2015 btac

[Vosgar]

This is awesome. Honestly tell us how many pours you had? This bar obviously is no different than a good store owner would be. If this is how they all did then on-premise wouldn't be that bad of a deal. Unfortunately this is not common in todays boom. Congrats on a awesome find!

I only had the one pour, despite my wife's encouragement to have a second. We had other places to go and I figured that 4oz's of 134.6 proof whiskey during lunch might be a bit much. I know, I know....what a lightweight :grin:

[SingleBarrel]

I have just read this entire thread after not visiting the Forum in several weeks, and not posting in forever, and I'm very discouraged. So hard to continue to be a bourbon enthusiast these last few years, when I can still remember being able to acquire virtually anything I wanted, including PVW and the BTAC with just a little bit of effort - sometimes even on a shelf! PLEASE, PLEASE, let's see a Rum boom! Call me "Discouraged in Knoxville".

[Sluggo]

I have just read this entire thread after not visiting the Forum in several weeks, and not posting in forever, and I'm very discouraged. So hard to continue to be a bourbon enthusiast these last few years, when I can still remember being able to acquire virtually anything I wanted, including PVW and the BTAC with just a little bit of effort - sometimes even on a shelf! PLEASE, PLEASE, let's see a Rum boom! Call me "Discouraged in Knoxville".

Like everything else that I get into I'm always a day late and a dollar short. Having only been interested in bourbon for a couple of years I missed out on the "Good Old Days" of finding PVW and BTAC or for the most part any allocated bourbon at lower prices on the shelves. I guess on the bright side there is a thrill of the hunt factor. I've got a fairly short list of bourbons on my bucket list so hopefully I'll get to check a few of them off my list before I'm done.

[Sean Bond]

Like everything else that I get into I'm always a day late and a dollar short. Having only been interested in bourbon for a couple of years I missed out on the "Good Old Days" of finding PVW and BTAC or for the most part any allocated bourbon at lower prices on the shelves. I guess on the bright side there is a thrill of the hunt factor. I've got a fairly short list of bourbons on my bucket list so hopefully I'll get to check a few of them off my list before I'm done.

You're preaching to the choir. I'm also very new to bourbon, and approaching it like I did craft beer (seek out and drink all the "best" beers first as a reference point, and then develop your own taste) is much more difficult. The closest I've gotten to BTAC or Pappy is to have a pour of each at a restaurant in Chicago (which is problematic, because I like to sit at home and drink a whiskey for a while before deciding how I feel about it). It's definitely a fun chase, but this stuff is much harder to get, and much more expensive. As others have mentioned, a lot of these bourbons have been pretty generously distributed to bars/restaurants, so that's a good place to start.

[GreggJ]

I have just read this entire thread after not visiting the Forum in several weeks, and not posting in forever, and I'm very discouraged. So hard to continue to be a bourbon enthusiast these last few years, when I can still remember being able to acquire virtually anything I wanted, including PVW and the BTAC with just a little bit of effort - sometimes even on a shelf! PLEASE, PLEASE, let's see a Rum boom! Call me "Discouraged in Knoxville".

No Kidding, 5 long years ago I would grab the Stagg, WLW and PVW 15 upon sight and over the next few months would randomly pick up ER17, PVW12+10, Handy, Saz etc. I remember buying an ER 17 as late as August. Now it is not even being released for retail in a controlled state. This bourbon boom is hitting me where it hurts. Thankfully, I have a decent bunker. Not sure if it will last the boom but, I'm hoping.

I love tequila, rum, Flavored bourbon that's where its at... This aged bourbon stuff is horrible. :-)

[GreggJ]

My source at the NH State stores told me that their allocation was cut so severely that they do not plan to release any for retail sale and it will all go to restaurants and bars, damn.

Your source is very well connected. I am friendly with a manager, at a NH State Liquor store, he called me yesterday to let me know nothing was being sold at retail and he had no idea why. I told him that i heard a rumor it was going to bars and restaurants. He said that would make sense but, was news to him and that the store managers were just notified yesterday (10/27) that there would be no public release. It really sucks that a controlled state will not offer any to its residents.

These bottles will now go home with restaurant managers or be sold as overpriced drams.

[Sluggo]

I will say, on my behalf that I did not get into bourbon because of the hype. I didn't know a thing about the allocated stuff until I started asking questions and educated myself. I'd be lying if I said that I'm not interested now. I did get an opportunity to drink some PVW15 at a local steakhouse for $15.00 a one finger pour. I ended up drinking 4 glasses and got to keep the empty bottle as a souvenir. This is the closest that I have gotten to owning a bottle. I also got to try some GTS at another place for around $20 a 1/12 oz pour.

