I think what the comment was referring to is that all of our spirits we purchased ourselves. When distillers are supplying certain reviewers the tendency could be not to be completely honest in order to not sever a relationship. Thanks for your input.
I saw the Kentucky Owl Dry State at my local liquor store for around $800. I was so very tempted. The owner who knows me well and knows my tastes, straight told me "I'm not selling you that bc I don't want to lose a regular customer."
You know what's impressive is being able to put aside the hype and realize that just because something is expensive it isn't necessarily that good. Even a lot of whiskey "experts" fail at this and get embarrassed when they do blind tests and put the $30 bottle over the $200 bottle. Well done!
I really feel this man's pain. I was never much of a liquor drinker... good craft beer was my vice. Around age 50, I tried some Bulleit bourbon and quite enjoyed it. So, without an educated palate, I started buying the occasional bottle, of increasing cost, hoping to strike gold with some gloriously delicious bourbon. I have subscribed to bourbon-of-the-month clubs and been regularly disappointed, spent upwards of $200 for bottles that had rave reviews, only to be let down, and ordered $75 shots of very expensive and renowned sipping whiskey that tasted like brown acetone. I don't make cocktails as I want to taste the product as god intended. In the end, I always return to two brands that are consistently good... Bulleit and Four Roses. Both are relatively cheap, readily available when travelling, and (to me) always delicious in a familiar way. I guess I lucked out and found that less expensive booze was my favorite... I could have fell in love with something too costly to afford. Thanks for the review.
@@brandoneason8418 Knob Creek is also a good, readily available bourbon in the same price range as Maker's. Everyone has their preference. Maker's is always an option when I'm at a restaurant that doesn't have many choices. Good stuff.
"I don't have any tastings notes for you. It's just shear crap!" & "Aged in cardboard" are my two new favorite whiskey phrases. Well done. I really appreciate your thoughtful, honest reviews. Thanks for posting!
The Kentucky Owl anniversary bottle: Display it prominently with in the original box. If you have friends/guests who drink whiskey but don't really know bourbon and ask about it, you can very graciously and magnanimously offer up a shot or two (over lots of ice). They'll think it's great b/c that's what they're supposed to think.
My store stocked Kentucky owl St paddy's edition today for $130. Oof. I got my hands on Eagle rare and Blantons, which is not an easy find here in Orange County.
My husband and I married in 1977 and received a bottled of bourbon in a commemorative 1776-1976 bottle. 40 years later we tried it (we are NOT bourbon drinkers). It was FANTASTIC! Smooth, vanilla finish, leaving me with an “Oh my God I want more” but alas it’s gone. 😢 Just one of those things. Thanks for the tips, much appreciate.
Interesting, I’m not a big Bourbon and or Whiskey person, however, a friend has a bottle of Jack Daniels that is over forty-five years old. He got it out on new years a couple years ago. Four of us had a shot If he hadn’t shown us the bottle I’d never guessed it was Jack. Very smooth
Once it’s out of the barrel and bottled, the aging process stops. Last year I opened a 12-year-old bottle of Chivas Regal that I bought in 1989 and there was no difference in the taste from a 12-year-old bottle recently put on sale or one that’s been setting for 33 years. Wine on the other hand is very fragile and needs proper storage in a cool dry environment or it will go bad.
Yea ive never seen anyone do this type of review. its open and honest and refreshing truly. We're all just a man (or woman) just searching for a good hit of whiskey. Sometimes you have misses along the way. Thats whats up!! Great content
I like a video where someone actually buys the bourbon as opposed to getting it sent to them. Thank you for your very honest opinion (especially of some very expensive unicorn stuff)
Agreed. Every whiskeytuber has his/her own process and way of running the channel, but I always think there's more credibility to a score/opinion when the reviewer has got some skin in the game.
@@jashsu Having helped several whiskytubers procure bottles for episodes over the years, I can assure you that the majority of reviewers on this platform buy the majority of their whiskey with their own money. =)
I LOVE this review. So honest and refreshing...no hype, just plain talk presented in a way anyone can understand. BTW...I love your bar. I'm going to do the same thing in my basement after I move to the new house.
Thank you for this tutorial. I too got taken on the Jefferson's Ocean. Back in college my Marketing professor drilled into us, "If they have to market the hell out of it, chances are it's not a great product." I'd say Kentucky Owl's fancy boxing falls into that category. He always used the example of how Rolls Royce does ZERO advertising...because it's a Rolls Royce!!! They don't have to tell ANYONE how great it is. That rule of thumb has served me well.
Part of the enjoyment of the experience with whiskey hunting is exploring and trying out new things. Sometimes you score, sometimes you miss…..but you always win regarding the experience of the hunt. Thanks for sharing this!
"I was not only stupid once, I was stupid twice." HAHA! We've all been there! Timely video, because I'm tired of all the bourbon cheerleaders who are trying to be nice, and don't tell it as it is. BTW, I can understand the tasting issues with Elijah Craig 18, because that is a LONG time for a bourbon. It is a common complaint with a lot of the old Pappy's too. I think 12 yr old, maybe 15 yr old is about as old as bourbon should be aged.
Similar concept to tequila. Anything aged above 2 years like extra añejo just totally defeats the purpose of a good tequila, which is the agave spices and flavor.
@@slbdrinks but seriously you bought a $1k bottle of bourbon?! I don’t care if angles floated down a sung me a lullaby every time I took a sip, there’s no way! I’m glad you gave us all the heads up not to make that purchase 😂
I am a long-time bourbon lover and I am very appreciative of this video. I’m always looking for a better bourbon and to have someone so knowledgeable say “don’t bother” is very helpful.
I love Bourbon, but don't have a lot of money to spend being on a fixed income, so I make life simple. As far as I'm concerned Evan Williams is not just the best value, but simply one of the best Bourbons. Their 1787 and Bottled in Bond are also really good.
Hard to go wrong with the 1787! I have a large collection and a lot of times I reach for the 1787 just because it's tasty bourbon. It's fun to explore and right now I have a little disposable income for it but, in a few years I'll be in the same boat and EW 1787 and BIB will be my main go to's.
I agree wholeheartedly...Evan W's BiB & 1787 ( 90proof ) are QUITE good & economical as well. His Single Barrel is good too, but costs more. I consider "my" Gold Standard ( "Turkey 101" ) with which I compare most others to Evan's offerings.
Really appreciate hearing about some of the bourbons you don't like. Too often we only hear positive things about everything out there to buy! Really appreciate the honesty, which honesty seems harder and harder to come by these days.
“You’re gonna learn to like it!” 🤣🤣🤣🤣. That hit home. I’ve been told that more than once after a regretful purchase. Definitely share that Kentucky Owl with as many friends and family as you can. Giving lots of people the thrill of tasting a $1,000 bourbon will make it worth every dollar. Just don’t tell them that it’s not that good. Unless they’re big into bourbon they’ll never know the difference. Cheers!
Years ago when I strongly disliked Scotch, some said to just drink it for a couple of months and I would learn to love it and want nothing else. I tried. I still strongly dislike Scotch.
Thank you for the cautionary tale!! I’m learning that slick marketing and price point do not necessarily make for good bourbons all the time. Here’s to the Regiment!
I live in the Finger Lakes region of New York State. It has dozens if not hundreds of wineries. The ones that spend their time and resources creating the best looking brands end up not spending enough time and resources on the wine itself. This is my first video of yours and I’m already proud of you admitting your mistakes. You’ve earned at least one new subscriber. 😊
I’ve heard so many stories now that there is no way in HELL I’m even trying a high dollar “antique” aged bourbon. Almost like they don’t expect anyone to actually drink them for that amount of money. Makes sense they would be more concerned with the quality and taste of the everyday bourbons since that’s where the sales volume is gonna happen. Thank you for helping this newbie out!
IMO there is a distinct 'break' point around the sub $40 and over $60 that lets one know where that extra money went. It isn't to say there aren't good sub $40 bourbons/whiskeys out there, and especially for cocktails, but there is a distinct difference to be had once you pass that lower price point with many brands. It is unfortunate that the popularity of the spirit has driven demand and more importantly, pricing well beyond what it was previous to the "retro discovery" period (as I call it). There were some SUPER FINE bottles to be had in that 70-80 range. Almost all of those are now over 100 and nearly impossible to find. The other aspect I find funny is sort of like the fancy potato chip branding. Oh look, Mrs Whose-her-face made these special kettle chips that cost double what the other, just to look on the back and see they were made by Lays. Whiskey and Bourbon have particularly catered to this aspect of sales. Oh wow, I can buy my TV show themed bottle brand for 3X the price of the Evan green label it actually is... As always, buyer beware and in the case of whiskey pallet forward.
