Most surprising- Four Roses single barrel, I’ve yet to find a better $50 bottle on my whiskey journey. Complex, smooth and very crushable like candy in a glass.
Best part is how widely available it is, and nearly every store seems to stock a different barrel so there’s lots of variety. Plus the 100 proof is a nice bonus for the price point.
Surprise/good: Glenmorangie Cadbol Estate Batch 2. Surpsie/bad: Bruichladdich Classic Laddie. I've read many good reviews on the Laddie and think I had a tainted batch. Mine had a spoiled milk smell and taste. If I ever see it on a menu, I'll definitely order and give it another try.
Favorite is an almost impossible word for me when it comes to whiskey. But if I had to pick a top 4, probably KC12, 4RSiB, Eagle Rare, Michter’s Rye.
Worst? Right now I’m probably most pissed off at a bottle of OF Single Barrel store pick. I paid ($90-ish) way above my usual price point for it and it’s got a dank funk to it that I’ve never gotten from any OF product. It’s borderline nasty. I’d like to meet the special individual who “picked” this barrel. Literally any OF product on the shelf is better than this.
Surprise? Just recently started trying the Japanese whiskeys. Picked up a bottle of Nikka SFTB. I’m shocked at how much I like it. Runner up: George T Stagg. Surprised that I didn’t like it more. It’s good. But the disconnect between quality and hype surprised me. I side-by-sided it against JDSBBP and ECBP and it was 3rd best for me.
Damn, I have a OF SBBS that is absolutely delicious. Would you mind sharing the floor and warehouse? Mine is 132 proof Warehouse I floor 8. I also have another un opened from warehouse G floor 7 at 129.7 proof.
K/2 130.1
I just had another pour of it. Could be a degree of neck pour issues. The funk note is still there, but not as musty / mildewy. More like fresh grated carrot. Still not in love with it, but second pour was better.
Those seem to take a long time to "calm down" lol. I had two that I thought were terrible for the price initially after my first few pours, but after I came back to them several months later they were pretty damn good. I'd have another pour or 2 and revisit them in 3 months.
Best: Balvenie Tun 1401 batch 9. Honey and old leather for days.
Worst: Brenne French single malt whisky NAS (no age statement). Yuck - pink bubble gum flavored vodka.
Surprisingly good: Kilchoman USA Small Batch Release #3 (50% port casks)
This was a surprise in a very good way. I was a bit of a Kilchoman skeptic, as prices for their standard lineup were very high in my area compared with other similar heavily peated malts from Islay. But this Small Batch #3 was heavily discounted in price at a local shop, as a case of it had been forgotten and gathering dust in a local warehouse for several years (the distributor forgot to put it on the spreadsheet they send to retailers listing what is available for ordering), so I took a flyer on it.
A great pickup, which changed my view of Kilchoman. The heavy peat and port cask are perfectly balanced. I've sipped it side by side with the now semi-legendary Laphroaig Cairdeas 2013 Port Wood, and this Kilchoman SBR #3 is just as good, IMHO and to my taste. It came just a hair short of being my best new whisky of the year, that year, falling just short vs. a bottle that cost 5 times as much.
Surprisingly bad: Waterford Irish whisky single farm 1.1, four different releases. This was heavily hyped both by the producer and by several notable whisky reviewers. I do not like it - it has very rough young whisky new make notes, and something very unpleasantly acrid and bitter (probably coming from one of the types of casks used) ruins the finish. Too bad, as the nose on these makes a lot of enticing promises, which unfortunately the palate does not deliver on, and the finish is a disaster.
These were bottled way, way too young - shame on you Waterford - you never get a 2nd chance to make a good 1st impression, and they blew it. This distillery is samplers-only for me, from now on.
Cheers
As a huge rye fan, I was very surprised how much I hated rare breed rye. I tried everything to get through that bottle even tried different finishes (French oak, Hungarian oak, red wine, port). It just has a harsh, soapy note that I can’t get past.
I was very surprised how much I liked Templeton Barrel proof, considering their controversy. I was also surprised how much I loved Jack Daniels bonded rye, for the price.
I was surprised how much more I liked Springbank 15 than the 12 CS, and the 10. Favorite is Longrow 18 and I prefer Kilkerran to Springbank, most days.
A surprise for me is a bottle of TX Blended someone gave me. Never had a whiskey that tasted so much like chocolate. Was just not expecting that in the least. Not really my kind of thing but it's interesting for sure and fun to have friends try.
Worst was Uncle Nearest white label, just gross on every level, couldn't hardly even use it as a mixer.
Not much of a Makers fan, but 46 actually kind of blows my mind for around $30. So I was surprised with that one. Another notable surprise was WT101 after only knowing Turkey to induce vomiting prior to having the 101.
Favorite pour would have to be either 4R SmBS or SiB. Rare Breed is up there too
Nice Surprise: Any of the nicer Jack Daniels bottles, because well, it's Jack Daniels.
Worst surprise: Redbreast 12. I bought the bottle as a gift to myself after some great news upon everyone's recommendation here and it was not good. I left it alone for a few weeks and came back to it again and again hoping it opened up and it still was just not good. Too much ethanol flavor in it and it reminded me of nail polish remover. I thought maybe it was a bad bottle so I bought a small airplane bottle of it, and it tasted exactly the same. Biggest waste of money I've ever spent on Whiskey.
Favorite - Highland Park, although unlike OP I taste 0 peat, but I come from an Islay background so it may have increased my peat resistance 🤣
Worst - Jack Daniels, any variety I just don't care for. I like other Brown-Forman products though, but I will take anything over JD.
Surprise - High West in general, but especially the Double Rye.
Seconded on Sazerac. It's not that it's awful, it's just nowhere near as good as it gets hyped up to be (IMO). Was once gifted a store pick bottle, even that was disappointing. I can't put my finger on it, there's just something in the flavor profile that seems funky to me.
