Wild Turkey’s Latest Bourbon-A Pricey Disappointment?

[@slbdrinks]

Which of these bottles are you most curious about? Have you ever spent good money on a disappointing bottle of bourbon? We'd love to hear from you in the comments below! 👇

[@Hinger100]

I don't think cigar cut whiskeys are intended to taste like a cigar, rather they are supposed to pair well with a cigar.

[@bloodCount8895]

It's just a marketing scam. They overly finish their bourbons. And no one can tell me if they used a ruby port or tawny port. Used a dry sherry or a cream sherry. And no one can tell the difference between an Armagnac and cognac. Copper & Cask and Wheel Horse do a cigar blend using all 4 vino finishes and you literally cannot tell which notes are coming from either 4 vino finishes. And Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend is overly finished and once again you cannot tell the difference between the 3 vino finishes.

[@Nolan0314]

@@bloodCount8895 if it tastes good, who cares?

[@bloodCount8895]

@@Nolan0314 thats the thing. it doesn't. its overly finished 9 out of 10 times. Even the Rio is overly finished.

[@Eric__B]

@@bloodCount8895it’s supposed to be strongly finished so the cigar you’re pairing it with doesn’t drown out the bourbon flavor.

[@bloodCount8895]

@@Eric__B I smoke nothing but cigars and nothing beats a nice tawny port, cream sherry, aged rum, or a nice cognac with your cigar. Not some cigar blend style bourbon that's overly finish and where you cannot tell me, you can taste all the notes of the port, sherry, cognac, and Armagnac on top of the bourbon notes. It gets drowned out. For me, straight bourbons like MM Heart, Blantons Gold, RR15, etc. are best for cigars. I have had Wheel Horse, Old Elk, Copper Cask, Tanger, and JCMB, all terrible with cigars.

[@sirtango1]

With a basement full of spirits you can’t expect them to remain quiet forever!

[@mattschmitt9924]

I see what you did there...

[@colinkulasik1128]

@@sirtango1 well done sir 🤔

[@neilpowell1641]

300-500 a bottle for any whiskey is tough to take. Let alone one that doesn’t blow your doors off. The Still Austin sounds like a very interesting one though. Given its low availability I appreciate the suggestion for alternatives.

[@darkpatches]

With enough disposable income, you can have as many shelves of mediocre whiskey you want regardless of the price or value relative to cost.

[@SmartDave60]

And this kid Trenton said that he bought TWO CASES of $100.00/bottle bourbon. I have hobbies but this is ridiculous. 🙂

[@randyflood8320]

I am retired so I don't have the back to work blues anymore. I was a carpenter, so looking at 2 1/2 months of Michigan winter ahead and hoping to not have much outside work coming was always a thing. Now it is nice when others go back to work and leave me alone so I can do what I want.

[@nickp5511]

Nice review! I’m looking for the Still Austin for sure! I have three Magnus cigar blend 86, 237, and 250 I paid 180.00 out the door for each one. All are great but I bought a backup of 237! Cheers!

[@illby1971]

My phone woke up when you said "seriously"... the same time Trenton freaked out... I almost shit myself, lolol

[@bassiclymike]

soft "g" in "Tanager" on the Still Austin, after the bird. "Tan-a-jer," like "teenager." Scarlet Tanager, Summer Tanager, Western Tanager, all gorgeous brightly colored birds. Hope the whiskey is as brightly flavored. Really liking the Still Austin bottles I've had so far.

[@envyss2572]

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I thought that cigar blends were crafted to bold enough to stand up to a cigar. Most whiskeys get muted heavily when smoking a cigar while enjoying a pour.

[@WilliamRobertson-c3l]

As always love the honest content. Like most I'm out on $300 W.T. releases as much as I love W.T. Can't blame them since stores are gonna sell it for $500 no matter how they price it. However the 70th at $50 a steal. I just picked up a 10 year R.R. CNF store pick at local store for $74. Amazing bottle at a steal. Hear they are coming out with an 8 year 101 this year, hopefuly They will price it around $50. Love the content

[@jeffnuzz]

I snagged a few WT KY Spirit CN-F bottles and it's very good. The WT 70th Anniversary is great IMO ...especially for the price.

