Top Surprise and Disappointing Whiskeys of 2020!
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- Опубликовано: 15 окт 2024
- In this video I give you my Top Surprise and Disappointing Whiskeys of 2020! This list includes some new distilleries and some well known heavy hitters. Be sure to let me know in the
comments what bourbons and whiskeys were your biggest surprises and your biggest disappointments. Enjoy!
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Please, don’t buy in bourbon in the secondary market, It’s just not worth it.
There are a few whiskies that I think would be worth it but not many. To clarify, I mean that I would pay secondary prices for certain things at a retail store. I wouldn't trust the actual secondary market.
100%. Find a store with an owner that appreciates whiskey and see what they can order. If you are loyal they will be too.
They cant get everything but may know someone who can.
Love that Woodinville Cask Strength. Totally bright, unique, loud flavors. Probably won't appeal to everybody, but we really enjoy it here in Oregon. And Coopers' Craft - we're telling anybody that will listen. It's stellar for the money.
I really like the standard Woodinville bourbon, but $70 for the cask strength is pushing the upper limit for me. I'm still trying to locate the standard rye.
Just finished a bottle of Larceny not knowing it was wheated , and I liked it but I don’t usually like heated bourbons. Your comments make me understand why I liked it.
And the Chattanooga cask strength is amazing also. But let it open up. The neck pour was... Ok. And then it blossomed. So good
I went to a whiskey event a while back and tried about a dozen different bourbons. Some were really good but also really expensive so I had to pass on them. But the one that stood out the most was Cooper's Craft Barrel Reserve...it was amazing and even more so when their employee told me how much it was selling for. Since it was near the end of the event they were sold out but I picked up a bottle at a local store and have been loving it. After watching this video I'm feeling even better about my choice. :)
Jason, you nailed it. I love Chattanooga and Coopers Craft. As much as I love Chattanooga I still believe Coopers Craft (100 proof) is the best $30 bourbon on the shelf (IMHO). Keep the bar high. We have too many over priced bourbons and a slew of up and coming hitters (Chattanooga and Coopers Craft).
Grabbed the Coopers Craft the other day and going back to look for the Chattanooga.
The Cooper's BIB is amazing. Open the bottle and let the in and give it a chance to work its magic. After awhile, you'll think its a special reserve Old Forrester - more complex that you would expect for the price and not a sweet drinking whiskey sweet at least to me and a couple of my neighbors. It runs about $28 in my neighborhood and far exceeds the Cooper Craft 86 proof.
A friend treated me to a bottle of the Bulleit Blenders' Select 001, in part after hearing your description of it, and in part, based on the story behind it. He and I each opened our respective bottles tonight (mine had to be shipped, because it hasn't been distributed in Connecticut!), and we agree: very, very nice. A splash of water or a single ice cube opens it up, and there's just so much fragrance to enjoy even before you taste the alcohol. Thanks for this set of reviews, I've updated my shopping list!
(My pal was about where you are with the Larceny-- me, I like it! 😊 )
My favorite of the year Blue Note 10yr single barrel 124.6. I was casually looking in a local liquor store and tried a sample and was amazed how easy this high proof bourbon drank and nice creamy flavoring going on.
Jason, you are out here vindicating my undeveloped palette (got into bourbon 6 months ago; new Cincy resident) with this video lol.
You love Woodinville-me too. It’s currently my favorite as I try everything I find intriguing.
I’m drinking the same Coopers RIGHT NOW. You like it more than I do, but it’s good IMHO and def worth $30. It’s just not Woodinville. Thus, I’m flying thru it to try something else.
Finally, I have 15-year knob creek as a gift (I love my co-workers), and...I ain’t impressed. It ain’t bad, but for $100+, I expect more. And here you are...deeply disappointed with it.