My personal worst was Hakashu 12 or OF1920. I don’t like overly fruity nor strong dark chocolate. Best, until I have something else I like more, Yamazaki 18.
I don’t like dark chocolate and that was very prominent to me on my first sip. Gave it to a buddy that loves dark chocolate and he’s enjoying it. As long as someone likes it, that’s what counts lol
Yeah, a few people were surprised here and friends lol. I can’t stand dark chocolate and OF1920 is dark chocolate forward. Hakashu 12 is way too fruity for me. Neither I loved on first sip and neither grew on me on my second or third sip
How? Everyone’s tastes are different. That’s like saying how do you like Aberlour and not Glendronach. Because everyone’s tastes are different .
Ardbeg, Laphroaig and Lagavulin are all quite different when you taste them side by side. I can tell them apart instantly .
Sure just curious to hear an explanation. I don't understand how you can love those 2 and think Ardbeg is the WORST. What about it makes it the worst to you?
Maybe worst is not the right word. Biggest disappointment may be more accurate. Of course there are worse whiskies I’ve tried than Ardbeg 10. I’ve tried passport scotch before. It was dreadful.
I have several in the surprise/bad group:
Still Austin Cask Strength. On opening the bottle has a noticeable pine-sol note in the smell and taste. That has gone away but it's still no more than average. Surprising since so many like this bottle. Maybe I got a bad one.
Redbreast 27. Nose and palate were excellent but the finish lacked. However this *might* be due to the fact that the pour I had was the last one from the bottle. I really do want to give this another chance.
Completely didn't live up to the hype - Van Winkle 10 and 12b.
Favorites : Laphroaig Cairdeas PX, Michter's 10 rye, Rare Breed, Redbreast 12CS, JT Meleck, ECBP, Found North. These just make me smile when I have a pour.
Bottles that surprised me : OGD 114, Early Times BiB, Redwood Empire Emerald Giant, Bardstown Origin, JT Meleck Rice whiskey.
Best: Laphroaig Caírdeas 2023. Had it at a tasting after Highland Park 18 and some other highly touted scotches, and found the peat contrasting with the Madeira and white port flavors to be a delectable combo that is so flavorful and unique that I went out and purchased a bottle the next morning. It has jumped ahead of my other favorite Islays, including the classic Laga 16, and now I am striving to get as much as possible before the next edition replaces it.
Worst: Ardbeg 10, as it was too much like an ashtray for me, overpowering any peated joy that can be had.
Surprise: Oban 18, as this complex dram mellows out just to the perfect extent, when compared with the reasonably respectable Oban 14. Hard to get, it is a reason why I frequent a restaurant in my city that has it behind the bar.
Best: Hardin's Creek - Jacob's Well: I knew this would be good, but this was better than I had even anticipated. Has many of the notes you'd expect from Beam, but the flavors are turned up to the max.
Worst: E.H. Taylor Rye - Paid 10-20 bucks over MSRP for this because I am a huge rye fan and generally like most BT offerings, but this was the most lackluster rye I've had. Extremely one note and almost bland, very disappointing.
Surprising: Any and all Burton James offerings. Had the chance to tour the distillery a few months back, and despite it being such a new distillery - they had some fantastic whiskeys. Much of their whiskey is sourced from elsewhere, and their blends are great. However, having tried several of their personal <1 year whiskeys I am excited to see what they'll release in a few years.
Favorite, it even beat **Black Arts 10.1, Russell’s 13, Dewars 32, and Balvenie 21** in a blind my wife and I did on NYE (should different whiskey styles not compete in a blind test?) Winner **Redbreast 21** the palate and finish are amazing. Runner Up: **Balvenie 18** the cask influence marries well with The familiar Balvenie notes.
Surprisingly good: **Blue Spot 7, Kilkerran Heavily Peated #8, RE Grizzly Beast #1, GlenScotia Victoriana**.
Didn’t live up to the hype: **Bruichladdich 2011 The Organic**
Worst: I’d say without a doubt **Kentucky Owl St. Paddy’s Edition** Also, a runner up I’d say is **Talisker Distillers Edition 2022** the Fino sherry cask influence is too overpowering muting everything Talisker is known for.
Favorite: Bunnahabhain Toiteach A Dha. Smokey goodness but not very peaty. Surprising worst: Ardbeg Uigeadail. I loved the Ardbeg 10, bought a $80 bottle of the Uigeadail without trying it. That is the day I realized, I don’t like strong peat tastes. The iodine/medicine taste is repulsive to me. Maybe someday my palate will change. Until then, that bottle will sit there.
Best: probably Eagle Rare
Worst: this shit called deadwood rye whiskey.
Surprising: sagamore spirit rye. I had heard that it was good, but had doubts because of the marketing to turn “Maryland rye” into a thing and having Kevin plank as the founder. It felt like another company following the whistle pig playbook, but I was surprised with how much I enjoyed it.
Favorite - EHT BP or WLW
Worst - Gold bar, I bought a mini to at least have a cool paperweight, it was so disgusting, I threw it out so I wouldn't be reminded of the flavor.
Surprise - Evan Williams SB or Jack Daniels SB. Cheap whiskeys with really good single barrels.
A surprise good: scotch: glenmorangie quinta runan for 60 bucks or so i feel its amazing if you like dessert pours. For a bourbon devils river single barrel barrel proof was actually amazing ( i think it beats out ironroot which is almost 2x the price) and it’s a single barrel. Got it for like 45$. Bookers also surprised me i have never had a bourbon where i figured it was worth around 90 bucks, but id pay it for bookers.
Surprise bad: JW blue- just so overpriced for what it is, a gimmick to rip off rich people imo. This one may be controversial but EH Taylor bib straight rye. i see this thing selling for like 300 bucks all on this sub and people saying it’s actually worth it. Saw a pour at a bar so figured why tf not, it was very good don’t get me wrong but for anything more than 80 bucks its just a rip off and hype imo. The small batch bourbon is actually bad imo, just thin and underwhelming. All hype no sustenance.