[@alexkalish8288]

You gents have the same taste as myself which makes your show very valuable to this whiskey fan. Your recommendation of Redwood empire was more than valuable. I love that stuff.... Still Austin is fantastic, I drive 800 miles to pick it up so it must be good.

[@kngbllr805]

Heard a lot of good things about the Tanager. Hope y'all are staying safe in this little winter storm!

[@danw6530]

The CN-B is a very good pour and I'm glad I have it (price/value aside)

[@RyanHerdt]

This video activated my Siri as will and scared the crap out of me. Great video , enjoy them all and keep the great work

[@reubenco]

That Napoleon Calvados is amazing. I was at Middle West for a barrel pick and that was the best thing I tried there. One of my favorite bottles of the year.

[@ilbcle2343]

16:23 hahahahah Trenton’s face. Nice comment Kurt

[@chasesimmons6451]

MWS Ported Pumpernickel is the best port-finished expression I’ve experienced. Port is very strong and my bottle does have the rye covered up maybe a little too much but still enjoyable and a nice pour. Would buy again

[@briancopple4238]

I really like the middle west spirit, pumpernickel rye, but I bought one of the double cask Sherry finish bourbons and I absolutely love it!

[@Bourberic]

The Wheel Horse Cigar blend is really good. Looking for the Tanager for sure.

[@CPGumby]

MWS Ported Pumpernickel is just **chef's kiss**. So much great flavor! I really have to nurse that bottle since I haven't been able to find another one near me in many months. Tanager is one of the best bourbons I own, and I lucked into TWO bottles at Total Wine! Most Cigar Blends are finished in multiple secondary casks, but Tanager is not, but it doesn't suffer for it in the least. RR Single Rickhouse is only available around me at high secondary costs (500+), and so unless I luck into it, it's out of my range. Doesn't mean I don't want it!

[@stevenwilson6941]

I live in Texas and was fortunate enough to find a bottle of the Still Austin Tanager. Amazing bourbon with a beautiful, ornate box and bottle. Hope to find another one but the secret is out on Still Austin.

[@chrisatolla86]

I'm an occasional cigar smoker, and I've bought my 1st cigar blend whiskey "Carl T Huber's from Starlight Distillery" to be specific, and I definitely enjoy the flavor. I'll have to keep my eye open for this release from Still Austin. Definitely want to add a few to my collection.

[@bmc2567]

Still Austin by far would have my interest in finding. Hopefully next week I’ll be able to check in on a few places I know have the SA.

[@KenCraig-x4h]

LOL, you were talking about triggering Siri and something Kurt said triggered my Alex device and it said “thank you, you too!”

[@battiekoda]

I'm with Trent on the apple skins!! I used to scrape the skin off completely, before eating the rest.

[@nickp5511]

I picked up a couple of CNF’s about eight months ago for 230.00 each. It’s a really nice pour! I also had a Russell’s single barrel pick that was better than the 13yr and equal to the CNF. Cheers!

[@WhiskeyKnows]

Don't understand why the Single Rick has to be priced so high?? Rare Bird 101 when he was on my stream said close to the same thing.

[@scottmattern482]

$325 when I passed on it at the last allocation drop i attended. I went with EH Taylor single barrel for $95 and I grabbed a store pick of JD barrel proof Rye single barrel, both for about half of the Russell's.

[@SmokedTamaleAlan]

Ya it being more expensive than RR15 is wild!

[@noahkahan4364]

These videos are always great. I'm curious if part of the thing with Russell's Single Rickhouse is that it is an experiment to highlight unique qualities from different Rickhouses. If a batch from a rickhouse at a certain time is not as good, then the experiment will be more disappointing. That said, $300 for a bottle that doesn't live up to expectations is a tough pill. My most disappointing purchase so far is probably eagle rare 10 yr. I spent $80 on it and to my palette it is absolutely not an $80 bourbon. If i'd gotten it at MSRP, I'd be fine with it but at the price I found it, it leaves a lot to be desired.

[@kylewipert11]

The Tanager is not a finished product, but still delivers on Nancy’s vision of what a cigar blend is

[@breakinghues2751]

Tanager is fantastic! Red, White, and Blue Corn

[@trapture]

If you guys do the Old Line Distillery Tour i would love to see you guys. I live in the Baltimore area

[@laxman1312]

LOL Trent I was thinking the same thing at the word choice

[@bdatwood76]

Can't move past spooky voices in the basement!!! SLB Haunted Basement Bar!!