Takes a lot of guts to make a video like this. Kudos to you! And I hope you don't get too many of these in the future! My regrets have been Pig's Nose, George Dickel Single Barrel, Glenmorangie Lasanta, Johnnie Walker Double Black, Maker’s Mark 101, Old Forester 1870, and St. George "Breaking & Entering".
My own "Don't bother" list: Jack Daniel's single barrel cask strength (not bad, just not worth the money) (purchased bottle in local liquor store); Ballantine's Scotch (details not recalled); Chivas Regal 18 gold signature (gifted bottle from local liquor store - not bad, but not worth the price to me); Bulleit bourbon (tried from miniature on plane - not impressed); Johnnie Walker Blue Label (good, but I actually prefer black, based on side-by-side taste test in bar on Island Princess, delivered by trusted waiter). And a surprise find: This one was quite affordable and I enjoy it, even neat, as an everyday whiskey. Ten High sour mash bourbon. My Dad wasn't as much of a fan, so try one before stocking up, to make sure it suits your taste. Thank you ever so much for alerting us to a few to avoid!
I wish I could give a 1,000 thumbs up 👍 for honesty. People all over the world are looking for this type of honesty and humility, it makes him seem more credible and wise.
Not sure about wise but I will always be honest with you. Maybe that’s why we haven’t had any distillers ask us if they can send product?? That’s ok by me. Would rather give an honest opinion than sell out to the big players. Thank you for your kind words.
Great video. I stumbled (no pun intended) into a bourbon crawl this summer and they had three versions of the Jeffersons. I thought the Ocean was the best of the three but don’t disagree with your comments. All of them were really harsh and just didn’t have much to offer. The bourbon that I would say is extremely over rated was the 21 year pappy. Very unique and had some nice qualities but the vanilla finish was overwhelming. Thankfully, I hadn’t spent to money to acquire that particular bottle so it was very cool to get to try it.
Who would have thought, 18 year old Bourbon, heavily oaked haha. 6 to 12 is usually the sweet spot for Bourbon because of the Ky Summer heat and the new charred barrels. Now how it is warehoused plays a large role as well. But Scotch and Brandy are the high age statements you are looking for because those climates never get as hot as the continental US. Scotland surely doesn’t. Plus they often use used Bourbon casks, which means it takes more time to develop with less available oak tannins
You hit the nail on the head with all of your choices. I would also tell you to save your money if you're thinking of buying the Garrison Brothers Balmorhea. Also that Kentucky Owl will get better as it oxidizes a bit. But it's not a favorite.
@@damonmabry1607 💯 I absolutely love what Garrison Brothers offers. I have some beef with the pricing but other than that no issues. Might be in the minority but I find what they produce is very interesting, unique and quite engaging unlike most buffalo trace I've tried. But hey, I embrace the diversity in palates. The whisk(e)y community would be quite boring if we all liked the same stuff.
Very interesting and informative video! Although my experience and knowledge are not that broad, I definitely have had similar disappointments (although not as expensive); my price wheelhouse is fairly modest. Elijah Craig is a go-to anytime, as well as Knob Creek, some of the Four Roses products, and for an all-around utility player Bourbon, I figure Old Forester Signature 100 Proof is hard to beat. Thanks for posting, Sir!
I wouldn’t complain at all with those picks! Very solid. I have a few Old Forester but not the 100 proof bottle. Have to get that one on the list! Thank you
Yup, IMO Knob Creek stands heads above the rest in the price point. The only thing that I found upsetting over the past year-ish was the relaxing of its age certification.
With some family we each bought an expensive bottle and a bottom shelf bottle to do a blind test with. We all placed some of the bottom shelf bourbons higher than some rather expensive ones.
You made me feel better about my opinion of Jefferson’s Ocean. I never purchased it but it was their concept that got me thinking how unfavorable that could be. I’ve been enjoying the Elijah Craig Small Batch variety recently I’m shocked to hear that the 18 wasn’t worth the price. Makes me wonder if there’s ever something else that could affect the quality of a single bottle that isn’t considered throughout the process of getting to the drinker, whether it’s something that happens in the quality assurance /quality control of the distillery, transportation, distributors, or retailers…perhaps even the purchaser themselves
My bar brought in a bunch of Hillrock including that bottle and during our tasting going through the line I felt like i was going crazy because everyone was raving over them and I was silently in pain. I thought the rye and original solera aged bourbon (not cabernet finished) were totally drinkable but I felt like we got scammed 🤣
I really appreciate your straight forward reviews. The only one of these that's close to what I've tried is the Jefferson's Ocean although it was Voyage 16. I thought 16 was pretty good. The problem with the Voyages is each one results in a very different experience which makes it difficult to go back to one you find pleasing. It also makes it difficult to spend $80-$100 when you're not quite sure what you'll get.
"they could have aged it in cardboard". Dude, right there I'm liking your candor. (I need to use that line on some other bourbons) Nice. Subscribed. I'm still laughing.
Just stumbled upon your channel. It’s excellent. Thank you so much for these honest reviews. One thing I’ve learned from this post (and your channel in general) is that price in no way guarantees a quality product. Liquors that cost hundreds of dollars might not be any better than liquor that’s a fraction of that price. Same thing with fancy packaging and artistic bottles. Irrelevant. Again, thank you so so much.
Thanks for your candor. People need to hear this, because many people chase these hard to find and extremely hyped bottles, and don't tell the truth about them because they just like having them on their bar. My worst bourbon purchase was the Knob Creek 25th Anniversary which cost me $125! The cost wasn't the problem, it was the fact that it was one of the worst bourbons I ever tasted! It was harsh, bitter, and just nasty! I had to down it in Coca Cola just to make it palatable! I should have known from the fact that the bottle wasn't even different or special from the regular Knob Creek bottle! It made me wary about spending tons of money on overhyped bottles!
Full agreement on the Hillrock. I still keep a bottle around because it looks impressive. Love the look of the bottle really. If only it matched the drink's quality.
About three miles from my house is a convenience store where some old bums loiter. When I find a whiskey I can't enjoy, I simply leave it in a paper bag on top the store's outdoor ice machine.
Aging whiskey longer makes it more expensive, for obvious reasons- resources used for storage, plus more evaporation. But it’s possible to over-age whiskey. This point was made at a bourbon distillery I toured, where they had us taste different ages of bourbon, from “white dog” (no aging), all the way to “over-aged,“ which tasted like burnt wood and turpentine.
Many times the age nor the price really matter. I found that out first when I ordered a snifter of Louis XIII once...tasted like rotgut hootch filtered through hobo socks. Blech! Next, I tried a 150 year old Grand Marnier which tasted like it was separated from an oil slick and then promptly gave me the shits.
Literally making my first Old Fashioned tonight... Just starting on the bourbon journey!! Love your videos! I found a section at the state store that has small bottles. I been trying new stuff! I tried Makers Mark and Woodford reserve. So far I really like Woodford reserve. Tonight I will be trying Evan Williams and Wild Turkey 101 for the first time!
The Hillrock review is blowing my mind. I haven’t met a person who was disappointed with any bottle particularly their cask strength bottlings. My Hillrock bottles are some of my favorite. I haven’t had that exact finishing but I assure you that they make dam good whiskey.
Likewise. Not sure if it's the same year, but my bottle of Napa finished is probably the top bourbon in my collection and I absolutely taste the influence of the sherry and Cabernet in the finished product.
@@possibilityspace sherry cask is part of the solera aging so that’s gonna be there regardless. The standard cabernet finished bourbon they release I was never a huge fan of but I haven’t tried it in years. I do have the Dakota shy Cabernet cask strength bourbon and i really enjoy it. But everything they release is a single barrel so there no guarantee of consistency especially when they’re finishing with all different barrels. If you like really bold rye I would highly recommend any of their ryes. Their single malt is also very interesting if you like peated scotch. Although the peat is not what you normally expect from a peated scotch so it is very hit or miss with people.
I have a bottle of the Hillrock he reviewed and I am scratching my head trying to figure out how he came to that conclusion. It is absolutely one of my favorite bourbons. Notes of butterscotch, walnut, sherry, sweet fruit with a bit of cinnamon…complex yet balanced bourbon with a solid finish.
