The Top 5 Worst Bourbons (as Crowdsourced from viewers)

[@BourbonJunkies]

Sara absolutely killed bad Janet impression. Great show and great character.

[@karma201]

Post-it Malone.... LOL! Good one Chad! Was surprised about Basil Hayden... not one of my favs, but not horrible. Agree completely with your comments on BH.

[@jdmznet]

I would have expected a prominent "3M" tattoo on Post-It Malone, but an excellent costume none the less.

[@andrewschuschu3499]

The last time I had Old Crow I was 19- and it was the only thing I ever drank that made me feel hungover while drinking it. Skipped drunk, went right to hungover.

[@cgwami]

Great choice on the Bad Janet costume.

[@jituji70]

"Have I had worse than this? No..." what were they! I'm dying from the suspense! Maybe that should be your next video: what's worse than the worst... Great episode! Love the screams..

[@dougk3905]

Basil Hayden doesnt belong anywhere on this list. It's not great, not the best of anything, but a perfectly acceptable bourbon. Otherwise, you nailed it, the rest of the list sucks.

[@solaydbak]

Basil Hayden tasted ok to me. I wouldn't buy it again but it's not the worst.

[@ridesar]

I think your description of Basil Haden is spot on. Sara's reaction to Hudson as was priceless!

[@kenny21r]

Love the bad Janet! 😆

[@whalez202]

Great job on Bad Janet I'm impressed not one sticky note fell off!! Lol

[@8chammer2]

Old Tub should definitely be on this list.

[@MrRossman2]

"That's just Dickel juice . . ." Jesus, when you put it that way . . .

[@TexasBourbonKing]

The bad Janet costume and acting was spot on. 😂👌

[@venictos]

Basil Hayden is $27 where I live. I love it!

[@gmscott9319]

I can't believe Kentucky Gentleman isn't on this list! It was the "free" bourbon at an all-inclusive resort I went to years ago. Jim Beam white label was the upgrade. I was waiting in line, 4 people back, and I could smell it as they poured it. It was so bad, I had to buy a bottle when I got home, so I could keep things in perspective.

[@bjharty1983]

Some of y'all have never had Military Special Bourbon and it shows!

[@mikekeller5202]

That’s an interesting bourbon because everyone in the military seems to despise it but a lot civilians who have tried it say it’s not bad.

[@duallydriver2]

@@mikekeller5202 Military Special is about all I drink in the Bourbon family. Not all tastes are the same!!!

[@eporeily232]

You could have easily found a bottle of CLEVELAND whiskey in Cincinnati. They are gathering dust on shelves everywhere here.

[@stevealexander8010]

LOL - my local finally pulled their 2017 & 2018 christmas whiskies (spiced swill). They seem to only keep a half case around for the CLV die-hards.

[@alanbenn9938]

Got to love the Jerk reference, not enough people have seen that film 👍

[@kevinv3082]

Hey Lou, these cans are defective! We don’t have defective cans, we have a defective person!

[@jfeisel]

He's not trying to put holes in the cans, he's trying to put holes in you!!

[@jasono.1629]

Sarah: “...certainly ready to take this wig off, not ready to loose the attitude.” Chad: “Ohh boy.” Lol.

[@allenbt11]

For what its worth, the main failing of most of these seems to be a lack of flavor/distinction or being outright boring (Hudson non-withstanding), along with price/value issues. That says something about how good this category is over all. Believe me a similar tasting of 5 Worst Gins, Rums or Vodkas would probably result in an ER visit.

[@michaelhodgman2794]

That's a great point

[@wolfzr2]

Lol.... as someone who drank Gilbey's gin for a while in my 20's.... This gave me flashbacks.

[@stevealexander8010]

Meh - Hudson Baby is toxic waste, Cleveland is an ash-heap+ new-sawn oak(acidic&tannic). The OTHER may be tasteless, but lets not mix the bath-water with the EPA brownfields. Several of these are as bad as any distilled bev.

[@daltonv5206]

I'm happy to see jack daniels on the list, even if we ignore the bourbon argument. I've never cared for it or understood the popularity.

[@iamalan4221]

Cleveland Bourbon - the pressure treated lumber of American whiskey. The spirit is aged normally for six months in a cask. Then, the spirit and the cut-up cask are moved to a stainless steel vessel, where pressure is applied to squeeze the liquor in and out of the wood to accelerate the maturation

[@rkl32159]

That sounds horrible

[@patricksviola]

It is

[@sn1000k]

Thanks, everybody knows

[@lonewanderer3603]

Where I live Basil Hayden is $40 and it's probably not worth it, but the Dark Rye is definitely worth the money. I think it's really good.

