The Evan Williams SB is $32 here and for the price one of my favorite bottles of the year. I prefer it over many of the $75+ bottles I’ve bought this year.
Economics 101, supply and demand. Alot of people have stopped opening their wallets and it has made a difference. Boubon is coming back down. Also, affecting this, tequila is riding high with their new types of offerings. They see what has done and they want a piece of the pie. Competition is also great for pricing. Maybe this will continue to help level out bourbon. Thanks for all you do.
I totally agree with the tequila take. I have two Costco's in my city, and both are very heavy in their tequila offerings, but only 4-8'ish offerings of bourbon. It shows me that at least in my city, tequila is the more popular of the two.
as a bourbon drinker, ive had the Clase Azul a few wks ago and it taste like sht.. im sorry if what i said might offend someone but Tequilla and Vodka dont taste the same anymore like how i remembered it during my college years. maybe my tastebuds had been tailored to become more of a whiskey bourbon drinker..lol
Interesting phenomena going on right now in Bourbon and whisk(e)y in general. As prices went up, investment and capital investment expanded, supply at those higher prices has exploded. Also, I think demand is not far from being satiated. How many bottles can you physically have at a point? You also had competing brown whiskeys follow suit trying to coat tail ride the bourbon explosion. So a lot of supply, an aging market (cycle age), and we must near the top and maybe over it. Saw this with cigars in the early 2000s. My kids, all in their 20s.....drink white liquor. Their peers drink white liquor. Also seeing more people drinking bottled beer again. I drink bourbon but have a collection of something else. One last point. Bourbon has a narrow flavor palette. The amount of quality bourbon out there is incredible but the difference in flavors does not vary enough if you get what I'm saying. Finished off a bottle of Still630 Rallypoint Rye last night. Enjoyed it, might replenish it. $46 for a 750ml. But might not. Not because it's not great but I have so much else to tap into. I think that's where the market is.
Anecdotally, a lot of people are over the Bourbon fad. The chase, the allocations, the lotteries, the inflated prices, the annoying and exacerbating youbewb and social media hunters, the trash celebrity offerings, etc.,etc. People are more than content with their 4Roses SB and other readily available well priced options. I see more and more Irish Whiskey and Scotch Whisky available. I see, and seethe, at more people entering into rums, my favorite, where 4square has suffered the Buffalo Trace effect: a run on all of their offerings. After all, forever it was the poor man’s scotch and may need a come back to earth moment. People realizing there are fine tequilas, mezcals, and rums to be sipped without the hassle, hype, and inflated price as bourbon… for the time being
Thanks for mentioning whistlepig. I started my whiskey journey with whistlepig because it was recommended to me. I assumed that expensive meant it was good. Thanks to this channel, I now know that's not true. There are good whistlepig products, but for the most part, I dont think the juice is worth the price.
I have been watching your UA-cam videos now for about a year, and I have found that I trust your judgment, because I have tried bottles that you guys have talked about, both good and not so good . I do believe I generally have the same pallet, so keep up the great work, and just know you are greatly appreciated 😊
Maybe, there are more whiskey enthusiasts who have won the lottery than I was aware of! Now, just as with everything, it's always a matter of who likes a product the most, the buyers or the sellers. Sooner or later, hopefully, these matters will all stabilize and the market will return to some form of normality. This was a great show as always! Cheers!
I think most of the distilleries are trying to capitalize on the last big economic wave before a major correction. I myself just stopped bottle hunting, altogether, six months ago. I'd rather fill my gas tank 2-3x instead of owning some allocated bottle.
My wallet tells me what I can afford. But I still will have that special pour. It is always fun to get an education of what exist out there. Great show. And it's my Grandson's Birthday today...
I totally agree with Four Gate, Willett, and Whistle Pig. However, I find Evan Williams Single Barrels from $35 to $39. Henry McKenna 10 Year is available everywhere around me now and the prices are coming down. The last couple bottles I got were both $49.99, which is an automatic buy for me. As far as the Spots, I did spend a few years just trying to find a Blue Spot in the wild, not even thinking price. However, I have scored two bottles in the last five months. One was $108 and the other was closer to $120. Three weeks ago, I got two Yellow Spots for $107 each, and they are commonly $130+. Keep
Found and was able to try the four gate lineup at a cigar bar a couple of years ago. Fell in love with four gate, but quickly realized that every release is different!!! So, I go to the same bar every year when they receive their new four gate releases and try them. If any blow me away, I go buy them. Will never again buy a four gate that I haven’t been able to try first. Enjoy!
Great video! Having a glass of wild turkey kentucky spirit this evening to relax and unwind while watching you guys! It's not as good as rare breed by far, but in my area the ky spirit is a little harder to find and still a really good pour.
Russell 10 for $39 has been my favorite for a while now, Four Roses Single Barrel for $40, or Benchmark Single Barrel for $20. Cheaper bottles still are going strong for me.
Agree 100% on Henry McKenna. 3 or more years ago,,, one of my favorites. I currently have one on shelf from last year that honestly just doesn't compare to flavor profile of the 1st bottles I purchased.
As far as Whistle Pig goes, the only bottles I buy are the 10yr store picks. At least in my area, those picks tend to be 13-16 years old, cask strength, and still only $90ish. Those are a fantastic value, and I highly recommend them if you find any. One store locally was actually given the opportunity to pick a 19yr finished in PX cask. That was bottled at cask strength in the 18yr decanter bottle. Too rich for my blood, but I did get a sample of that, and it was spectacular. It was basically a single barrel Boss Hog.
Same. I assume they're still putting out the Canadian barrels they bought, but the 10yr is usually quite good. I'm sure the $700 bottles are quite good, though "quite good" and $700 don't necessarily go together.
100% agree. I have 5 WP SiBs now, and all of them are good to great and weren't too expensive. One of my legendary whiskeys ever, now sadly killed, was one of the first ones I found. I'm with SLB that others can be poor values, though I got the 15 year as a gift, and wow, silky and tasty though low proof.
750ml bottle = 12 shots (2oz) 1 liter is 17 shots. $300 bottle /12 shots = $25 per shot. /17 = $18 per shot. Being a long time scotch drinker…we are used to these (stupid) prices. I totally agree with SLB …many many great alternatives out there. Let the JD SBBP Rye flow!!
