Hi OP, it would be easier if you tell us what bourbon he does like, so we can recommend some similar but maybe more special options.

It’s hard to find decent bottles now. My husband keeps entering lotteries at the ABC stores, odds are 1%.

Whistle Pig might be a good choice as well. I like Michter's but it's like $45 a bottle so you might want something nicer as a gift.

Blanton's Single Barrel Bourbon. It has a signature horse thingy on top; distinct bottle. Might be able to find it locally on the secondary market for $200 or $250.

Anonymous wrote:I'm good friends with a major bourbon connoisseur and he recommends Weller Special Reserve as a brand that won't break the bank but is high quality.

If you can find it

Anonymous wrote:What is your budget? Pappy Van Winkle is the gold standard, but costs a fortune. If he's picky, Buffalo Trace if you can find it is usually a pleaser. Other than that is knob creek is below his standards, you're probably looking at $75+ a bottle. Fortunately, for the most part, you get what you pay for so it shouldn't be too hard.

I'm fine spending $100-200, as it's a gift.

I'm good friends with a major bourbon connoisseur and he recommends Weller Special Reserve as a brand that won't break the bank but is high quality.

What is your budget? Pappy Van Winkle is the gold standard, but costs a fortune. If he's picky, Buffalo Trace if you can find it is usually a pleaser. Other than that is knob creek is below his standards, you're probably looking at $75+ a bottle. Fortunately, for the most part, you get what you pay for so it shouldn't be too hard.

Four roses single barrel.

Their small batch is almost as good.

I'd like to buy my SO a nice bottle of bourbon, but I know he's picky and unfortunately don't know his favorite. If I ask at this point, it's too obvious. So I'm turning to any DCUM bourbon drinkers for recommendations of a good bottle. Now you may ask why didn't I just google it? Well because I do have one detail about my SO and it's that he thinks the Knob Creek Small Batch 12 isn't that good... specifically the flavors just aren't his preference. I'm not a real bourbon drinker so I honestly don't know what this means and am hoping someone has an idea of a nice bottle with a different type of flavor than the Knob Creek.