What is LIGHT WHISKEY and why is it embarrassing?

The beginning of LIGHT whiskey was weird and a little embarrassing. Over 50 years later, does it still deserve suspicion? Or has it matured into a whiskey category worth exploring? Thanks Helix for sponsoring! Go to helixsleep.com/whiskey to get up to $200 off your mattress, plus two free pillows.
- - - - - - - - - - -
The Crowded Barrel Whiskey Company is the World's first crowdsourced whiskey distillery - and the Whiskey Tribe is that crowd. Join the world-wide community of Magnificent Bastards here: whiskeytribe.com/pages/join-t...
The Mission And Patreon
/ whiskeytribe
- - - - - - - - - - -
Links to our social groups, merch, and affiliate partners are below:
- - - - - - - - - - -
Glassware we use: whiskeytribe.com/collections/...
Merchy Merch: whiskeytribe.com/collections/...
TikTok: / whiskeytribe
Instagram: / thewhiskeytribe
Facebook: / whiskeytribe
Reddit: / whiskeytribe
Twitter: / thewhiskeytribe
- - - - - - - - - - -
Our Whiskey Review Channel:
/ whiskeyvault

[@WhiskeyTribe]

Thanks Helix for sponsoring! Go to helixsleep.com/whiskey to get up to $200 off your mattress, plus two free pillows.

[@notaworldpeaceafterall6476]

can you do tamarind wine

[@AskAScreenwriter]

My all-time favorite Mythbusters quote: "Remember kids, the only difference between screwing around and science is writing it down!"

[@edwardphillips8460]

Myth busters, wisdom! lol

[@iseedumbppol]

I love how Rex teases Emma for "drinking on the job" and then proceeds... to drink on the job. Cheers!

[@jacobharris6746]

But what if drinking IS your job 🤷‍♂️

[@geoffgreen2105]

It's good to be king.

[@jeffswhiskeylounge509]

I would love to have a job where drinking on the job is part of the job.

[@ronswansonsalterego8533]

@@jeffswhiskeylounge509 We call is "Sales" ;-)

[@fakecubed]

I wonder how her tastings were influenced by overhearing people loudly talk about completely different whiskies across the room.

[@squireson]

"That counts as helping!" Rex, that is going to be my go to line for years to come ... no matter how inane my contributions. Beautiful.

[@Aqvavitae]

The entertainment vs educational element of this video is crafted better than many of the “light” whiskies I’ve tried. Love it.

[@coleboozer4032]

Sleep tight Alex, don't let the Rex bugs bite

[@canadianwhiskysmith6453]

Someone once told me that Grain Scotch takes age really well. You basically have to leave it for at least 2-3 DECADES for the flavours to develop. But, there is less of the tannic, over-oaked flavours. Light Whiskey is in the same vein. If you could get American producers to leave it in the cask for more than the bare minimum, there's a huge opportunity to see what decades old American Whiskey could become. At least, that's one way I look at it.

[@Ottophil]

America cares about profits only. Literally nothing including quality matters at all. As long as the ceo sees more profit this year than last year. They don’t care about customers.

[@radfield6089]

you should checkout the Penelope American Light Whiskey, 13 year mgp. quite good.

[@curtishoffmann6956]

John is a VERY SMART man. Run, John, run!

[@chrismcdaniel6035]

See John. See John run.

[@bonolio]

He moves fast for a big unit

[@georgestweeter]

I'm glad i learned something in this video. That there's an invisible K at the very end of every word that ends in -ing. So intriguing(k).

[@wingracer1614]

Not every word. He usually pronounces doing as doin'.

[@elixwhitetail]

In one Tribe episode with Brianna guesting, Rex and Brianna had a secret drinking game where they'd take a drink every time Daniel finished an -ing word with -ingk. It took him a bit to catch on. It is apparently a quirk from a very specific slice of time in Waco, TX that Daniel happened to fall into.

[@th3liberator719]

That scream during the commercial was fantastic!

[@Da1Prophessor]

John has some speed on him 🤣😂🤣👍🏽🥃👊🏽 reminded me of when I was a kid and running away from working in the yard.👍🏽🇻🇮 Love the episode

[@oggrenaut]

Y’all are awesome! The knowledge, sarcasm, and humor in your videos is great! I am new to Whiskey sipping and you guys got me wanting to buy a bottle of every kind to try.

[@anderson-may5174]

I don’t know why but I’d like to see Rex and Daniel attempt to find the next best thing to whiskey and coke (like big red, Dr Pepper, Mountain Dew etc) or just them trying really weird whiskey combos (like Gatorade, orange juice, lemon juice etc). Just a stupid idea I had

[@ElijsDima]

This must happen.

