Our ongoing observations about whether the boom has peaked

[mbroo5880i]

On 8/5/2022 at 10:11 AM, Freakdog said:

In my travels through western Maryland earlier this week. As seen on one side of the sign, you can still buy ammo here.

I remember when they still sold guns here as well. About 5-6 years ago, if this guy had anything allocated or limited -ECBP for

instance- it was barely marked up. My how times have changed. I left with only a lottery ticket and a zinger to the store owner.

Told him if I win the lotto i might be able to afford his bourbon!

 

This is crazy.  Thanks for sharing!  I got a good laugh on several levels.  

[mbroo5880i]

On 8/5/2022 at 11:09 AM, smokinjoe said:

Awesome!!  That is about the most American thing I’ve ever seen!  If Maryland has a Medal of Freedom Award to bestow to one of its citizens, I nominate that guy!  Fossil fuels, whiskey, ammo, and a healthy profit motive!  Dayum, I’m about to tear up with pride and admiration.     

 

Awesome perspective and so appropriate in today's world.  

Edited August 8, 2022 by mbroo5880i

[mbroo5880i]

7 hours ago, smokinjoe said:

I live with a Communications Director, and that stuff drives her bat-shit crazy.  

 

Is that the only thing?  

[mbroo5880i]

10 hours ago, Marekv8 said:

That opaque bottle is a miss in my book-- the typically beautiful color of the liquid is a key brand asset for Willett.

 

I need to know the fill level.  One of my critiques of New Riff.  

[mal00768]

On 8/6/2022 at 10:19 AM, Clueby said:

I think this shows that, no, the boom has not peaked. An 8 year old wheated for $230 msrp. It will probably sell out immediately and be $1000 on secondary.

I am not a fan of that bottle at all. It screams premiumization and pretentiousness. And I think they do us a disservice by not allowing us to see the beautiful  color of the liquid.

Edited August 8, 2022 by mal00768

[geclbxf]

14 hours ago, mal00768 said:

I am not a fan of that bottle at all. It screams premiumization and pretentiousness. And I think they do us a disservice by not allowing us to see the beautiful  color of the liquid.

Couldn't agree more!

[Dannabis]

On 8/7/2022 at 9:41 PM, mbroo5880i said:

 

This is crazy.  Thanks for sharing!  I got a good laugh on several levels.  

Looks to me like there's an extra 9 on that label. Shee it. I remember only getting a bottle when I saw it for $29 a few short years ago.

[Dannabis]

On 7/13/2022 at 3:15 PM, Jazzhead said:

I'd think you'd lose flavor that way,  since the added water hasn't spent any time in the barrel.  There would logically be more flavor when 100% of the liquid in the glass has touched the barrel wood, vs only 87.7% for a 114 OGD diluted to 100 proof.

How would you know that any of the water touches the barrel?

I (likely inaccurately) assumed they would dump the barrel and then add water to proof it down for bottling.

[flahute]

On 8/16/2022 at 6:16 AM, Dannabis said:

How would you know that any of the water touches the barrel?

I (likely inaccurately) assumed they would dump the barrel and then add water to proof it down for bottling.

That is usually how it works. The speed of downproofing is what matters. Nancy talks about a shock due to less bonding of molecules if you do it in one fell swoop.

[mosugoji64]

Well, the boom is definitely not over here in the Southwest. I stopped at the Frys (Kroger) near work on my way home yesterday morning and they happened to be holding one of their periodic allocated bourbon releases. At just before 8 a.m., the line was around the building. Several of the people had obviously been there for quite a while with their lawn chairs, blankets, and coolers. This wasn't for Van Winkle, Antique Collection, or anything of that level. It was just for BT brands that the fanboys have elevated to unobtanium status. Photos online from one of these events in Tucson showed they were selling BT, Stagg Jr., Blanton's, 2 or 3 Wellers, and EHT Small Batch. While in the store, I saw them wheeling out a pallet with W12, Blanton's, and Stagg. I just don't get it. Those are all fine bottles, but several are entry-level labels and none are worth camping out to get. I was very happy to walk out with my bread and coffee and have no part in that nonsense.

