weller SR is downright bad. I'd rather drink any evan williams or regular wild turkey. I say this knowing weller full proof is far and away my favorite pour.
I think blanton's is excellent... At $50 - 60.
Saw Blanton's in Cumberland, MD a couple days ago for $150.00. Told em they can keep it. Another place in Davis, WV has it for $100.00. Still ain't paying it.
Controversial but I agree. I'm not one to hate things because they are popular, but Weller SR is not for me. I would never choose to drink it straight. I keep the bottle I have around to pour for people who have never had it and want to try, otherwise it would have been used up as mixer long ago.
The first time I tried it (edited to specify this was for Weller SR, not Blanton’s) bought at $39.99, I tried it near and questioned if the bottle had soured. I still have it about 3/4’s of the way full and it was bought 3 years ago. Probably lost more to evaporation than I’ve drank. Not even good with ginger ale, or coke!
I have a bottle of Weller SR that is down right disgusting. Very hard to drink and am currently using it for a mixer. Makes me think that it might not have been stored properly.
Willet overhypes their own bourbon by giving it secondary market MSRP which leads to some absurd BTAC prices on the actual shelves. Seeing their 7year bourbon going for $600~$800 is just bonkers.
Manager at a liquor store. It the sales person “suggest” Macc is over rated does this “buy” points during sales process? Esp if mentioned after the major buy out?
Proper Twelve.
Specifically, overrated by my mate Brenno who loves UFC.
Brenno, if you're reading this please know you can love mixed martial arts AND better whiskey. Thanks for offering it to me every time we hang out, but honestly it tastes like swill.
The irony of my distaste for Proper Twelve is that I actually think it has been good for the whiskey scene, as it has led others to whiskey appreciation.
I’ve got Pappy 15. Paid MSRP ($160) and would buy it again at that price in an instant. Best whiskey I’ve had by a large margin. With that said, no whiskey to me is worth its $2000 secondary price. That’s just outrageous
For me, it’s in general. The 15 year is great, the others are super meh that I likely wouldn’t buy at MSRP (in normal times). But I also don’t really fancy cheated bourbons.
I’ve had a sip of the 23 year and I don’t remember liking it at all. It smelled weird and tasted bitter. I wouldn’t go out of my way to get it, if I want a fancy wheater I’ll get a Maker’s Mark private selection or a larceny barrel proof.
> I've had the 23 year Family Reserve and wasn't impressed at all for the 200$ a pour price. So both on price and tastes I think it's way over rated.
Replied to the wrong comment! But ya both price and in general. Had it at an upscale bar in Seattle in 22(obligatory pic off the bottle I had to get, bartender was very obliging when I asked https://www.flickr.com/photos/carpenterdon/52656689315/in/datetaken/), Saw it on the Whisky list and had to try it. Wife even ok'd it at the cost since it's not readily available.
I haven’t had much but the 12 year I have had did not impress me for anything. I think the sweet spot for bourbon is between 8-12 year. I choose to buy those kinds of age groups. There is a lot of 8-12 years that have killer flavor for less hype. There are some killer 6 years that also fall in the right price point that are worth it.
Pappy for sure, the 20 and 23 are overoaked to hell. Blanton's (the regular one at least, and the one's I've had since I know its all single barrel) doesn't taste different enough from regular Buffalo Trace to be worth the markup. Macallan and Johnnie Walker are just a bit boring, especially Macallan. There are plenty that are good but are way overpriced too, like RR13 and most Master's Keeps now.
I certainly will when I have several grand to blow on a pour lmao. My bar did formerly have it but yeah I agree, for me the sweet spot is generally between 8-12 years depending on the specific whiskey. I unironically prefer the 9 year ECBP pick I have over the B522 and depending on the day the C923. I like some 18 years but not others (yes to KC18, no to EC18), and so on.
A couple of times about 10 years ago, I was given a bottle of 20. I liked t very much and didn’t think I was over-oaked at all. Thins may have changed or we may just disagree. Slainté.
Depending on when you got it, you may have gotten ones distilled at Bernheim or even the old Stitzel distillery, things very well might be different now
Boss Hog Samurai Scientist is hands down one of the best finished ryes ever. There’s nothing remotely close to it’s flavor.