The vintage purple top Willetts are worlds better than their current distillate. Some of the older Heaven Hill sourced ones are some of the best products to ever come out of Heaven Hill. There are also some that are Buffalo Trace as well as Brown Foreman.
Outstanding as always guys and thank you for confirming how I feel about WhistlePig. I've had a few drams of it but I just have never been impressed enough to pony up the $'s to buy a bottle. Four Gate has always intrigued me, especially the Kelvin Collaborations but at $200+ a bottle I'll pass until I win the lottery. Thank you and keep up the great work. Cheers...
I agree on WhistlePig, my brother in law likes it so always has some on hand and I’m just not impressed. I think they were making rye back before rye took off and so were known back then as one of the better rye producers just because competition was low. But of those I have tried I would certainly never even pay over $60-$70 bucks for one let alone $500+
Excellent video! As of October 2024, Evan William SB is $37.99 here in CA so fortunately for me, still buying and enjoying this particular product. McKenna on the other hand has almost tripled
Appreciate you guys. Started my journey a few years back and by far, you are the best channel out there. Just two real guys, with no fluff. Keep it up. Have a great holiday.
I'm with you on all of these.. except for a couple I don't have experience with. This type of video is super helpful.. it helps confirm what we're all feeling about some of these things.. So, yeah, I'm not crazy .. McKenna is out for good at that price, for example.
WhistlePig is a Vermont thing, so being a Vermonter i see it all over the place and i agree with you guys, i keep a 6yr PiggyBack on the shelf and its a good pour. But i do not hunt it.
This a great video! Love holding the vendors accountable for the pricing/value position. And kudos to ditching Willet; can’t be open and transparent with your clients then they don’t deserve the business!
Love the channel and content.....Really enjoyed this episode especially due to budgeting....Money is really tight for most American's and you nailed....$50 is where most want to be at and what I have found to be the top bourbon for my palate at that price point has been Bardstown Origin Series Straight Bourbon. It carries so many of the characteristics that I find in bottles that are usually around the $100 price point. Again, thank you for this one guys
I have an evan williams single barrel vintage 2013 and it’s absolutely amazing and was $28. It is back out on shelves I’m in Oklahoma and it’s easy to find the 2015 release and it was $32. So it’s still cheap but have not opened it yet.
haha Trenton is a Taco Bell fan!! Great video I love the openness about bottles not worth the money. I think you are one of the few doing these and keep up the great work
Agree regarding all of these, especially the WhislyPiggy. Have tried it, went Meh on a couple of bottles shared before, but… spent $289 on 15 Year recently with small liquor store owner here, well, just because. I didn’t have WP on shelf and thought 15 year, must be really good, right? It’s okay, but good grief! That is it. One time buy. Never again. Business isn’t built or sustained on one time buyers. I just don’t get this product myself. So many great comments in here about $50 bottles. Appreciate this channel and the people who watch it very much 👊
Its the quintessential bourbon to me. I use it to calibrate my palate when I’m tasting at home. $65 at TW here at the moment and it often drops to $60.
I'm so impressed...🙄🙄🙄.. I absolutely agree that Irish whiskey has priced it's self out on some of their allocated items. Whistlepig is way overpriced and I don't like them after trying several of them.
totally agree about the McKenna and I've never been a fan of any of the Whistle Pigs. During the hype, I found a bottle of McKenna and was really disappointed wasn't worth the money. I'm probably in the minority on this but the ECBP are starting to get to the point of not worth the money. That said, with all the prices going up, I've actually only bought 1 bottle this year, I found Eagle Rare for $32 at Costco. I stopped buying Eagle Rares when MSRP went up to $45-50. Great buy at $30-32 not so much at $50.
I am a whistle pig guy. I like the 6 year burbon and rye.I do think it was better and less expensive before it was sold. Raj Bhakta the original owner has now started a new company. I enjoy his new whiskey blend (you have to look it up to see what I mean). Both are $60 here in Massachusetts
I just bought my first Willett 4 year green top and I have to say that the first pour was phenomenal. Definitely worth $60 to be able to explore that bottle. This place by me has a few purple tops for $30 an ounce. And maybe after I finish this I will go and get a couple 1/2 ounces and try the purples. I would not be buying a full bottle of those though because they are so insanely expensive. Maybe if they were $150-200 depending on age I could justify buying one on my birthday or something but not for 300+ because I could get so much more than just that 1 bottle. If I were going to spend that kind of money I would maybe buy a bottle of Redbreast 27 or something.
The first time I ever bought Henry McKenna 10 Year was back in 2011 for $32 (including tax). That bottle left such an impression being so smooth and easy to drink by itself, with heavy notes of butterscotch, nutmeg and oak. It was my favorite near-premium bourbon for a long time and reminded me of a fresh baked butter sugar cookie. But then in 2019 after they won that world spirit award in SF the quality became inconsistent, hard-to-find, and unreasonably expensive, topping out at $89 where I live during COVID. Things are getting back to normal but McKenna 10yo is still overpriced at $55 imho.
I don’t k ow about 3 of them but the McKenna I like, yet hate the price, and the Willet rye is great. That grabbed me from the thumbnail because after reading the description I was like, “Hey, wait a second!” I haven’t had the purple top because I hate price gouging as much as Kurt. I dig this video and would like some more along this line of thinking. “Worth it or not” kind of thing.
That EW single barrel is 32 bucks in NY currently lol,. 9 years old now and still one of my favs. And its not just 1 store, ive seen it in 3 stores for this price.
Totally agree on the whistle pig, I've never bought a bottle. The specs and the price just never made sense to me, and the pours I've had are just ok. Recently my local store did bundles of an 11 year willet purple top pick and another of their picks for a bit over $400. Seemed insane to me. I got to sample it. It was really good. But definitely wasn't burning a $350 hole in my pocket
I have a 21 year old Balvenie Scotch we bought it in Scotland last year 2023. We paid 225 British pounds. I have seen it here in Texas for as right as 500+. Not lower than 400+. Not sure if tariffs is the reason.
I just picked up my first Evan Williams SB for $41 last week - not disappointed at all, in fact I'm very happy with it. It gives me JD SB BS vibes - I get a "sunflower seed with the shell" all throughout and I'm all about it. Added bonus - its, I think(it's not near me rn), like 43%, which means I can enjoy it a lot more before I'm too burnt up to know what's good for me - the JD at 67%-ish kind of burns away my taste buds and my throat a little too quick.