I had to laugh at your first "pick", the Jefferson's Ocean. I like Jefferson's but was skeptical so I only bought a 350 ml bottle. Glad I did. It'll evaporate before I get around to finding a way to finish that bottle. Next was Basil Hayden's, I found it very thin and weak. To kill the bottle I started using it for whisky sours and man does it make a great sour. So now I buy it for the sole purpose of making whiskey sours.
@@stagecoachrobbery Right, read labels carefully. A lot of whiskey labels should say "A historic US distillery with a rich history of sourcing fine Canadian whiskey." There's nothing wrong with sourced, or even blended whiskeys. Just be honest about it on the label.
This was enjoyable to watch, I think a lot of the so called experts are paid or compensated to give positive reviews. I’m convinced you never have to pay over $125 ever for any bottle, there are just too many good bourbons and ryes to buy!
I'm not a bourbon fan. My neighbor got a bottle of Blantons for his retirement. He shared with me, and sold me that this was the best bourbon ever. Smooth af.
Nice honest review. Thanks for laying your real thoughts out there. I have not had the voyage 17 but have had the voyage 19, 22 & 23 and thought they were all good quality bourbons. Worth $80? No, but I’d gladly pay $40 for them. My worst purchase lately was the 15 year old barrel craft bourbon. The one in the black box for $225. It wasn’t terrible but it tasted too much like Dickel. I’d Been better off with a bottle of the Dickel 15 yr for $50 if I wanted that flavor profile. The next worse was the Larceny barrel proof. It was only $60 but is undrinkable to me. I’m in Atlanta and will glad trade it for a knob call creek store pick. I also don’t really care for the Bullet 10 yr. just harsh to me for the price. You should do a video kinda opposite of this. The 5 best under radar/surprise whiskies you should definitely own.
Me too. I'm not understanding how and why some liquor stores in the area (I can name a few) charge for secondary pricing or even reps raising the costs on bottles. Price gouging is illegal right now and Buffalo Trace should pull allocations on the wholesalers for it
Great content. It is interesting how tastes differ. I didn’t enjoy the EC 18 either, but I did not find it over oaked, but rather sort of simple and thin on the palette. Completely agree on the VOSN; that stuff was harsh; I ended up using it for cocktails.
EC 18 was my first unicorn that I got, and while I do enjoy the bottle I have many that I feel outperform it especially for its price point. JDBP being one of them. So I most likely wouldn't buy a second one. I did however score a Parkers heritage heavy char wheated, so I am looking forward to seeing what Heaven Hill can do
@@slbdrinks I will definitely let you know when I open it. It won't be anytime soon since I already have too many open and it is my biggest unicorn to date. I was reading a review online that said it is on par with WLW so we will see!
I've never had this happen to me, but it's probably because I didn't used to buy a lot of bourbon until I moved to the heart of bourbon country in rural kentucky. I never buy anything I haven't sampled at one of the local distilleries. And we also have the annual Bourbon festival in bardstown where you can buy a ticket or a number of tickets that allow you to sample all sorts of Bourbons throughout the show. But it is kind of weird how one distillery can make a fantastic Bourbon and then also make a real dog.
I've always been a Jim Beam or Maker's Mark guy. On special occasions I pour myself a few fingers of Woodford Reserve (double oaked) or Angel's Envy. No need to spend more than you have to.
There are several bourbons Bette than Jim Beam for right around the same money. Wild Turkey 101, Russell’s Reserve and Knob Creek. All are good sippin whiskeys. Of course if you are going to mix in a cocktail Jim Beam or Jack Daniels will do just fine.
One bourbon that I did no research on and got completely suckered in by the presentation (which I now use as an infinity bottle) was the H.Deringer Bourbon. Awesome pistol cork, but was no better than Buffalo Trace. Also got ripped off because at my local liquor store it was $100 and after further investigation I could have went to Costco and got it for $75
This is a validation of my comment on your video on 15 best bourbons for the value/price - once you get past a certain price point it becomes less about substance, quality and craftsmanship than packaging, backstory and roll the dice marketing. The fine spirits world (particularly whiskey/whisky and bourbons) has gone completely bonkers lately and I've become very sceptical and judgemental when making a purchase, especially when I see ridiculous packaging. I'm a Bottle in Bond guy lately and they seem to offer the best value. Great post!
Hey, I just found your channel. I completely agree that I have a few bottles that I found, and was excited to try, and didn't like them at all once I tried them. I liked the regular Jefferson's, but heard the voyages weren't worth it (aside from the 23 I've heard). It's funny how some KC9 or MM46 and many other $20-40 bottles are more enjoyable than some of those >$80 bottles out there. Your wife's input made me laugh 😆 Subbed, Cheers!
Lucky for me she is a good sport lol! Bourbon and whiskey is a journey and I think that’s what makes it so fun. If you never make mistakes you never learn. Thank you
I’ve been disappointed with the first pour from many bottles, but after a few weeks and the whiskey has had a chance to “open up”, there’re usually pretty good. Give them a second chance.
Completely agree. I get excited about a new purchase. Open it up and take a couple pours and am disappointed. The bottle gets shuffled back on the shelf. Later I look to clear out stuff and will target drink something to get rid of it(I never dump or give away no matter what), only to find it’s much better than the first pours. I should probably open all new bottles but not pour from them for a month.
Happily my bottle regrets have been cheap (Grangestone comes to mind) and craft distilleries (I won't single out these local guys just starting out). I live in a place with incredible bars so I try before I buy the higher priced stuff. Plus it gives me an excuse to spend quality time doing "research"
😂😂😂 I died when you said, most embarrassing moment in this video, “hope my wife isn’t watching at this moment”. Fantastic review! Thank you for keeping all the buyers heads out of these bottles. Cheers!!🤘🏾💀🥃🥃
Calumet Farm is one of the only bourbons I have purchased that I absolutely hate. And it pains me to say, as a huge Four Roses fan, I do not like the newer Small Batch Select, at all. Great video!
I always turn away from the fancy presentation buys, such as the wooden box with that Kentucky Owl. For some reason I always feel like I'm being conned. Almost grabbed an Irish whisky recently and that feeling set in my head and I walked away. The drink should be the sell to me not the presentation. Every Scotch I've bought in a fancy box, the box went in the garbage.
I started laughing the moment you pulled out the first bottle! I really really wanted a bottle, thought the concept was so cool. Lucky for me I tried some at a local bourbon bar and I sure dodged a bullet! It was awful! :)
It is so rare to find a well stocked bourbon bar these days that don't make just buying an unknown bottle the lesser expense. We have an eatery nearby that has a dedicated whiskey bar. It is a great concept, and yet for the price they are charging for neat shots you may as well just play whack a mole on the shelves at the local store.
Retry the one you have is what they are saying.... that Kentucky owl I wasn't a fan of their stolen or whatever.. but 1000 dollars If you wouldn't have opened it .. it's worth double now
@@2dogmanshawn at this point I have never tried to make money on a bottle of whiskey. Not trying to diss on others that do but it’s just not me. Thanks for your input.
More often than not I've found the more expensive bourbons like Blanton's to be "all hat and no cattle" so to speak. Lots of clever marketing but the juice isn't as great as the price would have us believe.
That’s all good! Lots of voyages to pick from. My son just got a voyage 22 store pick and it’s pretty good. Many comments claim voyage 23 is great. Voyage 17 just wasn’t for me for sure.
New to your channel. I think I would have a hard time enjoying any liquor I spent $1000 on 😂 - your wife commenting in the back that you better learn to love it had me laughing
I was waiting for that bottle of Blantons in the background to show up on the list. Relieved and disappointed my uncle didn't send us to the Buffalo Trace distillery for overhyped garbage.
4:05 mark, 'They could have aged this in cardboard". I laughed so hard. This is why I love this guy's reviews. He's not afraid to let a guy know what he really thinks!
@@slbdrinks Wherever your SLB bourbon bar is, I'd sure enjoy visiting it (assuming it's open to the public). I've a good friend that lives & dies all things bourbon and he collects rare and exotic ones. Me? I'd just be happy learning what all the fuss is over 'single malt scotch whiskies'. I'm getting a pretty good idea watching your YT videos.
@@slbdrinks Wow. I've seen bars less well stocked than what it looks like your basement contains. Very nice. Oh, and I'll say I've subscribed to your channel so I can learn more about whiskies and bourbons.
I’m a scotch guy, not bourbon, but I appreciate these types of honest videos. May need to expand to more American offerings. None of these in the video of course!!
