To Buy or Not To Buy

[Enoch]

Last week I discovered the best Dusty Store. It does not show up on Google or any search engine. It is on the out skirts of a small town and not near an Interstate. It easily had 1000+ bottles of Bourbon of various sizes and brands - all with tax stamps and the owner said he had a lot more in back in boxes. I bought bottles of Yellowstone Mellow mash 91/7 year, AAA 10 year, Fighting Cock 8 year, OGD 114, Old Hickory, Rebel Yell 90 proof, etc. Most was still priced with the sticker he put on it when he stocked them. It was like this store was stuck in time. I ran out of time and money because he only takes cash.

I plan to go back with more cash and really go through what he has.

I have often visited a store and the owner would tell me about having a bunch of old stuff and someone buying it all. So I am afraid of going back and someone with deep pockets having found it and cleaned him out.

Should I go ahead and get everything I can now (to my wife's dismay) or take a chance that it will stay intact for awhile. He did say he had sold almost nothing but cheap swill to the locals for a long time. I do plan to reveal the location once I have a chance to really go through the place.

[cowdery]

That's some good stuff. Personally, I'd like some of that Mellow Mash.

You know what you need to do.

You need to go back immediately and buy it all. I'm not kidding. Make the guy a deal for everything, all of it. If it's more than you can swallow, I'm sure you can find a SB buddy to go in with you. Negotiate a deal so everyone (you, the retailer, though probably not your wife) is happy.

Is there a story behind it?

[Enoch]

It turns out it was a thriving store in the 70s. But the mill shut down and everyone moved away. The only people who stayed were a few locals that were very poor. They primarily buy cheap apple brandy or such. The store is still set up like it was in 1980 with glass cases full of his finer bourbon, just no one has been interested in it. We had to wipe away the dust to read the price on the sticker.

[mosugoji64]

That's some good stuff. Personally, I'd like some of that Mellow Mash.

You know what you need to do.

You need to go back immediately and buy it all. I'm not kidding. Make the guy a deal for everything, all of it. If it's more than you can swallow, I'm sure you can find a SB buddy to go in with you. Negotiate a deal so everyone (you, the retailer, though probably not your wife) is happy.

Is there a story behind it?

Good advice. If that place really is the treasure trove you indicated, then keep in mind you're probably never going to see anything like it again. Get as much as you can NOW!

[Parkersback]

You'll be happy for every bottle of Old Forester BIB from the 70's you buy.

I'd also keep an eye out for ryes, if you're so inclined.

Congrats on a great find.

[HP12]

Cool find. Just shows what a little "mining" might turn up.

[jcg9779]

Very cool, Enoch! Definitely buy what you can and don't leave it for someone else to stumble upon! :grin:

[tmckenzie]

There was a place like that in Tullahoma tn. I found it in 2000. I have not had the chance to go back. Anyone else been there? Man, I would get everything out of that place I could afford. Tell me where it is, I will bring a trailer and help load it.

[Neat]

looks like you found a mother lode. good for you. BUY IT ALL. when are you (or any one of us) going to find another store like this again? if you can't afford it, i'm sure sb'ers like myself will contribute money to get bottles that are duplicates, etc.,

[Bourbon Boiler]

Chuck nailed it. The guy obviously doesn't know how to unload it, and if he hasn't changed prices he doesn't expect anyone to come in and appreciate the inventory. Go in with an extremely low number, and if he doesn't bite buy 4-5 bottles to show some interest (and so he remembers you). Then wait 2 weeks and try again.

[theDon]

No need to break the bank. If it hasn't been discovered by anyone else you have time. There are stores here that I have been picking dusties off of for years. The same bottle stock is always there. I buy a few here and there and sometimes amazingly they get restocked, sometimes they don't. I used to freak out when I first started and think, "Man if I don't get EVERYTHING they have, someone else will." But I stopped when I realized I would end up in a van down by the river if I continued.

[T Comp]

Last week I discovered the best Dusty Store. It does not show up on Google or any search engine.

Now you know the secret and the power...at least when it comes to big game dusty hunting. Some great finds you got going there which now has Rod Serling's voice playing in my head.

[LikeItWasSodaPop]

I'm willing to buy stock at let's say 40/60. I put in $1000 and I get $400 worth, and Enoch gets $600 worth for his bunker.

I mean, I'm even willing to buy in and create some SB share. Seems like the volume here is ASTOUNDING! 1000+ bottles ... can ANYONE here buy all of that up?!?!

