Dusty hunting

[Dave43]

I'm looking for suggestions on what has been recently discontinued and is worth looking for. I'm taking a trip to northern Minnesota from minneapolis and will hit some smaller liquor stores along the way. I know distribution varies but what should I look for? One I know for sure is any heaven hill as this has dissapered entirely in the metro area.

[The Black Tot]

Hi Dave,

Answering this question is way too difficult, and it is generally expected that you do some searching around first.

The best way to learn how to spot a rare bottle is to just keep going into stores and staring at the bottles until you start to subconsciously register what are the usual suspects and what the outliers are.

The good news is, this is a lot of fun. Don't forget to buy a few that appeal to you to taste along the way!

Edit: Along the way of your bourbon journey...not the drive to Minnesota!

Edited August 20, 2014 by The Black Tot

[Restaurant man]

Eagle rare 10 just went from single barrel to small batch. VOB 100 just lost its age statement. Old chater 10 year and HH 6 year white label are drying up. Those are the recents. Good luck

And happy hunting

[PaulO]

I would look for HH 8 year old. MN was one of the few places that used to get it. Mostly I would say just buy items that you can't get locally.

[squire]

Hey Dave, searching for dustys in out of the way places is a lot like fishing new waters which is to say not very productive but always a pleasant way to pass time. I shy away from NDPs in their gussied up dress because their seductive packaging aside MGP whisky is pretty much the same no matter who's bottle it's in so instead of a new taste experience you may wind up overpaying for the same old one.

I look for older expressions of standards like Grand Dad, Taylor, Harper, Charter, et al, partly because they're good and partly because there's a better chance I'll find some, and that far North seek out other formerly common brands such as Old Hickory, Old Quaker, Ten High (not the new version), Cabin Still and the Walker brands, particularly Walkers Deluxe 8 year old 100 proof Bottled in Bond. Come to think of it 8 year Bottled in Bond is a good guideline generally. The 3 year old Fleischman's Rye is worth it's novelty value. I wouldn't turn down 80 proof grade whiskys if they're old enough, cheap enough and have tax stamps. 80 proof doesn't get much respect around here but a well crafted 4 year old version can be very decent and if not ginger ale drowns a lot of sins.

I usually approach the counter with a purchase in hand to establish myself as a paying customer before asking about any old dusty bottles in back.

Edited August 20, 2014 by squire

[Dave43]

Great advice, Squire. Thanks.

Hey Dave, searching for dustys in out of the way places is a lot like fishing new waters which is to say not very productive but always a pleasant way to pass time. I shy away from NDPs in their gussied up dress because their seductive packaging aside MGP whisky is pretty much the same no matter who's bottle it's in so instead of a new taste experience you may wind up overpaying for the same old one.

I look for older expressions of standards like Grand Dad, Taylor, Harper, Charter, et al, partly because they're good and partly because there's a better chance I'll find some, and that far North seek out other formerly common brands such as Old Hickory, Old Quaker, Ten High (not the new version), Cabin Still and the Walker brands, particularly Walkers Deluxe 8 year old 100 proof Bottled in Bond. Come to think of it 8 year Bottled in Bond is a good guideline generally. The 3 year old Fleischman's Rye is worth it's novelty value. I wouldn't turn down 80 proof grade whiskys if they're old enough, cheap enough and have tax stamps. 80 proof doesn't get much respect around here but a well crafted 4 year old version can be very decent and if not ginger ale drowns a lot of sins.

I usually approach the counter with a purchase in hand to establish myself as a paying customer before asking about any old dusty bottles in back.

[393foureyedfox]

HH 6 year white label are drying up.

I didnt know the 6 year white label was available in MN, just the 8 year 86 proof. I know the day will come when the 6 year BIB goes away, but Im hoping its later rather than sooner.

[Dave43]

I didnt know the 6 year white label was available in MN, just the 8 year 86 proof. I know the day will come when the 6 year BIB goes away, but Im hoping its later rather than sooner.

I believe your right...I have only seen the 4 yr gold BIB. Although lately HH has disappeared.

[Dannabis]

Best of luck. Myself I've been passively dusty hunting by slowly visiting all the liquor stores in a large radius around me and some that I that I randomly pass by.

