I've had plenty of stuff I consider better than what I listed. I actually prefer peaty scotches and whiskeys and ryes with smoke and bite. I've had amazing single barrels. I also like really piney gins.

But my point about the ones I mentioned were that they're all smooth, inoffensive, and miles away from the rotgut shit I was drinking in my college days. Definitely does not taste like "crap" by any sane measure (ok except maybe the Jack. I can't vouch for that because I haven't actually had it in awhile and I couldn't remember any of the non-Japanese stuff that my local market has).