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As a finale, I would love to see the winners of each category then go into a blind tasting. It would be great if the lowest cost ones come in top 2 or 3.
The tough part for a low proof whiskey is their flaws and low proof tends to stand out more when compared against higher dollar bottles. They are good value but hard for them to stand up against the best bottles at higher price categories. Comparing Old Barton 100 to Knob Creek 9 year picks or OF 1920 is a pretty up hill battle (proof and complexity)
I've been on this bourbon journey with you all for about 1 1/2 years now. My dad always loved bourbon and about 3 years ago I decided to give it a try with him and it was something we truly bonded over. He passed away a year ago and it was nice having that time sitting with him and trying new bourbons. I appreciate all the videos on new things to try. My dad may not be around to try them with me but it always brings back great memories.
Gents the Very Old Barton 100 has won multiple blinds on my end and thats why it stays in my decanter now. It's everyday for me as well as Evan BiB!!! #Cheers 🥃🥃
VOB100 has been on of my top budget pours since I started the whiskey journey. Over time I acquired the vertical series, 80,86,90 & 100. I use this as a way to explain proof to new drinkers. Tasting from low to high really highlights the differences in proof points. It would be a good episode for SLB!
Great series, guys. Before your recommendations, I had always overlooked Very Old Barton as a cheap "just for getting wasted" bottle, but you've changed my perspective. High points in this video: 1) Kurt's spit take, and 2) the "root beer" discussion, which was giving me Family Guy "Cool Whip" flashbacks. Entertaining as always!
I just love you guys. Doing a "cheap pour" round is great. 1783 is always on my shelf. I haven't seen Very Old Barton here. Well, we are all different, enjoy what you like. Keep up with these videos. They help folks like me with a small budget.
1783 is a go to when I'm stumped on what I want to get. I have noticed there are variants in the bottles. The one they have mentioned "Extra Aged in White Oak". The other ones I have found do not mention that, making me wonder if they are different.
Meanwhile... in Minnesota: - Evan Williams 1783 - $25 - Evan Williams Bib - $24 - Old Forester 86 - $28 - Very Old Barton 100 - $27 - Benchmark - doesn't exist (allocated Buffalo Trace - $22) For the price I prefer Old Grandad ($20) to all the above. Looking forward to the ~$30 video.
Meanwhile - in England: $converted from £ prices Old Forester 86 - $35 Evan Williams BIB - $43-$60 Even Williams 1783 -$68 Very Old Barton 100 - $108 Yes, that last one is not a typo!
@@UncleMike81yep! Mostly we pay more (but sometimes less, for example Buffalo trace and Eagle Rare) but the VOB100 price is insane. It must be that it is not imported in quantity, or even directly. No other justification for that price difference.
One of the many things that is so great about bourbon is that just about anyone should be able to find at least one bourbon they enjoy for around $20 a bottle. From this group, Old Forester 86 is my pick. It’s a fantastic budget bourbon, in my opinion, and I’d be quite satisfied with it as my daily drinker if necessary.
Haven't tried VOB 100 but I definitely appreciate the value of EW BIB. I guess it does have an oaky finish, but I think Kurt is right - I am one of those people that enjoy 'earthy' flavors like that. I like pumpernickel rye, and lapsang souchong tea.
Hope your recovery is going well!! Cellulitis is the worst, wouldn’t wish that on anyone. Great video as always! I would agree that even though EW bonded is a great value the oak note is much too dry. Hope to see OGD bonded in a future list video, very solid stuff.
I can get Benchmark Bonded for $19.99 in my area. Of the five Benchmarks (Top Floor, Small Batch, Bonded, Full Proof, & Single Barrel), Bonded is my favorite. A nose of citrus and honey follows through on the palate, with a touch of light oak, caramel, and vanilla.
what % is the bonded? im thinking of getting Benchmark or Evan Williams as its cheaper than other bourbons where i live. id like to try a bourbon over 45%
Love the show! Keep the series going! Just one suggestion : Showing the bottle currently being blinded on the screen would make more sense from a viewer standpoint.
This is a cool series idea. I find I can't do that many bottles in one blind. My palate just loses the ability to distinguish after two or three. I may try something similar with fewer bottles and then let the winner of each round stay in the mix for the next round until I get to an eventual winner in the category. I've never had Very Old Barton or any of the Benchmarks but it's hard to beat those values.
