Daniels Single Barrel Select is 94 proof that one usually is $45-50 that one is solid too never had a bad bottle

IMO i think you should of put 4 roses on there single barrel as the main and small batch select as the alternative

JD is currently gold label if folks are hunting for it, last one i got is 133.8

Still looking for a Smoke Wagon,myself.

I’m not the biggest fan of Wild turkey 101. But do wanna try that rare breed

I like the selection and have four of them, plus two of the suggested alternatives.Smoke Wagon is not available in UK and OF 1910 is a unicorn. BT is everywhere and often marked down in price, but unfortunately also down in proof at just 80! To be honest it is pretty poor at that proof so I went for ER, which is surprisingly easy to find. Just a thought David, could you do a follow up as where a collection should expand after achieving the "beginners collection"?

Oh man I would give a lot to put my hands on the old forester 1910....in Germany absolutely not available. :(

Dumb amateur question. I’ve been getting into bourbon and I enjoy it. I’ll usually have a 2-3oz pour on a Friday evening. The next day my throat is mildly sore. Proof range is 90-100. Is that common or am I sipping it wrong?

Old Forester would have been great on this list. Price and value wise.

1776 from Pepper is a decent Smoke Wagon Small Batch substitute.

I have enjoyed a lot of your videos as well as the ones on beyond the row but this might be the best one yet. The list is great but your comments at the end were awesome and so true. I have not seen Smokewagon anywhere and have a bottle of the MM46 but have yet to open it. I am not a JD fan but it seems that the single barrell is much better than the #7 so might try that at some point. Only thing I might change is to replace the Rare Breed with OF 1920. It is a little more money but IMO it is better but I do understand you were trying to get a variety of distillers which is a great idea. Another thing for people to do as well is to check the nipper bottle selection or even the 375 ml section. Even though it is not as good a value it is a way to try different ones trying to decide which you like best and then you can stock up on the bigger bottles once you decide.

It’s crazy how many blind taste test Rare Breed has won. If I could only have one bottle it would be Rare Breed.

I want to try Buffalo Trace but in my area it goes for $35 because no else has it. I always pass on it and get something else.

Love both the WT rare breed and the JDSPBP. Do you enjoy the Rye versions also.....been considering adding those to my collection.....

I live in North Carolina. I just picked up a bottle of Blantons for 60$ from a guy I work with from Virginia. Since Virginia isn't that far away from me I just wanted to ask if you have a technique or how much more common it is to find buffalo trace products in your area. Where I live if you do run across something it's raffled off and you can't just buy it. Anyway great videos !

For the novice, I got you. Build your palette slowly with low proof first. Then the cornerstone and best contrasts in bourbon that I found are, Grandad 114 vs. Rare Breed You have high corn vs. high rye blends. Pick your poison. I prefer high rye my guy. (GD114)

Hey folks! Another great show…question on that JD single barrel - has it been open since 2016 and if so what is your opinion on how long open bottles of bourbon stay “good”. I have many bottles from several years back sitting on my shelf that have been opened. Some articles I have read say 1-2 years is the max you should keep…based on oxidation or other potential deterioration issues…your thoughts please Thanks!

I know this is old..but benchmark full proof, bonded, single barrel and small batch are better than bt lol.. SB and SMB maybe not but other 2 imo are. Smoke wagon is so good...MGP is always good.

Gotta ask. Where are you finding JD BP in VA. I live in Maryland ?

I had a sample of Buffalo Trace on vacation in Colorado but have never been able to catch up to any here in Ohio. I enjoyed the sample but not holding my breath for any in Ohio.

Old Forester 1920 the only way to go

Instead of a 1910 OF, I would go more a 86 and/or a 100 Proof OF, EC:SB, EW: 1783, JD: SB, WT: 101, MM: 101, Michter's Sour Mash, Pikesville Rye, New Riff Bourbon, and Jim Beam: Double Oak - All for less than $325 and 10 bottles to boot

A beginner collection HAS to have 1792 Small Batch. $27 here in NC. Otherwise, great selection!

Is there actually somewhere that EC SmB is not available? It’s gotta be one of the most available products on the market.

Great video, strong list for a newb. However, I would suggest that a newb go take $100 and spend a couple weekends at the best bourbon bar(s) in their area tasting a handful of these common bourbons "neat" on on a single ice cube. Spending $100 trying b4 you buy a bottle will make them a happier bourbon drinker.

Knobel? Good or bad?

Early Times BNB.

I recently paid 35 for Buffalo Trace here in Minnesota. Starting to get out of hand

What would you reccomend for a starter rye?

JDSBBP is impossible to find in MI anymore but it is one of my favorites. I don't think the KC single barrel even comes close. Totally agree on the RB. Lately, we've been seeing Buffalo Trace store picks. Great price and they blow the standard product away. You get some slight Stagg hints on them.

I have to figure out a better method for having a collection. Every 2 weeks I buy a nice bottle and by the time I buy a new one the other bottle is empty!!😂😂

Rare breed is truly all you need

I would go with Russell’s 10 year over the rare breed feel like the proof would be too high on the rare breed for someone just getting into it.

No Smoke Wagon for me in Pennsylvania...

David did you ever bounce at a bar?