It’s crazy b/c your palette is so finely-tuned. You can taste white pepper or raisins in a bourbon, but all I can say is “I rock wit it” or “Nah.” Yet, those three I just mentioned, we almost completely agree. Crazy lol. Anyway, I love your show. Cheers, bro!
didn't think i was gonna like woodinville because i had generally had horrible luck with craft distilleries. my local shop had a barrel pick and I really really trust his palate there. I took a gamble on a $80 single barrel store pick of it and it was so damn good i bought a second bottle. absolutely blown away and surprised in the best way.
Thanks for the heads up on the Coopers.. what a great daily!
Hey J, great list! I completely agree with your opinions on KO. Dixon has discussed the pricing of other KO products on the It’s My Bourbon podcast. He says for the other expressions that he wants them to be special occasion whiskies and defends the pricing for that reason. I can see that with the other expressions, but the pricing on Dry State is insane.
Love that you included Chattanoga 111. Really enjoyed this bourbon. Kind of Surprised you didn't include the Rare-Breed Wild Turkey. In my top 3 Good Surprises for year
I was also surprised by the Bulliett Blender's Select. Absolutely delicious.
I love how honest you are with all of your reviews!!! You have become my favorite whiskey channel anywhere!!! You do keep it real and that’s what we need!! Hope you have an amazing 2021!!! Cheers brother!!!
Love the Chattanooga 111 too. Delicious!
You gotta look up the Frey Ranch cask strength and rye. Amazing. I’m only about an hour away from Frey Ranch so it’s luckily everywhere here.
I saw Chatanooga the other day but knew nothing about it. Glad to know you enjoyed it. Kicking myself for not getting the Bulleit Blenders Select b/c I haven't seen it since spring. Larceny BP was my biggest disappointment and I just have no hope for that to be a good option. Regular Larceny is perfectly fine. I got the Dickel 13yr but never even saw the 11yr...maybe that's my biggest disappointment haha! Please send me the rest of that ER17 ;-) Oh, and if you haven't had the Woodinville port cask yet, get some!
On my second bottle of the George Dickel...bought my first one last spring...such a joy to sip. Not a bad pick for a novice whisky drinker.
Hey Jason, enjoying the vids. I like your straight forward, no nonsense approach and all the knowledge/history you include. I love spirits and wine but relatively new to bourbon. Recently acquired Elija small batch and Buffalo Trace and enjoying them both. I also tried the Old Forester 1920 Prohibition and it was just another world in terms of complexity, duration, finish and mouth feel. Really loved it and worried I'll need to get another job to afford the higher ends : ). As a scotch lover I think I'm leaning to drier, less sweet, mineral, earthy characteristics if that makes sense for bourbon. Can you rec similar to Old Forester perhaps in the $50 and under range? Curious about the George Dickel you reviewed in this vid. Good gamble given my likes? Thanks much!
Positive Surprises:
1. Four Square 2008 - I can't stop drinking this rum. Incredible. It's like finding a BTAC on the shelf every day of the week.
2. Smoke Wagon - Pretty much all levels. UCUF, Small Batch, even the Straight Bourbon. Amazingly, I overheard people talking about this standing in line at a liquor store and not from Whiskeytube. I was instantly hooked.
3. Hirsch 8 Year High Rye - Why is nobody talking about this? Nevermind. Nobody talk about this.
4. Driftless Glen - Heard about this on My Bourbon Journey. Incredible value.
5. Jack Daniel's Barrel Proof Rye - I shouldn't have been surprised. I still was. Exceeded all expectations.
Disappointments:
1. William Heavenhill 13 Year BiB - I paid secondary price for this. It is worth MSRP. Not bad, but not mind-blowing for what I paid. Similar to your experience with ER17.
2. Old Grand Dad BiB - At least I only paid $20 to be this disappointed. I picked it up for a 100 proof Beam tasting. I love OGD 114. This is not OGD 114.
3. Old Pepper Single Barrel Bourbon - I told a friend after tasting, "You have to kiss a lot of frogs to find your prince." This was a frog.