[Enoch]

I'm going back this weekend and see if I can get a better inventory of what he has. A lot is still in the back in boxes. I have to be careful. I have found the best dusties driving the backroads of SC looking for mom/pop or African-American stores that are not listed on Google. ANd stores not close to interstates. But they are often very suspicious if you suddenly want too much. A store here in Columbia had several cases of handles of OGD from the eighties. I bought two to try it (86 and 100), loved it and went back to get the rest. When I went into the store it was no longer on the shelf. He said it was no longer for sale. This was on the same day. I think if they think it is valuable they suddenly raise the price or decide not to sell.

The pricing in this store is strange. Mostly very reasonable but then he had a bunch of old WT 101 8 year handles with the squarish bottles for 44.95 which he would sell for $40. Seems high compared to now but I have no idea what WT handles sold for back in the late 70s. By contrast I got a handle of Yellowstone Mellow Mash 7 year, 91 proof with numbered bottle for $20 (priced at 21.95) and a handle of Rebel Yell 1980 for $23. The OGD 114 fifths and 86 liters cost the same ($20). He was logical though because he gave me the OGD 114 375s for 10 and the 200s for 5.

The hard part is that he would not let me go behind the counter but there were a lot of locals coming in (Sat afternoon) and he would not let them go back either.

I'll report back on my trip.

[trumpstylz]

No need to break the bank. If it hasn't been discovered by anyone else you have time. There are stores here that I have been picking dusties off of for years. The same bottle stock is always there. I buy a few here and there and sometimes amazingly they get restocked, sometimes they don't. I used to freak out when I first started and think, "Man if I don't get EVERYTHING they have, someone else will." But I stopped when I realized I would end up in a van down by the river if I continued.

Now that is hilarious.

[gblick]

Great find, Enoch!

I hope you can get your fill before he raises the prices on you.

[sailor22]

Great find.

The pricing in this store is strange. Mostly very reasonable but then he had a bunch of old WT 101 8 year handles with the squarish bottles for 44.95 which he would sell for $40. Seems high compared to now but I have no idea what WT handles sold for back in the late 70s.

That is the same price that was on the one I found recently, so it's probably fair.

Before you hurt yourself (both financially and just lifting all that stock into a van:grin: ) you might want to cosider your goal with dusties. Are they all for personal consumption? Might take awhile to work thru a lot of cases.

For me the best part about dusties is sharing and getting some hard to find juice to folks who will appreciate it.

[BBQ+Bourbon]

Be careful, Enoch. You have already divulged enough information to endanger your clutch. People are reading this thread who will empty that place if they can find it.

Congrats on the find! Now clean it out and keep it quiet.

[flintlock]

Be careful, Enoch. You have already divulged enough information to endanger your clutch. People are reading this thread who will empty that place if they can find it.

Congrats on the find! Now clean it out and keep it quiet.

Yep. Buy it all yourself or assemble as many partners as you need, but get as much as you can as fast as you can.

It isn't hard for a store owner to realize that the bottles are probably worth much more than he's asking. 5 minutes on ebay will tell him all he needs to know. Stay quiet, look dumb, act nice and simple, and clean him out.

But be careful - don't discuss it again until you post the photos of the haul. Flippers don't deserve this whiskey - the drinking connoiseurs do. If this makes me a snob then so be it.

[PaulO]

I can't help but think, some of the stuff not on display might be the most interesting of all. Maybe going back from time to time, buying more like a regular customer, could get you in the owners good graces. As was mentioned before; going in there like a maniac and trying to buy everything can sometimes be counterproductive.

[Enoch]

I can't help but think, some of the stuff not on display might be the most interesting of all. Maybe going back from time to time, buying more like a regular customer, could get you in the owners good graces. As was mentioned before; going in there like a maniac and trying to buy everything can sometimes be counterproductive.

I think you are right. I went back this weekend and said I wished he had some BIB Old Granddad. He went into the back and showed up with 3 liters of it with 1975 to 1983 dates. (8 years old) When I asked him if he had anymore he said he would have to clean up in the back some. maybe next time. he also had some more OGD 114 on the shelf which I thought I had gotten it all. Bought those bottles as well. He may not want to sell too much at one time.

[StraightBoston]

Oh my. Are you taking requests? Sign me up for some of that Mellow Mash and any ND Old Taylors or gold-veined Old Wellers hiding in the back room!

[cowdery]

This is such an inspiring story. It should give dusty hunters the world over the faith to soldier on, in the hope that someday we will find a lode like yours.

Weren't they a band in the 1980s, "A Lode Like Yours"?

[OscarV]

Weren't they a band in the 1980s, "A Lode Like Yours"?

[sailor22]

Weren't they a band in the 1980s, "A Lode Like Yours"?