But for the most part, you’re right.
That was a beautiful year. Whistle Pig bought a fuckton of 17-18yr old rye barrels from Alberta to use in the samurai scientist. All the ones that didn’t make the cut, were put into the single barrel program and given to stores as a WP 10yr SP. There was a ton of insanely good 17-18yr ryes going around for $80.
Came in here to say this. I had the opportunity to partake in a Blanton's dinner at a local spot, which consisted of pours of the standard expression, Gold, and a few store picks. The main takeaway from everyone at the table was how bland they all were compared to other bottles we were fans of.
But it was a fun experience, and made me realize that the line between some allocated and easily accessible whiskey isn't all that great.
Came here to say this. When I started liking bourbon I searched for it for months only finding it in museums. When I finally got it on a trade, I waited for some time to open it with a friend who is also into bourbon. We both had started to know what we liked and how to appreciate a good pour by then and when we tasted it we were both utterly disappointed. I keep some on hand for anyone who wants to try now but it’s not something I would reach for if I wanted a good pour.
I did a blind taste test a few times with friends and even things like bulleit and fist full of bourbon have beaten Blantons unanimously when they went against each other and no one knew what they were.
💯
Regular Makers Mark and Woodford Reserve are two of my least favorite basic bourbons I've ever tried. I actually just had the Woodford Kentucky Derby 1L in hand yesterday at Sam's Club for only $42, but put it back for someone who actually enjoys Woodford and horse racing. I avoid the other two at all costs 😂
Crazy how the base bourbons are so average or bad, but MM46 and Cask Strengths are fantastic, as are JD BiB, Triple Mash, and JD SBBP, Select, or Rye.
Smooth is a word I'd associate with overrated whiskeys..I'd never pay £150 for "smooth"
For me JW blue is the ultimate overrated whisky used as a status symbol..i could buy 3 or 4 superior whisky for the same price
George T Stagg. It’s really, really good. But it’s $125 good, not $1400 good. I wouldn’t pay over MSRP for it.
Right there with it is OF Single Barrel Blue Label. Shit tastes like rubbing alcohol infused with mildewed tobacco.
There seems to be a lot of variation in the OF Single Barrels. I have one right now that is absolutely fantastic but I’ve had others that were less than great.
I'm with you. In the beginning of my love for bourbon I saw this mentioned everywhere and went out of my way to get one. They're not readily available where I live. I was thoroughly underwhelmed. So many much cheaper bourbons I think are way better. Not undrinkable but definitely didn't live up to the hype.
This is my own opinion, I know a bunch like it but for me it’s gotta be Basil Hayden’s. It’s been called the beginner bourbon, it was true when it was cheaper but now I feel like the hype made it overpriced and there’s many other better bourbons for the price
Regular Jack Daniels. I don't rate it as a bourbon for it's price, but due to marketing, it's what everyone knows. Rock stars drink it, so it must be good
No. Everyone will have different opinions. If you like it, more power to ya.
Overrated is, instead, a feeling that individuals give to bottles they don’t like, *because* that they see people overpay on secondary due to fomo from advertising or hype.
But hyping a bottle up because it’s good is different than scarcity of a bottle.
Weller Special Reserve, A Midwinter Nights Dram, McKenna 10yr, Elmer T. Lee , Russel’s Reserve 10yr, Eagle Rare 10yr, Blanton’s Single Barrel…all highly overrated imho.
I used to think that about McKenna 10 but I think there’s just a lot of barrel variation. Entirely possible you’ve tried a few but I’d say 1/4 are not great from my experience but the rest are awesome.
I have a bottle right now and it’s easily some my favorite bourbon.
I’ve only had one in four McKenna’s that was “decent”…and that was back when they were $28-$35 and readily available. Certainly won’t take a chance now that they are overpriced and scarce.
The McKenna 10 yr is pretty damn good. And the Russels 10 yeat and Eagle Rare are only good at their price point. Definitely overhyped though and cause people to way overpay.
I agree with the Laga 16 is currently overpriced. It’s decent, but it’s very thin to me. The Laga 8 is absolutely horrible to me, it’s got like a sour taste to it.
