Hunting in control states?

[ramblinman]

On a little vacation with the wife on the western nc/sc border. Stopped a few places so far, not really expecting to find anything interesting but that's part of the fun, right?

So far I've got a few bottles of OWA, just NAS stuff, but it's been tough to find in atlanta lately so I'm happy.

Larger question, is it worth doing many stops in controlled states and specifically in NC/SC, or do they pretty much have fixed inventory and send back what doesn't get sold or some other system?

And fun question, anyone want to recommend a good shop in the Asheville/Hendersonville area where I might luck into something interesting (and at this point weller 12 count as interesting!)? I assume not but never hurts to ask

[B.B. Babington]

dustys are rare in control states. if ya go to middle or larger size stores, you might some interesting surprises in current offerings.

[smokinjoe]

I find control states to sometimes have some very good pricing on some selected items, at times, on some decent bourbons. Pricing on these are well below ATL pricing if available while you're there. It is also worth your time to seek out the Virgin 101 7Yr while there. I am pretty sure NC is one of the few states (all control states AFAIK) that carry it.. Super nice whiskey for a cheap price.

[393foureyedfox]

TWO QUESTIONS.......

One, are there any store selected barrels or anything individual like that in control states, or is it just the mainstream stuff?

Two, Ive never seen a Virgin 101. Is it a NDP and similar in nature to Ezra 7/101? Or is it distributed by HH and is pretty much like HH 6 year with an extra year on it?

[HighInTheMtns]

TWO QUESTIONS.......

One, are there any store selected barrels or anything individual like that in control states, or is it just the mainstream stuff?

Two, Ive never seen a Virgin 101. Is it a NDP and similar in nature to Ezra 7/101? Or is it distributed by HH and is pretty much like HH 6 year with an extra year on it?

Depends on the control state. I have seen one private BT here in Utah, and I have seen evidence of a private Jack Single Barrel as well. That's it. In Michigan, for example, the private retailers can select barrels.

Virgin 101 is a Heaven Hill product.

[393foureyedfox]

Virgin 101 is a Heaven Hill product.

had I known that that was in NC, Id have stopped in the ABC we passed multiple times while in Asheville last month and picked one up. I'll have to remember that for next time. She had plenty of wine with her, and I had my bottle of Dickel 9, so we never stopped at any liquor stores. live n learn

[Special Reserve]

MI is a control state and among others, I'v had my hunting successes.

[smknjoe]

It's been several years since I've lived in a control state, but I would think you could have some lucky finds. I guess it all depends on the state and county you are in. In Alabama some counties that were completely dry are now wet. I would bet there are no dusties there at all. On the other hand there are other counties that have been wet for several decades and have a combination of ABC and privately owned stores. I would be very surprised if you couldn't pull a few dusties out of some of those small private stores.

Edit: You may have better luck if you could find out the local history of liquor in the areas you plan to hunt.

Edited January 21, 2014 by smknjoe

[GaryT]

My dad and I did a bit of dusty hunting in Michigan and were pleased to find some dusty handles of OF 86 (DSP 414), as well as some older WT ("No 8" brand, NAS). Both OF handles were in the same store, who actually gave us a price break to get rid of them (despite that being possibly illegal because of pricing limits, not that I would argue with him!) I hit twice as many stores in Georgia finding nothing with more than 7-8 yrs of dust on them. So I wouldn't rule out control states all together.

[callmeox]

Not all control states are created equal.

You can find dusties in Michigan because the state is the wholesaler and sets the minimum price as long as the product remains on the state list. Liquor on the shelves belongs to the store (like in non-control states) and once the item is de-listed, the owner no longer has a minimum price to deal with.

Ohio is dusty free because the state is the wholesaler, they set the retail price and they own every drop of liquor on store shelves in the state. Store owners sell the liquor on a consignment basis and do not own the inventory. When the state de-lists an item, they recall it from the stores. The only price variation you will see for an item in Ohio is due to different tax rates from county to county.

[suntour]

You don't find anything too dusty around here, was happy to get a paper label OWA though. I suspect the UPC code stays the same, the better chance you'll have to find it.

One interesting thing about Oregon is not only do they do barrel select programs here, sometimes it is less expensive than the regular thing. For instance there are a few places in Portland you can get private-selections of FRSB for 39.99 when its normally 49.99.

[Harry in WashDC]

TWO QUESTIONS.......

One, are there any store selected barrels or anything individual like that in control states, or is it just the mainstream stuff?

Two, Ive never seen a Virgin 101. Is it a NDP and similar in nature to Ezra 7/101? Or is it distributed by HH and is pretty much like HH 6 year with an extra year on it?