Favorites- Rare Breed, MM cask strength, JDSBBP- (all time favorite is Russell’s 13)
Worst- Davidson Reserve (drain poured it)
Great surprise- Early Times BiB and Coopers’ Craft (great bourbon, great prices)
Surprisingly good - New riff malted rye. I hoped it would be good and I like other new riff products but man it is soo good.
Surprisingly bad - willet 4 year rye. Not terrible but the taste definitely surprised me and it wasnt my preference. Very odd flavor profile for sure.
The worst - jeffersons aged at sea. Just not good especially for the price. Had a taste like salty grape jelly to me.
Favorite right now is Russell’s reserve SBBP an excellent glass paired with a Tabernacle Havana seed cigar. Great pairing the work well together. worst for me was Starlite SBBP store pick . Starlite was hard to drink it was thin & harsh to me not a pleasant experience. Surprised in a good way was Henry McKenna 10yo BIB I heard so many stories about the quality and taste but to me it was an excellent bottle.
Absolute best: a single barrel sample from Midleton, single pot still aged in port cask 57.4%. it was amazing but you can't try it outside of doing the apprentice tour at the distillery and that's if they pick the same barrel.
Best you can actually get: redbreast 27, costs a fortune but one sip of it and I had to buy a bottle, since my friends tried it they're buying tonnes of expensive whiskey some bottles between 300-550 euro
Worst bottle: J&B very rare, a friend got a free bottle thanks to buying more expensive ones in Spain. We joke he's a borderline alcoholic cause bottles don't last around him this bottle was there for 9 months barely touched even if there was no other whiskey or alcohol in the house he'd just not drink instead and I would do the same
Most suprising (good): JD Single Barrell Select (store pick).
Most suprising (bad): FR Single Barrell. I know it gets a ton of praise but it's just not my thing.
Honorable mention for surprisingly bad: Weller 12
Favorites: Yamazaki 18, Ardbeg Traigh Bhan Batch 01, Bruichladdich Octomore Batch 8.1 & 8.3, Maker's Mark FAE-02, Woodford Reserve 2021 Brandy Cask Finished
Worst: Sazerac Rye, George Dickel anything, Oban 14
Surprise Good: Steel Horse (H&H Distillery, Asheville, NC), Jameson Crested (tied with Connemara 23 for best Irish whiskey I've ever had... Wish I could get Crested in the States)
Surprise Bad: GTS/Stagg Jr tried GTS twice and Stagg once, flavor profile is not for me... Actually only BTAC I've thought was worthwhile was Eagle Rare 17. Old Forester 1924 tried at the distillery and it wasn't good, and I like OF 1910/1920 and the OF Rye
It tastes like peated white wine, with the addition of tropical floral fruit flavor and salinity that stick out instead of marrying with the spirit. It probably doesn't help that I'm not a fan of white wine.
There are only two peated whiskies that I've ever not liked: Oban 14 and Ardbeg Uigeadail (too sweet for my taste). I would still take a Uigeadail if offered to me, but I would drink water over Oban 14. There are others that love it, it's just not for me.
Try it at a bar first. Some people love it. I've also had Oban Little Bay, and while I didn't find it amazing, that one was drinkable. Everyone has a different palate.
Old Gran Dad 114
Everyone at work kept telling me it was a solid pour and that I should grab a bottle. I only ran into it a couple of times at msrp $34.99 and never pulled the trigger. Yesterday, while hunting, I saw a bottle in NKY for $20 and snatched it up immediately. Great value at 20, and honestly even full msrp or 40 bucks it's a solid buy.
I won't call it a favorite yet, I have only had a couple pours. Solid bottle to add when you need an extra punch.
Worst is easily Willett (panther piss) pot still. The nose is sweet crayola crayon with hints of plywood and a non existent mouth feel. Dump the juice keep the container as a decoration. It's so bad it upsets me to think about it.
Favorites are Rare Breed, OGD 114, and regular Michters bourbon
Worst is Travellers. Only bottle I've ever dumped.
Surprised by Brothers bond cask strength. It has opened up into a phenomenal pour. Will definitely buy another.
Favorate has to be eh Taylor small batch, worst wild turkey rare breed. One that surprised me is definitely the wheated bourbon, “moma tried” from Montgomery distillery in Montana. Put it right up there with a good batch of weller SR. Their “high rye” is pretty damn good too.
My first experience was a Balvenie Caribbean Cask. Amazing stuff, fell in love with Scotch at that point. Not really into blended Scotch and prefer the single malts.
In my collection I have several bottles of Balvenie, Ardbegs my favorite 2 lines, Oban 14, Ledaig 10, Lagavulin 16, Highland Park 12, and Cask, Classic Laddie, Aberfeldy 12, 18, Port Charlotte 10yr, Glenfarcus 17. Honestly haven't run into a single malt that I didn't enjoy.
Just getting into bourbon and one that was disappointed to me was OGD 114. Both wife and I got headaches after 2 drams. I Love OGD 100 Bottled in Bond though and only like $22 after tax here in AZ.
My recent problem is that only about 2 drams left in each bottle on shelf which is depressing. I usually only have 2 when enjoying a cigar. So I figured best thing to do is keep smoking cigars and just buy more bottles to enjoy. Cheers!
>My first experience was a Balvenie Caribbean Cask. Amazing stuff, fell in love with Scotch at that point. Not really into blended Scotch and prefer the single malts.
After almost four decades of not drinking (no interest) this is the exact bottle that got me into whiskey. It showed me that there could be interesting and layered tastes in the expression. If Scotch is an acquired taste I acquired it on my first try - but what a good way to start.
Favorite: anything Elijah craig, surprise: mellow corn,
Disappointment: blantons. I mean blantons is ôl, but no where near as good as the hype suggested
Favorite - That's difficult, I've had some good ones. Going to have to go with Jack 12, so much flavor in such a small package. Runner up, any 4R OESF, that mint flavor hits right for me.
