Besides, the caramel notes on the nose lack character. Looking at the other bottles on the shelf longingly I pour us each a glass, over ice (of course). You see, there is a very simple explanation for why I dont review a lot of bourbons I dislike. The reproduction and publishing (of parts of) the content of this website for non personal and/or commercial use, in whatever form, or in whatever way, is prohibited without the prior written consent of Whiskybase B.V.. Why would anyone spend $10 for a liter of this ichor when a fifth of Evan Williams or Jim Beam is just a couple of bucks more? Crown Royal Apple made me shiver, and not in a good way. Then, a warm, rough, peppery, and slightly smoky finish follows. Region: Islay | ABV: 45.8% | Tasting Notes: Iodine, Earth, Smoke, Dried fruit, A classic Islay scotch subjected to a Highland treatment, i.e. We talk about bourbon, rye, or any American whiskey here (yes, even Jack). The information on this website is composed and maintained with continuous care and attention by Whiskybase B.V.. Glasers doing a wonderful service for blended scotch., Region: Highlands | ABV: 46% | Tasting Notes: Coffee, Espresso, Raisins, Cinnamon, [Glenmorangie] did something innovative, says Tardie. Fleischmanns Straight Rye: Only available as a plastic handle in Kentucky and Northern Wisconsin, this is not a whiskey to seek out. For the girls that want to show that they can drink something other than breezers. Please visit BourbonGuyGifts.com today! Last Updated on December 28, 2022 by Lydia Martin. But no matter how many times I come back to it, I just dont like it. It has the aroma of a terrible gin and is far from the whiskey we all love. I grew up stealing my Moms Canadian Mist throughout my childhood and teen years. Why We Dont Like It: Town Branch whiskey is plain no distinctness. Like Bells, its hard to imagine how this rotgut sells at any price. Changing your grain or changing your distillation method can change your flavor. Blended scotches are produced by blending single malt with whisky made from other grains. I buy almost all of the whiskey I review and I really dont want to spend money on things Ill dislike. Afterward I dump it back into the Rebel Yell bottle and stick it back in the closet. There is no impact on the price you pay, and this system allows us to maintain our impartiality when it comes to the reviews we post. The blend needs more foundation. To this day, I consider that lady to be a very good friend. Thirty-One Whiskey is a website owned and operated by Burke & Blais, LLC. Although drinking this whisky would not hurt (like having that kind of really nasty flavor lingering in your mouth), you would still want it with ice or mixers. We all cheer to a fine whiskey. I got like a compost heap flavor out of it. While you should know the best whiskeys available on the market, you also need to know your worst options. As more and more cask-strength whiskies enter the market, everyday tipples are muscling up. It had a distinctive shaped green bottle, that had a very wide base, with a long neck that was designed not to topple over. Im experienced enough at buying American Whiskey that I kind of know what I like and what I dont. Floral on the nose with a bittersweet palate,its not too powerful in any one direction, says Tardie, but its diverse enough to throw a cube in, sip neat, or put into a rusty nail.. You can take advantage of their low price and create cocktails, but only choose recipes that require more mixture than the whisky. Only whiskies with 3 or more votes are included in this hall of shame. Oddly, my mom who normally despises any whiskey liked this. Santis WebArguably the most famous or perhaps infamous Scotch whisky innovation was 10-year-old Loch Dhu. We love a good whiskey. u/Trexid game me a sample of Passport Scotch. Nose: weirdly artificial or chemical, like it's been cut with industrial alcohol or brake fluid. It smells like it was cut with brake fluid or industrial alcohol and has a strangely artificial or chemical aroma. We were both extremely excited to try them and wellhe dumped his out. UPDATE: So, after fourteen hundred and some odd days after I first made my opinion known on Rebel Yell,I finally got around to trying it again. Special Rye Malt - Nougat, Kentucky Highway American Blended Whiskey, Access to over 2.4 million ratings and reviews, More than 200.000 bottles available from retailers around the world, The most trusted source of factual bottle information available. Currently you have JavaScript disabled. It's the foundation for all cocktails that dates back to the earliest mixed drinks bartenders mixed up in the late 