Confess Your Unpopular Bourbon Opinion

[BDanner]

On 3/3/2019 at 3:41 PM, BMartin42 said:

I thought that was gin. Which I also enjoy a good Beefeater martini.

Not a whole lot of things better than a Beefeater Martini. That can double as an agreement with your statement and as an unpopular opinion in a bourbon forum.

[EarthQuake]

On 3/4/2019 at 6:45 PM, Brett said:

I thought the GTS blew away the WLW for 2018. Not sure unpopular that is, but that's what I thought.

I'll go further, every year GTS is better than WLW.

[DBM]

I dislike anything with an Old Forester label, including Birthday Bourbon.

 

I don’t like anything from WT (RR10 is particularly bad) however I like WT101 rye in cocktails.

 

I rarely like Eagle Rare (pun unintended).

 

Nearly all craft whiskey (bourbon and otherwise) sucks, and the few that don’t are still inferior to an average “standard” from BT or HH.

 

Newer expressions from High West are meh.

 

I like Maker’s Mark.

[BigRich]

I'll go further, every year GTS is better than WLW.

It really is.

[Clueby]

2 hours ago, BigRich said:

It really is.

Not in 2017 imho.

[0895]

On 3/4/2019 at 6:45 PM, Brett said:

I thought the GTS blew away the WLW for 2018. Not sure unpopular that is, but that's what I thought.

No, this is pretty accurate.  The '18 WLW was my biggest disappointment of last years product.  It just lacked anything special to make it great.  Logically, it tasted just like Weller 12 amped up slightly.  I expect more from WLW.

 

THH, GTS, & ER17 were my favorites of all the 2018 BTAC's (disclosure: I have not tried the Saz 18 yet)

 

That being said, the '18 GTS is not like GTS of the old.  It tastes like Eagle Rare on steroids to me (cherries and oak).  While I really like it, I'm left missing the Stagg's from 2010, 12, 14, 15, & 16.  Those were "Stagg" (I left 2013 out on purpose.  I liked 2013, but it was a different profile.  Have not tried 2011 yet).  Those that know, know what I mean.  The molasses, figs, chocolate, and intensity is just not there this year.

 

The 17 GTS was a confused mess with a hot, uncomfortable finish, also the only GTS I have no real desire to drink any more of.

But that's just my "unpopular opinion".  I know, there's quite a few who enjoyed it.  

 

Strong words.  Sorry BT, I still love thee...

Edited March 11, 2019 by 0895

[Patrick_OKC]

21 hours ago, DBM said:

I dislike anything with an Old Forester label, including Birthday Bourbon.

 

I don’t like anything from WT (RR10 is particularly bad) however I like WT101 rye in cocktails.

 

I rarely like Eagle Rare (pun unintended).

 

Nearly all craft whiskey (bourbon and otherwise) sucks, and the few that don’t are still inferior to an average “standard” from BT or HH.

 

Newer expressions from High West are meh.

 

I like Maker’s Mark.

Boo on Old Forester, which I like, as well as WT. But, to each his own. 

Pat

[ThirstyinOhio]

9 hours ago, 0895 said:

No, this is pretty accurate.  The '18 WLW was my biggest disappointment of last years product.  It just lacked anything special to make it great.  Logically, it tasted just like Weller 12 amped up slightly.  I expect more from WLW.

 

THH, GTS, & ER17 were my favorites of all the 2018 BTAC's (disclosure: I have not tried the Saz 18 yet)

 

That being said, the '18 GTS is not like GTS of the old.  It tastes like Eagle Rare on steroids to me (cherries and oak).  While I really like it, I'm left missing the Stagg's from 2010, 12, 14, 15, & 16.  Those were "Stagg" (I left 2013 out on purpose.  I liked 2013, but it was a different profile.  Have not tried 2011 yet).  Those that know, know what I mean.  The molasses, figs, chocolate, and intensity is just not there this year.

 

The 17 GTS was a confused mess with a hot, uncomfortable finish, also the only GTS I have no real desire to drink any more of.