[@devingaumont5048]

I actually like Basil Hayden's. It's not the best, and I prefer Blade and Bow, but this is still good for me.

[@jpsteffan9449]

Cleveland Boubon = Brown colored nail polish remover. Makes Hudson taste like BTAC/Pappy.

[@autodiesel9993]

The only bourbon bottle i have bought and could not finish was Rebel Yell (still in the cupboard somewhere..it's been years!) ....yes BH is weak and $$$, but at least its drinkable.

[@ItsBourbonNight]

You should try it again (not your bottle, a new one), it’s just called Rebel now and is sourced from Heaven Hill. The 100 proof Rebel is really good!

[@jonlouis2582]

Great video! I agree on the Basil, it's like bourbon for people who don't like bourbon.I do wonder about some of this list though, I work in a huge liquor store, and there is far worse than Old Crow, and Benchmark believe me. Not everyone can afford top shelf whiskey.

[@josephdennison4890]

Hudson Baby Bourbon ; it wasn't drinkable but I did manage to hide it in some foods. Little in stews , some in sweet potatoes etc .

[@josephthomas2226]

Post-it Malone! Brilliant! not sure how I missed this episode. I did not like Benchmark 8 (nor the BiB for that matter). Never tried the others. (thankfully!)

[@johnflanigan2568]

Bourbon snobs love to hate on Basil Hayden. It's my litmus test to see if someone is a snob. For me it's only a little over priced, but it's my money and nobody should care how i spend it. I think the assessment in the video is fair...it's a great intro bourbon, snobs need to get over it. It's only $30! (Nowhere near the most overpriced bottle on the market).

[@kevinv3082]

Basil Hayden is the only whiskey I gave away because I was unimpressed. I gave it to the right person because he really liked it

[@technomancermagus8357]

The poll results actually make a bunch of sense to me. Most of the worst tasting ones are not going to have been tried by a bunch of people. So you get a bunch of bland ones winning just because enough people have tried them to vote for them out of the list. Basically if you give 5 options on which thing tastes worst, if I've only tried 2 of them, those are the ones my vote is really limited to.

[@jackthepickledhound]

Hudson is a local craft farm distillery that was bought out by Hendricks gin and the Grant multinational company. The apple gin was really good but you shall not compete with Daddy so it's not available for sale in retail shops. It's really bad, I just tried the sample dram from my visit there, couldn't finish it. The rye was good and the single malt is very malty but the flagship bourbon? Ridiculous.

[@andrewbutler7681]

The real tragedy of Old Crow is that - before the previous trademark owner messed up the setback in the late 1960s - it used to be one of the best bourbons ever (it cost me a lot, but I was lucky enough to be able to try some of "the good stuff" from the old days) and it should have had the same sort of reputation as classic Stitzel-Weller products... Cleveland is just offensive even from 3,736 miles away! (I couldn't even finish a one ounce pour without tipping it down the sink...)

[@polaroidsofpolarbears365]

Right! It was Mark Twain's favorite drink! So I think that says something, it was much better back in the day.

[@danielobrien2478]

How did devils river not make this list!!!! I got a 1.75, on sale, for $9.99 and I felt personally robbed. Literally just through it out

[@clydekimsey7503]

I agree. It almost makes me embarrassed to be a Texan

[@bronstet]

Alas, poor Hudson. What was the company thinking when they decided to make Bourbon in the frigid Northeastern climate of New York where it would have to age for at least 20 years to even have a chance of being remotely good and releasing it after just 3 or 4? And even with 20 years on it I wouldn't expect anything great out of it. There's a darn good reason Tennessee and Kentucky are the acknowledged homes of great American Whisky. Spoiler alert: the climate the whisky ages in.

[@sn1000k]

Climate in New York gets plenty hot in the summer. I think it's more the water.

[@johnhedberg1624]

I agree on Hudson Baby for sure! I'd seen it at my local liquor store for a long time but never tried it. Here in Maine a bottle is $50. Of course eventually I had to try it and was quite dissapointed.

[@TheBourbonWrench]

I wish it was Halloween all year long so we could always dress up like this!

[@CinHotlanta]

A bourbon woman that quotes "The Jerk" on the fly? You're a lucky man :)

[@dannybaseball2444]

Old Crow is a one purpose bourbon. Great in morning coffee. Mixes well, low proof let's you get on with your day. And cheap cheap cheap, so no dent in the wallet.