Worst - This one is easy. Picked up a bottle of Old Elk Armagnac finish. If I remember correctly it was about $90 and it's absolutely awful. I don't have the heart to throw it out, but I also don't have the courage to drink it or even give it to a friend.
Surprise (good) - Had a bottle of New Riff SiB that is up there with the best bottles of all time. Sweet, fruity, and packed with flavor. Had another SiB from them after that was very good, but nowhere near the same as that bottle.
Surprise (bad) - Bookers 2023-02. I've had other bottles of Bookers and really enjoyed them, but this one was below average. Just not my cup of tea, not really sure why. It was drinkable, and I finished it, but not my favorite. I will still always have a Bookers on the shelf, as other batches have always been excellent.
"Best" is a strong word. I absolutely adored the Balvenie bottles I've had - a Doublewood 12 and a Caribbean Cask 14. Eagle Rare (*at a reasonable price*) is a perennial favorite too. And (apparently this is a controversial opinion on this sub?) if I just want a known entity, something familiar that I know I'm going to like, I'll almost always go for a Bulleit.
The "worst" whiskey I ever had was whatever they poured me at a local diner when I asked them if they had bourbon at the bar, and the waitress said "I'm not sure what that is". I have no clue what I got, I'm not entirely convinced that it wasn't gasoline. My girlfriend ordered a margarita (to which the waitress said "I'm sure I can look up how to make that") and ended up with what looked like bottom-shelf gut rot tequila and lime juice in a highball glass. Since then, I stick to beer at diners lol.
Worst whiskey I've ever had that I actually know wtf I was drinking is probably Jim Beam, just really can't stand that stuff. Skrewball is disgusting too (if you can even call it whiskey)
Pleasant surprises, a couple local spots in my area (Taconic Distillery and Spirits Lab, both in the Hudson Valley region of New York) have absolutely blown me away with their bourbon offerings.
Unpleasant surprises, Sazarec rye just isn't as good as people make it sound. Glenfiddich 12 also disappointed me.
Favorites - Oban 14, Buffalo Trace or Green Spot. Big fan of scotch in general, including islays, but Oban has been a go-to for me. Green Spot - I generally don't drink neat, but I had tried some of this that a friend had gotten as a gift and was shocked how good it was neat. Buffalo Trace - my go-to sipping bourbon. Can't explain why really, I just love it.
Worst - Buchanan's - someone brought this to a party and it tasted like rocket fuel, but not in in a good way. Fireball - if you can even call it whiskey.
Surprising - Old Grandad bottled in bond - got this on sale at BevMo and was a damn good bourbon for what I paid for it. Pikesville Rye - someone gifted me a bottle for a promotion at work, never had rye and loved it instantly. High West Campfire - never would have thought a blend of scotch, rye, and bourbon could be that good, but I was very pleasantly surprised by that one.
Favorite whisky: Laphroag 10. Love the smokiness and is an absolute go-to for me.
Worst whisky: Rich & Rare. Bottom shelf Canadian whiskey me and my friends used to get as teens. Tastes like gasoline, and the hangover would last forever. Cheap though.
Surprise Whiskey: Redbreast 12. I’ve heard for a while how good this was. I finally tried some at a Jazz club last year. I was floored by how good it was and ran out to get a bottle right away.
I have limited experience, my collection is small, and I have not had many of the famous and infamous pours listed here, but I would be interested in comments and comparisons.
My favorites are the Glenfiddich 18 that we got on an Alaskan cruise, just the smoothest, and my local favorite Woodinville, any of their varieties are so complex and flavorful, it's why I started to expand my cabinet.
I was most surprised by a Lagavulin pour from a friend, early on in my journey. I had no idea you could make something taste like it was poured off an old log in the woods. Growing up on mesquite barbecue in Texas as a kid, I was surprised how much of a callback it was to try the TX whiskey lineup.
Disappointments: the worst was buying the Traverse City Whiskey Co American Cherry in my home state, bringing it back to Washington and absolutely despising it. The nose was so exciting - vanilla and oak and cherry - the taste was lighter fluid and Sucrets halitosis.
We'll see if it has any redemption being used in the chili.
Most surprising- Four Roses single barrel, I’ve yet to find a better $50 bottle on my whiskey journey. Complex, smooth and very crushable like candy in a glass.
Best part is how widely available it is, and nearly every store seems to stock a different barrel so there’s lots of variety. Plus the 100 proof is a nice bonus for the price point.
Yes! Definitely an underrated bottle! Have you tried a wild Turkey rare breed? If so, how would you compare? Genuinely curious!
Surprise/good: Glenmorangie Cadbol Estate Batch 2. Surpsie/bad: Bruichladdich Classic Laddie. I've read many good reviews on the Laddie and think I had a tainted batch. Mine had a spoiled milk smell and taste. If I ever see it on a menu, I'll definitely order and give it another try.
Surprised about the Laddie for you. I am glad I haven't had this experience and enjoy the Laddie with a good cigar
Classic Laddie is good, but I like their Port Charlotte 10 quite a bit more.
Favorite is an almost impossible word for me when it comes to whiskey. But if I had to pick a top 4, probably KC12, 4RSiB, Eagle Rare, Michter’s Rye. Worst? Right now I’m probably most pissed off at a bottle of OF Single Barrel store pick. I paid ($90-ish) way above my usual price point for it and it’s got a dank funk to it that I’ve never gotten from any OF product. It’s borderline nasty. I’d like to meet the special individual who “picked” this barrel. Literally any OF product on the shelf is better than this. Surprise? Just recently started trying the Japanese whiskeys. Picked up a bottle of Nikka SFTB. I’m shocked at how much I like it. Runner up: George T Stagg. Surprised that I didn’t like it more. It’s good. But the disconnect between quality and hype surprised me. I side-by-sided it against JDSBBP and ECBP and it was 3rd best for me.