[@WhiskyForBeginners]

I'm a country boy. I almost never heard the word "cask" until I started drinking whiskey, and then it seems, except when it appears on whisky labels, to be almost exclusively a European term. Since I'm not from Europe, and since as I said I'm a country boy, I say "barrel" - and I wish everyone else would do likewise. 🙂 17:26 All that "camp" business reminds me of Angola, the infamous prison farm in Louisiana. I don't know hardly anything about Angola, but I know that Camp J has, or at least had, an especially bad reputation. 🙂

[@joenoe10]

You said "Siri-ously" and it heard you

[@austinm697]

Mine went off too

[@jaybird4834]

@@austinm697yes mine went off and said there is no one called Trenton on my call list!

[@colinkulasik1128]

It was actually series

[@o.o-vt1rc]

They weren't talking to it, so of course it responds. When they actually try to get its attention, crickets.

[@jdereknoyes]

Unlike other cigar prosucts, Tanager is not finished at all. 3 types of corn and the slow water reduction process only. I'd buy it at MSRP but would not pay secondary for it.

[@Boo_Yeah]

I wouldn't even buy it at MSRP. Magnus is better IMO

[@jdereknoyes]

@Boo_Yeah Magnus varies batch to batch, some of the early batches were amazing but some of the later not so much. Haven't tried Tanager but it has gotten really good reviews and some whiskey of the year mentions.

[@Boo_Yeah]

@jdereknoyes I really don't think it should win or even be in the category of whiskey of the year. It's a good pour. But this year's monster mash was better and it's certainly not worth $150 when the majority of that cost is packaging.

[@89sooner]

Like has been said a couple of times, no finish at all on the Tanager (and think soft j). I would recommend the maybe 5 minute video on the SA KZbin from a few weeks back on the blending process…and they have one that is twice as long on the box and bottle design. I talked to their main sales guy at the release…200 6 packs went into distro to their main partners. But my main nerd-out moment at the release was talking to the son of the father/son owner team about the ballsy risks involved in laying down the blue and red corn mash bills for the BiB project (in a volume that I hadn’t considered) long before they had a bottle of The Musician ready to sell.

[@JordanG_3031]

SLB Classics 0:14 back to work much sad 😢 0:52 allocation continues! (Indiana is always slow) 1:31 better late than never 1:46 the boys get spagooted by a ghost 2:08 no cuts! 2:37 Kurt struggles with phrases too 2:53 Kyle always comes in clutch 3:35 Trenton wants few things in this world 4:20 better to not know the price anyways 4:38 HUMDINGER! 5:45 Trenton’s weird hot take 6:01 not Trenton is a cow 7:05 pumpernickel is so fun to say 8:03 sprite at McDonald’s 8:24 shout out to Zayins (sorry for spelling) 9:01 Trenton has a thing for fireworks 9:31 no questions asked on Trenton’s fanboy buys 10:03 Kurt wants the zoom and enhance feature like NCIS 11:11 NON-chill filtered! 11:20 cigar barrel 🤮 11:56 Trenton doesn’t know how to read but he isn’t an expert 13:27 Trenton has made mistakes but he is better now 14:28 Trenton does a Kurt face 15:28 steal good friends whiskey, it’s a community thing 16:14 Kurt tries to break the glass 16:30 uh oh, break out the checkbook 17:32 shout out to Eric! 18:04 can Kurt even smell the Turkey stuff though 18:47 Kyle with the links! And a nice article thanks rarebird101 20:00 Trenton just has to tease the Turkey people 20:47 Trenton likes the proof 😮 (just add up the points) 22:25 Trenton needs some cooking lessons 23:13 Trenton still thinks he isn’t buying bookers 23:41 the boys are always honest 24:28 Trenton has some research to do 25:07 nice sign off and nod

[@WilliamRobertson-c3l]

Most curious about the middle west spirits

[@Bourberic]

I have the Magnus batch 304. It’s amazing. Have a few back ups and just killed my first bottle over Christmas.

