What's Your Luckiest/Best Liquor Store Find?

[WsmataU]

In a real stroke of luck back in 2010 VABC distributors cleaned out some old shelves and somehow I got a 2001 ER17 and a 2006 WLW.

[MTJ]

Picture added as evidence. Several years ago my wife wanted me to drive 150 miles to take her Christmas shopping so I agreed but said I would be hunting dusty bottles. I bought all these at the same place for an average price of $45 a bottle. I also found (not pictured) at another store 4 EC 18yr and 3 McKenna 10yr BIB that were so dusty the owner cut the price by 50% I was out the door with the EC for $25 per bottle an the McKenna for $15.

I have always liked the PVW line I think it is because I prefer the wheat's but I have reached a point where I will not play that game any longer, so when my inventory is gone I will be happy with my latest hobby of blending lesser bourbon into something I like.

[troyce]

A PVW 23 at a large store in Columbia SC about 5 yrs ago for $90 . I told the mgr there was a mistake but he said the distributor made a mistake and that's the price. I said "sold ".

A Henry Clay and a Jos Finch for $75 each at a small Jackson,Tn store about 8 yrs ago.

Still cant find any Bourbon Supreme or Michael J Flynn , though.

[smokinjoe]

A PVW 23 at a large store in Columbia SC about 5 yrs ago for $90 . I told the mgr there was a mistake but he said the distributor made a mistake and that's the price. I said "sold ".

A Henry Clay and a Jos Finch for $75 each at a small Jackson,Tn store about 8 yrs ago.

Still cant find any Bourbon Supreme or Michael J Flynn , though.

That's cuz I bought it all. Suckah!!!!!! And, keep talkin' it up. I got Country ready to go all-in for the 14 cases at 5X retail!!!!!

[T Comp]

A PVW 23 at a large store in Columbia SC about 5 yrs ago for $90 . I told the mgr there was a mistake but he said the distributor made a mistake and that's the price. I said "sold ".

Well I'll be Jimmy...23 must just be your lucky number. Divide your 230 posts over 10 years here and voila...23 a year :grin:.

[Wryguy]

In my first year on SB.com I have gotten busy. All the following are single store finds. 3 JPS17 Batch 2 at $84.99? Sure. 3 WT12 CGF at ~$45? Definitely. 1 VWFRR, 3 Saz18, 3 ER17, 2 RR23, 2 RR25 all for MSRP with a 10% discount? No brainer. The whole 2013 BTAC for $55 each? I guess. But the topper: Lagavulin 30 for $450 in a package store in Manchester, CT. It's been a good year, and I've left out a bunch... Bing, please don't quit your job.

[Bourserker]

I got totally obsessed with finding those unicorn bottles the first year I got into bourbon a couple of years ago. During that year I walked into several different stores in different states and found the following on the shelf: PHC 4, BMH 23 rye, CEHT tornado, SAZ 18 PHC golden and ORVW 10 (107). I spent a lot of money on those and many other items that year, and have since lost interest in searching that stuff out. At the time I obtained those items I didn't think it was that big of a deal, but in hindsight I realize I lucked out on some of them. Oh yeah, and I found a lone FRsmB 2103 at the end of last year at the same place I pulled out the Saz 18 and ORVW 10 the year before. Thought I was going to miss out on that one, and was glad to find it.

[smknjoe]

Is Taylor tornado a unicorn bottle? I've never thought so, but what do I know?

Edit: This is about the 3rd or 4th time I've seen it referred to as such. That's why I ask.

[Bourserker]

Is Taylor tornado a unicorn bottle? I've never thought so, but what do I know?

Edit: This is about the 3rd or 4th time I've seen it referred to as such. That's why I ask.

Probably not, but one more bottle makes my list seem that much more awesome :bigeyes:

[HP12]

Once a PVW20, another time WLW. Oh, and PHC 1st.

[Old Dusty]

Is Taylor tornado a unicorn bottle? I've never thought so, but what do I know?

Edit: This is about the 3rd or 4th time I've seen it referred to as such. That's why I ask.

Joe, at this point unless they have held some back to release later then yes. That and probably the Sour Mash although they can make more of it.

[White Dog]

Of all my dusty finds, it would have to be the shop where I found about 15 200ml of Old Fitz BIB DSP-16, circa 1992. $2.99 each. The reason is that I've also found many 750ml and Liters over the years to drink, so the 200ml have been mainly used as gifts for people who understand what it is, but have never had or owned any. I love seeing people's faces light up at getting a bottle.

