Liquor Store / Distributor Ridiculousness

[Josh]

I was once told by a store owner that Elmer T. Lee was made at a small family-owned distillery and was very hard to come by.

When retailer selections first became available in the state the same guy got a barrel of 1792. I asked if he had any more selections planned. He said "the distributor keeps asking me if I want to do a Four Roses barrel. Why would I do that? This stuff here (pointing to the 1792) beat Pappy in a blind taste test!"

When ECBP came out, I ran by another store nearby and asked about it. A guy there told me that it wasn't available in the state. "Well, my friend bought some in Ann Arbor yesterday," I replied. "I meant it wasn't available in this county," he said. I thanked him and left. I drove to a store a couple of miles away but in the same county and they had three on the shelf.

Edited February 18, 2015 by Josh

[jp_stargazer]

I was lucky enough to stumble across ORVW10 being sold at my local store (albeit at a price well above MSRP). It was behind a glass case with most of the scotch and the more expensive bourbon bottles, so I had to ask an associate to open the case. She asks what it is I want from the case and I tell her, "the bottle of Old Rip Van Winkle." She opens the case and hands it to me, then comments, "I heard it actually isn't that good."

At this point I fight off the urge to be insulted, that my taste in bourbon is being assailed, and reply, "actually it is." She just mumbles, "hmm."

I understand helping a customer out and maybe indicating something isn't worth the money, that he or she would be happier with something more affordable. But basically discouraging a sale entirely? That seems irresponsible.

Jason

[PaulO]

You could have said "If it's not that good, could you discount the price?"

[The Black Tot]

You could have said "If it's not that good, could you discount the price?"

Hahaha, nice one

[PaulO]

A guy once told me that his distributor friend told him that Evan Williams is leftover Jack Daniels.

Ha ha, leftover from what? I would have had to have that explained to me.

[HighInTheMtns]

I was lucky enough to stumble across ORVW10 being sold at my local store (albeit at a price well above MSRP). It was behind a glass case with most of the scotch and the more expensive bourbon bottles, so I had to ask an associate to open the case. She asks what it is I want from the case and I tell her, "the bottle of Old Rip Van Winkle." She opens the case and hands it to me, then comments, "I heard it actually isn't that good."

At this point I fight off the urge to be insulted, that my taste in bourbon is being assailed, and reply, "actually it is." She just mumbles, "hmm."

I understand helping a customer out and maybe indicating something isn't worth the money, that he or she would be happier with something more affordable. But basically discouraging a sale entirely? That seems irresponsible.

Jason

She was doing you a favor, not insulting you. This story belongs in a thread about decent people who are employed in stores run by assholes.