Honestly, every time I have spent more than $70 on a bottle I have ended up regretting it. Seems like that is the point of diminishing returns, at least to my tastes.
I use the crap boubon for mixed drinks with sweet soda. My great bourbons taste great with a good mouth feel without any help from mixers. Appreciate your honesty. My first overpriced disapointment was Blanton's. Which unless you collect the horse toppers, money better spent on a cheaper bourbon that you enjoy.
I was a bit confused by the sheer hype myself. Later toured the BT distillery and I'm pretty certain I was the only one who thought it was awesome and hilarious that the guide stated when asked about it, that there's really nothing special or unique about Blantons at all, other than the CEO is a marketing master and fought like hell to make sure John Wick happened. LOL I personally like Maker's offerings a lot more! It's not BAD. But definitely overhyped bigtime. Like Bulleit before it, I hope the BT line keeps the hype and it doesn't shift over to my favorites at reasonable prices.
I wish more people would be Blanton’s haters. Then it would become available again. It was my go to when the bottles would be gathering dust in my local liquor store.
I have a Costco membership. They dont add different bourbons much because they dont have a ton of room. I stop in a few times a week when shopping and see if they have anything new. I talk with the workers about it quite a bit. Yesterday I went in and the cashier said they had something new in. I was kinda excited to see what it was. It was Jeffersons Ocean....... I've never seen a video where anyone liked that stuff and my heart sank as I turned and walked out
Ohhh so sorry! I can tell you this. Trent got his hands on a store pick Jefferson’s voyage 22 and it was actually pretty decent. Worth the 80.00 price tag?? Ummm probably not but still a big upgrade from my voyage 17.
I've been delving deep into the bourbon world for about 12 years now and have had some great bottles. I am by no means an expert but one theme that seems to repeat itself often is the prettier the packaging, the worse the bourbon that's inside of it. Of course there are exceptions to this rule, but I tend to shy away from anything gimmicky now that I've been burned a few times. Speaking of gimmicky, as for the Ocean I agree with you in that the vast majority of the voyages I've had were not good at all. However, I did enjoy voyages 2, 13, and 15, which was their first "wheated" bottle and probably my favorite of the series that I've tried. But they've really been more miss than hit. Thanks for the informative video, very good stuff.
Thanks so much! Agree with the gimmicks and fancy packaging. Love the fact that you have 12 yrs of knowledge so I hope to hear from you again. Always looking to learn what I can about whiskey.
I'd wait for the empty bottles and refill them with my favorite bourbons. What they don't know, won't hurt them!! Glad you were honest about them and the cost.
It’s refreshing to hear someone reviewing things he bought with his own money. It makes the review much more credible.
I agree. If you pay your own money it gives one the freedom to give an honest review.
I get a lot of mine from doing my work and I don't really know what buying it has to do with how it tastes...all in your head
I think what the comment was referring to is that all of our spirits we purchased ourselves. When distillers are supplying certain reviewers the tendency could be not to be completely honest in order to not sever a relationship.
Thanks for your input.
The strong, silent type.
Like the videos and the comments. Taste and share men
I saw the Kentucky Owl Dry State at my local liquor store for around $800. I was so very tempted. The owner who knows me well and knows my tastes, straight told me "I'm not selling you that bc I don't want to lose a regular customer."
😂😂😂
It looks like that special packaging of Kentucky Owl Dry State was designed solely to catch people unawares and so rip them off.
😂😂😂😂😂
The cheapest I found is $1,599 online
You know what's impressive is being able to put aside the hype and realize that just because something is expensive it isn't necessarily that good. Even a lot of whiskey "experts" fail at this and get embarrassed when they do blind tests and put the $30 bottle over the $200 bottle. Well done!
Exactly right! So much good stuff out there that is commonly on the shelf.
This is amazing. Glad I stumbled on this…
All my favorite bourbons are $30-50
@@RickMcQuay Old Grand Dad Bottled in Bond 100 proof. $25.00. Will stand up in blind taste test to anything.
I really feel this man's pain. I was never much of a liquor drinker... good craft beer was my vice. Around age 50, I tried some Bulleit bourbon and quite enjoyed it. So, without an educated palate, I started buying the occasional bottle, of increasing cost, hoping to strike gold with some gloriously delicious bourbon. I have subscribed to bourbon-of-the-month clubs and been regularly disappointed, spent upwards of $200 for bottles that had rave reviews, only to be let down, and ordered $75 shots of very expensive and renowned sipping whiskey that tasted like brown acetone. I don't make cocktails as I want to taste the product as god intended. In the end, I always return to two brands that are consistently good... Bulleit and Four Roses. Both are relatively cheap, readily available when travelling, and (to me) always delicious in a familiar way. I guess I lucked out and found that less expensive booze was my favorite... I could have fell in love with something too costly to afford. Thanks for the review.
Great story! Thanks for sharing!
Maker's Mark for me!
@@brandoneason8418 Knob Creek is also a good, readily available bourbon in the same price range as Maker's. Everyone has their preference. Maker's is always an option when I'm at a restaurant that doesn't have many choices. Good stuff.
I like Angel’s Envy (Costco price)
Bulleit Rye and Makers 46 are basically perfect for the availability and price. If I could only own two American whiskey's that would be it.
"I don't have any tastings notes for you. It's just shear crap!" & "Aged in cardboard" are my two new favorite whiskey phrases. Well done. I really appreciate your thoughtful, honest reviews. Thanks for posting!
Appreciate that! I really just didn’t know what else to say…
@@slbdrinks Ha!
“Aged in cardboard!” LOL, could be worse, could be “Aged in crap”
@@robertcohen1888 "Aged in a septic tank."
@@freemanchrisx But if you use a really cool Old English type on the label & spell Septic with a C instead ..... there are BUYERS !
The Kentucky Owl anniversary bottle: Display it prominently with in the original box. If you have friends/guests who drink whiskey but don't really know bourbon and ask about it, you can very graciously and magnanimously offer up a shot or two (over lots of ice). They'll think it's great b/c that's what they're supposed to think.
You are probably right on the money! Good idea!
That’s just mean...but funny as crap!!! Great idea! 😂
so basically you would be perpetuating exactly what your pissing about...that makes sense
Just joking around my friend.
My store stocked Kentucky owl St paddy's edition today for $130. Oof. I got my hands on Eagle rare and Blantons, which is not an easy find here in Orange County.
My husband and I married in 1977 and received a bottled of bourbon in a commemorative 1776-1976 bottle. 40 years later we tried it (we are NOT bourbon drinkers). It was FANTASTIC! Smooth, vanilla finish, leaving me with an “Oh my God I want more” but alas it’s gone. 😢 Just one of those things. Thanks for the tips, much appreciate.
I wish you 40 more years of happiness!
Interesting, I’m not a big Bourbon and or Whiskey person, however, a friend has a bottle of Jack Daniels that is over forty-five years old. He got it out on new years a couple years ago. Four of us had a shot If he hadn’t shown us the bottle I’d never guessed it was Jack. Very smooth
Once it’s out of the barrel and bottled, the aging process stops. Last year I opened a 12-year-old bottle of Chivas Regal that I bought in 1989 and there was no difference in the taste from a 12-year-old bottle recently put on sale or one that’s been setting for 33 years.
Wine on the other hand is very fragile and needs proper storage in a cool dry environment or it will go bad.
Yea ive never seen anyone do this type of review. its open and honest and refreshing truly. We're all just a man (or woman) just searching for a good hit of whiskey. Sometimes you have misses along the way. Thats whats up!! Great content
I like a video where someone actually buys the bourbon as opposed to getting it sent to them. Thank you for your very honest opinion (especially of some very expensive unicorn stuff)
Live and learn for sure!
Agreed. Every whiskeytuber has his/her own process and way of running the channel, but I always think there's more credibility to a score/opinion when the reviewer has got some skin in the game.
@@jashsu Having helped several whiskytubers procure bottles for episodes over the years, I can assure you that the majority of reviewers on this platform buy the majority of their whiskey with their own money. =)
If someone gives you the bourbon, you have nothing to regret.
BrO
I LOVE this review. So honest and refreshing...no hype, just plain talk presented in a way anyone can understand. BTW...I love your bar. I'm going to do the same thing in my basement after I move to the new house.
You should! You will have years of enjoyment! Thanks for the kind words.