[@robertstrickland2121]

It makes really good bourbon and cokes, seems to have the right balance to pair with coke, strange

[@MojoUX]

Love this episode so much! I agree with y'all about Basil Hayden, too--it's a fine bourbon that, as Sara said, serves its purpose. It was one of the first "premium" bourbons I got into.It's a go-to at a hotel bar that has Old No. 7, Jim Beam, and Basil Hayden. And I so agree about Hudson Baby Bourbon--it tastes like you're sucking on an oak branch.

[@dmusicmonkey]

You guys are the best and the Halloween episodes are as good as the tree house of horror episode! I love the effort, keep it up y’all!

[@jimloesel2849]

I’m not a fan of anything Dickel. I wasted my money on the 13 year bottled in bond that was supposed to be so good and absolutely hated it. It didn’t even work well as a mixed. I pawned it off on a friend with dubious taste.

[@clintwestwood1895]

Love the costumes and humor! great episode guys : )

[@thomasbuck303]

I've avoided Basil Hayden because it has always seemed like the ultimate bourbon for the "smoooth" lovers, if that makes sense

[@chrismortell]

I like it when I want more than a beer, but don’t want to think too hard.

[@kirbyculp3449]

BH is Old Grand Dad with the flavor aged out of it.

[@HawklordLI]

I'd be wary of drinking anything with the words 'Hudson' and 'New York' on the label knowing the reputation of the Hudson River.😇

[@josephdennison4890]

Old Crow taste like the old Crow took a bath in rubbing alcohol

[@scottconn62]

I’m a little late to the game but I would have voted early and often for Echo Springs. Tried a 1 oz pour at the Century Bar in Dayton Oh. Had to since it was my father’s goto bourbon when I was growing up. I’m glad it was only a 1 oz pour. I thought I was going to go blind with that little and shared it with my brother.

[@gingergeezer3685]

Shout Out for the Century Bar. That is one cool bourbon bar.

[@scottm2958]

At right under $10 in my area, Benchmark is actually pretty good as a mixer. Try it in an old fashion!

[@steelbob3]

When I was about 16 I got drunk for the first time on Old Crow. Puked my guts up! Took years before I could drink any kind of whisky or even smell it. Basil Hayden is good but simple. It just isn't worth the price. Cool bottle though. Dickel Juice!

[@stevealexander8010]

I love the fact that you give such honest reviews. Years ago I tasted Hudson baby and ... loads of new-make congeners - awful, undrinkable. IMO Basil Hayden has a decent aroma and lacks major flaws, but not a winner (bookers 1st, then bakers). PLEASE try Cleveland Whiskey. It's reputedly 6mo old 4-roses (a great rye-side bourbon imo). So ClevelandW has the flaws of a too young bourbon (new-make aromas&flavors) and suffers from way too much fresh&dark char, and also has heavy notes of a very tannic oaky woodshop (the acidic harsh aroma of an oak plank being sawn). Yes - it's as bad as it sounds; only grace is the 100pf to ease the pain.

[@ScotchloverintheStates]

Sara said "it was mean to my tongue" that was an awesome line

[@Cjinglaterra]

Old Crow is what I consider to be the base model. It's definitely bourbon, but you can't expect too much of something you can pick up for $9/liter or less.

[@bigben9321]

Basil Hayden is "Bad" because it's so disappointing in every way and it is certainly better than Jack Daniels. Maybe Basil wins the 'most disappointing' category.

[@andrewingram2108]

Jack is not Bourbon

[@alekseymel7852]

Hate basil Hayden. Opened it, had one glass and gave it to my brother who uses bourbon for mixes . Should be 15$ bottle at best.

[@alekseymel7852]

@Arctic Ruffner I disagree. I got it as a gift also. It has very water down flavor. Almost tasteless to me. I love knob creek 9 year which I believe is the same company. I just think low proof is where it loses me and many other. I do like higher proof bourbon 95+.

[@beech1120]

Could not agree more on the Hudson. Paid $55 for a bottle and consider it the biggest bourbon mistake I've made to date.

[@willfrix1455]

Worst I’ve ever had is Defiant. Was with 5 others in the group and none of us finished the sample.

[@kevinvitale8980]

Love the costumes Great vid... thanks for saving me some money, trial and error

[@markknister6272]

So funny! Your prejudice showed through on Basil Hayden’s!! Wow! Really enjoyed the worst of.

[@robertbrowning3684]

Old Crow is called Dirty Bird and is associated as a ghetto hood Brand- but it's not that bad.

[@bryanorso711]

Post-It Malone....Frickin Great!!!! I might do that tonight.

