smart ratings:

[Holderman]

What's up with these guys? Town Branch is rated higher than Pappy's 20. They have lost their mind!

http://whiskey.findthebest.com/d/c/American/Bourbon

[squire]

Because the reviewers were paid as well as instructed.

[Phil T]

The only good thing I see about this list is that it shows approx prices. Maybe the hipsters will see how much they over paid for their VW's

[squire]

I should think the hipsters would prefer to over pay.

[Restaurant man]

Obviously a good source of info for the hipsters.

"

Jefferson's Select 18 Year Old Bourbon Whiskey was distilled by McLain & Kyne in United States. Jefferson's Select 18 Year Old Bourbon Whiskey was aged for 17 years, which is moderately morethan the average for all Whiskey."

[callmeox]

But it's 'data driven' so it must be correct. You can't argue with the datas.

[squire]

Of course we can argue, that's why they built Court Houses.

[Dolph Lundgren]

I should think the hipsters would prefer to over pay.

I think you mean Yuppies. The whole ethos of 'Hipsterism' is to embrace counter-culture and resist mainstream commercialism and trends (even though they, in many cases, start the trend). Van Winkle, at no fault of their own, has become the quintessential "must-have" bourbon, and hipsters dropped it once the yuppies moved in with their checkbooks and drove up the price. The other day, I saw a dude in thick, black-framed glasses and skinny jeans throwing a handle of Weller 12 into his backpack while gitting on his fixie.

This is natural cycle of things. Places in Chicago that provide Van Winkle flights (i.e. the Aviary), are mistaken as being as Hipster sanctuaries, but in reality, they cater more to the yuppie crowd. In a way, the bourbon nerdery on SB is very similar hipster culture. The nerds identify something good, the yuppies swoop in and buy, buy, buy, the price goes up, and the nerds move on to something else.

As the joke goes: why did the hipster eat the scalding hot pizza? Because he wanted to finish it before it got cool.

I know it seems like I'm splitting hairs here, but these clasifications are very important in my neck of the woods.

[squire]

They're worth a little less than zero in my neighborhood.

[gatsby]

They're worth a little less than zero in my neighborhood.

I'll drink to that!

[ChainWhip]

Dolph-

Good points there! The draw of belonging or not belonging is too tedious to keep track of though... It's just "legalism" of a different sort.

I just know it's fun hanging out here on SB and I've met some pretty cool fellow whisk(e)y geeks. Cool, not cool, anti-cool, ebony, ivory...

=]b

[Dolph Lundgren]

I'll drink to that!

[gatsby]

Touché! But it's a Nets headband.

[Dolph Lundgren]

Touché! But it's a Nets headband.

[smokinjoe]

"Resist mainstream commercialism and trends?". Maybe one should start a new trend and break away from the other 50 million and find a new clothing shop and eyewear store. Let's mix it up there a little dudes! when I see these fellas, I feel like I'm looking at an army of those guys who were trying to kill Neo in The Matrix. I can't tell one from the other.

Says the guy who was publicly shamed into buying a new casual belt...

[LiveFromLou]

The whole way that Town Branch has gone about establishing their brand is very corporate to me. They have a lot of money to spend in establishing brand equity and I see evidence of that all over, including coming out of the gate and building an (admittedly beautiful) HUGE distillery that is far out-sized for their reputation and current production. Thus, I wouldn't doubt that their marketing agency has gamed these ratings.

[brrrbon]

I was chatting with a coworker about the hipster / yuppie continuem. I think hipster has evolved to the point where it is just a term for young tech savy yuppies. Years ago I think your definition was more accurate, it was more of an anti consumer culture ethos. Now it seems more of a matter of finding the next hot thing, before anyone else knows about it. Last fall I saw an article in forbes, of all places, about the most hipster neighborhoods. In minneapolis the neighborhood that

was honorable mention , number 12 I think, was the north loop. The loop is definitely an expensive nieghborhood. how about the fact the forbes is publishing said list in the first place? pop culture is big bidness. You will never catch me wearing calve hugging jeans....never

[brettckeen]

I know it seems like I'm splitting hairs here, but these clasifications are very important in my neck of the woods.

I tend to agree it seems ,ore for those interested in latest new trends etc... like the people that wait in line for the iphone the day it comes out. I may have tattoos and weller 12 handles in my backpack, I just hope I'm not a hipster because I don't wear my girlfriend's jeans.

[mosugoji64]

Holy crap! EW1783 beats WLW and GTS? :bigeyes: Looks like I'll be saving some money next Fall!

[Josh]

Says the guy who was publicly shamed into buying a new casual belt...

You're a BotY now so you should probably donate your braided belt to the Getz