Worst thing in your bunker

[geclbxf]

On 11/6/2020 at 11:16 AM, Marekv8 said:

I've got enough weird stuff to populate this thread for weeks-- but I'll start with this lovely array of laboratory-matured spirits. I was doing some research for a project and ended up with these gnarly beauties. The Cleveland expressions take the prize for the bottom of the beaker.

 

Next up-- Brooklyn-based craft spirits.

 

Just when you though the Browns were the worst thing In Cleveland, you taste this swill and it is far worse.   Undrinkable.    

They have 4 different Christmas labels out right now - what an awful gift for the unsuspecting who open it thinking its bourbon.  

[EarthQuake]

On 11/5/2020 at 6:36 PM, Clay34 said:

Thanks for the suggestions.  I've changed my regular value pour several times this years.  I love to try new bourbons, but there is somewhat of a safe, comforting feeling while pouring a taste of what you think as a reasonably priced and reasonably good taste bourbon in your glass.  For a while, I loved EW BIB, moved to OF 100 as the value winner, then WT101 and now with a Costco membership Knob Creek 9 year is a great pour at a great price. 

 

While, I've had most of those, I'll have to try the JTS Brown and the JW Dant BIB, but when you can find KC 9 year 1.75 for about $40, that's been very hard to beat. 

OF100 and WT101 are great buys. Very Old Barton has to be the best under $20 bottle I've found though, if only I could find it in Iowa.

[bgellco]

I've only been in this hobby a few years, and so far, I've managed to accumulate stuff that for the most part I'm happy to drink.  However, in terms of which of my 50 or so bottles I'm least eager to pull out, it would likely be the Climax Moonshine I purchased when curiosity overcame me after watching a few episodes of "Moonshiners".  Not terrible, but I'm clearly not a big fan of unaged whiskey.  

 

In terms of aged spirits, I'd have to say the Leopold Bros. Maryland-Style Rye still hasn't completely grown on me.  Since I live near their distillery in Denver, I wanted to like it more, but it could stand a little more time in the barrel to suit my tastes.  Again, not truly bad, but not my cup of tea (dram of whiskey?).

[CardsandBourbon]

47 minutes ago, bgellco said:

I've only been in this hobby a few years, and so far, I've managed to accumulate stuff that for the most part I'm happy to drink.  However, in terms of which of my 50 or so bottles I'm least eager to pull out, it would likely be the Climax Moonshine I purchased when curiosity overcame me after watching a few episodes of "Moonshiners".  Not terrible, but I'm clearly not a big fan of unaged whiskey.  

 

In terms of aged spirits, I'd have to say the Leopold Bros. Maryland-Style Rye still hasn't completely grown on me.  Since I live near their distillery in Denver, I wanted to like it more, but it could stand a little more time in the barrel to suit my tastes.  Again, not truly bad, but not my cup of tea (dram of whiskey?).

"Climax" moonshine.  Kind of makes you wonder what's in it. 

[flahute]

23 hours ago, StarSurfer55 said:

Among those of you spelunking in your bunkers for the losers, I was a bit surprised that no one has mentioned Larceny.  I guess that for all it’s flaws, it isn’t the worst. 

It is because I dislike Larceny so much that I don't have any in the bunker otherwise this would be an easy answer for me.

[mbroo5880i]

As @flahute notes, there are plenty of options that don't even make it to the bunker because they are horrendous.  Larceny is one that doesn't make the cut for me.  I wouldn't buy a bottle at any price unless I see reports of glowing recommendations in these forums.  Similarly, anything from Dickel, just won't make it into the cart for me.  

 

It is difficult for me to identify the worst thing in my bunker since I tend to only buy what I like.  The current exception is EWSB.  I purchased a bottle on sale a few months back.  The first pour was ok, then next not so much and the last was not good.  I donated it to my wife's baking bourbon collection.  It will end up in cookies so I can enjoy it that way.

