Good news, bad news in Alabama

[ratcheer]

I stopped at an ABC store this afternoon to see if I could find anything new or interesting.

Well, the good news was, first I found a bottle of OFBB 89/02 on sale for $28. There was only one and I picked it up, immediately. A year ago, it was $38. So, now I have three bottles in reserve. This is my current all-time favorite, as long as it lasts.

Then, I looked up to see a single bottle of Kentucky Spirit with a crude, handmade sign under it saying, "$34.95 Closeout". That is $11 off the usual price, so I also took it and went to the checkout. I asked the lady, "Does this mean there won't be any more KS?", and she replied, "Yes".

So, apparently there is not only not anything new and interesting in Alabama, there will soon be one less good bourbon to choose from. Last year, it was Rock Hill Farms, this year, Kentucky Spirit. What's next?

Tim

[Black85L98]

That stinks. I go to a new spirit store every chance I get. I just hope to find a deal, or a jem.

[Dave_in_Canada]

Tim, I understand your pain when you see cutbacks, but you don't know how good you have it, until it's gone.

In our lovely government controlled system, here is our entire selection of bourbons available (within the entire province of British Columbia, some 4 million inhabitants):

Buffalo Trace

Jim Beam White label

Knob Creek

Maker's Mark

Wild Turkey (80 proof, no age designation)

Woodford Reserve

There's no such thing here as special orders. And if I was to place an order via legal channels, I would pay duty, two government taxes, plus a local liquor distribution branch markup.

Now you know why I travel regularly.

[ratcheer]

You're right, that is even worse than Alabama. I do see three good bourbons there (BT, KC, & WR) with a good variety of styles. But I agree, living on three bourbons would get old, fast.

Tim

[ratcheer]

So, do you have privately operated stores in MS that can stock whatever they want to order? In AL, we do have some private stores, but they can still only stock what they can get through ABC. So, if ABC closes out KS, then after it is all gone, a private store would not be able to get more.

Tim

[cornsqueezins]

Yeah, Tim, that really sucks....makes me wonder what else might be taken off the shelves around here. I stopped by an ABC store in Huntsville about a week ago and, like you, spied a bottle of OFBB '02 on sale for $28. I immediately grabbed it up. That was going to be my only purchase but then I noticed Blanton's on sale for $33 (was $45). So I snatched that one up too.

But now that I think about it, seems like there was a "closeout" sign under the Blanton's bottles much like the one you saw under WT KS. Are we seeing the last of Blanton's too??

Also, was it Omar that made mention in a thread a few days ago about Alabama declining shipments of OFBB '03. What gives??

You'd think a lack of true bourbon connoisseurs in this region would mean more good bourbon for the rest of us. But evidently we're not drinking it fast enough so the ABC is finding it unprofitable.

-Troy

[ratcheer]

I'm afraid you hit the nail on the head. And yes, it sucks.

I need to go find me a $33 bottle of Blanton's before its gone, too.

Tim