But that's just my "unpopular opinion".  I know, there's quite a few who enjoyed it.  

 

Strong words.  Sorry BT, I still love thee...

I agree for the most part with this.  GTS is better than WLW most years and the 18 was a bit of a disappointment being mostly oak forward without the depth of flavor most years have.  However, I did enjoy 2017 as I felt it was a well rounded whiskey. 

[EarthQuake]

9 hours ago, 0895 said:

No, this is pretty accurate.  The '18 WLW was my biggest disappointment of last years product.  It just lacked anything special to make it great.  Logically, it tasted just like Weller 12 amped up slightly.  I expect more from WLW.

 

THH, GTS, & ER17 were my favorites of all the 2018 BTAC's (disclosure: I have not tried the Saz 18 yet)

 

That being said, the '18 GTS is not like GTS of the old.  It tastes like Eagle Rare on steroids to me (cherries and oak).  While I really like it, I'm left missing the Stagg's from 2010, 12, 14, 15, & 16.  Those were "Stagg" (I left 2013 out on purpose.  I liked 2013, but it was a different profile.  Have not tried 2011 yet).  Those that know, know what I mean.  The molasses, figs, chocolate, and intensity is just not there this year.

 

The 17 GTS was a confused mess with a hot, uncomfortable finish, also the only GTS I have no real desire to drink any more of.

But that's just my "unpopular opinion".  I know, there's quite a few who enjoyed it.  

 

Strong words.  Sorry BT, I still love thee...

Odd, I have GTS 17 and 18 open right now, and I prefer the 17. I don't find it hot, and it's more complex (oak, leather and a of touch vanilla, very well balanced). The 18 is very good too, but tastes more like a slightly older Stagg Jr IMO, lacking the complexity of the 17.

Edited March 11, 2019 by EarthQuake

[BusterChestnut]

Everything Beam is trash

[kevinbrink]

22 minutes ago, BusterChestnut said:

Everything Beam is trash

Yep definitely unpopular with me.

[Richnimrod]

17 hours ago, BusterChestnut said:

Everything Beam is trash

Have to respectably disagree here, BC. 

The recent addition to Beam's line: Distiller's Cut is pretty decent.   AND, Knob Creek private picks can be Wonderful!   Booker's is OK, if overpriced nowadays.   Baker's is a good pour, also overpriced, though.

All this is, of course, according my own personal taste buddies.

[PowderKeg]

23 minutes ago, Richnimrod said:

Have to respectably disagree here, BC. 

The recent addition to Beam's line: Distiller's Cut is pretty decent.   AND, Knob Creek private picks can be Wonderful!   Booker's is OK, if overpriced nowadays.   Baker's is a good pour, also overpriced, though.

All this is, of course, according my own personal taste buddies.

I'll ditto that for KCsib ps (at least some with respectable age on them) and especially JBDC.  JB12yr and the slightly dusty JB Distillers Series have also been enjoyable.  Most of the rest of the large JB/OGD offerings are varying degrees of not-so-much.

[kevinbrink]

1 minute ago, PowderKeg said:

I'll ditto that for KCsib ps (at least some with respectable age on them) 

As far as I can tell they all have respectable age to me since 9 years is effectively the minimum

[BusterChestnut]

5 hours ago, Richnimrod said:

Have to respectably disagree here, BC. 

The recent addition to Beam's line: Distiller's Cut is pretty decent.   AND, Knob Creek private picks can be Wonderful!   Booker's is OK, if overpriced nowadays.   Baker's is a good pour, also overpriced, though.

All this is, of course, according my own personal taste buddies.

Can’t remember the last beam bottle I enjoyed. Supposedly some of the Black Maple Hill red label was beam- those were good. 

 

Recently went for the KC 9yr Rye... was highly disappointed. Compared to even fairly accessible bottles like WTRRR? Not even close imo

[HoustonNit]

Have to respectably disagree here, BC. 
The recent addition to Beam's line: Distiller's Cut is pretty decent.   AND, Knob Creek private picks can be Wonderful!   Booker's is OK, if overpriced nowadays.   Baker's is a good pour, also overpriced, though.
All this is, of course, according my own personal taste buddies.