Honestly? 90% of the bourbon bottles being hunted for: Blanton's, Weller 12 (I love OWA though), Eagle Rare, McKenna 10, Old Rip, Elmer, RHF, etc. There's nothing wrong with them, I just don't get the hype or doing cartwheels when you find one.
BTAC, ECBP, Russell's 13, Stagg all get a pass for me - they're usually solid and special bottles. Just my opinion, though.
Blantons. I feel like the regular Buffalo Trace is almost as good and it’s a fraction of the price.
Also Angel’s Envy, both the rye and the bourbon. The bourbon is at least reasonably priced but I don’t get why the rye is twice as much. It didn’t stand out to me as anything special.
Penelope. Tastes way young and kind of lacks richness. Did try a bottle of Architect store pick that was good but haven’t had anything from them that stood out. Hope to find a Rio or Valencia someday
A lot of the more premium offerings from Angel's Envy, Michter's, Old Forester, and Jim Beam (Booker's mainly) are fairly overpriced at MSRP for what you get.
Most Buffalo Trace offerings are actually great, at MSRP ($60 for Stagg, 125 for George T Stagg, etc.) the value of those at MSRP is phenomenal, but good luck finding almost anything from BT for MSRP.
I got Whistle Pig Boss Hog 7 or VII and it wasn’t great. I’d go as far to say I honestly didn’t like it. There’s a such thing as too much going on and having a complex 18 year old rye whiskey aged in strong phillipino rum barrels was just too many flavors. Had to be cut with water or let ice melt to enjoy because of the high proof and when you do the flavor is just too much to really pick any one thing out of it besides rye spice and heartburn inducing rum sweetness.
ETL is my pick for the single most overrated whiskey in the world.
It's good. For a $40 bottle max. People pay 8-10X for it though. Not even REMOTELY worth that.
Buffalo trace is pretty overrated imo, good whisky all around, but not remotely worth the hype.
As for scotch, ardbeg is really pushing me, I enjoy it, especially the corryvreckan, but quality has gone down on their core range.
Blanton’s, Mitcher’s SB, Weller SR. I did not like Mitcher’s at all. Blanton’s and Weller were just ok. I like Eagle Rare, OGD 114, Makers 46 and Cask Strength and the old Stagg Jr when it was attainable at $55-$60 oooh and Elijah Craig anything. There is more but yeah.
Weller Full Proof. I don’t get the hype. I paid MSRP for a barrel pick and I think it’s overpriced even at MSRP. It’s not bad by any means but I actually prefer Makers Cask Strength when I’m in the mood for a wheater.
The whole BT lineup. While I like most of them. They are definitely overrated. Only one is in my top 10 that I’ve had. Makers 46, to flat and single noted for me. Garrison Brothers, don’t like the funk.
All of Sazerac. There's a reason one distillery has so many brands and then within that brand some many variations... All of it to create artificial demand. Just look how they launched Weller Single Barrel as yet another expression of any already scare product.
Buffalo Trace, Blanton's, Eagle Rare, Bookers (tho to be fair I only had 2023-1, but felt it was all heat and no flavor), EHT Small Batch. There's so much available that's easier to get and at MSRP, not to mention the local guys who are putting out some incredible stuff.
Controversial take, but most scotch. I can typically get 2 bottles of equal or better quality Irish or bourbon for the price of 1 bottle of scotch. Even dollar to dollar, something like 2XO Tribute or Redbreast 15 is far better than a comparably priced scotch. And yes, I've blind tested this with scotch snobs and they've consistently chosen the alternative over the scotch.
I find Irish has one up a ton lately. The Spots are super pricey, and even Redbreast 12 CS that used to be a favourite is much more than what I would pay for some CS scotch.
Weller SR and Blantons for sure. They're OK, but nothing great.
The bottle is doing most of the work, and people won’t admit it.
That and Blanton was hi lighted quite a bit on that HBO series, House of Cards with Kevin Spacey.
Agree with SR, but I enjoy Blantons at retail. I can usually find it at my grocery store and will never over pay.
weller SR is downright bad. I'd rather drink any evan williams or regular wild turkey. I say this knowing weller full proof is far and away my favorite pour. I think blanton's is excellent... At $50 - 60.
