The latest WftA Podcast Episode is ready to download! In this show, we delve into how women navigate the traditionally male-dominated world of whiskey.
Hannah and Elora Dawson, Whiskey for the Ages editors – and independent women, talk about the challenges they’ve met while purchasing their favorite pours. We’ll also consider recent industry news, and enjoy some brown liquid along the way.
As a whiskey writer and reviewer, I follow quite a few whiskey social media sites so I can monitor the pulse of this amazing industry. Over the years, I’ve come to notice News and RSS feeds, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, along with LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Reddit, all have some common recurring comments and topics.
Some of the entries are “Best” lists posted to solicit approval (or encourage disagreement). I’m sure others are meant to inspire conversation, while many posts are measured provocations made to get under the skin of the group’s readers. In this post, I will try to shed light on what I have observed, offering my thoughts on common entries. Let’s jump right in.
TOP 5 (10, 15, etc.) LISTS
Press releases with bourbons or whiskeys in a list format usually follow some kind of theme. We’ve all seen the lists: ‘Best Whiskey to Have in Your Collection’, ‘Top Whiskeys of 2023’, or ‘The Only Five Whiskeys You Need in Your Home Bar’.
Years ago, when I first began my journey, the bourbons listed in the articles I read, became “must have” targets. When I think back, many of them showed up in multiple articles. After using the guides to make my purchases, a number of those bottled were just “okay” at best.
As the years have come and gone, I’ve come to believe many whiskey producers whose products make lists like these must have GREAT publicists. I often wonder if some writers have even tried the offerings they are wring about!
Interestingly, there are quite a few I seldom hear mentioned in whiskey social media circles anymore. I believe it is because of this observation, so many of us turn to social media. Crowd sourcing is a popular way to quickly get answers to our questions. Still, those answers are just opinion.
“IS THIS STUFF ANY GOOD?”
Bourbon is the staple in many of our whiskey bunkers. With so many options on the market, it can be difficult to know which one to choose, especially for those new to the world of whiskey. While there are many “Best Whiskey …” articles written by any variety of people, all inquiries about specific pours boil down to one common denominator: “Thoughts?”
The query often includes a bottle picture followed by a question:
This stuff any good? What’s everyone’s take on this? Is this a good one, yah or nah? What do y’all think about this one? What’s your opinion?
Sadly, many people respond in a mocking manner due to the anonymity of social platforms. But consider this … While Hannah and Elora are my daughters (and fellow editors on this site and our WftA Podcast), they don’t necessarily like the same bourbons I do. Likewise, whisky social media readers do not have the same nose or palate of the person who posted the inquiry.
At best, any suggestions offered are subjective as they are made from a personal bias. Some people enjoy a particular bourbon while others may not. To determine if a bourbon might be good, it is usually best to compare notes with friends and fellow whiskey enthusiasts.
When considering a particular offering, read several reviews, including ones of differing opinion. Early on, I discovered I liked bourbons one particular reviewer did not. My palate was simply different than theirs. With this in mind, compare Hannah’s Reviews to mine. It’s perfectly fine to be more aligned with her than me. More importantly, determine your own likes and dislikes, and don’t worry about what others might think.
“THOUGHTS?”, “AND GO!”
When someone posts a bourbon opinion on whiskey social media then ends with, “And Go!”, they are soliciting feedback and input from the group on the matter they have expressed. As above, it’s a way of starting a discussion on the subject. “And Go!” is no different than ending with, “Thoughts?” Both are ways of seeking opinion, in effort to get differing perspectives and/or constructive criticism to validate their own opinion with other platform followers.
“IS THIS BOURBON ANY GOOD FOR A COLLECTION?”
This is a more pointed way of asking, “Thoughts?” The person making this query may get a few useful replies, but more often than not, they’ve just opened themselves to ridicule from the masses. Other questions along this line include:
How did my wife do with this purchase? Anyone have good feedback on this? I know some are going to mock but …?
Initial mocking may begin as simple as, “Open it and let us know,” but often it becomes pointed, “What are you? A tator, collector or a drinker?”
Again, one’s bourbon choices should be a matter of personal preference. If the whiskey in question truly is for a collection, even then the selection depends on the collector’s preferences and what they themselves like. Most collectors prefer older, rarer bottles while others may prefer a wide range of different styles and brands.
Sadly the so-called ‘collector’ may not be a collector at all. They may be a flipper, one who buys and holds product in effort to resell it later for a profit. The morality of this won’t be debated here, but let me be on record as one who doesn’t collect, flip, seek or buy bourbons at secondary prices.
“WHICH BUDGET POURS ARE BETTER?”
This inquiry is often posted by novice drinkers, but not always. When I was taking the first steps on my bourbon journey, price was a major concern. I didn’t want to spend money on something I might not like. Heck, it might have turned out I wouldn’t like anything!