1800s. We Canadians don't have to worry about drinking this slop as virtually 100% of it's production is Baijiu 101: Everything to Know About Chinas National Drink, Booze on the Move: Brands Are Aging Spirits on Ships and Trains, Layering Cocktails 101: How to Make a Layered Drink, How Plymouth Gin Master Distiller Sean Harrison Restored the Iconic Brand, Jim Meehan on Cocktail Books, Punch, and Knowing Your History, Dantes Naren Young on Good Martinis, Bad Martinis, and Owning the Negroni, Barcelonas Paradiso Is Crowned Best Bar in the World, The Best Rums Under $30 for the Aspiring Rum Enthusiast, Navy Rum and the Black Tot, 50 Years Later, Angostura Rums Are Nothing to Be Bitter About, How Barrel Aging Affects Whiskey and Other Spirits, How to Stay Healthy When You Drink for a Living, 18 Holiday Cocktails for Festive Winter Drinking, Attending (or Watching) the U.S. Open? WebAgreed that JW Red is worse. Generally, this is the type of whiskey we imagined being served somewhere else. Yup. Its not the type of whiskey you would want more after some sips. In some cases, when its cheap, its also bad and that applies to whiskeys as well. Get your regular sip of the best from Bevvy. Nelsons Green Brier Tennessee Whiskey, 11. Before we depart, Livermore shares a few of his non-whisky-related mistakes with us. It has some orange and brown sugar flavors with hints of pepper spice and a touch of bitterness toward the end. These terrible tipples (listed in alphabetical order) all come from major whiskey countries, and might be lurking on a liquor store shelf near you. Why We Dont Like It: Unless you have so much appreciation for liquors, you wont like this one. And some of the older aged J.P. Wiser's will run in the low to high 100s. Tables have been pushed together in the center of the room to form a cross-shape, and on their surface, whisky bottles and their attendant sample glasses sit in a sweeping X formation. So sort of a Having a very bad cough on Christmas, with less money and bills to pay kind of experience then? Clan McGregor 4. This Highland scotch is rich in cocoa and espresso notes that only deepen over time. Lovecraft, ye liveliest awfulness in their writings. This affordable bottle is as Rebel Yell: I bought this bourbon as part of the Bottom Shelf Bourbon Brackets the first year I did them. Its made from the distillerys oldest whisky35- to 40-year-old scotch, aged in American white oakwhich gives it a gravitas that Tardie appreciates. Youre also incredibly lucky if thats the worst single malt youve had. The Liquor Laboratory is intended for adults over the age of 21 and the legal drinking age. The Golden Wedding Canadian Whisky has been around since 1856 and even started as an American whiskey label. The recipe uses the basic "cocktail" formula of a base spirit mixed with sweet, sour, and bitter ingredients. However, these whiskies are not too bad. Synthetic versions of the fruity aromas reappear as a jumble of astringent and sickly sweet flavors that will test your tongue in unpleasant ways. Im not big on dessert, but if I were to have a dessert, this would be it," he says. I bring my selections to Livermore, who plugs them into a spreadsheet on his computer and calculates a sound ratio. No sweetness. Even adding coke couldn't cover the smell. Its honey-blossom nose leads to vanilla and roasted nuts, a delightful herbaceousness, and a hint of orange. I traded a fan for 'pretty much any booze' cause I was moving. Not for drinking straight mind you but I think it mixes pretty good in coke or Dr Pepper. Want to support BourbonGuy.com? I have a beer barrel finish that smells like a frat party.. Taste: I have no idea how to describe it but it is the only bourbon I have ever spit into the sink in disgust. I then took a shot of tequila to get rid of the remainder. Livermore highlights the French oak finish as a popular ingredient, thanks to its vanilla character. It actually has a long-lasting finish, but you cant get the full refined aftertaste. As you sip it, and as the alcohol burns off, he says, theres a strong characteristic of dark chocolate and coffee grinds., Region: Highlands | ABV: 43% | Tasting Notes: Wild herbs, Honey, Roasted nuts, Floral, The whiskies from Glenmorangie pair so well with food, Tardie remarks, "I'm convinced that the distiller is more of a fan of wine than whisky.. While it costs around $150 or more for a bottle, the whisky is well worth it. We dig just about everything else Balcones with the exception of BB. Like an anxious grade-schooler hoping to have their art project validated by a teacher, I bring the blend to Livermore. You won't win any street cred by assuming