Everyone says it's great BUT....

[scratchline]

This one is for all the contrarians out there. For me, the greatest assets of this board are the palates of its members. I take very seriously the tasting notes and buying recommendations that I read here, and over time, I identify more or less closely with the preferences of any given member. There are experts and novices, but good advice can come from either.

However...

Man being the perversest of apes and taste being infinitely variable, there are times I find my personal drummer leading me far afield from prevailing opinion. So I invite others to join me in my wayward ways and post those whiskies that they find objectionable though all the world may say otherwise.

I'll start things off with pot shots at a couple of sacred cows.

Lot B. Just don't get it. I've had some members suggest that maybe I've had recent BT juice rather than the old SW, but that doesn't really explain it since I love Frankfort Weller Centennial. I don't find Lot B bad, just completely underwhelming. Simple and light. Not much finish. Although this may verge on sacrilege, I consider it the MM of the Van Winkle line. And not enough whiskey for the money. I think the most recent run of VW 10yr 107 dwarfs Lot B. As the price climbs higher, it grows less likely that I will give it another try. That said, Van Blankle is one of the all-time greats.

Weller 12 yr. Not as radical as my position on the Lot B, since this isn't one of the Pillars of Bourbon Wisdom but rather a tremendous value pour. But again, I don't get it. I waited a long time to try it, looking for an old Louisville bottle until a wise board member clued me in that they are all Frankfort. And then, when I finally got around to it, the taste was very one-dimensional and there was a lot of wood on the finish. Way too much wood given the shallowness of the flavor. Now that said, I tasted one of the single barrel bottlings that SB did, and it was stellar, my girlfriend's favorite bourbon.

This is my story and, for the nonce and until the next bottle, I'm sticking to it.

-Mike

[kickert]

Okay, first things first.... I think you are crazy to criticize Weller 12. ;-) But, to each his own.

Many have heard my rants on things I have found underwhelming, but since you asked...

I am not only not impressed with OGD BIB, I find it down right disgusting. As I have lamented before, it tastes like varnish to me. I am willing to try it again just in case I had a bad bottle (although that seems unlikely with a mass produced bourbon and a screw top), but I will not buy it again.

Also, I am underwhelmed by VOB BIB. I think it has good flavor for the price, but I don't understand the hype many people give it. It makes me think scarcity adds a mystique that inflates ratings. I say that just because I can get it at any store around.

Finally, I was extremely underwhelmed with Pappy 20. It was not bad, but certainly was not worth the $100 a bottle I spent on it. It had too much of a tannic taste and seemed over mellowed.

[Josh]

There have only been a few bottles that I haven't liked that I've had.

One was a recent bottle of WT 101. It seemed grossly underaged. I've gotten it before and enjoyed it, but this one was just too hot to the degree that I couldn't taste anything else for the rest of the evening, and this was even after I has watered it down to about 86 proof or so.

My next one is OCPR. OK, but too woody, and it has kept me from buying anything that old since. I tried one of acdetroit's Louisville bottles once, and it was better, but still too much wood. I'm sticking to the OC 10 from now on.

This may sound strange, but as much as I love VOB, the only bottle I've ever had of 1792 was the worst bottle of whiskey I've ever tasted. It smelled like rubbing alcohol and tasted worse. The stuff was just foul, so after a couple sips I just dumped the stuff out and encouraged a friend to do the same. Bleck.

So, there we are.

[WsmataU]

Lot B. Just don't get it. I've had some members suggest that maybe I've had recent BT juice rather than the old SW, but that doesn't really explain it since I love Frankfort Weller Centennial. I don't find Lot B bad, just completely underwhelming. Simple and light. Not much finish. Although this may verge on sacrilege, I consider it the MM of the Van Winkle line. And not enough whiskey for the money. I think the most recent run of VW 10yr 107 dwarfs Lot B. As the price climbs higher, it grows less likely that I will give it another try. That said, Van Blankle is one of the all-time greats.

I agree wth this assesment. I was hoping the Lot B was in the same league as a bottle of VWFR20 that I tried recently. In short, it wasn't. There are several other bottles I'd like to try before I come back to Lot B again.

I haven't tried the VW15 and now I'm curious if I should bother.

