Hype Over Flavor: 10 Spirits That Ride Branding More Than The Bottle

An opinion piece arguing that ten widely celebrated liquor brands—Aviation American Gin, Grey Goose, WhistlePig, St-Germain, Patrón, Johnnie Walker Blue Label, The Macallan, Bulleit, Pappy Van Winkle, and Bumbu—are overrated, due to marketing narratives, celebrity associations, scarcity, or mass-market appeal rather than distinct aroma or taste; while some are well-made, their hype and price exceed the liquid’s actual quality or value, illustrating a broader pattern where branding eclipses craft in the spirits world.