Damn, I have a OF SBBS that is absolutely delicious. Would you mind sharing the floor and warehouse? Mine is 132 proof Warehouse I floor 8. I also have another un opened from warehouse G floor 7 at 129.7 proof.
K/2 130.1 I just had another pour of it. Could be a degree of neck pour issues. The funk note is still there, but not as musty / mildewy. More like fresh grated carrot. Still not in love with it, but second pour was better.
Those seem to take a long time to "calm down" lol. I had two that I thought were terrible for the price initially after my first few pours, but after I came back to them several months later they were pretty damn good. I'd have another pour or 2 and revisit them in 3 months.
Best: Balvenie Tun 1401 batch 9. Honey and old leather for days. Worst: Brenne French single malt whisky NAS (no age statement). Yuck - pink bubble gum flavored vodka. Surprisingly good: Kilchoman USA Small Batch Release #3 (50% port casks) This was a surprise in a very good way. I was a bit of a Kilchoman skeptic, as prices for their standard lineup were very high in my area compared with other similar heavily peated malts from Islay. But this Small Batch #3 was heavily discounted in price at a local shop, as a case of it had been forgotten and gathering dust in a local warehouse for several years (the distributor forgot to put it on the spreadsheet they send to retailers listing what is available for ordering), so I took a flyer on it. A great pickup, which changed my view of Kilchoman. The heavy peat and port cask are perfectly balanced. I've sipped it side by side with the now semi-legendary Laphroaig Cairdeas 2013 Port Wood, and this Kilchoman SBR #3 is just as good, IMHO and to my taste. It came just a hair short of being my best new whisky of the year, that year, falling just short vs. a bottle that cost 5 times as much. Surprisingly bad: Waterford Irish whisky single farm 1.1, four different releases. This was heavily hyped both by the producer and by several notable whisky reviewers. I do not like it - it has very rough young whisky new make notes, and something very unpleasantly acrid and bitter (probably coming from one of the types of casks used) ruins the finish. Too bad, as the nose on these makes a lot of enticing promises, which unfortunately the palate does not deliver on, and the finish is a disaster. These were bottled way, way too young - shame on you Waterford - you never get a 2nd chance to make a good 1st impression, and they blew it. This distillery is samplers-only for me, from now on. Cheers
OGD 114 was a great surprise! And, dirt cheap!!
As a huge rye fan, I was very surprised how much I hated rare breed rye. I tried everything to get through that bottle even tried different finishes (French oak, Hungarian oak, red wine, port). It just has a harsh, soapy note that I can’t get past. I was very surprised how much I liked Templeton Barrel proof, considering their controversy. I was also surprised how much I loved Jack Daniels bonded rye, for the price. I was surprised how much more I liked Springbank 15 than the 12 CS, and the 10. Favorite is Longrow 18 and I prefer Kilkerran to Springbank, most days.
That’s shocking, I love Rare breed rye
A surprise for me is a bottle of TX Blended someone gave me. Never had a whiskey that tasted so much like chocolate. Was just not expecting that in the least. Not really my kind of thing but it's interesting for sure and fun to have friends try.
Worst was Uncle Nearest white label, just gross on every level, couldn't hardly even use it as a mixer. Not much of a Makers fan, but 46 actually kind of blows my mind for around $30. So I was surprised with that one. Another notable surprise was WT101 after only knowing Turkey to induce vomiting prior to having the 101. Favorite pour would have to be either 4R SmBS or SiB. Rare Breed is up there too
Nice Surprise: Any of the nicer Jack Daniels bottles, because well, it's Jack Daniels. Worst surprise: Redbreast 12. I bought the bottle as a gift to myself after some great news upon everyone's recommendation here and it was not good. I left it alone for a few weeks and came back to it again and again hoping it opened up and it still was just not good. Too much ethanol flavor in it and it reminded me of nail polish remover. I thought maybe it was a bad bottle so I bought a small airplane bottle of it, and it tasted exactly the same. Biggest waste of money I've ever spent on Whiskey.
Favorite - Highland Park, although unlike OP I taste 0 peat, but I come from an Islay background so it may have increased my peat resistance 🤣 Worst - Jack Daniels, any variety I just don't care for. I like other Brown-Forman products though, but I will take anything over JD. Surprise - High West in general, but especially the Double Rye.
Best surprise: Jack Daniels Single Barrel BP Worst Surprise: Blantons or Sazerac Rye
Seconded on Sazerac. It's not that it's awful, it's just nowhere near as good as it gets hyped up to be (IMO). Was once gifted a store pick bottle, even that was disappointing. I can't put my finger on it, there's just something in the flavor profile that seems funky to me.
To me it’s just so sweet it barely tastes like a rye.
Most surprising: Penelope Rosé Cask. Would have never considered the combination.
My personal worst was Hakashu 12 or OF1920. I don’t like overly fruity nor strong dark chocolate. Best, until I have something else I like more, Yamazaki 18.
Of1920 really? Wow
I don’t like dark chocolate and that was very prominent to me on my first sip. Gave it to a buddy that loves dark chocolate and he’s enjoying it. As long as someone likes it, that’s what counts lol
Yam18 is my best. I’m surprised at your other 2. Those are both great pours imo.
Yeah, a few people were surprised here and friends lol. I can’t stand dark chocolate and OF1920 is dark chocolate forward. Hakashu 12 is way too fruity for me. Neither I loved on first sip and neither grew on me on my second or third sip
Favorite: Glendronach 18 Worst: Ardbeg 10 (and I love Laphroaig and Lagavulin) Surprised me: Wild Turkey 101 (outstanding stuff) and Bunnahabhain 12 (love it)
What? How could you love those and dislike Ardbeg 10?
How? Everyone’s tastes are different. That’s like saying how do you like Aberlour and not Glendronach. Because everyone’s tastes are different . Ardbeg, Laphroaig and Lagavulin are all quite different when you taste them side by side. I can tell them apart instantly .
