Our ongoing observations about whether the boom has peaked

[The Black Tot]

Probably not, Joe. While I won't go all the way to the living at home and unemployed assumptions, I neither think that bourbon delivery trucks are being followed by salt-of-the-earth captains of industry in their Bentleys.

Taking flipping to that level of stalking time/effort has gone past enthusiasm and is pretty reasonably placed in the "nothing better to do" category. Most successful people just plum don't have time for this behavior.

There's an easy difference between out-hustling the community and preying on it, as described by many good posts above.

[PaulO]

My own experience with LEs is similar to Black Tot's. About two years ago I found two bottles of Four Roses Single Barrel 2113 LE in a small store at MSRP. I almost bought both. Then my common sense got a hold of me. I bought one, took it home and tried it. I thought it was just ok, but not really my thing. It tasted to me like a drier version of WT Rare Breed. Lesson learned.

On the other hand, when VOB BIB dropped the age statement :deadhorse:, I went out to find a case of the "6 year". That was money well spent. I even left a few on the shelf.

[flahute]

Maybe, these "nerds" work at night, and instead of sleeping or complaining during their off hours, they are getting off their asses and working to get the whiskies they want. Maybe, they're just richer than you,

having worked hard to make all their money, and are using their well earned leisure time to go hunt bottles. Maybe, their social life is taking all of these great bottles and throwing a great party at a great club for friends and family. What I find sad and pathetic is that so many here are begrudging the industrious among us who are simply out-working, out-hustling, and out-smarting those who would call them names and question their character, without knowing a single thing about them.

There's certainly both out there. I'm one of the guys who figures things out and hustles pretty hard for BTAC. The people I see doing the same are almost always the same guys and I know they are enthusiasts who drink it all like me. I know this because I've become friends with some of them and we have whiskey tastings at each others houses!

I know the flippers are among us too though. A quick perusal of craigslist during the fall season confirms it.

[Harry in WashDC]

I can appreciate Joe's comments. I wouldn't follow trucks, but I have exhibited other obsessive behavior - spending four hours once driving from store to store just to see what my usual stores had on the shelves on that day. I didn't even buy all that much. While I've never purchased a bottle from anyone other than a commercial enterprise in a bona fide commercial transaction, I have haunted websites and cultivated "friendships" in stores in order to increase my chances of scoring on occasion.

But, will this pay off for others as well as me? We'll see. One of the buyers (as distinguised from one of the sales clerks) for a store near me asked what I liked. I told him VOB bonded (which he sells but was out of). He pointed me to the Benchmark as a similar bargain. I asked why he didn't carry HH bonded which is really rare in WashDC. He said he'd ask his HH rep about getting some. If he does, the bourbon community here will be enriched because an obsessive bourbon geek asked about it.

What's this have to do with "boom" instead of the discussion on the "flipper" thread? He then tried to upsell me to the store selection 4R BP, two of which I'd purchased weeks ago, and several of which I know had been purchased by other SBers. He still had several bottles left. Last year, they'd have been snarfed up in days, but this year they've been around there for a couple of months although he is down to the lower double digits.

[willmohawk5]

Wow. If I get "out worked" and "outhustled" by someone getting a bottle a liquor then I'll let them win. I'll sleep fine at night regardless knowing there's plenty of good whiskey for me to get otherwise. Winning championships on a ball field or through other skillful activities is a lot more rewarding to me than getting my hands on a bottle after chasing a truck for a couple hours.

[BigBoldBully]

Here to report a possible sign of reduced hysteria on the top shelf. PHC actually made it to the shelf this year in my general area, and at least a couple of bottles were available several DAYS afterward. Of course, this may have a lot to do with the odd mashbill and modest aging of this year's offering, but I imagine last year it may have been snapped up lightning quick regardless.

[BigBoldBully]

No sooner do I report the above than I see a post from jeffrey r quoting an "HH mass email" (excerpt below) as a sign the boom is seriously booming:

"It seems that people just can't keep their hands off a good bottle of whiskey. We're only half way through the year, but we've already run through our entire Evan Williams Single Barrel 2005 vintage."

Perhaps this is a sign of the boom maturing, with larger numbers of people who got in it for the Pappys and PHCs, etc., "graduating" to more sensibly priced and available premiums?

Another sign that this bourbon boom is for real.

[johnnybogey]

Here to report a possible sign of reduced hysteria on the top shelf. PHC actually made it to the shelf this year in my general area, and at least a couple of bottles were available several DAYS afterward. Of course, this may have a lot to do with the odd mashbill and modest aging of this year's offering, but I imagine last year it may have been snapped up lightning quick regardless.

I saw this last year with PHC 8. Plenty of stores by me had it on the shelves @ $100. Some still do.

Seems like PHC in general doesn't get caught up in the hysteria.

[-icon-]

I can appreciate Joe's comments. I wouldn't follow trucks, but I have exhibited other obsessive behavior - spending four hours once driving from store to store just to see what my usual stores had on the shelves on that day....I have haunted websites and cultivated "friendships" in stores in order to increase my chances of scoring on occasion.

Guilty

[suntour]

This year's PHC is also an outlier because there's plenty of delicious shelf-buyable scotch for $100. I want to taste it but just seems like a giant airball in general.

