Do you think newer enthusiasts skip the basics too much?

[musekatcher]

3 hours ago, Surtur said:

 Suddenly standard Buffalo Trace has become a commodity to them because the price has almost doubled and it sometimes has an empty slot on the shelf.

And that's ok - because there are plenty of equivalent bourbons on the shelf for the same or less $$.  Its a little dubious, when something goes up in price because folks are buying it - without even trying it or knowing if its superior or not.   I've tried to try everything on my shelves, from the bottom to the top, and have probably sampled 80% (true KSB, straight corn whiskey, and rye) below the top shelf, and maybe half or less of the top shelf, with several still on my need-to-try list.  Someone said, good bourbon doesn't have to be rare, nor expensive.  There are some nice but unassuming bourbons out there, for less dollars, and plentiful.  Its perhaps just as impressive and refined, to identify these.  And I'm sure some of the high dollar bourbons of late, can be overpriced and overrated.  Its all part of the fun, sharing and discovering.