Really enjoy your presentations! Fun and enlightening. None of what you talked about have I tried, and won’t, unless someone offers a sample. There are simple too many other great sipping whiskeys for affordable prices; ie. Larceny.
Loving the McKenna I got last month for $55. Definitely a buy again at that price. Should’ve backed up my bottle but I don’t mind trying a different barrel down the road.
I’ve never had a Whistle Pig that I’ve liked. The McKenna isn’t as good of a value as it used to be, but depending on what is also avail it’s a good pickup esp at ~$50.
Great video, gents. Blue spot is one of my favorites, but I'd never pay more than 180 for it (that includes shipping costs from the UK). I've no idea what's caused the exorbitant price increase in Red and Blue. But I agree neither are worth the money at current prices (299 in Arlington, TX). The Henry Mckenna's a different story for me. I just bought a bottle in WA state and paid 64 bucks....but that includes the ridiculous 20% liquor tax in that state. To me, it's excellent enough that at less than 70 dollars I'll get it. Had I been used to picking it up at 40 bucks a bottle, I may have thought differently. The two most expensive whiskeys I own are a Grey Label Barrel Dovetail and my Jameson Bow St 18 Year Cask strength. Both are close to 250 or so. The Dovetail's wonderful. 50th birthday present..but I wouldn't purchase it again at that price. The Bow St is simply the best Irish Whiskey I've ever had, and I'll happily pay that price again. I love these types of videos! Keep em coming!
I'm not a huge Whistle Pig fan, I do however keep a bottle of the 10yr around. I find that it makes the best Old Fashions. So when I'm really looking for a high end OF, I'll pull it down. When it come to the McKenna, I really enjoy it, 60 is steep for it but for now I'll keep pulling the trigger.
Nooooooo 😂 Love , absolutely love Blue Spot. Glad I bought a back up case when it was $89 a bottle and no tax. Most Midleton higher end bottles got an insane price increase from distillery and distributor but only in North America & Asia. It is silly you can order 2 Blue Spots or Red Spots from Ireland and get them delivered cheaper than buying a single bottle of them in the US. Redbreast 27 went from $450 to 650 to Overpriced Secondary Pricing Total Wine at $1,200. Other stores have RB27 between 650-850. I love all whiskies and have about 150 distinct Irish with dozens more as back ups bought at fair prices. Hell, Yellow Spot is now $134 to $149 by me and was $104 a few months ago and was $70 in Ireland last year. The insane mark up on Midleton stuff is , like Buffalo Trace Distillery, higher demand than product and they are squeezing every dime they can get from the US & China markets. Evan Williams SiB is $60 plus tax in my state (huge pass) but $32 no tax a short drive to a nearby state. I am moving and just bought 3 EW SiB for just under $100. Agree in the McKenna. Down to my last unopened bottle and not being replaced unless a great price. Whistlepig is just stupid pricing. Heard the 18 year is very good but never had it. Only WP I loved was the Boss Hoggs I have had but even that isn’t worth half the price they want for it. Only have had pours of the Boss never forked over the money for the overpriced bottle. $650 buys a lot of Sagamore. Appreciate Trent not scratching his pits this episode 😂
I live in RI and picked up a bottle of Evan Williams single barrel for $34 the other day and they have plenty of them on the shelf. Not sure where this huge pricing uptick you speak of is coming from but it’s not in New England.
Very new to Bourbons and Whiskey and really liking your content, I’m wanting to join either Only Drams app or Patreon and wondering if they are the same as far as tiers or completely separate from each other. Thanks.
I agree on the mckenna. Just picked up my first and theres nothing wrong with it but its just not worth the $60 i spent on it. I can get comparable picks for half the price.
For the cost of those high end products, the distilleries are not being kind to the customers if they are not sharing some information. It is not like someone is going to try to make their own. Sorry that happened to you. Whistlepig 10 Year is a good deal. Tasty stuff. I really like and appreciate this channel. You guys are more than fair in your evaluations, and open to other opinions, which is great. Keep up the good work !
I have a WP10 unopened I’ve had for some time. At prices today it’s likely the only one I’ll own. Your other selections make perfect sense too. Good review! Btw… does Trenton have a license to carry those guns? 🤔🤣
I drank a 10 yr Willet purple top couple weeks ago- might be the best bourbon I’ve had yet in my journey and I’ve had most of all the highly allocated bottles except for the Pappys
Whistle Pig has not blown me away either. I was dabbling in smoked whiskeys and still have a half a bottle of Smokestock sitting around the house and found it overwhelming, but unique. Personally, for a smoked flavor profile I prefer Oak & Eden toasted oak, especially because it is usually found at a much better price point and still readily available on store shelves.
Whistle pig sources their rye from Alberta premium if I'm not mistaken but I think they blend it with American ryes. Also, from what I heard, rye is one of the hardest grains to work with/age. This being said, it doesn't excuse whistle pig for the price gouge.
Willett Purple top MSRPs (as of 3-4 months ago) are $250 for 7-year, $300 for 8-year, $345-350 for 9-year, and $450-500 for 10-year. I haven't seen MSRP on anything higher aged recently.
I just bought an EW Single Barrel for $34 in Chicagoland area. Rumor that they dropped the price and re-introduced it to the market. I think they tried some type of limited distribution / limited release stuff to try to drive the price up. The one I bought was actually 9 years old..........so.....not terribly far away from the vaunted 10 year bourbons. I hope they keep the trend going. CHEERS!
EW SB was $24, now around $40 and HM was $35ish (in Florida), now over $70. Both were great at the old price point but when we can get 1792 FP for around $45. Easy choice
Interesting list, I usually stay away from Ryes period. I've never tried WP and don't intend to. The Four Gate I have is a regular bourbon is good but expensive. I've never tried a Willet Purple top rye. They are super hard to find and really expensive. I don't mind coughing $ for high end bourbon but not the Ryes. McKenna is definitely hit or miss. I've never had EWSB but really want one. I was trying RYEs for a minute but am staying away from those. I haven't really crossed anything else off on my list unless it's low end like regular Four Roses or WT. I only like their higher or high end bottles.