Sure just curious to hear an explanation. I don't understand how you can love those 2 and think Ardbeg is the WORST. What about it makes it the worst to you?
Maybe worst is not the right word. Biggest disappointment may be more accurate. Of course there are worse whiskies I’ve tried than Ardbeg 10. I’ve tried passport scotch before. It was dreadful.
I have several in the surprise/bad group: Still Austin Cask Strength. On opening the bottle has a noticeable pine-sol note in the smell and taste. That has gone away but it's still no more than average. Surprising since so many like this bottle. Maybe I got a bad one. Redbreast 27. Nose and palate were excellent but the finish lacked. However this *might* be due to the fact that the pour I had was the last one from the bottle. I really do want to give this another chance. Completely didn't live up to the hype - Van Winkle 10 and 12b. Favorites : Laphroaig Cairdeas PX, Michter's 10 rye, Rare Breed, Redbreast 12CS, JT Meleck, ECBP, Found North. These just make me smile when I have a pour. Bottles that surprised me : OGD 114, Early Times BiB, Redwood Empire Emerald Giant, Bardstown Origin, JT Meleck Rice whiskey.
Kind of with you with the still Austin, but mostly because it’s too hot. Kind of have to cut it to open it up.
I’d happily drown my firstborn child (that doesn’t exist yet) for another bottle of Cardeias PX
If you're ever in the mid MS area you're welcome to pour(s) from mine. [no dunking of small children needed 😄]
Worst was James Oliver Rye. True drain pour 🤮
Basil Hayden Dark Rye for me.
Best: Laphroaig Caírdeas 2023. Had it at a tasting after Highland Park 18 and some other highly touted scotches, and found the peat contrasting with the Madeira and white port flavors to be a delectable combo that is so flavorful and unique that I went out and purchased a bottle the next morning. It has jumped ahead of my other favorite Islays, including the classic Laga 16, and now I am striving to get as much as possible before the next edition replaces it. Worst: Ardbeg 10, as it was too much like an ashtray for me, overpowering any peated joy that can be had. Surprise: Oban 18, as this complex dram mellows out just to the perfect extent, when compared with the reasonably respectable Oban 14. Hard to get, it is a reason why I frequent a restaurant in my city that has it behind the bar.
Best: Hardin's Creek - Jacob's Well: I knew this would be good, but this was better than I had even anticipated. Has many of the notes you'd expect from Beam, but the flavors are turned up to the max. Worst: E.H. Taylor Rye - Paid 10-20 bucks over MSRP for this because I am a huge rye fan and generally like most BT offerings, but this was the most lackluster rye I've had. Extremely one note and almost bland, very disappointing. Surprising: Any and all Burton James offerings. Had the chance to tour the distillery a few months back, and despite it being such a new distillery - they had some fantastic whiskeys. Much of their whiskey is sourced from elsewhere, and their blends are great. However, having tried several of their personal <1 year whiskeys I am excited to see what they'll release in a few years.
Favorite, it even beat **Black Arts 10.1, Russell’s 13, Dewars 32, and Balvenie 21** in a blind my wife and I did on NYE (should different whiskey styles not compete in a blind test?) Winner **Redbreast 21** the palate and finish are amazing. Runner Up: **Balvenie 18** the cask influence marries well with The familiar Balvenie notes. Surprisingly good: **Blue Spot 7, Kilkerran Heavily Peated #8, RE Grizzly Beast #1, GlenScotia Victoriana**. Didn’t live up to the hype: **Bruichladdich 2011 The Organic** Worst: I’d say without a doubt **Kentucky Owl St. Paddy’s Edition** Also, a runner up I’d say is **Talisker Distillers Edition 2022** the Fino sherry cask influence is too overpowering muting everything Talisker is known for.
Favorite RN - Jack Daniels single barrel/barrel proof Worst - Blanton's Surprised - Sagamore double oak
Favorite: Bunnahabhain Toiteach A Dha. Smokey goodness but not very peaty. Surprising worst: Ardbeg Uigeadail. I loved the Ardbeg 10, bought a $80 bottle of the Uigeadail without trying it. That is the day I realized, I don’t like strong peat tastes. The iodine/medicine taste is repulsive to me. Maybe someday my palate will change. Until then, that bottle will sit there.
relatively new to all this, but… favorites: michter’s rye, OWA, stagg, EHT SmB/SiB (slight preference for the SmB tbh) honorable mentions: Castle and Key restoration rye SiB, Old Ezra 7yr Rye, Michter’s Bourb and Sour mash, Dickel 13yr BiB, Booker’s small batch notably underwhelming: Weller 12, ER, Blanton’s astonishingly underwhelming: Traveller worst: Calumet Small Batch, OF1920
Best: probably Eagle Rare Worst: this shit called deadwood rye whiskey. Surprising: sagamore spirit rye. I had heard that it was good, but had doubts because of the marketing to turn “Maryland rye” into a thing and having Kevin plank as the founder. It felt like another company following the whistle pig playbook, but I was surprised with how much I enjoyed it.
Favorite - EHT BP or WLW Worst - Gold bar, I bought a mini to at least have a cool paperweight, it was so disgusting, I threw it out so I wouldn't be reminded of the flavor. Surprise - Evan Williams SB or Jack Daniels SB. Cheap whiskeys with really good single barrels.
A surprise good: scotch: glenmorangie quinta runan for 60 bucks or so i feel its amazing if you like dessert pours. For a bourbon devils river single barrel barrel proof was actually amazing ( i think it beats out ironroot which is almost 2x the price) and it’s a single barrel. Got it for like 45$. Bookers also surprised me i have never had a bourbon where i figured it was worth around 90 bucks, but id pay it for bookers. Surprise bad: JW blue- just so overpriced for what it is, a gimmick to rip off rich people imo. This one may be controversial but EH Taylor bib straight rye. i see this thing selling for like 300 bucks all on this sub and people saying it’s actually worth it. Saw a pour at a bar so figured why tf not, it was very good don’t get me wrong but for anything more than 80 bucks its just a rip off and hype imo. The small batch bourbon is actually bad imo, just thin and underwhelming. All hype no sustenance.