4. Archives of Heaven Hill 10 Year cask strength single barrel - Such a great story. A barrel distilled by HH and sent to Scotland for aging. Unfortunately, I didn't want a story. I wanted a good bottle.
5. Mount Gay 1703 Master's Select - The upside: this was a $200 rum mispriced at $100. The downside: the rum was worth $50.
Big Misses (bottles I left on the shelf and regretted)
1. Buffalo Trace Kosher Rye Recipe (saw it on the shelf for $30, bought it on secondary for $75 and it was worth $75)
2. Four Roses Barrel Strength Store Pick (I mistook the bottle for single barrel)
3. 6th Street 12 year (100 proof High Rye MGP. Bottle was so beautiful, I figured it was crap. I ended up having to drive two hours for a bottle. And it was worth it)
You and @drew p whiskey are big fans of that Dickel 11year. May have to try and find it...
Great list! You really sparked my interest in the Frye Ranch. I must have missed your review on that one. Here’s to an awesome 2021 Cheers 🥃
Great content....now I go shopping
I am def looking for that Dickel now! Thanks, and thanks for preseting such a great YT channel. Keep up the good work!
Happy New Year Jason. Too many good bourbons on the shelf to buy on secondary market. It only brown juice
My favorite this year was Bardstown Discovery Batch 3! Absolutely love it.
Made my top 10 this year...video pending. lol
Woo Hoo!!! I gambled on the Chattanooga 111 proof to support a new store that opened up by me. I'm glad I picked it up. Shocked that HH had so many disappointments.
Love the video man. I hate to say it because I feel like I'm the only person that feels this way, but your top surprise was my top disappointment. I actually just bought the Dickel BIB about a week ago, and I just find it super astringent. I let it open up with some water and it helped, but still not my favorite. Maybe it'll get better as I get into the bottle a little more. My biggest surprise is Old Tub. I couldn't believe how good that was for the price.
Old tub is a good call out. Everyone can't love dickel. But I only chose it because it was so unlike the usual dickel profile.
Some great suggestions...
Have a great 2021 and keep the reviews coming.
Thanks for this...took many notes. I haven't been following long but from the recommendations you make I've found we have a similar palate, so thanks! On the Bulleit, it makes an amazing old fashioned. The cherry really comes out and is super smooth. Cheers!
Ive been eying the Woodenville straight bourbon at my local store. I seem to agree with your palate and trying to consider my next bottle all at $40. You have reviewed all three:Woodinville, Redwood emp pipe dream, and jack daniels barrel select...Which one would you recommend more.?
Woodinville to me has predominant notes of sawdust and grapes. I've heard root beer notes from PNW whiskeys before, but I haven't tasted them yet. Hope that helps!
I can't agree more on the knob creek 15 year. Loved the 12 and 9 year but the 15 year was definitely a huge disappointment.
Cheapest I could find eagle rare 17 was $1500.................Yowwwser. I'll stick with ECBP Barrell Proof for $65
Nice list here, Jason. I also love that Cooper's Craft chiseled & charred- bought one on a whim when I was down in KY in 2019 and it's delicious. Hoping I can find it around me once my bottle is gone. Cheers, man!
Damn, was very surprised to hear good things about Dickel. We'll have to look for the Chattanooga as well. Great video!
Dickel has been my families go to Whisky. No.8 is a GREAT MIXER, No. 12 a GREAT SIPPER and the Barrel Select Versions are as good as any high priced Bourbon. My Father owns a Liquor Store in TN and its amazing how many people over look the Dickel line because of price. We have converted many customers over to the GD line.
Great video Jason! I really enjoy your content. You knocked it out of the park in 2020 and made getting through this crazy year better! I’m looking forward to what you’ll do in 2021.
My surprise is the Maker's Mark 2020 SE. I expected it to be good but I really love it. My disappointment is Remus Repeal Reserve batch III. It wasn't bad but for 85 bucks it was pretty boring.
