New purchases

[Nebraska]

I thought I would introduce myself. My name is Mark and I live in Omaha, Nebraska, USA. I've been enjoying reading the post and learning a great deal. I've been drinking Virginia Gentleman 90 for several months now and like it alot. I can pick it up for about $15, which I've always found to be very reasonable. Beyond this, I've had Jim Beam and JB Black, not caring a great deal for either one.

After reading here, I went out today and picked up what I thought might be a good selection to start with. I noticed that except for one store, availability is not great, and that one store apparently knows judging by their pricing!

What I did end up with was:

Evan Williams Single Barrel paid $30
Elijah Craig 12 yo paid $17
Old Weller Antique 107 paid $26
Basil Hayden paid $26


These by far seemed like the best values. I found a bottle of ORVW but they wanted about $55, this seemed very high?

Regards,


Mark

[Grant]

Mark - welcome!

I too like the Fox - it is a very fine bourbon - and made about an hour from my home. The other 4 bourbons you listed are on my shelf too.

What I find strange are the prices you quoted - are you from Nebraska?

$15 for the Fox is an excellent price - the cheapest I've purchased it for was $18. From what I've heard - it is not easy to find outside of Virginia.

I just bought Evan Williams SB 1995 on sale for $14.99.

I also just bought Old Weller Antique 107 for $15.00.

The last time I bought Elijah Craig 12 yr was for $13 on sale.

I recently bought a bottle Basil Hayden on sale for around $25.00.

When you refer to ORWV at $55 - do you mean Old Rip Van Winkle 12 year old Lot B? If so - I can get this at normal price between $31 and $35.

[gr8erdane]

Welcome Mark,
Sounds like a good variety of different tastes in your purchases that I think you'll enjoy. The prices you paid seem to be up and down from what I remember paying for them. Was the Weller a 1.75 for 26? If the ORVW you are talking about is the 15yo, that's a somewhat normal price depending on where you are buying it and since it's not being made anymore in that bottling worth it IMHO. If it's only a 10 yr it's pretty high.

[Nebraska]

Born and raised here. I lived in Texas and in New mexico for a short while but always ended up back here.

I get the "FOX" from a Hyvee grocery store that the liquor manager buys a case at a time for me and passes along very good pricing for me. I'm going to have to see if he can help me with future selections. I knew the one store here that had the wide variety was over charging, I've had other things I've wanted from there and theyv'e always been 25 to 30 percent higher.

We go to Chicago occassionally and to Kansas City, I'm hoping maybe I'll have better luck finding things there.

Mark

[bluesbassdad]

When you make your Chicago trip, plan to visit Binny's and Sam's. Take along your credit card with the largest available credit. Except for bourbons whose distribution is restricted in some way (an exception to the exception is Buffalo Trace), if it's available in the USA, one or both of them will have it.

When the date is nigh, ask our own Chicagoans (cowdery and chasking) for insider information.

Speaking of insider info, as a long-time Nebraskan can you tell me why the racetrack is (or was when I visited many years ago) named Ak-Sar-Ben? Yeah, I know it's "Nebraska" spelled backwards, but that doesn't quite answer the question, to my mind.

Yours truly,
Dave Morefield

[Nebraska]

Dave,

The "knights of ak-sar-ben" envisioned themselves as an imagenary kingdom within the state of Nebraska. Quivira was their court. Each year a coronation ball, crowning of king (usually old and wealthy), and queen (usually near under age and busty), pages, attendants, etc. Ak-sar-ben was used so that it could be make believe.

I miss that track dearly. A definite case of not knowing what you had, even after it was gone. Nebraskans are pretty conservative, extremely friendly, but conservative.

Thanks for the Chicago info, will definately take advantage. We make an annual pilgramage for jazz fest in Aug/Sept each year. That will be our next stop in Chicago. We always stay at the Palmer House and use public tranportation.

We are going to be in NYC end of JUL/begining of August, so any recommendations there would be appreciated as well. We are starting out in Long Island, but will end up in the city. Last time we stayed right around the corner from the Waldorf, can't remember the name of the hotel at the moment.

Regards Mark

[gluce]

Hi Mark,

I live in KC and recently found at Spirit World several bottles of 12 yr wild turkey. They do seem to be quite expensive on some items though.

When you decide to come to KC let me know, I will fill you in on some of the good places to hunt. i am in Omaha twice a month, if you ever want me to bring something up let me know. I stay downtown by the market place.

Later,

George

PS- Dane I will be in St Louis or Clayton in May, 11th thru the 13th. If you want to get together let me know.

[BobA]

Welcome Mark,

I too think you've made a good selection of bourbons. But your prices seem strange to me as well. The Weller I think is closer to $20, or even under, and I've not seen Basil Hayden for less than $32. Even though many here give BH low marks, that's often on "value," as they consider it to be overpriced. I do too, but like it as a drink, and at your prices would buy it much more than the EWSB, which is more commonly in the $20's here.

Reputable dealers won't ship to GA as it's against the law, but if Nebraska allows it, you've got a lot available to you. And you might find different bourbons across the river, even in a small store, as distribution is state by state. Unfortunately, as far as I know, the "Fox" isn't in GA.

Bob

[Nebraska]

George,

Thanks for the offer, i may take advantage in the future. I keep looking for a nice bottle of Rye, but JD is about the only thing around here.


Bob, et all,


Well my initial shopping trip was to larger stores thinking the prices would be lower. Today I tried several smaller, older shops around town and also crossed the bridge into Iowa. I had much better luck price wise.


Today I bought:

another Basil Hayden $26 (again it was the last on the shelf)
(besides, two is always better than one!)
another Old Weller Antique 107 $20 (much cheaper this time)
Bulleit $24 (it was $30 elsewhere)
Eagle Rare 10yo $21 (again about $30 elsewhere)

The funniest part of the day was at a really old liquor shop, I saw two VERY dusty bottles, one was Jacob's Well 84month and the other was The Balvenie 12yo scotch. He wanted $25 for the scotch and I told him I'd give him $30 for the pair. he was so excited to get rid of it he gave me a 50ml bottle of Chivas Regal 18yo to try and didn't charge me sales tax! LOL...What a hoot.

Mark

[Grant]

George,
Eagle Rare 10yo $21 (again about $30 elsewhere)
Mark

That's funny - I was going to suggest that you try for this one - since the others on your list match my tastes too.

Another suggestion would be Knob Creek - watch for this one when it goes on sale.