Anyone share bourbon with your retailer?

[Tony]

Howdy All:

I hope you are doing great today.

Curious how many of you share with your retailer?

I stopped by my local guy's place today and he had the Parker Heritage Collection 2011. I already have one bottle put away but have not tried it. I asked him if he had tried it and he said no. So I said well I suppose we should crack one and give it a try so I bought it and opened it up there and we both had a glass.

Very enjoyable stuff I thought.

So anyone do this?

Best regards, tony

[CaptainQ]

Only the blonde ones with big "jugs".

[fishnbowljoe]

Only the blonde ones with big "jugs".

Liters or 1.75's? :slappin:

But to answer your question seriously, yes, I have shared pours/tastings on numerous occasions with my favorite retailer. They've shared a few things with me, and I've taken them some "stuff" too. It's a two way street. :cool:

[RWBadley]

Liters or 1.75's? :slappin:

But to answer your question seriously, yes, I have shared pours/tastings on numerous occasions with my favorite retailer. They've shared a few things with me, and I've taken them some "stuff" too. It's a two way street. :cool:

Same here. A win- win for all. He's been kind enough to save a few good ones for me.

[BFerguson]

That's a sure sign of a good retailer.

I've had several pours offered by my local guy. Last one was Jefferson 18yr around Christmas.

See my past thread about gifting to them. Got a Handy 11 out of that.

Gift and ye shall be gifted back. It's just good karma.

B

[speedbump47]

I gave the manager at my local retailer a small bottle of PVW15 when I heard he'd never tried it....hopefully he remembers me during the Spring allocation

[tommyboy38]

Bought and opened a VWFRR to share with my local whiskey monger.

[Special Reserve]

I had a local retailer tell me that it was illegal in MI for a shop owner to share a pour with a customer but that didn't stop us from sharing a pour now and again.

[sailor22]

My principal local retailer and I share regularly.

Because of me taking them samples of releases they hadn't heard of and dusties both the owner and spirits buyer have become good friends and we drink together at least twice a week now. Both have transitioned from mostly Scotch drinkers to almost exclusively Bourbon and Rye in the last two years. They call me when they get interesting samples from a distributor of any new Rum or Bourbon.

They even opened a bar next door to the main retail outlet so they had a place to drink that had a decent Bourbon selection, and it's now the best spirits selection at a bar in N.Fla.

I have shared with many other retailers in Ga. and N. Fla. When I am traveling and dusty hunting I typically have interesting conversations with shop owners in small towns about many of the Bourbons available they they have never even heard of. If they are friendly and seem really interested I will send them a box with samples of the juice we were talking about. It isn't unusual to stop in a few months later and have them holding a dusty or two for me that they looked for and found after they got the samples. One set aside a couple of Pappy15's for me last spring.

Be friendly and generous and typically it will come back to you.

[timd]

I've shared with quite a few of the store folks I do business with - and they've shared in return.

I know a few stores that host small "after hours" gatherings on the D/L for special customers... Needless to say the relationship has to be pretty good to get to that point.

All the best folks will share with you - but they also expect to get samples from you - as well as good, loyal patronage.

[Tico]

It always is a good thing, just like sharing a bit of wine with the sommelier at a restaurant. I shared some PVW 20 with my local retailer during the most recent release; it helped me get around the 1 bottle per customer limit.

[bigtoys]

local Binny's has a cabinet full of small bottles to taste from.

I've brought samples in, but supposedly they have to spit; no swallowing--at least in the store.