Guess I am naïve

[BourbonGuy]

I saw this post below by Lew Bryson on the whiskeyadvocate website. Silly me, I thought more people started to like bourbon. Seems more people found a way to make cash off of bourbon. I just wish this became a non profitable persuit and things would stabilize. The thing that really caugh my eye was that

"People were outraged that the earlier Diageo bottlings (Blowhard, Rhetoric, etc.) were not MORE limited. " Here is the entire statement

Lew Bryson says:

May 12, 2015 at 8:48 am

If that’s what people buy, and seem to buy at high prices without flinching…that’s what they’re going to sell. People were outraged that the earlier Diageo bottlings (Blowhard, Rhetoric, etc.) were not MORE limited. Collectors and resale are driving that part of the market, and that’s much more important to them than that the whiskey be available to all. Frankly, sometimes it looks like it’s important than how the whiskey tastes.

[Richnimrod]

Yeah; sad, ain't it. ...But probably a good deal of accurate analysis there.

Well, there's still a great deal of very well-made and tasty Bourbon out there at reasonable (retail, not secondary market) prices.

I believe I shall target those that taste good tomy taste buddies, and that I find reasonably priced. Not to say I won't pay for a limited release once in a while; but only if I find it at retail.

I won't help foster the secondary market inflation. ...Just won't do it. Nor will I selll anything that way. If I find I have surplus that would be appreciated by someone who likes what I like; I shall see if I can share a pour or two with those folx.

[TunnelTiger]

Well, there's still a great deal of very well-made and tasty Bourbon out there at reasonable (retail, not secondary market) prices.

After I complete my goal of empting my bunker of LE bottles and other seasonal releases like ETL I'll only purchase bottles that have a taste value. For instance I can purchase most BIB's sub $25 the only way I'll pay $100 for an LE is if it tastes 4 times better and I don't believe any will.

Also there is no way I'm going to give $80 for a NDP in a pretty bottle with a catchy name that won't compare to EWBIB or AAA10* at less than $20.

I think I'm finally over my WN and now can relax and just enjoy bourbon and rye.

[garbanzobean]

Unfortunately I think Mr. Bryson's comments are accurate, though I wouldn't go reading too much into them. His comments were specifically responding to a poster asking (read: whining about) why they reviewed so much LE and unavailable stuff. This (or the opposite) happens every season when their top 10 list comes out, and is probably pretty annoying at this point. I don't always agree with WA, but I love that they try the nastiest flavored bottom shelf swill alongside $20,000+ bottles.

Let's just remember that a diverse lot of people drink and/or collect whiskey, and be hopeful that those who are image obsessed continue to mostly ignore the real bourbon world. Or that they REALLY like the Orphan Barrel project ;p

[PaulO]

I see Orphan Barrels at nearly every store I know since they have been released. I don't think of them as scarce at all. I think it's only a business or marketing strategy to have an air of scarcity around them; a sales pitch. I could name a list of hard to find or dusty bottles I would like to find, not these. It's the same with the lower proof WT high priced stuff lately - who cares.

[suntour]

There is a serious article/book waiting to be written about the madness surrounding limited releases of alcohol. I truly believe there's some deep psychological element at play, either way it's a peculiar dance of economics. Arguably things like Orphan Barrel and Blood Oath are last-gasps of the boom, but I think it'll be at least a decade until you'll be able to buy WLW from a shelf. Of course by then it'll be a 375ml bottle for $100.

[BourbonGuy]

Actually I was hoping the exact opposite would happen. People are buying Weller 12, Orpahn Bottle and paying $100+ and realizing it wasn't worth the money.

Once they realize they could have purchased 4 bottles of bourbon just as good, they would stop. Then the purchasing to flip would end or soften. But then again, I'm naive.

[portwood]

Actually I was hoping the exact opposite would happen. People are buying Weller 12, Orpahn Bottle and paying $100+ and realizing it wasn't worth the money.

Once they realize they could have purchased 4 bottles of bourbon just as good, they would stop. Then the purchasing to flip would end or soften. But then again, I'm naive.

Vast majority of people have been trained by marketing/advertising/branding to accept the idea that higher price = better quality. Therefore, upon opening a $100 bottle of bourbon they automatically believe it to be better than $25 bourbon. Few would ever admit to themselves, and more importantly to others, they don't "get" why it cost so much.

I think the majority of whisky fans agree Johnnie Walker Blue label is not the best JW, yet people willingly pay the premium and continue to buy it anyway.

[TunnelTiger]

I think the majority of whisky fans agree Johnnie Walker Blue label is not the best JW, yet people willingly pay the premium and continue to buy it anyway.

I agree with you assessment 100%. The majority of the people buying the LE's and the $80 + bottles of every new NDP bottling really don't know what good bourbon tastes like therefore they keep buying whatever is recommended especially if its won an award or has a 90+ point review.

Hey if they enjoy that good for them.

[Mardbrown]

I would not think to much in to this at all. Around October/November, I saw this guy leaving the store with two bottles of Pappy 20. He handed his friend the phone and said record me so I can post this on instagram. He basically wanted to post a video online with him saying "Got Damn right, Im a hypebeast!" I was shocked and baffled. This told me that he was only after it because it was rare and wanted high fives from his friends that probably did not know what the hell Pappy was. Im pretty young and maybe immature about some things, but I'm extremely glad that I can appreciate a ten dollar bottle like HH6BIB, $30 4Roses SB, and $50 bottle like Rock Hill Farms, without feeling need to always drink rare and exclusive whisky.

