tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9082156144028140004.post260811929115460694..comments2024-03-13T04:04:32.568-07:00Comments on Sku's Recent Eats: Ranking the American Distilleriesskuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00487419662314518931noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9082156144028140004.post-79995895373319961322015-04-07T14:41:24.639-07:002015-04-07T14:41:24.639-07:00Sku, love your blog. I check in at least once a w...Sku, love your blog. I check in at least once a week.<br /><br />I got the Four Rosess small batch limited edition this year at a lottery, and have two bottles of OESF and one of OBSV, along with their standard lineup. Love what Four Roses is putting out.<br /><br />I agree with most of the rest of your rankings but...<br /><br />I don't drink/ can't find old Barton 100 enough to bump 1792 distillery that high.<br /><br />I love Russell's Reserve single barrel, Wild Turkey Rare Breed (I bought four bottles of the 108.2 proof, the 112.8 is garbage), and Wild Turkey 101. I agree that they have had some flops recently, but I would put them higher on the list because those are some of my go to bourbons.<br /><br />Thanks for the time and expertise you put into this blog and LAWS Sku.hashamakahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12675357850072477678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9082156144028140004.post-78982183996013489012015-04-07T09:55:06.444-07:002015-04-07T09:55:06.444-07:00I agree with Sku's first and last place rankin...I agree with Sku's first and last place rankings. I am in the minority that would knock BT down a few places and raise Beam and WT a couple of notches.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9082156144028140004.post-35207299297486890412015-04-07T08:46:02.976-07:002015-04-07T08:46:02.976-07:00Anon, not a day goes by that I don't see someo...Anon, not a day goes by that I don't see someone proudly posting their Orphan Barrel collection on Facebook.skuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00487419662314518931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9082156144028140004.post-63480182761680380572015-04-07T07:13:01.145-07:002015-04-07T07:13:01.145-07:00"...in a world where Diageo Orphan Barrels ar..."...in a world where Diageo Orphan Barrels are treated as a status symbol,"<br />You must have access to other worlds. Please enlighten us.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9082156144028140004.post-73215810105392600542015-04-07T05:37:40.666-07:002015-04-07T05:37:40.666-07:00And hey, Buffalo Trace owns Barton, too!And hey, Buffalo Trace owns Barton, too!Sam Komlenicnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9082156144028140004.post-17064598139427013952015-04-07T05:32:30.637-07:002015-04-07T05:32:30.637-07:00True enough, but their whiskeys couldn't be mo...True enough, but their whiskeys couldn't be more different, which has always fascinated me...Sam Komlenicnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9082156144028140004.post-74642935990519901222015-04-06T20:29:12.187-07:002015-04-06T20:29:12.187-07:00Thanks to everyone for the great comments.
Sam K....Thanks to everyone for the great comments.<br /><br />Sam K., excellent point about Bowman. I didn't include it both because it's a bit small to be considered major, but also because given that their whiskeys are all distilled first at BT, I also considered them more part of BT than an independent operation.skuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00487419662314518931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9082156144028140004.post-56451084096181059992015-04-06T19:21:59.194-07:002015-04-06T19:21:59.194-07:00Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit and Rare Breed were a ...Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit and Rare Breed were a bit of a let down last year for me.Marduknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9082156144028140004.post-79773156509766549172015-04-06T18:47:46.760-07:002015-04-06T18:47:46.760-07:00What about Bowman? I'd rank A. Smith Bowman n...What about Bowman? I'd rank A. Smith Bowman number three right now, and they don't even exist on this list? They may not necessarily be "major" but they aren't "minor" either, and they've been around long enough to count. John J. Bowman is extraordinary and their Abraham Bowman special finishes are as creative as anyone's, if not moreso, and can be superb.<br /><br />As for the rest, I might move both Wild Turkey and Brown-Forman up a notch. I think Old Forester is highly underrated.<br /><br />Great subject, Sku...thanks!Sam Komlenicnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9082156144028140004.post-50799335903374337472015-04-06T18:37:18.563-07:002015-04-06T18:37:18.563-07:00excellent list.