[WD40]

4 hours ago, bgellco said:

 

In terms of aged spirits, I'd have to say the Leopold Bros. Maryland-Style Rye still hasn't completely grown on me.  Since I live near their distillery in Denver, I wanted to like it more, but it could stand a little more time in the barrel to suit my tastes.  Again, not truly bad, but not my cup of tea (dram of whiskey?).

Curious, have you picked up their new 5 year BIB bourbon. Can’t seem to find it here in MD. 

[DeepCover]

1 hour ago, mbroo5880i said:

Similarly, anything from Dickel, just won't make it into the cart for me.  

Oh this reminds me, in addition to my less than stellar bottle of TX Bourbon that’s found its way to the back of my cabinet (though it’s displayed prominently at parties), I actually have a Dickel Barrel Select that is peanut-flavored hog slobber. Never again.

[B.B. Babington]

some canadian, I forget the brand.  it made mouth go numb for 2 days

[flahute]

1 hour ago, mbroo5880i said:

As @flahute notes, there are plenty of options that don't even make it to the bunker because they are horrendous.  Larceny is one that doesn't make the cut for me.  I wouldn't buy a bottle at any price unless I see reports of glowing recommendations in these forums.  Similarly, anything from Dickel, just won't make it into the cart for me.  

 

It is difficult for me to identify the worst thing in my bunker since I tend to only buy what I like.  The current exception is EWSB.  I purchased a bottle on sale a few months back.  The first pour was ok, then next not so much and the last was not good.  I donated it to my wife's baking bourbon collection.  It will end up in cookies so I can enjoy it that way.

Preach!

[Clay34]

22 hours ago, EarthQuake said:

OF100 and WT101 are great buys. Very Old Barton has to be the best under $20 bottle I've found though, if only I could find it in Iowa.

While I have a very satisfying bottle of VOB in the cabinet, that $20 price tag is usually for a 750mm.  Two of those is still only 1.5 litre.  A 1.75 L for $40 that is a 9 year old, full of spice product is actually a better buy in my humble opinion.  It's one of the reasons I buy the OF100 in a 1.75L ir a WT101 in the 1.75L.  Now, I just have to find a place where I can find 6 bottles at another 5% off and we have a "winner, winner chicken dinner" type of deal. 

[Clay34]

I think the ones that shock some people are the places that have been making their own bourbon for 5 to 7 years and they are suppose to compete with the Beam's or 4Rs of the world.  Not a chance, but people are surprised that a company that has been doing this for less than a decade can't compete with those who have a tons of experience.  As the kids say DUH?

 

 

[EarthQuake]

2 minutes ago, Clay34 said:

While I have a very satisfying bottle of VOB in the cabinet, that $20 price tag is usually for a 750mm.  Two of those is still only 1.5 litre.  A 1.75 L for $40 that is a 9 year old, full of spice product is actually a better buy in my humble opinion.  It's one of the reasons I buy the OF100 in a 1.75L ir a WT101 in the 1.75L.  Now, I just have to find a place where I can find 6 bottles at another 5% off and we have a "winner, winner chicken dinner" type of deal. 

The VOB I found at Total Wine in Lexington was $13 for a 750ml. I'm not sure how typical that is. But I've had $50 bottles that aren't as good. Even still, you can't go wrong with a 1.75 of OF/WT!

[Clay34]

1 minute ago, EarthQuake said:

The VOB I found at Total Wine in Lexington was $13 for a 750ml. I'm not sure how typical that is. But I've had $50 bottles that aren't as good. Even still, you can't go wrong with a 1.75 of OF/WT!

Wish I could find VOB at $13.  Everyone is different.  What I love to find are those bourbons, that are reasonably priced and have damn good flavor at that price point.  If I pay $60 / bottle it better be better than $40 bourbon or why spend the money.  I still have a few bottle of Blantons, I want to open one in Nov with friends.  It better be better than a knob Creek or why buy it.  As they say, Pomp and Circumstance are one thing, but that only takes you so far.  

 

Maybe I'm wrong, but sometimes I think of drinking Scotch in hopes that the taters haven't had as much influence in that market.  I think that I am kidding myself.  I really like the idea of drinking American Whiskey.   I found some popular Japanese whiskey lately and I still passed.  I like the USA and still have a lot of flavors to explore here before trying another style.