[@martyneary3501]

A few years ago High West bought some light whiskey from MGP and put it out. I still have one last bottle and I love it.

[@danjennings5068]

"I'll get my hat, measuring tape, and a piece of paper!" heads back in the tasting room to steal Emma's notepad. lol

[@petermorris1871]

You've probably already checked this out but always good to feature Loch Lomond Single Grain when talking about SG scotch as both the peated & unpeated expressions are made with 100% malted barley (& both delicious). Great vid guys!

[@Jonalith]

No no, he's right, it does count as helping. That was clearly a stability test.

[@jessetheunending9357]

I think John helped with the shed/lean to, more than Rex. At least John just stayed out of the way!

[@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies]

I switched to drinking Light Whiskey because my doctor said I should lose some weight.

[@conjoiner83]

I see Rex has moved on from mooching whisky to mooching mattresses now...

[@TEbourbon]

Have both the Obtanium light whiskey 14 yr and a King’s family light whiskey 14 yr. both MGP, but the Kings family has a better taste.

[@hoth2112]

I would love to see "light whiskey" aged in used wine barrels, especially something dark and rich, both as the main aging barrel, but also as a finish. I could see that sort of thing being really interesting

[@benl.ofthegamecatarmy]

"That counts as helping!" Lol, that perfectly describes my two youngest brothers (a certain firewood shed took about 7 months longer to build than it should have)

[@GGRS]

Love the content gang, thank you.

[@Katanadam]

0:44 I had a sudden urge to take a shot

[@matthewsawczyn6592]

The title reads like a Yu-Gi-Oh villain and I am all here for it 😅

[@garyblower1921]

Good day MBs love the content

[@pickleeater3102]

I thought for sure you guys were going to bust out a bottle of High West light whiskey. It was a limited release a few years back and it was excellent.

[@mr.b6330]

I have a bottle of Port Dundas 12 that’s almost empty, cheers you MB’s.

[@SoCalFit_Nutrition]

I had no idea there was such a thing called "Light Whiskey" ! Very informational video.

[@willemkilian9563]

In South Africa, we have whisky made from 100% corn distilled in column stills to over 180 proof and matured in used barrels, and it's delicious.

[@traceswann7054]

It's crazy having seen this episode over two years ago and getting a bottle of McGimmick 15 delivered to my door today.

[@RealRaynedance]

What I'm getting from this is that light whiskey is essentially its own asterisk. It's good for what it is and if you like that sort of thing, but pretty much only in a vacuum and against itself if you already like normal whiskey.

[@kabel9357]

such a nerdy episode. Love it!

[@matthewmorin7016]

I'm sure that covering for the boiler meets all the fire and mechanical codes.

[@person_suit3064]

Thank you for explaining that rex. I've often wondered what grain whiskey is when barley, wheat, and corn, are all considered grains.

[@Jib_Lachance]

Hey that wood shed will not survive all the Texan winter snow weight...

[@RmeOfGuns]

It doesn't snow in Texas that mu.....ohhhh, I see what you did there.

[@DGPHolyHandgrenade]

Rex: If you're stripping out flavor intentionally... Rex, where the hell do you think the American Lager came from?! It's literally devoid of flavor as a feature for mass appeal.

[@seanwhiskey8217]

Canadian (Corn) Whiskey is a little closer to American Light Whiskey than the Irish or Scottish grain whiskys... (Usually) majority corn mash, used cooperage, basically straight corn whiskey distilled to reduce the 'can of dusty corn' flavors. Secret Midnight Whiskey Club has done two special bottlings of that LaCrosse High Rye Light Whiskey - one aged for a year in a fresh dump craft Rye barrel, and the other a blend from barrels they have aging there... I have an all-wheat mashbill Light Whiskey about to bottle for my Hezekiah Crain brand... Interesting whiskey category!!! Cheers!

[@TheStraycat74]

15:40 I live in Wisconsin, but you never said the NAME of that whiskey...

[@matthewjayjack8143]

From La Crosse distilling for anyone wondering

[@matthewjayjack8143]

This was not what I expected based on the title (think Kessler light), but it was a lot more interesting and I learned stuff. Nice.

[@joshuagarner6981]

Lol you got my like during the ad!

[@xander1052]

Would love to see you guys make a take on light whiskey

[@benl.ofthegamecatarmy]

Alex's scream was perfect

[@JPC326]

Really interesting !

