Biggest regret for not buying?

[Old Dusty]

Sam's was a great Chicago liquor store that was eaten by Binny's. They had their own 1B of ORVW 15. It was around $40, I believe, which was a lot to pay for bourbon at that time. I never even considered it. That's a shame.

Sam's had a barrel proof 20 IIRC, true?

[T Comp]

Sam's had a barrel proof 20 IIRC, true?

Another reason to have been here in 2003-like Cliff :cool:-http://www.straightbourbon.com/forums/showthread.php?1602-Sam-s-Bottling-20-Year-Old-Van-Winkle-Bourbon

[El Vino]

Years ago was in San Antonio visiting a high school friend of my wife. Great family. For Father's Day, her father invited us to join them at their country club for a brunch. To thank him, I went to a big chain liquor store and got an expensive bottle of vodka (his drink). While there, to thank my wife's husband for their hospitality, I looked at their bourbon selection. A store employee suggested that I get the Hirsch 16 because they weren't making any more. I had never heard of it. From a shelf full, I took two: one for him and one for me. I muled mine back to NJ, where it still to this day resides in my bunker. Why, oh why, did I not buy a case? When i retire, the thing will have its day in the sun.

[bourbonv]

My biggest regret was not getting a case or two of Old Charter 12, "Classic 90" back in the days I worked for Uniter Distillers.

Mike Veach

[dSculptor]

I regret not buying more of the EC18 when I had the chance to, but who'd of known what was to become of it? Also some JPS17,18 saw many of those and passes. But a friend did ..so I still got to taste them, which basically just rubbed it in a bit more.

[Old Dusty]

While there, to thank my wife's husband....

So....wouldn't that be you? I thank my wife's husband with gifts of bourbon as often as possible

[Old Dusty]

While there, to thank my wife's husband....

So....wouldn't that be you? I thank my wife's husband with gifts of bourbon as often as possible:grin:

[Kalessin]

I regret not buying any bourbon other than Maker's Mark from the mid-1980's on up to about 2011.

I almost bought some bottles of Vintage 17 but dithered and it was suddenly gone.

And my favorite... Back in January 2010, I was at a local favorite store and they had these fancy bottles of bourbon on sale well below retail, with between three and seven of each design (I din't think they had all five varieties, though). I didn't know what they were yet, and I had no money, but if I had known, I would have put it the whole pile of BTAC 2009 on the credit card and figured out some way to make it back.

[Renegator]

I too passed on an EC18 because at the time "who spends $48 on a bottle of whiskey?" My how the times have changed...

[GaryT]

Last year while dusty hunting I left more than a half-dozen WTR101s on the shelf. I snagged one but thought "How many does one person need? Jeez", and also thought that since I had seen several at several stores, it wasn't THAT hard to find just yet. I pointed some fellow SBer's to a few of them, thinking I'd go collect the others at some point. Of course they were all gone when I went back. And while possibly my "biggest" regret, I can honestly say I don't lose sleep on things like that - since it don't do any good Just makes me appreciate the bottles I do have that much more! I'd say I have way more regret purchases than regret misses

[garbanzobean]

All I'm saying is that with 60-70 closed bottles of whisk(e)y in my bunker, I would probably be a lot better off if I had about 50 more regrets than I currently do.

[nd2005]

All I'm saying is that with 60-70 closed bottles of whisk(e)y in my bunker, I would probably be a lot better off if I had about 50 more regrets than I currently do.

My bunker topped 100 unopened bottles this week!

Time to go on a buying hiatus I think...

[Grain Belt]

A few years back I found a shelf of early nineties Wild Turkey 12. I bought one and let it sit in my bunker for a bit. I drank it with my dad and it was the best bourbon that ever passed my lips, and by a wide margin. Of course when I went back the lot was gone. At least I got to share it with my dad. When I think of the ultimate bourbon my mind always goes back to that bottle.

[393foureyedfox]

Ive only been into bourbon for a couple of years, so I have no "shoulda" stories, but I did learn from these forums early on that if you find something you truly enjoy, you better get all of 'em, or at least as many as you can afford, and justify it later if need be. I was afraid Dickel 9 would be one of those stories when it came out last year, so I bought 8 of 'em. I was glad to see another release this year, but I still plan to accumulate more from here on out.

[El Vino]

So....wouldn't that be you? I thank my wife's husband with gifts of bourbon as often as possible:grin:

Saw that but only after it was too late edit. And I agree with your strategy!!

[PaulO]

I saw a number of limited edition type bottles (stuff already mentioned) sit around before prices went crazy. Back in those days, I was finding glut era bonds for cheap. What I regret is the last time I saw an Indy store with a single barrel selection of Weller Antique. I bought a couple. I think it was even a buck or so less than what the regular stuff was going for in Louisville. It was a decent barrel, but nothing really unusual. Man, had I known how it would dry up, I would have bought quite a few more.

[TunnelTiger]

My bunker topped 100 unopened bottles this week!

Time to go on a buying hiatus I think...

Jeez. I guess I need to go in the basement and see how many I have accumulated in the past year. It may be time for a hiatus here too..

[Cards fan]

So many great stories. Thank you all for sharing.

[Cards fan]

Ive only been into bourbon for a couple of years, so I have no "shoulda" stories, but I did learn from these forums early on that if you find something you truly enjoy, you better get all of 'em, or at least as many as you can afford, and justify it later if need be. I was afraid Dickel 9 would be one of those stories when it came out last year, so I bought 8 of 'em. I was glad to see another release this year, but I still plan to accumulate more from here on out.

+1. You hit the nail on the head. If you find something you like, grab it.

[nd2005]

Oh - my other regret.

Just when I was starting to get "serious" about Bourbon, I ended up in my local store the day of the Van Winkle release.

That year - 2011, I'd call it only mildly crazy. As in, they sold all their bottles in a day or two at most, but there were no lines or phones ringing off the hook.

When I went in I asked what they still had left. They said they had everything, but were down to their last bottle of 23. When I found out the price (which was MSRP, not gouged), I passed in favor of the "cheaper" 20 year.

I know this is not exactly a "woe is me" tale - but after that I thought I had missed my chance for finding a 23 year in the wild.

Made up for it this year with a bottle of 23 from my favorite store. I know some will say its overpriced, but I had to make up for the past regret.

Now if I can just find a dang bottle of the rye I will have a complete set

[KyleCBreese]

I'm fairly new to bourbon, but I do remember passing on a bottle of ETL Commemorative for about $45. I knew it was overpriced and thought it would be easier to find at retail. After striking out a few stores that usually would have something like that, I went back and it was gone. About $10 over retail seems ridiculous to pass on now, after what I see some other limiteds go far in the past month.

I ended up getting 2 bottles a few weeks later, so it worked out.

[Ravensfire]

My biggest regret would be not picking up some Blanton's Straight from the Barrel while on my honeymoon in early 2013. My wife and I both like bourbon and both put Blanton's high on our list, but just didn't know enough to realize what we might be passing up. She teases me about it and asks when we're going back to the Caribbean. Sooner rather than later, I hope!

[Cards fan]

I always wanted to try that blanton's straight from the barrel. I tried the gold edition and loved it.

[MDBourbon]

Bottle of PVW 23 for MSRP. It was 3-4 years ago. Sitting on the top shelf of a local store. I was headed to a party and figured I would come back for it.

Great stories.

[Chowski01]

About 2 years ago, Parker Heritage 27 year at retail. Doh.