Major Bourbon Blind Spots?

[dad-proof]

As much as I love to keep up with what people are enjoying on this site, I would be equally interested to know what major macro-distiller brands folks have never tried or have maybe avoided for a very long time.

 

I'll start with my own list of blind spots:

 

1) Maker’s Mark - I got a 1.75 Liter as a house warming present 12 years ago, and drinking through that bottle was a chore. Have not has anything from Maker's since, and even the more positive reviews of MMCS are not enough to tempt me.

 

2) Old Fitzgerald, Larceny, DN 1843, etc. - Partly because of my Maker's Mark trauma, and just because I prefer rye recipe bourbons, I have never had any wheaters outside the Weller stuff. I did buy a Rebel Yell 10 based on people here saying that it tends to have more spice than most wheaters, but I keep opening other bottles first...

 

3) Dickel - This is a brand I plan to explore more soon. I have only had Dickel 8, probably 20 years ago and as a mixer. The JD SB Barrel Proof changed my perception of what Tennessee Whiskey can be, and I want to give Dickel a shot.

 

Other well-known but not quite macro-distiller stuff that I have never tried include anything Willett/KBD, Angel’s Envy, and Jefferson's .

 

Anyone else willing to admit their blind spots?

[Mako254]

Michters—dirty laundry

1792– had a bottle or two of Ridgemont Reserve 10 years ago. 

Jeffersons— seems like a lot of marketing to me and lots of sub 100 proof offerings. 

Diageo Orphan barrel— again more marketing labeling and no info. 

BTAC— not for a lack of effort!

 

I’d hesitate to add Makers. Had a 46 that I liked the nose but dont need another. I am enjoying the MMPS a small pour at a time but it is not one I seek out. 

 

Haven’t bought/ opened any of the above except a Michters 10 I picked up for a buddy that I knew was hunting it. 

[PaulO]

I'll add Dickel.  Tried it years ago, didn't like the vitamin aftertaste.  I do like their rye sourced from MGP.

I've never tried Angels Envy.  I can't see paying extra premium price for sourced finished whiskey.  

A store gave me a sample of their barrel select Jefferson's Presidential Reserve.  That cured me from wanting a bottle.  I sure wouldn't fork over the $$ for the boat ride nonsense.

Michter's I see everywhere.  I have no interest.

[0895]

Kudos for starting an interesting topic.  I like it.

Tough question though.  I'm always hunting samples and trying to taste everything at the party.  

 

I tend to avoid buying most KBD products.  I think they all taste like the same crap just proofed to different levels.  I will drink a pour of pot still about once a year though.

 

Michters products (for reasons mentioned before).

 

Jeffersons.  I'm tired of being disappointed with high priced mediocrity.

 

Redemptions various offerings.  I love MGP.  I keep seeing all these Redemption bottles that look like stuff I would enjoy the hell out of, but I never pull the trigger.  I think I associate the name redemption with low price, so when I see cask strength redemption for $90, I baulk.  Pour it in a SAOS or WFE bottle though, and I'll pull out my wallet.  I guess I'm an idiot.  I also hate redemptions ugly bottles.

 

Dickel as well.  Not because I don't like it, its just always there....and I guess I don't care.

 

Calumet Farms.  Do I really need to even say anything?

 

 

[dad-proof]

4 minutes ago, 0895 said:

Redemptions various offerings.  I love MGP

I have sampled a couple SAOS selections from friends, but didn't think much of them so never got on the MGP wagon or bought any of my own. So maybe another blind spot for me.

[Mako254]

1 minute ago, dad-proof said:

I have sampled a couple SAOS selections from friends, but didn't think much of them so never got on the MGP wagon or bought any of my own. So maybe another blind spot for me.

 

This would have been handy a few minutes ago!

[Kane]

All these years, and I still haven't tried EWSB.

Edited June 4, 2018 by Kane

[dcbt]

For many years when I first got into bourbon, it was Four Roses for me, mainly because I got overwhelmingly confused with all their different recipes so I just didn't bother trying to figure it out.  Eventually I came around, though.  You gotta put in some legwork sometimes in this hobby, I learned that early on at least from the NDPs, TX crafts, marketing messes, etc.

 

edit to add, but there are still some I've never tried and have no intention of ever trying (because of aforementioned marketing shenanigans) - Michters and Jeffersons being two of them.

Edited June 4, 2018 by dcbt

[BDanner]

Michter's has piqued my interest, but I've never pulled the trigger.