[@debbybrady1246]

I would love to try the Still Austin. I’ve not had a cigar blend. My dad smoked cigars and I love the smell ❤

[@CharleyCarey]

That Still Austin seems to be universally loved.

[@Boo_Yeah]

Meh. I wouldn't pay $150 for it. The juice is ok. I wish they hadn't gone over the top with packaging. I think the Magnus is better

[@BlankenshiptheDevil]

Tanager = a neotropical migrant bird. There are several species of tanager that come to the U.S. each spring for breeding season: Western tanager, scarlet tanager, summer tanager, etc.

[@rsr3162000]

Copper and Cask i think just released a cigar blend. I am going back to North Dakota again I passed on it a few weeks ago, i hope they still have some. I hear good things about their whiskey.

[@debbybrady1246]

I’m never without a WT 101.

[@jonhohgrefe1437]

Something that might be good to do (not gonna lie, a couple other channels I watch do this), is to rank / rate the whiskey based on the juice and then find the price to see if that changes your rating.

[@mattwilliams3373]

I haven’t found the single rickhouses to be better than a private select Russel’s and they are 230 dollars cheaper usually

[@lakeithjackson]

My opinion is Starlight Cigar Blend is the best on the market! And the bonus is the price...

[@calmodz7157]

The fact that stores can do picks from Camp Nelson of Russell's single barrel and sell sub $80 kinda makes their price on their own picks from CN a bit of a slap in the face.

[@mrfuriouser]

I could not agree more. Saddening, considering Wild Turkey was formerly the "working man's" brand. Now, one needs two jobs, I guess. 😂

[@dmillersmfd]

Please review the Jo. Magnus Special Release Batch 4

[@jondilly1974]

RRSR CNB needs a ton of air

[@josephclites6971]

SA Tanager is not finished like most cigar batches.

[@mpprod6631]

The still Austin is straight bourbon I believe. I don’t believe it’s finished at all. All the interesting flavors come from the different grains and the blending process.

[@AvgOklahoman]

I thought for sure that was mom early on in the video. Agree, that was weird!!

[@chloedog35]

I have all of them and like them all price doesn’t really matter if you like it. Each pallet is different

[@raymondezell7378]

The difference between the Remus and the Single Rickhouse is the Remus doesn’t cost 1/2 a weeks pay for some folks! At that price it shouldn’t be good it should be mind blowing!

[@derekmartin8945]

I gotta think having the 2 cask finished pours beforehand did no favors to the CNB.

[@alandaigle2081]

I'm 18k views! Wow. Cheers to you guys.

[@CSAN]

Is the Still Austin as cherry forward as Calumet 15? Stirring the pot 😂

[@scottmattern482]

I'd much rather spend $300 on a Russell's rickhouse than $150 on a two or three year aged Texas whiskey. I certainly wouldn't spend $300 on Russell's Rickhouse, so it's pretty unlikely I will ever end up with a special release of still Austin.

[@mrfuriouser]

Too bad. The Tanager is amazing. Much more special than most Russell's. Yes, I have (and have had) many.

[@scottmattern482]

@mrfuriouser I know it's probably really good, but the cost/year of their product is just out of whack with industry norms. Not even including the special releases, I'll turn a blind eye to those prices.

[@vintageswiss9096]

I've never understood the fascination with Wild Turkey... way too sweet for my taste... reminds me of SoCo...

[@sirtango1]

I think it’s more of a personal preference. I have tried many bourbons before I tried W.T. for the first time. I fell in love with it instantly and use it as a benchmark for other bourbons. I was searching for something and I found it in a bottle with a bird on the label. I haven’t found anything that I enjoy more than WT, yet. And I may never find something I like better. But when I fond it I knew my search was over. I am not against trying new bourbons but WT has found a home in my heart. Unfortunately as with every bourbon, quality changes from one batch to the next. I have had some that were almost unrecognizable a WT. It seems that somewhere around 2010 things started going downhill. May you always find a suitable batch of whatever you prefer! Cheers!

[@mattschmitt9924]

I haven't had all WT products, but almost every time I sit with a pour of Rare Breed it just checks all the right boxes for me. For the price, it's really hard to beat at my house. Just had a pour last night by the stove after shoveling snow all day and it was perfect.

