Two part question:

1) What's the worst bourbon you've ever had?

2) What's the worst bourbon you've ever had that was being sold as "a good bourbon"?

Pretty sure Heaven Hill makes a bourbon… That. 

I don't know that it's the worst, but I got really sick drinking Old Crow in college, and can't look at it even today without getting a little queasy. As far as the other cheap stuff that is pretty bad, Ezra Brooks is hard for me to drink. 

As far as more moderately priced Bourbons, I like nothing from Larceny, even their mid priced options. Going up the price list, I'm not a big fan of Bakers.

 

 

I've had several people tell me that Larceny is on of the best bangs for the buck.  I thought it was mediocre at best.

1) Old Grandad 80 Proof is worst I've ever had, personally, followed by Old Crow, then Kentucky Gentleman, then Kentucky Tavern. Haven't had any of them since I was in my 20s.

2) Jeptha Creed is the worst bourbon I've had that was being sold as a "premium bourbon." It's just really, really bad bourbon.

I have commented on these threads in the past.  I am a wuss when it comes to bourbon, I don't like drinking it straight, only with pepsi or coke so I stick with Benchmark which is my favorite bourbon, generally gets really solid reviews, and it is low priced.   From the Buffalo Trace website:

The nose bears caramel notes with a delicate stone-fruit backdrop. A robust and sturdy palate with some fine leather notes mingling with dry tobacco, a touch of oak and a hint of dried cherries. The finish is smooth and calming.

3 minutes ago, theguru said:

I have commented on these threads in the past.  I am a wuss when it comes to bourbon, I don't like drinking it straight, only with pepsi or coke so I stick with Benchmark which is my favorite bourbon, generally gets really solid reviews, and it is low priced.   From the Buffalo Trace website:

The nose bears caramel notes with a delicate stone-fruit backdrop. A robust and sturdy palate with some fine leather notes mingling with dry tobacco, a touch of oak and a hint of dried cherries. The finish is smooth and calming.

I’m of the opinion that if it is from the Buffalo Trace family, it’s going to be good. Benchmark is a very solid bourbon. Have you given the white label a shot? 
 

This doesn’t necessarily answer the original question but the most overrated bourbon IMO is any of the Pappy’s. Don’t get me wrong, they’re great bourbons but there are many bourbons out there that are just as good and 1/4 of the cost. 

4 minutes ago, Kenny Powers said:

I’m of the opinion that if it is from the Buffalo Trace family, it’s going to be good. Benchmark is a very solid bourbon. Have you given the white label a shot? 

We agree!

Just in the last few months I have noticed there are a lot of variations of Benchmark and I have not tried any of them but I plan on it.  Again from their website, they have:

COLLECTION
Benchmark
Benchmark Top Floor
Benchmark Small Batch
Benchmark Bonded
Benchmark Full Proof
Benchmark Single Barrel

The worst bourbon?  Kessler!  Had me hollering for Earl I'll tell ya.  

1 minute ago, jvdfc said:

The worst bourbon?  Kessler!  Had me hollering for Earl I'll tell ya.  

I think it was the 3rd grade and I had to use the word smooth in a sentence so I went with Kessler, smooth as silk. 

A dear friend, my housemate when I was dating Mrs. S, and the best man at my wedding worked air conditioning maintenance and repair on top of skyscrapers and other buildings in downtown Tampa. He kept a bottle of Kessler's on the top of the fridge and started everyday with 4 or 5 chugs of it. 

Sciroccos got him about 20 years ago.  

I not be big Beam guy. You use Jim Beam for mixers. 

10 hours ago, theguru said:

I have commented on these threads in the past.  I am a wuss when it comes to bourbon, I don't like drinking it straight, only with pepsi or coke so I stick with Benchmark which is my favorite bourbon, generally gets really solid reviews, and it is low priced.   From the Buffalo Trace website:

The nose bears caramel notes with a delicate stone-fruit backdrop. A robust and sturdy palate with some fine leather notes mingling with dry tobacco, a touch of oak and a hint of dried cherries. The finish is smooth and calming.

I rarely drink bourbon straight, I see no purpose. I always mix. 

19 hours ago, jvdfc said:

The worst bourbon?  Kessler!  Had me hollering for Earl I'll tell ya.  

Technically Kessler is not a bourbon. It’s a blended whisky. 

The bourbon that Mark Stoops has bought into is pretty gross. Think it’s calls W.M. Tarr.

 

22 hours ago, TheDeuce said:

I rarely drink bourbon straight, I see no purpose. I always mix. 

I typically drink Bourbon in an old fashioned or with just a splash of Ginger Ale with ice. I'm not a big straight drinker either.