This coming Sunday finds Americans (and based on what they say, a pretty large amount of the rest of the world, too) glued to the television watching the Super Bowl, a yearly tradition pitting two teams and cities against one another. It’s the perfect time to join with friends and family for an evening of entertainment, good food, and most importantly – good spirits.
We’ve decided this year to do our own version of the Big Game – Distiller’s first-ever WhiskeyBowl! We’ve scoured Distiller’s massive whiskey review database and broken out two team rosters, one for Seattle and one for New England, using all the whiskey (that we’ve gotten access to) produced in their surrounding locale. Welcome to the WhiskeyBowl!
Here’s how we’ll play the game…
Just as in any (American) football game, we’ve got four quarters in the WhiskeyBowl, with each quarter based on a specific datapoint. Quarter 1 will be the average cost per bottle (in this instance, the lower number will win). Quarters 2, 3, and 4 will be won by the higher number based on number of user ratings*, average user rating*, and Distiller rating, respectively. As we’re using all whiskey that we have reviews on from each locale, the teams aren’t *exactly* the same size, so we’ll be using averaged numbers for the team, as opposed to total score.
Seattle’s Lineup
– Woodinville Rye
– Woodinville Micro Barreled Bourbon
– Oola Waitsburg Bourbon
– Westland Single Cask Release #221
– Westland Single Cask Release #281
– Westland Peat Week Single Cask Release #279
– Westland Peat Week Single Cask Release #283
– Westland American Single Malt
– Dry Fly Washington Wheat Whiskey
– Dry Fly Triticale
– McCarthy’s Oregon Single Malt
– Black Maple Hill Straight Rye
– Ransom The Emerald 1865 Straight American Whiskey
– Westward Small Batch Oregon Straight Malt Whiskey
And for New England
– Bully Boy American Straight Whiskey
– Onyx Moonshine
– Berkshire Mountain New England Corn Whiskey
– Hudson Baby Bourbon
– Hudson Manhattan Rye #2
– Hudson Four Grain Bourbon #2
– Hudson Single Malt
– Coppersea New York Raw Rye
– Pine Barrens Single Malt
– Hillrock Estate Single Malt
– Hillrock Estate Double Cask Rye
– Hillrock Solera Aged Bourbon
– Widow Jane Bourbon
– Most Righteous Bourbon
– J.W. Overbey Bourbon
– Legs Diamond Whiskey (Aged)
– McKenzie Rye
– Rough Rider Straight Bourbon
– Black Dirt Bourbon Batch #5
Game Time!
First Quarter: Cost
With bottle costs clocking in everywhere between $33 and $100 per bottle, Seattle’s roster averages out at $62.43 a bottle, not a bad price for a craft American spirit. However, New England’s range comes in just slightly lower, between $26 and $99 a bottle, taking the lead early on with an average bottle priced at $55.55
Winner: New England
Second Quarter: User Rating Quantity*
In the Second Quarter, our users take the stage and it’s their by-bottle activity that raises the volume from the stands! Seattle makes a go of it, but just doesn’t have the volume to match New England. At an average of 26 ratings per bottle versus New England’s whopping 57, Seattle closes the half down by two.
Winner: New England
Halftime! Seems like the perfect opportunity to have a sip. Need a recommendation on what to get for your party? Distiller is here!
Third Quarter: Average User Rating*
Seattle takes it on the chin in the first half, but that’s never slowed them down! Seattle starts to make a move in the third, besting New England with average user ratings of 3.8 to 3.5. A close one for sure, but…
Winner: Seattle
Fourth Quarter: Distiller Rating
In the final quarter we go straight to the ratings of Distiller’s Tasting Table, our own team of expert professionals to make the call. With every bottle’s Distiller Score taken to task, New England can’t quite shut down Seattle’s play. New England is hit hard with an average score of 68.2 and Seattle wins the quarter by a huge margin at 81.5!
Winner: Seattle
As we don’t believe in overdoing it, with a final regulation-time score of 2 – 2, we declare this WhiskeyBowl a tie! And speaking of overdoing it, remember to enjoy your whiskey responsibly this weekend. Have fun and be safe!
There’s more whiskeys where those came from!
With Distiller, you’ll always know what’s in the bottle before you spend a cent. Rate, Review, and Discover spirits! Head on over to Distiller, or download the app for iOS and Android today!