[@vondez10]

imagine being home alone and the siri on the home pod wakes up and says humm.. Dude freaked me out so bad the first time it happened

[@jimarcuri4501]

The Middle West is 130 MSRP if cask strength

[@ChuckyLarms]

Single ricks make no sense. I love all thinks Turkey but $300+ for a highly allocated bottle that is marginally better than single barrel RR picks. Not happy with their upper tier prices

[@umami0247]

In Ohio these middle west are 109. But very good juice. Wish I could get the Still Austin but doesn’t come around my area. And not sure what is going on with WT.

[@minisuever1]

Still Austin needs to come to Ohio. Tanager is definitely on my list.

[@adamupfold6068]

I would love you to do a lagavulin blind😊

[@robschoenung9543]

The Middle West is $129.99 retail.

[@pepegon-zals7606]

My phone literally started up Siri a couple times cause of that bit at the beginning 😂

[@beaudwayful]

For $300 MSRP it should be spectacular. A shame.

[@Concert-Fan]

Their Rickhouses are too expensive at SRP which drives up secondary along with availability. Heck, their RR15 is too. I prefer their KS CN-F at $65. These prices need to reverse their trajectory and they will gather dust. The times they are a changing....

[@vertigo_one]

Tanager is amazing… beautiful bottle and cork and all but even so it’s not even finished. It’s just red/white/blue corn with the petit eaux or whatever that aged water technique is.

[@jimmoberly308]

When you said the word "series" it thought you said siri. Will never pay over $80 for a bottle. My palate cannot tell the differences between low price and these rare ones. Stay safe up there during this storm. Here in Louisville, pretty rough.

[@clw22580]

Middle West sounds GREAT but not available anywhere to my knowledge here in OK

[@gman5986]

The Middle West website shows the cask strength version of their Pumpernickel Rye sold for $130 and is sold out so I purchased the only available Double Cask Series rye at $100 but only 99.5 proof ands was the biggest disappointment all year for me as their base Dark Pumpernickel cask strength rye is very good at only $70

[@skramzy6628]

There's either a ghost or a captive in that basement. Just what is going on down there?!

[@Watchman999]

Hey Series. Are you Sirious? That's pretty Scirry.

[@DavidMcIntyre-w1r]

ha it set off Siri on my phone :)

[@anandk199]

Palates differ so I don’t hold you responsible for raving on and on about the Balcones Cataleja. It’s the worst whiskey I’ve had so far 😆 and I bought it after your review

[@JonathonHorrell]

A crispy sprite!

[@michaelbarcus]

The Starlight cigar blend is the worst of all of them. If you get a chance the RY3 cigar blend is good, The Buzzard Roost Cigar RYE is good, and the Shortbarrel Cigar blend is good.

[@srhaney]

The Middle West is currently $129.99 in Ohio.

[@Boo_Yeah]

Really disappointed by the Tanager. IMO I find Magnus to be the better whiskey. This years Monster Mash is much tastier and doesn't come in such an ostentatious bottle/box packaging. If SA had foregone the crazy bottle and box packaging and priced the Tanager lower like at $100 or below I think it would be worth it. The taste, to me, just doesn't command the price tag of $150 MSRP and certainly not anything secondary. This one just didn't equal the hype it got that everything Still Austin seems to generate.

[@TTABBQ]

Just watched a documentary about al-Kuhul Spooky stuff...

[@3percentmick705]

I like my Russel’s 10 better than my single rickhouse. My wallet appreciates it lol

[@teslapete4461]

first bottle is 130 bucks

[@tylerwynn6339]

U saved me 500 bucks

[@bryantharrison2479]

Sorry Trent that starlight cigar blend is horrible you're so bad😢 Sorry I spent my money and I regret it every time I look at the bottle.

[@DrDaveB]

if you say anything like seriously, Siri may answer. She goes uh-huh. Drives me crazy because I have 3 Siri devices, and anyone of the three might answer uh huh or I can’t help you with that. This of all in my area and are all being charged double or triple MSRP. So over the California markup market.

[@LoneWolf-qk9pl]

Campari cashing in on all the WT releases. I love WT but 300$ for this ?...GTFO !

[@mikelester816]

Single risk house is just a cash grab. All of your store picks and sib products are so called “single tick house”.

[@debbybrady1246]

😂