[sotnsipper]

I am not only not impressed with OGD BIB, I find it down right disgusting. As I have lamented before, it tastes like varnish to me. I am willing to try it again just in case I had a bad bottle (although that seems unlikely with a mass produced bourbon and a screw top), but I will not buy it again.

Also, I am underwhelmed by VOB BIB. I think it has good flavor for the price, but I don't understand the hype many people give it. It makes me think scarcity adds a mystique that inflates ratings. I say that just because I can get it at any store around.

It is weird because I have also tried and been disappointed with both of these pours. The OGD BIB, to me, tastes what stinky feet would tast like if you licked them. Yeah, it was that bad for me. The VOB BIB I tried a couple months ago, didn't like, then saw many wonderful reviews about it, so revisited. Still, not good to my taste. It has a sort of wang to it, kind of like bourbon and Tang mixed, but the wang sticks with you for a while. It is good to see others with the same dislikes around here about well liked bourbons and not afraid to take tha flack when you talk about it.

[polyamnesia]

OGD BIB and even the 114 are unique pours....nothing quite like them....i am sure i posted my DISAPPOINTMENT as well here last year...but as others can attest, OGD grows on you....it's another dimension of the bourbon rainbow. eat some milk or dark chocolate. it opens up. it's one of those hologram bourbons. tricky. lovely. don't give up on the old man!

[callmeox]

To me, Rowans Creek is all burn and little else. Way more burn than a whiskey of its age should have.

For sotnsipper:

Your comments on OGD reminded me of this underrated 1980s film classic:

[BrianT]

I agree wth this assesment. I was hoping the Lot B was in the same league as a bottle of VWFR20 that I tried recently. In short, it wasn't. There are several other bottles I'd like to try before I come back to Lot B again.

I haven't tried the VW15 and now I'm curious if I should bother.

I tasted the VW12 Lot B and PVW15 side by side this past Thanksgiving, and the PVW15 had much more depth to it. I went back to KY during the recent holidays looking for more, and couldn't find any. I've heard that there will be no future releases of the 15 yr old.

[smokinjoe]

To me, Rowans Creek is all burn and little else. Way more burn than a whiskey of its age should have.

For sotnsipper:

Your comments on OGD reminded me of this underrated 1980s film classic:

:lol::lol:OMG!!! "I need my puffer!!!" I knew it. I swear to God, Ox. I read your post first (without looking at the youtube) then looked at Sots, and I said to myself."Gotta be Hollywood Knights" One of my ALLTIME FAVORITES. ":He grabbed it vis hes deeck!!!" Newbomb doing Volare. Ah man, I'm gonna have to rent this one again. It's been a while since I saw it for the 43rd time.

[shoshani]

I can identify with Hollywood Knights; its action takes place on the day I was born - October 31, 1965.

I think really the only bourbon I have continued to actively dislike that other people love is BT. And I have not had the normal version, but rather a special single-barrel offering, so I must admit that I may not even be disliking the right whiskey.

I didn't like Four Roses Small Batch at first, but after the bottle was open for a while it positively blossomed.

[cowdery]

Okay, here's my dirty, little secret. I'm not that crazy about Stagg or, really, much of anything over about 12 years old. I can appreciate them, but they're just not what I tend to grab when I want a drink. So I guess I don't get all those people who never seem to rave about anything but the really old stuff. I respect everyone and if you really like the taste, and haven't just been brainwashed into thinking older is always better, then more power to you.

(That said, I have been enjoying some Eagle Rare 17 lately, so go figure.)

[funknik]

I don't really like the ER10/90 very much. It's in line with what I tend to like as far as proof and age, but this just always comes off as a little lite & flat to me. It's a nice change from heavier, more complex-flavored juice and it seems to vat well with others, but I don't think it's ultimately worth it and the only time I reach for it is as a surrogate to save on other bottles.

[cas]

I'm not jazzed by OGD 114, which seems to be very popular here.

Craig

[gothbat]

Speaking solely about the current versions, I'm not really impressed at all with anything OGD, I don't think any of them are that good. I have some ND BIB that I'll get to someday, maybe that will be better but I don't have high hopes for it.

