Distiller - Liquor Reviews Reviews

by ELR4224

The old version of Distiller from early-mid 2020 was far superior and more user-friendly. They decided to do the pro thing to get rich and now they've purposefully broken the free version to require more clicks to get to where you want to go. Opening to the personal notes page of a spirit instead off the actual information page is done to try to force you to get pro so you can put your own notes. My notes are in my tastes. I don't need a separate notes section and I certainly don't want that to open when I can't even enter any notes without upgrading. Distiller is going down the drain with the pro version being pushed at every opportunity within Distiller . This used to be 5/5 for my friends and I but we're bailing for the Flaviar app now. See ya.

by Jkannen

I love Distiller overall.

Suggestions for improvement:
- Add an option to have a list or log of previous checkins so you don’t have to search the specific name to find it and see your checkin(s).
- Make it less laggy. Takes a few seconds to be able to search every time I load Distiller .
- Add more filters, for example regions for scotch or more specific price points based on your area. Whiskey very widely in previous (like other alcohol) and the price range filter is not very sensible as is.
- Improve the “you may also like” lists to be more relevant. Often times they show completely different whiskey types than what I am even looking at.
- Improve the social component to where you can see what people are buying near you and how they like it. That way you can feel a sense of community if you don’t have friends that use Distiller.
- Be able to filter pro reviews by reviewer. As we all know taste is subjective, but it’s often difficult to sort by the pro ratings if they have only been reviewed by one “pro”/“expert.” Thus if you want to try something and see it has a low score, having multiple expert reviews (perhaps show the average expert score in the search window) and then have all the expert reviews viewable and collapsible once the whiskey or drink is pulled up.

by Flybone89

I really want this to be a favorite app - the look and feel of Distiller is very user friendly and I have found every whiskey I have searched for so far. And I purchased the pro because I really want this to be the one and only app to I use to manage my wish lists and track my inventory. But it is no where near a trusted app yet.

First, I don’t mind paying for pro - the heck with the deadbeat millennial reviewers who think everything in life should be free. But I should get some real value from the pro. There just isn’t enough perks yet to pro membership other than adding quantities and it was buggy even signing up for it. It took 2 days for the pro sign up page to work for me. Really? You do want my money right?

Second, performance is terrible. Apparently there is no local storage, cache or any kind of background sync. That means even for checking my lists or updating quantities I have to wait seconds with a blank page and spinner for the page to load or refresh. Please improve performance of Distiller ASAP!

Distiller has promise and I will continue to use it for now but I certainly won’t renew my pro membership unless performance improves and they add a few more perks for pro membership.

by Chippinslag

Distiller lets you write your own reviews, read other people’s, and compile your own lists and share them with others. Lets you and your friends follow each other and see their reviews.
It lets you sort your searches by price, ratings, global regions, etc.

The problems I see are many of the spirits that come up in a search are from years ago and no longer available. In some instances that me be desirable but for most users they are really only wanting to look up stuff that is in current production. If they’re looking up Elijah Craig they probably want the current one not the 12 year.
There needs to be a filter that isolates current production or at least only shows entries a few years old.

Secondly, there are many new distilleries and their products are either not in there or they were entered by an app user. Distilleries should have the ability to enter their own products and photos, along with their own backstory and description of the product. They could also be prompted to include the source or state it was distilled in and the mashbill. Then later on this app could supplement the entry with a professionals rating and score.

by Opie324

This was by far my favorite app, but recent changes have made it less user friendly. It used to open with big, attractive font for each whisky in your list. It was easy to scroll through to choose what you want, then just touch to get more info on that whisky. Now the list is less appealing, it takes a long time to load, it’s very slow to scroll through (and I have an iPhone 12 Pro), and you can’t set a default way to list (eg by rank). Worst of all you can’t touch the whisky to get more info. If you touch from the list it now goes to a small screen showing just that whisky, but then you have to fiddle around with rating icons at the bottom of the screen to bring up the expanded whisky info page. It also has an add banner at the top of that page as well. It used to be a sheer joy to use, but now it’s only average. Revert back Sox months and you have a winner.

by OMGisAnythingLeft?

I really like Distiller. However, i wish they would let you submit missing liquors to be added to the database. Also, it seems like Distiller 's developers focus mainly on reviewing brands owned by the big conglomerates and ignore the good stuff out there by smaller, less hyped brands.