every real whiskey guy hates every popular brand. Can you drink the worst cheap whiskey neat? Also included are barrel inserts. The barrels that held these whiskies were burned in specific ways to induce certain flavors: theres an oak insert, a sweet insert, a smoky insert, and so on. Yes, youve found the right place if thats what you were hoping for. You get these fruit kickers coming through without being too cloying, but theyre added to the peaty notes of the scotch from the isles., The sherry-cask fruitiness softens yet also highlights the peat, reminding you of the earthy elements in the scotch, he concludes. Ive had people tell me Im crazy, but I found this to be terrible. Undiluted for extra potency at Laphroaig, an Islay distillery, this decade-old scotch whisky has proof of around 112. Average Price: around $91 per 750ml, tax included (Last Mountain Distillerys online store). Average Price: around $14.99 per 1L (Drizly). a subreddit for Scotch enthusiasts of all walks of life and of all levels of knowledge on anything Scotch Whisky related. 1. I tasted this at a local retailer along with a group of friends after an event. The ethanol continues on the palate, where you can taste grassy or cheap protein shake flavors. Best Splurge: Glenmorangie Signet at Drizly. Theres some mistakes I havent put on the table here. Average Price: around $15 per 1L (Drizly). However, the 1858 bottle we have here is not that satisfying. The DD is your pizza dough, he says. They have different making processes and create different flavor profiles for their drinks. Seagrams VO is not rotgut. Just nasty crap. The first addition to Ardbegs foundational range of scotches in a decade, this 2017 introduction is named after the Mull of Oa, a rocky peninsula on the Kilodalton coast where the distillery is located. However, these flavors disappeared quickly, leaving no notable traces, making it a boring drink. Theres been a blurring of the lines in terms of flavor profiles, and theres more experimentation going on, says Pedro Shanahan, spirits guide for Los Angeles bar group Pouring with Heart. WebIts true that Canadian whiskies can include other, non-whisky spirits in the blendbut not neutral grain sprits, as Livermore emphatically points out. Last Mountain Distillery 4 Grain Whisky; 5. Want to get in on the ground floor with a new distillery? Its one of my favorites., Related: The Best Single Malt Scotch Whiskies, Region: Islay | ABV: 43% | Tasting Notes: Smoke, Grass, Earth, Heat. A head-turner that can open your eyes to the pleasures of grain whisky. Thanks! Years ago, he decided to visit Winnipeg in February (his first mistake) for a whisky festival and agreed to appear on local television for a 6:45am interview the following morning (his second mistake). A buddy of mine, not at all into whisk(e)y of any kind, brought a bottle as a gift to a ski weekend I was hosting. Its aged for at least 2 years which were not fond of. This whisky is good enough for its price if you use it on cocktails. So what is the worst Canadian whisky? And just because I didnt buy it doesnt mean that I havent tried it. 19. Glenfiddich Bourbon Barrel Reserve 14 Year: Best whisky to drink neat. Its the perfect balance: salty but sweet. Toffee, dried fruit and swarthy smoke are finished with ocean-water salinity for what Tardie calls a multidimensional treat. Additionally, the taste is overwhelmingly complex and confusing, with lots going on. Allumina . Whats the worst youve had? Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Canadian Mist has actually released three flavorspeach, cinnamon, and maplebut I only tried the peach variety. 3. On this page youll find a constantly updated list of the bottles weve liked the least in our journey through the liquor store shelves, and feel free to check out some of our other pages to find stuff thats actually drinkable. It's overpriced for the age and proof, but it's good stuff. For whiskey enthusiasts, you would totally not be impressed with this spirit. Average Price: around $63 (66) per 700ml (Whisky Base). The final three samples arent whiskies at all, but the type of spirits that qualify for the 9.09% rule: a sherry, a port wine, and a bourbon. Waldviertler Whisky J.H. It didnt help. Bottled at 90 proof (45 percent alcohol by volume), its stronger than the average whiskey, and that also makes it more flavorful. Region: Highlands | ABV: 46% | Tasting Notes: Cedar, Chocolate-covered cherries, Pecans, Honey. Whiskybase B.V. is under no circumstances liable for damages of whatever nature, in anyway resulting from the use of this website or resulting from or related to the use of information