[meadeweber]

I would not think to much in to this at all. Around October/November, I saw this guy leaving the store with two bottles of Pappy 20. He handed his friend the phone and said record me so I can post this on instagram. He basically wanted to post a video online with him saying "Got Damn right, Im a hypebeast!" I was shocked and baffled. This told me that he was only after it because it was rare and wanted high fives from his friends that probably did not know what the hell Pappy was. Im pretty young and maybe immature about some things, but I'm extremely glad that I can appreciate a ten dollar bottle like HH6BIB, $30 4Roses SB, and $50 bottle like Rock Hill Farms, without feeling need to always drink rare and exclusive whisky.

Mard,

First let me say that you are probably right about your impression of this gentleman.

BUT, I think many of the people on this forum would be pretty excited to score 2 bottles of Pappy 20 at MSRP (I'm assuming he bought them at or near MSRP). I know I would be. Although I wouldn't call myself a "hypebeast" mainly because I don't know what that is.:grin:

[Hop]

I can see where the author has a valid position. Being at an event last Fall where Pappy along with other items such as BTAC were being offered in a drawing format. I was surprised to overhear many people who had clearly signed up for and we're hoping to receive the chance to purchase ask questions about what they should get. They knew about "Pappy" but knew nothing about it, had never drank it, and many were not even bourbon drinkers.

Several thousand dollars were spent that evening by people with no idea what they were buying other than it was rare...

[amg]

Still seeing pictures on other sites with guys bragging about scoring multiple bottles of Kentucky Owl, so I think there are still plenty of customers for that kind of thing.

[Harry in WashDC]

GOODNESS!! I guess I ought to trundle down to the store I got an email form today and load up on DUKE'S Straight Kentucky Whiskey at $37 per and then do a selfie. Holding that stick and the bottles is going to be tough, especially if I have my vest and guns and hat on.

[garbanzobean]

GOODNESS!! I guess I ought to trundle down to the store I got an email form today and load up on DUKE'S Straight Kentucky Whiskey at $37 per and then do a selfie. Holding that stick and the bottles is going to be tough, especially if I have my vest and guns and hat on.

I like 100% of the things Harry is threatening to do.

[The Black Tot]

There is a serious article/book waiting to be written about the madness surrounding limited releases of alcohol. I truly believe there's some deep psychological element at play, either way it's a peculiar dance of economics.

Excellent statement. There really is something huge going on in the culture. It's almost Roman-style burnout in its decadent approach. Don't deny yourself the exclusive taste of success! Prices be damned, you only live once! Never mind you're still in college!

Personally, I think the culture is broadly uneasy, and is turning to hyper-materialism and higher-intensity indulgence as a distraction. Hype-beasting - I like that.

I maintain that we're at a level of unnatural competition in the limited market now where people will start to lose interest because the gratification/effort ratio is now getting too low to hold the attention of most of the participants. Cured Oak was an interesting exercise, and was a bitter experience for far more customers than it was a success for the very few.

When the Orphan series started, even though it was just over a year ago, there were MUCH fewer people fighting for them. OBH and BH, whatever their faults, had fetchingly designed labels and a nice presentation.

The new Orphan-like products like Blade and Bow 22 and IW Harper 15 are interesting to me. Initially I was surprised they were selling at all - I figured the public would have not gone for it. B+B is a less attractive bottle design than Old Blowhard was. The plastic key is a little silly, for example. It seemed like they were shooting for something feminine - not that there's anything wrong with that.

Everyone has different taste, but it seems like Diageo's premiums have been getting less and less design love as time goes on. It doesn't seem to be stopping them.

The great thing about hype-beasts is they always have to be moving forward, and they're running out of space in bourbon land.

[jsrudd]

There is a serious article/book waiting to be written about the madness surrounding limited releases of alcohol.

Not about alcohol, but applicable all the same.

Manias, Panics and Crashes: A History of Financial Crises

[squire]

I like 100% of the things Harry is threatening to do.

Wouldn't wear my guns into the liquor store though.

[dcbt]

Saw this post in another forum: "I am looking to splurge on a "legendary" bottle. I'm not usually in this position but I get jealous of all the ridiculous cellars I see on here and I have some extra cash." So there you have it, jealousy + extra cash = LE madness.

[TunnelTiger]

So sad, sad, and more sad. Tell em to go buy a bottle of Blood Oath. It's only $80 but most surely will triple in value the way it is flying off the shelves.

[smokinjoe]

Y'all got to quit posting dumbass shit from other dumbass forums, bloggers, Facebook pages, etc. It's that dumbass shit on them that keeps me away from reading those dumbasses.

[garbanzobean]

Saw this post in another forum: "I am looking to splurge on a "legendary" bottle. I'm not usually in this position but I get jealous of all the ridiculous cellars I see on here and I have some extra cash." So there you have it, jealousy + extra cash = LE madness.

Cellar envy? How thoroughly unproductive.

[fozzy71]

Wouldn't wear my guns into the liquor store though.

It is not legal in MS to carry in a liquor store? It is completely legal here in MI (I usually open carry every where I go), you just can't conceal carry in a place that makes their primary source of income from liquor by the glass.

sorry for the derail

[Josh]

Y'all got to quit posting dumbass shit from other dumbass forums, bloggers, Facebook pages, etc. It's that dumbass shit on them that keeps me away from reading those dumbasses.

As a dumbass blogger, I take umbrage at this, sir.

[dcbt]

Y'all got to quit posting dumbass shit from other dumbass forums, bloggers, Facebook pages, etc. It's that dumbass shit on them that keeps me away from reading those dumbasses.