I live 20 minutes away from Woodinville Whiskey Co., and have been enjoying their products since they began. Had nearly every variation they've made, and some cask strength that I've gotten to bottle myself. They are among my top favorites, and I'm glad to see them getting some recognition outside of WA. Thanks to the wives for including this!
I don't drink whiskey - never acquired a taste for it. But I somehow I have gotten caught up in these SLB videos and have become fascinated by the whole bourbon culture. I took my first ever Bourbon distillery tour last week (Wilderness Trail in Danville KY), and I really appreciated it. i spent years working in the tobacco industry and it has a lot of similarities. And when we did a tasting at the end, I could actually appreciate what was there - even if personally I would never order a whiskey myself. Thanks for the videos!
You know you might drink a bit when the silhouette in the thumbnail reminds you: "Looks like a Woodinville bottle!" I used to ride my bike by their distillery every weekend. Good video as always SLB! 👍👍
WA State bringing it! You guys need to do a WA State Whiskey review, we’ve got many great distilleries out here and our prolific wine country makes for the availability of some remarkable finishes
I'm a big fan of the Woodinville. I used to live in Washington State and sadly never made it to their brewery. Haven't tried the Wilderness Trail yet, I need to remedy that.
Love Woodinville. Bought it in WA. Paid 42 bux, after tax was 53... would buy it again. Want the Port finished, glad you mentioned that one.... good line up. Interesting on the Castle and Key, heard nothing but good things... but you have heard mixed... interesting. Not on my list, so don't have to worry about it...
Woodinville! One of the best craft distillers, and a rival to the best from the legacy distillers. As this blind test shows! Great session, Kurt, Trent and Mrs. Kurt!
I'd love to see a best bottle under $20....or more challenging under $15. A bottom shelf super budget bourbon shootout would be very entertaining. I've had a few that were surprisingly good for being so cheap. So many good picks at the $40-50 range, but the bottom shelf value bourbons are always overlooked.
Another great video. I have not had or heard of any of these, but will definitely pickup the winner as I usually agree with Kurt. May I suggest either a blind taste test of Bottled In Bonds or your top 5 BIBs?
I want 3 bottles of the SLB single barrel! One for personal, one to share, one to keep for the future (and share with my kids when they’re older). Would love to be able to do tastings with them one day. What an honor it must be to do this show with family!
Same! I just got a store pick at my local liquor store, so the bottle was very fresh in my brain. It’s really nice! Not my favorite, but definitely solid.
Love it when you guys guess. Don’t feel ashamed when you go out on a limb and get one wrong. You guys basically batted .500 on a pitcher who throws hundreds of different types of pitches.
I live less than a mile from the Woodinville distillery and I haven’t gone down to taste. I frequent the restaurant there but haven’t done the distillery. Shame. Maybe shall do it next weekend, Father’s Day weekend.
Enjoy the blind tastings. I agree with you on Woodinville but then I am from WA state. But lately I have been picking up the Bib & Tucker bottle more often.
Castle and Key is just getting started and I think they'll eventually knock it out of the park. If you ever get a chance to visit you should. Gorgeous grounds and the staff love to talk to you once they figure out you know something about liquor. Their gins are *superb*
I'm not sure if you have had any Smooth Ambler Products but I really feel they are a Up and Coming Distillery. They are from West Virginia and source from MPG along with mixing a few others in plus there own whiskey. Check them out....Old Scout is about a $29 dollar bottle and in my opinion would give a run to any bottle in that price range. The Contradiction is about a $45 dollar bottle that to me is one of the best in it's price range and maybe even take on more expensive bottles too. As of today they were named "Breakout Distiller of the Year" at the 2022 ASCOT Awards !!!
Looking forward to your barrel Pick of Ol;d Elk. I'm a big fan of the brand, and i'm interested in what your own barrel will be like (yes, i'm aware that you're not getting the whole barrel).
Do you ever test small, regional distilleries. We have a few good ones in the Midwest - Few and Koval distilleries, both in Chicago; Whiskey Acres in DeKalb, IL; Blum Bros. In Galena, IL and Journeymen in Three Oaks,MI. Some are better than others but I’d be interested in your take.
I bought Woodinville just out of curiosity, and it was surprisingly good,but different. Wilderness Trail and Castle nKey just seem not quite ready for consumption.
I just picked up the last available Woodinville bourbon at my local store! Very nice. Mine was the single barrel store pick and it's a bit hotter than my pallet is ready for. But flavors are nice.