I wanted a Blue Spot for the cask strength, but I won’t pay that. Haven’t spent much time with Evan Williams. Bought my first HM10 last year. One and done for me. The PiggyBack 6 for $50 is decent. And I like the WP10, but at $90, it falls down my list of ryes. Never bought a Four Gate… too pricey. Enjoyed a sample from a friend. Never had a Willett. Glad y’all are calling out some of the silly pricing in the industry. 🥃💰😡
Whistlepig prices are meant to be what they'd be on secondary which means they start out overpriced. For MSRP their stuff ain't worth it, but they're one of the weird whiskeys out there that you can find cheap (I guess in this case normally priced) on the secondary. I've bought a ton of the 10 year store picks on secondary for $30-$45 and a 15 year for $150. The 15 year was still overpriced but those 10 years under $50 are hard to beat.
I was able to get five or so bottles of the Evan Williams SiB in Louisiana for around $25-35 when a new shipment arrived a few months back, so the deals are out there.
100% agree on Mckenna 10, I won't buy it at the new price. Also I'm a huge fan of the 10yr single barrels of Whistlepig, but everything else is either prohibitively expensive or not the same distillate. Worth noting, their source is the same as Alberta Premium.
I used to get Henry Mckenna bib 10 year on sale at the Navy exchange for like 18.99 or 19.99. i have a picture from 2017 of a bottle so this was just 7 years ago
Green Spot is still my "frequent pour" (not every day pour) - I get it at the local Total Wine for $47. Redbreast 15 is a favorite weekend pour, but has risen to $100+, and is hard to reach for as often as a result. Same with Nikka Coffey Grain. I've never tried Red or Blue Spot, so won't know what I'm missing. Yellow Spot is $95 here, but I'm not all that keen on that one. And Redbreast 27 - a dream whiskey - ?? Ludicrously priced. A restrauteur friend (Irish Pub) just blocks from our home keeps a Redbreast 27 in stock. After a good evening on the lawn bowling green, sometimes he'll break it out for a celebratory shot. That's the ONLY way I'll ever experience that (utterly amazing) whiskey until the price is, at least, halved from it's current $790+.
Evan Williams Single Barrel is the only bottle I've ever drain poured. I refuse to play the McKenna roulette, especially because I can't find it at SRP.
Fellas the EW SiBs are $35 all over the place where I live. I’m not on KY. At that price it’s a great value. On the Four Gate topic, it about time people start calling out that overpriced stuff. Classic case of taking advantage of the “boom”
After McKenna 10-year won big in San Francisco 4-5 years ago, it became IMPOSSIBLE to find on shelves anywhere. Once Heaven Hill doubled MSRP, it started sitting around collecting dust. You can find it regularly in liquor stores all over KY now, and the big box chains have been slowly lowering their price over the past year.
Like the other dude said, Whistlepig cask strength barrel picks are very worth it. If you like the flavor profile, you can get a really special bottle and no other distillery has quite the same flavors. But I have no need for the high age statements or Boss Hog. Insane pricing.
I picked up a bottle of the Evan Williams Single Barrel here in Florida for $30 recently. Typically see it for $40 though and I’m still ok with it at that price but not higher than that.
I think the standards like Rare breed, Bardstown, and then green river kind of prove good whiskey doesn’t have to be stupid expensive.
Fortunately, there is still some excellent whiskey hovering around that $50 mark.
I agree completely. Rare Breed and Green River full proof are Origins BIB 3 of my favorites.
None of these can beat Early Times Bottled in Bond for $26......too bad my state doesn't carry it in their ABC Stores.
Highly suggest trying Southern Star Paragon (Wheated)
Agreed. There's too much good bourbon out there at a reasonable price. I've got...maybe 25 bourbons that I really like and nearly all at $60 or less.
Trenton revealed the biker gang he joined was the Schwinn Bicycle gang.
😆 the Big Wheels bike club 👍🏼
Pow pow power wheels!
😂
I’m in that gang 😎
😂😂😂
The Evan Williams SB is $32 here and for the price one of my favorite bottles of the year. I prefer it over many of the $75+ bottles I’ve bought this year.
I agree, but no longer available in Texas
To me... it's ok but would be MUCH better at a higher proof point. The flavors seem watered down to me.
Add anything Kentucky Owl to that list lol
Economics 101, supply and demand. Alot of people have stopped opening their wallets and it has made a difference. Boubon is coming back down. Also, affecting this, tequila is riding high with their new types of offerings. They see what has done and they want a piece of the pie. Competition is also great for pricing. Maybe this will continue to help level out bourbon. Thanks for all you do.
I totally agree with the tequila take. I have two Costco's in my city, and both are very heavy in their tequila offerings, but only 4-8'ish offerings of bourbon. It shows me that at least in my city, tequila is the more popular of the two.
not too mention the growing trend in sipping rum
as a bourbon drinker, ive had the Clase Azul a few wks ago and it taste like sht.. im sorry if what i said might offend someone but Tequilla and Vodka dont taste the same anymore like how i remembered it during my college years. maybe my tastebuds had been tailored to become more of a whiskey bourbon drinker..lol
Interesting phenomena going on right now in Bourbon and whisk(e)y in general. As prices went up, investment and capital investment expanded, supply at those higher prices has exploded. Also, I think demand is not far from being satiated. How many bottles can you physically have at a point? You also had competing brown whiskeys follow suit trying to coat tail ride the bourbon explosion. So a lot of supply, an aging market (cycle age), and we must near the top and maybe over it. Saw this with cigars in the early 2000s. My kids, all in their 20s.....drink white liquor. Their peers drink white liquor. Also seeing more people drinking bottled beer again. I drink bourbon but have a collection of something else. One last point. Bourbon has a narrow flavor palette. The amount of quality bourbon out there is incredible but the difference in flavors does not vary enough if you get what I'm saying.
Finished off a bottle of Still630 Rallypoint Rye last night. Enjoyed it, might replenish it. $46 for a 750ml. But might not. Not because it's not great but I have so much else to tap into. I think that's where the market is.