Thank you for this tutorial. I too got taken on the Jefferson's Ocean. Back in college my Marketing professor drilled into us, "If they have to market the hell out of it, chances are it's not a great product." I'd say Kentucky Owl's fancy boxing falls into that category. He always used the example of how Rolls Royce does ZERO advertising...because it's a Rolls Royce!!! They don't have to tell ANYONE how great it is. That rule of thumb has served me well.
That makes a lot of sense
Same thing my dad told me growing up! You had a great professor!
Part of the enjoyment of the experience with whiskey hunting is exploring and trying out new things. Sometimes you score, sometimes you miss…..but you always win regarding the experience of the hunt. Thanks for sharing this!
This is true and very well spoken!
"I was not only stupid once, I was stupid twice." HAHA! We've all been there! Timely video, because I'm tired of all the bourbon cheerleaders who are trying to be nice, and don't tell it as it is. BTW, I can understand the tasting issues with Elijah Craig 18, because that is a LONG time for a bourbon. It is a common complaint with a lot of the old Pappy's too. I think 12 yr old, maybe 15 yr old is about as old as bourbon should be aged.
Completely agree!
Longer aging can be risky, but I confess I loved the Pappy Van Winkle 20 and 23 year old.
Boy, never had the opportunity to try but glad you did!
Also, EC18 is only 90 proof AND underwhelming!! Money better spent elsewhere.
Similar concept to tequila. Anything aged above 2 years like extra añejo just totally defeats the purpose of a good tequila, which is the agave spices and flavor.
“Viciously bad”. I was dying laughing!! I’m so glad I’ve never bought any of these
I think we have round 400 bottles. Can’t all be good right?? Lol
@@slbdrinks but seriously you bought a $1k bottle of bourbon?! I don’t care if angles floated down a sung me a lullaby every time I took a sip, there’s no way! I’m glad you gave us all the heads up not to make that purchase 😂
Ya unfortunately I did. To each his own. Why do you think I worked 2 jobs for 10 yrs 😂
@@slbdrinks A cool box though !
Glad you did not shy away from offering your honest opinion. I do love Hillrock- especially their rye and single malt. Worth another try.
I am a long-time bourbon lover and I am very appreciative of this video. I’m always looking for a better bourbon and to have someone so knowledgeable say “don’t bother” is very helpful.
Thanks Gina!
This video proves for once and for all, how different people's palates are.
100% true! Go with what you like!
I love Bourbon, but don't have a lot of money to spend being on a fixed income, so I make life simple. As far as I'm concerned Evan Williams is not just the best value, but simply one of the best Bourbons. Their 1787 and Bottled in Bond are also really good.
I completely respect your commitment to your budget! I can’t agree more on the EW products! Enjoy!
Hard to go wrong with the 1787! I have a large collection and a lot of times I reach for the 1787 just because it's tasty bourbon. It's fun to explore and right now I have a little disposable income for it but, in a few years I'll be in the same boat and EW 1787 and BIB will be my main go to's.
Even Williams 1783 👌
I agree wholeheartedly...Evan W's BiB & 1787 ( 90proof ) are QUITE good & economical as well. His Single Barrel is good too, but costs more.
I consider "my" Gold Standard ( "Turkey 101" ) with which I compare most others to Evan's offerings.
Give WT101 a try. Great bang for the buck ~23-27$/750ml where im at. Really tasty and strong
Really appreciate hearing about some of the bourbons you don't like. Too often we only hear positive things about everything out there to buy! Really appreciate the honesty, which honesty seems harder and harder to come by these days.
I got 1/3 through this, heard you say a whiskey tastes like crap, and I hit like. Tell it like you see it, my man!
“You’re gonna learn to like it!” 🤣🤣🤣🤣. That hit home. I’ve been told that more than once after a regretful purchase.
Definitely share that Kentucky Owl with as many friends and family as you can. Giving lots of people the thrill of tasting a $1,000 bourbon will make it worth every dollar. Just don’t tell them that it’s not that good. Unless they’re big into bourbon they’ll never know the difference. Cheers!
Glad I have company 😂😂😂
Years ago when I strongly disliked Scotch, some said to just drink it for a couple of months and I would learn to love it and want nothing else. I tried. I still strongly dislike Scotch.
@@guermeisterdoodlebug7980 they said the same to me about coffee. Still hate coffee. Drink what you like and how you like it!
Kentucky Owl 🤣 the confiscated is $125 and I feel it’s overpriced as hell
@@roofy2459 I paid $80 for it and thought it was too much
Thank you for the cautionary tale!! I’m learning that slick marketing and price point do not necessarily make for good bourbons all the time. Here’s to the Regiment!
Indeed! Lessons learned!! Appreciate you!
I live in the Finger Lakes region of New York State. It has dozens if not hundreds of wineries. The ones that spend their time and resources creating the best looking brands end up not spending enough time and resources on the wine itself.
This is my first video of yours and I’m already proud of you admitting your mistakes. You’ve earned at least one new subscriber. 😊
I always wanted to ask someone local to the Finger Lakes, what are your picks for the best wineries overall there?
I’ve heard so many stories now that there is no way in HELL I’m even trying a high dollar “antique” aged bourbon. Almost like they don’t expect anyone to actually drink them for that amount of money. Makes sense they would be more concerned with the quality and taste of the everyday bourbons since that’s where the sales volume is gonna happen. Thank you for helping this newbie out!
IMO there is a distinct 'break' point around the sub $40 and over $60 that lets one know where that extra money went. It isn't to say there aren't good sub $40 bourbons/whiskeys out there, and especially for cocktails, but there is a distinct difference to be had once you pass that lower price point with many brands. It is unfortunate that the popularity of the spirit has driven demand and more importantly, pricing well beyond what it was previous to the "retro discovery" period (as I call it). There were some SUPER FINE bottles to be had in that 70-80 range. Almost all of those are now over 100 and nearly impossible to find. The other aspect I find funny is sort of like the fancy potato chip branding. Oh look, Mrs Whose-her-face made these special kettle chips that cost double what the other, just to look on the back and see they were made by Lays. Whiskey and Bourbon have particularly catered to this aspect of sales. Oh wow, I can buy my TV show themed bottle brand for 3X the price of the Evan green label it actually is...
As always, buyer beware and in the case of whiskey pallet forward.
Takes a lot of guts to make a video like this. Kudos to you! And I hope you don't get too many of these in the future! My regrets have been Pig's Nose, George Dickel Single Barrel, Glenmorangie Lasanta, Johnnie Walker Double Black, Maker’s Mark 101, Old Forester 1870, and St. George "Breaking & Entering".
Wow, thanks for sharing your list!
I recently got some George Dickel single barrel and completely agree with you. Not as good as regular black label Dickel!
My own "Don't bother" list:
Jack Daniel's single barrel cask strength (not bad, just not worth the money) (purchased bottle in local liquor store);
Ballantine's Scotch (details not recalled);
Chivas Regal 18 gold signature (gifted bottle from local liquor store - not bad, but not worth the price to me);
Bulleit bourbon (tried from miniature on plane - not impressed);
Johnnie Walker Blue Label (good, but I actually prefer black, based on side-by-side taste test in bar on Island Princess, delivered by trusted waiter).
And a surprise find: This one was quite affordable and I enjoy it, even neat, as an everyday whiskey. Ten High sour mash bourbon. My Dad wasn't as much of a fan, so try one before stocking up, to make sure it suits your taste.
Thank you ever so much for alerting us to a few to avoid!
Ten High is a vanilla bomb! I do like it. I believe I chose it 1st in a livestream blind. Very first livestream if my memory is correct.
I wish I could give a 1,000 thumbs up 👍 for honesty. People all over the world are looking for this type of honesty and humility, it makes him seem more credible and wise.
Not sure about wise but I will always be honest with you. Maybe that’s why we haven’t had any distillers ask us if they can send product?? That’s ok by me. Would rather give an honest opinion than sell out to the big players.
Thank you for your kind words.
I love this man, his honesty is refreshing. I was laughing my ever-loving ass off!! Enjoyed every second. Definitely subscribing!!
Certainly appreciate you! Thanks so much!
Great video. I stumbled (no pun intended) into a bourbon crawl this summer and they had three versions of the Jeffersons. I thought the Ocean was the best of the three but don’t disagree with your comments. All of them were really harsh and just didn’t have much to offer. The bourbon that I would say is extremely over rated was the 21 year pappy. Very unique and had some nice qualities but the vanilla finish was overwhelming. Thankfully, I hadn’t spent to money to acquire that particular bottle so it was very cool to get to try it.
