Top 5 Overpriced Whiskeys: Are They Worth It?

Alex: 00:00:00

Welcome back to Whiskey & Wisdom, the show where we talk about great pours,

2

: 00:00:04

honest reviews, and sometimes a little

tough love for the whiskey industry.

3

: 00:00:09

I’m your host, Whiskey Dan — and today,

we’re going to ruffle a few feathers.

4

: 00:00:14

We’re talking about the Top 5 Overpriced

Whiskeys on the market right now.

5

: 00:00:19

These are bottles everyone wants,

bottles you’ve seen plastered all over

6

: 00:00:23

Instagram, bottles that people line up

outside liquor stores to get… but when

7

: 00:00:28

you taste them, you realize: you’re paying

way more for the name than the whiskey.

8

: 00:00:34

Don’t get me wrong — these

aren’t bad whiskeys.

9

: 00:00:37

Most of them are actually quite good.

10

: 00:00:39

But are they worth two, three,

or even ten times retail price?

11

: 00:00:43

That’s the real question.

12

: 00:00:45

And I want to hear from you: What’s

the most you’ve ever spent on a bottle,

13

: 00:00:49

and did you think it was worth it?

14

: 00:00:51

Shoot me a DM on Instagram

@Whiskey.and.Wisdom

15

: 00:00:55

or leave it in your review — I’ll share

some of your stories on a future episode.”

16

: 00:01:00

“Before we start the

countdown, let’s set the stage.

17

: 00:01:03

Whiskey wasn’t always like this.

18

: 00:01:06

Not too long ago, bourbon

was considered old-fashioned.

19

: 00:01:09

Bottles like Weller and even

Pappy Van Winkle used to sit

20

: 00:01:13

on shelves collecting dust.

21

: 00:01:15

Then came the whiskey boom.

22

: 00:01:17

Social media, YouTube reviews, and

scarcity all played their part.

23

: 00:01:20

Suddenly, whiskey wasn’t just a

drink — it was a status symbol.

24

: 00:01:24

A collectible.

25

: 00:01:25

A trophy.

26

: 00:01:26

Here’s the thing though — scarcity

doesn’t always mean quality.

27

: 00:01:31

Just because a bottle is hard to find

doesn’t mean it’s automatically worth

28

: 00:01:35

double or triple the retail price.

29

: 00:01:38

Would you ever pay secondary

market prices for a bottle, or

30

: 00:01:42

do you stick to retail only?

31

: 00:01:44

Think about it while we

go through this list.”

32

: 00:01:47

“Alright, let’s kick it off with

number five: Blanton’s Single Barrel.

33

: 00:01:52

Retail price?

34

: 00:01:52

Around $65.

35

: 00:01:54

What most people are paying?

36

: 00:01:55

$150 to $250.

37

: 00:01:58

Now, Blanton’s has history.

38

: 00:02:00

It was the first widely

marketed single-barrel bourbon.

39

: 00:02:03

The bottle looks cool, the

horse stoppers are collectible,

40

: 00:02:06

and the hype is everywhere.

41

: 00:02:08

But here’s the truth: it’s a good

bourbon, not a great bourbon.

42

: 00:02:12

And it’s definitely not

worth four times retail.

43

: 00:02:16

Blind taste tests often show

people prefer Buffalo Trace

44

: 00:02:19

or Eagle Rare over Blanton’s.

45

: 00:02:22

You’re paying for the bottle

and the hype, not the whiskey.

46

: 00:02:26

‘Blanton’s isn’t bourbon

anymore — it’s an Instagram prop.’

47

: 00:02:30

If you want something better for

your wallet and just as good in the

48

: 00:02:32

glass, grab Eagle Rare, Michter’s

, or even: 1792

49

: 00:02:39

If you could only pick one

Buffalo Trace product for your

50

: 00:02:42

bar — Blanton’s, Eagle Rare, or plain

Buffalo Trace — which would it be?”