Anecdotally, a lot of people are over the Bourbon fad. The chase, the allocations, the lotteries, the inflated prices, the annoying and exacerbating youbewb and social media hunters, the trash celebrity offerings, etc.,etc. People are more than content with their 4Roses SB and other readily available well priced options. I see more and more Irish Whiskey and Scotch Whisky available. I see, and seethe, at more people entering into rums, my favorite, where 4square has suffered the Buffalo Trace effect: a run on all of their offerings. After all, forever it was the poor man’s scotch and may need a come back to earth moment. People realizing there are fine tequilas, mezcals, and rums to be sipped without the hassle, hype, and inflated price as bourbon… for the time being
Thanks for mentioning whistlepig. I started my whiskey journey with whistlepig because it was recommended to me. I assumed that expensive meant it was good. Thanks to this channel, I now know that's not true. There are good whistlepig products, but for the most part, I dont think the juice is worth the price.
You’re absolutely correct, there are just too many $40-$50 bottles out there to pay some of these outrageous prices.
I have been watching your UA-cam videos now for about a year, and I have found that I trust your judgment, because I have tried bottles that you guys have talked about, both good and not so good . I do believe I generally have the same pallet, so keep up the great work, and just know you are greatly appreciated 😊
When the Evan Williams SiB started showing up a couple months ago, it was $35 around here. I got one and it was good whiskey at a great price.
Trenton looks like a bookkeeper for a biker gang 😂😂😂
Lol yup, he looks like a programmer the pirates are keeping hostage to work for them.
Maybe, there are more whiskey enthusiasts who have won the lottery than I was aware of! Now, just as with everything, it's always a matter of who likes a product the most, the buyers or the sellers. Sooner or later, hopefully, these matters will all stabilize and the market will return to some form of normality. This was a great show as always! Cheers!
I think most of the distilleries are trying to capitalize on the last big economic wave before a major correction. I myself just stopped bottle hunting, altogether, six months ago. I'd rather fill my gas tank 2-3x instead of owning some allocated bottle.
My wallet tells me what I can afford. But I still will have that special pour. It is always fun to get an education of what exist out there. Great show. And it's my Grandson's Birthday today...
I totally agree with Four Gate, Willett, and Whistle Pig. However, I find Evan Williams Single Barrels from $35 to $39. Henry McKenna 10 Year is available everywhere around me now and the prices are coming down. The last couple bottles I got were both $49.99, which is an automatic buy for me. As far as the Spots, I did spend a few years just trying to find a Blue Spot in the wild, not even thinking price. However, I have scored two bottles in the last five months. One was $108 and the other was closer to $120. Three weeks ago, I got two Yellow Spots for $107 each, and they are commonly $130+. Keep
Same hear on the Evan’s William. I got mine around 35. I have only seen it expensive in Kentucky.
I get EWSB for $37 in South Dakota 🤷
Evan williams Single Barrel 33 in FL. And better than ever
@@Tom-in8jz Awesome! 😊
I bought a Green Spot and it is bland like water. One and done.
Great Video! Good or bad we gotta have discussion that are real about the whiskeys we love! Price is a huge problem! Great line up as well!
Found and was able to try the four gate lineup at a cigar bar a couple of years ago. Fell in love with four gate, but quickly realized that every release is different!!! So, I go to the same bar every year when they receive their new four gate releases and try them. If any blow me away, I go buy them. Will never again buy a four gate that I haven’t been able to try first. Enjoy!
Happy and safe Labor Day, everyone!! 🥃
Thanks for helping me avoid a costly mistake.
This is a great topic/show fellas. A topic not discussed enough!! And the gun show!! 😂
Great video! Having a glass of wild turkey kentucky spirit this evening to relax and unwind while watching you guys! It's not as good as rare breed by far, but in my area the ky spirit is a little harder to find and still a really good pour.
Russell 10 for $39 has been my favorite for a while now, Four Roses Single Barrel for $40, or Benchmark Single Barrel for $20.
Cheaper bottles still are going strong for me.
Wish I could get Russell 10 in my area for that price. Easily one of my favorite bottles that just delivers, every single time!
The Benchmark is good, also the Full Proof!
@@chrishauser5505 I think the benchmark is over looked since it’s a bottom shelter honestly.
@@blakeparthenay3049 very lucky going through AAFES to get it at that price.
@@Josh_P_1992 yep. I'm definitely a bang-for-the-buck type of guy.
Agree 100% on Henry McKenna. 3 or more years ago,,, one of my favorites. I currently have one on shelf from last year that honestly just doesn't compare to flavor profile of the 1st bottles I purchased.
I agree with this video 90%. I have a willett 10yr purple top and mine is absolutely amazing. My favorite bottle in my collection
As far as Whistle Pig goes, the only bottles I buy are the 10yr store picks. At least in my area, those picks tend to be 13-16 years old, cask strength, and still only $90ish. Those are a fantastic value, and I highly recommend them if you find any. One store locally was actually given the opportunity to pick a 19yr finished in PX cask. That was bottled at cask strength in the 18yr decanter bottle. Too rich for my blood, but I did get a sample of that, and it was spectacular. It was basically a single barrel Boss Hog.
Same. I assume they're still putting out the Canadian barrels they bought, but the 10yr is usually quite good. I'm sure the $700 bottles are quite good, though "quite good" and $700 don't necessarily go together.
Whistle Pig doesn't taste good enough for the price. It's off pudding for me....$35 worth at best.
I generally stay away from off-pudding. That sounds disgusting!
100% agree. I have 5 WP SiBs now, and all of them are good to great and weren't too expensive. One of my legendary whiskeys ever, now sadly killed, was one of the first ones I found. I'm with SLB that others can be poor values, though I got the 15 year as a gift, and wow, silky and tasty though low proof.
@@bobbyjones7756😂pudding
750ml bottle = 12 shots (2oz) 1 liter is 17 shots. $300 bottle /12 shots = $25 per shot. /17 = $18 per shot. Being a long time scotch drinker…we are used to these (stupid) prices.
I totally agree with SLB …many many great alternatives out there.
Let the JD SBBP Rye flow!!
JD sbbp rye might be my favorite pour!
The vintage purple top Willetts are worlds better than their current distillate. Some of the older Heaven Hill sourced ones are some of the best products to ever come out of Heaven Hill. There are also some that are Buffalo Trace as well as Brown Foreman.