Absolutely cool to try the Pappy! Appreciate your input!
Who would have thought, 18 year old Bourbon, heavily oaked haha. 6 to 12 is usually the sweet spot for Bourbon because of the Ky Summer heat and the new charred barrels. Now how it is warehoused plays a large role as well. But Scotch and Brandy are the high age statements you are looking for because those climates never get as hot as the continental US. Scotland surely doesn’t. Plus they often use used Bourbon casks, which means it takes more time to develop with less available oak tannins
“ You don’t want to know what’s going on behind that camera. You don’t want to know” 😂 🤣😂
That’s true most of the time lol! Sometimes I don’t know how I hold it together to get through the video!
You hit the nail on the head with all of your choices. I would also tell you to save your money if you're thinking of buying the Garrison Brothers Balmorhea. Also that Kentucky Owl will get better as it oxidizes a bit. But it's not a favorite.
Unfortunately not. I haven’t liked any Garrisons up to this point so I don’t doubt you on that one. Thanks
@@slbdrinks Garrison Brothers is my favorite! I guess different strokes for different folks. I enjoy your videos.
@@damonmabry1607 💯 I absolutely love what Garrison Brothers offers. I have some beef with the pricing but other than that no issues. Might be in the minority but I find what they produce is very interesting, unique and quite engaging unlike most buffalo trace I've tried. But hey, I embrace the diversity in palates. The whisk(e)y community would be quite boring if we all liked the same stuff.
@@LitoCortes absolutely. The price is a little outrageous but I really like it. The price keeps me from liking it too much.
Very interesting and informative video! Although my experience and knowledge are not that broad, I definitely have had similar disappointments (although not as expensive); my price wheelhouse is fairly modest. Elijah Craig is a go-to anytime, as well as Knob Creek, some of the Four Roses products, and for an all-around utility player Bourbon, I figure Old Forester Signature 100 Proof is hard to beat. Thanks for posting, Sir!
I wouldn’t complain at all with those picks! Very solid. I have a few Old Forester but not the 100 proof bottle. Have to get that one on the list! Thank you
Agree, especially if you’re using it to make cocktails!
Yup, IMO Knob Creek stands heads above the rest in the price point. The only thing that I found upsetting over the past year-ish was the relaxing of its age certification.
With some family we each bought an expensive bottle and a bottom shelf bottle to do a blind test with. We all placed some of the bottom shelf bourbons higher than some rather expensive ones.
You made me feel better about my opinion of Jefferson’s Ocean. I never purchased it but it was their concept that got me thinking how unfavorable that could be. I’ve been enjoying the Elijah Craig Small Batch variety recently I’m shocked to hear that the 18 wasn’t worth the price. Makes me wonder if there’s ever something else that could affect the quality of a single bottle that isn’t considered throughout the process of getting to the drinker, whether it’s something that happens in the quality assurance /quality control of the distillery, transportation, distributors, or retailers…perhaps even the purchaser themselves
My bar brought in a bunch of Hillrock including that bottle and during our tasting going through the line I felt like i was going crazy because everyone was raving over them and I was silently in pain. I thought the rye and original solera aged bourbon (not cabernet finished) were totally drinkable but I felt like we got scammed 🤣
Wow what an awesome story lol! Just wasn’t for me but glad you agree as well lol!
I have tried many bourbons that others likes that I wanted to toss. I know your pain…
Yeah the special finishes suck but the regular oak aged is one of my favorites.
I really appreciate your straight forward reviews. The only one of these that's close to what I've tried is the Jefferson's Ocean although it was Voyage 16. I thought 16 was pretty good. The problem with the Voyages is each one results in a very different experience which makes it difficult to go back to one you find pleasing. It also makes it difficult to spend $80-$100 when you're not quite sure what you'll get.
The price point is def the hang up with these bottles. I have the 16 as well and it is no doubt better than 17.
Agree. I have 17 (and others). I like it. They are a guess every voyage, kinda fun.
Kinda like hookers, sometimes the 40 dollar ones are wayyy better than the 240 dollar ones.
@@dwarden3 🤣🤣🤣
I’ve got 23 and it’s not bad at all but I’m only spending $60
“You need to learn to like that bottle and drink every oz of it” 💀💀😂😂😂😂
Ha! She doesn’t mind speaking her peace lol!
"they could have aged it in cardboard". Dude, right there I'm liking your candor. (I need to use that line on some other bourbons) Nice. Subscribed. I'm still laughing.
Maybe a bit harsh lol but didn’t know what else to say. Appreciate you joining us!
@@slbdrinks spontaneous response is the truth. Lol
Just stumbled upon your channel. It’s excellent. Thank you so much for these honest reviews.
One thing I’ve learned from this post (and your channel in general) is that price in no way guarantees a quality product.
Liquors that cost hundreds of dollars might not be any better than liquor that’s a fraction of that price. Same thing with fancy packaging and artistic bottles. Irrelevant.
Again, thank you so so much.
You are exactly correct! When purchasing a higher price whiskey research is the key. Thanks for joining us!
Thanks for your candor. People need to hear this, because many people chase these hard to find and extremely hyped bottles, and don't tell the truth about them because they just like having them on their bar. My worst bourbon purchase was the Knob Creek 25th Anniversary which cost me $125! The cost wasn't the problem, it was the fact that it was one of the worst bourbons I ever tasted! It was harsh, bitter, and just nasty! I had to down it in Coca Cola just to make it palatable! I should have known from the fact that the bottle wasn't even different or special from the regular Knob Creek bottle! It made me wary about spending tons of money on overhyped bottles!
Hard to admit but I also have the 25th bottle on my shelf and I agree 💯 with your assessment!
Full agreement on the Hillrock. I still keep a bottle around because it looks impressive. Love the look of the bottle really. If only it matched the drink's quality.
So true!
About three miles from my house is a convenience store where some old bums loiter. When I find a whiskey I can't enjoy, I simply leave it in a paper bag on top the store's outdoor ice machine.
Aging whiskey longer makes it more expensive, for obvious reasons- resources used for storage, plus more evaporation. But it’s possible to over-age whiskey. This point was made at a bourbon distillery I toured, where they had us taste different ages of bourbon, from “white dog” (no aging), all the way to “over-aged,“ which tasted like burnt wood and turpentine.
Probably a fine line but I have def tasted over aged bourbons.
That old aged Bourbon sounds gross. So there is a sweet spot in aging Bourbon for people that have their taste buds intact.
🤣🤣🤣wife says u better learn to like that Kentucky owl😂😂😂
I know! 😂🤷🏻
I appreciate how you didn't do the easy thing and pick any number of bottom shelf bourbons in order to make this video.
Many times the age nor the price really matter. I found that out first when I ordered a snifter of Louis XIII once...tasted like rotgut hootch filtered through hobo socks. Blech! Next, I tried a 150 year old Grand Marnier which tasted like it was separated from an oil slick and then promptly gave me the shits.
Awesome stories! Made me chuckle lol
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Lol, hobo socks. Thanks for the giggle.
As a purveyor of spirits and bourbon specialist professionally; I can hands-down say these reviews were 100% accurate
Wow, thanks so much for your support!
@@slbdrinks Videos
I really like this, given the sheer number of bourbons that have come out with prices rising. An updated version would be great
Literally making my first Old Fashioned tonight... Just starting on the bourbon journey!! Love your videos! I found a section at the state store that has small bottles. I been trying new stuff! I tried Makers Mark and Woodford reserve. So far I really like Woodford reserve. Tonight I will be trying Evan Williams and Wild Turkey 101 for the first time!
Hey my dude, good luck!
Some of my favorites are makers 46, sexton, and bullet. Cheers!
I love Larceny and 4 Roses! Price is good and the flavor makes me happy!
To drink Wild Turkey you gotta have a chandelier or two to dangle from .
Great idea utilizing the small bottles!
Wild Turkey is for getting wasted, not for taste. From a true Kentuckian.
The Hillrock review is blowing my mind. I haven’t met a person who was disappointed with any bottle particularly their cask strength bottlings. My Hillrock bottles are some of my favorite. I haven’t had that exact finishing but I assure you that they make dam good whiskey.
I respect your opinion. Not all of us have the same palate that’s for sure. Glad you are enjoying the whiskey.
Likewise. Not sure if it's the same year, but my bottle of Napa finished is probably the top bourbon in my collection and I absolutely taste the influence of the sherry and Cabernet in the finished product.
