Common Bourbons That Seem Less Popular Here

[Hawg73]

Both are okay. The price is the bigger issue with me. I can find same or better for less.

[RocknRoll]

Woodford Reserve smells and tastes like nail polish remover to me. Cannot even begin to choke the stuff down. But nonetheless, our store sells plenty of the stuff, so obviously other people feel differently about the profile (or maybe they enjoy drinking nail polish remover). I recently retasted Woodford after a year or so and my appraisal remains the same. At this point, Woodford is pretty much the last bourbon I'd ever buy--your results may vary.

I haven't tried any KC yet. Whenever I start to reach for a bottle at the store I get the feeling I'm about to pay extra for JB Black. The one bottle of WR I tried had that "tinny/metallic" taste. Could not finish the bottle. May try again some day, probably in a bar first before I risk my dollars on another bottle though. Same with the KC I think.

[RT Fan]

KC & WR are the 2 bourbons I have probably bought and drunk the most of so far. Both are fine & well made, but I would agree could be priced more aggressively. Plenty of stiff competition at or below their price points, i.e. ETL, ER, OWA... options abound.

[stiffchainey]

I like Knob Creek. WR is not my type. Both are too expensive, though, with 35€ a bottle. WR is starting to become more and more popular here, dunno why exactly. Knob Creek, you have to order from the net.

[GaryT]

WR is too "neat" or "clean" or "smooth" for my liking, not that it is bad whiskey. I think I have a 50 mL of both WR and KC, although I find KC to be a reliable order in some of the local watering holes (where the bourbon offering is limited to JB, MM, WT, and KC).

[kickert]

In my experience, Woodford and Blantons (over Knob Creek) are the bourbons that people reach for when they want to appear they like good bourbon, but really don't know much about it. Part of it is price point... they are both very easy to get, but are notably more expensive (to differing degrees) than the "stock" stuff so you can always think you drinking better because you are paying more. The other reason is because both are middle of the road pours. For the most part, they are flat and bland -- not particularly interesting, but also, not a whole lot that is objectionable in them.

If you are looking to mass produce a whiskey, it is more important to limit the potential turn offs even if that means limiting what makes things unique, interesting, and memorable.

[Alden]

In my experience, Woodford and Blantons (over Knob Creek) are the bourbons that people reach for when they want to appear they like good bourbon, but really don't know much about it. Part of it is price point... they are both very easy to get, but are notably more expensive (to differing degrees) than the "stock" stuff so you can always think you drinking better because you are paying more. The other reason is because both are middle of the road pours. For the most part, they are flat and bland -- not particularly interesting, but also, not a whole lot that is objectionable in them.

If you are looking to mass produce a whiskey, it is more important to limit the potential turn offs even if that means limiting what makes things unique, interesting, and memorable.

Exactly right. And this is why they are so popular. There are virtually no over riding strong flavors. They are well balanced and smooth.

This is why Canadian whiskies are so popular, even still.

[VAGentleman]

In my experience, Woodford and Blantons (over Knob Creek) are the bourbons that people reach for when they want to appear they like good bourbon, but really don't know much about it. Part of it is price point... they are both very easy to get, but are notably more expensive (to differing degrees) than the "stock" stuff so you can always think you drinking better because you are paying more. The other reason is because both are middle of the road pours. For the most part, they are flat and bland -- not particularly interesting, but also, not a whole lot that is objectionable in them.

If you are looking to mass produce a whiskey, it is more important to limit the potential turn offs even if that means limiting what makes things unique, interesting, and memorable.

Wow, pretty condescending to people that actually like Woodford and Blantons

[smokinjoe]

Woodford a "middle of the road" and "no over-riding strong flavors" pour? I couldn't disagree more. There are pages, upon pages, upon pages, heck volumes written here over the years on SB about folks' dislike of WR because of the exact opposite attributes of this whiskey. The whole "tastes like I'm sucking on a mouthful of pennies" etc., description has been repeated many times. I liken it more to cantaloupe rind myself, but... IMO, WR is one of the most distinctive tasting bourbons on the market. The pot distilled element gives it a definite "house style", albeit, one that is very polarizing, and turns many people off. For me, I always have it around, if for no other reason than that "distinctiveness".

[Josh]

I gotta go with Ben on this re: Woodford. I'll go so far as to say that may have been changing the profile to make it more bland and less distictive recently. The last bottle I got was really dull. Much duller than I remembered.

[White Dog]

I agree with many others here. I think the Pot Still part of the equation really screws up the perfectly okay DSP-354 distillate, and makes it taste "tinny" and thin. It's hard for me to choke it down. When faced with both on a back bar, I tend to go for KC, even though I HATE the Beam flavor profile.

I also think Ben makes a great point. This brands are intended to cast as wide a net as possible, so they need to have middle-of-the-road flavor profiles.

(And the OP asked for opinions, and that what he should get. We all have our own tastes, and these subjective opinions are not intended to offend those who like WR or KC.)

[PaulO]

...

I will say that the two sales guys I trust at my neighborhood Binny's have steered me away from both WR and KC. Given that they introduced me to ETL and FRSB, they seem to have pretty good taste.

...

Nick

I would agree with the people that suggested the ETL and FRSB. You could always buy an mini bottle, or try KC or Woodford in a bar to try it. Woodford is made from a combination of Old Forester and pot still whiskey. I think Old Forester 100 is great. The bottles of Woodford I've tried have varied. I have noticed the odd metallic taste sometimes. I can handle KC, but I have to put out of my mind the thought that it's a version of JB while I'm drinking it.