[smokinjoe]

Wow, I can't believe I'm saying this, because I used to sing the praises of this one. But, I'm just not that crazy any longer with Rittenhouse 100. I think as I have sampled more and more ryes, this one just doesn't offer me the differentiation any longer. It's just is too bourbon-like for me.

I don't know who I am any longer...:crazy:

[TBoner]

Okay, here's my dirty, little secret. I'm not that crazy about Stagg or, really, much of anything over about 12 years old. I can appreciate them, but they're just not what I tend to grab when I want a drink. So I guess I don't get all those people who never seem to rave about anything but the really old stuff. I respect everyone and if you really like the taste, and haven't just been brainwashed into thinking older is always better, then more power to you.

(That said, I have been enjoying some Eagle Rare 17 lately, so go figure.)

Chuck, I'm mostly with you. I do like the VWFRR, but many of the extra-aged items don't do much for me. I bought Stagg this year (first time ever) and, while I know it's good, I don't love it. I think a lot of the extra-aged stuff is better off balancing out bottlings with age statements 12 years or less.

Regards,

Tim

[jburlowski]

Okay, here's my dirty, little secret. I'm not that crazy about Stagg or, really, much of anything over about 12 years old. I can appreciate them, but they're just not what I tend to grab when I want a drink. So I guess I don't get all those people who never seem to rave about anything but the really old stuff. I respect everyone and if you really like the taste, and haven't just been brainwashed into thinking older is always better, then more power to you.

(That said, I have been enjoying some Eagle Rare 17 lately, so go figure.)

I absolutely hear what you're saying Chuck.

But, as I add on the years, I find myself espousing the "older is better" argument more and more....

[shoshani]

Wow, I can't believe I'm saying this, because I used to sing the praises of this one. But, I'm just not that crazy any longer with Rittenhouse 100. I think as I have sampled more and more ryes, this one just doesn't offer me the differentiation any longer. It's just is too bourbon-like for me.

You know what's weird? I like it BECAUSE of its "bourbony" flavor. Its price has gone up in the last year or two, but it used to be around $12 a bottle for a honey richness that seriously reminded me of Wild Turkey a decade ago.

When I want RYE, I grab Baby Saz or WT Rye

[barturtle]

I've been pretty open for a long time about my disdain of Pappy 23yo

[EricABQ]

For me it's Pappy 20. Which surprised me because I think Pappy 15 is outstanding. I was pretty excited to try my first bottle of the 20, but I dislike it so much it will be an effort to finish it.

[ILLfarmboy]

Not everyone likes it but it has gotten quite a bit of chatter here on SB.com lately. EC 12. I use to drink it occasionally but have grown to dislike it, even when getting a good bottle.

[MissingKY]

I can't really get into VOB BIB, a bourbon I've been tasting off and on since high school. Maybe it's familiarity breeding contempt, but this one just seems really bland to me. I read so many good things about it here on the board, but every time I have a drink of it, I'm underwhelmed. For me, it lacks the assertive little punch I like from a BIB.

[snakster]

I agree with Lot B, Didn't do a thing for me and that was before the price spike.

I will also chime in on PVW20, just too darn much oak wood taste for me. Like a previous poster alluded, it was actually a chore to finish the bottle.

My last will be Baker's, the alcohol was overwhelming to me at the time. However, I have had a few more experiences since then and it would probably be worth a revisit. If, that is, it was still available in PA. I actually gave my second bottle to my Dad back then. I wonder.....

[NYtaster]

Okay, here's my dirty, little secret. I'm not that crazy about Stagg or, really, much of anything over about 12 years old. I can appreciate them, but they're just not what I tend to grab when I want a drink. So I guess I don't get all those people who never seem to rave about anything but the really old stuff. I respect everyone and if you really like the taste, and haven't just been brainwashed into thinking older is always better, then more power to you.

(That said, I have been enjoying some Eagle Rare 17 lately, so go figure.)

[NYtaster]

One more rant if I'm allowed, Snaksters avitar just brought this to mind. Just this week I saw Hirsch at the local store for $239 a bottle. Now I bought one a couple of years back at $80 and thought it was OK but a little over priced but for $239????? It must be the last bottle on earth!