2014 Four Roses LE Single Barrel

[cnybrbnhntr]

Has anyone purchased this in the state of NY? Wondering if I missed the boat on this one.

[danz]

I heard a couple of days ago that retailers in NY may receive it this week or next week, but that they did not really expect it this week. My guess is that it hasn't hit stores yet, but may do so "soon".

Edit: they may receive the small batch limited edition soon. I suspect the single barrel has been out for a while.

Edited October 10, 2014 by danz

[Cards fan]

I was shocked when my local store got a case last week.

[bicktrav]

I was shocked when my local store got a case last week.

Of the LE single barrel? That's actually really shocking. Have they received the LE small batch yet?

[Cards fan]

It was the single barrel. They haven't gotten the small batch yet. I picked up 2 bottles and 2 of my friends bought the other 4.

[bananaslug]

I got to try this when in Palm Springs for a wedding. A hipster bar had it behind the counter. I asked how much for pour, and the guy tells me "14". :bigeyes: I happily had three pours and it was great to finally try the stuff. Talking to the bar owner later that night, I learned they charged my the normal single barrel price and he was supposed to charge me $45 a pour. Got lucky I guess.

[nd2005]

I got to try this when in Palm Springs for a wedding. A hipster bar had it behind the counter. I asked how much for pour, and the guy tells me "14". :bigeyes: I happily had three pours and it was great to finally try the stuff. Talking to the bar owner later that night, I learned they charged my the normal single barrel price and he was supposed to charge me $45 a pour. Got lucky I guess.

Did you really think it was only supposed to be $14?

[tigerlam92]

At $45 a pour, I won't even be thinking about it. $14 a pour is a great price though.

I had paid $16 an ounce for the 2012 LE SmB at a SF bar but I think that was a special price. Their other stuff was very expensive.

Hahaha, so yes I would think it's correct and just keep drinking.

[nd2005]

At $45 a pour, I won't even be thinking about it. $14 a pour is a great price though.

I had paid $16 an ounce for the 2012 LE SmB at a SF bar but I think that was a special price. Their other stuff was very expensive.

Hahaha, so yes I would think it's correct and just keep drinking.

If a bartender told me it was $14 a pour, I would have asked "are you sure"?

I think they were knowingly taking advantage of a clueless bartender.

[Paul W]

Interesting quasi-ethical question presented here. As a lawyer, I am uniquely unqualified to express an opinion on an ethical issue. However, for the same reason, I am also uniquely unable to shut up.

I would have gladly accepted the offer to sell me drinks at $14 -- the bar is certainly not taking a loss on the bottle even at $14 and, besides that, we are told this is a "hipster bar" anyway so I am sure they are making plenty of money fleecing hipsters on bourbon already.

Also, Go Slugs!

[Tony Santana]

Interesting quasi-ethical question presented here. As a lawyer, I am uniquely unqualified to express an opinion on an ethical issue. However, for the same reason, I am also uniquely unable to shut up.

I would have gladly accepted the offer to sell me drinks at $14 -- the bar is certainly not taking a loss on the bottle even at $14 and, besides that, we are told this is a "hipster bar" anyway so I am sure they are making plenty of money fleecing hipsters on bourbon already.

Also, Go Slugs!

Agree with Paul on all counts. Except for the "Go Slugs" part, I don't care about them.

I've actually pointed out an error not in my favor when paying a bill, but in cases where I absolutely knew it was wrong. Here, they are still making a profit.

Question - you order a bourbon neat. It doesn't even have to be a limited edition, let's say Makers Mark at $7 a pour. The young, possibly newbie bartender gets out a good sized tumbler and basically fills it up, well more than the standard 1.5 or even 2 ounce pour. Do you complain? Offer to pay 2 or 3 times what you know the price to be? How is that any different than the 4R SB LE at $14 conundrum, other than the scope of the error? I take the glass, enjoy it and leave a hefty tip.

[kcgumbohead]

14/pour is reasonable. When I had the 2012 SmB LE here locally it was 13/pour and listed on the menu at 13 for the 4R LEs. Now 40 something??? THATS a problem.

[amg]

Yeah, there's still some decent margin in a $14 pour of a 4 Roses LE. I wouldn't feel like I was taking advantage unless it was below cost and the bartender was obviously clueless.

$20/pour seems like a fair price for that, but $45? Forget it.

[The Black Tot]

That's only a $100 bottle. $14/pour is completely fair, and I would never have suspected that there was an error.

