THANK YOU!!! We are so happy with it... it's exactly what we wanted in terms of reminding us of the incredible community out there, and where everyone lives. It's really special :)
Thanks for watching Don and glad to hear this one appealed to you! Even the prototype was very high quality so looking forward to seeing the final version! Thank you for watching and your support as always!
Love the postcard wall! And already at 6K. Nice :) As a former home brewer, Distilled really appeals to me. Plus it looks like a solid, thoughtful game instead of the theme just paste on. Thanks for the preview!
I did back this game this week for all the reasons that you gave! The theme is excellent and well-integrated and it includes a solo mode that is not just tacked on as some games do. In fact, the solo mode was not developed by Dave Beck, but by another developer! You can even play it on TTS! You can tell that the developers really care about this game and that it is a labor of love!
So pleased to hear that the mechanics of this supports and validates the theme. That's sometimes my worry when theme comes first, but it seems like they carefully and meticulously planned it out to make it an enjoyable play experience. While I don't imagine my girlfriend jumping at the theme, I know I'll keep my eye on this one. The luck aspect doesn't sound so daunting, but I totally understand how luck can make it a frustrating experience. Thanks for the review/preview!
Thanks for this video! I know next to nothing about what goes into making alcoholic drinks so this seems like a fun way to learn. I think I've hit my kickstarter quota for the year, but hopefully this one will be available in retail sometime down the road.
Great review thanks. I've been in the know of this game for a very long time. I've watched it change and grow into these new mechanics and cannot wait for it to get done and in my hands to play for real.
Another amazing review you guys. When I listen to your review then I have a fairly certain idea as to I should back it or not. Awesome job. Keep up. Love from Seattle always.
Glad to see your preview of this one. I’ve heard great things about it and was going to be blindly backing just for the theme. But that’s to this review it’s no longer a blind back! Thanks ladies!
Thanks for the warning towards the signature drinks. I wish, since it is your signature, there should not be that much luck involved. Yes you can mitigate things but it would be nice that through good planing everyone can achieve it and it does not simply come down to luck, whether the cards appear early enough and/or you don't loose the main ingredient in the washback. However I am super excited for this game, backed it as soon as it was out since the theme will be greatly appreciated by my board game group. That's for the great review and keep them coming.
I've playtested this a bunch of times, if you lose it from your washback during the heads and tails removal it goes back into your pantry so you can try again - as long as you don't wait until the end turns where you can't retry based on aging requirements or something, it's not hard to make the signature recipe (I've never failed making it on any of my plays so far)
I'm really excited for this one! Thanks for the review! Weirdly, this video didn't show up in my subscription feed, only when I came to the channel page.
I'm so glad you did this review! I was on the fence about whether to back or not... I always appreciate both of your opinions and find that I strongly identify with both of your perspectives (I have degrees in both math and music so I'm a thinker AND a themer!) I was so glad to hear Maggie talk about how the game was designed theme first and every action was reverse engineered to serve that theme (removing the head and tail was pure brilliance)! I find that my favorite games of all time are strongly themed in this way (Obsession, Viticulture, Brew Crafters). And if Amy says the mechanics are solid, that seals the deal... I'm off to back this game!
Another great review! Such a hard decision for me. I am trying to slow down on backing Kickstarters but this has really peaked my interest! And your review has made it even more difficult 😅! Love the theme and that it is a thematic Euro. What shall I do! It looks like it takes up a bit of table space. I love your new Postcard backdrop! I spy red chili peppers 🌶! Thanks again for an awesome review!
Another great review, ladies! While not a game for me, it looks tight and challenging and fun. The Dice Tower did a full playthrough last week that showed it off well, too.
I love the theme and it's great that it sticks so well to the alcoholic subject. However, I will wait for the retail version, as I already spent way too much on games lately :-)
I believe the publisher is currently finding ways to reduce the table footprint - some of the methods include cutting the score track in half and removing the board area that holds the recipe cubes!
I'm hearing good things about this. The theme clearly came first and foremost with the game emerging organically from it. Sadly, cost and shipping still make it a high price point for me. Will happily play it, but not sure about backing.
It's such a wonderful integration of theme and mechanics... but yes can completely understand the cost barrier. It's getting more and more difficult to justify kickstarters with the shipping costs :( Thank you for watching and taking the time to comment as always Steve!!