presented on or made available through this website or damages resulting from the non-availability of this website. Its excitingit makes it more of an adventure for a novice who wants to start exploring scotch. Our top choice, the GlenDronach Revival, is a great example of a scotch with a flavor that evolves and changes throughout the tasting experience. If you want to fill your liquor shelves with lots of excellent and quality spirits, you may want to avoid the spirits mentioned above (unless youre curious). Your email address will not be published. Among them are rye whiskies that he likens to jalapenos on a Subway sandwich: Rye Star, Rye Special, Rye Star Special French Oak, etc. Unless of course you're unlucky enough to have a whisky that clashes with bitters. 2. The next 20 whiskies are all barrel-finishes, 10-year-old whiskies finished in bourbon barrels, rum barrels, brandy barrels, and more. Drinking the worst cheap whiskey neat depends on your preference. Alberta Premium Dark Horse ($26.99) 45% ABV. The Liquor Laboratory is intended for adults over the age of 21 and the legal drinking age. Average Price: around $20 per 1L (Drizly). The stuff is as bitter as a bad cup of coffee too, and a true Halloween horror. All of King's County tastes like that to me. As a Canadian I hate anything maple flavoured. OP, someone on your poll listed Clynelish 14 as worst ever. Why We Dont Like It: This is not a versatile spirit only best served neat [1]. This is my worst. Its honey-blossom nose leads to vanilla and roasted nuts, a delightful herbaceousness, and a hint of orange. But the palate is like a competition ground between the corn and rye mash. Aged in the Highlands in Pedro Ximnez and oloroso sherry casks, it starts off with a spiced fruit nose. Crown is the absolute worst to me. Billed as a bourbon, its as insubstantial as a ghost and offers less than nothing taken neat. And on this afternoon, Im about to get my own lesson in blending from the doctor, alongside a handful of other journalists. As described on the bottle, Dark Horse rye is definitely made for whiskey connoisseurs who prefer a bolder, richer tasting Canadian Whiskey. Hopefully after some time it will get better but Ill need to be convinced of that when it happens. If you can't spend $30 or so on a quality bourbon, just sack up and drink Coke flavored moose poison until you stop worrying about Two, they have gray hair.. One of the reader comments on our own review described it as vagrants ballsack dipped in paint thinner, and while that is hardly scientific proof of this Scotchs terribleness, it is certainly too pithy to not repeat. Everything has a fresh, raw, bleached-out, and artificial aroma and flavor. I find myself enjoying the smoky insert for its campfire aroma. I didnt know it was backed up by statistics. Normally dried using wood fire, Macallans 1940s malt was peated because wood was scarce during World War II. Aged in the Highlands in Pedro Ximnez and oloroso sherry casks, it starts off with a spiced fruit nose that Tardie calls brilliant. Drink it neat with milk chocolate or aged cheeses, or, as he suggests, "drop an ice cube in and let it sit for a few seconds and see what happens. Not worth it. The nose is not really caramel-ly or sugary, and the palate is sweet but acidic. Burns the lips off ya. Ballantines Finest: Best budget whisky. In fact, Clarkes is so bad enough that it cant be endorsed even as a mixer, since liquor this cheap often brings on hangovers even in moderate consumption. Irish Diamonds 2005 AC Small Batch No. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. I carry the bottles to a blending station at another table, where I carefully measure out the precise milliliters for each in a beaker before adding them to my flask, which gets a quick shake with its cap twisted on tight to complete the process. I poured it on to a fire. One of my favorite pairings is oysters and peated scotch., Region: Speyside | ABV: 40% | Tasting Notes: Floral, Honey cake, Walnuts. The Canadian Club Chronicles (41-44 year expressions) range from $280-320 CAD depending on the province. 2nd that. This is my worst also - not sure what I'm going to do with the bottle. Smoked, phenolic earth and brine. But the distiller threw a curveball for this special edition, transferring the scotch near the end of its 16 years of aging into barrels that once held Pedro Ximnez, so you start to see this wonderful, new balance created in the arcing nuance of the sherry, says Shanahan. Your email address will not be published. This. Finally, there are the barrels. You might think that Ive been bought off or that Im hoping to get free whiskey.