It would also be cool if they added store private label liquors like found at Trader Joes, Costco, and Total Wine.

Also, I wish they would’ve added a section for Liquers, Vermouths, Apertifs etc instead of Vodka. Seriously, how much can you say about the differences between 1,000 vodkas?

by Some Guy In VA

I’ve worked all kinds of bar settings, from divey college bars with holes in the floor and roaches in the kitchen, to pristine fine dining establishments with high end craft cocktails. Coming up with different, exciting cocktails has always been something I’ve been into, so having a good grasp on what certain spirits embody before coming up with new cocktail menus is super important.

Prior to Distiller, I’ve only ever seen one other that was truly helpful, but, I dare say, it was not as concise and focused as this app. My only qualm is that the price ranges aren’t very specific, but I know the cost of a lot of these bottles anyways, so it’s not that big of an inconvenience.

by XXHippieSlayerXx

Best diary of reviews and “expert” reviews but needs to add a few things:

1. The “community” reviews should include a flavor notes graph like that of the “expert”, like rotten tomatoes the community reviews should be graded with the same metrics as the experts (comment section still separate).

2. Clean up the community uploaded reviews. What I mean is take down duplicate bottle listings and ensure that uploaded listings are correct (one I saw had a terrible cover photo and I couldn’t upload my own without making a new listing).

3. How do you invite your friends? If there isn’t a feature your missing out on a lot of potential users.

*Edit: I just looked at a few experts and I’m a little confused with the qualifications to be an expert. I think this highlights even more that the rating system needs a little overhaul.

This is just meant as constructive criticism, you don’t know me I could be a moron.

by 3rd Force 49

I made my own log on the spirts I either tried or bought. Then I came across Distiller and it had everything I needed to make a better log for my needs. I am not giving it a 5 star rating because I couldn’t find a scotch and a bourbon I’ve bought. I’ve tried again in a time frame and still haven’t found them. It hasn’t stopped me from continuing using Distiller. Maybe in time they will be in here. If you’re looking for something to keep a log and rating on what you want to use for a future reference, then I would strongly recommend Distiller. Enjoy your spirts you’re having, but don’t let them enjoy you.

by Madam Type A

I use Distiller all the time, especially going through duty free. I never know whether or not the people in duty free actually know what they are talking about or whether they are just trying to offload stock on me. Usually when they approach me asking if I need help, I say no—because of this app! I trust the reviews and tasting notes.

I also appreciate that in Distiller they don’t push you to write a review...which is much less irritating for users, hence I’m giving a 5 star review! Cheers :)

by Modredastal

I was immediately impressed with Distiller. I was expecting a simple method of cataloguing spirits I've tried, and got so much more. In-depth descriptions of countless brands, batches, years, etc. of several kinds of spirits. The professional reviews are descriptive and florid.

I was particularly impressed by the recommendation feature. Select your type of spirit, price range, adventurousness, and more and it will give you several options to seek out and delight in.

I will be using Distiller quite a bit in the future.

by Eejhffb

Ever have that problem at the liquor store where your buddy had just told you about a bottle you needed to try......and your mind goes blank, you’re overwhelmed with the selection, and end up buying something you already had in the cabinet at home? Track your liquor cabinet, wishlist, and provide recommendations to other people with your “top shelf” list. These are all the good things about Distiller aside from the thousands of FANTASTIC articles on every kind of spirit you can imagine.

by Canj54

I’ve had a too many times where I’d be walking between aisles over and over looking for the best liquor/spirits to buy. Then when I found out Distiller existed, it’s been a game changer for me. I could literally look up information ahead of time to plan out my purchases. All the reviews by the critics and reviews by the people gives me a good take on what is really worth checking out and so forth. Thank you guys for all the great info and keep up the great work!

by Ww1330

Being a newbie to bourbon whiskey drinking over the past few months, my initial tastings/purchases came via word of mouth. After finding out about the this app app, I’ve had a lot of fun while gaining a lot of knowledge through Distiller . Love the descriptions of the flavor profiles of my favorite brands - the graph is great! The expert reviews seem to be accurate for the most part, so finding different brands that boast my favorite flavor profiles immediately go on the Wish List - which is helpful when shopping. Another reviewer mentioned adding a way to search for brands utilizing the different aspects of these flavor profiles, which I agree with - this would be a great tool and a great time saver. But with that being said, a lot of the fun within Distiller is just browsing brands. All in all, Distiller is entertaining and educational. Here’s a big thumbs up - thanks.

by P-MAC007

I’ve been using this app for almost 2 years now and I have to say that it’s hands down the best app out there for info about spirits, whisky in particular, and a place to log all of your tasting notes. There is a real sense of community that takes place and the love for spirits really brings everyone together.