[parksmart]

11 hours ago, EarthQuake said:

The VOB I found at Total Wine in Lexington was $13 for a 750ml. I'm not sure how typical that is. But I've had $50 bottles that aren't as good. Even still, you can't go wrong with a 1.75 of OF/WT!

We’re lucky that there’s a local, small chain of wine/liquor stores that gets VOB90 and VOB100 on a somewhat regular basis.  Priced reasonably for CA at $14.99 a bottle.

 

These along with Jim Beam Distillers Cut are the best “cheapies” that CA gets IMO.  

[parksmart]

Worst thing I have is a SAOS PS that just tastes flat and chemical.  A neighbor seems to love it.  Maybe I can offload the remaining bottles I have to him........

[Jazzhead]

8 hours ago, parksmart said:

Worst thing I have is a SAOS PS that just tastes flat and chemical.  A neighbor seems to love it.  Maybe I can offload the remaining bottles I have to him........

That would be a right neighborly gesture!

[flahute]

14 hours ago, parksmart said:

Worst thing I have is a SAOS PS that just tastes flat and chemical.  A neighbor seems to love it.  Maybe I can offload the remaining bottles I have to him........

Do it and don't look back.

[fosmith]

23 hours ago, parksmart said:

Worst thing I have is a SAOS PS that just tastes flat and chemical.  A neighbor seems to love it.  Maybe I can offload the remaining bottles I have to him........

Well, howdy neighbor.    But seriously, is that one of the recent MGP sourced K&L picks or the earlier Dickel sourced bottling.  I heard those were not good at all. 

[JCwhammie]

On 11/11/2020 at 9:08 AM, parksmart said:

Worst thing I have is a SAOS PS that just tastes flat and chemical.  A neighbor seems to love it.  Maybe I can offload the remaining bottles I have to him........

 

36 minutes ago, fosmith said:

Well, howdy neighbor.    But seriously, is that one of the recent MGP sourced K&L picks or the earlier Dickel sourced bottling.  I heard those were not good at all. 

This is a good point from fosmith. If it says "Single Barrel Select" it is from Dickel. Those are night and day different from the MGP barrels. 

[parksmart]

7 minutes ago, JCwhammie said:

 

This is a good point from fosmith. If it says "Single Barrel Select" it is from Dickel. Those are night and day different from the MGP barrels. 

I’ll have to go down to the bunker to verify.  I suspect that it is indeed one of the SBS Dickel bottles, as IIRC the label differs from the recent SAOS PS that @fosmith and I recently picked up.  The meh bottle is from the same store that later sold the PS bottles from MGP barrels.

[RWBadley]

I'm pretty sure the worst thing I have is a bottle of Colonel Lee from years ago.  Pretty awful stuff.

 

Something I thought was pretty bad, but others might not, I  have a bottle High West Campfire. It was the first batch, and it just seemed a bit over the top to me as far as the peat character. It just didn't mesh like I was hoping, and it still sits. I get back to it occasionally, but still not to my taste. 

 

There might be others, but those two stand out for me at the moment

[bgellco]

On 11/10/2020 at 6:42 PM, WD40 said:

Curious, have you picked up their new 5 year BIB bourbon. Can’t seem to find it here in MD. 

I have seen it on the shelves around here a couple of times, but no, I've never tried it.

[StarSurfer55]

I forgot that I had a bottle of the Climax moonshine camp fire whiskey. This is their rapid aged product. If you like wood flavors, then you could possibly like this. Pretty bad stuff. 

[Kepler]

I've had a few candidates over the years. In the past I tried a 10 Year Bird Dog bourbon after seeing a Liquorhound video on YouTube. That bottle was terrible advice. 

More recently I've had a really bad single barrel PS version of Wathen's. I've also had fantastic Wathen's PS single barrels however.

Another potential drain pour is a MGP sourced bottle named Backbone Bourbon. Horrible (although I love good MGP).