[HighInTheMtns]

Of all my dusty finds, it would have to be the shop where I found about 15 200ml of Old Fitz BIB DSP-16, circa 1992. $2.99 each. The reason is that I've also found many 750ml and Liters over the years to drink, so the 200ml have been mainly used as gifts for people who understand what it is, but have never had or owned any. I love seeing people's faces light up at getting a bottle.

Love this. All the S-W Old Fitz I have came from other members... I still get a kick out of seeing it on my shelf.

Not much better value than making someone's day for 3 bucks.

[Yeti]

I pulled more than 2 cases of FRSmBLE2012 from the local shop last year. The discounted bottle cost would make your head spin.

[tylermke]

My luckiest find would be about a year ago. A Southeastern WI store had 12 bottles of low batch JPS18 sitting on the bottom shelf. I ended up giving 4 bottles to a friend at cost, traded 4, and left the remaining 4 for the bunker. The bottles were all very reasonably priced and had a good coat of dust. The owner was happy to see them go and gave me 10% off as a volume discount.

Edited January 17, 2014 by tylermke

[393foureyedfox]

Not much better value than making someone's day for 3 bucks.

for both you and the receiver! Id be happy getting one of my favorites from a friend for a gift, but something like that would be awesome!

[tanstaafl2]

Never been so lucky to find a big score of rare stuff but i only rarely get outside my usual shopping area and have always depended on the kindness of fellow SBers!

I did walk into a new store to me and find several WLW's and CEHT Tornados sitting next to each other on the shelf at retail. I acquired several and shared the find with a few fellow SBers such that they didn't remain long.

In those days, still in just the early stages of whiskey nervosa, I figured this hunting whiskey thing would be easy. Now I probably would have plucked them all from the shelf for myself, greedy bastard that I am! :cool:

[WsmataU]

I previously stated some old BTAC was my luckiest find, but I would like to amend that statement. I was "Lucky" enought to buy a Rathskeller before I knew what it was. Later I traded it for my first ORVW15 (L'burg) ....so I guess you could extrapolate that I found an ORVW15 on the shelf a few years ago

[Auracom]

Joe, at this point unless they have held some back to release later then yes. That and probably the Sour Mash although they can make more of it.

I imagine if any retailer still has Tornado, they've likely tagged a unicorn-like premium to the price. [iMO] It wasn't worth the ~$79.99 msrp a year ago and isn't worth anything more than that now.

On-topic - I'm still pretty new, but I'd say landing any 2013 PVW directly from a store is plenty lucky. As a beneficiary of great timing, I happened upon a PVW20 at msrp and very graciously accepted.

[RWBadley]

I've been occasionally quite lucky.

Back in about '97 I scored a case of Hirsch 20 and a half case of Hirsch 16 for $45 and $35 a bottle.

Lately- I'd say the few bottles of OFBB '13 at $34 bottle. Great stuff at a good price. It reminds me of a 98 proof GTS '13. I'll take that at $34 all day long.

[Old Dusty]

I previously stated some old BTAC was my luckiest find, but I would like to amend that statement. I was "Lucky" enought to buy a Rathskeller before I knew what it was. Later I traded it for my first ORVW15 (L'burg) ....so I guess you could extrapolate that I found an ORVW15 on the shelf a few years ago

Hmmmm. Between those two bottles I would have been the proverbial dog w two bones turning in circles until I dropped dead.

[dSculptor]

Got a call in Dec. from a local store and said we got some pvw here for you and asked what was avail.and they told me they had one of all.. of course I asked how much for the 23 and it was retail... I was the 1st person that got the call... I'll be right there! Also found some aaa10 this month, along with some vob6 yr, and I went inside a place and asked about any higher end stuff, told me it was all gone, well we got to talking some more, and was interrupted by a cust. so went for a little stroll thru the isles and walked by the locked glass cabinet and there was a vw 13 rye at retail, he didn't even know it was in there.. I walked by it twice... mine now!

[BSS]

Van Winkle Binny's 18 YR around 10 years ago. Bought it just because I didn't know it existed. They had several on the shelf....should have bought more. Or the W.L Weller 19......same story

[bourbonfoot]

Van Winkle Binny's 18 YR around 10 years ago. Bought it just because I didn't know it existed. They had several on the shelf....should have bought more. Or the W.L Weller 19......same story

Wow, nice stuff. I didn't know either of those existed.

[smknjoe]

Wow, nice stuff. I didn't know either of those existed.

Go check out the old "Show Your Stash" threads from yesteryear. There are many Van Winkle bottles, and other brands, that you have probably never heard of.