I'm confident I would be done after the second failed recipe in round 3 😅 I was excited about the art and theme, but not excited about that part and I don't see a ton of game to game variety?
Thank you for the excellent review! One thing I wanted to ask about was the comment on the interaction between distillery goals, public awards, and your identity’s region. From my understanding, your identity’s region affects spirits that have the “letter i in a house” region (which means your distiller’s region). However, the public awards and distillery goals that refer to specific regions (eg. Collect 3 European spirit labels or Have or be tied for the most American spirit labels) do not count spirits labels with the “letter i in a house” symbol. That means that Whisky, Moonshine and Vodka do not count towards those goals. Was that something you guys might have missed during your plays, hence the comment?
Great question Neo! We definitely did not miss this rule and that part certainly helps with not giving certain players a public goal advantage. The interactions run deeper than that - you also of course get more VP/SP for bottles that match your alcohol type. Some private goals refer to having the most bottle region types, which could run counter to a public goal about region. Further, you might like to optimise your sugars by focusing on one type that relates to your signature drink (which relates to your character) but if those drink regions do not relate to the region-specific public or private goals (especially when they differ to each other too) you can end up in a real pickle. If those things all align from the beginning of the game, I believe that player has an advantage.
Excellent review! I decided to pass on Distilled. The theme doesn't really do anything for me, although I can appreciate how the theme was incorporated into the design (or vice versa). But I agree that the random removal of two cards from your distillation could be frustrating in a tight euro game. Impressive design overall though! It just doesn't look like a good fit for me :)
I much prefer the less random mechanics of scrumpy cider (another ks that ended not long ago) which also uses multi use cards. Edit: thankfully did not back scrumpy cider ks , but now I regret not getting distilled
Mechanically this is really appealing to me unfortunately the theme is pretty much the only one I wouldn't touch. For the most part it's either non drinkers or recovering alcoholics in my life so we wouldn't want to table this one haha. Put a chemistry theme on it and I'd be all over it.
The postcard wall looks amazing!
THANK YOU!!! We are so happy with it... it's exactly what we wanted in terms of reminding us of the incredible community out there, and where everyone lives. It's really special :)
Nice description and assessment - I'm sold.
I’ve backed this. The theme really appeals to me and the production looks great. Thanks for the very thorough preview!
Thanks for watching Don and glad to hear this one appealed to you! Even the prototype was very high quality so looking forward to seeing the final version! Thank you for watching and your support as always!
Love the postcard wall! And already at 6K. Nice :)
As a former home brewer, Distilled really appeals to me. Plus it looks like a solid, thoughtful game instead of the theme just paste on. Thanks for the preview!
Congrats on 6k! To the moon!
Thank you for this review!! Lisa has let me back it now!!! You 2 are the best!
Really looking forward to this-thanks for the review!
I did back this game this week for all the reasons that you gave! The theme is excellent and well-integrated and it includes a solo mode that is not just tacked on as some games do. In fact, the solo mode was not developed by Dave Beck, but by another developer! You can even play it on TTS! You can tell that the developers really care about this game and that it is a labor of love!
So pleased to hear that the mechanics of this supports and validates the theme. That's sometimes my worry when theme comes first, but it seems like they carefully and meticulously planned it out to make it an enjoyable play experience. While I don't imagine my girlfriend jumping at the theme, I know I'll keep my eye on this one. The luck aspect doesn't sound so daunting, but I totally understand how luck can make it a frustrating experience. Thanks for the review/preview!
Thanks for this video! I know next to nothing about what goes into making alcoholic drinks so this seems like a fun way to learn. I think I've hit my kickstarter quota for the year, but hopefully this one will be available in retail sometime down the road.
Great review thanks. I've been in the know of this game for a very long time. I've watched it change and grow into these new mechanics and cannot wait for it to get done and in my hands to play for real.
Another amazing review you guys. When I listen to your review then I have a fairly certain idea as to I should back it or not. Awesome job. Keep up.
Love from Seattle always.
Glad to see your preview of this one. I’ve heard great things about it and was going to be blindly backing just for the theme. But that’s to this review it’s no longer a blind back! Thanks ladies!
Thanks for the warning towards the signature drinks. I wish, since it is your signature, there should not be that much luck involved. Yes you can mitigate things but it would be nice that through good planing everyone can achieve it and it does not simply come down to luck, whether the cards appear early enough and/or you don't loose the main ingredient in the washback.