Blind tasting is always risky (but rewarding!) More so when being filmed I guess. one suggestion though would be to "letter" the choices, rather than Number 1 being number four, A is number four?
Not shocking to me, love Woodenville, the 100% Rye is Sour Green Apples like a Jolly Rancher for days. Love the Port Finish a ton and the Bourbon is one of the best for the Money. Don't get me started on Picks.... Incredible what they are doing. Shhhhh dont' tell anyone....
I'm surprised Kurt doesn't need a palate cleanser between sips. Both gents are great at identifying some of these distillers. I'm happy Glass #3 tastes like OWA according to Trent. I can actually get that Bourbon at retail. OWA is unobtainium at retail. Glass #1 Is it Batch #1 or Batch #2?
Batch 2 to be exact. Dean, I have tried many ways when blind tasting. Water, no water, other, what works for me mostly is nothing in between sips. I know that may not be best for everyone but it works best for me. Appreciate you!
Which Wilderness Trail was in the test? I have the Small Batch and the Wheated Single Barrell. While I tend to like wheated bourbon this single barrel tastes terrible to me. The Small Batch is fine. Maybe just an off barrel. I also recently got an off barrel from Four Roses. Very disappointed.
I kind of agree with your assessment of the Kentucky Spirit in the blind anyway. I found it to be okay but not great. I realize it's a single barrel, but I definitely wouldn't buy it again.
Probably did not convey my thoughts properly on this one. It’s heavy grainy to me. Sweet up front but not my thing past that. This is def a bourbon some will like and others won’t. Glad you like it!
Woodinville makes a Bourbon finished with Washington apple crate staves that’s amazing! They make it exclusively for a local restaurant, I’ll have to see if I can’t manage to get a sample somehow for ya.
Would really like it if Trent got more comfortable in front of the camera over the next year. With these bottle guesses be good to see you both part of Matt Maddness.
I've seen Woodinville on the shelves for quite some time and even read some good things about it. But I just keep passing it up for some reason and buying something else. It's just one of those brands that doesn't click with me personally. Here is more support that is worth a try.......maybe soon.
Like the video but (I know not intentional or no other motives) "best $50 bourbon" is a bit disingenuous. It was the best $50 for this comparo. I do like Woodinville. Very tasty. I wish the C&K was a little tastier. I have a bottle and I'm very emotionally tied to it since I cycled past the enigmatic C&K (formerly Old Taylor) ruins well before it was brought back to life. That said, I begrudgingly agree with you.
Interesting, but the problem with tastings like these is that NONE of these are available in my area. It's frustrating to see and learn about bourbons that you will probably never be able to taste without a special trip.
No it isn’t. SLB stands for strong like bull which is an ode to my mother. If you have a chance watch the bar tour video where I go into more detail about the name.
I don't understand: So, the Wild Turkey here is a "Spirit", not a Bourbon? Has it not been aged long enough, or why is that? Because in Scotch whisky, anything under the magical "3 years" is called a spirit.
I've watched many of your videos and I have enjoyed them - but this one was odd... Sharing the same "Glens" between 2 people for a tasting was a bit awkward.
I do a double blind whiskey night once a month with 12 bottles and I've found a few patterns like most men are to prestige brand focused, overly emotional, too judgmental, and not opened minded enough.
I love these videos, but I have to say I’d REALLY prefer if Trenton had his own glass to taste from. The passing back and forth kind of grosses me out. Just put half as much in each glass and voila. It’s not like we get to see Trenton anyway, so we’ll believe he’s drinking off camera without seeing the glass get passed. Maybe it’s just me?
@@slbdrinks I didn’t realize he’s your son! The kid’s got a palate, no question. I’d never had the woodinville or wilderness trail. Picked up a bottle of each tonight (although I went with the wheated WT) and enjoyed them both. I will say that, to my palate, the wheated wilderness trail was quite a bit better. Also, at that price point, I’d prefer 1792 small batch (actually much cheaper), Bradshaw IV, Knob Creek 46, Michter’s, Russell’s 10, Wild Turkey Rare Breed, and many more. Nevertheless, I enjoy variety and appreciate you (your wife) pouring some less common whiskey.
@@slbdrinks The Switzerland Inn on Route 54 on the east shore of Keuka, kinda across from the point. A friend had a camp on East Bluff Drive. And we would either take the boat over to the Switz or drive up to Penn Yan.
This is a very clear example of how not one bourbon will ever be the best they are all very similar that just pick one brand and let that be it instead of spending all of hard earned money