[@flannel872]

Anyone else like to know what ABV the random ancient whiskys are at? We need a more genuine scientific revisit, and this time we need to include Canadia into the conversation.

[@BigShannon]

Have y’all ever done a whiskey tasting to see how different genres of music effect the taste/perception of the taste? Try some old Hank Williams, George Jones. Maybe throw some bluegrass in there, maybe some creole 😎

[@davidkloeckener7446]

Emma has a great job..….write “notes” and drink. The 14yo MGP Light Whiskey is kind of interesting but also tasty

[@Keith_KC8TCQ]

Afraid of the light, or Fear Of The Dark (Up the Irons)

[@joshuasasmor6565]

One of my favorite songs!

[@SevenBates]

"Let's go get some air conditioning. Hey you guys keeps the fans on" 🤣🤣🤣

[@jquinlan]

I have Obtainium LW...but haven't opened it yet.

[@I_NeedCoffee]

The guitar music in the background in the first half is great. Where is it from??

[@connornorton2738]

Fun fact, don’t think it was mentioned: Loch Lomond produces a single grain whisky with a 100% malted barley mash but cannot call it single malt whisky because it is distilled on a column still 😁 so it’s still called single grain in scotland

[@chrismcdaniel6035]

hilarious how John turns and runs

[@TimHoekstra]

Interesting take.

[@who2u333]

Although I really enjoy tasting many whiskeys, I don't want to leave my current gig to be able to drink at work (if the tribe were hiring). I also wouldn't handle the pay increase very well. ;)

[@elixwhitetail]

On the point about Scotch using 'malt' as a near synonym for 'barley', Shelter Point has released a 100% malted wheat "single malt" - only they didn't directly call it that, and instead euphemistically named it "The Forbidden" to joke about how Scotland's rules wouldn't allow it.

[@alexk3088]

0:57 "whiskey decided they wanted to chase vodka and gin to popularity". The only way to "chase" vodka and gin is with a briny pickle or an olive ;)

[@lardo666]

That lean-to is going to get hot from the boiler... As shown, there's a gap at the top under the rafters - suggest you need a similar way for air to enter at the bottom, then it'll cool by convection. (Clearly the bottom hole needs screening to keep critters out - maybe also the top?) Probably not trying to create a safe over-wintering spot for bees and hornets :-)

[@Exerius]

You should try carbonating different whiskies to see how they are and what they taste like and see what kind of flavors change in the profile with the tribe's top 10.

[@tomharris5649]

They did.

[@rajkins2k]

How about a review of Nc'nean - would be curious to know if this young whisky holds up to what's advertised

[@brettAnichols]

I never new Odie had a strawberry filling!🐕🍓

[@brettAnichols]

14:58

[@codyminecrack248]

I think distillers should put a spin on the formula. Must be a way to make this good.

[@Evolucion7]

So, would Nikka's Coffey Malt or Coffey Grain whiskies be categorized as Japanese "light whisky"?

[@zapata1924]

do glenallachie batch 5 cask strength plzzzzzzzzzzzz. greetings from greece you are doing amazing things

[@Thatwideram]

The MGP was barreled on my 10th birthday

[@12russellp]

Completely unrelated to the vid, but wanted your expert opinion: I bought this bottle of Johnnie Blue a while ago. I've finished it's original contents but kept the bottle as it's a 'year of the dog' bottle, which is the Chinese zodiac year I was born. Anyway, no matter where I store this bottle, there always seems to be some condensation near the top of the bottle, so any time I want to enjoy a drink from this bottle, I end up watering down the liquid a little. So what I'm wondering is should I irritated as I am about this condensation and if I should be, then how do I reduce this

[@elixwhitetail]

I remember Daniel answering a question about condensation in the neck of the bottle in a Patreon podcast, and if I recall correctly he said that it's normal and it means the cork is good and doing its job. You're not 'watering down' the liquid with anything that didn't evaporate from it inside the bottle. Unless you mean there's condensation on the _outside_ of the bottle and it's dripping into the glass, in which case, I guess wipe it down before pouring and consider a de-humidifier for at least that room. If the cork is loose enough to not give a good enough seal, try a different cork that fits.

[@12russellp]

@@elixwhitetail oh, I see. Thanks bro. Thought I felt like the taste didn't seem muddled at all

[@magemaroon5085]

LOL at john galloping away

[@ikiostar]

Would/have y'all considered doing a video on the different suntory whiskey blends?

[@elixwhitetail]

Pretty sure they've reviewed Hibiki and Toki, and I doubt anyone has donated a bottle of Kakubin or the other domestic brands.