[smokinjoe]

Of all the silly things that can be done to procure bourbon as part of our enthusiast hobby (and I’ve done my fair of them like…overpaid, overbought, FOMO bought, hoarded, canvassed, entered stores in very skech areas, etc….) the one I don’t get it is the camping out, particularly overnight, thing…

 

Of course, I can admit that I was a complete frigging moron to go into some of those skech stores…Though I had a tactical plan that I followed, booze ain’t really worth a bullet in the ass…  ……though, some of the finds were very nice…

[Anwalt]

Ohio is insanity.  The wait for hours in line, 12 hours+ for the RR13.  I do not bother to try and compete when there.  Just show up after the line is done or maybe 15 minutes before opening.  Some of the stores put out bottles once the lines are done but the taters are catching on and hovering.  I know of one ghetto store that is often tater-deficient.

 

I get a nice bottle here & again via a restaurant owner I know.  And a bit of trading here & there.  Once in a while a friend or relative spots a returned bottle or stray on the shelf of something like A107, but that's getting less common.

WSR and BT are plentiful.  They are the consolation prize when everything else has been stripped by the locusts.  Have over 50 of the former, the kids grab one whenever they see it.  Less to drink, more to give as gifts in non-Ohio adjacent states.  Non-Ohio people get all excited over it.

[MM818]

2 hours ago, smokinjoe said:

the one I don’t get it is the camping out, particularly overnight, thing…

Camping out for Jordans, Apple products, whiskey, etc is insanity to me currently. In high school, I remember getting paid $200 to camp out at Ticketmaster outlets to procure concert tickets. 
 

I would probably wait in line for a RR13. But I can’t see my tolerance approaching a half hour. 

[Bourserker]

I used to camp out for football tickets when I was in college, and it was as much about hanging out with friends and doing something stupid as it was about actually getting the tickets.  

 

Anyway, that was 25 years ago, and the thought of camping out in front of a liquor store with a bunch of strangers is not appealing to me.   Furthermore, I've tried most of what folks are camping out for and it's not worth the time investment.   However,  if they want to do it and feel it's worth the time then have at it.  I'm sure there's stuff I feel is important that they would feel is a waste of time...to each his own.

[Bourserker]

A general comment I have on the boom is I find it interesting how skewed things have gotten.  There's stuff that's really good that is easy to obtain because it's not a BT product, and then there's the equivalent BT products that are hard to find in some areas.  I'm talking about BT, ER and the entry level Wellers of course.  The association these have gotten with the pappies and BTAC stuff is certainly interesting. 

 

I'll admit I'm a hair miffed because regular old BT and ER really fit my palate and I can't just go to the store here in VA and get those anymore...gotta apparently rush to a "drop" or whatever, which I'm not gonna do by the way.  Anyway, I guess that is a negative consequence of the boom in that the VA stores used to have a really good selection years back, and now we seem to be going the way of some of the other crappy control states like OH (no offense intended to OH residents by the way).

 

For the record, my money now goes mostly to WT and OF products for American stuff, and my scotch purchases have increased.  Also, I'm not bitter with BT the company, they'll get some of my money again one day...but that won't be until I can walk into a store and grab BT, ER and gasp ETL off the shelf (that last one may never make shelves again).

Edited August 21, 2022 by Bourserker

[lcpfratn]

The boom certainly hasn’t peaked. This is the pic from an email I received earlier this week associated with Lincoln Road’s latest Willet barrel picks. It amazes me how Jamie is still able to garner two barrels out of Willet…yes I’m a little jealous, even though I think the prices are ridiculous. I’m sure he’s probably already sold out about now. 

[mbroo5880i]

6 hours ago, Bourserker said:

I used to camp out for football tickets when I was in college, and it was as much about hanging out with friends and doing something stupid as it was about actually getting the tickets.  

 

Anyway, that was 25 years ago, and the thought of camping out in front of a liquor store with a bunch of strangers is not appealing to me.   Furthermore, I've tried most of what folks are camping out for and it's not worth the time investment.   However,  if they want to do it and feel it's worth the time then have at it.  I'm sure there's stuff I feel is important that they would feel is a waste of time...to each his own.

 

I once camped out for an x-box back in the day.  Camped out is a relative term.  The store opened at 6 am and I arrived at 5 am.  My kids wanted one and I was hoping to be Super Dad.  I got one.  I had inside info on the delivery.  Apparently so did 100 other people.  Fortunately, I got there early enough to get one.  

 

I also camped out for a laptop at Best Buy for Black Friday one year.  The store opened at 6 am.  I arrived at 5 am.  Kind of a pattern.  I didn't get one.  Fortunately, they told us the number they had and it was unlikely anyone in line after a certain number would likely not get one.  I went to Hardees for breakfast and then bought another computer.  