Just stopping my local Total Wine and they had a Wild Turkey master keep Triumph and MSRP was $449.99 absolutely NOT worth the money. Total rip off!!
Oh and by the way that was before all of out states taxes!!!
@@markloewen5768 Bourbon in Total Wine is a joke, especially their bottom barrel store brand picks.
Outstanding as always guys and thank you for confirming how I feel about WhistlePig. I've had a few drams of it but I just have never been impressed enough to pony up the $'s to buy a bottle. Four Gate has always intrigued me, especially the Kelvin Collaborations but at $200+ a bottle I'll pass until I win the lottery. Thank you and keep up the great work. Cheers...
I agree on WhistlePig, my brother in law likes it so always has some on hand and I’m just not impressed. I think they were making rye back before rye took off and so were known back then as one of the better rye producers just because competition was low. But of those I have tried I would certainly never even pay over $60-$70 bucks for one let alone $500+
I adore EWSB, but today, it’s ~$35 in Nashville TN
Great show, cheers fellas
Suns out, guns out!
Suns out, buns out! 😂
Excellent video! As of October 2024, Evan William SB is $37.99 here in CA so fortunately for me, still buying and enjoying this particular product. McKenna on the other hand has almost tripled
Appreciate you guys. Started my journey a few years back and by far, you are the best channel out there. Just two real guys, with no fluff. Keep it up. Have a great holiday.
I'm with you on all of these.. except for a couple I don't have experience with. This type of video is super helpful.. it helps confirm what we're all feeling about some of these things.. So, yeah, I'm not crazy .. McKenna is out for good at that price, for example.
I really like this... please, PLEASE make this a series! One bottle I'm surprised wasn't on here was Heaven Hill BiB.
I just get wild turkey 101 and no complaints
I really enjoy the rare character single barrel series. Along with the exceptional series.
Y’all nailed it on this one!
WhistlePig is a Vermont thing, so being a Vermonter i see it all over the place and i agree with you guys, i keep a 6yr PiggyBack on the shelf and its a good pour. But i do not hunt it.
This a great video! Love holding the vendors accountable for the pricing/value position. And kudos to ditching Willet; can’t be open and transparent with your clients then they don’t deserve the business!
Love the channel and content.....Really enjoyed this episode especially due to budgeting....Money is really tight for most American's and you nailed....$50 is where most want to be at and what I have found to be the top bourbon for my palate at that price point has been Bardstown Origin Series Straight Bourbon. It carries so many of the characteristics that I find in bottles that are usually around the $100 price point. Again, thank you for this one guys
Gosh, I remember when the list of patrons was maybe six names. So cool to see the long list!
I have an evan williams single barrel vintage 2013 and it’s absolutely amazing and was $28. It is back out on shelves I’m in Oklahoma and it’s easy to find the 2015 release and it was $32. So it’s still cheap but have not opened it yet.
haha Trenton is a Taco Bell fan!!
Great video I love the openness about bottles not worth the money. I think you are one of the few doing these and keep up the great work
Agree regarding all of these, especially the WhislyPiggy. Have tried it, went Meh on a couple of bottles shared before, but… spent $289 on 15 Year recently with small liquor store owner here, well, just because. I didn’t have WP on shelf and thought 15 year, must be really good, right? It’s okay, but good grief! That is it. One time buy. Never again. Business isn’t built or sustained on one time buyers. I just don’t get this product myself. So many great comments in here about $50 bottles. Appreciate this channel and the people who watch it very much 👊
Paid 28$ for a double of HMK10 at a bar having never had it (in Ohio). Loved it. Got my bottle at Party Source for 65$. Love it.
McKenna came back down from like $70 to $50 in Kentucky thankfully. Outside of that, I 100% agree with this list
yeah this year it's been popping up all over for $50 or so and at that I'll probably replace my bottle when it goes.
I picked up my latest McKenna about a month ago for $55. For me that seems like a fair value. When it was $85 that is a no go.
$50 seems like a perfect price for it, and I’d rather it be a tad bit pricier than what it used to be than not be able to find it at all.
@@xxjongjongxx 100%. It’s a 10 year single barrel bottled in bond product. There aren’t many bourbons on the market with stats as good as that.
Its the quintessential bourbon to me. I use it to calibrate my palate when I’m tasting at home. $65 at TW here at the moment and it often drops to $60.
My forty years experience with whiskey is that the "better" it is, the worse it tastes and the worse the hangover.
Evan Williams 😉
I'm so impressed...🙄🙄🙄.. I absolutely agree that Irish whiskey has priced it's self out on some of their allocated items. Whistlepig is way overpriced and I don't like them after trying several of them.
Green Spot is bland and $$. Bushmills Peaky Blinders is more enjoyable, IMO.
totally agree about the McKenna and I've never been a fan of any of the Whistle Pigs. During the hype, I found a bottle of McKenna and was really disappointed wasn't worth the money. I'm probably in the minority on this but the ECBP are starting to get to the point of not worth the money. That said, with all the prices going up, I've actually only bought 1 bottle this year, I found Eagle Rare for $32 at Costco. I stopped buying Eagle Rares when MSRP went up to $45-50. Great buy at $30-32 not so much at $50.
I believe that Whistle Pig sources from Alberta Premium.
I am a whistle pig guy. I like the 6 year burbon and rye.I do think it was better and less expensive before it was sold. Raj Bhakta the original owner has now started a new company. I enjoy his new whiskey blend (you have to look it up to see what I mean). Both are $60 here in Massachusetts
I just bought my first Willett 4 year green top and I have to say that the first pour was phenomenal.
Definitely worth $60 to be able to explore that bottle.
This place by me has a few purple tops for $30 an ounce. And maybe after I finish this I will go and get a couple 1/2 ounces and try the purples.
I would not be buying a full bottle of those though because they are so insanely expensive. Maybe if they were $150-200 depending on age I could justify buying one on my birthday or something but not for 300+ because I could get so much more than just that 1 bottle.
If I were going to spend that kind of money I would maybe buy a bottle of Redbreast 27 or something.
I have a WP 15 from years ago but it was a pick and barrel proof that was phenomenal the regular isn’t even close though.
EWSB out here in Vegas is $33. I like it. Henry Mc is $50. Keep up the good work fellas.
