Popularity of Flavored Whiskeys

[CoMobourbon]

Is there any GNS in these things?

Good catch. There almost has to be some in most/all of them, right? I mean, once it's flavored and all whiskey-category bets are off, who could resist?

[callmeox]

If they are listed as Whiskey with natural flavors then GNS should not be present. This was the case when Red Stag came out but I have not seen the labels on the others.

[squire]

Beam identifies Red Stag as Straight Bourbon infused with natural flavors, so, no GNS which may be the case for high end flavored whiskys. With the market building though the cheaper ones could get by with as little as 20% of young whisky with the balance GNS and flavorings while still putting the word whisky on the label.

[cowdery]

Was in a bar yesterday that had five or six bottles of Fireball on the back bar. I believe the bartender said they sell about 80 shots of it a night. And they had just sold out of Tennessee Honey. You do know there is now an Old Bushmills Honey and a Dewars Honey?

Seagram's Seven Dark Honey is flavored blended whiskey, so it contains GNS. If it's American and says 'blended' or 'a blend' on the label, then it's probably 80 percent vodka (GNS). If it just says 'whiskey,' but not 'blend' or 'blended,' it might be a lot of things, but it doesn't contain GNS.

[P&MLiquorsEric]

Beam identifies Red Stag as Straight Bourbon infused with natural flavors, so, no GNS which may be the case for high end flavored whiskys. With the market building though the cheaper ones could get by with as little as 20% of young whisky with the balance GNS and flavorings while still putting the word whisky on the label.

[squire]

That's their out then, I noticed the Jack Daniels version has "blended with" whisky on it's label.

[JB64]

Was in a bar yesterday that had five or six bottles of Fireball on the back bar. I believe the bartender said they sell about 80 shots of it a night. And they had just sold out of Tennessee Honey. You do know there is now an Old Bushmills Honey and a Dewars Honey?

Seagram's Seven Dark Honey is flavored blended whiskey, so it contains GNS. If it's American and says 'blended' or 'a blend' on the label, then it's probably 80 percent vodka (GNS). If it just says 'whiskey,' but not 'blend' or 'blended,' it might be a lot of things, but it doesn't contain GNS.

I just saw the Dewers honey yesterday, looks like everybody will join this party.

[Phil T]

I was at TPS earlier and noticed Rebel Reserve in both cherry and honey. Since I was not interested, did not look to see if it said bourbon

Edited April 15, 2013 by Phil T

[Enoch]

I'm going to a tasting of Carolina Cock Flavored Whiskey tomorrow. Curious about this one.

[MyOldKyDram]

Is that really the name of it? They may want to rethink that.

[Enoch]

Is that really the name of it? They may want to rethink that.

Yes, That's the name. Even the liquor store that is having the tasting apologized for the name.

[Alden]

I'm going to a tasting of Carolina Cock Flavored Whiskey tomorrow. Curious about this one.

One time I posted a pic of myself on a hunting forum with a dead gobbler I had shot.

Some guy from the UK or AU commented on it, he said "Nice cock."

I thanked him.

[Borchard]

I agree with someone earlier who said that Red Stag was the worst thing they'd ever drank. i tried it at a Whiskey tasting, and almost spit it out. Also, one of my friends was RAVING about Crown Royal Maple. I thought I should be poring it over pancakes it was so sweet....

The only one I've tried that I even half-way liked was maker's Mark Mint Julep. It, spurprisingly, was not half bad IMHO

[Kalessin]

Is that really the name of it? They may want to rethink that.

Either that or it's a great case of "know your target demographic"...

[Alden]

I almost bought a mini of that JD Honey, just to taste it, but for $3.00! I'll pass.

[JB64]

Reg Stag was on sale last weekend and I bought a bottle to give it try. Mixed it with coke and it was a decent drink, a lot better than EW cherry. I may get another bottle when it goes on sale again.

[Alden]

Reg Stag was on sale last weekend and I bought a bottle to give it try. Mixed it with coke and it was a decent drink, a lot better than EW cherry. I may get another bottle when it goes on sale again.

Of course you could always just mix some JB with cherry Coke and get the same flavor.

Just sayin'.

[P&MLiquorsEric]

I will say the new beam honey is not bad. Bourbon on nose and finish. Sweet honey in the middle.

Line priced with Beam 4 year. This one has legs and will do well at that price point.

[JB64]

Of course you could always just mix some JB with cherry Coke and get the same flavor.

Just sayin'.

I could but I already keep my bar stocked with coke and a few other mixers for myself and guests. It is easier to find room for another 750 on the shelf than to try and squeeze a 12 pack of cherry coke in the fridge.

[DrinkSpirits]

Here's our review of the new Jim Beam Maple

If you don't want to click through here's our conclusion:

While we enjoyed Crown Royal Maple, one of the major complaints we heard from readers is that it’s just too thick and sweet. Jim Beam Maple is a touch less sweet and does a better job balancing the sweet maple with the oak spice. One of the best things about Jim Beam Maple is that it does allow the base Jim Beam Whiskey to shine through. Our only real gripe about Jim Beam Maple is how long the maple aftertaste sticks around long after the spirit has finished. Perhaps at a slightly higher proof this wouldn’t be the case. - See more at: http://www.drinkspirits.com/whiskey/review-jim-beam-maple/#sthash.8DAfjGr1.dpuf

[WhiskyRI]

Something that hasn't been mentioned is that Flavored whiskies, and other flavored spirits, are taxed at a lower rate than regular whiskies or spirits. It makes you wonder if that is part of the reason for the heavy push - obviously not the only one but if it helps increase profit margins by a few percentage points all the better.

[cowdery]

Something that hasn't been mentioned is that Flavored whiskies, and other flavored spirits, are taxed at a lower rate than regular whiskies or spirits. It makes you wonder if that is part of the reason for the heavy push - obviously not the only one but if it helps increase profit margins by a few percentage points all the better.

[393foureyedfox]

is it taxed at the proof once the barrel is opened, or is it taxed on proof once bottled? for example, does Beam pay different tax rates overall for bottling Knob Creek at 100 and 120 proof, per barrel? if you think about it, lets say one barrel of 9 year old KC makes 200 bottles of 120 proof, or 250 bottles of 100 proof (purely conjective...), is Beam paying the same tax per barrel, or different?

[P&MLiquorsEric]

is it taxed at the proof once the barrel is opened, or is it taxed on proof once bottled? for example, does Beam pay different tax rates overall for bottling Knob Creek at 100 and 120 proof, per barrel? if you think about it, lets say one barrel of 9 year old KC makes 200 bottles of 120 proof, or 250 bottles of 100 proof (purely conjective...), is Beam paying the same tax per barrel, or different?

[squire]

Well that sucks. No wonder they barrel so much of it at 4 years or less.