Man, I’m so glad I have a New Riff 8 year in my collection. I’m also shocked it beat out so many other great bourbons from legacy distilleries, but equally as thrilled. It’s official: craft can play with the big boys.
At this point New Riff has probably graduated from Craft to some neutral ground between legacy and craft. Their core releases are solid, and the LE’s are now approaching 10 years of age.
Other than the new riff top 8 most people will never get any of the bottles unless they pay crazy secondary prices! Do you guys have a top list with more attainable whiskies? I would love to see that. Cheers
Try New Riff single barrel barrel proof. Uncut unfiltered. $49 here in PA. Delicious. I agree with Rare Bread. Penelope makes nice barrel proof as well
Great review! Refreshing line up for sure! I’ve enjoyed your channel for years now due to having similar tastes. I initially felt betrayed with your #1 pick but… I grew up with that brand just being one thing and I also had the opportunity to buy that bottle and passed. Awesome to see different bottles punching higher than their weight!
Happy New Year! The AE and NR were definitely a surprise. I quite like the AE for a low-proof pour with personality, but I haven't seen much love for it elsewhere. I've liked NR since the Chad vs Sara SiBs, so I'll put a higher priority on seeking out the 8 and/or others moving forward.
The caveat in the beginning was similar to a commercial for a drug that treats a decease but the list of potential side effects take up the entire commercial. 😂 Love the video, thanks.
Appreciate the thoroughness of your testing. One thing I'm curious about ... Prior to doing your "double check" where you put the top 12 bottles together for a group blind, did you know at that point the identity of the 12 bottles in that blind?
Fascinating! Love JD12 and your inclusion of NR 8 Year. RR and GTS topped the year for me while HH18 was perhaps my biggest disappointment of the year. Cheers! 🥃
I've had samples of the 10 and the 12 year Jack Daniel's, and I thought the 10 was clearly superior. But in my judgment the Single Barrel Barrel Proof is much better than the 10.
Nice to see your opinions. I liked the RR15 better than the Coy Hill and Jack 12 I have tasted or own this year. I thought GTS 23 bottle I got this year was better (didn’t get a chance to try 24) and the Heaven Hill 17 I tasted ( didn’t get a chance at the 18) were my top 2 I had this year. Pappy 15 and King of Kentucky pours I had in October were also in my top 5 flip a coin with these 2 and RR15. Our pallets can be different from day to day and we all have different notes that we pick out and prefer. I also am not as confident when I rank something that I had 1 pour of(HH17, pappy 15, King of Kentucky)vs bottles I have had numerous pours of (GTS23, RR15). Happy new year to everyone and enjoy your favorite flavor profiles.
Great list! Good job of managing the criticism from previous list about everything being impossible to find. Still, the list had plenty of accessible choices. Also, as always, the best chemistry between the two of you of any channel.
2024 was a great year for my bourbon collection. I got a Jack 10, Jack 12, and a Michter's 10 all at retail. I paid over retail, but far under secondary for the Russel's Reserve 15.
@Sara and @Chad, nicely handled as far as the explanation, your criteria, and making it abundantly clear that you’ll be releasing another video that factors in value. In prior years, I know ppl have been cruel w/ their complaints about your EOY lists but you’ve addressed it and adapted to it brilliantly. Haters be gone! Cheers!
Had a pour of GTS (not sure the batch) at a Xmas party. Guy I was with thought I was nuts when I told him id pick rare breed over it. Cant wait to send him this video.
I definitely would not. To each their own. Had a pour of 2024 GTS. Not as good as previous years, but still elite. To me Rare Breed is good, but I have to be in the right mood for it. I’d rather have a Russel’s pick.
The new riff 8 year rye is almost better than the bourbon. New Riff is one of my favorite distilleries so it's awesome to see them getting some recognition finally! Great list guys
Such an interesting video. Probably my favorite year end video by quite a bit. May have to head over to New Riff and see if they have the 8yr... Also, finally managed to buy two of the Flight Boards! :D
Glad you found the ages statement is not everything. I have a single barrel from Nashville Barrel that is only a six year, but tastes much older/mature. I do find there is a minimum amount that helps. For instance, I get a grass taste on under aged wheated bourbons. I also can’t stand under aged notes. I have found this I the Benchmark series as well as the latest WT 101 bottles (hopefully WT will up the age of 101 soon). Anyway, Happy New Years!