GD BB 11 yr was a delightful surprise. Bigdog & I loved the 13 yr, but the 11 yr was a terrific surprise.
We ran out and bought another 3 bottles. The 11 yr sweetened in the bottle after 6 months. Flavors are deeper and rounder. It's a kickass whiskey for us. Happy New Year. Slainté
I agree buddy. Its delicious.
I had four roses small batch before and was not a fan of the floral smell taste. I wanted to give 4R select a chance and found a bulleit single barrel which I knew was the same. That bottle is the best I have ever tasted. Complex, sweet, creamy, has a bite, long finish. I immediately went to buy 2 more.
I feel like my palate is generally in line with yours and I could not disagree more on the Knob Creek 15. The bottle I got is a beautiful balanced pour
@@PhatTrumpet2 I can disagree that it is not one of the 2020 most disappointing whiskeys.
I've been D riding Frey Ranch since day one, so this was a pleasant surprise. Just wait until you toss back their BiB Rye and Barrel Strength!
My biggest disappointment was Makers Mark 101 limited release. A spikey mess that made a mockery of my love for wheat forward bourbon. I have a bottle of the Cooper's Craft purchased on your recommendation and enjoy it very much. Cheers.
Glad to hear! The 101 was ok. the cask strength 46 was way better.
If you take a Poll on Dickel BIB...The would be a Disappointed. Maybe it's like the Knob Creek 15yr...The inconsistent of the Whole batch as what your tasting...For me it's Drano.
New subscriber here! Found you thru your recent show with Fred. Great stuff! Excited to make my way through your catalogue!!!!!!
Thanks so much!!
Maybe I'll be the first to "drink outside the [bourbon] box" and say that my nice surprise was Loch Lomond 12 (single malt Scotch). They were selling these gift sets with a full bottle of LL12 and 2 mini bottles of Inchmurrin 12 and Inchmoan 12 (from that same distillery). I've only tried the main bottle so far. And Loch Lomond is meant to be a budget decent single malt but this one is just memorable. Strawberries and cream... first time I ever got pronounced red berry notes in a whisky. 46% NCF and $35 for the set, as much enjoyment as a nice cask strength bourbon. I've had their NAS madeira finish Inchmurrin but this Loch Lomond 12 is much better.
Thanks for the descriptive review, I might try that Loch Lomond.
Wow. I was out in Arizona a few weeks ago and thinking I was definitely score some Elijah Craig barrel proof or the Knob Creek 15yr and I found nada. Now I wish I had grabbed that Chattanooga bourbon when I saw it the other day. I gotta follow you around, Jason to find out how you score all this great juice.
Man...I really dislike Frey Ranch! Based on their processes, story, stunningly beautiful bottle, I SOOOOO wanted to like this...Especially as a Nevada native. But after finally making it through 1/2 bottle, my palette always confirmed disappointment. So funny how people's palettes can differ. Keep up the GREAT reviews!!
Yeah! I can see why perhaps. There is some youth to it that may turn some off but I loved the creamy and rich mouthfeel to it and the flavor of what it can be. Cheers!
@@TheMashandDrum Thanks for the reply!
Wow Dickel as the surprise hit! After last year"s version being sooooo disappointing. Hopefully last year (2019) was a anomaly. Gotta see if I can still find the 11 year. Great list. Cheers!!
I pretty much nailed all your picks from watching your AMAZING channel! The one I missed was the Barrel Armida...may have to give this one a go! Love the channel...keep up the great reviews and interviews!
The Armida is weird. I solely picked it because its different. You ave to like Pear.
Tennessee whiskey companies seem to be on the rise! Chattanooga Whiskey, and Huling station are on the come up quick. Then Jack Daniels and even Dickel are ever increasing their presence in the whiskey world. Seems like TN has some great things to come. Cheers!
Absolutely!