[@polaroidsofpolarbears365]

The Rebel Yell 80 proof has to the worst bourbon I've had. It tastes like nail polish remover. So bad. Ive heard the small batch is good, but maybe it isn't. I was so turned off by the 80, I probably won't try small batch lol. I definitely agree with the Benchmark 8 too. So bad.

[@TheMarcopix]

Rebel Yell 80 is coke bourbon at best. the RY 100 is pretty good though and not easy to find because people grab them up

[@DeerHunter308]

Good Bourbon is very fine in my opinion, but bad Bourbon...? My nomination for exceptionally bad Bourbon is Sanoma Valley West of Kentucky. They should taste it before they bottle it. That's all I'm gonna say.

[@thomasjoe44]

Old Crow is a Great bourbon it was the bourbon originally issued to union soldiers in the civil war and General Grants favorite I drink it regularly

[@gregmartin1757]

Totally agree with the benchmark. The worst bourbon i have ever tasted ! Never tasted Kirkland or Cleveland And i hope i never have too ! Basil Hayden isn't terrible. Not something i drink or buy but i have had it and it's far from the worst thing out there. Hudson is just plain awful.

[@Jay-ln6wm]

Jesus... This is third video of your channel I have watched... brutual... 40 minutes of my life I will never get back...

[@smart2161]

Bad Janet was great. Awesome video!

[@WitchyCharlie]

Basil Hadens is definitely watered down tasting in my opinion. It was recommended to me when I was first starting out but now that my taste has expended trying new things I never feel like I need to keep it on my shelf.

[@eatonjohnrobert]

Great video. But you lost me right at the end with the Old Scout. I dig it.

[@dannylyne9736]

Cleveland Bourbon is not regional. It’s just so bad, it is probably banned from Kentucky which is why you can not find it.

[@dane5896]

Rocktown bourbon is horrible. Also hated the George Dickel Barrel Select.

[@ancientnpc]

George had been stirring the mash with his Dickel.

[@ScottDreyfus]

You must not like Irish whiskey either. They all have that doughy undercooked yeast roll up front

[@frederickchris7597]

Not sure how i missed this episode. I would have to say Town Branch

[@captaincoyote1792]

Wow. I’m not sure what the hell I’m missing about bourbon.....what’s good. What’s bad. The whole “nutty, roasted apple, toasted cinnamon” thing must be escaping me. I’m 65....retired now.....I just enjoy the sip.....the buzz......and the creative “golden glow” genius that most whiskeys bring on when I am writing. She’s cuter than a bug, you are funny as hell.....and I will buy Evan Williams 1783 more often as not.....unless I can get to a military base package store. Great entertainment. And when she says “...a unique flavor....” with that squeak? Well worth watching, amigos!!

[@302JH]

How did I miss one? Fun episode. Might have Sara in a blond wig fantasy now

[@harmoncollege]

I saw "Dickel BiB" as a comment for the worst bourbon someone had ever tasted. Worst ever? Really? That person must've never had Kentucky Deluxe, Kentucky Gentleman, Old Crow, etc.

[@kirbyculp3449]

KG is not so bad. I was trying a few of the bottom shelf brands and it occurred to me that the bourbon-vodka (neutral grain spirits) blends were 'smoothed' for pennies on the dollar compared to aged scotches. Regarding the Dickel 13 Yr, the first 9/10ths of the bottle tasted like an unsalted broth of asparagus stems, dried shiitake mushroom, and maple bacon stirred with boilt wooden chopsticks. Some marketing genius at De Age Eo was looking hard at the Col EHT BiB sales and practicing severe auto-erotic activity.

[@mdstube1986]

Hudson Baby Bourbon was only aged 3 months, in small barrels, and they attempted "sonic influence" on the aging, playing music in the rickhouse. They were trying to experiment + move to market as quickly as possible. They clearly learned that was a failed experiment in terms of flavor. When I had it it tasted like raw ginger and prickled like it.

[@jackthepickledhound]

I'm local to the distillery and there's a store pick that was ok. Didn't buy it but the sample was nice. 2 months after my covid visit I can't even finish the 1 oz sample, it's just off putting. Now that it's multinational let them change the label and export it all. The gin, rye and single malt, on the other hand are very nice nice products.

[@davidmeier1811]

I break things down into groups starting with awful. But to separate awful from preference you would have to have 90% of people agree that something is awful. You have at least one here. It is a special category that is beyond description, but if dirty socks or wet newspaper or other similar terms are used, they fit that category. Then there is cheap bourbon. Not as bad as awful and some people like them. Crow and Benchmark are examples. Then beyond that, there are preferences. Some people like Basil and some don't, but it is not actually awful (nor cheap).

