BSoBR Reviewer’s Scale
As we begin our dive into reviewing bourbon, we need a way to truly start to compare each of the bottles we enjoy (and some that we do not enjoy). We have all tasted plenty of pours that we “liked” or thought were “good,” but we wanted to follow with the hindsight mentality and quite literally put our money where our mouth is. A quick look below will show a theme of “purchasing for home bar” at many of the levels. The scaling will intentionally produce some lower rankings than you may be used to seeing for certain bottles, but all will be tied to our desire to have a bottle at home to share with our friends and how many of the bottles you need to have on hand!
Since many bottles can often be much harder to find than others, the purchasing power we refer to will be at retail or what will be referenced to as “expensive retail.” Since so many of us are not fortunate enough to find certain bottles on the shelves and may sometimes turn to secondary markets, we will incorporate some of those pricings and commentary into the reviews, but this will not be the driving force of what we are trying to do. Plus, with such amazing retail partners as Oak Point (Watson & Central) and Hokus Pokus (Prairieville), your money will go a lot further and provide exponential dividends when shopping local.
The ranking system below is a collaboration of several other systems available and we hope that you will start looking at your tastings in a similar way. Levels 0-4 are accompanied by recommendation to not buy the bottle, while levels 5-10 do come with a recommendation for purchase. Each level should explain the varying layers of dislike or pleasure to further distinguish each bottle from the next. The graciousness of BSoBR members is probably the most common adjective I hear at functions, on Facebook, or on our Discord, so I think we can all agree that the better your home bar is, the better samples/tastings we all get to enjoy!
BSoBR Reviewer’s Scale:
0. Offensive. The absolute worst and would instantly pour down the drain.
1. Extremely bad. Would not drink again and (politely) refuse if offered.
2. Very bad. Did not enjoy and would avoid if possible. Would still drink to not offend the host.
3. Bad. Did not enjoy drinking it neat again, but would potentially use in a mixed drink.
4. Below average. Would not buy for home bar, but would drink if other options are not available.
5. Average. Would buy for home bar, but satisfied with just the one bottle.
6. Above average. Would buy for home bar and would like to have one in reserve.
7. Good. Would buy for home bar and actively seek multiple backups.
8. Very good. Would buy for home bar, actively seek this bottle out and almost always buy when found.
9. Great pour. Lucky to have had it and strive to someday buy to add to the top tier of the home bar.
10. Exceptional pour. Elite level with little to no competitors. Would buy to be crown jewel of home bar.