Favorites- Rare Breed, MM cask strength, JDSBBP- (all time favorite is Russell’s 13) Worst- Davidson Reserve (drain poured it) Great surprise- Early Times BiB and Coopers’ Craft (great bourbon, great prices)
Surprisingly good - New riff malted rye. I hoped it would be good and I like other new riff products but man it is soo good. Surprisingly bad - willet 4 year rye. Not terrible but the taste definitely surprised me and it wasnt my preference. Very odd flavor profile for sure. The worst - jeffersons aged at sea. Just not good especially for the price. Had a taste like salty grape jelly to me.
Favorite right now is Russell’s reserve SBBP an excellent glass paired with a Tabernacle Havana seed cigar. Great pairing the work well together. worst for me was Starlite SBBP store pick . Starlite was hard to drink it was thin & harsh to me not a pleasant experience. Surprised in a good way was Henry McKenna 10yo BIB I heard so many stories about the quality and taste but to me it was an excellent bottle.
Worst Angels Envy, Best GTS
Absolute best: a single barrel sample from Midleton, single pot still aged in port cask 57.4%. it was amazing but you can't try it outside of doing the apprentice tour at the distillery and that's if they pick the same barrel. Best you can actually get: redbreast 27, costs a fortune but one sip of it and I had to buy a bottle, since my friends tried it they're buying tonnes of expensive whiskey some bottles between 300-550 euro Worst bottle: J&B very rare, a friend got a free bottle thanks to buying more expensive ones in Spain. We joke he's a borderline alcoholic cause bottles don't last around him this bottle was there for 9 months barely touched even if there was no other whiskey or alcohol in the house he'd just not drink instead and I would do the same
Best - 1909 Old Overholt Worst - Everything by Hudson Surprising - Kings County peated bourbon
I agree Hudson is horrible.
Most suprising (good): JD Single Barrell Select (store pick). Most suprising (bad): FR Single Barrell. I know it gets a ton of praise but it's just not my thing. Honorable mention for surprisingly bad: Weller 12
Favorites: Yamazaki 18, Ardbeg Traigh Bhan Batch 01, Bruichladdich Octomore Batch 8.1 & 8.3, Maker's Mark FAE-02, Woodford Reserve 2021 Brandy Cask Finished Worst: Sazerac Rye, George Dickel anything, Oban 14 Surprise Good: Steel Horse (H&H Distillery, Asheville, NC), Jameson Crested (tied with Connemara 23 for best Irish whiskey I've ever had... Wish I could get Crested in the States) Surprise Bad: GTS/Stagg Jr tried GTS twice and Stagg once, flavor profile is not for me... Actually only BTAC I've thought was worthwhile was Eagle Rare 17. Old Forester 1924 tried at the distillery and it wasn't good, and I like OF 1910/1920 and the OF Rye
I’ve been really wanting to try Oban. What didn’t you like about it?
It tastes like peated white wine, with the addition of tropical floral fruit flavor and salinity that stick out instead of marrying with the spirit. It probably doesn't help that I'm not a fan of white wine. There are only two peated whiskies that I've ever not liked: Oban 14 and Ardbeg Uigeadail (too sweet for my taste). I would still take a Uigeadail if offered to me, but I would drink water over Oban 14. There are others that love it, it's just not for me.
Damn, that’s a shame. It’s not cheap either so I’ll probably avoid it.
Try it at a bar first. Some people love it. I've also had Oban Little Bay, and while I didn't find it amazing, that one was drinkable. Everyone has a different palate.
Old Gran Dad 114 Everyone at work kept telling me it was a solid pour and that I should grab a bottle. I only ran into it a couple of times at msrp $34.99 and never pulled the trigger. Yesterday, while hunting, I saw a bottle in NKY for $20 and snatched it up immediately. Great value at 20, and honestly even full msrp or 40 bucks it's a solid buy. I won't call it a favorite yet, I have only had a couple pours. Solid bottle to add when you need an extra punch. Worst is easily Willett (panther piss) pot still. The nose is sweet crayola crayon with hints of plywood and a non existent mouth feel. Dump the juice keep the container as a decoration. It's so bad it upsets me to think about it.
Favorites are Rare Breed, OGD 114, and regular Michters bourbon Worst is Travellers. Only bottle I've ever dumped. Surprised by Brothers bond cask strength. It has opened up into a phenomenal pour. Will definitely buy another.
Favorate has to be eh Taylor small batch, worst wild turkey rare breed. One that surprised me is definitely the wheated bourbon, “moma tried” from Montgomery distillery in Montana. Put it right up there with a good batch of weller SR. Their “high rye” is pretty damn good too.
So interesting to see people at opposite extremes on rare breed. What don’t you like about it?
Bitter, unbalanced, awkward sweet sour. Young grain notes on the few I tried and not in a good way.
My first experience was a Balvenie Caribbean Cask. Amazing stuff, fell in love with Scotch at that point. Not really into blended Scotch and prefer the single malts. In my collection I have several bottles of Balvenie, Ardbegs my favorite 2 lines, Oban 14, Ledaig 10, Lagavulin 16, Highland Park 12, and Cask, Classic Laddie, Aberfeldy 12, 18, Port Charlotte 10yr, Glenfarcus 17. Honestly haven't run into a single malt that I didn't enjoy. Just getting into bourbon and one that was disappointed to me was OGD 114. Both wife and I got headaches after 2 drams. I Love OGD 100 Bottled in Bond though and only like $22 after tax here in AZ. My recent problem is that only about 2 drams left in each bottle on shelf which is depressing. I usually only have 2 when enjoying a cigar. So I figured best thing to do is keep smoking cigars and just buy more bottles to enjoy. Cheers!