51

: 00:02:48

“Let’s pause before number four and talk

about why bottles like Blanton’s blow up.

52

: 00:02:52

It’s simple: packaging,

scarcity, and status.

53

: 00:02:56

People want what they can’t have.

54

: 00:02:58

Add a horse topper, put it in a

nice box, limit the supply, and

55

: 00:03:02

boom — you’ve created demand.

56

: 00:03:04

It’s the same as sneaker

drops, luxury watches, or those

57

: 00:03:07

limited-edition Supreme items.

58

: 00:03:10

‘Some of you aren’t chasing

whiskey — you’re chasing clout.

59

: 00:03:13

That horse stopper?

60

: 00:03:14

That’s a $200 toy.’”

61

: 00:03:17

“Coming in at number four

is Macallan 12 Sherry Oak.

62

: 00:03:21

Retail is about $90, but I’ve seen

it selling for $130, even $150.

63

: 00:03:25

And here’s the thing — it’s a good

single malt, smooth, classic, and iconic.

64

: 00:03:30

But the price is inflated by the name.

65

: 00:03:34

Macallan has built itself

into the luxury Scotch brand.

66

: 00:03:37

It’s on billboards, in

movies, and it has prestige.

67

: 00:03:41

But there are other sherry-aged

Scotches like GlenDronach 12,

68

: 00:03:44

Aberlour A’bunadh, or Tamdhu 12 that

bring more punch for less money.

69

: 00:03:50

‘Macallan 12 is the Gucci flip-flop

of whiskey — all brand, little value.’

70

: 00:03:55

Scotch drinkers — is Macallan worth

the extra $40 to you, or do you

71

: 00:04:00

think it’s just name recognition?”

72

: 00:04:02

“Now, let’s shine a light

on the opposite end.

73

: 00:04:06

The bottles that give you

incredible value for the money.

74

: 00:04:09

For bourbon: Wild Turkey Rare

Breed and Four Roses Single

75

: 00:04:12

Barrel are amazing under $70.

76

: 00:04:15

For Scotch: Deanston 12 or GlenAllachie

12 punch above their price point.

77

: 00:04:21

For rye: Old Forester Rye 100 and

Pikesville Rye are outstanding.

78

: 00:04:26

‘For the price of one Johnnie Walker Blue,

you could build a starter whiskey shelf

79

: 00:04:30

that will taste better and impress more.’”

80

: 00:04:35

“Number three is WhistlePig 10-Year Rye.

81

: 00:04:38

Retail: $90–$100, but often

sells for $120 or more.

82

: 00:04:43

Here’s the truth — a lot of

their early whiskey wasn’t

83

: 00:04:46

even distilled by WhistlePig.

84

: 00:04:48

It was sourced.

85

: 00:04:49

What you’re really paying for

is branding, not the juice.

86

: 00:04:53

Don’t get me wrong, it’s solid rye.

87

: 00:04:55

But it’s not a $120 rye.

88

: 00:04:57

Alternatives like Wild Turkey Rare Breed

Rye, High West Double Rye, or Pikesville

89

: 00:05:03

blow it out of the water for much less.

90

: 00:05:06

‘WhistlePig 10 is branding in a bottle

— $120 for a story, not the whiskey.’

91

: 00:05:12

Do you care about distillery

stories, or is it all about

92

: 00:05:15

what’s in the glass for you?”

93

: 00:05:17

“Number two is the legend:

Pappy Van Winkle 15.

94

: 00:05:21

Retail price: $120.

95

: 00:05:23

Secondary price: $1,500 to $2,000.

96

: 00:05:27

Yes, you heard me right.

97

: 00:05:28

Here’s the truth — it’s excellent bourbon.

98

: 00:05:31

But is it worth fifteen times retail?

99

: 00:05:34

Absolutely not.

100

: 00:05:35

At that point, you’re paying for

bragging rights, not whiskey.

101

: 00:05:39

Pappy has become a cultural symbol.