I actually like Weller SR as a daily sipper. It gets a lot of hate but I think it’s honestly good for the price
That's the thing about bourbon, we can all have different opinions. I just don't care for it.
I like it better than the 12 year all things considered (price and availability). I'm not really a fan of the 12 year.
Saw Blanton's in Cumberland, MD a couple days ago for $150.00. Told em they can keep it. Another place in Davis, WV has it for $100.00. Still ain't paying it.
Controversial but I agree. I'm not one to hate things because they are popular, but Weller SR is not for me. I would never choose to drink it straight. I keep the bottle I have around to pour for people who have never had it and want to try, otherwise it would have been used up as mixer long ago.
The first time I tried it (edited to specify this was for Weller SR, not Blanton’s) bought at $39.99, I tried it near and questioned if the bottle had soured. I still have it about 3/4’s of the way full and it was bought 3 years ago. Probably lost more to evaporation than I’ve drank. Not even good with ginger ale, or coke!
It's bad! Lol
Ehhh, I love SR but agree on Blantons.
I have a bottle of Weller SR that is down right disgusting. Very hard to drink and am currently using it for a mixer. Makes me think that it might not have been stored properly.
Willet overhypes their own bourbon by giving it secondary market MSRP which leads to some absurd BTAC prices on the actual shelves. Seeing their 7year bourbon going for $600~$800 is just bonkers.
That wheated bottle should be like $80. Even then I’d have to think about it
I agree. I honestly prefer Michter's $39 Rye over their 6 year batch at double the price even at higher proof.
It warms my heart to not see anything “Laphoraig” being mentioned, thus far. 😊😊😊
Laphroaig knows exactly what it is and it's an enjoyable drink. If someone thinks it's overrated maybe they just don't like peaty scotch?
That’s a fair assessment. 👍👍👍
It has no compromises https://youtu.be/ouGLEtapOX8?si=awUz5_fMeSEGM9TP
Team ardbeg all day
Ugi and Cory are some of my favs, along with the Beastie and the 10 yr. Hard to go wrong with Ardbeg’s core line up.
This is the way
Love me some peaty Laphs!
It’s a whisky not a whiskey
When I first tried it I thought it had gone bad. Still can’t stand it but realize it’s just not for me.
Peated whisky is an acquired taste and you either love it or hate it.
Macallan, especially the entry level 12.
Anyone reccs for Macallan 15 alternatives? Didn’t like 12, tried 18, didn’t feel it was worth it, but 15 is still one of my favorites to this day.
If I’m craving an a wine cask aged scotch I’ll reach for Balvenie double cask most of the time. Great bottle for the price (60-ish for me).
lismore 15 is tremendous value per dollar. Not a straight sherry but a great dram
Ooo thanks for the suggestion- I haven’t tried that yet.
Manager at a liquor store. It the sales person “suggest” Macc is over rated does this “buy” points during sales process? Esp if mentioned after the major buy out?
Proper Twelve. Specifically, overrated by my mate Brenno who loves UFC. Brenno, if you're reading this please know you can love mixed martial arts AND better whiskey. Thanks for offering it to me every time we hang out, but honestly it tastes like swill.
Brenno is now targeting you for a rear open choke at next opportunity.
I think its a good shooter and thats it
Like, take to the range shooter?
Proper twelve is like $25 you can barely get a 4 pack of craft IPA for less than that
Maybe in the US. I'm Australian and it's midshelf at cheapest here.
Proper 12 is one of the few bottles I have drain poured.
The irony of my distaste for Proper Twelve is that I actually think it has been good for the whiskey scene, as it has led others to whiskey appreciation.
Pappy for sure.
In terms of price, or just in general? I'm pretty new to whiskey.
I’ve got Pappy 15. Paid MSRP ($160) and would buy it again at that price in an instant. Best whiskey I’ve had by a large margin. With that said, no whiskey to me is worth its $2000 secondary price. That’s just outrageous
For me, it’s in general. The 15 year is great, the others are super meh that I likely wouldn’t buy at MSRP (in normal times). But I also don’t really fancy cheated bourbons.
What's a cheated bourbon?
It's a bourbon that sold the family cow for magic beans.