New riff single barrels are shockingly good... clearly well over the 4 yr age statement. The 8 yr bottle is probably gonna be where they put their best barrels for the next 4 years (when they maybe add a 12 yr to the line?)
I can get you all the New Riff 8 yr if you like. A store by me has them for $65 which is a few dollars cheaper than at the distillery. If you havent tried their 6 year malted rye Sherry cask finish it's incredible too.
Well are palletes are certainly our own. I just yanked out my bottle of Rare Breed and it finishes 4th compared to the 3 I had earlier today. #1 was Short Barrel the Bee’s Knees store pick , 2 is Sagamore Spirits double oak Rye and 3 was a Blantons gold StorePick.Not that Rare Breed is bad but it is just not one of the best 50 I have tasted this year.
I did not see that Top 3 coming at all. Super interesting! My top 3 this year (by a lot) would be GTS, RR15, and JD Coy Hill. (I was not impressed by Heaven Hill 18)
Wait. Um teacher? Isn't this top 10 Bourbons? What is Jack Daniels doing in there? I do not see the word Bourbon on that Bottle. Maybe I am just missing something....
The Master Distiller at Jack Daniel's is on camera saying that, technically, Jack is a bourbon. But, to differentiate themselves for marketing purposes, Jack chooses to call themselves "Tennessee whiskey." In reality they're both.
Very surprised to see the angels on here. I thought it was straight up bad. Tastes like tv dinner corn, the finishes dont come across at all, no depth and it smells like a whiteboard marker. Id put it pretty firmly in my worst of the year. All that said, everybody has different taste, but im definitely not alone in my opinion. My bourbon of the year is my 2024 coy hill. Cheers!
How blessed you two are to be able to find and drink such highly sought after and difficult to find bottles
My fave show of the year. Not just because the whiskeys were great, but the production quality was perfect!
Yep that New Riff 8 Year is so good and can’t beat the price compared to so many other “hard to find” that most of us never get to find.
Looks like y'all do know Jack!!! Happy New Year!!
Great list this year! I appreciate your list every year. I got the new riff 8 and was amazed by it. Glad to see it represented here.
Man, I’m so glad I have a New Riff 8 year in my collection. I’m also shocked it beat out so many other great bourbons from legacy distilleries, but equally as thrilled. It’s official: craft can play with the big boys.
At this point New Riff has probably graduated from Craft to some neutral ground between legacy and craft. Their core releases are solid, and the LE’s are now approaching 10 years of age.
Love seeing that New Riff 8 up there. 👏🏼 Just finished my bottle last night. Such a well rounded pour!
Great recap of 2024! For me HH18 is near perfect and seemingly overlooked on most EOY best of lists. My number 1 is KoKentucky!
Finally a top 10 that I can agree with although I prefer the HH17 over the 18.
Other than the new riff top 8 most people will never get any of the bottles unless they pay crazy secondary prices! Do you guys have a top list with more attainable whiskies? I would love to see that. Cheers
Like a "Top 10 best 2024 Accesible Whiskies for Non-Whiskeytubers"....
Can’t get my hands on half of these. I’ll stick to Rare Breed and Green River Full Proof! Cheers! Great vid.
Try New Riff single barrel barrel proof. Uncut unfiltered. $49 here in PA. Delicious. I agree with Rare Bread. Penelope makes nice barrel proof as well
@ yeah I love New Riff!
RR15 at 6 is wild to me but to each their own, the blind doesn't lie!
Which fruit specifically do you mean by stone fruit? Peaches, plums, apricots, even olives are stone fruits
Great review! Refreshing line up for sure! I’ve enjoyed your channel for years now due to having similar tastes. I initially felt betrayed with your #1 pick but… I grew up with that brand just being one thing and I also had the opportunity to buy that bottle and passed. Awesome to see different bottles punching higher than their weight!
JD12 B2 is awesome. Glad to see y’all agree!
Hell yeah! Jack 12 yr! Absolutely love it
I’m probably going to New Riff this week if you want me to find a bottle. I’m around an hour from Lexington
Happy New Year! Great list! Thanks for all you do. Much appreciated.
