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This deck has been teased on Instagram since the end of last year and the Kickstarter will finally be launched next Monday, February 8th, though I am not sure of the time. Here's the link to be notified of the launch... https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/cu ... ying-cards

There are a total of four decks being released and the entire deck is custom with each suit representing one of the four main whiskey regions: Scotland (Clubs), Ireland (Hearts), Japan (Diamonds) and North America (Spades), and each court card a character embodying both the whiskey and the meaning behind the pip represented.:
ON THE ROCKS - A Classic Deck With a Gold Finish
To truly experience the range of flavors and sensations whiskey has to offer, try a sip or two from the dram and then add ice to finish. This deck uses the classic whiskey gold, subtle embossing, and ink cured with ultraviolet light. These details create shine and sharpness which capture the sophistication and style whiskey embodies.
NEAT - A Classic Deck With a Red Finish
When opening a new bottle of whiskey, the first taste should be the pure flavor from a neat pour, without ice or mixers. Take a sip and let it coat your mouth to experience the fiery heat and complex flavors. This deck’s red hues and shiny UV finish tell of whiskey’s heat, and the embossing indicates the intricate layers of flavours.
WATER - A Kickstarter Limited Edition Deck
After a few sips of the dram, adding a drop or two of water opens up additional flavors and lowers the initial heat. The cool shine and subtle embossments symbolize the elegance and beauty of the new flavors. This deck is also a nod of respect to the delicious, very important ingredient, water, which becomes “UISGE-BEATHA,” the water of life!
BARREL - An Exclusive Limited Edition Deck (only 399 numbered decks created)
The barrel is one of the key elements to the whiskey making process. The barrel represents a legacy of craftsmanship and enduring strength.

The gold brings a smooth elegance with embossed wooden textures and rusty copper represent the roughness of the vessel of maturation. Cold foil was used in the backs of the cards for the precision and subtle shine we kept for the reveal. As the cards flow out of the packaging, gold gilded edges allude to the pouring of whiskey.

I'm never offended... well, until today. As a whisky drinker I feel offended, haha.
Boring design at best.

Harvonsgard wrote: ↑Wed Feb 03, 2021 4:49 am I'm never offended... well, until today. As a whisky drinker I feel offended, haha.
Boring design at best.

Yeah, I agree that really is boring. I'll take mine with water though if the design can be made stronger. Or the proof.

As someone with over 70 bottles of single malt, you'd think this would be a must have for me.

Nope.

There's a deck to be made around whiskey but this ain't it.

I rather like the courts, but the rest is just...there. I imagine it will be too pricey to justify.

Now live

This feels like Hops & Barley with a weaker tuck and back design. I don't think I'll regret passing on this one, but best of luck!

Not a fan of how this campaign is set up at all or the reward levels. Each of the decks in the set are unlocked at different funding levels. No point in backing it until I see if they all get unlocked. One of them has been unlocked, the last of the three not yet. If others feel the same way, it is going to hurt the funding it needs to reach that level. It seems like as I get further along in my collecting, I have less patience for these types of campaigns. Keep it simple please.

As much as I like the simplicity and cleanness of that back design, I too disagree with the level-up type of scheme the campaign has decided to do... What's the point anyway when all the decks are sure to be produced? This scheme will leave customers who are aiming just for certain decks to hold off before it's unlocked and puts enormous pressure on the ones who's pledged early to go for the big buck options.

Harvonsgard wrote: ↑Wed Feb 03, 2021 4:49 am I'm never offended... well, until today. As a whisky drinker I feel offended, haha.
Boring design at best.

Hey, it's been a while, it least on here. I hope you're well! I'm just curious as I learn more and more about this community, make contacts and build my understanding behind playing card design but also promotion and marketing - this deck, for instance, passed its target within one day, raising over 15,000 USD. Yet I read through the comments and there seems to be a general consensus that the design is okay but not overly exciting for members here (of course I don't mean to offend anyone or bash this deck design). Naturally, all of these comments are just the opinions of individual people and everyone will feel differently. I know and totally accept as a designer that my pieces, whether playing cards or other projects, will be enjoyed by some, must buys by others, and not earn a second glance by many, too. I, in fact, am in a more limited group I am sure, taking each project primarily as an art project before a design project. But, I feel I am still missing an element in the marketing when I see decks that perhaps (in my humble opinion) don't seem as exciting but still end up as overwhelming successes. I would be very happy to talk in a discussion on the channel but if at all possible, directly with you about your thoughts on this? All the best! Jack.