The first time I ever bought Henry McKenna 10 Year was back in 2011 for $32 (including tax). That bottle left such an impression being so smooth and easy to drink by itself, with heavy notes of butterscotch, nutmeg and oak. It was my favorite near-premium bourbon for a long time and reminded me of a fresh baked butter sugar cookie.
But then in 2019 after they won that world spirit award in SF the quality became inconsistent, hard-to-find, and unreasonably expensive, topping out at $89 where I live during COVID.
Things are getting back to normal but McKenna 10yo is still overpriced at $55 imho.
I don’t k ow about 3 of them but the McKenna I like, yet hate the price, and the Willet rye is great. That grabbed me from the thumbnail because after reading the description I was like, “Hey, wait a second!” I haven’t had the purple top because I hate price gouging as much as Kurt. I dig this video and would like some more along this line of thinking. “Worth it or not” kind of thing.
That EW single barrel is 32 bucks in NY currently lol,. 9 years old now and still one of my favs. And its not just 1 store, ive seen it in 3 stores for this price.
Totally agree on the whistle pig, I've never bought a bottle. The specs and the price just never made sense to me, and the pours I've had are just ok. Recently my local store did bundles of an 11 year willet purple top pick and another of their picks for a bit over $400. Seemed insane to me. I got to sample it. It was really good. But definitely wasn't burning a $350 hole in my pocket
I have a 21 year old Balvenie Scotch we bought it in Scotland last year 2023. We paid 225 British pounds. I have seen it here in Texas for as right as 500+. Not lower than 400+. Not sure if tariffs is the reason.
I just picked up my first Evan Williams SB for $41 last week - not disappointed at all, in fact I'm very happy with it. It gives me JD SB BS vibes - I get a "sunflower seed with the shell" all throughout and I'm all about it. Added bonus - its, I think(it's not near me rn), like 43%, which means I can enjoy it a lot more before I'm too burnt up to know what's good for me - the JD at 67%-ish kind of burns away my taste buds and my throat a little too quick.
Really enjoy your presentations! Fun and enlightening. None of what you talked about have I tried, and won’t, unless someone offers a sample. There are simple too many other great sipping whiskeys for affordable prices; ie. Larceny.
Old Overholt 114 is under $20 here in Ohio.
Loving the McKenna I got last month for $55. Definitely a buy again at that price. Should’ve backed up my bottle but I don’t mind trying a different barrel down the road.
Great episode! I’m sure you’ve done it before but what about the best value bottles?
I’ve never had a Whistle Pig that I’ve liked. The McKenna isn’t as good of a value as it used to be, but depending on what is also avail it’s a good pickup esp at ~$50.
Great video, gents. Blue spot is one of my favorites, but I'd never pay more than 180 for it (that includes shipping costs from the UK). I've no idea what's caused the exorbitant price increase in Red and Blue. But I agree neither are worth the money at current prices (299 in Arlington, TX). The Henry Mckenna's a different story for me. I just bought a bottle in WA state and paid 64 bucks....but that includes the ridiculous 20% liquor tax in that state. To me, it's excellent enough that at less than 70 dollars I'll get it. Had I been used to picking it up at 40 bucks a bottle, I may have thought differently. The two most expensive whiskeys I own are a Grey Label Barrel Dovetail and my Jameson Bow St 18 Year Cask strength. Both are close to 250 or so. The Dovetail's wonderful. 50th birthday present..but I wouldn't purchase it again at that price. The Bow St is simply the best Irish Whiskey I've ever had, and I'll happily pay that price again. I love these types of videos! Keep em coming!
I'm not a huge Whistle Pig fan, I do however keep a bottle of the 10yr around. I find that it makes the best Old Fashions. So when I'm really looking for a high end OF, I'll pull it down. When it come to the McKenna, I really enjoy it, 60 is steep for it but for now I'll keep pulling the trigger.
Nooooooo 😂
Love , absolutely love Blue Spot. Glad I bought a back up case when it was $89 a bottle and no tax.
Most Midleton higher end bottles got an insane price increase from distillery and distributor but only in North America & Asia. It is silly you can order 2 Blue Spots or Red Spots from Ireland and get them delivered cheaper than buying a single bottle of them in the US. Redbreast 27 went from $450 to 650 to Overpriced Secondary Pricing Total Wine at $1,200. Other stores have RB27 between 650-850.
I love all whiskies and have about 150 distinct Irish with dozens more as back ups bought at fair prices. Hell, Yellow Spot is now $134 to $149 by me and was $104 a few months ago and was $70 in Ireland last year.
The insane mark up on Midleton stuff is , like Buffalo Trace Distillery, higher demand than product and they are squeezing every dime they can get from the US & China markets.
Evan Williams SiB is $60 plus tax in my state (huge pass) but $32 no tax a short drive to a nearby state. I am moving and just bought 3 EW SiB for just under $100.
Agree in the McKenna. Down to my last unopened bottle and not being replaced unless a great price.
Whistlepig is just stupid pricing. Heard the 18 year is very good but never had it. Only WP I loved was the Boss Hoggs I have had but even that isn’t worth half the price they want for it. Only have had pours of the Boss never forked over the money for the overpriced bottle. $650 buys a lot of Sagamore.
Appreciate Trent not scratching his pits this episode 😂
I live in RI and picked up a bottle of Evan Williams single barrel for $34 the other day and they have plenty of them on the shelf. Not sure where this huge pricing uptick you speak of is coming from but it’s not in New England.
Very new to Bourbons and Whiskey and really liking your content, I’m wanting to join either Only Drams app or Patreon and wondering if they are the same as far as tiers or completely separate from each other. Thanks.
I agree on the mckenna. Just picked up my first and theres nothing wrong with it but its just not worth the $60 i spent on it. I can get comparable picks for half the price.
other than the "farmstock" whistlepigs which are distilled in vt, the rest are sourced juice. mostly alberta premium i've heard.
For the cost of those high end products, the distilleries are not being kind to the customers if they are not sharing some information. It is not like someone is going to try to make their own. Sorry that happened to you.
Whistlepig 10 Year is a good deal. Tasty stuff.
I really like and appreciate this channel. You guys are more than fair in your evaluations, and open to other opinions, which is great. Keep up the good work !
I have a WP10 unopened I’ve had for some time. At prices today it’s likely the only one I’ll own. Your other selections make perfect sense too. Good review!