When it comes to budget pours, it is difficult to make a blanket statement. Rather than getting the opinions of others, I approached the task on my own. As a complete novice, I felt the opinions of others would be at best, a guide. I first checked my local store for 375 mL bottles of bourbons I planned to try, then on to Reddit and the internet for reviews of inexpensive bourbons. It was harder than one might think.
Inexpensive whiskey is rarely reviewed!
When I could find a review, I used it to help open my mind as to what I might expect to smell and taste.
When I think it might be a novice taster who has posted the “Budget” question, I’ll reply with the suggestion noted above. If I think the question was asked by someone with more experience, my answer is always Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond, a fine budget priced bourbon, usually $16-$20 and a regular bottle in my bunker. Recently, Old Forester 100 has become another budget “go to” and a bourbon we reviewed in a Podcast.
“WHAT IS THE BEST BOURBON?”
Frankly, I dislike this question and never reply when I see it posted. I have also seen it used as argument click-bait. Too many people are quick to reply aggressively and threads often take a nasty turn before they die. The question simply impossible to answer. The “best” bourbon is a matter of personal taste.
Some popular and highly-regarded bourbons include those which many or most of us will never get the chance to try. But as noted above, what constitutes the “best” will depend on individual preferences for flavor, finish, and other factors. Ultimately, it is up to each person to try different bourbons and decide for themselves which ones they consider to be the best.
“XXXX IS THE BEST BOURBON. CHANGE MY MIND.”
I find reading “Change My Mind” whiskey social media posts quite humorous even though I NEVER engage in the dialog. While it is widely accepted there are many factors which influence one’s enjoyment of a bourbon, discussions of mash bill, aging, proof, type (ryed or wheated) and individual flavor preferences are rarely included in the dialog. Often, respondents go on tirades leaving members of the group frustrated.
Frankly, I think it is a futile thing to try to change the opinion of anyone who posts, “Change my mind.”
“WHAT ELSE CAN I TRY?”
This question may be prefaced by, “I like XXXX” but not always. Here, the person making the post is looking for advice from the group based on what others might think of the bourbon or whiskey they’ve mentioned. When looking to try something new, consider exploring styles of bourbon with similar mash bills. If one prefers wheated bourbons, find and try other wheaters. For ryed bourbons, find others with similar traits. If bourbons with high rye are preferred, maybe rye whiskies are next in order. The same goes for finished whiskies.
Near the end of each of our reviews, in the MY RATING section, we post links which send readers to other whiskies with the same rating and made by the same company.
Another tact may be to stay within branded offerings. I like most whiskies produced by Brown-Forman (Old Forester) and Heaven Hill (Larceny, Elijah Craig), and I find products out of Buffalo Trace, for the most part, to be stellar. Yet, I find bourbons from Barton (1792) to be hit or miss for me. Our reviews also include links to other whiskies offered by the brand. By way of example, the following might help …
“I LIKE LARCENY. WHAT ELSE SHOULD I TRY?”
Larceny Kentucky Straight Bourbon is a wheated bourbon, wheat being the second grain in the mash bill after corn and before barley. If preferences lean towards smooth, soft flavors, try other wheated bourbons. Here are a few recommendations:
Maker’s Mark: This is one of the most well-known wheated bourbons and has a smooth, balanced flavor profile with notes of caramel, vanilla, and spice. Weller Antique: While allocated and challenging to find, it is worth the effort to find. This is a higher-proof wheated bourbon with a bolder flavor and more pronounced notes of spice and oak. Old Fitzgerald: This is another highly allocated bourbon which comes out in the spring and fall. Its smooth, sweet flavor profile shares its mash bill with Larceny and has notes of vanilla and fruit. Wyoming Whiskey Small Batch Bourbon: This wheated bourbon is made in Kirby, WY, and has a smooth, rich flavor profile with notes of cake batter, caramel, vanilla, and spice.
SOCIAL MEDIA TROLLS
Social media trolls are people who deliberately post inflammatory, offensive, or off-topic comments on whiskey social media platforms with the intent of provoking others into an emotional response or to disrupt normal on-topic discussion.
Their behavior can often cause harm to the online community. The goal of a troll is to get a rise out of people, rather than to contribute to the online community in a positive way. Trolls often act anonymously or pseudonymously, and their interactions can range from simply annoying to actively harmful.
When I see trollish activity, I typically scroll past their posts and if they become an annoyance, block their future posts from view.
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Whiskey Social Media is a great way to stay abreast of favorite topics. But like anything else, be mindful of what you read and post. Take in the info with a grain of salt and try not to offend or be offended.
Cheers!
