Bottling Miniatures

[Bob]

Mark,

Could you clarify, or quantify, what you mean exactly by a "little" more?

Bob

[Paradox]

I'd have to guess between me and Chris we had 50-60 different bottles and 5 cases of Buffalo Trace BBQ Sauce. Not to mention all the T-shirts I bought from just about every distillery! Oh, what a fun time you will have Bob!

[Bob]

I can't wait!!!!!! 50 to 60 bottles! That IS a lot!

Bob

[Speedy_John]

Here in the great control state of Pennsylvania, used to be the only mini of bourbon you could find was Jim Beam. Recently, however, my favorite store began carrying a lot of higher-end minis, including bourbons, XO cognacs, liqueurs and single malts. One can now "sample" Blanton's, Knob Creek, Makers Mark, Rare Breed, Woodford Reserve and several others. A while back, they were offering the Rare Breed for 99 cents. Now,THAT is a bargain! Should have stocked up when I had the chance.

SpeedyJohn

BTW, they're also supposed to get minis of Louis XIII. Yours for only $199.99!

[cowdery]

I see in the new issue of Newsweek that South Carolina still requires all drinks served in bars and restaurants to originate in mini bottles, so any company that wants to sell its products on-premise in South Carolina has to make them available in minis. (The article was because the legislature is considering scrapping this requirement, which bars and restaurants, obviously, hate.) Utah used to have this requirement as well, but I believe it was scrapped a few years ago, perhaps in advance of the Olympics.

Do any other states still require minis in on-premise?

[CL]

How could I forget that? I've had many fine drinks and many fine dinners, on expense account no less, in the fine state of SC.

[CL]

Good idea. I am headed to Lake Gaston next week for the annual family vacation. I am staying on the NC side, but the 903 bridge is a mile away. I will see if there is a Virginia ABC store nearby on the other side.

By comparison, in WV, the Fox is $20/750ml.

[OneCubeOnly]

Here's a shopping list for your Virginia jaunt:

http://www.abc.state.va.us/Pricelist/STRAIGHT%20BOURBON%20WHISKEY.html

[Barrel_Proof]

Be advised that that the Virginia ABC website is notoriously out-of-date. Items listed may no longer be in inventory at all. (They've still got Jacob's Well listed, for example, and they long since sent the remaining stock back to the distributor.) Some listings are years out of date. Go figure. I guess it's hard to get competent help in the greater Washington area these days.

[CL]

Dang, other than the Fox 90, there isn't anything on the list that I can't get in NC.

However, I found their special order (by the bottle) catalog and it looks fairly good. Maybe I might find a leftover gem or two in the nearest store.

[OneCubeOnly]

Be advised that that the Virginia ABC website is notoriously out-of-date. Items listed may no longer be in inventory at all. (They've still got Jacob's Well listed, for example, and they long since sent the remaining stock back to the distributor.)

An interesting note: you can still buy Jacob's Well in minis! (Kind of appropriate for this thread, huh!?) I know because I just bought a couple.

[Barrel_Proof]

So, do share. Which of the stores still has minis?

[Paradox]

Yes, please do haha. The only place I saw the mini's recently was on ebay. And I'm still looking for that 750ml of Jacob's Well for ya' Cliff. I didn't forget...

[OneCubeOnly]

So, do share. Which of the stores still has minis?

I bought these at the Sudley Rd., Manassas location. I opened one to taste...I agree with the older posts about it being marketing hype.

[OneCubeOnly]

Here's a pic:

[mike1]

I think that South Carolina is the only State left that still uses mini bottles. I think that the state gets 50 cents a bottle in taxes so it is easy for them to keep track of what income they should receive. It is also far more in taxes than they would receive if drinks were poured from regular bottles. . Of course there are lots of drinks that we can not get down here , as you might have to open several bottles for a drink, and end up with 6 oz. of booze and a 15.00 drink. Also the selection is very poor, and usually all you can find is the Beam line and Makers Mark.

While obviously all of this is bad for the consumer,many restaurants like the minis. They have few inventory problems,and it is easy to keep track or 'shrinkage'. Also you don't need to hire talented bar people, and you can stock your whole bar in an area not much bigger than a suitcase

[Barrel_Proof]

And I'm lookin' for those WT exports for you, too. Thanks.

[cowdery]

According to the Newsweek article, the main opponents to a change are the usual bluenoses and the producers, for whom the minis are extremely profitable. Apparently the legislature has become convinced that the change will be revenue-neutral, again according to Newsweek.

[MurphyDawg]

Yeah they sell the minis of the small batch collection here in OH, along with Rare Breed & Russell's Reserve (WT 80 & 101 too) Blanton's and EW 7 year.

At least those are the ones I saw.

Tom (Doesnt think a "nip" is nearly enough to convert someone)C

[OneCubeOnly]

Just a quick followup to my Jacob's Well find: I revisted the same ABC store and they're sold out. There is no longer a shelf-label for it either. So if any of you NoVA locals were hoping to make the trip, don't bother.