@@possibilityspace sherry cask is part of the solera aging so that’s gonna be there regardless. The standard cabernet finished bourbon they release I was never a huge fan of but I haven’t tried it in years. I do have the Dakota shy Cabernet cask strength bourbon and i really enjoy it. But everything they release is a single barrel so there no guarantee of consistency especially when they’re finishing with all different barrels. If you like really bold rye I would highly recommend any of their ryes. Their single malt is also very interesting if you like peated scotch. Although the peat is not what you normally expect from a peated scotch so it is very hit or miss with people.
I have a bottle of the Hillrock he reviewed and I am scratching my head trying to figure out how he came to that conclusion. It is absolutely one of my favorite bourbons. Notes of butterscotch, walnut, sherry, sweet fruit with a bit of cinnamon…complex yet balanced bourbon with a solid finish.
I had to laugh at your first "pick", the Jefferson's Ocean. I like Jefferson's but was skeptical so I only bought a 350 ml bottle. Glad I did. It'll evaporate before I get around to finding a way to finish that bottle. Next was Basil Hayden's, I found it very thin and weak. To kill the bottle I started using it for whisky sours and man does it make a great sour. So now I buy it for the sole purpose of making whiskey sours.
BH is an excellent mixer for cocktails where you want to go with a lower proof whiskey.
BH might as well be Canadian whiskey..
@@stagecoachrobbery Right, read labels carefully. A lot of whiskey labels should say "A historic US distillery with a rich history of sourcing fine Canadian whiskey." There's nothing wrong with sourced, or even blended whiskeys. Just be honest about it on the label.
Agree with you on Basil Hayden. I bought a pint to try it. Thin and weak was exactly what it is. A bottle of disappointment.
I have yet to buy anything I regret but than again before I buy I go to CZcams and watch channels like your own.
Ha! Love that lol!
This was enjoyable to watch, I think a lot of the so called experts are paid or compensated to give positive reviews. I’m convinced you never have to pay over $125 ever for any bottle, there are just too many good bourbons and ryes to buy!
hey man ..respect for posting , i know it helps others learn by your mistakes so i appreciate that
Like or Dislike: Like. Brilliant idea for a video. Bottom line: we learn from our own mistakes and from those of others willing to share theirs.
Thank you for your input!
I'm not a bourbon fan. My neighbor got a bottle of Blantons for his retirement. He shared with me, and sold me that this was the best bourbon ever. Smooth af.
Been listening to reviews for a while. Hands down one of my favorites right here. Can't beat the candid yet sincere opinion. Slainte
Appreciate that my friend!
Nice honest review. Thanks for laying your real thoughts out there. I have not had the voyage 17 but have had the voyage 19, 22 & 23 and thought they were all good quality bourbons. Worth $80? No, but I’d gladly pay $40 for them. My worst purchase lately was the 15 year old barrel craft bourbon. The one in the black box for $225. It wasn’t terrible but it tasted too much like Dickel. I’d Been better off with a bottle of the Dickel 15 yr for $50 if I wanted that flavor profile. The next worse was the Larceny barrel proof. It was only $60 but is undrinkable to me. I’m in Atlanta and will glad trade it for a knob call creek store pick. I also don’t really care for the Bullet 10 yr. just harsh to me for the price.
You should do a video kinda opposite of this. The 5 best under radar/surprise whiskies you should definitely own.
Like that idea! I have the same barrel as you, 15 yr. nothing bad but def does not warrant the price tag.
Me too. I'm not understanding how and why some liquor stores in the area (I can name a few) charge for secondary pricing or even reps raising the costs on bottles. Price gouging is illegal right now and Buffalo Trace should pull allocations on the wholesalers for it
Great content. It is interesting how tastes differ. I didn’t enjoy the EC 18 either, but I did not find it over oaked, but rather sort of simple and thin on the palette. Completely agree on the VOSN; that stuff was harsh; I ended up using it for cocktails.
Agree on both of those!
EC 18 was my first unicorn that I got, and while I do enjoy the bottle I have many that I feel outperform it especially for its price point. JDBP being one of them. So I most likely wouldn't buy a second one. I did however score a Parkers heritage heavy char wheated, so I am looking forward to seeing what Heaven Hill can do
@@richluckey8639 that Heavy Char is fire! Enjoy…
Plz let me know what you think of that PH. Unfortunately I have never been successful in retaining one. The heavy char sounds very intriguing!
@@slbdrinks I will definitely let you know when I open it. It won't be anytime soon since I already have too many open and it is my biggest unicorn to date. I was reading a review online that said it is on par with WLW so we will see!
I had a very different experience with the Elijah Craig 18 and really enjoyed that one. Completely agree on the Jefferson's Ocean though.
I hear the EC 18 releases vary a bit so maybe mine wasn’t one of the better years.
I've never had this happen to me, but it's probably because I didn't used to buy a lot of bourbon until I moved to the heart of bourbon country in rural kentucky. I never buy anything I haven't sampled at one of the local distilleries. And we also have the annual Bourbon festival in bardstown where you can buy a ticket or a number of tickets that allow you to sample all sorts of Bourbons throughout the show.
But it is kind of weird how one distillery can make a fantastic Bourbon and then also make a real dog.
Heading out shopping and watched this first-just got a little smarter…thanks -one of these was on my list. Whew!
Thankful it helped. Appreciate your input!
I've always been a Jim Beam or Maker's Mark guy. On special occasions I pour myself a few fingers of Woodford Reserve (double oaked) or Angel's Envy. No need to spend more than you have to.
All very good choices without breaking the bank!
There are several bourbons Bette than Jim Beam for right around the same money. Wild Turkey 101, Russell’s Reserve and Knob Creek. All are good sippin whiskeys. Of course if you are going to mix in a cocktail Jim Beam or Jack Daniels will do just fine.
Indeed it will!
One bourbon that I did no research on and got completely suckered in by the presentation (which I now use as an infinity bottle) was the H.Deringer Bourbon. Awesome pistol cork, but was no better than Buffalo Trace. Also got ripped off because at my local liquor store it was $100 and after further investigation I could have went to Costco and got it for $75
This is a validation of my comment on your video on 15 best bourbons for the value/price - once you get past a certain price point it becomes less about substance, quality and craftsmanship than packaging, backstory and roll the dice marketing. The fine spirits world (particularly whiskey/whisky and bourbons) has gone completely bonkers lately and I've become very sceptical and judgemental when making a purchase, especially when I see ridiculous packaging. I'm a Bottle in Bond guy lately and they seem to offer the best value. Great post!
Hey, I just found your channel. I completely agree that I have a few bottles that I found, and was excited to try, and didn't like them at all once I tried them.
I liked the regular Jefferson's, but heard the voyages weren't worth it (aside from the 23 I've heard).
It's funny how some KC9 or MM46 and many other $20-40 bottles are more enjoyable than some of those >$80 bottles out there.
Your wife's input made me laugh 😆
Subbed, Cheers!
Lucky for me she is a good sport lol! Bourbon and whiskey is a journey and I think that’s what makes it so fun. If you never make mistakes you never learn. Thank you
I’ve been disappointed with the first pour from many bottles, but after a few weeks and the whiskey has had a chance to “open up”, there’re usually pretty good. Give them a second chance.
Will do! Thank you!
Completely agree. I get excited about a new purchase. Open it up and take a couple pours and am disappointed. The bottle gets shuffled back on the shelf. Later I look to clear out stuff and will target drink something to get rid of it(I never dump or give away no matter what), only to find it’s much better than the first pours. I should probably open all new bottles but not pour from them for a month.
You paid .......... OMG. RESPECT for someone who can fess up to that. It is a truly beautiful box.
Sometimes it is what it is. Hopefully it helps others not make the same mistake.
Thanks for the video. I have not tried any of your evil five and now never will.
Happily my bottle regrets have been cheap (Grangestone comes to mind) and craft distilleries (I won't single out these local guys just starting out). I live in a place with incredible bars so I try before I buy the higher priced stuff. Plus it gives me an excuse to spend quality time doing "research"
Trying before buying is def the best way to go. Awesome you have the opportunity.
😂😂😂 I died when you said, most embarrassing moment in this video, “hope my wife isn’t watching at this moment”.
Fantastic review! Thank you for keeping all the buyers heads out of these bottles.
Cheers!!🤘🏾💀🥃🥃
Lol, sometimes it’s important to admit your mistakes no matter how embarrassing. Thank you
Then she butts in lol
Calumet Farm is one of the only bourbons I have purchased that I absolutely hate. And it pains me to say, as a huge Four Roses fan, I do not like the newer Small Batch Select, at all. Great video!
