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I'm fairly new here and really like the forum, but I feel like this website is missing something that many other spirit based sites have: A Review section for members to rate/score the drinks that they've had.
Has this topic been brought up before and is there any reason that the site masters don't do that. I've found it to be very helpful on tequila or whisky sites to know tasting notes and be able to easily access them to see if something is worth buying.
Any thoughts?
Uh...I'm guessing you haven't checked out the Tasting Notes section? :grin:
I use it to occasionally post notes on whiskies I've tasted, or to read about one I'm thinking of buying. I avoid using a numerical rating, preferring to provide detailed descriptors and overall impressions...things that convey details about the whiskey far better than a number can.
Mat, I think, covered it pretty well. But to expand on that a little... Number scores cam ne very misleading, and tend to overshadow the most important fact... That tastes vary from person to person.Quote:
Originally Posted by Max Power
The tasting forum, though perhaps a bit underutilized is very useful as is the Bottle of the Month. No, you may not not be able to at a glance get a number that says whether a particular whiskey is good or not, bit of you don't have the same tastes as those that generated the number, ot doesn't matter anyway.
For example, many (if not most) people here like OGD. So, it may have a very high number... But, the stuff tastes downright awful to me. The number system in this case fails me. But over time, by reading what others think of bottles I do like, I have put toghether people that have similar tastes and tasting notes to my own, thus of I am curious about a particular bottle, I will look to see what they think, and while not perfect, it certainly gives me a better barometer of the chances I will or won't like somethong.
Take advantage of the search function to find opinions, and you will get more *useful* information that way than you will from a typical ratings sight.
I completely get that number scoring can be varied. One person who hates can score some thing a 50 while someone who hates just as much may give it a 70.Quote:
Originally Posted by JayMonster
But since this forum/community seems like a pretty tight knit group, you can find a few that you reference more than others and trust their reviews. I know that more or less every bourbon has been discussed in the forum, but I was just thinking of a neater way to organize thoughts and tasting notes of users.
I hadn't really used the search function too much...and to be honest, with all of the acronyms that are unknown to new folk, it makes it fairly difficult in a search function.
I'm just speaking as a person who is coming here as an outsider. like you mentioned, finding people with a similar palate to your is key, but for someone who just came here, it's much more difficult finding the information.
In all honesty, the Tasting Notes section was one of the first places that I went. I was disappointed that it gave me notes from two people. And while the notes from those two people are great, I feel like notes from the overall SB community would be more helpful. Additionally, those tasting notes don't even come close to covering the whole gamut of what the SB forums talk about.Quote:
Originally Posted by mrviognier
It's an organization thing and ease of access to information. I guess I'd prefer to make two clicks and find what all the users feel about a particular bourbon than use a search function and try to sift through forum posts. That's just me...
I get what you are saying. No, really I do. And obviously I can't speak for anybody else. But as I see it... this isn't a "web site" while the sheer amount of information here, makes it useful to "outsiders" this is a "forum" and not a "website" because it is more of a hive mentality. A sort of "for the members, by the members" sort of thing. And yes, some of the acronyms can take some getting used to, but that is why there is a list of them in the new members forum.Quote:
Originally Posted by Max Power
I'm not trying to argue with you, or say you are wrong for your views, just trying to explain (at least from my point of view), why things are the way they are.
Yeah there is a lot of information here and each person has their own opinions on what is what. Many users have bourbons listed on their profile under the bourbon recommendations section. I know there isn't scores involved, but if you find yourself agreeing with a user on some of their suggestions, they might have more recommendations on their profile.
Also, several users also have their own blogs where they do reviews and scoring as well.
I know that isn't exactly what you are looking for but I figured it might help.
"Your mileage may vary" is really more than just a saying for many here and limits the scoring frame of mind. The "what bourbon you are enjoying" thread will often have added information more valuable than any points. Serious discussion about the taste of what one is real time drinking drinking is often the focus of the chat/gazebo conversations that take place most nights. I kind of like it the way it is...man maybe I should start posting in the Politics, Religion & Controversy section :lol: .
Max. I think in a very short period of time you will know exactly what the members of this board love :drinking: and what they dump in the toilet :shithappens:
I'll get u started, everyone here gives VWFRR a zero score. Don't buy it! In fact if you see it for sale PM me and I will go tell the store owner never to buy it again :lol:
What you asked would be a nice to have but ...
To have a score, you would need one scorer or a panel with set criteria. If you want a score, there are other website that provide scores or rating for certain bottles and they have their own scoring criteria, one judge, or panels.
In this forum, it would be hard, as all of us have very different tastes, have tried different or limited offering, and would differ greatly. So tasting notes are much more informative and more suited to a forum. Just like at nikoncafe in their Lens Lust forum, they have sample pictures from each lens but not rating which lens is the best. There are a lot of discussion just like here what constitute the greats and what are their profiles.
Another issue, is that with lurkers they will just pick out the highest rated ones and procure them for resells without any thoughts of what is good for themselves but just to do a quick sale and profit.
By guiding folks to tasting notes, compare recommendations, reading the discussion, then trying what you think you may like best, this route will lead you to what you find must pleasing to your taste buds and a deeper understanding for yourselves. It does takes a great deal more time and effort.
There are also threads where people asked what other's favorites are and then calculated what has the most hits. You can do a search of those to see. Or create another one of those threads.
Cheers
--Hugh