I enjoyed ur video. I was wondering if you could give me ur opinion of the Woodford Reserve vs the Woodford double oaked if you don't mind. I wanted 2 buy the better tasting one. Thx.
Double Oaked all the way.
Thanks because that's the one I really wanted to buy!
@@gaylemcgee2221 love the store picks of Woodford reserve double oaked!
Nice list! Dickle BiB is excellent at $35. My surprise was Balcones Lineage. Really excellent for $35 also.
Great idea for a vid, thank you! i was contemplating the E Craig 18, & Knob 15, pass. i think i may have Coopers in my area, didn't know that was Brown-Forman.
Great episode... I won't even mention my favourites.
All of these are out of my budget
Wow wow the selection 👏👏👏
Interesting choice with the Dickel, I can't say I've ever seen a bottle in the UK but 2 different American Eagle bourbons sourced from an anonymous Tennessee distillery that's absolutely Dickel scored 98 at the 2020 IWSC awards so they must be doing something right! I've got a bottle of the American Eagle 12 that I paid a little over $30 equivalent for [after tax] on sale (one of the 98 pointers) and it's a perfectly nice whiskey, you'll only get a mineral note if you go looking for it.
And if you've never seen a bottle of American Eagle in America, that's because Eagle Rare had something to say about the branding.
Instant classic buddy! Great points and great discussion. Truth be told man. Cheers 🥃
great video and I love the set up. keep going bro exciting to see what you do with this channel in 2021 💪🏽
My favorite was Garrison Brothers SB store pick. That ruined me for all my other bourbons. I don't want to drink anything but that
YO! I know I'm late to this party, but I just tried Cooper's Craft and OMG.... Is this bottle really $30??!!
I mean.... Wait.... It's terrible. Don't buy it. You should definitely not buy this and make the price higher.
Thanks so much for your channel. Love your palate!
Did you do a review of Frey Ranch? I looked but didn’t see it. Wondering if I missed it? Thank you for the best and worst video btw.
Not yet but I'm working on trying to get a rye and a single barrel from them so I can do the full lineup. It's just not available where I am
Try Old Fourth Distillery, Bonded (100+ proof) out of Atlanta Ga. I just tried it this past Friday with a great cigar. I will leave out the tasting notes and let you decide for yourself. Just know, It is one of the best whiskeys/bourbon's that I've had to date. The complexity of this whiskey is INSANE. Please give it a try. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this fantastic spirit. For at around 50 bucks..its a diamond in the rough! Google it, research it, and get a sample for yourself..
Jason - great review. Kroger’s / Giant Eagle for the Dickel 11 BiB here in Central Ohio?
Love this video! Cheers!
Fortunately I got a good Knob creek 15 , it was delicious. Bought another hopefully it doesn’t suck and is as good as my first one !
My most pleasant surprise was the Woodfords Reserve Double Oaked. Dessert in a glass. Not disappointing but meh was the Old Tub. Not bad at all but not life changing or even good enough to put it into the "mixin' whiskey" rotation.
I'll agree, I've wanted to find a bottle of Old Tub for years (I collect BiB) and was glad they released full bottles for retail. It wasn't even as interesting as Old Granddad BiB and OGD114 is certainly a much better value. I sampled them both yesterday. It might be better at cask strength.
I bought a bottle of Chattanooga Whiskey Cask Strength off of your recommendation , it's awesome Jason
The Blenders Select is awesome
My biggest disappointment of 2020 was Balcones Texas Rye Cask Strength. Biggest surprise was Wilderness Trail Rye Single Barrel. Bought 2 bottles from 2 different barrels and both delicious.
Love that wildernerss trail rye
Love the Chattanooga 111, I've bought another. Biggest disappointment is Oregon Spirit Straight American Rye. Very minty and eucalyptus but other than that not much, thin, alcoholic, virtually no finish. It's not stupidly priced but I don't think I can even use it as a mixer. Somebody recommended this, wish I could remember who as I'll never take take advice from them again.