I absolutely love her response to the Kentucky Owl bottle, when I heard you say how much I thought the same lol
That wasn’t a good day 😂
I always turn away from the fancy presentation buys, such as the wooden box with that Kentucky Owl. For some reason I always feel like I'm being conned. Almost grabbed an Irish whisky recently and that feeling set in my head and I walked away. The drink should be the sell to me not the presentation. Every Scotch I've bought in a fancy box, the box went in the garbage.
I honestly do not keep many boxes either. Good point.
"viciously bad"..."aged in cardboard" 🤣🤣🤣🤣 good star to you sir!
Thanks lol. Didn’t know what else to say 😂
We've all regretted taking that Jefferson's Ocean voyage at some point.
I started laughing the moment you pulled out the first bottle! I really really wanted a bottle, thought the concept was so cool. Lucky for me I tried some at a local bourbon bar and I sure dodged a bullet! It was awful! :)
It is so rare to find a well stocked bourbon bar these days that don't make just buying an unknown bottle the lesser expense. We have an eatery nearby that has a dedicated whiskey bar. It is a great concept, and yet for the price they are charging for neat shots you may as well just play whack a mole on the shelves at the local store.
2019 and early 2020 was a bad time for EC18 but it has gotten much better. Also gets better after it sits revisit in a year
Thanks for the advice. If I have an opportunity I will try a more recent release.
Retry the one you have is what they are saying.... that Kentucky owl I wasn't a fan of their stolen or whatever.. but 1000 dollars
If you wouldn't have opened it
.. it's worth double now
@@2dogmanshawn at this point I have never tried to make money on a bottle of whiskey. Not trying to diss on others that do but it’s just not me. Thanks for your input.
More often than not I've found the more expensive bourbons like Blanton's to be "all hat and no cattle" so to speak. Lots of clever marketing but the juice isn't as great as the price would have us believe.
Right on point. I learned to put in time to research. Also, I don’t buy anything anymore unless it’s close to retail.
Blantons isn't expensive and it's a single barrel so there is variation m, some barrels better then others.
At retail Blantons is a decent buy.
Regarding the Jefferson's Ocean, I agree the standard is underwhelming, ''if" you come across the cask strength Ocean, buy it, it's delicious.
Jefferson's Oceans is one of the best whiskeys I have ever had, it is in my top 10...
That’s all good! Lots of voyages to pick from. My son just got a voyage 22 store pick and it’s pretty good. Many comments claim voyage 23 is great. Voyage 17 just wasn’t for me for sure.
New to your channel. I think I would have a hard time enjoying any liquor I spent $1000 on 😂 - your wife commenting in the back that you better learn to love it had me laughing
She speaks her mind that’s for sure lol
Love your wife’s comments on the Kentucky Owl.
She never holds back speaking her mind lol
I was waiting for that bottle of Blantons in the background to show up on the list. Relieved and disappointed my uncle didn't send us to the Buffalo Trace distillery for overhyped garbage.
4:05 mark, 'They could have aged this in cardboard". I laughed so hard. This is why I love this guy's reviews. He's not afraid to let a guy know what he really thinks!
That wasn’t planned but, it is what it is!
@@slbdrinks Wherever your SLB bourbon bar is, I'd sure enjoy visiting it (assuming it's open to the public). I've a good friend that lives & dies all things bourbon and he collects rare and exotic ones. Me? I'd just be happy learning what all the fuss is over 'single malt scotch whiskies'. I'm getting a pretty good idea watching your YT videos.
Hoping for one day to have a public bar but at the moment it’s sincerely in the basement of my home.
@@slbdrinks Wow. I've seen bars less well stocked than what it looks like your basement contains. Very nice. Oh, and I'll say I've subscribed to your channel so I can learn more about whiskies and bourbons.
Never heard of any of them. Once the “high end” liquor trend started, it finishes with sewage in a fancy bottle selling for $100.
Lol nicely said, made me laugh out loud. Thanks for that.
"Tastes like it was aged in cardboard". Epic review.
Feel kinda bad for that but….
It is bad lol
Maybe it was cork tainted? That usually causes a musty cardboard taste.
@@MrCoffeekelly very possible because this one was really bad…
I'll take Old Crow every time except for an Old Granddad now and then. Gotta love the burn!
I’m a scotch guy, not bourbon, but I appreciate these types of honest videos. May need to expand to more American offerings.
None of these in the video of course!!
Honestly, every time I have spent more than $70 on a bottle I have ended up regretting it.
Seems like that is the point of diminishing returns, at least to my tastes.
Good point! I have just a small percentage of my collection to where the extra investment was worth it.
Only time I’ve ever liked an expensive bottle was high west whiskey campfire
I use the crap boubon for mixed drinks with sweet soda. My great bourbons taste great with a good mouth feel without any help from mixers. Appreciate your honesty. My first overpriced disapointment was Blanton's. Which unless you collect the horse toppers, money better spent on a cheaper bourbon that you enjoy.
Agreed. Not a Blantons hater but in my opinion if it’s not at retail it’s not worth it.
I was a bit confused by the sheer hype myself. Later toured the BT distillery and I'm pretty certain I was the only one who thought it was awesome and hilarious that the guide stated when asked about it, that there's really nothing special or unique about Blantons at all, other than the CEO is a marketing master and fought like hell to make sure John Wick happened. LOL
I personally like Maker's offerings a lot more! It's not BAD. But definitely overhyped bigtime. Like Bulleit before it, I hope the BT line keeps the hype and it doesn't shift over to my favorites at reasonable prices.
Good thought process!
@@slbdrinks yt just autoplayed this video and I unmuted and gave a look. Just watched your budget 100 proof video... subscribed! Great channel!
I wish more people would be Blanton’s haters. Then it would become available again. It was my go to when the bottles would be gathering dust in my local liquor store.
I have a Costco membership. They dont add different bourbons much because they dont have a ton of room. I stop in a few times a week when shopping and see if they have anything new. I talk with the workers about it quite a bit.
Yesterday I went in and the cashier said they had something new in. I was kinda excited to see what it was.
It was Jeffersons Ocean.......
I've never seen a video where anyone liked that stuff and my heart sank as I turned and walked out
Ohhh so sorry! I can tell you this. Trent got his hands on a store pick Jefferson’s voyage 22 and it was actually pretty decent. Worth the 80.00 price tag?? Ummm probably not but still a big upgrade from my voyage 17.
@@slbdrinks The price helps with not buying it. Costco has the Ocean at 69 bucks
“This stuff is VICIOUSLY bad” just about had me in tears. I dunno why but that is the funniest shit i’ve heard this month. Kudos to you sir. 😂
That Jefferson has gimick written all over it....and for the price I've always said no. Thanks to you, I keep saying no
I had a feeling that was going to be on the list. Apparently the first batch was the best one and they've been drifting downward since.
Yea, buy the regular Jefferson’s and if you like it, buy the Ocean. It’s definitely a gimmick
Did a head to head with a complimentary pour of Jefferson Ocean and OGD 114. OGD 114 mopped the floor with J.O. IMO
The Jefferson's rye is the only one to me that is drinkable. Don't care for the rest!
Haven’t tried that one but I will take your word for it!
I've been delving deep into the bourbon world for about 12 years now and have had some great bottles. I am by no means an expert but one theme that seems to repeat itself often is the prettier the packaging, the worse the bourbon that's inside of it. Of course there are exceptions to this rule, but I tend to shy away from anything gimmicky now that I've been burned a few times.
Speaking of gimmicky, as for the Ocean I agree with you in that the vast majority of the voyages I've had were not good at all. However, I did enjoy voyages 2, 13, and 15, which was their first "wheated" bottle and probably my favorite of the series that I've tried. But they've really been more miss than hit.
Thanks for the informative video, very good stuff.
Thanks so much! Agree with the gimmicks and fancy packaging. Love the fact that you have 12 yrs of knowledge so I hope to hear from you again. Always looking to learn what I can about whiskey.
I would try blending the harsh bottles and running them through a filter. Worth a shot.
I'd wait for the empty bottles and refill them with my favorite bourbons. What they don't know, won't hurt them!! Glad you were honest about them and the cost.
I do appreciate your reviews as a fella that can not afford big prices. Still neat to listen and watch.
We ALL have made, and CONTINUE to make mistakes buying Bourbons.
Anyone who denies that just ain't telling it like it is.
Indeed!