by Mike » Thu Jun 15, 2006 1:42 pm
My low cost input (2 cents worth) is that cheap whiskey 'aggravates' rather than pleases my palate. I tend to use the word 'raw' to describe poor quality whiskey. I would almost say bottled before its time, but I suspect there is more to it than that.
I suspect cheap whiskies use cheap ingredients, cheap barrels, and were never intended to be particularly good. I have known more than a few people who expected whiskey to taste bad and almost took it as a matter of pride to drink it anyway. These are the same people who throw their heads back and drink a 'slug' of whiskey in one gulp. Anything more than cheap whiskey is wasted on them and they know it. And, by the way, some of these folks are great people, so I am not inferring anything about their character here. Early Times, the regular Ancient Age, Old Crow, and some others are made for them.
What surprises me more than the number of poor quality bourbons, is the number of quite good bourbons at what I consider to be very reasonable prices. I am sipping some AAA 10 YO that is a very nice bourbon with no serious flaws that cost me $13. I could have spent almost $40 for a bottle of Basil Hayden and that would have made me angry!
And, while I am on my soapbox, I include Maker's Mark among the poorer quality (little complexity, not enough body, lack of richness, and a bust in the finish) overpriced bourbons! Every single Wild Turkey product just plain tramples it! Now, do you want my opinion on anything else?
Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rage at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light. - Dylan Thomas