 

I once waited in line for 30 minutes for a New Years Day release of previously ordered but not picked up bottles of whiskey at a local store. They preannounced what was available.   By the time I got in the only thing left was a Single Barrel of HW Rye.  

[BigRich]

On 8/21/2022 at 7:32 AM, mosugoji64 said:

Well, the boom is definitely not over here in the Southwest. I stopped at the Frys (Kroger) near work on my way home yesterday morning and they happened to be holding one of their periodic allocated bourbon releases. At just before 8 a.m., the line was around the building. Several of the people had obviously been there for quite a while with their lawn chairs, blankets, and coolers. This wasn't for Van Winkle, Antique Collection, or anything of that level. It was just for BT brands that the fanboys have elevated to unobtanium status. Photos online from one of these events in Tucson showed they were selling BT, Stagg Jr., Blanton's, 2 or 3 Wellers, and EHT Small Batch. While in the store, I saw them wheeling out a pallet with W12, Blanton's, and Stagg. I just don't get it. Those are all fine bottles, but several are entry-level labels and none are worth camping out to get. I was very happy to walk out with my bread and coffee and have no part in that nonsense.

Nuts.  On a local note, is it just me or is there a surprising amount of Eagle Rare showing up in the Metro Atlanta area?  Usually $50 instead of $30/$35 but still a regular sight now. 

[Anwalt]

2 hours ago, BigRich said:

Nuts.  On a local note, is it just me or is there a surprising amount of Eagle Rare showing up in the Metro Atlanta area?  Usually $50 instead of $30/$35 but still a regular sight now.

 

Not just you.  A friend in Atlanta picked some up for me at $50.  It's one of the few bourbons my wife will drink and the only one she'll drink neat.

[smokinjoe]

4 hours ago, BigRich said:

Nuts.  On a local note, is it just me or is there a surprising amount of Eagle Rare showing up in the Metro Atlanta area?  Usually $50 instead of $30/$35 but still a regular sight now. 

It has become quite regular, but I’m seeing mostly $39.99, some up tp $44.  

[fishnbowljoe]

When and if I can find ER around here, it’s usually around $38.99 at a couple of places. Maybe a buck or two more at Binny’s. Meijer has it on sale for $32.99, but it’s never in stock. If it somehow does show up as in stock, it’s kept in the back, and most customers never see it. I paid $29.99 for the bottle I picked up last week.   Must be roll back pricing. 

 

Biba! Joe

[Clueby]

1 hour ago, fishnbowljoe said:

When and if I can find ER around here, it’s usually around $38.99 at a couple of places. Maybe a buck or two more at Binny’s. Meijer has it on sale for $32.99, but it’s never in stock. If it somehow does show up as in stock, it’s kept in the back, and most customers never see it. I paid $29.99 for the bottle I picked up last week.   Must be roll back pricing. 

 

Biba! Joe

Hardly ever get a chance to buy it locally for less than $99 (which I don't do).  Last store pick ones I got in Illinois were $39.99.  I used to order online for $29.99 all the time.  Now when it is in stock (rarely) online its up to $39.99.  I like it well enough but about $40 it starts to lose its value pretty quickly.  Don't even get me started on the new retail $49.99 OWA.

[0895]

22 minutes ago, Clueby said:

 Don't even get me started on the new retail $49.99 OWA.

 

Devil's advocate here  , the OWA is actually $50 good.

Edited August 22, 2022 by 0895

[0895]

2 hours ago, fishnbowljoe said:

Meijer has it on sale for $32.99, but it’s never in stock. If it somehow does show up as in stock, it’s kept in the back, and most customers never see it.

 

Biba! Joe

 

That cannot be possible.  They've (various employees and managers at various locations) told me numerous times that

"everything we get is put on the shelf as soon as it arrives"

You're comment would make them liars, and they promised me otherwise!

[fishnbowljoe]

3 hours ago, 0895 said:

 

That cannot be possible.  They've (various employees and managers at various locations) told me numerous times that

"everything we get is put on the shelf as soon as it arrives"

You're comment would make them liars, and they promised me otherwise!

I hear you ERIC. Yes, I got your name right this time. We have a couple of Meijers here. Long story short, the way they handle things with ER, Blanton’s, etc, is a bit less than above board. Especially at the store closer to our house, which is the one we usually go to.

 

Oh, one more thing, mainly for Tim. I paid $36.99 for the Weller 12 I bought last week.  

 

Biba! Joe