Liquor store etiquette

[Brisko]

Liquor store clerks are rivaled only by distillery tour guides as fonts of misinformation:rolleyes:

I generally don't get involved in correcting them or fellow customers. Typically the farther from the truth the claim is, the more dearly it is held.

I have had genuinely profitable conversations with clerks who are getting into bourbon themselves. I've made suggestions based on my own experience that have been ultimately appreciated.

[squire]

I'm not surprised, a rep's job is to move the goods whether that be whisky, lawnmowers or personal hygiene products. Too much detailed discussion might get in the way of their sales presentation.

[P&MLiquorsEric]

I'm always amazed at how uneducated most liquor store tellers are about bourbon. The other day I was in one of my regular liquor stores to inquire about whether they might be receiving some Elijah Craig 12 SB (which they had no idea was even being released) and there was a rep from Diageo there doing Bulleit tastings. I got to chatting with her and she asked what types of whiskeys I like. I told her that I try to drink as many different whiskeys as I can but I probably drink Eagle Rare most often. I then told her that I had started to get into the different single barrel offerings by Four Roses and that they had some very interesting and different bourbons. Being unfamiliar with the brand/distillery, she was very surprised when I told her the juice in the Bulleit bourbons was actually made at Four Roses.

When diagio sends reps for tasting, with few exceptions, the girl is not there to spread knowledge.

[gatsby]

When diagio sends reps for tasting, with few exceptions, the girl is not there to spread knowledge.

I understand that, she's there to advertise and sell a product. I would, however, still expect her to know about the product she's selling whether she's sharing the knowledge or not.

[tigerlam92]

Very funny thread and a lot of good advice here.

When I was younger I had expected some of the bigger and nicer stores would have their employees do tasting and talk to reps of distillery to understand the minute and significant tasting notes of what they are selling but this is probably rare and few.

When I was naive or just started on bourbon I had hope that if I said I like this bottle because of this and that, then they can recommend me something similar to try.

Work sometime but most time not. SB answers everything. So later on, I just send them to SB as well.

Cheers

Hugh

[jtexaslonestar]

As I was perusing through the bourbon's of a store in Roswell, a store employee, probably 50ish, came over and started talking to me about certain products that they had received recently and asked me what I preferred. He started to suggest certain bottles, so I gave him my opinion about some of the pricing vs. my enjoyment factor with which I had issues (Hudson's, BTEC, etc). After he had listened, actually listened, he determined that I wasn't in there to grab a handle and 2-liters of Coke(not knocking anyone's preference...too badly). What was surprising is that he started asking me questions, such as: If a customer likes Bourbon X but not the price, what other brand could I recommend that would be similar?, Why did we get all this Templeton Rye(he really asked, they had a lot), et al. I had a nice conversation with him, although my wife was curious as to what took so long getting home.:grin: As a bonus, he asked me for my name and number to put on their PVW call list. :cool:

[OscarV]

I have to admit that I have not read a single post in this thread but I had to add something because it's so F'ing funny.

"Liquor Store Etiquette",....the title alone is funny as hell, so what more do you want?...........ah blunt wrapper and a double shot and some numbers.

[Barclay Beach]

I used to throw a softball question out there to see if the given clerk knew anything. Like, "Can you recommend a wheated bourbon?" Time and time again, I was disappointed. Eventually, I gave up on the fantasy of meeting a bourbon "guru" working at a store. Then, I found SB.com... :bowdown:

Nowadays, I fall firmly into the camp of biting my tongue. Nobody likes unsolicited advice from a know-it-all. :Clever:

[squire]

Yeah, those know it alls can be a pain, especially the old curmudgeonly ones.

[SFS]

...although my wife was curious as to what took so long getting home.:grin: As a bonus, he asked me for my name and number to put on their PVW call list. :cool:

Gotta love it when putting in the overtime gets you a bonus.

[GaryT]

I would probably take the selfish approach of weighing the mistake. I mean - if the clerk is recommending garbage to the uneducated shopper, who might otherwise pick up something decent in short supply, I might chime in with support for the clerk - a little "You got that right buddy! Won't got wrong with that Wild Turkey 81 Rye!" and then throw my hand up for a high five (and if he leaves you hanging for a few seconds, you make an insistent bobble-head motion while gently rolling your eyes).

[HighHorse]

/The main thing is sincerity, once you learn to fake that the rest is easy.

Oh my! Just when I think you can't top your last post you come up with this one! :slappin:

Squire, they need to bronze you and put you in the SB Hall of Fame!

[AGarrison]

In the end I wished I had taken Chuck's advice. Instead I mentioned that Bulleit is made by Four Roses. The clerk interjected that "... but Four Roses is Brown-Forman so its still right." I smiled and slid on down the isle a ways, leaving the two to their discussion.

If the customer really wants to know about bourbon, he will find this forum and all will be revealed anyways.

http://whiskeylist.blogspot.com/ downloadable spreadsheet of over 1000 whiskies (Come on SKU, you really want to add me to your blog list, dont ya?)

[black mamba]

Deep Thought: Civilization is built on lies, myths and fantasies. Destroy or dispel them and gird your loins for the anarchy of reality.

[mosugoji64]

It's probably best to get to know the staff before you start offering advice. That way you can determine how receptive they might be to information. Otherwise, you're just wasting your time. It's a lot of fun talking to people who share your interests, but you come off as an ass to those who couldn't care less.

[tanstaafl2]

When diagio sends reps for tasting, with few exceptions, the girl is not there to spread knowledge.

I understand that, she's there to advertise and sell a product. I would, however, still expect her to know about the product she's selling whether she's sharing the knowledge or not.

They generally know what they have been told and little more. Sure, there are exceptions but not that many.

Now think about that same type of rep pedaling pharmaceuticals to your doctor...

They were always worth a laugh or two!

[Special Reserve]

I've heard it said "you should ask him, he knows a lot more about bourbon than I do". Of course I have my likes and dislikes. I always suggest OWA to someone who is getting started.