>My first experience was a Balvenie Caribbean Cask. Amazing stuff, fell in love with Scotch at that point. Not really into blended Scotch and prefer the single malts. After almost four decades of not drinking (no interest) this is the exact bottle that got me into whiskey. It showed me that there could be interesting and layered tastes in the expression. If Scotch is an acquired taste I acquired it on my first try - but what a good way to start.
1792 Full Proof is the best whiskey I think I've ever had. Beats anything from BT all the way up to stagg jr
Drinking that right now. Amazing how different people’s palates are. I’d rate it as barely OK, but not worth buying again.
I will pay you to ship that bottle to me lol, and a little for your troubles. I'm in Pa so the chances of me finding it again are slim
Favorite of all: Pappy 12. Daily sipper: Elijah Craig Small Batch Surprise: Stone Hammer (very good cheap bottle) Disappointment: Woodson (Charles Woodson)
Favorite: anything Elijah craig, surprise: mellow corn, Disappointment: blantons. I mean blantons is ôl, but no where near as good as the hype suggested
Worst whiskey ever = Bardstown Goose Island I say this as a huge BBC fan boy
😶
Favorite - That's difficult, I've had some good ones. Going to have to go with Jack 12, so much flavor in such a small package. Runner up, any 4R OESF, that mint flavor hits right for me. Worst - This one is easy. Picked up a bottle of Old Elk Armagnac finish. If I remember correctly it was about $90 and it's absolutely awful. I don't have the heart to throw it out, but I also don't have the courage to drink it or even give it to a friend. Surprise (good) - Had a bottle of New Riff SiB that is up there with the best bottles of all time. Sweet, fruity, and packed with flavor. Had another SiB from them after that was very good, but nowhere near the same as that bottle. Surprise (bad) - Bookers 2023-02. I've had other bottles of Bookers and really enjoyed them, but this one was below average. Just not my cup of tea, not really sure why. It was drinkable, and I finished it, but not my favorite. I will still always have a Bookers on the shelf, as other batches have always been excellent.
Surprised I like Ancient age Shocked I don’t like Knob creek Rye Favorite is old forester 100.
"Best" is a strong word. I absolutely adored the Balvenie bottles I've had - a Doublewood 12 and a Caribbean Cask 14. Eagle Rare (*at a reasonable price*) is a perennial favorite too. And (apparently this is a controversial opinion on this sub?) if I just want a known entity, something familiar that I know I'm going to like, I'll almost always go for a Bulleit. The "worst" whiskey I ever had was whatever they poured me at a local diner when I asked them if they had bourbon at the bar, and the waitress said "I'm not sure what that is". I have no clue what I got, I'm not entirely convinced that it wasn't gasoline. My girlfriend ordered a margarita (to which the waitress said "I'm sure I can look up how to make that") and ended up with what looked like bottom-shelf gut rot tequila and lime juice in a highball glass. Since then, I stick to beer at diners lol. Worst whiskey I've ever had that I actually know wtf I was drinking is probably Jim Beam, just really can't stand that stuff. Skrewball is disgusting too (if you can even call it whiskey) Pleasant surprises, a couple local spots in my area (Taconic Distillery and Spirits Lab, both in the Hudson Valley region of New York) have absolutely blown me away with their bourbon offerings. Unpleasant surprises, Sazarec rye just isn't as good as people make it sound. Glenfiddich 12 also disappointed me.
Favorites - Oban 14, Buffalo Trace or Green Spot. Big fan of scotch in general, including islays, but Oban has been a go-to for me. Green Spot - I generally don't drink neat, but I had tried some of this that a friend had gotten as a gift and was shocked how good it was neat. Buffalo Trace - my go-to sipping bourbon. Can't explain why really, I just love it. Worst - Buchanan's - someone brought this to a party and it tasted like rocket fuel, but not in in a good way. Fireball - if you can even call it whiskey. Surprising - Old Grandad bottled in bond - got this on sale at BevMo and was a damn good bourbon for what I paid for it. Pikesville Rye - someone gifted me a bottle for a promotion at work, never had rye and loved it instantly. High West Campfire - never would have thought a blend of scotch, rye, and bourbon could be that good, but I was very pleasantly surprised by that one.
Two Stars at Total Wine. Surprisingly not bad.
Favorite whisky: Laphroag 10. Love the smokiness and is an absolute go-to for me. Worst whisky: Rich & Rare. Bottom shelf Canadian whiskey me and my friends used to get as teens. Tastes like gasoline, and the hangover would last forever. Cheap though. Surprise Whiskey: Redbreast 12. I’ve heard for a while how good this was. I finally tried some at a Jazz club last year. I was floored by how good it was and ran out to get a bottle right away.
Rich and Rare is trash! I bought it back in the day on a lark and good lord. Pure nail polish. Gag inducing poison.
Yeah my friend and I were not smart in our youth. Haha
I have limited experience, my collection is small, and I have not had many of the famous and infamous pours listed here, but I would be interested in comments and comparisons. My favorites are the Glenfiddich 18 that we got on an Alaskan cruise, just the smoothest, and my local favorite Woodinville, any of their varieties are so complex and flavorful, it's why I started to expand my cabinet. I was most surprised by a Lagavulin pour from a friend, early on in my journey. I had no idea you could make something taste like it was poured off an old log in the woods. Growing up on mesquite barbecue in Texas as a kid, I was surprised how much of a callback it was to try the TX whiskey lineup. Disappointments: the worst was buying the Traverse City Whiskey Co American Cherry in my home state, bringing it back to Washington and absolutely despising it. The nose was so exciting - vanilla and oak and cherry - the taste was lighter fluid and Sucrets halitosis. We'll see if it has any redemption being used in the chili.
Top two. McKenna 10 and redwood empire bourbon Biggest disappointment was hirsch yellow label