Planning a Bourbon Hunting Vacation

[Chris24]

I live in WA so there's not much mystery to what's in each store since it's state controlled.

So I'd like to travel somewhere where I might find some dusties and might find some Pappy or older BTAC or Four Roses Mariage lying around. I'm not sure such a place exists, but I see people posting runs with huge take aways, so I'm willing to give it a shot.

I could drive to nearby Montana or Northern California if someone recommended some places. Otherwise I'd be willing to fly somewhere and rent a car to spend a few days looking around.

But I'm pretty new at this, I'd appreciate some advice.

[unclebunk]

If you've got the time (and the dough) I'd say go to Texas. When I see the treasures that fellow SB'ers are still pulling out of Houston, Austin, etc. it makes me wanna cry!

[barturtle]

It'd probably be cheaper to just hit up ebay than to spend money traveling if getting bottles is your only goal. If you were going somewhere for another reason and happened to hunt while there and find something, then it'd just be a bonus. Gas/Food/Lodging/Plane Tickets/Car Rental add up really quickly.

[wadewood]

You are in a control state surrounded by control states. You might find some of what you are looking for in Bay Area, but that is a long drive from Seattle. I feel you pain having lived in Seattle for 9 years.

I'm now back in Texas and have scavenged the place dry, so please look elsewhere :grin:

[Rughi]

The Bay Area is pretty good for interesting recent releases, but is pretty poor nowadays for anything I would call a dusty (think paper stamp over the top). Some distillers are pulling stock from sluggish regions and putting them into California - perhaps the Bay Area as much as anywhere else.

There are probably some crusty old towns in far Northern California with dusty finds, but probably not among the most travelled routes. I haven't found much up there, though. The Central Valley not so much, either.

When I think of where dusties would happen, I think first about where there would have been WWII vets aplenty, and then the demographics of the area changed away from bourbon drinkers. In many places, it looks just like Old Joe bought that Grand Dad once every other week for decades, and they still have the rest of case from when he stopped coming in.

Hope that helps,

Roger

[Parkersback]

As a some-time dusty hunter, I'd advise against planning a vacation around the hopes of finding something good. I have access to several huge metropolitan areas, and I have spent days and days searching with no results. I am grateful I have found some great stuff, too, but the era we are in never guarantees any kind of success.

[CaptainQ]

Chris, here's the plan. Go out and get your cdl then tell Balmer you need a year off, leave of absence, whatever. You become a long haul trucker for a year and build that bunker from all the stops you make all over the country. There, problem solved. :grin:

[Hondo]

Chris, here's the plan. Go out and get your cdl then tell Balmer you need a year off, leave of absence, whatever. You become a long haul trucker for a year and build that bunker from all the stops you make all over the country. There, problem solved. :grin:

[mosugoji64]

One thing that I've noticed, that it probably obvious, is to avoid stores in high traffic areas. Look for the small, out of the way places. And as others have said, don't plan a vacation around dusty hunting. If you find nothing, the vacation is shot.

[Chris24]

Thanks for all the tips. I'm not planning tofind anything, but I do love the thrill of the hunt.

Maybe I should have worded this as "Stuff to do around good bourbon hunting areas"

[craigthom]

Thanks for all the tips. I'm not planning tofind anything, but I do love the thrill of the hunt.

Maybe I should have worded this as "Stuff to do around good bourbon hunting areas"

[Neat]

Thanks for all the tips. I'm not planning tofind anything, but I do love the thrill of the hunt.

Maybe I should have worded this as "Stuff to do around good bourbon hunting areas"

chris, my advice would be the same. i got into dusty hunting about 2 years ago and i can confirm that wadewood and other houston sb'ers have hunted this place thoroughly. i still find dusties but they are few and far between. NOTHING like the posts i see coming out of the washington d.c. area. i think EVERYTHING i've found in the past 2 years would equal ONE of some of the miracle hunts i've seen posted on here.

sounds like you like the thrill of the hunt. me too. just when i plan on giving up hunting, i find a gem or two and gets me addicted again. good luck, have fun and be safe. i add the "safe" for obvious reasons. last friday, i did something real stupid: i went into one of the most dangerous parts of houston at night. 4 stores. 2, nothing. at one store, i found a handle of nd ogd. at another store, i found a handle of oc 12 yo, LOUISVILLE. happy as all heck. the only oc 12 classic 90 i'd seen previous to this was 200ml frankfort bottles (and they were good). lots of 10 yo oc from louisville though.

hope it goes well. let us know how it turns out.

[Neat]

Thanks for all the tips. I'm not planning tofind anything, but I do love the thrill of the hunt.

Maybe I should have worded this as "Stuff to do around good bourbon hunting areas"

didn't see this post.

with respect to "stuff to do around good bourbon hunting areas", my list:

(1) look inconspicuous

(2) check on your car if you are staying at the store over 5 minutes

(3) play "how many winos can i spot"

(4) variation on #3: how many alcoholic women getting their "medicine" can you spot

(5) hopefully won't happen but - see how fast you can still run

(6) check and recheck to make sure your wallet is still in your pocket

etc., etc.,