I like the court cards. The backs are not particularly interesting, but they are not deal breakers for me. The pricing, however, is. These prices are super supreme deck prices and these decks appear to be very good... not super supreme. I wish the producers good luck, and they certainly do seem to be well on their way toward success, but while I'd enjoy having these in my collection, I won't be adding them at these prices.

JackBrutusPenny wrote: ↑Wed Feb 10, 2021 12:01 am

Harvonsgard wrote: ↑Wed Feb 03, 2021 4:49 am I'm never offended... well, until today. As a whisky drinker I feel offended, haha.
Boring design at best.

Hey, it's been a while, it least on here. I hope you're well! I'm just curious as I learn more and more about this community, make contacts and build my understanding behind playing card design but also promotion and marketing - this deck, for instance, passed its target within one day, raising over 15,000 USD. Yet I read through the comments and there seems to be a general consensus that the design is okay but not overly exciting for members here (of course I don't mean to offend anyone or bash this deck design). Naturally, all of these comments are just the opinions of individual people and everyone will feel differently. I know and totally accept as a designer that my pieces, whether playing cards or other projects, will be enjoyed by some, must buys by others, and not earn a second glance by many, too. I, in fact, am in a more limited group I am sure, taking each project primarily as an art project before a design project. But, I feel I am still missing an element in the marketing when I see decks that perhaps (in my humble opinion) don't seem as exciting but still end up as overwhelming successes. I would be very happy to talk in a discussion on the channel but if at all possible, directly with you about your thoughts on this? All the best! Jack.

Just wanted to throw my 2cents in here. I think for certain successful deck projects, they can be compared to pop music. You won't find music/art lovers praising pop music on a forum like this, but it has a wide enough appeal (in the general population, not just the "connoisseurs") that it sells very well. And Kickstarter is big enough that it's visible to a large enough crowd to be successful. There may be other, better comparisons out there, but I think this conveys the gist of what I'm trying to say.

I also think that the inverse of this is possible as well, wherein a great deck design is showcased here to (seemingly pure) praise and excitement, but just doesn't appeal to enough people to fund a successful campaign. When I teach someone shooting technique in basketball, I usually say "a good shot can miss, and a bad shot can hit" to make them focus on the technique regardless of the outcome.

JackBrutusPenny wrote: ↑Wed Feb 10, 2021 12:01 am ..... Yet I read through the comments and there seems to be a general consensus that the design is okay but not overly exciting for members here (of course I don't mean to offend anyone or bash this deck design). Naturally, all of these comments are just the opinions of individual people and everyone will feel differently. I know and totally accept as a designer that my pieces, whether playing cards or other projects, will be enjoyed by some, must buys by others, and not earn a second glance by many, too. I, in fact, am in a more limited group I am sure, taking each project primarily as an art project before a design project. But, I feel I am still missing an element in the marketing when I see decks that perhaps (in my humble opinion) don't seem as exciting but still end up as overwhelming successes. I would be very happy to talk in a discussion on the channel but if at all possible, directly with you about your thoughts on this? All the best! Jack.

Several things come to mind One, this forum is the most critical card forum I know of (and I think that can easily turn off newcomers, which is a problem!) but I also think it comes from a good place - people here have been collecting a while, know what they like and don't like, know what's been done and what's new, what's gimmicky vs novel, etc. so opinions will be strong! Second, despite being called "United Cardists" we're more collectors than cardists - reddit and Instagram seem to lean more towards cardistry IMO.

That being said I think the criticism of this deck is way, way overblown. There are multiple legit BAD projects on Kickstarter and this is not one of them

It's not a bad deck, it's just a good whiskey deck IMO, as someone who is a whiskey afficianado. Like Bicycle's Mosiac deck, just wish they had done more justice to the subect matter. This could have been amazing, now it feels rather meh. Look at Barley and Hops by Jocu on how to do a theme properly IMO.

hsbc wrote: ↑Wed Feb 10, 2021 2:27 pm That being said I think the criticism of this deck is way, way overblown. There are multiple legit BAD projects on Kickstarter and this is not one of them

Well said. While the deck is not for me, it's definitely not BAD. I'll still easily pass on it in favor of other money funnels who currently have my attention.