Whiskey Social Media Inquiries written by Brian Dawson, April 14, 2023 Editor, WhiskeyfortheAges.com
This is what bourbon should be, plain and simple. For someone who loves fruit in bourbon, this Marker’s Mark offering is an absolute home run. If it’s possible to find, you’ve got to try! 94/100
VITALS:
– Made in: Loretto, Kentucky, USA – Distillery: Maker’s Mark Distillery – Classification: Straight Bourbon with Special Finish – Age: nas – Mash Bill: Corn=70%; Soft red winter wheat=16%; Malted Barley=14% – Casks: unpublished char – Barrel Entry Proof: 110 – ABV: 54.7% (109.4 proof) – Non-chill filtered – Finishing Staves: 10 virgin toasted oak staves added to the barrel, which is then given an extra eight weeks of maturation – Price: $59.95 USD in Idaho (November 2022)
“2022 marks the fourth year Maker’s has produced the Wood Finishing Series. Each year has had a unique taste vision. This year the two releases focus on barrel rotation (cycling rackhouse location). The goal is to distinguish and enjoy the unique flavors found on the top floors while comparing them to barrels stored lower in the warehouse.
Since 1953, Maker’s consistent flavors have been credited to the hand-Barrel RoTation process. Top barrels in the rickhouse are brought to the bottom, and each level is then raised to ensure equal exposure to varying temperatures over time. The designation “BRT” for this year’s releases comes from this practice.
BRT-01 comes from the top (hotter) space of the rickhouse. American oak staves are inserted into the barrels to develop big and bold flavors extracted from the barrels during the first three years of aging.” – Maker’s Mark
For this Maker’s Mark BRT-01 Review, I enjoyed the whiskey neat from a Glencairn glass with sister, Elora, as well as father and fellow Whiskey for the Ages editor, Brian.
This bourbon practically IS fruit syrup. It makes me want to pour it over a fruit cup and just bask in it and pretend I’m being extra healthy. This bourbon screams luxury and decadence, and prettily sliced fruit layered in intricate patterns and BRT-01 are a match made in heaven.
Maker’s Mark products are often classified by a smooth inhale with dark fruits coming to greet you. BRT-01, instead, starts with a punch of brown sugar and cinnamon. Behind these baking spices, is a rich vanilla custard and even a maraschino cherry, which isn’t something I frequently find on a nose. I can find a sweet maple buried in a new oak as well, adding almost a sunny warmth. The alcohol is gentle, even being at nearly 110 proof. It’s a nose that makes me salivate – more than most whiskeys do.
PALATE:
– Mouth Feel: Velvet. It grips the tongue in a hug, but you are certainly running with the “soft” grain of the velvet. – Balance: Fruit heavy. You have to search for other profiles, and it might difficult… but it will be there. – Visual: Terracotta pot in color, the crown shatters quickly into droplets. What’s left are long, clinging legs that break into scattered droplets.
– Taste: The start of the sip – and truly, I only mean the very start – contains the wheaty grain, but it transitions so quickly into a maraschino cherry that’s been soaked in fruit syrup. There’s a bright acidity here as well, like the pineapple that could be found in the fruit cup next to that cherry. A light vanilla appears for a moment, but the hero of this palate really is the fruit. (Readers who know me: I bet you can sense my pure glee at this moment). There’s yellow-fleshed peach that fades into almonds ever-so-slightly.
I will say that the complexity is slightly lacking here – fruit is dominant from start to finish, and if that’s your favored profile, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a bourbon doing it better than BRT-01. If you want heavy spice, or oak, you’ll have to hunt. Nevertheless, you can still find those things underneath the fruit. The oak is new, much like it was on the nose. New like it was just milled and the moisture hasn’t seeped out yet. The spices consist largely of ones to use when baking, like nutmeg.
A Kentucky chew aggravates the vanilla, which makes me salivate even more. It doesn’t particularly hurt, and I quickly give into the temptation to do it again.
FINISH:
– Lasting Power: Medium-long. Heat lingers on the tongue and bourbon warmth persists everywhere. – Between Sips: A nearly burnt caramel appears between sips accompanied by one or two sour cherries.
– No More: This stays consistent throughout the glass – in fact, it even gets better. The warmth grows without seeming to peak, and it’s easy to fall into a fruit haze. It’s an incredibly impressive pour, and as soon as I set the glass down, I want another sip.
The empty Glencairn is a warm sawdust, as if it was freshly milled and the heat of the saw is still present. There’s more spice in the empty glass than there was in the original pour, but I am still perfectly content. A great pour finishing with a great empty glass…. when is the next pour?
WORTH THE PRICE?
I wish there were more of these bottles available now. It’s an easy decision – if you see this bottle on the shelf, then you need to grab it. It’s a great addition to the Wood Finishing Series from Maker’s, and it could very well be the best. $60.00 gets you exactly what a bourbon should be without breaking the bank too hard.
