Being polite vs. educating

[jonhalter]

In the past few weeks I have had two occasions where bourbon was given to me, or bought specifically because I was coming over. The first I have already discussed, which was the cherry red stag incident at a friends house. He bought it specifically for be because he knew I drank bourbon. The second happened last night at a friends while smoking a cigar. I recently helped him paint his house and moved him into it. He and his wife presented me with a bottle of Willett pot still. We opened it and drank a fair amount of it. On both occasions I thanked them (yes I even said thank you for red stag), and drank what was provided. Later in the evening the guy who bought me the Willett, started talking about how it was made in a different still, so it was supposed to taste a little different. Now we all know that willett didnt make this whiskey, nor did they use a pot still. He bought the story hook line and sinker. My question is, when someone gives you a gift of bourbon, how much should you educate them? With both of these circumstances my response, other than thank you, is that any bottle that states Straight Kentucky Bourbon is going to be sufficient. That there are strict guidelines that must be followed that end up with a good product. We are the bourbon geeks. We care about our spirit. But to the uneducated, I think we can sometimes come off as ass holes by disseminating that information too quickly, and at the wrong time.

The pot still isnt bad at all. Very easy drinking. I personally wouldnt buy it at its current price point, but by no means was it off putting. The thing that annoyed me the most, is that just this week I finished off a few bottles to clear up some bar space, and now I have this bottle eating up all of the space I made plus more. Ill probably decant the rest into one of my empties.

[R-Savage]

It is the thought that counts. They thought of you and they did the best they could with what they know.

Now If he was to ask you "What is a really good bourbon?" Then answer him with your honest opinion. (Something very affordable) or invite him over for dinner and give him an introduction.

Edited January 26, 2015 by R-Savage

[scottonscotch]

I don't think you need to educate the uneducated unless they ask for knowledge. Most people who aren't bourbon geeks don't care about how it is made, where it is made, etc. The easiest route is probably just a "thank you for the considerate gift." In the instance of your friend telling the Willett story, that might have been a place where you could've say "don't believe everything you read." and that could have opened up a line of inquiry from your friend. I find it is best not to go too deep - but to keep it interesting and informative. Talking about column vs. pot stills is the surest way to lose your audience.

[mbroo5880i]

I agree. I tend to not go to deep. I seem to be fortunate enough to be gifted bottles occasionally. I don't care if it is WR, JB or whatever. It is the thought that counts. I enjoy it for what it is and share my enjoyment with the giver. If asked, I state preferences but I don't offer detailed information with respect to how some products are not what they seem, unless I am asked or it is unrelated to the gift. No one wants to feel like they gave a gift that wasn't appreciated.

For example, I was recently (within the past year) given two very expensive bottles of scotch. Scotch is not my thing. I frequently remind the giver how much I appreciate the gift and how I am enjoying the whiskey. While I believe he knows how much I appreciate the gifts and experiencing these scotches, he understands I enjoy bourbon more. Same with a recent gift of WRDO SB from another friend.

[B.B. Babington]

when their eyes glaze over while you're talking you'll know they aren't interested. sounds like you have really good friends.

[squire]

All you can do is accept the gift in the same spirit in which it was given.

[393foureyedfox]

ive been gifted lots of stuff I dont like/care for much. I then realized that I could just re-gift it to others who actually would like it. a friend gave me a nice scotch for graduation. Im not into scotch, so i just gave it to another friend last month for his b-day, for which he was ecstatic. win-win. people think price and/or fancy packaging makes a nice gift. The same night I was gifted the scotch, my wifes best friend gave me a HHBIB gold, which cost far less, and was actually drank/enjoyed. Its kinda like if 99% of us knew our wife's friend likes 'perfume' and we were tasked to go get her something nice. what the hell do we know about it? we ask the lady behind the counter and take the recommendation, likely being way off target on what the receiver would actually want. and, you cant complain about a gift...

[Jiggity]

My response to any drink handed to me is "Yes, I drink it all."

Clearly standards are high here.

[393foureyedfox]

Clearly standards are high here.

[fishnbowljoe]

I experience this dilemma occasionally. I just try to be polite, educate when and if I can, live, learn and move on.

It's a bit of a coincidence, but this subject just came up at my house yesterday. My wife and I have some friends here that have a place down in Florida. We used to go down and stay with them for a week, for many years, but haven't been in four years now. Well, we're finally able to go again this year. They always try and make sure they have bourbon for me when we go down. I told them not to worry about it this time. I'll either bring something with me, or grab something when we get there.

Cheers! Joe

[squire]

I told him ord that instead of selecting me a bottle of anything, to just get a giftcard to the nice liquor store that is so central to all of them.

[jvd99]

If its your wife or mother-in-law, not at all. Just suck it up and say thanks. If it's a buddy or someone else you can talk frankly to, thank them, drink up, and give the education to let them know what the good stuff is.

[393foureyedfox]

What a marvelous concept.

[tannnehill kid]

I just thank them and go about my business. Someone that comes over to the house will drink it sooner or later.

[garbanzobean]

No one likes a know it all except in the courtroom and on trivia night.

[cowdery]

In a circumstance like that, don't try to 'educate' unless you know the person well and know they will be open to it. If you're not sure then don't. The risk of offending and embarrassing them is too great.

[ramblinman]

Its a fine line between being the guy who knows his drink and is happy to share his knowledge (and his bar) vs the whiskey snob who comes off as an ass.

I have a buddy who's mostly a beer drinker but got turned onto wheated bourbon by having a few at my house. A few months later he was telling me that he had gotten a taste for "Kentucky Bourbon" like WellerSR and Larceny. After gladly accepting a pour of WSR (an under appreciated label if there ever was one), listening to him describe what he liked and looking at his shelf he was probably liking the wheater aspect and I told him he would probably like OWA as well and maybe to give Bernheim a shot if he wanted to try a full wheat whiskey. Its all in the delivery.

But if its a gift, put on a happy face, open her up and have a pour while offering it to the giver. At the end of the day its still whiskey, and probably decent whiskey at that, even if its not your favorite

Edited January 26, 2015 by ramblinman

[Richnimrod]

This can be an opportunity to expound and show off your vast, and hard won Bourbon knowledge. RESIST this temptation fiercely! Nobody gives a gift in order to have it analyzed and found wanting.

If asked, be charitable, and 'let 'em down easy' if the gift was 'less-than-stellar'... or even, suck it up and pretend it's great; depending upon the giver. If really pressed, then maybe start with the deeper stuff.... but NEVER 'dis' anybody's effort to please you. That's just very bad form.

[CorvallisCracker]

Any friends who've known me for a while don't give me bourbon as a gift. They also know I'm likely to bring a bottle over if that's what I want to drink.

As for gifts, they know I like wine and that I usually buy it at a certain store in town. They ask the proprietor about my preferences and get what he recommends.