Very cool video, and solid picks for each category. I'm right there with you on Bulleit Blenders Select. I just love the balance of flavors in that one. That one made my personal top 10 American Whiskies of the year list (granted, I didn't have the BTACs or any real unicorns, but still - I really liked that one)
Surprised me too! Took a me a bit to warm up to it but it was a great blend.
YES!! for the Dickel 11 BiB! Great choice!
Tried and tried to get my friends to give that dickel a chance its fantastic and so far away drom the normal flintstones profile!
Biggest disappointment of 2020 was an old forester SB barrel proof. I get a tannic oak and a chemical medicinal cherry note. Since I paid $100 for it I keep revisiting hoping it will open up, but it just doesn't get any better. Pretty bummed about my purchase.
Yes alot of the barrel proof releases have been medicinal and hot.
One of the biggest surprises for me this year was Green River’s Yellow Banks. I had to pick it up at the distillery, but holy cow it is excellent.
Four Roses Single Barrel has been hit or miss. The last one I picked up right before NYE was barrel 1-5P, and it was excellent. The previous one...not so much. Had it not been for the guy behind the counter, I wouldn’t have picked this one up.
yeah its that four roses thing. alot of variation in their single barrels and recipes.
Biggest surprise, Makers 101. Very obtainable, priced less than Makers 46, yet really stepped up the game.
The makers 101 was a 2020 limited release though so there may not be anything comparable on the shelf again at least for a while. Really it was a distillery only bottle but because of the virus they released it to the general public.
@@davidmcguire6043 thanks for the info
Great review !
I know you don't think either one is worth it but... ER 17 for a $1000 vs Dry State for a $1000? Seems like Kentucky Owl is going after the same people that would pay $1000+ for BTAC and just cutting out the middleman. Just curious, because you mentioned the crazy pricing, and that's where my mind went, "which one is more worth $1000?"
I actually thought the KO was more intersting
I’m actually heading to Washington next weekend and that’s the distillery I plan on visiting. I agree about the Elijah Craig. So unimpressed.
I’ll be going out to find a Blenders Select Bulleit!! Now my bottle of Knob Creek 15 is pretty tasty, not worth $100 .. but being a limited release, I said what the heck..
Thoughts on Dry State if you lost the $850 box / packaging So is the juice worth even $150?
I think it is compared to alot of other $150 bourbons that arent nearly as well blended.
I'll have to try my Dickel BiB. I just tried Dickel Barrel Select for the first time and got the Flintstone vitamins note. Not sure how I feel about it yet. The BiB i bought but didn't get around to opening yet. Glad I didn't pay too much for it though. It's one that some are trying to mark up because it won whiskey of the year once.
The 13 year won that award but its a vastly different experience than the 11 this year.
@@TheMashandDrum luckily I have the 11yr. I hope it's a step up from the Barrel Select too. The BiB 11yr is routinely $60 in my area. I got it for under $50 which is still slightly over msrp but not crazy.
I tasted the EC 18 at a bar in Louisville. It was just not good to me.
My biggest disappointment was Maker's Mark cask strength. My biggest surprise, finding a bottle of Garrison Brothers Balmorhea and having enough insight to purchase the bottle
me too. I was excited to try the MM cask strength and then absolutely not excited to have to finish it.
I didn't like the cask strength at first but after a couple of shots and letting it sit a couple of days is pretty good. Smooth light spiced vanilla.
I’ve been eyeballing a Woodinville bottle for quite some time at my local store. $40 sounds like a steal for a quality bourbon. I wish it also carried Wild Turkey Rare Breed.
Seeing that you were so disappointed with Eagle Rare 17 I'd be happy to take it off your hands. Just want to help you out my friend. Cheers!
LOL! Can send a sample!
