Do you think the quality of liquor nowadays is less than it has been? Could the use of casks which previously held stronger/more assertive potables be indicative of lesser quality liquors being aged in them to disguise this? Are internationally controlled/owned producers less concerned about quality than individually/family owned because they think advertising can make up for lack of quality and diversification reduces cause for concern? It seems to be most prevalent with Malt Whiskys, Cognacs, Tequila.
Liquor Quality?
- Thread starter knlgskr
- Start date
Depends. I'd say that with liquor, like with most things in life, the most popular brands aren't nearly as good as their marketers would lead you to believe. But if you're a bit knowledgeable about a liquor type (whisky, cognac, tequila, etc.) it isn't hard to find some very good stuff for reasonable prices.
Oh, and of course crappy producers are going to jump on the bandwagon of whatever is popular at the moment, hence the huge amount of crap cognac out there. And whisky sales have been going up, so I'd not be surprised to find more crap whisky.
Oh, and of course crappy producers are going to jump on the bandwagon of whatever is popular at the moment, hence the huge amount of crap cognac out there. And whisky sales have been going up, so I'd not be surprised to find more crap whisky.
It's possible that liquor quality can degrade and it does for several reasons. As popularity increases, a manufacturer may have difficulty meeting demand and quality is sacrificed as a result. Year-to-year quality in the malt, grapes or grain can also impact quality. Regardless, you can expect to some yearly variability in liquor, especially in single malts or various types of wine.
I had this discussion with my brother-in-law, who recently retired after working in an executive capacity with a number of distilleries (also as a taster).
He said most liquor in the U.S. now makes a computerized process to make liquor. As a result, there is less variance in liquor when going from bottle to bottle. However, for most companies the formula has not changed. He also said that malt and grain do not change that much in taste - but grapes, of course, can change drastically. He did say, however, that one area that some distilleries cut back on is the choice of wood quality in the barrel - and that is one place where subtle changes in taste can take place.
He said most liquor in the U.S. now makes a computerized process to make liquor. As a result, there is less variance in liquor when going from bottle to bottle. However, for most companies the formula has not changed. He also said that malt and grain do not change that much in taste - but grapes, of course, can change drastically. He did say, however, that one area that some distilleries cut back on is the choice of wood quality in the barrel - and that is one place where subtle changes in taste can take place.
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