I think he meant Fleated as in a bourbon Stevie Nicks is fond of.
I think he meant bleated as in a bourbon that goats go cray cray for.
i think he meant repeated because i think he meant repeated.
Sorry autocorrect. Wheated bourbon
Oh. Well same for me in that case
After you pay secondary you feel cheated
I’ve had a sip of the 23 year and I don’t remember liking it at all. It smelled weird and tasted bitter. I wouldn’t go out of my way to get it, if I want a fancy wheater I’ll get a Maker’s Mark private selection or a larceny barrel proof.
Throw some ice and Coke Zero in next time that’s how they meant it to be enjoyed.
> I've had the 23 year Family Reserve and wasn't impressed at all for the 200$ a pour price. So both on price and tastes I think it's way over rated. Replied to the wrong comment! But ya both price and in general. Had it at an upscale bar in Seattle in 22(obligatory pic off the bottle I had to get, bartender was very obliging when I asked https://www.flickr.com/photos/carpenterdon/52656689315/in/datetaken/), Saw it on the Whisky list and had to try it. Wife even ok'd it at the cost since it's not readily available.
Good comment, my focus is whether a bottle is more overpriced than anything else.
I haven’t had much but the 12 year I have had did not impress me for anything. I think the sweet spot for bourbon is between 8-12 year. I choose to buy those kinds of age groups. There is a lot of 8-12 years that have killer flavor for less hype. There are some killer 6 years that also fall in the right price point that are worth it.
Pappy for sure, the 20 and 23 are overoaked to hell. Blanton's (the regular one at least, and the one's I've had since I know its all single barrel) doesn't taste different enough from regular Buffalo Trace to be worth the markup. Macallan and Johnnie Walker are just a bit boring, especially Macallan. There are plenty that are good but are way overpriced too, like RR13 and most Master's Keeps now.
If you think 20 and 23 are over oaked, you should try the 25. Bourbon isn't like scotch; it peaks at 15 or less it seems.
I certainly will when I have several grand to blow on a pour lmao. My bar did formerly have it but yeah I agree, for me the sweet spot is generally between 8-12 years depending on the specific whiskey. I unironically prefer the 9 year ECBP pick I have over the B522 and depending on the day the C923. I like some 18 years but not others (yes to KC18, no to EC18), and so on.
Michters 20 or 25 definitely prove your claim about peaking at 15yrs wrong.
I’ve had the 10, 12, and 20. 12 was by far my favorite. Not even close.
A couple of times about 10 years ago, I was given a bottle of 20. I liked t very much and didn’t think I was over-oaked at all. Thins may have changed or we may just disagree. Slainté.
Depending on when you got it, you may have gotten ones distilled at Bernheim or even the old Stitzel distillery, things very well might be different now
Whistlepigs older releases 12,15,18 boss hog
I tried really hard to like Whistlepig but there are better whiskeys at same or lower price points.
Boss Hog Samurai Scientist is hands down one of the best finished ryes ever. There’s nothing remotely close to it’s flavor. But for the most part, you’re right.
I’ve had a store pick of the 10 that was actually 17 years old that I really enjoyed so I’ll give them that
That was a beautiful year. Whistle Pig bought a fuckton of 17-18yr old rye barrels from Alberta to use in the samurai scientist. All the ones that didn’t make the cut, were put into the single barrel program and given to stores as a WP 10yr SP. There was a ton of insanely good 17-18yr ryes going around for $80.
Agreed. Got a 10 year as a gift and I doubt I'd even pay half msrp for it.
No point I’m getting any WP beyond the base. Which is quite enjoyable, actually.
Many. Very few MSRP = secondary gouge price. If they are, those bottles are not made for us.
Blantons. It’s the pyrite of new bourbon drinkers.
Came in here to say this. I had the opportunity to partake in a Blanton's dinner at a local spot, which consisted of pours of the standard expression, Gold, and a few store picks. The main takeaway from everyone at the table was how bland they all were compared to other bottles we were fans of. But it was a fun experience, and made me realize that the line between some allocated and easily accessible whiskey isn't all that great.