@@TheMashandDrum that would be fantastic if your serious
@@TheMashandDrum I’ll join in on this conversation 😂
As Chuck Cowdery recently wrote: "$100 to $150 is a princely sum to pay for a bourbon". I suspect the whole "scene" of overpriced bourbons is just marketing trying to establish bourbon as equal to Scotch (in terms of value and prices it commands). But it doesn't need to be equal. It just needs to be itself. Overpaying will always lead to disappointment and disappointment is the opposite of what this hobby is about :) Better to be surprised by a fairly priced bottle.
Yeah, but what's "fair" can't be universally established. First, you're dealing with different palates and different desires. A "fair" price on something I love may be higher than what someone who only kinda likes it considers "fair." Evan Williams BIB exists at what most would consider a "fair" price, but it doesn't speak to me enough to even pay the $15-20. I love Wild Turkey 101 and I'm glad it's at its current price point, but if it went up to $45, I'd still consider it "fair" because of how much I love it and how much pleasure I get from drinking it. Other people would decide that price isn't "fair" and would stop buying it. And that's OK! They don't have the same relationship to it as I do. And that is totally fine. I wouldn't get the same satisfaction from suddenly buying two bottles of EW BIB as I would just the one of WT 101. That's what's "fair" to me. But then you also have to consider that something's value changes for a person not just because of hype, but what statement that bottle makes within a community. It may be "worth it" to someone to plop down that $600-700 for a bottle of George T. Stagg because they know that within the community of bourbon lovers it's a highly coveted bottle and their own status within that community will change because others see they have that bottle. The more prized something is within a community, and the more people who are or want to be accepted within that community, the greater thee value it suddenly has for those people. So now, "fair" for them isn't just attached to how the whiskey tastes, but what having a bottle of that whiskey will say about them. The only way to alter that is for either the community to dissolve (which it won't, because humans are social creatures) or for the values of the community to shift. It would have to mean *nothing* to have a bottle of Stagg, or Pappy, or [insert other rare/limited/unicorn bottle here]. But I doubt that's going to change for a while, so my question is why chastise people are who are just trying find their way into a community? I get being mad at flippers and hoarders, people who aren't even remotely interested in drinking what they're buying and then preventing those who *do* want to taste it from having an opportunity to do so. But that's rarely where the ire seems to be directed.
@@mdstube1986 1. I also like WT101, it surprised me when I first tried it, 2. I meant "fair" not in financial/market terms, but rather in our own individual preference terms. You've described some market variations that might happen, I wasn't talking about that. I was talking about bottles selling for hundreds and thousands. If you could see my other comments, you'd see that I have nothing against free market and I do not begrudge anyone if they can afford expensive bottles. Personally I don't regret not being able to buy most of them. I was kind of hoping to score maybe Blanton, Stagg and EH Taylor Rye at MSRP, but my whisky journey will not be incomplete even without them. In fact, I'd prefer if Buffalo Trace received the premiums vs. the flippers, charge what the market will bear. I was addressing other whisky enthusiasts who might be swayed by the craze. I've tasted several Pappies and a few other "rare" bourbons (generous friends, now I don't have to ever bother trying to buy them). They're very nice. If I saw them at MSRP I might even walk away, there are lots of Scotch and Cognac/Armagnac I'd rather buy for less. Most "rare" whiskies are not rare (some truly are but they are well outside of reach of people with middle class income). And while most of us could "afford" to overpay for one of those hunted bottles, paying this "above reasonable" price would increase the chance of disappointment. While finding a commonly available bottle at MSRP and discovering it drinks well above its price... well, that's a rewarding surprise. I think Jason's video neatly demonstrated that. His disappointments were mostly overhyped bottles. His surprises were either the obscure offerings (my preferred way of upgrading - not "up" but "sideways") or the commonplace bottles like Dickel. It's very natural to wonder what "better" tastes like, as our palate develops. But I've already learned that there's a point of diminishing returns. It's better to try different distilleries and different spirits than to try all the more expensive versions of the same distilleries.