Happy New Year! The AE and NR were definitely a surprise. I quite like the AE for a low-proof pour with personality, but I haven't seen much love for it elsewhere. I've liked NR since the Chad vs Sara SiBs, so I'll put a higher priority on seeking out the 8 and/or others moving forward.
New sub! Love this channel already!
How can you make the statement the best of the year when you do not include staples. That within its self makes your whole list suspect.
The only one on this list that I have tasted is the Russell's 10 year. I have not even seen any of the others.
Look at that little New Riff go!! 😊
I have not found a finished bourbon that I would drink yet.
The caveat in the beginning was similar to a commercial for a drug that treats a decease but the list of potential side effects take up the entire commercial. 😂 Love the video, thanks.
Happy New Year ya’ crazy kids!
My top 3
GTS 2024
Russel’s 15
MM CA 2024
Appreciate the thoroughness of your testing. One thing I'm curious about ...
Prior to doing your "double check" where you put the top 12 bottles together for a group blind, did you know at that point the identity of the 12 bottles in that blind?
Fascinating! Love JD12 and your inclusion of NR 8 Year. RR and GTS topped the year for me while HH18 was perhaps my biggest disappointment of the year.
Cheers! 🥃
Happy New Year! 🎉
Wow what an interesting list. I have a couple new riff bottles including some store picks but not the 8 year.
Happy New Year!!!
Two bourbons got bumped from the bourbon list by Tennessee whiskey lol. Ouch maybe top 10 American whiskeys next time.
Tennessee whiskey is bourbon.
Where's the list of what's included? Michter's 10? 4R LE? Old Fitz VVS/10?
Surprised to not see Cellar Aged 24 in the top ten
I still struggle with some of the descriptions ‘notes’ like leather, oak, tobacco, etc? Nose? Surely not the taste?
I have an extra bottle of New Riff 8 year if you're interested
No Michters 10!?!?!? Oh my!
Yea I liked the Micters ten Rye and the barrel strength rye. They were certainly in my top 20 for year . The 10 bourbon was not on my list.
Hey! Happy New Year!
HAPPY NEW YEAR 🎉
I've had samples of the 10 and the 12 year Jack Daniel's, and I thought the 10 was clearly superior. But in my judgment the Single Barrel Barrel Proof is much better than the 10.
This was a really great episode. Sarah gives awesome notes! Cheers!
Great Best of 2024!! Happy New Year!!
I said I would grab the first one mentioned that I have. I am sober.
Love this 2024 list ❕
Thank
You
Nice to see the affordable New Riff 8 making it. I really loved it. Great list and channel
Awesome video! Happy New Year!
Great yearly wrap up. Happy new year guys. God bless.
HNY 🎉🍾🥂🥳
You should include barrel picks. Otherwise, you are just adding to the bourbon craze and bourbon allocations.
Nice to see your opinions. I liked the RR15 better than the Coy Hill and Jack 12 I have tasted or own this year. I thought GTS 23 bottle I got this year was better (didn’t get a chance to try 24) and the Heaven Hill 17 I tasted ( didn’t get a chance at the 18) were my top 2 I had this year. Pappy 15 and King of Kentucky pours I had in October were also in my top 5 flip a coin with these 2 and RR15. Our pallets can be different from day to day and we all have different notes that we pick out and prefer. I also am not as confident when I rank something that I had 1 pour of(HH17, pappy 15, King of Kentucky)vs bottles I have had numerous pours of (GTS23, RR15). Happy new year to everyone and enjoy your favorite flavor profiles.
Great list! Good job of managing the criticism from previous list about everything being impossible to find. Still, the list had plenty of accessible choices. Also, as always, the best chemistry between the two of you of any channel.
I don’t know about that analogy of Taco Bell bruh
2024 was a great year for my bourbon collection. I got a Jack 10, Jack 12, and a Michter's 10 all at retail. I paid over retail, but far under secondary for the Russel's Reserve 15.
Nice video! Imagine Rare Breed non chilled filtered as a regular shelfer! New Riff is really stepping up their game! Happy New Years! Cheers!
Thank you for the best 2024 breakdown 🥃
Great list guys.
Is there a list of all the bourbons that were in the competition?
Thanks for adding the classics 😮
I like TacoBell!