Btw… does Trenton have a license to carry those guns? 🤔🤣
I drank a 10 yr Willet purple top couple weeks ago- might be the best bourbon I’ve had yet in my journey and I’ve had most of all the highly allocated bottles except for the Pappys
Whistle Pig has not blown me away either. I was dabbling in smoked whiskeys and still have a half a bottle of Smokestock sitting around the house and found it overwhelming, but unique. Personally, for a smoked flavor profile I prefer Oak & Eden toasted oak, especially because it is usually found at a much better price point and still readily available on store shelves.
You're timing is perfect. I walked into a random store yesterday and managed to pick up 2 bottles of Blue Spot at retail. Felt nice !
Cheers 🥃 Have a great Labor Day 🇺🇲
Whistle pig sources their rye from Alberta premium if I'm not mistaken but I think they blend it with American ryes. Also, from what I heard, rye is one of the hardest grains to work with/age. This being said, it doesn't excuse whistle pig for the price gouge.
I love WP 12yr old world rye. But I don't know if I can justify the ~$400 18yr rye.
Willett Purple top MSRPs (as of 3-4 months ago) are $250 for 7-year, $300 for 8-year, $345-350 for 9-year, and $450-500 for 10-year. I haven't seen MSRP on anything higher aged recently.
I just bought an EW Single Barrel for $34 in Chicagoland area. Rumor that they dropped the price and re-introduced it to the market. I think they tried some type of limited distribution / limited release stuff to try to drive the price up. The one I bought was actually 9 years old..........so.....not terribly far away from the vaunted 10 year bourbons. I hope they keep the trend going. CHEERS!
EW SB was $24, now around $40 and HM was $35ish (in Florida), now over $70. Both were great at the old price point but when we can get 1792 FP for around $45. Easy choice
A store near me always has willet purple tops for either 500 or 600 bucks. That’s a lot of money and I think that’s why they just sit on the shelf
Interesting list, I usually stay away from Ryes period. I've never tried WP and don't intend to. The Four Gate I have is a regular bourbon is good but expensive. I've never tried a Willet Purple top rye. They are super hard to find and really expensive. I don't mind coughing $ for high end bourbon but not the Ryes. McKenna is definitely hit or miss. I've never had EWSB but really want one. I was trying RYEs for a minute but am staying away from those. I haven't really crossed anything else off on my list unless it's low end like regular Four Roses or WT. I only like their higher or high end bottles.
I wanted a Blue Spot for the cask strength, but I won’t pay that.
Haven’t spent much time with Evan Williams.
Bought my first HM10 last year. One and done for me.
The PiggyBack 6 for $50 is decent. And I like the WP10, but at $90, it falls down my list of ryes.
Never bought a Four Gate… too pricey. Enjoyed a sample from a friend.
Never had a Willett.
Glad y’all are calling out some of the silly pricing in the industry. 🥃💰😡
Four Gate Kelvin Sixty is double barreled Four Roses distillate. Freaking fantastic.
Willett 4 year rye is an absolute steal, a grocery store near me has them for $55, however the 8-9year ryes are $300 at the local wine traders
Whistlepig prices are meant to be what they'd be on secondary which means they start out overpriced. For MSRP their stuff ain't worth it, but they're one of the weird whiskeys out there that you can find cheap (I guess in this case normally priced) on the secondary. I've bought a ton of the 10 year store picks on secondary for $30-$45 and a 15 year for $150. The 15 year was still overpriced but those 10 years under $50 are hard to beat.
I was able to get five or so bottles of the Evan Williams SiB in Louisiana for around $25-35 when a new shipment arrived a few months back, so the deals are out there.
100% agree on Mckenna 10, I won't buy it at the new price. Also I'm a huge fan of the 10yr single barrels of Whistlepig, but everything else is either prohibitively expensive or not the same distillate. Worth noting, their source is the same as Alberta Premium.
On the four gate the kelvin collection is the go to bottles.
I used to get Henry Mckenna bib 10 year on sale at the Navy exchange for like 18.99 or 19.99. i have a picture from 2017 of a bottle so this was just 7 years ago
Redbreast cask is now $105. I used to pick it up for $55! Still my favorite Irish whiskey on the market though
Green Spot is still my "frequent pour" (not every day pour) - I get it at the local Total Wine for $47. Redbreast 15 is a favorite weekend pour, but has risen to $100+, and is hard to reach for as often as a result. Same with Nikka Coffey Grain. I've never tried Red or Blue Spot, so won't know what I'm missing. Yellow Spot is $95 here, but I'm not all that keen on that one.
And Redbreast 27 - a dream whiskey - ?? Ludicrously priced. A restrauteur friend (Irish Pub) just blocks from our home keeps a Redbreast 27 in stock. After a good evening on the lawn bowling green, sometimes he'll break it out for a celebratory shot. That's the ONLY way I'll ever experience that (utterly amazing) whiskey until the price is, at least, halved from it's current $790+.
Evan Williams Single Barrel is the only bottle I've ever drain poured.
I refuse to play the McKenna roulette, especially because I can't find it at SRP.
Gave away a bottle of EC toasted after one swig . Some jugs are just like that for different palates. It was so thin and whispy I was disappointed.
Fellas the EW SiBs are $35 all over the place where I live. I’m not on KY. At that price it’s a great value.
On the Four Gate topic, it about time people start calling out that overpriced stuff. Classic case of taking advantage of the “boom”
After McKenna 10-year won big in San Francisco 4-5 years ago, it became IMPOSSIBLE to find on shelves anywhere. Once Heaven Hill doubled MSRP, it started sitting around collecting dust. You can find it regularly in liquor stores all over KY now, and the big box chains have been slowly lowering their price over the past year.
Like the other dude said, Whistlepig cask strength barrel picks are very worth it. If you like the flavor profile, you can get a really special bottle and no other distillery has quite the same flavors. But I have no need for the high age statements or Boss Hog. Insane pricing.
I picked up a bottle of the Evan Williams Single Barrel here in Florida for $30 recently. Typically see it for $40 though and I’m still ok with it at that price but not higher than that.
Blue Spot in Ireland is €100 which i purchased recently straight from Midleton distillery. Redbreast 12 cask strength is around €110