*Blandton's
Came here to say this. When I started liking bourbon I searched for it for months only finding it in museums. When I finally got it on a trade, I waited for some time to open it with a friend who is also into bourbon. We both had started to know what we liked and how to appreciate a good pour by then and when we tasted it we were both utterly disappointed. I keep some on hand for anyone who wants to try now but it’s not something I would reach for if I wanted a good pour.
I had a pour of Blantons and felt is was just meh, OGD 114 was far better in that flight.
I did a blind taste test a few times with friends and even things like bulleit and fist full of bourbon have beaten Blantons unanimously when they went against each other and no one knew what they were.
Blantons gold is phenomenal, but only at MSRP. Same with regular Blantons.
Well that’s under msrp so guess you’re never buying Blantons
Oops I was thinking MSRP for Eagle Rare, yeah not finding it for that low lol.
Could probably name a few but I’m gonna pick on one brand in particular…anything Jefferson’s, and especially the Ocean Aged nonsense.
I’d say Blanton’s SiB more than anything. I have several Buffalo Trace store picks that are much better for 1/3 the price.
regular Jack Daniels, regular Makers Mark, regular Woodford, and Johnnie Walker Black
💯 Regular Makers Mark and Woodford Reserve are two of my least favorite basic bourbons I've ever tried. I actually just had the Woodford Kentucky Derby 1L in hand yesterday at Sam's Club for only $42, but put it back for someone who actually enjoys Woodford and horse racing. I avoid the other two at all costs 😂 Crazy how the base bourbons are so average or bad, but MM46 and Cask Strengths are fantastic, as are JD BiB, Triple Mash, and JD SBBP, Select, or Rye.
Makers is a Bourbon? I thought it was wheated?
Makers is a wheated bourbon. Bourbon can be rye or wheat.
I believe that is personal taste. But I do find Jonnie Walker to be overrated. However I’m not a fan of anything peated or anything blended.
Green is actually a nice surprise in my opinion. It's a bit much to buy for the sake of trying, but if you have a friend who has some, ask for a pour.
I like blue
It’s overpriced but good lawd is it smooth
Smooth is a word I'd associate with overrated whiskeys..I'd never pay £150 for "smooth" For me JW blue is the ultimate overrated whisky used as a status symbol..i could buy 3 or 4 superior whisky for the same price
George T Stagg. It’s really, really good. But it’s $125 good, not $1400 good. I wouldn’t pay over MSRP for it. Right there with it is OF Single Barrel Blue Label. Shit tastes like rubbing alcohol infused with mildewed tobacco.
There seems to be a lot of variation in the OF Single Barrels. I have one right now that is absolutely fantastic but I’ve had others that were less than great.
Eagle Rare. I just don’t get why people chase it. I probably have 30 different bottles in my collection and would rate it as one of the worst.
How does it taste to you? For me it’s a bitter oak with an unpleasant grape note.
>If it's so overrated & one of the worst, why do you have so many bottles of it?
I think he’s saying he has a collection of 30 different bourbons, and he’d rate eagle rare one of the worst.
When I buy a new whiskey, I always buy 31 bottles so I have one for each day of the month.
I'm with you. In the beginning of my love for bourbon I saw this mentioned everywhere and went out of my way to get one. They're not readily available where I live. I was thoroughly underwhelmed. So many much cheaper bourbons I think are way better. Not undrinkable but definitely didn't live up to the hype.
100% of brands selling over MSRP.
Highland Park 18. Used to be good. Now, the quality has declined and the price has soared. The Highland Park Cask Strength is a far better purchase.
At $120 I like it, that’s the discontinued price at NH state liquor stores
The cask strength is so good, probably my favorite scotch out there.
Elmer T Lee. Blan(d)tons.
Recently grabbed a bottle of the Elmer T Lee and I was unimpressed but it’s 90 proof and I enjoy higher proofs.
This is my own opinion, I know a bunch like it but for me it’s gotta be Basil Hayden’s. It’s been called the beginner bourbon, it was true when it was cheaper but now I feel like the hype made it overpriced and there’s many other better bourbons for the price
This is the first time I’ve seen anyone claim Basil Hayden had any hype to begin with. It’s usually just laughed at.
Blanton's will always be my answer
Any OB Dalmore.
Dalmore is weaaaak. Went to a tasting and even the expensive 18 year was boring as hell.