@Sara and @Chad, nicely handled as far as the explanation, your criteria, and making it abundantly clear that you’ll be releasing another video that factors in value. In prior years, I know ppl have been cruel w/ their complaints about your EOY lists but you’ve addressed it and adapted to it brilliantly. Haters be gone! Cheers!
Great list! Was VVS in contention? I seem to remember your initial tasting singing its praises, but I haven’t seen it in anyone’s top __ list.
Had a pour of GTS (not sure the batch) at a Xmas party. Guy I was with thought I was nuts when I told him id pick rare breed over it. Cant wait to send him this video.
I definitely would not. To each their own. Had a pour of 2024 GTS. Not as good as previous years, but still elite. To me Rare Breed is good, but I have to be in the right mood for it. I’d rather have a Russel’s pick.
So glad I was able to find a JD batch 2. Look forward to trying it now
Michters 10 was everyone’s darling in ‘23…did you guys include ‘24 in your blind? Worth picking up…?
Love the show! Happy new year!
Nice to see someone picking something other than Russell's 15 as the #1. So hard to find and happy that something I have (Rare Breed) was higher.
You guys are my original favorite.And a far cry from some others I just can’t watch.(slb)in particular.
Thanks for that and keep on
SLB 😖🫣👎
Why is SLB bad?
Very much disagree. SLB is great. Super relatable. Like drinking with family.
The new riff 8 year rye is almost better than the bourbon. New Riff is one of my favorite distilleries so it's awesome to see them getting some recognition finally! Great list guys
Such an interesting video. Probably my favorite year end video by quite a bit.
May have to head over to New Riff and see if they have the 8yr...
Also, finally managed to buy two of the Flight Boards! :D
Glad you found the ages statement is not everything. I have a single barrel from Nashville Barrel that is only a six year, but tastes much older/mature. I do find there is a minimum amount that helps. For instance, I get a grass taste on under aged wheated bourbons. I also can’t stand under aged notes. I have found this I the Benchmark series as well as the latest WT 101 bottles (hopefully WT will up the age of 101 soon). Anyway, Happy New Years!
I was at the turkey distillery an overheard mr Russell say that rare breed had 18 yr juice in it
At Sam's Club last month i picked up a handle of eagle rare.
By IBN standards... Jack Daniel's is in fact BOURBON! Cheers & Happy New Year with that bombshell.🎉
New riff single barrels are shockingly good... clearly well over the 4 yr age statement. The 8 yr bottle is probably gonna be where they put their best barrels for the next 4 years (when they maybe add a 12 yr to the line?)
I can get you all the New Riff 8 yr if you like. A store by me has them for $65 which is a few dollars cheaper than at the distillery. If you havent tried their 6 year malted rye Sherry cask finish it's incredible too.
Nice job you two.... Another year gone.... Prayers up everyone ❤️🙏
Well are palletes are certainly our own. I just yanked out my bottle of Rare Breed and it finishes 4th compared to the 3 I had earlier today. #1 was Short Barrel the Bee’s Knees store pick , 2 is Sagamore Spirits double oak Rye and 3 was a Blantons gold StorePick.Not that Rare Breed is bad but it is just not one of the best 50 I have tasted this year.
Man, I don’t know what to say. I have always carried similar palates, I have to go back to JD12, but I typically run full sped from JD anything.
I did not see that Top 3 coming at all. Super interesting!
My top 3 this year (by a lot) would be GTS, RR15, and JD Coy Hill. (I was not impressed by Heaven Hill 18)
All these disclaimers at the beginning really show how fragile the whiskey drinking community is in general lol
And every bottle not worth a penny over msrp. ✌🏼🇺🇸
537👍
You get a pass this year from my criticism.
Wait. Um teacher? Isn't this top 10 Bourbons? What is Jack Daniels doing in there? I do not see the word Bourbon on that Bottle. Maybe I am just missing something....
The Master Distiller at Jack Daniel's is on camera saying that, technically, Jack is a bourbon. But, to differentiate themselves for marketing purposes, Jack chooses to call themselves "Tennessee whiskey." In reality they're both.
Very surprised to see the angels on here. I thought it was straight up bad. Tastes like tv dinner corn, the finishes dont come across at all, no depth and it smells like a whiteboard marker. Id put it pretty firmly in my worst of the year. All that said, everybody has different taste, but im definitely not alone in my opinion. My bourbon of the year is my 2024 coy hill. Cheers!