I have been seeing lots of big dogs unloading their inventories for $$$ lately. 2008-2015 FRsmbLE for $10k. Not sure it fetched that.

[The Black Tot]

This is true. Regardless of whether PHC9 is tasty or not (and I have faith that it is), if it said "bourbon" or "rye" on the label, it would be an INSTACORN.

I just patented that term.

[BigBoldBully]

A couple of days ago Chuck Cowdery reported on his blog that “uper-premiums are powering the bourbon boom and [the following] five brands are powering the segment,” based on 2014 U.S. sales:

1. Maker's Mark -- 1,340,000 cases

2. Bulleit -- 480,000 cases

3. Gentleman Jack -- 310,000 cases

4. Knob Creek -- 290,000 cases

5. Woodford Reserve -- 275,000 cases

Will be interesting if next year we get to see the 2015 sales data.

[O'DubhGhaill]

A couple of days ago Chuck Cowdery reported on his blog that “uper-premiums are powering the bourbon boom and [the following] five brands are powering the segment,” based on 2014 U.S. sales:

1. Maker's Mark -- 1,340,000 cases

2. Bulleit -- 480,000 cases

3. Gentleman Jack -- 310,000 cases

4. Knob Creek -- 290,000 cases

5. Woodford Reserve -- 275,000 cases

Will be interesting if next year we get to see the 2015 sales data.

I have watched "trendy" T.V. commercials featuring Woodford Reserve, Makers, Knob Creek, and Jack, but I don't immediately recall commercials for Bulleit? Just curious about what puts these brands above others - my guess is that the advertising really does play a large part.

[BigBoldBully]

I was surprised by Bulleit being so big as well, ODG. When I bought some in 2012, it was due mostly to liking the shape of the bottle.

[amg]

I was surprised by Bulleit being so big as well, ODG. When I bought some in 2012, it was due mostly to liking the shape of the bottle.

[tanstaafl2]

In the US it seems Bulleit (both rye and bourbon) has become about as ubiquitous as Jim or Jack on the back bar of every place I go into. Not sure how much international presence it has at present. I haven't seen it that much overseas so far.

Which also says a little something about how loose their definition of a "premium" spirit.

[O'DubhGhaill]

Packaging is an important part of marketing that shouldn't be underestimated.

[skiwez2]

It's also priced itself perfectly to be a "Premium" brand for most non-whisky bars. High enough that people feel they are drinking something special but cheap enough for proprietors to make a buck off of it.

[dcbt]

In the US it seems Bulleit (both rye and bourbon) has become about as ubiquitous as Jim or Jack on the back bar of every place I go into. Not sure how much international presence it has at present. I haven't seen it that much overseas so far.

I can vouch for Canada - Bulleit is one of the few choices available up there (from the places I went to at least), along with MM, JD, Bookers, KC, and sometimes BT.

[M777]

OWA was on out on the shelves in quantity just a few months ago at my local stores, now it's no where to be found and when it's in stock they keep it in the back. This is one that I regret not stocking up on 3 deep like I usually do with my favorites.

[johnnybogey]

Just from my limited experience, it just seems like many folks get caught up with "store selections" and "private barrels" these days. Sheesh, like everyone is trying to find the next Lenells Red Hook.

These private barrel selections are also being marked up at LE prices. As an example, FRSB private selection is going for $90 by me. Regular FRSB about $50. Sooner or later, people are going to realize, wait a minute, this private selection tastes the same as regular and is $40 cheaper.

Again, I am not saying all. For instance, I would be in the boat whereby my palate is not sophisticated enough to discern the difference between the two and I like to think that I am in majority of bourbon/rye drinkers out there.

[BigBoldBully]

I have not yet come across a store selection that was selling for more than that store sells the standard version. Hopefully tacking on a premium will not become too widespread.

[jp_stargazer]

Absolutely. Also having your brand appear in a popular TV show helps tremendously. I believe Bulleit made an appearance in such a popular TV series' date=' don't recall which one, but is was period Western I believe. I'm re-watching the series Justified and now want to try Blanton's, while before I never really considered it seriously - believe it or not, I was actually turned off by what I thought was hokey packaging.[/quote']

It was featured in the HBO series Deadwood. You were on the right track with Justified, due to the Timothy Olyphant connection. This is one of the main reasons I bought the bottle, back in 2007 or so, because the Bulleit story of "frontier whiskey" and the presence in the show made me think there was real history there. I know better now, of course. Enjoyed the whiskey though.

I don't think I've seen Bulleit in any non-whiskey bars around here, usually just the typical JD, JBW, MM, and WT101. Usually the next bottles to join the party are WR, KC, and BT. I'm not in a major metropolitan area (sorry Peoria) but I would have figured at least one bar would have jumped on the bourbon bandwagon, so to speak, and start carrying more bottles of bourbon to call themselves a whiskey bar.

Jason

[O'DubhGhaill]

The fellow who fixes broken bar establishments in the series, "Bar Rescue," always re-stocks his makeovers with Bulleit I've seen.

[Lost Pollito]

The fellow who fixes broken bar establishments in the series' date=' "Bar Rescue," always re-stocks his makeovers with Bulleit I've seen.[/quote']

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