For the last three years people that can tell the difference between Corn Flakes and Pop Tarts haven’t been fans of the accumulating Van Winkle slips turning to a fall. As the old classic rye and Stitzel juice fades, it’s getting harder to hide the flaws. A little trick here a bit of marketing magic there and the train keeps a rolling. Solera aging systems and creative blending are getting more and more important these days in brands. This isn’t necessarily for quality but bedtime stories created for whiskey wankers sucking it all up.

Yappy never needed a Grand Illusion when Julian3 and Ringo Van Winkle “y’all” ‘d us to death, oh –and it was good. It’s time! Time to say that Elvis has left the building. Ive never kissed their ass and it’s certainly not starting now. We’re not lining up, fighting or begging for the same stuff anymore and these are NOT the droids you’ve been looking for. I’ll eventually need to do my own multi year tasting but I trust the people tasting the slide in one sitting. That’s OK because I’m fine with other greatness I can still get without the drama.

When does a fad end? Does it die? Is it murdered? Does it commit suicide???

The backlash of forced sales of brands no one wants to get Pappy and Antique may take a bit of a hit. Weller and Elmer now considered liquid royalty are stumbling just the same.

I don’t have real answers other than knowing people are noticing what’s up. I’ll happily gift my new bottles while preserving what’s left of my classics. I had looked down on people studying old bottle codes but I’m one of them now.

Food for thought guys and girls. Spend with your brain and taste blind if you can.