Better Availability

[KyleCBreese]

I was thinking about how to make things like VW, BTAC, 4RLE, etc. better available.

I thought the best way would be to offer 375 ml bottles. Double the amount of bottles available would give more people a shot at acquiring some. What do others think about this option?

[The Black Tot]

Your heart is in the right place, but I'd say no way. I hate and resent half-sized bottles in the premium market. I'd stop buying them if they were released that way. So there you go - more for everyone else (not that I've gotten any BTAC this year yet anyway).

[The Black Tot]

Your heart is in the right place, but I'd say absolutely not. I hate half-sized bottles and avoid premiums or limiteds that use this tactic. So maybe you're right - maybe there'd be more for everyone else if I didn't buy 'em (although I haven't scored much limited stuff this fall).

I favor lotteries to cut out flipping, and also would prefer to see the distributors and distilleries getting involved to cut allocations to gouging retailers. I am fully in favor of an internet snitch program.

[oke&coke]

I say offer it up for sale to the faithful on forums like this then send the leftovers to the arena to be fought over like roman gladiators for our drunken amusement.

[Richnimrod]

At first blush, it seems a wonderful idea. Although I would love the result of being among the 'preferred class' of Bourbon purchasers, I will not advocate for such a scenario.

It's anti-free-market, not to mention anti-American.

While all of us would like to be considered 'special', and 'above the line' in any endeavor; the idea of a privileged class being given first dibs on a very limited release of rare and supposedly-fabulous drams, the ego-trip would not enhance the experience... In fact, I think it would belittle the pours themselves. I'd rather do without and dream, or get lucky and enjoy whatever I do manage to taste.

Just MHO.

[petrel800]

I've long thought cutting the special releases down to a 375ml or adding a 500ml size would help with the availability. Obviously you would increase the number of bottles, but the flip side to this is the pricing. If you just cut the pricing in half or averaged the current retail price to whatever smaller size you made, it wouldn't make any difference. People would still clear, flip, buy multiples, etc. The bottom line is the only way the a smaller bottle size helps is if the price increases along with it. These bottles at the MSRP are under priced and it is reason why finding them is a nightmare.

[El Vino]

Itl is like the debate in NYC over supersize sugary soft drinks. If they prevent you from buying the Big Gulp, what is to stop you from buying two extra large sods. Format size won't stop people from hoarding. Only way to solve the problem is to increase supply. But when gougers and flippers are the ones making the crazy profits, that doesn't help create an incentive for the distillers to invest in additional capacity. I'd rather see more rational pricing where the producers benefit not the flippers and gougers.

[mbroo5880i]

I have always thought including a 50 ml sample as an add on to one of their standard brands would be a great way to allow enthusiasts to try limited selections and introduce new buyers to the standard brands. The name of the game is to sell more whiskey.

For example, say BT sells for $30 (750 ml), include a 50 ml sample of GTS and charge $40 for both. This would only work where the LE's are owned by the same company. For example, you couldn't package Weller and Pappy. However, BT has a lot of options and Four Roses, HH and BF could do it. It would be a great brand promotion for the standard brands. "As a Buffalo Trace drinker, we want to show our appreciation by sharing a sample of one of our special whiskeys with you. Thank you for your support!"

Another option that you see with scotch is to provide samples (50 ml) of several LE in one package. I bet a 5 pack of 50 ml BTAC samples would easily sell $50. Not saying it is worth it but people would probably buy it.

In all of the cases described above, the regular LEs would still be released. This would just give more people an opportunity to try them.

[KyleCBreese]

I bet a 5 pack of 50 ml BTAC samples would easily sell $50. Not saying it is worth it but people would probably buy it

.

[Flyfish]

Beam sells their small batch bourbons as a collection of four little airline size bottles. How about dividing the FR LEs into two five packs with the high ryes in one and the low ryes in the other?