@@alexk3088 But what I'm saying is that the point of diminishing returns is going to vary from person-to-person and also be based on a number of factors that will have nothing to do with the actual taste of the whiskey. There are other things that go into determining value, and those have to be considered, especially if you're talking about those bottles going for hundreds and thousands. It's easy (too easy, IMO) to reduce it to people who aren't knowledgable and therefore unable to assess something's "true" value. For some people, that *is* the product's true value, for a whole host of reasons.
@@mdstube1986 I agree that the point of diminished return varies, that's implied, obvious and understood. No whisky costs $1000 intrinsically on taste. Just like no loaf of bread or steak are worth that, no matter how much one loves bread and steak. But people with immense wealth will routinely spend inordinate amounts, usually it's vanity.
@@alexk3088 Sure, that's what wealth is. But it's not *just* people with immense wealth willing to spend that. It's easier for them, but it's also people who have a relationship to the product that is informed by a whole host of factors, and to me, any discussion of "value" that doesn't take those factors into consideration is incomplete at best, dismissive and alienating at worst.
Biggest surprise was a Old Elk barrel proof wheated bourbon store pick....it was a flavor bomb. Biggest disappointment was a Bardstown Bourbon company Copper and Kings apple brandy rested bottle. It was decent but not a $130 maybe a $50 bottle
Yeah I didnt like that BBco. either.
My disappointment was the Kirkland's 7yr bourbon. It was ok at best
I love the knob 15 I'm not sure why everyone is hating on this
Upon further listening I retract said comment lol
Surprise: Calumet Farms 10-Year
Disappointment: Rare Breed Rye
But if we're talking biggest surprise/disappointment based on me trying them for the first time, regardless of when they were released...
Surprise: Little Book Chapter 3 (I'm honestly depressed I can't get a bottle).
Disappointment: Booker's 30th
Dickel, really? Well, I almost purchased that today when I made a scouting stop at one of my go to liquor stores. Looks like I will have to give it a try.
Its the 11 year...It surprised me because its so different than most Dickel.
So, a bottom shelf bourbon is better that those "bad" high-dollar bourbons?
Some of them are. Not all.
My biggest disappointment was all the price increases for 2020. Weller antique went up 10 bucks, bookers went up, etc. darnit
We have started leaving stuff on the shelf. Stuff continues to sit, the price will eventually go back down.
@@bartdaviswcu that’s what I’ve done as well. I only bought one Wellers antique this year and passed on bookers. It’s annoying
@@paytonwoodruff3621 yes sir. Prices are out of control.
Totally agree. I keep seeing McKenna 10 for $50 and skipping it. Too many great bottles for much less. As long as I can get Rare Breed for under $50, I can’t imagine spending $50 on McKenna.
@@TheBourbonVan mckenna was $28 2 years ago.....
Grab “Still Austin” if you get the chance ...
I shared my bottle of Knob Creek 15 year with a group of 12 and everyone raved, including me
Woodville port cask finish was a hitter , JD BPR ,Remus repeal 4. Those are bottles I'm super happy for this year.
Frey Ranch! Wait till you taste their 100% Winter Rye and Single Barrel Barrel Strength - wow!
A couple disappointments were Knob Creek 12 year 100 proof, and Jack Daniel's single Barrel cask strength. Both were in lots of Best Of 2020 lists, but they just didn't roll with me. I'm a huge Knob Creek fan, but the proof on the 12 year made it less interesting to me than the readily available 9 year single barrel 120 proof. And with the Jack, I've barely drank any Jack at all, but I bought it just because of the reviews. Just not my thing I guess.
Damn id say both of those werent diaappointing at all to me
I fell in love with jd sb BS and just now bought a kc 12.
Actually I may have been a bit too hasty... That disappointment was based on neck pours. They have both opened up a bit now and I'm actually really enjoying them now.
I got Knob 15 last year and didn't enjoy it either. Very disappointing for what I paid.