Excellent blind! I'm looking forward to the next tier. There are a lot of good bourbons in the $20-30 range and a lot of my favorites are in the $30-40 tier.
The only two on your list that are available in PA State Stores are Evan WIlliams BIB and 1783. Both are over $20.00 here. Thanks for another interesting video.
Love these episodes 🤟 As a budget daily sipper, it hits home! Another one I've been finding on the shelves for less than $20 is Rebel 100. Solid bottle. I still can't find the Old Barton 100, and feel like it would be the perfect bottle. The 86 proof is all I have access here, and it's good but more proof would be spot on! Cheers Also, JTS Brown. Because duh. Its like $13 😅
VOB and Benchmark are both Sazerac/BT products. I know some of their stuff is overhyped, and over priced on the secondary market, but they make solid juice.
Here's what I put together in my locale, and the results of my own tasting: #5 - Benchmark Top Floor #3 - Old Granddad BIB #3 - Very Old Barton 100 #2 - Evan Williams BIB #1 - Benchmark Full Proof
If you did not know these were ~$20 bottles would your comments be the same? I don’t think so. I’m not a Patron but love to see a TOTALLY blind with a mix of 5.
Great video as ever from my new favourite channel. The real shocker for me here is that I’ll never get to try the winner - as there is no way I am paying UK prices for the VOB100. You will be amazed to know that it goes for £80, or over $100! The same stores are selling Eagle Rare for £40 and I can buy that elsewhere for as low as £31. And I can but Rare Breed for £55 or around $70, which I thought was expensive! Crazy!
We do not have your top 2 picks in our area. We do have the other 3 and I have had both the OF86 and EWBIB and OF86 blows it away IMO and I will gladly pay the little bit extra for it. OF86 and Four Roses have become my go to for budget bourbons. I picked up a bottle of EW black label but have not opened it so who knows that might change my mind. I was going to pick up the EW1783 but it is only available around here in the 1.75L so not sure if I want that big of a bottle for something that I do not really care for.
Interesting tasting. Had a bottle of VO Barton 80 that was a drain pour. Horrible. The only bourbon that I've had which was worse was Hudson Baby Bourbon. Maybe I had a bad bottle? Now Benchmark on the other hand, I've tried 3 of them (can only find them in Indiana) and loved each one, and think they are super great values for the price. I do like the rest of your selection too, just scratching my head on the Barton win. Fun show!
Love VOB 100 It was a BIB for a short time,I used to drive an hour to buy a number of bottles at a time but here in Illinois it's become easier to find for some reason .🥃
Trenton is growing moss on his steps and mold in his bathroom, and yet he’s perplexed by the repeated respiratory visits to the medical professionals? 🤷♂️ *edit - I had to pause the vid after literally laughing out loud in the middle of the office with earbuds in when Kurt spit the bourbon. Love it!
Just got a 1783 on Wednesday for the first time.. Will see. The EW B&B definitely does that to you at the end, it got me good one time, coughing fit! Some really good mixers there though.
My guesses for the bottles that will appear on the $20-30 video: Wild Turkey 101 Old Forester 100 Buffalo Trace Benchmark full proof Elijah Craig Small Batch
Try adding a dehumidifier to see if it prevents lung problems. I have reverb added for my smartphone to make the sound more like old time radio speakers, and this microphone added a whole lot more reverb, like a giant room echo.
Here in Florida, I finally found a bottle of the "new" Early Times. 100 proof BiB. $15.99. Was shocked at how good it was (in comparison to the "old" Early Times). For $16 bucks...it's hard to beat.
Great show. The odd range is going to be $30-40 range. Nothing in that range blows me away. I usuall end up going cheaper for mixers but higher for good sippers. There are some that are ok. But nothing great.
Should add the top 2 from each group moving forward to the higher priced tier...just to see if you would blindly pick one of the cheaper ones over the higher priced ones in the later flights.... :)
or maybe....after all of them....take the top two from each price point....and do another video at the end....maybe winner's challenge or something all blind....and go with top three you would want to drink straight....which you would want as a mixer/mixed drink....etc...have fun with the winner's challenge
Honestly this audio is better for me because it is louder overall. Sometimes i struggle to hear your normal audio through my Bluetooth speakers. Yeah, not as clear, but the volume is much better :)
I've never seen the VOB100 here in Ohio, but it is usually on the shelf when I visit the Party Source in Newport, KY. I like the Evan Williams bib but now will need to sample it again to see if I get that oakiness in the finish. Next week should be fun!