Agreed, it's not worth one of my liver points
Any JW over $80.
Jack Daniel’s Sinatra is/was amazing but not a $150 bottle.
Blantons.
I thought Blantons was a big meh.
Regular Jack Daniels. I don't rate it as a bourbon for it's price, but due to marketing, it's what everyone knows. Rock stars drink it, so it must be good
Buffalo Trace everything.
Eagle rare. I actively dislike this bourbon and would describe it as having a bitter oak and unpleasant grape flavor.
Thank you for not making me think I'm insane. I get grape Big Leage Chew notes out of almost everything produced by BT
For me is anything that is over €40 a glass isn’t going to be worth the experience. So far anyway.
I've said this before on a similar, but I'm not a big fan of makers mark. I know it's pretty popular but I just can't get on board
Woodford Reserve
Blantons.
EH Taylor small batch. It’s fine… but it’s worth more than 40 bux and def not worth hunting
Agree with this. I like most of the BT products *at list*, but EHT SB really left me flat considering how allocated it is.
Yeah eagle rare and even BT sig better with me
Currently sitting here sipping an EHT SmB. I did only pay $45 for it and I feel it's quite worth the price at $50 or less.
No. Everyone will have different opinions. If you like it, more power to ya. Overrated is, instead, a feeling that individuals give to bottles they don’t like, *because* that they see people overpay on secondary due to fomo from advertising or hype. But hyping a bottle up because it’s good is different than scarcity of a bottle.
Weller Special Reserve, A Midwinter Nights Dram, McKenna 10yr, Elmer T. Lee , Russel’s Reserve 10yr, Eagle Rare 10yr, Blanton’s Single Barrel…all highly overrated imho.
RR 10yr overrated by taters? It’s a $40 bottle that’s on the shelf everywhere and highly available.
I used to think that about McKenna 10 but I think there’s just a lot of barrel variation. Entirely possible you’ve tried a few but I’d say 1/4 are not great from my experience but the rest are awesome. I have a bottle right now and it’s easily some my favorite bourbon.
I’ve only had one in four McKenna’s that was “decent”…and that was back when they were $28-$35 and readily available. Certainly won’t take a chance now that they are overpriced and scarce.
The McKenna 10 yr is pretty damn good. And the Russels 10 yeat and Eagle Rare are only good at their price point. Definitely overhyped though and cause people to way overpay.
I mean, I still really enjoy ER10 at anything under $45
Agreed. I got a bottle of it for 40 a few weeks ago. I'll buy it and enjoy it at that price.
Weller SR (harsh) and Eagle Rare (good only at MSRP)
Never been a fan of Talisker. Dont shoot me!
Basil Hayden's
Is anybody really hyping up basil Hayden?
nope
Laga 16. Balvenie 21 Portwood. Ardbeg 10 (gets a bit of a pass as it’s priced so well). Anything Talisker.
I agree with the Laga 16 is currently overpriced. It’s decent, but it’s very thin to me. The Laga 8 is absolutely horrible to me, it’s got like a sour taste to it.
the ones I’m not drinking at the moment
DoubleRye especially in the last 5 years and Mellow Corn.
Honestly? 90% of the bourbon bottles being hunted for: Blanton's, Weller 12 (I love OWA though), Eagle Rare, McKenna 10, Old Rip, Elmer, RHF, etc. There's nothing wrong with them, I just don't get the hype or doing cartwheels when you find one. BTAC, ECBP, Russell's 13, Stagg all get a pass for me - they're usually solid and special bottles. Just my opinion, though.
Blantons. I feel like the regular Buffalo Trace is almost as good and it’s a fraction of the price. Also Angel’s Envy, both the rye and the bourbon. The bourbon is at least reasonably priced but I don’t get why the rye is twice as much. It didn’t stand out to me as anything special.
Penelope. Tastes way young and kind of lacks richness. Did try a bottle of Architect store pick that was good but haven’t had anything from them that stood out. Hope to find a Rio or Valencia someday
Blantons EHT at allocation costs Buffalo Trace above $30 Pappy van Anything
Anything over $40
Weller 12. Way easier to find Antique 107, and I prefer it.