MagikFingerz wrote: ↑Wed Feb 10, 2021 8:31 am

JackBrutusPenny wrote: ↑Wed Feb 10, 2021 12:01 am

Harvonsgard wrote: ↑Wed Feb 03, 2021 4:49 am I'm never offended... well, until today. As a whisky drinker I feel offended, haha.
Boring design at best.

Hey, it's been a while, it least on here. I hope you're well! I'm just curious as I learn more and more about this community, make contacts and build my understanding behind playing card design but also promotion and marketing - this deck, for instance, passed its target within one day, raising over 15,000 USD. Yet I read through the comments and there seems to be a general consensus that the design is okay but not overly exciting for members here (of course I don't mean to offend anyone or bash this deck design). Naturally, all of these comments are just the opinions of individual people and everyone will feel differently. I know and totally accept as a designer that my pieces, whether playing cards or other projects, will be enjoyed by some, must buys by others, and not earn a second glance by many, too. I, in fact, am in a more limited group I am sure, taking each project primarily as an art project before a design project. But, I feel I am still missing an element in the marketing when I see decks that perhaps (in my humble opinion) don't seem as exciting but still end up as overwhelming successes. I would be very happy to talk in a discussion on the channel but if at all possible, directly with you about your thoughts on this? All the best! Jack.

Just wanted to throw my 2cents in here. I think for certain successful deck projects, they can be compared to pop music. You won't find music/art lovers praising pop music on a forum like this, but it has a wide enough appeal (in the general population, not just the "connoisseurs") that it sells very well. And Kickstarter is big enough that it's visible to a large enough crowd to be successful. There may be other, better comparisons out there, but I think this conveys the gist of what I'm trying to say.

I also think that the inverse of this is possible as well, wherein a great deck design is showcased here to (seemingly pure) praise and excitement, but just doesn't appeal to enough people to fund a successful campaign. When I teach someone shooting technique in basketball, I usually say "a good shot can miss, and a bad shot can hit" to make them focus on the technique regardless of the outcome.

That is an absolutely fantastic analogy, well written and very clearly demonstrating what I think is exactly what happens - if only it helped Naturally there is no magic formula, but it's so tempting to spend weeks trying to work out what it is nonetheless.

hsbc wrote: ↑Wed Feb 10, 2021 2:27 pm

JackBrutusPenny wrote: ↑Wed Feb 10, 2021 12:01 am ..... Yet I read through the comments and there seems to be a general consensus that the design is okay but not overly exciting for members here (of course I don't mean to offend anyone or bash this deck design). Naturally, all of these comments are just the opinions of individual people and everyone will feel differently. I know and totally accept as a designer that my pieces, whether playing cards or other projects, will be enjoyed by some, must buys by others, and not earn a second glance by many, too. I, in fact, am in a more limited group I am sure, taking each project primarily as an art project before a design project. But, I feel I am still missing an element in the marketing when I see decks that perhaps (in my humble opinion) don't seem as exciting but still end up as overwhelming successes. I would be very happy to talk in a discussion on the channel but if at all possible, directly with you about your thoughts on this? All the best! Jack.

Several things come to mind One, this forum is the most critical card forum I know of (and I think that can easily turn off newcomers, which is a problem!) but I also think it comes from a good place - people here have been collecting a while, know what they like and don't like, know what's been done and what's new, what's gimmicky vs novel, etc. so opinions will be strong! Second, despite being called "United Cardists" we're more collectors than cardists - reddit and Instagram seem to lean more towards cardistry IMO.

That being said I think the criticism of this deck is way, way overblown. There are multiple legit BAD projects on Kickstarter and this is not one of them

Also, absolutely true. I didn't intent to levy any real direct criticism of this deck design nor to stoke the flames at all, I was just reading the reactions and trying to learn from them. It's hard for me to judge the justice these designs do to whiskeys, not being a drinker, but this project and work is far better than plenty of others I have seen on the KS space. MY wondering was more, what makes this a 'funded in one day' sort of deck...that's a more elusive formula that I still can't fathom. Forums like this tend to and have the right to be more critical, though it can be intimidating to say the least.