The developers are very responsive to bug reports and are receptive to suggestions on how to make Distiller better.

I am continually amazed that this remains a free app devoid of any kind of pop up or banner ads. Well done this app team!

by Tedmondsjr

Stuck with Distiller due to the fast load time, ease of use, and depth & breadth of whiskeys. Truly great, please keep doing what you’re doing. Expert Review section contain valuable information, especially the chart and the name of the taster (you’ll find tasters you agree with and those you don’t). Flavor profile and corresponding chart allows for fast comparisons between what you know you like and those you haven’t yet tasted. Lists are also useful, especially the ability to create your own lists.

Update: “Pro” is one of the few app upgrades I’ve found worth the cost. Still a 5 star app.

by PolarAce

I was never a big drinker. A few years ago a friend invited me to a whisky tasting at his house. We had about eight different bottles and I had my first experience with a variety of quality whisky. I was hooked. However, every time I went to the liquor store I was overwhelmed by the selection with no general direction. Was this bottle worth $40? $60? What if I didn’t like it? I ended up not venturing much because of the confusion.

this app allowed me to quickly check user and expert ratings to see if the bottle was worth the cost. Over a short period of time I was able to find quality whisky at reasonable prices. I found the flavors I prefer and Distiller allowed me to see flavor profiles for each whisky to determine if it was a style I enjoyed.

I really liked the robust search features which allowed me to find the highest rated drinks in a particular price bracket. This feature allowed me to find the drinks that were good values.

Lastly, this app allowed me to keep track which spirits I had tasted, liked, and/or owned. I’ve now used Distiller to find quality beverages throughout the Caribbean and visits to Colombia, Guatemala, and Mexico.

by Downpourblue

Like many others, I’ve been using some of this stay-at-home time to start dabbling in spirits and cocktails. I found Distiller through the this app blog, and it has been amazingly helpful tome while searching for spirits to drink straight or make into cocktails. And the ever-growing Other category has been great, because I wanted a few flavorful, fun bottles but I didn’t want to waste money on anything that would sit around after one try. I’m never going to have a massive collection, but my hubby and I have been entertained with the drinks we’ve been having (and just one per night so we’ll have a long time to go through everything we want to try). Thanks, this app!

by Individual1

I've been using Distiller for a couple of years and it has become indispensable in understanding the beverage offerings in many parts of the world I've travelled, from France, to Japan to most recently, Tasmania. One or two suggestions: it would be great if you could adapt your profile graphic to an interactive function and to be able to adjust sliders to draw a profile in 'search' - for instance, search for a more smokey and spicy, less sweet whiskey - and get results that align with the profile I am looking for - it would be an amazing function. Similarly, if I am looking at a review, to go beyond the three recommendations, to be able to request a list of results reflecting 'more smokey' or 'more rich' (pardon the grammar) would be fantastic. But really, great app with a fantastic database of bevs.

by VW Tandy

Delete! Delete! That’s what I did with the other Spirit apps on my phone. this app is by far the best for me. So now it’s the only one I use. I found that I was wasting time reading other apps.

this app incorporates both the average connoisseur of adult beverages as well as the experts that we assume have a more distinguished pallet. I have found that whether it is a bourbon, a rum, or tequila I been happy with the choices I’ve made based upon the ratings and reviews.

The articles, weekly roundup and top choices of the week are always interesting reads. You can never learn enough and I feel I’ve learned a lot from this app. Keep up the good work!

by Msim2396

I check Distiller nearly daily. They post reviews, short stories, some did you know info, release dates and other content. The searchable library of spirits is really excellent. I keep it on the whisky portion and I really enjoy the content they provide. Seriously, it’s been a great source of information and I’ve enjoyed having it.

Update: I gave Distiller five stars again. Really is an excellent one stop for me. I now use Distiller during presentations at our whiskey club. The short and sweet descriptions and tasting notes are perfect when describing the whiskey we are trying. They have been accurate as well.