If you follow a number of cocktail/liquor type people on Twitter or their blogs, you may have already seen it. If you haven’t, I think you should.

One of the most useful guides I’ve found to Scotch whiskys is one with them all on a chart by smokey, peaty, etc. I hadn’t looked for one like that for American whiskeys, but this chart is almost as good. And then we got a pitch that made me want to talk about it…

Ya see, we get a lot of pitches here (and later this week we’re going to talk about that, too, in case you’re one of the kind of folks who send them to us). And I love talking to new distilleries!

But what a lot of people don’t know is that in the bourbon world especially, not all “distilleries” are made the same. After all, it takes four years of aging to have legal bourbon – how do you make money in the meantime? You either sell vodka, gin, other unaged spirits, or (god help me) white dog (sigh), or you buy it from another distiller.

This chart tells you exactly where many of your favorite bourbons and ryes come from:

THE GQ CHART OF THE BOURBON FAMILY TREE (insert dramatic music here)

(That link will pop up in a new window — check it out, keep it open, and come back here.)

So let’s talk about some of those brands, if we may. I’ll try not to rehash the notes at the bottom of that story, but they are important.

Buffalo Trace: If you remember from my Bourbon Trail stories, that was the first distillery we went to in Kentucky. Personally, on this tree I did find the Pappy overpriced; Blanton’s was my first good bourbon (like many other people) but I don’t drink it much anymore. That W. L. Weller 12, the Ancient Age 10 – those are some good deals. The Elmer T. Lee, Buffalo Trace, and Eagle Rare 10 aren’t bad values, either.

Jim Beam: I’ve admitted before I’m not a huge Jim Beam fan, but Kessler is cheap as heck and not bad at all. Don’t start the night with it, but you might find yourself ending the night too many times if you buy it by the handle (like I just did). Around here, Old Overholt is a popular shot (that I can’t do more than a few of) but I thought since the beginning that Ri1 or however they spell it is overpriced. And, since Beam owns Maker’s, well, Maker’s is a fine, mild but sweet, bourbon. Maker’s 46, which I’m still not entirely convinced should be called bourbon by definition, is not worth it in my opinion.

I’m going to skip the?Brown-Forman group – I can’t stand Woodford, myself, and Jack Daniels is a love it/leave it type of spirit. I will point out in the?Heaven Hill trees that I am a fan of the Henry McKenna, and the Larceny is growing on me.

Four Roses is one of my go-to bourbons at all levels for value and taste. I found it amusing when I found out that Bulleit’s bourbon is sourced from there, though my source by way of multiple other parties (and thus should be taken with a grain of salt) indicated they don’t inquire as to what Bulleit does with the whiskey after they get it.

Speaking of Bulleit, I had no idea that?Dickel made their rye. It kind of explains a bit. EDIT: Thanks to Sylvan for pointing out that I misread the chart. Both Dickel and Bulleit rye appear to be made by LDI/MGP; that explains (to me) why I feel like they taste similar. I haven’t tasted them side by side though in a while, which might make for a good follow-up.

Cutting over to?Wild Turkey, I don’t see their ryes listed, but their 101 proof is good. And I’m guessing that they’re saying Templeton and Redemption are a combination with LDI/MGP? Which brings me to…

LDI/MGP?and?Willett. Both of these make lots of whiskeys you might not associate with their labels, and, in my opinion, in kind of opposite manners to me, as a consumer. Personally, I find most of the LDI/MGP brands to be … boring. They seem rather similar I’ve figured out over the years. There’s nothing necessarily?wrong with that, per se, but I get a “meh” feeling when I hear something is from LDI even though it might be perfectly fair on its own.

Willett, on the other hand, I’ve had the advantage of drinking a lot of via hand-picked barrels thanks to Ledroit here in DC. Like Anthony’s post last week, I’ve had some fantastic whiskeys from them. I’ve had some less than fantastic, but their Pot Still, and many of their other “lower” blends, I like a lot, and I’ve had good luck with the more expensive stuff. I have not, however, had Rowan’s Creek, Michter’s, or Noah’s Mill.

I also had a great time on that distillery tour, it was very friendly and fun. It and Four Roses are kind of two distinct type of distilleries that I found much more engaging than the others we visited.

Anyways, if you haven’t seen the chart, check it out, and see where your favorite whiskeys fit. If they’re not on there, do a bit of research on them. Maybe you’ll find something else you’ll like!

– ?SeanMike