I've yet to really find anything particularly interesting, but I think it's helping me learn the area .

[Paul W]

I have tried to read everything that is out there on SD and the interwebz in general regarding dusty hunting.

It seems to me that there are two ingredients:

1. You have to find a store that actually has dusties. The conventional wisdom is that your best shot of doing so is in the less economically-advantaged neighborhoods of large metro areas. (For me, that is a challenge since I don't live in a metro area.) The other indicator is liquor stores that do not show up on Google, which I assume increases the chances that they have not been pillaged by another dusty hunter before you got there.

2. Assuming the store has dusties, you have to find a way to get access to them. At the back of the bottom shelf behind the counter, or in the back room of the store somewhere. Neither place is easy access and so you have to develop your interpersonal skills as they apply to talking to liquor store counter persons.

This is a dual challenge, since when you are not successful you don't know if the store you are in has dusties and your "charm" was insufficient to get access to them, or if the store simply has no dusties and you are wasting your charm on a dry hole.

Just sort of thinking about it. I enjoy the idea that dusties are out there, even though I personally have not found any as of yet.

[bin31z]

Yeah, to be perfectly honest though, its a game of luck for most of us. The people you see on the forum that are picking up super rare dusties are sometimes doing some intense hunting. They will do stuff overlay all stores that applied for a alcohol license per the state regulatory agency on top of google maps and split up cities by quadrants. People hit like 100 + stores a day. I for one do not have that kind of patience or stamina. You have to take into account that these are stores where people stop in to grab a swisher sweet and a 40, the clerks often don't speak english (in California at least) and are not friendly in most cases. After going to 20 stores that all sell modern bottom shelf stuff, I start to feel pretty discouraged. Alot of times, dusty hunting is just a waste of time. So take that into consideration, because in most instances, you will not find anything at all.

[Paul W]

Yeah, I kind of get that. Even under the best circumstances, you strike out 19/20 or 49/50 times. Language/cultural barriers with the people running the cash register are significant (at least in California). And I don't have the time or the patience to do the scientific grid search or hit 50 stores in a day. And, to top that all off, there is a limited and non-replenishing supply of dusties out there and an ever-increasing number of people looking for them.

But still, it is fascinating, like an adult Easter egg hunt. And folks like you and BMA serve an important function, proving to observers that there are Easter eggs still out there waiting to be found, even if us observers have never personally found one.

I think it sort of like fishing: if what you enjoy is only the actual act catching of fish, you are not going to enjoy fishing. Also, if you enjoy fishing, you are not very enthusiastic about attracting newbies to fish in your favorite spots.

[ramblinman]

intense hunting. They will do stuff overlay all stores that applied for a alcohol license per the state regulatory agency on top of google maps and split up cities by quadrants. People hit like 100 + stores a day.

Some of yall crazy, its just bourbon.

[The Black Tot]

Don't forget #0. You have to explore enough current production bourbon to develop an experienced appreciation of the various characteristics of bourbon, in order to appreciate what is unique and valuable in a dusty, to begin with.

You will regret it if you start out learning how to taste with bourbons that, once gone, you will wish you had waited until you had developed your tasting talents first, in order to really get the full experience from them.

Perhaps you already have a very advanced tasting experience behind you. But you're on post 8, so I thought I'd mention it, just in case.

[bin31z]

It is a great feeling to find you first dusty though. You have to be at least successful some of the time to keep at it, or else you lose hope. I think in most metropolitan areas, all the super rare stuff like SW old fiz is mostly gone. It is not as bad as dusty hunting for scotch but it's getting to that point.

[Paul W]

Very reasonable observation Black Tot. Here is where I am coming from: In my very limited time being obsessed with bourbon, I have determined that OGD BiB and 114 are some of my favorite pours. My dusty-desire is basically driven by the oft-repeated proposition that the OGD of the ND days is miles and miles better than the current product. I would like to compare the old to the new.

I am not really chasing super-top end contemporary bourbons for the reason you state: they would be wasted on me as I still have lots to learn just tasting what can be bought for $30 or under per bottle. And if I somehow did fall ass-backwards into finding a really good dusty, I would probably taste it but then put it in my "vault" (gun safe) to save for much much later when I can really appreciate what I have after developing my tastes on more ordinary and available bourbon.