At first, I was on the gate for this one, then suddenly, because I looked at it for too long, then I quickly jolt to get one. Besides, I wanna try LPCC's decks as they are improving in the last few years (and IMO bested EPCC). Yes, I would agree about the structure of the campaign is poorly done - like how I would like the Barrel Maker, but I can't have it since it is on a different bundle and the deck itself is not available as an add-on; so one must have to pledge for two sets in order to get four decks with one each. The reason I was on the fence is because of the price - it is quite costly for three decks; maybe its because the emergent technology from EPCC, or was it because of the Water deck that has been upgraded with holographic foil? The artworks, well it could be better, although I think, it is designed like that because the target audience is the people who would use it for gameplay and magic routines, so there might be no intention of the decks to be collector's deck? (except the Barrel Maker of course).

I received my decks yesterday, and it is a sad surprise.... they handled the rewards poorly The decks comes in this bubble mailer, so expect the decks inside to be heavily dinged - that's because the decks just put in there, with no extra layer of protection.

As the results, the decks become heavily damaged! The Yellow one suffers the most damage, and even it dinged a few cards inside (even when the cards are wrapped in cellophane)

I pledged for these three decks to come with the special packaging box, but these arrived to me without it. Maybe it's invisible? (sarcasm)


So, I show these photos to Curious Cask, and they agree to send me the decks as soon as possible, this time with more security so the decks will arrive in one piece
Though by sheer luck, there is something extra arrived in my package. It is the set that contains the standard and the gilded version. XD
While I didn't asked for it, it did arrive anyway. In this case, should I return it back to them OR should I keep it?

Keep it! At least in the US, anything you receive in the mail is legally yours

I would write to Curious Cask to let them know about the mistake and see how they want to handle it, which they probably will let you keep anyways, since it will be too much of a pain for it to be shipped back to them. But then I again, I could be wrong and they might ask for it back, but at least you were honest and up front about it with them.

I also had problems with my rewards and they were very professional about it and immediately promised to send replacements, which were much better packed and arrived A-OK. They are new to the industry, but realized their mistake with the fulfillment center and it seems that they are doing everything they can to make it right their customers. They seem to be treating their backers with respect and think that the backers should do the same. Just my 2 cents.

shermjack wrote: ↑Wed Jul 28, 2021 1:15 am I would write to Curious Cask to let them know about the mistake and see how they want to handle it, which they probably will let you keep anyways, since it will be too much of a pain for it to be shipped back to them. But then I again, I could be wrong and they might ask for it back, but at least you were honest and up front about it with them.

I also had problems with my rewards and they were very professional about it and immediately promised to send replacements, which were much better packed and arrived A-OK. They are new to the industry, but realized their mistake with the fulfillment center and it seems that they are doing everything they can to make it right their customers. They seem to be treating their backers with respect and think that the backers should do the same. Just my 2 cents.

My replacement is currently underway! I hope this time the decks will arrived in one piece and as promised and as what I've backed
When I reread the campaign page, and see Gambler's Warehouse as the fulfillment, I am really not convinced they choose it when I see the tracking number. That might be considered as 'false advertising', though I don't care about it. I think we all care if the decks arrived safe and sound (except when it got hogged by customs - that one really can't be helped and we can't do much about it ). I wonder if anyone in the community would invent and patened a special wrapping for playing cards delivery, such as corner guard.

I've been holding the Yellow deck for a while, and I must say, it is a good start for Curious Cask. I think their direction is towards alcoholic drinks deck series, which could be fun. I wonder what they have in store for Chapter 2: Cognag? Tequilla? Brandy? Wine? On sidenote, hope it doesn't collide with other big projects.

That certainly doesn't look like GW packaging. Mine usually come in bubble wrap well protected and then inside a well-fitting box.

They did not ship from Gamblers Warehouse, used a different shipping partner to speed up delivery. Obviously didn’t work out very well. They have been very good at customer support, I got a quick response when I told them of my damaged decks. Sent a replacement, and this time had much better packaging. It’s unfortunate this happened, but they’re doing a very good job at trying to make it up to the backers.

I have received the replacement package for my rewards. I definitely like how they "buff" the packaging to make sure it arrived in excellent condition! First, wrapped the box in thick layers of bubble wrap, then secure it in cardboard wrapping, and then another thick bubble wrap on the outside. It is like a coocoon!

The reward I get is in perfect condition! The box itself is shrinkwrapped! Uisge Bertha, you regain my trust back again. I know there were mishaps at first, but you handle it professionally!