What Bottle Do You See Others Grab When You Are Studying the Aisle?

[chooch714]

JBW and JD seem to be the most popular in the whisky aisle.

[GerryM]

Invariably someone always grabs a 1.75 of JD while I'm ss

standing there.

[r60slash5]

I'm usually in the stores in the middle of the day during the week. I don't see anyone getting any bourbon, or Whiskey. Mostily wine. I was in the state liquor store a few months ago. There was a guy with a Whiskey Bible in one hand his eyes were darting back and forth between the book and shelves. I showed him the WSR Harlen Wheatley select SB I was buying. Explained what it was, and pointed him toward it in a different part of the store. I thought if he's that interested why not help out?

[flahute]

I either see people getting sucked in by the fancy packaging of an NDP, or I see them grabbing one of the Woodford Reserve variations (such as double oak or one of the wine barrel finish ones) all while talking about the quality of it, etc. I just nod my head while walking away with OGD, WT, and ECBP.

[RepTucker]

Old Crow, Heavenhill blended JBW.

[jackthedog]

Definitely JD. More often than not I see people dart in and make a beeline directly for it. I think only once have I seen someone grab anything other than JD.

[scubadoo97]

What ever comes in handles.

[Harry in WashDC]

After reading through the thread, I did some onsite watching - normally, I ignore the "others' and focus on my personal hunt. What I saw in order (but ignoring wine and beer) -- singles: vodka a lot with flavored leading unflavored, JD, JBW, liqueurs of various types (apricot brandy was BIG), bottom shelf Canadians as a group; handles: vodka, bottom shelf gin, bottom shelf bourbon. Bulk purchases: me.

On another recent trip, I did have one guy, who saw my armload, ask me if OGD BIB was really good. I answered, "Yeah, that's why I'm buying five of them." He put back his two 750 bottles of Seagrams 7 and picked up an OGD BIB handle. I still suffer from mixed emotions about that.

Although Red Stag, various Honeys, Maples, and Cider infuseds clearly have been purchased (because of space on the shelves), I've never seen anybody actually buy one.

[BigBoldBully]

After reading through the thread, I did some onsite watching

Booze stakeout! I am sure many of us appreciate your dedication. Were there any awkward moments?

[kjbeggs]

I pondered this aloud not too far back during a discussion of shortages. Being in Texas, I see people grabbing what they think is a Texas bourbon (though it is most likely NDP unbeknownst to them). Other than that, mostly just the big boys of Jim and Jack. I've never seen anybody pick up the popular items in this forum like 4R, OGD, BT, Weller, etc...

And i never see the salespeople recommending any of those either... (and I'm OK with that)

[kjbeggs]

I see someone pick up handles of Fireball whenever I visit one of the big chains. Lots of flavored Vodka, especially Sweet Tea Vodka (we do like our sweet tea in TX).

If they come in looking specifically for 'Bourbon", I see them get pointed to JB, or whatever the store is trying to push that month (Rowan's Creek, Noah's mill, etc.)

[miller542]

I think I study the aisle too much... I never see anyone take anything I would consider "good" but yet the good ones are always gone!

Same here, funny how that works. Based on my monitoring of Utah's online inventory system, there is at least one other bourbon aficionado in town, or some tourists with good taste. Limited releases and changeover to new labels happen surprisingly quickly.

I'll tell you what they don't grab, whatever I'm buying. They normally get fireball or anything High West, but I assume they're here on vacation and want to try "the Park City stuff"

[jp_stargazer]

This is interesting to think about. I'm often in the whiskey aisle alone but I enjoy people watching when I'm not. It seems there are several types of people:

1.) The person who is just passing through the whiskey aisle to get somewhere else in the store.

2.) The person who goes straight to the Kessler's or Seagram's handles, grabs 1 or 2, and heads to the register.

3.) The person who walks in, looks for a minute or two, and finally is overwhelmed and just grabs a standard bottle (JD, JB, EW).

4.) The person led in by an employee who is looking to get something as a gift and ends up picking whatever the employee recommends that is budget appropriate.

5.) The person who sees me there, engages me in a discussion about what I prefer, then grabs what he or she always drinks anyway.

6.) The whiskey enthusiast who scans the shelves quickly for something new or rare, then systematically makes mental notes about what prices have gone up since last time, before finally settling on something...or just walking out empty handed. I usually don't run into others of this species; "too weird to live, and too rare to die."