[@the_jtown1952]

I've got 1 friend who always reaches for Basil Hayden and another friend whose favorite bourbon is Hudson Baby Bourbon. I don't think either are bad, but neither are worth the price. Also, Basil is much more expensive around here than $30. Last I saw it was pushing $50.

[@joeappleton6849]

Jim beam no°1 bourbon. Jonnie walker no°1. Scotch. -Jack Daniels no °1 whiskey. Bestseller 2020

[@jamesnorwood4084]

Made with that good ole Hudson river water, straight & unfiltered from the branch. Plus a generous bonus of beaucoup heavy metals. Happy sippin' y'all. More than a sip? Be sure to make doctors appt. in advance!

[@duffman9908]

I bought a bottle of Winchester because it appeared to be a value purchase. There were signs stating that it had one some kind of an award. I will not be doing that again. There is virtually no complexity to the flavor and it just tastes watered down. But I guess the bottle looks cool.

[@jimidrammer4187]

You guys nailed the alter-ego costumes, very entertaining.

[@Mark-iq6hi]

But Jack Daniel's has everything in it that makes it a bourbon. So technically JD is a bourbon but labeled as a Whiskey before bourbon blew up!

[@Paul_T82]

I know I'm late but the costumes are great!

[@bluejayway6125]

I agree with most of those except Basil Hayden

[@themaven8371]

I live in Northeast Ohio and Cleveland Bourbon is truly nasty. It essentially uses a cold vacuum and pressure cooking process that speeds up the aging of the whisky and can infuse flavors quickly..........................but it does it badly.

[@dmtphone]

Cleveland is by far the worst I've had, especially considering what else can be had in the $30 range. The underlying flavors aren't awful, but at the forefront of the nose, the palate, and finish is hairspray. Truly horrific.

[@aaronjustinger8490]

Bad Janet rocks ! You should block everyone who called Jack Daniels a bad whiskey!! You don’t need that kind of negativity in your life! Happy Halloween from Wisconsin

[@davidmcguire6043]

Jack Daniels is the worst bourbon because it's not even bourbon. It's all right Tennessee whiskey though.

[@trackvol]

@@davidmcguire6043 🙄 Sigh 😕 It's Bourbon. Their Master Distiller even says so.

[@davidmcguire6043]

@@trackvol if you look straight up way way over your head you might just barely see the joke.

[@tomtheplummer7322]

My first puke my guts out fast guzzle drunk was half bottle of Old Crow🤢🤮🥴. I almost gagged seeing the label just now.

[@Stillcell306]

My only problem I've ever had with Basil Hayden's is the price. It's tastes alright, and has a little more to offer that other 40%-ers, but being priced at $35 (I've seen it as high as $43) is almost offensive. There are so many better sub $25 bottles proofed to at least 86 that I'd rather pick up.

[@nahuilegorreta6572]

I've tried three times with Benchmark..never again. It's horrible. But I do prefer Old Crow

[@laprint1644]

Boy, maybe I need to try out Basil Hayden, Cleveland and Hudson Baby. You'll dissed many of my favorites.

[@BlueOzarkDenizen]

I don't know if I just got a good bottle or what, but I enjoyed the Hudson Baby Bourbon that I tried. That said, I've never tried a bourbon that I considered undrinkable. I've had undrinkable Scotch, Irish and Canadian whiskeys though.

[@johnnycampbell3422]

The best whiskey is the whiskey you like to drink the way you like to drink it. (Whiskey tribe)

[@Bobby_Andrews]

I've had all 5 of the bourbons in this video and only the Hudson Baby is actually bad. Cleveland would have got my vote.

[@phtevenmolz5030]

I love you guys. Excellent costumes. 11/10 would watch again.

[@marcleblanc5970]

Kentucky Gentleman has got to be the worst I've ever had! It's half Bourbon, watered down with neutral sprits. Terpintine has a better nose! It was the house Bourbon of a local bar, so that tells you the quality of the bar.

[@smashexentertainment676]

Lucky for me I've never tried any of these. Non of them are available anywhere even close to my country.

[@sealisland1]

BH is a nice sipper when complexity isn't needed. Ancient Age would be in my top 5. Anything below 100 proof isn't usually on my list. Thanks for the warning on the Hudson. Never had it and won't now. At least, not on my dime.

[@JS-gk9et]

For Whiskey, experience IS the value. Lack of it, at any given price, gets the hate.

[@MrMoney331]

Bad Janet costume is amazing!!!!!