Well heck I’d possibly argue that Booker’s and Baker’s are only overpriced as compared to previous pricing of these products or compared to other Beam offerings. When you compare them to similar products from different brands and especially craft it’s not so bad.

[Richnimrod]

17 minutes ago, BusterChestnut said:

Can’t remember the last beam bottle I enjoyed. Supposedly some of the Black Maple Hill red label was beam- those were good. 

 

Recently went for the KC 9yr Rye... was highly disappointed. Compared to even fairly accessible bottles like WTRRR? Not even close imo

Well, you like what you like.   It would be a very boring world if we all only liked the exact same things, wouldn't it?    Also, it would make those we all didn't like extremely hard to sell... HA!

[HoustonNit]

Everything Beam is trash

“I just joined Straight Bourbon to tell Beam I hate you...., and I mean it from the bottom of my heart.”

This song popped in my mind when reading this. I feel like someone that can’t find something from Beam to like doesn’t really like bourbon and is chasing hype. Just my personal opinion, Beam is a classic bourbon profile.

[BusterChestnut]

1 hour ago, HoustonNit said:

 

“I just joined Straight Bourbon to tell Beam I hate you...., and I mean it from the bottom of my heart.”

 

 

 

 

 

This song popped in my mind when reading this. I feel like someone that can’t find something from Beam to like doesn’t really like bourbon and is chasing hype. Just my personal opinion, Beam is a classic bourbon profile.

 

Huh? If I don’t like the products beam puts out I’m “chasing hype?” Ridiculous comment for what I assumed was a fun thread. Just because I’m new to the site doesn’t mean I’m somehow new to bourbon.

 

Regardless of that nonsense, does anyone on here think Beam is putting out better products that 4R, HH, WT, Sazarac? 

 

But since you brought up chasing hype, here’s some for you 

[HoustonNit]

Huh? If I don’t like the products beam puts out I’m “chasing hype?” Ridiculous comment for what I assumed was a fun thread. Just because I’m new to the site doesn’t mean I’m somehow new to bourbon.
 
Regardless of that nonsense, does anyone on here think Beam is putting out better products that 4R, HH, WT, Sazarac? 
 
But since you brought up chasing hype, here’s some for you 

Mmm, how do those paper weights taste?

[smokinjoe]

3 minutes ago, BusterChestnut said:

Huh? If I don’t like the products beam puts out I’m “chasing hype?” Ridiculous comment for what I assumed was a fun thread. Just because I’m new to the site doesn’t mean I’m somehow new to bourbon.

 

Regardless of that nonsense, does anyone on here think Beam is putting out better products that 4R, HH, WT, Sazarac? 

 

But since you brought up chasing hype, here’s some for you 

Well, I would say that 4R, HH, WT, and Sazerac are not putting out better products than Beam.  

[BusterChestnut]

2 minutes ago, HoustonNit said:

 

 

Mmm, how do those paper weights taste?

 

 

Not nearly as salty as your posts itt

[BusterChestnut]

2 minutes ago, smokinjoe said:

Well, I would say that 4R, HH, WT, and Sazerac are not putting out better products than Beam.  

Yea, and that’s fine. Just don’t see why I get accused of being some kind of tater bc I don’t like Knob Creek or OGD. 

[HoustonNit]

Well, I would say that 4R, HH, WT, and Sazerac are not putting out better products than Beam.  

Yeah sad to say but at this moment in time I think Beam is currently putting out better products than than all these with the exceptions of WT to my tastes. WT has some 101 and RRSB offerings out right now that are great to my preferenc. It seems as though Campari and Beam Suntory where better positioned for the current bourbon demand. I’m sure my opinion will change in a few years.

[Paddy]

^^^^It's all good.  You have to admit it's a pretty strong statement coming from a newb who we really haven't got to know, but hey... we all like what we like.

 

And... btw, there is no doubt in my mind that Beam is currently putting out a better product  than 4R.