[j1mmyj4m]

It seems like my mood plays a huge part as to whether I really like them or not. I have both open, but I would rather reach for KCSB which I always stock up on and feel I can enjoy at any moment.

[wripvanwrinkle]

I very much like Knob Creek. I think that she is unpopular because she is (at least) $10 more than her 1 year younger cousin Black. I think that Black gets no love because her sister is J.B. White.

Edited April 4, 2013 by wripvanwrinkle
Fixed genders...

[Nick Danger]

(And the OP asked for opinions, and that what he should get. We all have our own tastes, and these subjective opinions are not intended to offend those who like WR or KC.)

I did ask for opinions, and I very much appreciate all the people that have participated in this thread. I've learned a whole lot.

Woodford is made from a combination of Old Forester and pot still whiskey. I think Old Forester 100 is great. The bottles of Woodford I've tried have varied. I have noticed the odd metallic taste sometimes.

One of the things I've learned is the above point about what goes into Woodford. I've also just added OF 100 to my to-taste list.

Given my limited budget the the moment, I'll probably try a taste of WR and KC at a bar before getting small bottles of either. A small bottle of WR is $22 here, and that's a bit more than I care to spend on something I may or may not like.

Nick

[black mamba]

Nick, I've got an OF Signature 100 open right now . . . .

if you ever get down to St. Louis, give me a shout and we'll drink some together.

[JPBoston]

KC is one of my favorite pours, period. I like that it's well balanced, and to me... is the perfect representative of a great bourbon flavor. No extra-curricular flavors. Also, weird note -- to me, it tastes the fancy version of EWB (as opposed to Beam Black, which I can't stand).

Big fan of KCSB as well, but for the price, the regular style is fine by me.

WR --- not so much. Dry, tinny, and just not good.

[Flyfish]

I

Given my limited budget the the moment, I'll probably try a taste of WR and KC at a bar before getting small bottles of either. A small bottle of WR is $22 here, and that's a bit more than I care to spend on something I may or may not like.

Nick

If I were on a limited budget (again), I would wait until I could spring for a bottle. For the price of two drinks at a bar, you are probably more than half way there. More importantly, I would try to withhold judgment until I had sampled at least half a bottle. First impressions are not always reliable in my experience. Often something happens to either the bourbon after it has been opened or something happens to my palate between the first glass and the fifth or sixth glass. At that point, if I really don't like it, there is probably someone I know who will like it.

[kickert]

Wow, pretty condescending to people that actually like Woodford and Blantons

Really?!?! I didn't say there was anything wrong with them, or that people who drink them are unsophisticated. I just said the people I know who are willing to spend some extra money on booze, but aren't familiar with flavor profile, mashbills, or which distillery makes what, tend to gravitate to them. It's like people who go to PF Changs. They know it is better than Beijing Express, and worth the extra money, but are probably not Chinese food aficionados.

I see the same things with bars. If they have more than Jim and Jack, they are probably going to have Woodford, and if they want a higher end pour, it will probably be Blanton's. It is an issue of familiarity and safety.

As for Woodford being distinct. I agree with Josh on this. Early WR did have the penny flavor, but in my opinion it has largely faded and the flavors as a whole (highs and lows) have been brought down.

[Alden]

I did ask for opinions, and I very much appreciate all the people that have participated in this thread. I've learned a whole lot.

One of the things I've learned is the above point about what goes into Woodford. I've also just added OF 100 to my to-taste list.

Given my limited budget the the moment, I'll probably try a taste of WR and KC at a bar before getting small bottles of either. A small bottle of WR is $22 here, and that's a bit more than I care to spend on something I may or may not like.

Nick

By a small bottle what size are you referring to? A 750 ml here is in the range of $30-36.00.

Not me, that is NOT a cheap whiskey.

[Nick Danger]

If I were on a limited budget (again), I would wait until I could spring for a bottle. For the price of two drinks at a bar, you are probably more than half way there. More importantly, I would try to withhold judgment until I had sampled at least half a bottle. First impressions are not always reliable in my experience. Often something happens to either the bourbon after it has been opened or something happens to my palate between the first glass and the fifth or sixth glass. At that point, if I really don't like it, there is probably someone I know who will like it.

Good point about needing more than just one or two samples to form an opinion. Regarding the bar tab, I've got a friend who owes me a night at a bourbon bar so he'd be picking up the check. Otherwise, you're right that I could easily end up halfway to the cost of buying a bottle.

By a small bottle what size are you referring to? A 750 ml here is in the range of $30-36.00.

A 375ml of WR is $22 and a 750 is $38 here. For $39, I can buy a 750 of FRSB which I already know I'll love. Or I can get a 750 of ETL for $30 and still be very happy. Until my budget improves a bit, I'll probably stick to buying only bourbons that I'm sure about.

Nick

[Phil T]

I like WR, but at its price point, there are many, less pricey expressions, that I like better. If it were priced closer to $20 for a 750ml, it would probably be a regular pour.

[HighInTheMtns]

I like WR, but at its price point, there are many, less pricey expressions, that I like better. If it were priced closer to $20 for a 750ml, it would probably be a regular pour.

Try Old Forester Signature. Close to $20 and more proof.

[Alden]

The more I sample it, the more I like what may be the most common, most mass produced bourbon on Planet Earth.

Wild Turkey 101.

[HighInTheMtns]

The more I sample it, the more I like what may be the most common, most mass produced bourbon on Planet Earth.

Wild Turkey 101.

Nah, Beam and Evan have it on both of those counts.

But count me as a WT101 fan.