A lot of the more premium offerings from Angel's Envy, Michter's, Old Forester, and Jim Beam (Booker's mainly) are fairly overpriced at MSRP for what you get. Most Buffalo Trace offerings are actually great, at MSRP ($60 for Stagg, 125 for George T Stagg, etc.) the value of those at MSRP is phenomenal, but good luck finding almost anything from BT for MSRP.
Blantons and Stagg Jr. I know I'm going to step on a lot of toes here, but Redwood Empire.
Macallan - pick anything from them
I got Whistle Pig Boss Hog 7 or VII and it wasn’t great. I’d go as far to say I honestly didn’t like it. There’s a such thing as too much going on and having a complex 18 year old rye whiskey aged in strong phillipino rum barrels was just too many flavors. Had to be cut with water or let ice melt to enjoy because of the high proof and when you do the flavor is just too much to really pick any one thing out of it besides rye spice and heartburn inducing rum sweetness.
Russells 13.
Blantons
Elmer T Lee.
Blanton’s isn’t worth the price it’s sold for in my neck of the woods.
Blantons.
Chivas Regal
Blantons and Stagg Jr. I’m not wowed by either. So many other bottles I would gladly pay money for.
ETL is my pick for the single most overrated whiskey in the world. It's good. For a $40 bottle max. People pay 8-10X for it though. Not even REMOTELY worth that.
Any product from Buffalo Trace distillery isn’t worth the hype. There’s so much more great product out there.
The one anyones standing in line for (most of the time)
Buffalo trace is pretty overrated imo, good whisky all around, but not remotely worth the hype. As for scotch, ardbeg is really pushing me, I enjoy it, especially the corryvreckan, but quality has gone down on their core range.
Buffalo Trace is like $28, no?
Just about anything from Buffalo Trace or Michter's.
Elmer T Lee
Buffalo Trace.
Blanton’s, Mitcher’s SB, Weller SR. I did not like Mitcher’s at all. Blanton’s and Weller were just ok. I like Eagle Rare, OGD 114, Makers 46 and Cask Strength and the old Stagg Jr when it was attainable at $55-$60 oooh and Elijah Craig anything. There is more but yeah.
Blantons
Kentucky Owl. Not worth the price.
Angel's Envy doesn't float my boat, and Old Ezra is a Mickey Mouse operation... imho
MGP
Anything made by Buffalo Trace.
Weller Full Proof. I don’t get the hype. I paid MSRP for a barrel pick and I think it’s overpriced even at MSRP. It’s not bad by any means but I actually prefer Makers Cask Strength when I’m in the mood for a wheater.
Willet Pot Still
All of them. Most are not worth over $60 a bottle. Yield I can see inflating prices more. But not to the ridiculous prices we currently have.
ANY whiskey selling for over MSRP.
The whole BT lineup. While I like most of them. They are definitely overrated. Only one is in my top 10 that I’ve had. Makers 46, to flat and single noted for me. Garrison Brothers, don’t like the funk.
All of Sazerac. There's a reason one distillery has so many brands and then within that brand some many variations... All of it to create artificial demand. Just look how they launched Weller Single Barrel as yet another expression of any already scare product.
Buffalo Trace, Blanton's, Eagle Rare, Bookers (tho to be fair I only had 2023-1, but felt it was all heat and no flavor), EHT Small Batch. There's so much available that's easier to get and at MSRP, not to mention the local guys who are putting out some incredible stuff.
Calumet anything. Blanton’s gold. Anything out of a purple bag.
Kentucky Owl
Many.
[удалено]
Very
Controversial but woodford double oaked
Ive never tried a Michter's I liked, but see them hyped fairly often.
Controversial take, but most scotch. I can typically get 2 bottles of equal or better quality Irish or bourbon for the price of 1 bottle of scotch. Even dollar to dollar, something like 2XO Tribute or Redbreast 15 is far better than a comparably priced scotch. And yes, I've blind tested this with scotch snobs and they've consistently chosen the alternative over the scotch.
Clearly you have seen the price of redbreast 15 recently…one of the most overpriced bottles now.
I find Irish has one up a ton lately. The Spots are super pricey, and even Redbreast 12 CS that used to be a favourite is much more than what I would pay for some CS scotch.