[dSculptor]

I always thought the same thing about the samples, I would love to see those around, years ago there was a whisky called the Last Drop, I almost thought about "investing" in one and had even tracked one down, but was interesting is that it came with a 50 ml. sample so you didn't have to crack the 750, I always thought that was a great idea. I would imagine it would be too cost productive for distilleries to do this, but hey I'd be all over it.

[tanstaafl2]

There is little incentive for it and the money it would cost could no doubt be better spent tracking down pedophiles, murderers and other criminals in the same class as the large scale flippers, but it would be nice to see the laws in place enforced with a few high profile sting operations to take them down. Could confiscate their ill gotten booty and auction it off to buy bullet proof vests or whatever. At least the absurd amounts of money spent by the bourbon posers would go to something useful.

Wouldn't even need to spend money putting them in jail! A period of time in stocks followed by a good old fashioned public flogging would work for me...

:hot:

OK, maybe that is a bit radical but it does sound rather appealing! And it might start cutting into the flipper trade. :cool:

[ramblinman]

Nice thought but I'd guess zero economic incentive to do this. They're businesses made to make money and scarcity/rarity is a good think for the special editions as they're more or less a branding exercise anyway

[PaulO]

I like the airline bottle idea. I have wondered, what if they put all the limited high demand stuff in the little bottles?

[amg]

If we're talking single servings now, they already do that by selling the majority of the bottles to bars and restaurants.

[Paddy]

If we're talking single servings now, they already do that by selling the majority of the bottles to bars and restaurants.

^^^^^^^^^hit the nail on the head!^^^^^^^^^^^^^:thankyousign:

[Clavius]

I wish it was all only available here in Kentucky. Muahaha! :grin:

[jvd99]

MSRP if you break the seal at the counter and take a drink and 10x MSRP if you don't. Drinkers get regular price and flippers get a taste of their own medicine.

[The Black Tot]

MSRP if you break the seal at the counter and take a drink and 10x MSRP if you don't. Drinkers get regular price and flippers get a taste of their own medicine.

That's actually really good. Apart from the signs on all Texas liquor stores that say "It is a crime (misdemeanor) to consume alcohol on these premises". I've often wondered how they get away with tasting events, but I forget before I'm around someone I could ask.

[The Black Tot]

How about MSRP if you'll sign your name (checked against your ID) and cell phone number (checked by calling you live at the register) at the point of purchase in large, legible letters across the front of the label with a big Sharpie marker?

[GaryT]

I would love for Four Roses to do 10 bottle package, 50 mL of all 10 recipes at barrel proof. 500 mL and a lot of extra packaging/processing, but I'd pay $100 for it. Where is Santa when we need him

[petrel800]

There is little incentive for it and the money it would cost could no doubt be better spent tracking down pedophiles, murderers and other criminals in the same class as the large scale flippers, but it would be nice to see the laws in place enforced with a few high profile sting operations to take them down. Could confiscate their ill gotten booty and auction it off to buy bullet proof vests or whatever. At least the absurd amounts of money spent by the bourbon posers would go to something useful.

Wouldn't even need to spend money putting them in jail! A period of time in stocks followed by a good old fashioned public flogging would work for me...

:hot:

OK, maybe that is a bit radical but it does sound rather appealing! And it might start cutting into the flipper trade. :cool:

[Grain Belt]

I'll have a pour of EWBIB while you guys sort this important stuff out.

[The Black Tot]

I would love for Four Roses to do 10 bottle package, 50 mL of all 10 recipes at barrel proof. 500 mL and a lot of extra packaging/processing, but I'd pay $100 for it. Where is Santa when we need him

Make it 100mL of each. That way the package would be 1L and would narrowly make it across most world borders for international travelers.

Also, it's hard to do a taste-off with only 50mL!

Great idea, btw.

[PaulO]

If we're talking single servings now, they already do that by selling the majority of the bottles to bars and restaurants.

There was a Southern state that used to be required to serve all liquor in bars from little bottles. That sounds pretty silly if you're talking about run of the mill well liquor. On the other hand, if we're talking about LE and allocated stuff. This could help to assure you get a good full pour, and not from some partially full bottle that went stale.