[@marksmith9566]

Buy an awning!

[@asaltycrewman8725]

18:20 “tHaT cOuNtS aS hElPiNg!” 😂😭

[@TheRjmayer]

Tonight I'm drinking Evan Williams Single Barrel Vintage

[@jaybird4834]

Yo. Saturday come on in.

[@Quantumanticz]

Like watching pirates get stranded on land in the middle of Texas. Any minute now they’ll break out singing about eggs.

[@maxbailey3087]

maybe do chalkboard paint? could fun so lots of people can sign it

[@YouTubeAdmin34]

BEST ADVERTISING EVERRR, if they say buy... we say yes Sirs

[@unclemikiesworld]

How about a channel where you archive your adds? Its quality content

[@johnjacob1871]

What's the song in the background?

[@TheSirdraven]

Hahaha 6:10 I swear I almost pissed myself laughing.

[@PhinClio]

So if you distilled spirit to above 180 proof and aged it in new, charred barrels, what category would it fall into?

[@salty_armorer4027]

I think the TTB or whoever would make a new category for it and call it "You Sonofabitch".

[@wingracer1614]

Aged Vodka?

[@GutsBatman]

@@wingracer1614 Couldn't be vodka because it would invariably take on color. Can't legally be whiskey because it's too high a proof legally. I thought perhaps gin, if the barrel could count as botanical, but that's far too high proof for gin. Is there a legal distinction that moonshine needs to be clear? I couldn't quite find that part in the short digging I did. That and Everclear were the only things I could think of.

[@wingracer1614]

Found it, at least if it's made in the US. It would simply classify as American Whiskey.

[@ENDxISxNIGH]

Paint Thinner

[@adamskove]

How much is Penelope LW?

[@jamestaylor9258]

Obtanium. Nuff said.

[@jeremythornton433]

Never heard of light whisky. But I'd like to taste it. Well, let's just be honest here. I'd like to taste every whiskey!

[@johnjamieson6368]

For an awning, Try finding a company that installs trailer awnings

[@johnjamieson6368]

My bad. I wrote before watching the whole vid

[@VinegarAndSaltedFries]

Doesn’t alcohol pick up plastic flavoring? Why store your alcohol in plastic even temporary seems odd to me.

[@timothyjuarez5306]

Poor Frickin Alex!

[@NorthTexasGardening]

Just go to helix and take the quiz. Its like applying for a driver's license

[@codyhackney7313]

I am actually really jealous of there job

[@williamleidy6713]

My palate tops out at about 137 proof. That's when the skin starts to peel off the inside of my mouth.

[@Slo-Mode]

Is Nikka coffee grain a light whiskey then?

[@elixwhitetail]

The Coffey still was the predecessor to the column still, and column stills are very efficient about getting the proof sky high if you want it there. Vodka is almost always going to be made in a column still because in the end you just want as close to pure ethanol as you can get. But making whisky in a column still doesn't automatically mean it's light whisky because the distiller doesn't have to treat it like light whisky. It's been my experience with a bottle of each of the Nikka Coffey whiskies that they have far too much flavour to be light whisky.

[@Slo-Mode]

@@elixwhitetail gotcha, I appreciate the info thank you!!

[@marksmith9566]

The lightest whiskey I have had was Mitchter Revolutionary war style put out as a Bicentennial special. It was like moonshine!

[@seanmcintyre4990]

4x4 posts, 2x6's, and some tin roofing, and you're done.

[@DrDeFord]

Did I miss the video explaining the “most worthless” sash?

[@Robo0595]

Aw man, I wanted to help build the lean-to :/

[@macfizzle83]

Did anyone else get triggered by the sound of the alarm in the helix ad?! ⏰

[@DavidBrown-it9ig]

Light Whisky is the "Man Bun" of spirits

[@LibertyNotLicense]

"Be afraid. Be very afraid! "

[@dakkarocka]

Turns out my shine is light whiskey...sad day.

[@alehhandro1]

Does Austin 101 age their whiskey in plastic? Would be a very disturbing innovation!

[@jkh4q]

I was honestly distracted by the tasting going on behind them about halfway into the video. What was she tasting?

[@leeteague8126]

She's been pulling samples to see how stuff is progressing, if its ready to bottle. She's also been working on some blend options.

[@JonathanRossRogers]

I'd never heard of light whiskey until I watched the documentary "Neat: The Story of Bourbon," a few days ago. I love both whiskey (mainly bourbon and rye) and gin. IMHO, there's no reason for whiskey to become more like the clear spirits and very little reason for vodka to exist at all.