 

[mikeydk]

For the longest time, I didn't enjoy Heaven Hill or Jim Beam products.  Early in my whiskey journey I didn't have great experiences with either distillery and I avoided them both for largely a decade.  I spent a great portion of the last 12 months challenging my bias and trying everything I can get my hands on.   Definitely changed my point of view on both, and have fallen deeply in love with several of their offerings.  I am glad I challenged my bias, and went on an exploration of old and new things.  

 

I still have a couple of things I don't really engage with, Makers and Jack Daniels are the most notable.  I should probably give them both a look again sometime in the future.  

[Paddy]

7 hours ago, dcbt said:

For many years when I first got into bourbon, it was Four Roses for me, mainly because I got overwhelmingly confused with all their different recipes so I just didn't bother trying to figure it out.  Eventually I came around, though.  You gotta put in some legwork sometimes in this hobby, I learned that early on at least from the NDPs, TX crafts, marketing messes, etc.

 

edit to add, but there are still some I've never tried and have no intention of ever trying (because of aforementioned marketing shenanigans) - Michters and Jeffersons being two of them.

For many years, there was good reason to avoid Four Roses!

 

It took a while, but Jim Rutledge did finally manage to help them find their way out of the wilderness of bottom shelf, blended whiskey.

 

Thank you Kirin, for giving him the leeway to restore this old brand back to it’s deserved place at the main table.

[Harry in WashDC]

Dickel (although I have tried (and continue to try) various offerings from time to time), Michter's (one bottle years ago, sips in bars from time to time), the Orphan Barrels (never tasted).  "From time to time" means when I forget why I didn't like it last time.

[lcpfratn]

Dickel (although I have tried (and continue to try) various offerings from time to time), Michter's (one bottle years ago, sips in bars from time to time), the Orphan Barrels (never tasted).  "From time to time" means when I forget why I didn't like it last time.

Harry, you should give the Dickel Barrel Select a shot! Especially if you can find a store pick that’s older than the normal 9 years. Many of the Barrell Bourbon batches are Dickel too. And if Costco sells liquor in your area, give their Tennessee Straight Bourbon a go...it’s definitely sourced from Dickel.

[Marekv8]

17 minutes ago, lcpfratn said:

Harry, you should give the Dickel Barrel Select a shot! Especially if you can find a store pick that’s older than the normal 9 years. Many of the Barrell Bourbon batches are Dickel too. And if Costco sells liquor in your area, give their Tennessee Straight Bourbon a go...it’s definitely sourced from Dickel.

 

 

Keep in mind that George Dickel Barrel Select is NAS and a different animal from the Hand Selected Barrel 9yo and 14yo expressions. The packs and names are rather similar and confusing, which can be helpful if you're seeking a dusty 14yo.

 

 

[lcpfratn]

 
 
Keep in mind that George Dickel Barrel Select is NAS and a different animal from the Hand Selected Barrel 9yo and 14yo expressions. The packs and names are rather similar and confusing, which can be helpful if you're seeking a dusty 14yo.
 

 

Good point Dave! They are all good to me though!

[Spade]

Mine is definitely Brown-Forman. It's been years since I've had any Jack Daniels or Woodford Reserve. OF Signature is good for its price, but I like WT101 quite a bit more. OF 1920 is very good, but I haven't gotten around to ever buying a second bottle.

[CardsandBourbon]

Guess my blind spot would be Tennessee whiskeys.  Only got into bourbon about a year and a half ago but quickly tried most of anything that is out there, with the exception of JD, Dickel, etc.  I kind of have a bias against most anything not from Kentucky.

[gurgalunas]

2 hours ago, CardsandBourbon said:

Guess my blind spot would be Tennessee whiskeys.  Only got into bourbon about a year and a half ago but quickly tried most of anything that is out there, with the exception of JD, Dickel, etc.  I kind of have a bias against most anything not from Kentucky.

I'll second this one.  I'll put my bias to the test Thursday night, though.  JD master distiller will be in town for a tasting and Q&A session.  Postal Grunt and I will be in attendance. 

[Tony Santana]

I think there's a difference between "tried it and didn't like it" and true blind spots where you haven't even gone down that road. I like stuff from all the major distilleries, although I'll avoid certain bottom shelf offerings (not like I never had them).  So its the craft/sourced world where my blind spots lie.  In the "didn't like it" category, KBD stuff leaves me pretty cold.  Johnny Drum was okay, but not worth the hassle of fighting through an inch of wax to get it open.  I struggled through a bottle of Old Bardstown (their own distillate).  Never tried the Pot Still.  Older, sourced WFE, on the other hand, can be sublime.