i would put jack daniel's at t...excellent list.<br />i would put jack daniel's at the bottom, though.<br />what do you suppose is happening with wild turkey? one would think that with jimmy and edie russel at the helm they would be competing with four roses for the top position, but they're not. i don't quite understand it as WT101 is a fantastic product. as a big fan of wild turkey i am very disappointed at what seems to be a "resting on our laurels" kind of approach. it just won't do anymore. also, on another note: evan williams single barrel 2005 is absolutely fantastic. the 03 was excellent, the 04 not so much. the 05 is the best one yet.<br />great post, and excellent comments.<br />-danAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9082156144028140004.post-1404321029897192472015-04-06T17:04:00.324-07:002015-04-06T17:04:00.324-07:00Two comments: (1) I like Bookers so much that I wo... Two comments: (1) I like Bookers so much that I would've ranked Jim Beam higher than number nine; (2) something really wrong has happened with resend bottlings of Eagle Rare 10, to the point where I would knock Buffalo Trace down a notch or two.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9082156144028140004.post-19252470393238719602015-04-06T11:51:30.473-07:002015-04-06T11:51:30.473-07:00MGP is clearly #1. FR makes 3 products and MGP alo...MGP is clearly #1. FR makes 3 products and MGP alone makes 5 different bourbon mashes among about 20 total alcohol products. Take all the MGP-sourced booze off the shelves of your local big box retailer and people will really think something is up with bourbon. It would be world wide trending topic: #helpsavethebourbonz<br /><br />Also, how is Willett going to sell $40 bottles of finished rye for $150-200 or Angels Envy for $85 or Doug P for $200 without all that as-far-from-craft juice available by the tanker car? <br /><br />But that's largely irrelevant because the market clearly has chosen BT as it's bourbon prom queen. I mean, they're clearly the best cause they have more dead guys on their labels and use wheat a lot. More wheaters, more better. And the shortages; oh the horror! Can't. Find. Anywhere. <br /><br />Funky Tapehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09271221564702147756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9082156144028140004.post-25393952238863727412015-04-06T10:39:00.242-07:002015-04-06T10:39:00.242-07:00Have you tasted any of the new products Beam has p...Have you tasted any of the new products Beam has put out like their Signature Craft line, 1B or BiB? Like others, I have less use for Turkey than I do for Beam. I have found recent OGD 114 to be very good and I'm a big fan of Booker's 25th, though not of the regular Booker's releases.<br /><br />I agree with putting HH in front of BT. Though the Parker's Heritage line has indeed declined, I just prefer the HH house flavor to BT and there are more opportunities to taste it at 100° and above.AaronWFhttp://whiskeywonka.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9082156144028140004.post-67633809747208969812015-04-06T10:23:56.023-07:002015-04-06T10:23:56.023-07:00I personally would put Beam ahead of Turkey anymor...I personally would put Beam ahead of Turkey anymore, which saddens me as well. Beam has some widely available tasty stuff - I like Knob Creek Single Barrel quite a bit (and quite a bit more than the normal KC), OGD 114 is very good especially given the price, and while there's a fair bit of variation I've found with Booker's the good ones are fantastic.<br /><br />There's not much that excites me more than dusty Wild Turkey. There's also not a lot that disappoints more than current Wild Turkey. A few of their single barrel offerings can be good, but they're hardly as consistent as the Four Roses offerings.Marknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9082156144028140004.post-64593029644756867962015-04-06T09:55:41.752-07:002015-04-06T09:55:41.752-07:00My apologies! I blew right past MGP in reading the...My apologies! I blew right past MGP in reading the article.tanstaafl2https://www.blogger.com/profile/02983632392962001316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9082156144028140004.post-10950051485263956702015-04-06T09:54:31.006-07:002015-04-06T09:54:31.006-07:00I am curious why you choose not to include, or at ...I am curious why you choose not to include, or at least make reference to, the chameleon that is MGP. I think it would be fair to say it is a major distillery at least in terms of volume and while they don't have their own label (the primary distinction to not being included in this list?) you can't walk through a whiskey aisle and not see a wide selection of their output!tanstaafl2https://www.blogger.com/profile/02983632392962001316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9082156144028140004.post-75936020127162062012015-04-06T09:48:09.638-07:002015-04-06T09:48:09.638-07:00My list is very similar, though I'd put Jack D...My list is very similar, though I'd put Jack Daniels at the absolute bottom and I'd make BT #2.....but my palette couldn't agree more with yours, Sku. Four Roses is the Head Bourbon In Charge at the moment.<br /><br />-Humchan2kAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9082156144028140004.post-46340671935290185812015-04-06T09:33:05.120-07:002015-04-06T09:33:05.120-07:00Great list! I mostly agree. I would bump Beam ab...Great list! I mostly agree. I would bump Beam above Maker's Mark, but I know you're not a fan of Beam. I just don't like Makers 46; although there's no doubt it's a quality product, too much hot cinnamon for me. However I recommend standard Maker's Mark to all beginners and the cask strength is great.<br /><br />I would also bump down Wild Turkey to below Jack Daniel's.<br /><br />Regarding Barton, in theory I would also bump them down for keeping the "6" on the bottle even though it's not an age statement anymore. But I agree with their ultimate placement on this list.Alexnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9082156144028140004.post-21893666761773920532015-04-06T09:24:23.177-07:002015-04-06T09:24:23.177-07:00No argument against Four Roses. What continues to ...No argument against Four Roses. What continues to set them apart for me is a true single barrel program. There's no dilution and you get what you picked. Can also give a nod to Old Scout from MGP. If I am not mistaken all other single barrel programs proof down their offerings, and most are NAS (AE, RR, HMc,OWA, BT, etc.) Canniballs33noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9082156144028140004.post-32249195188489645602015-04-06T08:48:51.536-07:002015-04-06T08:48:51.536-07:00It's a bit random what you can find on shelves...It's a bit random what you can find on shelves in liqor stores these day I think<br /><br />SteffenSteffenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09214829298998129214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9082156144028140004.post-56299897413298011442015-04-06T08:47:04.139-07:002015-04-06T08:47:04.139-07:00I do like KNob Creek Bourbons. To me they are more...I do like KNob Creek Bourbons. To me they are more similar to Wild Turkey than the other JB products. I really do like the 120 proof version is labeled both single barrel and small batch <br /><br />SteffenSteffenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09214829298998129214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9082156144028140004.post-39271311751042341442015-04-06T08:41:45.341-07:002015-04-06T08:41:45.341-07:00It's funny, my first draft actually had BT at ...It's funny, my first draft actually had BT at 2 and HH at 3 and I went back and forth. In the end, what did it for me is I thought about if I went to a liquor store today, what would I rather buy based on the products that were actually on the shelf, and HH won out on that measure, plus I love Elijah Craig Barrel Proof, which is a bit hard to find, but not as bad as BT's better stuff.skuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00487419662314518931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9082156144028140004.post-64778020882077853842015-04-06T08:38:22.908-07:002015-04-06T08:38:22.908-07:00I could almost have made an identical list. I woul...I could almost have made an identical list. I wouls place BT above HH, which you also considered. The only real disagreement (which is quite small as it's a swop between 6 and 8) is that I would swop Wild Turkey and Maker's Mark. I haven't tasted Maker's Mark Cask Strength so tht could be it :-)<br /><br />SteffenSteffenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09214829298998129214noreply@blogger.com