It's unfortunate that with US whiskey, you really need to know brands. You can tell people how to shop for Scotch with just descriptions --- you like smoke you buy an Islay single malt, you like character you buy something that says "first fill sherry cask". The US market is trickier.
And even more unfortunately, the most important advice you can give someone shopping for US whiskey is: ignore entirely the concept of "craft" whiskey. The very best US stuff isn't "craft".
Based on your comments here, we may like some of the same whiskies. I'll add a few to the list:
Four Roses Small Batch 90
Blantons 93
Four Roses Single Barrel 100
If I'm making a large batch cocktail.. I go for Old Overholt. Hard to beat for the price.
Local brewpubs sell beer that is pretty good. The slightly larger breweries blow them out of the water when it comes to consistency and actually delivering a style.
I (usually) really like several of the beers that a local place brews. Bells or New Belgium are far more reliable.