 

On true blind spots, I've studiously avoided all the Texas craft distilleries and all the Jefferson Ocean stuff.  Have stayed away from Redemption offerings as well.

[jvd99]

Dickel - Tried years ago, didnt like it and never went back (Not a Jack guy either)

1972 - tried several iterations and not worth liver bandwidth

Orphan Barrel - Tried a couple BH and not impressed - BS marketing keeps me away when I get a rando thought of purchasing

Most Brown-Forman products

 

At this point - I'm done chasing new brands and new iterations of old brands created by the marketing department.  I drink the old stand-byes (FR/WT/BT/HH) and LEs my LS calls me about.  I gave up the Fall LE madness a while ago.   Bourbon Zen my friends

[smokinjoe]

^^^^ “Liver Bandwidth!!!!”  LMAO!!!  

Edited June 5, 2018 by smokinjoe

[Harry in WashDC]

7 hours ago, Tony Santana said:

I think there's a difference between "tried it and didn't like it" and true blind spots where you haven't even gone down that road. I like stuff from all the major distilleries, although I'll avoid certain bottom shelf offerings (not like I never had them).  So its the craft/sourced world where my blind spots lie.  In the "didn't like it" category, KBD stuff leaves me pretty cold.  Johnny Drum was okay, but not worth the hassle of fighting through an inch of wax to get it open.  I struggled through a bottle of Old Bardstown (their own distillate).  Never tried the Pot Still.  Older, sourced WFE, on the other hand, can be sublime.

 

On true blind spots, I've studiously avoided all the Texas craft distilleries and all the Jefferson Ocean stuff.  Have stayed away from Redemption offerings as well.

If the standard we are using is "never considered it" rather than "never tried it," then I stand with Tony except I have tried a dozen or so "craft" distilleries - maybe more if you count sips in bars and sharing with friends to help them get rid of clunkers taking up shelf space.  After all, I was in the Army and am/was a lawyer, so there are darn few things I won't do, eat, or drink.  For a price.  I will say that, if I have a blind spot, it blocks my view of expressions/iterations/sister labels of things I wasn't happy with (Old Bardstown Estate Bottled, the aforementioned Dickel) OR I was so happy with the expression I stumbled on I decided not to wander.  Drank JD Black almost exclusively for six years (1970s) but NEVER have tasted the green label.  Same with EWB - never tasted its green label and only recently (last year or so) tasted its BIB.  Jefferson's was one I'd never tried until I took a flyer on the recent wheated just because I like wheateds (even the Nicholson 1843 stuff - go figure).  As good as I found the Jefferson Wheated, it is unlikely I'll pop for any of the other JO floaters.

 

OTOH, (is this the THIRD hand??), I'm watching for the SA wheated that was released lately (to compare with the 3/4 full Yearling I have from circa 2015).  Maybe I have no blind spot after all . . .

[Tony Santana]

Just to be clear, I have tried some craft stuff.  Some of it I even liked.  Just far more likely to shy away from that stuff, particularly if very young or unaccompanied by a hearty endorsement from someone who isn't trying to sell it to me.

[Curtis Reed]

I guess i’m in the minority, but I really enjoy Michter’s US1!

[Bob_Loblaw]

Great topic.

 

 

As I think about it, the only houses I have  thoroughly explored are BT and HH. 

 

I love 4Roses and  have enjoyed the SmB, SiB, and all the PS bottles I have had.  Still missing  3 to have all 10 recipes at which point I will go through them all together.

 

Just started Wild Turkey and have been loving the RRSiB store pick I opened.  Also really enjoy Decades and the Rare Breed I tried.  Plan to get further into WT.

 

Have not found any SAOS SiB bottles since passing two up last March.  Based on reviews here would love to explore and will pickup if I ever find any.

 

Zero interest in Diago, Mitchters and the Gimmicky Jeffersons for the same reasons of shady/dodgy marketing  as others have expressed.  Plus they are all priced too high.  Also , no plans to explore the $50 craft bourbon shelf.  Maybe some gems, but for the most part just not worth wading through all the super young, thin, harsh, and overpriced bottles.  

 

Willet may be established as mavens at picking sourced barrels, but I am currently unconvinced that they can make their own quality distillate.  I know its early, but thus far what I have tasted and reviews I've read are unimpressive.