Best bourbon selection in Westford: how to choose

Where can I find the best bourbon selection in Westford? CBC Liquors, Westford keeps its whole range on one bourbon page, and the shop is rated 4.7 out of 5 from more than 300 Google reviews. This guide shows you how to choose between six bottles from that shelf, so you know which one to pick up before you arrive.

Where can I find the best bourbon selection in Westford?

Start with the bourbon category page from CBC Liquors, Westford. It lists the bourbon the shop has in stock today, with its own best sellers shown first, and you can browse it before you drive over. The shop is at 142 Littleton Rd, Westford, MA 01886.

The store carries more than 4,500 products from more than 1,800 brands across beer, wine, liquor, bourbon, seltzers, ready-to-drink, cider and mixers. Bourbon is one part of that, and it sits alongside the wider whiskey section if you want to compare it with rye or Scotch.

"Best" depends on what you plan to do with the bottle. The rest of this guide is about matching a bottle to the way you will drink it.

What does straight bourbon actually mean?

Straight bourbon is bourbon that has been aged at least two years in new charred oak containers, with no added colouring or flavouring. Like all bourbon, it is made in the United States from a grain mixture that is at least 51 percent corn. These are rules of the style in general, and they are why the word "straight" on a label is worth noticing.

All six bottles in this guide are sold as straight bourbon: Knob Creek Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Wild Turkey 8 Year 101, Jim Beam Original, Woodford Reserve Straight Bourbon, Evan Williams Black Label Bourbon and Maker's Mark Bourbon.

That gives you a common starting point. Because all six meet the same standard, the differences you taste come from the recipe, the barrels, the age and the proof.

How do age and proof on the label change the taste?

Age tells you how long the whiskey sat in oak. More time in the barrel generally means more vanilla, caramel and spice from the wood, and a rounder, deeper character. A label with an age statement, like the 8 Year on the Wild Turkey, tells you the youngest whiskey in the bottle is at least that old.

Proof tells you the strength. Proof is twice the alcohol percentage, so 101 proof is 50.5 percent alcohol by volume. Bourbon is bottled at no less than 80 proof, and a higher number usually means a fuller, warmer pour that holds its flavour when it meets ice or water.

The Wild Turkey 8 Year 101 puts both on the front: eight years of age and 101 proof. For the other five bottles, read the proof on the label in the shop, because that number is the quickest way to tell a gentler bottle from a bolder one.

Which bourbon is best for sipping neat?

For sipping, look for a bottle that is aged and flavourful rather than harsh. Woodford Reserve Straight Bourbon and Knob Creek Straight Bourbon Whiskey are the two on this list that suit slow drinking in a glass with a little water or a single large ice cube.

The Wild Turkey 8 Year 101 is the one to choose if you want an age statement and a higher proof in the same bottle. A few drops of water open up the aroma of a higher-proof bourbon and soften the heat.

Maker's Mark Bourbon is made with wheat in place of rye as the secondary grain, which is a style choice that tends toward a softer, sweeter profile. If you are new to sipping bourbon, that softer style is a sensible place to start.

Which bourbon holds up best in a cocktail?

Choose a higher-proof bourbon for cocktails. Lower-proof bourbon is the one that gets lost behind citrus, sugar, bitters and ice, while a higher-proof bottle keeps its character through the dilution.

The Wild Turkey 8 Year 101 is a natural fit for an old fashioned or a manhattan, since its 101 proof is stated right on the name. For a whiskey sour or a mint julep, a dependable everyday bottle works well, and that is where Jim Beam Original and Evan Williams Black Label Bourbon earn their place on the shelf.

For drinks that need a bubbly or sweet partner, CBC Liquors also stocks mixers, so you can pick up the bourbon and what goes with it in one visit. If you prefer a spicier cocktail base, the rye section is worth a look as well.

How do the six bottles compare side by side?

Think of the six as three groups. Everyday bourbons for mixing and easy sipping: Jim Beam Original and Evan Williams Black Label Bourbon. Step-up bottles for sipping: Woodford Reserve Straight Bourbon, Knob Creek Straight Bourbon Whiskey and Maker's Mark Bourbon. An aged, higher-proof choice: Wild Turkey 8 Year 101.

These groups are a guide to how each style is usually used, not a tasting verdict on a particular bottle. Your own palate decides, which is why it helps to buy one bottle from each group over time and compare.

If you cannot decide, ask at the counter. Staff can help you match a bottle to what you plan to pour.

What do customers say about CBC Liquors in Westford?

CBC Liquors, Westford has a Google rating of 4.7 out of 5 from more than 300 reviews. A rating is a rating: it tells you how reviewers have rated their visits, and you can read the reviews on Google yourself before you decide.

If you want to browse what the shop carries beyond bourbon, the liquor section covers spirits, and beer and wine sit alongside it. Brand pages such as Sam Adams are there for those who shop by maker.

How do I get bourbon from CBC Liquors if I cannot visit?

CBC Liquors offers pickup, delivery and shipping as well as walking in. Pickup hours are Sunday 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Monday to Thursday 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM, and Friday and Saturday 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM.

Delivery hours are Sunday 10:00 AM to 7:30 PM, Monday to Thursday 10:00 AM to 8:30 PM, and Friday and Saturday 10:00 AM to 9:30 PM. The shop also serves Chelmsford, Carlisle, Littleton, Acton, Tyngsborough, Lowell, Billerica, Boxborough and Dunstable. You can see the delivery page for your town, for example Chelmsford or Acton.

If you are coming in, the shop is open Sunday 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Monday to Wednesday 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM, Thursday 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM, and Friday and Saturday 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM. You must be 21 or older to buy, and you may be asked for ID.