102

: 00:05:41

People camp outside stores, enter

lotteries, and chase bottles for years.

103

: 00:05:45

But for $2,000?

104

: 00:05:47

You could buy a dozen bourbons that

would give you just as much joy.

105

: 00:05:52

Alternatives: Weller 107, Elijah

Craig Barrel Proof, Stagg Jr.

106

: 00:05:57

‘Pappy isn’t whiskey

anymore — it’s Wall Street.

107

: 00:05:59

You’re drinking hype, not bourbon.’

108

: 00:06:02

If someone handed you a bottle

of Pappy 15, would you drink

109

: 00:06:05

it… or flip it for $2,000?”

110

: 00:06:09

“And finally, number one:

Johnnie Walker Blue Label.

111

: 00:06:13

Retail: $250 to $300.

112

: 00:06:16

It’s the whiskey CEOs pull

out at business dinners.

113

: 00:06:19

It’s smooth, it’s elegant,

it looks amazing in the box.

114

: 00:06:22

But here’s the problem: it’s forgettable.

115

: 00:06:26

You’re paying for prestige, not flavor.

116

: 00:06:28

For $300, you can buy Scotch

that will knock your socks off.

117

: 00:06:31

Try Compass Box Hedonism, Glenfiddich

18, or Balvenie DoubleWood 17.

118

: 00:06:38

‘Johnnie Walker Blue is liquid status

— smooth, expensive, but forgettable.’

119

: 00:06:43

Have you had Blue Label?

120

: 00:06:44

Did it taste like $300, or more

like an $80 blend in a fancy box?”

121

: 00:06:50

“Quick bonus round: there are plenty

of other overpriced bottles too.

122

: 00:06:55

E.H.

123

: 00:06:55

Taylor Limited Editions

124

: 00:06:57

Blood Oath Pacts

125

: 00:06:58

Orphan Barrel releases

126

: 00:07:00

Not every limited release is special.

127

: 00:07:03

Some are just marketing in a fancy box.

128

: 00:07:06

‘Not every limited release

is special — some are just

129

: 00:07:08

cash grabs in a wooden box.’”

130

: 00:07:11

“Here’s how to outsmart

the whiskey hype machine:

131

: 00:07:15

Build relationships

with local shop owners.

132

: 00:07:18

Don’t chase the unicorns

— look for hidden gems.

133

: 00:07:22

Explore world whiskeys — Japan, Taiwan,

India are putting out amazing bottles.

134

: 00:07:27

‘Stop chasing unicorns — start

chasing hidden gems.

135

: 00:07:30

That’s where the real

whiskey wisdom lives.’

136

: 00:07:33

What’s your favorite hidden gem under $60?

137

: 00:07:37

I want to build a listener’s

list for a future episode.”

138

: 00:07:40

“Alright, let’s recap today’s list

of the most overpriced whiskeys:

139

: 00:07:45

Five: Blanton’s Single Barrel

140

: 00:07:47

Four: Macallan 12 Sherry Oak

141

: 00:07:50

Three: WhistlePig 10-Year Rye

142

: 00:07:52

Two: Pappy Van Winkle 15

143

: 00:07:55

One: Johnnie Walker Blue Label

144

: 00:07:57

Again — none of these are bad whiskeys.

145

: 00:07:59

Some are excellent.

146

: 00:08:01

But when you look at the

price tags, they don’t add up.

147

: 00:08:04

Remember: the best whiskey isn’t

the rarest one, the flashiest

148

: 00:08:07

one, or the one in a velvet bag.

149

: 00:08:10

It’s the one in your glass,

shared with good company.

150

: 00:08:14

If you liked today’s episode,

hit follow, leave a review, and

151

: 00:08:17

share this with a friend who’s

been eyeing one of these bottles.

152

: 00:08:21

Let’s save someone’s wallet together.

153

: 00:08:24

This has been Whiskey Dan

with Whiskey & Wisdom.

154

: 00:08:26

Until next time — cheers!”