I've never had to correct an employee in situation #4 due to false information but I've heard some recommendations that I wouldn't make not knowing someone's tastes. For example, I enjoy Barterhouse, but I wouldn't recommend it (as one employee did to a customer) to someone unless they specifically said they like older/oakier bourbons.

Jason

[DonutsNBourbon]

6.) The whiskey enthusiast who scans the shelves quickly for something new or rare, then systematically makes mental notes about what prices have gone up since last time, before finally settling on something...or just walking out empty handed. I usually don't run into others of this species; "too weird to live, and too rare to die."

this is exactly me... but I do kinda feel bad walking out empty handed. I feel like if I enter a store I am obligated to buy something and if I walked out empty handed I did something wrong and should be shamed. might be why I have a few extra bottles

[dcbt]

I see someone pick up handles of Fireball whenever I visit one of the big chains.

[kjbeggs]

Fireball IS huge down here for some reason, I've noticed that too.

You can say it... "Whatever Spec's is trying to push..."

[texaspete]

this is exactly me... but I do kinda feel bad walking out empty handed. I feel like if I enter a store I am obligated to buy something and if I walked out empty handed I did something wrong and should be shamed. might be why I have a few extra bottles

Yep, that's me as well. I don't feel so bad walking out empty handed. They know me and know that I do buy a fair amount of stuff. But I show up every Monday to see if they've got something that this board has made me want to try (ECBP, Weller 12, Makers Cask Strength, ETL, or my favorite acronym CEHTBIB). They usually don't.

[jp_stargazer]

this is exactly me... but I do kinda feel bad walking out empty handed. I feel like if I enter a store I am obligated to buy something and if I walked out empty handed I did something wrong and should be shamed. might be why I have a few extra bottles

Yep, that's me as well. I don't feel so bad walking out empty handed. They know me and know that I do buy a fair amount of stuff. But I show up every Monday to see if they've got something that this board has made me want to try (ECBP, Weller 12, Makers Cask Strength, ETL, or my favorite acronym CEHTBIB). They usually don't.

I've gotten over feeling bad. I give them my business, just not today. Besides, I often end up getting some special beer I've been wanting to try if nothing else. When the person at the register asks for my ID and comments, "I should know your birth date by now," then I feel I spend enough money there.

At first I thought I was being obsessive by regularly visiting the three major stores in my area but it's paid off. Sometimes I just happen to be in the right place at the right time and am thorough (Weller 12, CEHT BP, ETL, ORVW, BMH KY nas, ECBP, to name the major examples). I keep reminding myself though, even if I miss special releases or things aren't available in my area, there are plenty of bottles readily available that are fantastic. I feel enjoying whiskey should always be a glass half full kind of activity. :grin:

Jason

[squire]

I used to joke with my employees saying that if I ever started drinking vodka they should cash their paychecks the same day they got them.

[dSculptor]

I used to joke with my employees saying that if I ever started drinking vodka they should cash their paychecks the same day they got them.

Probably doesn't matter,most of them are gone before they're cashed anyway.

[KyleCBreese]

Yesterday, I saw some grab an EC12 and look at it, then put it back and grabbed a JR Ewing.

[TunnelTiger]

Yesterday, I saw some grab an EC12 and look at it, then put it back and grabbed a JR Ewing.

Thanks for that! My first laugh of the day.

[kcgumbohead]

Yesterday, I saw some grab an EC12 and look at it, then put it back and grabbed a JR Ewing.

WOW a swing and a miss!!!!!!!!

[kcgumbohead]

The only time I recall any bourbon isle shoppers they were grabbing and usually loudly discussing BT offerings. I have witnessed at least 5 revolving around the Weller line and its "pappyness" or its scarcity as the emtpy W12 space was mourned. The pappy discussions are usually in front of an audience and result in several listeners grabbing a WSR bottle.

Once I mistakenly suggested to a fellow who repeatedly complained that WSR "the GOOD stuff" was missing that if wheaters were his thing, perhaps Larceny was a good option. He replied with "you keep saying wheat bourbon, what do you mean by that?", don't know what he wound up buying. Now I just excuse myself grab what I want and get the hell out.

[CorvallisCracker]

Yesterday, I saw some grab an EC12 and look at it, then put it back and grabbed a JR Ewing.

You say that like it's a bad thing.