Can't answer the second but can speak to the first. I have an EW Single Barrel 2002 with a label saying it was picked just for VA ABC stores and lists the rick, floor, barrel, etc. on the label. I got it at a rural VA ABC Store I like a lot. Except they make me special order BT which some other VA ABC stores routinely carry.

[ramblinman]

had I known that that was in NC, Id have stopped in the ABC we passed multiple times while in Asheville last month and picked one up. I'll have to remember that for next time. She had plenty of wine with her, and I had my bottle of Dickel 9, so we never stopped at any liquor stores. live n learn

You might not have missed much, 3 stores in the area so far and haven't seen it anywhere, but theres at least one more Im going to check, so fingers crossed.

This place is making me a bit depressed though, went to a place with a nice selection of bourbons and Weller 12 was listed under the "Rare Finds" category!

[HighInTheMtns]

You might not have missed much, 3 stores in the area so far and haven't seen it anywhere, but theres at least one more Im going to check, so fingers crossed.

This place is making me a bit depressed though, went to a place with a nice selection of bourbons and Weller 12 was listed under the "Rare Finds" category!

Aw hell, they put that stuff behind glass at TPS.

[Special Reserve]

In Michigan dusties have diminished in recent years as have my hunting activities, but in years gone by there were treasures to be found. To think of the bottles I passed just because they would be in a number of stores. Oh my!

[Enoch]

SC is not a control state but unless you locate a store that cannot be Googled it has probably been cleaned out. Most of the stores in Charlotte and along I-95 have Virgin 101. Can't speak about other areas. I have picked up a few deals in NC is stores in smaller rural counties. I got several bottles of EC18 last year for $25 each. I have also seen an abundance of WTRye 101 old label in some areas as late as last November. Also ask what they have in the back. Some stores stock special order stuff for restaurants etc but don't put it on the shelf. Whether they will sell it depends on the mood of the manager.

[bourbonfoot]

TWO QUESTIONS.......

One, are there any store selected barrels or anything individual like that in control states, or is it just the mainstream stuff?

[VAGentleman]

In VA they've recently started carrying store selections. I've seen store picks of Jefferson's very old and regular offering, as well as EC12 and EWSB. I'm not sure if they have any others. I think they're testing the waters with a lot of this. For instance, my local store is apparently (per them telling me) one of two in the state that routinely carries special order items in stock. I'm not sure if it's a test for ordering more in the future or what. Considering most are BT products (as well as some KBD), I wouldn't be surprised if they started stocking them at a few high volume stores to get more stock of the yearly releases. This year, in addition to reservations of the Lot B, they also had ORVW and PVW 15 out on shelves, first come first serve.

I've seen store picks of John J Bowman and JDSB in VA ABC stores over the past few years, as well as Dickel 9 and 14 recently

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[michaelturtle1]

PA is totally out for "hunting" as they have the real time inventory of every store in the state available on the internet.. so you will never find a surprise...

[ramblinman]

SC is not a control state

Huh. I guess I assumed since they had some many out there laws (airplane bottles in bars until a few years ago, can't sell beer and distilled in the same place, etc).

We're taking some backroads back, but I don't really expect to pick up anything in SC. I've never really had any luck with the dusty hunting anyway, but I'll still stop in from time to time and see. If nothing else its interesting to see what brands are selling well in different areas.

I did pick up a couple bottles of the Virgin 101 in NC. Had a pour or two earlier, good straightforward stuff, but age stated at that price range and from the good folks at HH definitely happy to have a couple.

[bourbonfoot]

I've seen store picks of John J Bowman and JDSB in VA ABC stores over the past few years, as well as Dickel 9 and 14 recently

,

Ah yes, we do have the 9 down here as well. I forgot that's a store pick by default I guess, huh? The Bowman's is interesting though, I haven't seen that around here, or anywhere else in regards to store picks. Any real winners in that group you've had?

[VAGentleman]

Ah yes, we do have the 9 down here as well. I forgot that's a store pick by default I guess, huh? The Bowman's is interesting though, I haven't seen that around here, or anywhere else in regards to store picks. Any real winners in that group you've had?

The JDSB was good but pretty much the same profile as the regular. The JJB was excellent. Similar in taste to the TPS #45. I believe ASBowman had paused on doing barrel picks when Truman passed but may be starting them up again at some point

[altadoc]

You don't find anything too dusty around here, was happy to get a paper label OWA though. I suspect the UPC code stays the same, the better chance you'll have to find it.

One interesting thing about Oregon is not only do they do barrel select programs here, sometimes it is less expensive than the regular thing. For instance there are a few places in Portland you can get private-selections of FRSB for 39.99 when its normally 49.99.

suntour - which stores are these? i live in portland and certainly haven't come across this yet. seen lots of single barrel private selections but at the $60 price point

[Young Blacksmith]

Don't count SC out. I pulled a few Old Charters with faux tax strips on them this last summer.