tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840930092789285091.post6802984759878452979..comments2024-03-19T20:31:23.141-05:00Comments on The Chuck Cowdery Blog: No Short-Cuts To Whiskey Appreciation.Chuck Cowderyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12191121480961526039noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840930092789285091.post-8784120184433361912010-08-19T19:30:00.801-05:002010-08-19T19:30:00.801-05:00I agree that the ratings are largely meaningless, ...I agree that the ratings are largely meaningless, and usually aimed at the ignorant. But, I don't know about the idea of condemning some people as "not deserving" good whiskey just because they can't taste the subtle differences, or don't even try, and buy on rating alone. I don't like that type of purchasing decision - it's just pitiful, in a way - but it does help keep the distillers in business, gives them some profits that they then hopefully use to make good whiskies for those of us who actually care. The only downside to someone like me (I consider myself a mildly to moderately informed consumer of whiskies) is that high ratings drive prices up and/or cause demand to outstrip supply, and therefore, I sometimes don't get to enjoy a good bottle because I can't afford it or don't get to it fast enough. Still, if my choice is not always getting to buy a bottle of the good stuff or distilleries not making enough money to do good work, then I'll choose the former.Robertnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840930092789285091.post-20757153822947321902010-08-19T08:21:29.791-05:002010-08-19T08:21:29.791-05:00I agree. The idea that there is an objective (or ...I agree. The idea that there is an objective (or even a meaningful subjective) difference between a whiskey rated, say, 93 and one rated 92 or 91 is ridiculous. Critics just make up those numbers, then they imagine that the numbers contain meaningful, quantitative information. The 5 star system (or equivalent) is much better adapted to the imprecision of human sensory evaluation. But many whiskey drinkers, it appears, prefer made up numbers on a scale of 1-100.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com