@Anthology I'm pretty sure I tasted a port-finished bourbon from after the acquisition and I liked it. I wouldn't say the VFM was there, but I'd be happy having a bottle. I hear that they also have a great vodka, but they aren't allowed to market it since it would compete with Belvedere. If you walk into the distillery and know to ask for it though, they'll sell it lol

@ContemplativeFox I wish I knew about the complaints regarding Woodinville going down after Blvdr acquisition before I picked up their port-finished bourbon two weeks ago! Thanks for the heads-up tho

@CKarmios [In the second best imitation voice of a cable tv “talking head” I can muster], I would say to those people that vfm tends to come up when the satisfaction level for a dram is straddling a borderline between mediocre and potentially good...depending on taste. But when the whiskey in question is indisputably tasty across the spectrum of taste preferences, vfm tends to become an afterthought. Which was the case here with Corry. But to be fair [and consistent], while $70+ average a bottle is “not cheap” for a NAS whiskey, the vfm is legit for Corry (IMHO)...all things being equal.

@Anthology [in best reporter’s imitation voice]: proponents argue that VFM lies in the crux of the matter and that you have intentionally side skirted the issue. How would you respond to them? ;-)

@ContemplativeFox Actually never mind. I read that wrong. Yeah, who knew. But I think that’s the beauty of these forums. We all care about different things when it comes to whiskey but clearly the economics relative to quality seems to be a point of contention (or at least of interest) in the community.

@ContemplativeFox Is your last point on economics a commentary on Corry’s VFM (or lack thereof) in my review? Or something else? I want to make sure I’m chiming in on the right prompt.

Also, I'd just like to note how @Anthology 's Corry review didn't mention anything about economics, yet here we are 20 comments in on that topic. I didn't predict this, that's for sure.

@Anthology @CKarmios Yeah, a lot of people around here have been complaining about Woodinville whiskey going downhill since Belvedere bought it out.

@Anthology I have to agree that the probability of a craft beer being worth the extra money is much higher. Also, beer is way less expensive to try, so I'm not concerned too much about wasting a lot of money on a bad one.

@Anthology I don’t mind the copying; after all, we end up getting what we were asking for in the first place, albeit from a larger supplier; your second point is right on the money: we’ve seen it happen before and we’ll see it happen again . Big boy drives into town, buys up everything worth half a promise; it then assimilates or worse just shelves away, because it is judged to be not economically feasible.

@WhiskeyLonghorn @ContemplativeFox Great points on paying higher prices in support of the local economy and “whiskey startups”. I do the same with craft beer/breweries, except they actually DO produce better quality and tastier products, so it feels more like a win-win. @CKarmios Your point is well-taken and I’m aligned. The variety definitely provides more options for consumers and ideally should foster better competition/innovation from the big players but like @WhiskeyLonghorn , I’m concerned it’ll all get lost in the shuffle because the larger distilleries have the means to quickly copy and faster speed to market. Or even worse, acquire/buy out the crafts and dilute the quality for a quick buck (jury is still out on High West).

@WhiskeyLonghorn Too right. You’ve got to love Ralfy. Awkwardness and all.

@CKarmios +1 for the Muppets reference. I agree with your optimistic appraisal of the industry, though I fear the pandemic may knock out some of the less stable entrants before they can find their footing. I also see the innovation of many of the craft folks as an exercise in capitalism. When the craft folks come up with an innovation that turns heads, the big dogs take notice and all of a sudden you see a similar product from them six to twelve months later. See for example the scotch industry putting a renewed focus on age statements, natural color, and NCF after Compass Box (and Ralphy) led the way on that being the gold standard. Or the bourbon industry putting out more age statements after so many craft startups sources and aged MGP juice and then provided every minute detail about the production.

@ContemplativeFox @WhiskeyLonghorn @Anthology Agreed 100% on the economies of scale, the risks, pitfalls and danger of running a craft distillery startup, and the need to counter these with higher pricing. Where I was coming from is the perspective of multiple new entrants into a mature market - large numbers of craft distilleries raise the probability that some of them will grow into mid-range, regional players, start to compete nationally, one day perhaps go international. As an example, the number of DSP licences in the US has gone from 60 in year 2000 to 2,500 in 2019; UK and Irish authorities expect some 40 new distilleries to go online in the two Irelands by 2025 - currently there are three. I also enjoy the irreverence displayed by all these new guys - Balcones and Koval are good examples, even new bottlers like Compass Box behaving crafty-like. Don't get me wrong, as customers - not consumers - we have every right to re-enact Statler and Waldorf. However, at this time and just between the few of us, I feel optimistic about the industry, quietly excited about new innovations and improved sales value propositions.

@WhiskeyLonghorn Yeah, the laws are brutal, the costs are inordinate, and the time required is massive. And when they succeed, they're competing with WT churning out 101, RR10, RB, and RRSiB for $20, $35, $45, and $55 respectively. They've got experienced and capable competition with high economies of scale and a lot of old stock that could be released as some amazing limited run (see Dickel BiB 13) at any moment. I love trying craft distilleries to see what they come up with, but I do have to accept that most of the time the whiskey isn't worth what I pay and a large part is just a contribution to a young local business.

@Anthology @CKarmios craft distilleries are tough for me. The pricing is usually for economic reasons. After visiting a bunch of the craft guys here in central Texas, they say they have to charge something like fifth dollars for 2 year old bourbon to keep up with overhead like grains, casks, equipment, etc. starting a distillery is a much bigger regulatory nightmare than starting a brewery or winery in most states because of prohibition era liquor laws that are somehow still in place. The craft guys also suffer from not being able to produce the same volume or have the wide distribution network as the big guys. I’ve see Jim Beam white or Jack Daniels Old No. 7 is some pretty far flung corners of the country, but you won’t find Balcones there. For me when I purchase from a craft distiller, it’s not because I’m looking for a good deal, bit because I want to support my local economy. It doesn’t hurt that some of the Texas guys make damn good whiskey!

If you were gonna have a ménage a trois with Islay you could do lot worse

@CKarmios I’m not so sure craft distilleries are any better, pricing-wise. In fact, lots of them price their products much higher at much lower age statements than established distilleries. Boggles the mind. I guess in their estimation, there’s a premium to pay for the “craft” designation...which is complete BS, IMHO. C’est la vie.

@WhiskeyLonghorn We live in the whisk(e)y Age of Inflated Prices. Craft distilleries to the rescue?

@WhiskeyLonghorn Ugh, yeah. It's amazing how much comparatively young whiskey can cost.

@ContemplativeFox it’s because they can. LVMH is only one step behind Diageo in the “we can charge whatever we want. We know you’ll pay for it” camp.

@WhiskeyLonghorn Fair point about the cost difference. you do get a few more percent alcohol in the Corry, but its increased cost always seems strange to me.

Haha, @CKarmios says 'let's just all get along'. Everyone else: "Fight!"

I’m camp Ugi too. I found Cory a bit too dry for my taste, plus I feel like it’s way upcharged for essentially French oak finished 10 year at CS.

@ContemplativeFox it is considered faux pas to choose sides in a ménage a trois

@Ctrexman I ain’t mad at you! Can’t go wrong either way.

This is fantastic as well though

Im in camp oogie

Corry and Iggy are both fine spirits, but I give the edge to the Corry too.