[ramblinman]

I'm not sure finding a dusty ND OGD would be possible anywhere retail. ND sold to JB in 1987, so thats a LONG time on the shelf or in a back room. Don't take it as gospel, I haven't done the dusty hunting thing, but that seems really unlikely. I came across a bottle of Old Ezra from 2009 a few months back by happenstance and thought that was pretty crazy these days.

Might be better to let people know you're really into bourbon/whiskey and hope they keep you in mind if they're helping an older relative move and that involves downsizing their bar.

[The Black Tot]

Bin31Z is finding them this week, Ramblinman.

@Paulw. Exactly what I do. I am always working on tasting stuff (except when I'm at sea for work), but I save the special bottles until I feel like I'm really ready. I'll drink them all - but I'll learn my tasting craft on things I can replace, of which there are a great deal of excellent offerings on the shelf in almost every market.

Edited August 26, 2014 by The Black Tot

[ramblinman]

Bin31Z is finding them this week, Ramblinman.

That is both awesome and crazy. I stand corrected. I'd think there might be some out of the way places down where I grew up in middle GA, but I'm guessing the GBS crew has cleared out most everything in this state

[fishnbowljoe]

Thought I'd chime in here with my two cents. Well, maybe a nickels worth. :grin: I can't say that I've completely given up duty hunting, but for the most part I have. If I'm traveling someplace I haven't been to before, I'll probably still map out a few stores, just so I can stop in and see what they have, regardless if it's something dusty, or just something I might be interested in.

I went through my dusty hunting phase soon after I got into bourbon, and became a member here. I'm not bragging, but IMHO, I've had my fair share of success's in the past. Now, I've gotten to the point where I no longer crave the "thrill of the hunt" so to speak. I've grown pretty doggoned comfortable with what I've had the pleasure to find over the years, and with what I've been able to bunker. You can call it achieving Bourbon Zen, or you can call it whatever you want. It really doesn't matter. Besides, it's almost to the point where I'm getting too old and tired for this crap. Not…..!

Cheers! Joe

[bin31z]

Yea I can prolly hook anyone up with ND OGD. The store I found still had at least 4-5 liters on the shelf that I left. Send me a pm if you interested.

[PaulO]

There actually are some discontinued bourbons out there to be found: Old Grandad 86 proof, Basil Hayden 8 year. Ridgemont Reserve 1792 8 year, Very Old Barton BIB 6 year, Old Overholt Rye 4 year. The Grandad changed from 86 to 80 proof. The others lost their age statement, except OO now has a 3 year age. The only one I cared about to hoard was the VOB.

[compliance]

Very reasonable observation Black Tot. Here is where I am coming from: In my very limited time being obsessed with bourbon, I have determined that OGD BiB and 114 are some of my favorite pours. My dusty-desire is basically driven by the oft-repeated proposition that the OGD of the ND days is miles and miles better than the current product. I would like to compare the old to the new.

I am not really chasing super-top end contemporary bourbons for the reason you state: they would be wasted on me as I still have lots to learn just tasting what can be bought for $30 or under per bottle. And if I somehow did fall ass-backwards into finding a really good dusty, I would probably taste it but then put it in my "vault" (gun safe) to save for much much later when I can really appreciate what I have after developing my tastes on more ordinary and available bourbon.

Hi Paul. There's a way easier way to taste dusties than hunting all over creation for them that I'd like to suggest to you. Make friends! If you're in the LA area there are a few groups of us that do tastings now and then. At our last tasting we had a flight of OGD that contained early 80's, late 90s, and current bottles. I've gotten to try plenty of dusties through friends I've met because of SB that I'd never find in the wild. I do some hunting too but it's 95% fruitless and the scores aren't anything great. Keep an eye on the bourbon social forum for events. If you're in LA pm me your contact info and I'll let you know next time we're planning a get together.

[Paul W]

That is a very kind offer, compliance, and speaks well of both you and the board community. I am going to send you a PM.

I also allow that part of the appeal of dusty hunting is that I am kind of obsessive anyway, and this is a low-cost and relatively harmless obsession compared to some of my previous ones.

[The Black Tot]

this is a low-cost and relatively harmless obsession compared to some of my previous ones.

It's probably not too late to rename yourself Paul "Danger" W