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High end Bourbon that's not worth the price


purpleace
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In the "Not worth the price" category, I gotta throw in my two cents.

Elijah Craig 18yr

Here's my impression of that whiskey.... It sucks! puke.gif

That's it. Quick and simple.

Barry

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In the "Not worth the price" category, I gotta throw in my two cents.

Elijah Craig 18yr

Here's my impression of that whiskey.... It sucks! puke.gif

That's it. Quick and simple.

Barry

I had a pour of the 18yr last night and I have to say that for whatever reason I just can't enjoy it very much. It seems there are some good qualities in there but they are overwhelmed by this really pronounced terpentine-like character, or at least that's the best this untrained palette can describe it. The 12yr old suffers less from this element, but it's still there.

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I finally figured ou EC18. The other night I was drinking it, but I had forgotten what I had poured. On taking a swig, I thought why did I pour this Tequila? EC18 is Tequila, mystery solved.

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As a postscript to this: I ran into Chris Morris today when he was doing a bottle signing at a liquor store, and I couldn't stop myself from asking his what he thought of it(thoug I did manage to stop from telling my opinion of it). I did notice in his decription of it he mentioned its collectability twice.

I did have him sign a bottle of Woodford for me(I drank the bottle I had signed by Lincoln years ago).

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In the "Not worth the price" category, I gotta throw in my two cents.

Elijah Craig 18yr

Here's my impression of that whiskey.... It sucks! puke.gif

That's it. Quick and simple.

Barry

I have to agree. The 12 year old is awful too. One of the few bourbons I don't enjoy.

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  • 2 months later...

Agree on Elijah Craig 18 year old not being worth it

Also A.H. Hirsch 16yo (3rd bottling) & Ridgemont Reserve 1792

All very disappointing.

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Why do you not like Woodford Reserve? It's only about $29 to $32 and I thought it tastes great?

I'll tell you why I DON'T like Woodford Reserve. Primarily because its not worth the price. Did you know that its really just honey barrels of Old Forester? I'd pay Old Forester prices for it...but its in the Basil Hayden category for me. Very average bourbon in a nice package.

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On my worth-it list: Bookers (when you are used to spending bigger bucks for SMSW the occasional bottle isn't too insane), Sazerac Rye, WT Kentucky Spirit.

On the not-so-much list: Woodford Reserve, Maker's Mark, Basil Hayden, Elijah Craig 18 (although the 12 yr is good!).

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I'll tell you why I DON'T like Woodford Reserve. Primarily because its not worth the price. Did you know that its really just honey barrels of Old Forester? I'd pay Old Forester prices for it...but its in the Basil Hayden category for me. Very average bourbon in a nice package.

Couple questions...here WR is only $29.99 is it more where you are? Also, what do you mean by honey barrels?

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I see WR here from about 25-32dollars a bottle....

The "honey barrels" are the good barrels the master distiller keeps an eye on and that are much better than all the others.

Old Forester isn't actually a bad bourbon . . . so you can imagine that some barrels were better than others. SOOOO.....just take those barrels...increase the proof just a little, put it in a nice bottle, and POOF! It's Woodfraud Reserve!

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It's true that WR was once 100% Old Forester bourbon, and damn fine bourbon it was. Thanks to Tim I have about half a bottle from batch 1 that I have been nursing for over a year. If I understand correctly, what's being bottled right now is about 3:1 pot-still (WR) to Column-still (OF). Around batch 90 when they first began introducing pot-still bourbon into the mix, the flavor became somewhat awkward IMHO, but I believe it's getting better as the new pot-stilled bourbon ages longer. YMMV

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Very accurate update, Jeff although I believe that 3:1 ratio may change from batch to batch.

In my view batch 125 was particularly good. Some seem a little oily and awkward. Batch 140 seemed (my bottle anyway) to have an unpleasant musty smell, maybe from the cork.

I don't mind the variations because this is to be expected with a craft-style product like this. Plus if you don't like what is in the bottle you buy just add some Forester 86 or 100 or Birthday Bourbon (better yet, but I'd avoid the 2005 for this purpose) and bob's your uncle.

Gary

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Just to put my 2 cents in, I though Eagle Rare 17yo was not worth it. I like ER17, but after trying it several times over 5 weeks or so, I just can't see the price difference between ER17 and ER 10yo SB.

Jay

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Basil Hayden, no question. All show and no go...

Nicely packaged and whilst certainly not offensive tasting, this is one Bourbon I will not rush to taste again, in this life or the next.

Was always slightly deflated by all of the Blantons range as well - very nice tasting but costs a small fortune in the UK.

There are better priced whiskeys that run rings around every one of the Blantons family - a standard VW10YO is a perfect example.

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Basil Hayden, no question. All show and no go...

Nicely packaged and whilst certainly not offensive tasting, this is one Bourbon I will not rush to taste again, in this life or the next.

Was always slightly deflated by all of the Blantons range as well - very nice tasting but costs a small fortune in the UK.

There are better priced whiskeys that run rings around every one of the Blantons family - a standard VW10YO is a perfect example.

I agree 100% about Basil Hayden, I still think it tastes feminin. I have started to enjoy Blanton's more. I just grabbed a bottle last Friday for $33.99. I didn't think that price was too bad.

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I agree 100% about Basil Hayden, I still think it tastes feminin. I have started to enjoy Blanton's more. I just grabbed a bottle last Friday for $33.99. I didn't think that price was too bad.

Not bad, at all. My last bottle was $45. But, its not available here anymore, at any price.

Tim

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I don't think I would have bought it at $45. But at $33 it's not too bad of a deal. I like the fancy bottle too.

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Well those prices are about to make me burst into tears!

Blantons Gold in the UK is 44 UK pounds! I still have no problem forking out for the stuff I really like though...

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Just my humble opinion but Rock Hill Farms seemed quite average considering the $50 price tag. My bottle of Blanton's remains unopened - afraid it will disappoint as well.

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Well those prices are about to make me burst into tears!

Blantons Gold in the UK is 44 UK pounds! I still have no problem forking out for the stuff I really like though...

But at least it's available to you! We only get the standard Blanton's here. Got to try the barrel strength last year at BF and I found it outstanding. Have yet to taste the Silver or Gold bottlings but then they haven't planted me yet so there's still time.

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I used to live in London about 1 mile from these guys. www.thewhiskyexchange.com - check out the site and look under the Bourbon and American section.

The prices will make you shudder but that's how it is in the UK. I'm sure you'll be impressed at the variety of Bourbon available for a mainly scotch warehouse.

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Well those prices are about to make me burst into tears!

Blantons Gold in the UK is 44 UK pounds! I still have no problem forking out for the stuff I really like though...

Yep, me too. We pay a similar price - $110 per bottle which is a similar price.

As for bourbon not worth the price.... I could agrue about the cost of importing any of my favourite bourbons (that aren't available on our market) as being to costly - eg BT, Stagg, Van Winkle etc all cost a small fortune by the time I import them, but i still love them as far as bourbons go :D

Locally, Jim Beam BIB and Jim Beam Small Batch with Port added are both overpriced and overrated imo... :puke:

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I used to live in London about 1 mile from these guys. www.thewhiskyexchange.com - check out the site and look under the Bourbon and American section.

The prices will make you shudder but that's how it is in the UK. I'm sure you'll be impressed at the variety of Bourbon available for a mainly scotch warehouse.

My favourite shop in the UK ;)

I shop there whenever I'm in London or Edinburgh....

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Yeah it was really tough living just round the corner from those guys... slightly expensive though.

Very helpful, knowlegable and friendly chaps in the Whisky Exchange - I must perform a return visit sometime!

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