Sweet Whiskey Bath & Body Works
2
Skip this version, get the V.2 instead (Winter 2020)
When Sweet Whiskey was first released in Fall 2020, I wasn't impressed. The berries seemed synthetic and almost acidic, accentuating the whiskey in a way that made it feel too sharp and prominent. To my nose, this toppled the blend out of balance.
When it was re-released just a few months later in Winter 2020, I decided to try it again and was blown away! The whiskey note had been scaled back, to create a more balanced blend with the vanilla and amber. It wasn't fighting for attention anymore - it sung with the other notes in harmony. The berries were thankfully nowhere to be found, and instead there was a slightly-powdery + fresh addition of apple blossom.
For all other releases, BBW changed the notes back to the original version - so Winter 2020 was the only one with this apple blossom switch. It's definitely my favorite version (broke the notes down more on the Sweet Whiskey V.2 review). I've talked to people who disliked Sweet Whiskey, but didn't realize there was another version - and after trying it, agreed the Winter 2020 is much more balanced and beautiful; so it's worth hunting down. This is also one of BBW's mists that has exceptional longevity, lasting 4-6 hours (or longer, if on clothes) for me.
The 6 releases of Sweet Whiskey in chronological order:
1) Fall 2020 (blue swirl label) - same notes as listed here
2) Winter 2020 (pink & orange label) - no red berries note, with apple blossom added instead:
Sweet Whiskey V.2
3) Fall 2021 (gold foil leaf label) - same notes as listed here
4) Fall 2022 (purple faceted bottle) - same notes as listed here
5) Fall 2023 (maroon floral) - same notes as listed here
6) Fall 2024 (purple "cut glass" plastic bottle) - same notes as listed here
When it was re-released just a few months later in Winter 2020, I decided to try it again and was blown away! The whiskey note had been scaled back, to create a more balanced blend with the vanilla and amber. It wasn't fighting for attention anymore - it sung with the other notes in harmony. The berries were thankfully nowhere to be found, and instead there was a slightly-powdery + fresh addition of apple blossom.
For all other releases, BBW changed the notes back to the original version - so Winter 2020 was the only one with this apple blossom switch. It's definitely my favorite version (broke the notes down more on the Sweet Whiskey V.2 review). I've talked to people who disliked Sweet Whiskey, but didn't realize there was another version - and after trying it, agreed the Winter 2020 is much more balanced and beautiful; so it's worth hunting down. This is also one of BBW's mists that has exceptional longevity, lasting 4-6 hours (or longer, if on clothes) for me.
The 6 releases of Sweet Whiskey in chronological order:
1) Fall 2020 (blue swirl label) - same notes as listed here
2) Winter 2020 (pink & orange label) - no red berries note, with apple blossom added instead:
Sweet Whiskey V.2
3) Fall 2021 (gold foil leaf label) - same notes as listed here
4) Fall 2022 (purple faceted bottle) - same notes as listed here
5) Fall 2023 (maroon floral) - same notes as listed here
6) Fall 2024 (purple "cut glass" plastic bottle) - same notes as listed here