This is just an annual limited release. It's not like the 125th anniversary.

At 45 they'd have the whole bottle cost covered with the first three pours!

Edited November 5, 2014 by The Black Tot

[HD 335]

Unless I missed a post, how many ounces is the pour? $14 per ounce is fair in SF. I've had the 2012 FR LE SmB for $19 and the 2013 LE SmB for $15 an ounce.

[bananaslug]

Hmm, I never thought about the ethical questions presented. The bartender was clueless, so he asked another bartender and after they conferred they came up with $14, so I believed it was simply a good price being offered.

Unless I missed a post, how many ounces is the pour? $14 per ounce is fair in SF. I've had the 2012 FR LE SmB for $19 and the 2013 LE SmB for $15 an ounce.

The bartender measured out 1.5 oz.

[jeffrey r]

Hmm, I never thought about the ethical questions presented. The bartender was clueless, so he asked another bartender and after they conferred they came up with $14, so I believed it was simply a good price being offered.

The bartender measured out 1.5 oz.

In all seriousness, it never occurred to me for a second that you did anything wrong, and apparently others feel the same. $14 a pour ain't cheap in and of itself, and it's not like this is some ultra-rare whiskey. Glad you were able to enjoy it.

[nd2005]

Maybe it was an overreaction on my part to the "hipster" bartender comment and going back for multiple pours - the way he phrased it made it seem like he was knowingly taking advantage of a clueless employee (who might have had to pay back the bar out of his wages for the mistake).

Unless they are getting the jigger out and measuring a pour, I assume that when I order neat the pour size is what it is.

Edited November 5, 2014 by nd2005

[dcbt]

I'm more struck by the $45 / pour price. Assuming 16 pours per bottle, that's $720 for the bottle that the owner is looking to get. Call it $700 to allow for some spillage. He only got $42 total for the three pours to bananaslug, so if he still wants to get his $700, the pour price for the last 13 pours is going up to $50+.

[HD 335]

The bartender measured out 1.5 oz.

$45 for 1.5oz is on the high end. I would've not given a second thought that $14 is a mistake.

[oke&coke]

I would have paid $14 for a pour in a heartbeat and I never would have suspected that they were under charging for a second. $45 now that would have made me walk.

[Paul W]

Maybe it was an overreaction on my part to the "hipster" bartender comment and going back for multiple pours - the way he phrased it made it seem like he was knowingly taking advantage of a clueless employee (who might have had to pay back the bar out of his wages for the mistake).

Doesn't everyone hate hipsters? Perhaps I am assuming too much.

In any event, in California it would be illegal to make the employee who made the mistake pay the difference. You could fire the employee for making the mistake, but you can't (legally) make them pay you back if the loss was due to negligence (as opposed to stealing or other willful misconduct). I am sure not here to say that nothing like that ever actually occurs in the real world (because it does), but if it did, the employee would have a valid claim against the employer.

[nd2005]

Doesn't everyone hate hipsters? Perhaps I am assuming too much.

In any event, in California it would be illegal to make the employee who made the mistake pay the difference. You could fire the employee for making the mistake, but you can't (legally) make them pay you back if the loss was due to negligence (as opposed to stealing or other willful misconduct). I am sure not here to say that nothing like that ever actually occurs in the real world (because it does), but if it did, the employee would have a valid claim against the employer.

That's good to know. I've heard anecdotes from bars in my area of holding bartenders accountable for missing inventory or mispricing, etc.

I think it's funny that everyone thinks 14 is a reasonable pour price for a limited release like four roses - makes me think they haven't been to a bar in the last several years.

I was in SF last week for work and would have been pleased to get regular four roses single barrel for that price.

[Kpiz]

I was in SF last week for work and would have been pleased to get regular four roses single barrel for that price.

Preach. SF bar prices are ridiculous. I still pre-game like I'm 21 so that I only have to buy a couple drinks when I'm on the town.

Anyways, I haven't actually seen the 2014 LESB at a bar here, but I paid $30 for a pour of the 2013 LESB, which wasn't much more than an ounce. I'd be curious if anyone has seen this somewhere in the city (besides Hard Water) and how much it was.

Edited November 6, 2014 by Kpiz

[Paddy]

^^^^Sadly, Palm Springs is one of the few places on this earth where most folks wouldn't blink an eye at a $45 charge for that drink. $14 was a steal not only there, but anywhere, in my opinion.