Quality/Profits Discussion

[dSculptor]

Is quality decreasing? , My take on this, is in order for you to make that call, you would have to be drinking that brand consistently in order to make that assumption. In my case I have so many different whisky’s that I appreciate and I drink them on a rotation bases, by the time I get around to emptying one and then replacing it, generally takes awhile. Now there are certain ones that I do consider regulars, but again the time in between bottles takes awhile. Bottom line, by the time the new one comes around again, can you really tell it has changed in any way? IMO, the only true way you could come to that conclusion is to do a sbs of the 2 in question, both opened at the same time. Because we all know that they are other factors that can contribute to the taste or quality of the spirit in question after the fact - eg… oxygen on an open bottle. Trying to compare something old to new, or new to old has to be done on the spot, can you do one and then try to recall the other..maybe, will it be accurate.. probably not.

The age statement thing has me wondering, some bring up the reason ,that the climate is changing, so it has a different effect on the barrel, hasn’t it been changing all along? How many yrs. has some of these that lost their AS been in production? Now all of sudden there’s a climate change and some of the spirits are reaching their profile sooner… hmmm. I guess I see that as a little white lie in order for them to get the product out sooner, which equates to more production, more money, I could be wrong. Now this statement I say only to the spirits that have been around for awhile, if it always took say 6 yrs. to produce something and you have been doing it say for 15-20 yrs. that way, and now all of sudden you say you can do the same thing in a shorter period of time, well my friends, somewhere along the line corners have been cut.

[callmeox]

you will not find a consensus on hardly anything here in bourbon world, which makes likes and dislikes subjective.

Any attempt at consensus without a blind test is difficult due to bias.

Also, some are inclined to reject the opinions of others simply because they enjoy the attention that going against the grain brings them.

There's probably a term for that behavior, but it doesn't fit the subjective/objective argument.

[T Comp]

you will not find a consensus on hardly anything here in bourbon world, which makes likes and dislikes subjective.

No. Not really. There is plenty of consensus both here and in the general public buying world.

[squire]

Oh yes, Thad and I agree on at least a couple of things.

[MauiSon]

i disagree. it IS purely subjective.

for example, most everyone on here regards 4R highly. I simply do not, as it doesn't taste good to me. Does that mean it is a terrible, low quality bourbon? not at all!..........I love Dickel 9, yet others on here have said their sample was so bad they dumped it out. again, subjective.

you will not find a consensus on hardly anything here in bourbon world, which makes likes and dislikes subjective.

You're confusing consensus opinion with unanimous opinion. You may not regard Four Roses highly, however your opinion diverges from the consensus. Certainly, there are divergent opinions, but consensus is what provides added value in seeking the opinion of others.

Edited February 19, 2014 by MauiSon