However I am super excited for this game, backed it as soon as it was out since the theme will be greatly appreciated by my board game group.
That's for the great review and keep them coming.
I've playtested this a bunch of times, if you lose it from your washback during the heads and tails removal it goes back into your pantry so you can try again - as long as you don't wait until the end turns where you can't retry based on aging requirements or something, it's not hard to make the signature recipe (I've never failed making it on any of my plays so far)
I'm really excited for this one! Thanks for the review!
Weirdly, this video didn't show up in my subscription feed, only when I came to the channel page.
There it is. Did you post it yesterday on accident?
Hahaha sorry Sam we had it unlisted for a day but good to know these can still be found!! You got your own personal preview of the preview 😎😂
I'm so glad you did this review! I was on the fence about whether to back or not... I always appreciate both of your opinions and find that I strongly identify with both of your perspectives (I have degrees in both math and music so I'm a thinker AND a themer!) I was so glad to hear Maggie talk about how the game was designed theme first and every action was reverse engineered to serve that theme (removing the head and tail was pure brilliance)! I find that my favorite games of all time are strongly themed in this way (Obsession, Viticulture, Brew Crafters). And if Amy says the mechanics are solid, that seals the deal... I'm off to back this game!
Another great review! Such a hard decision for me. I am trying to slow down on backing Kickstarters but this has really peaked my interest! And your review has made it even more difficult 😅! Love the theme and that it is a thematic Euro. What shall I do! It looks like it takes up a bit of table space.
I love your new Postcard backdrop! I spy red chili peppers 🌶! Thanks again for an awesome review!
Another great review, ladies! While not a game for me, it looks tight and challenging and fun. The Dice Tower did a full playthrough last week that showed it off well, too.
I love the theme and it's great that it sticks so well to the alcoholic subject. However, I will wait for the retail version, as I already spent way too much on games lately :-)
Wow that footprint is way bigger than I had anticipated for this one!
I believe the publisher is currently finding ways to reduce the table footprint - some of the methods include cutting the score track in half and removing the board area that holds the recipe cubes!
I'm hearing good things about this. The theme clearly came first and foremost with the game emerging organically from it. Sadly, cost and shipping still make it a high price point for me. Will happily play it, but not sure about backing.
It's such a wonderful integration of theme and mechanics... but yes can completely understand the cost barrier. It's getting more and more difficult to justify kickstarters with the shipping costs :( Thank you for watching and taking the time to comment as always Steve!!
I'm confident I would be done after the second failed recipe in round 3 😅
I was excited about the art and theme, but not excited about that part and I don't see a ton of game to game variety?
Thank you for the excellent review! One thing I wanted to ask about was the comment on the interaction between distillery goals, public awards, and your identity’s region.
From my understanding, your identity’s region affects spirits that have the “letter i in a house” region (which means your distiller’s region). However, the public awards and distillery goals that refer to specific regions (eg. Collect 3 European spirit labels or Have or be tied for the most American spirit labels) do not count spirits labels with the “letter i in a house” symbol. That means that Whisky, Moonshine and Vodka do not count towards those goals.
Was that something you guys might have missed during your plays, hence the comment?
Great question Neo! We definitely did not miss this rule and that part certainly helps with not giving certain players a public goal advantage. The interactions run deeper than that - you also of course get more VP/SP for bottles that match your alcohol type. Some private goals refer to having the most bottle region types, which could run counter to a public goal about region. Further, you might like to optimise your sugars by focusing on one type that relates to your signature drink (which relates to your character) but if those drink regions do not relate to the region-specific public or private goals (especially when they differ to each other too) you can end up in a real pickle. If those things all align from the beginning of the game, I believe that player has an advantage.
Excellent review! I decided to pass on Distilled. The theme doesn't really do anything for me, although I can appreciate how the theme was incorporated into the design (or vice versa). But I agree that the random removal of two cards from your distillation could be frustrating in a tight euro game. Impressive design overall though! It just doesn't look like a good fit for me :)
I much prefer the less random mechanics of scrumpy cider (another ks that ended not long ago) which also uses multi use cards. Edit: thankfully did not back scrumpy cider ks , but now I regret not getting distilled
Mechanically this is really appealing to me unfortunately the theme is pretty much the only one I wouldn't touch. For the most part it's either non drinkers or recovering alcoholics in my life so we wouldn't want to table this one haha. Put a chemistry theme on it and I'd be all over it.