[PaulO]

Just to give some perspective, I remember when BTAC and VW products sat on shelves or in glass cases @ MSRP prices. I could have bought as much as I wanted, but didn't, and have no regrets. Back in the early 2000s, it seemed what enthusiasts really wanted were dusty bottles like DSP 16 Old Fitzgerald, or age stated Wild Turkey and others. The grass is always greener...

It doesn't shock me if LE stuff goes directly to restaurants and bars (if they want it). Some of our TX friends have brought this up before. A bar or restaurant simply spends so much on booze. It gives a lot of leverage to get what they want.

Don't worry folks, there is plenty ​of great bourbon out there.

[johnnybogey]

Just to give some perspective, I remember when BTAC and VW products sat on shelves or in glass cases @ MSRP prices. I could have bought as much as I wanted, but didn't, and have no regrets. Back in the early 2000s, it seemed what enthusiasts really wanted were dusty bottles like DSP 16 Old Fitzgerald, or age stated Wild Turkey and others. The grass is always greener...

It doesn't shock me if LE stuff goes directly to restaurants and bars (if they want it). Some of our TX friends have brought this up before. A bar or restaurant simply spends so much on booze. It gives a lot of leverage to get what they want.

Don't worry folks, there is plenty ​of great bourbon out there.

To add to this. I recall last year, "supposedly" Total Wine didn't get any BTAC or Pappy. Well, I suspect they did get an allocation but word is, that allocation went right to the corporate offices.

[GAbiker]

I thought this might be the time to inject this thought into this thread. Over and over I read complaints about Retail Liquor Stores "Gouging" when it comes to allocated bottles. Here in Atlanta, a customer told me yesterday that he had bought a 2 oz. pour of WLW at a downtown on premise (bar/restaurant) and it was $20. SO...12 2 oz. pours in a 750 X $20= $240. Why don't I ever hear anyone complaining about THIS? On premise pays the same price as off premise. Just sayin...

[dcbt]

I thought this might be the time to inject this thought into this thread. Over and over I read complaints about Retail Liquor Stores "Gouging" when it comes to allocated bottles. Here in Atlanta, a customer told me yesterday that he had bought a 2 oz. pour of WLW at a downtown on premise (bar/restaurant) and it was $20. SO...12 2 oz. pours in a 750 X $20= $240. Why don't I ever hear anyone complaining about THIS? On premise pays the same price as off premise. Just sayin...

You want the honest answer? Many people can't or won't do that math... And edit to add, for some reason consumers are conditioned to accept ridiculous markups on premise.

Edited October 29, 2015 by dcbt

[Old Dusty]

You want the honest answer? Many people can't or won't do that math... And edit to add, for some reason consumers are conditioned to accept ridiculous markups on premise.

Totally agree. Lazyness + nice dinner + special occasion= splurge on a "cocktail" that you would have overpaid for anyway. Always an upcharged on booze at bars/restaurants. It's expected to pay more in that setting, right? That's why we buy a $20 bottle of wine for $45 at the steakhouse.

[B.B. Babington]

Bars are for profit business with overhead. They provide a service, they pour it for you, they wash the dishes (hopefully), they provide ambiance. If they pour shots for reasonable markup, that's great. People get to taste flavors. If they gouge, go somewhere else. If they charge $20 for 2 oz pour of BTAC, then that's good deal in my book. Better deal than the $50 shots of Pappy people buy.

[Xevious]

If they charge $20 for 2 oz pour of BTAC, then that's good deal in my book. Better deal than the $50 shots of Pappy people buy.

No kidding. $20 is not such a huge investment if people just want to try it. I've seen pours of GTS for $45. Now that's ridiculous.

[tanstaafl2]

I thought this might be the time to inject this thought into this thread. Over and over I read complaints about Retail Liquor Stores "Gouging" when it comes to allocated bottles. Here in Atlanta, a customer told me yesterday that he had bought a 2 oz. pour of WLW at a downtown on premise (bar/restaurant) and it was $20. SO...12 2 oz. pours in a 750 X $20= $240. Why don't I ever hear anyone complaining about THIS? On premise pays the same price as off premise. Just sayin...

I have been told by industry insiders that on premise accounts do tend to pay a bit more than retail stores for bottles and of course overhead is likely different for a bar/restaurant as well. But I find much over roughly twice retail cost to be more than I am willing to pay. Not that I drink much straight whiskey at a bar/restaurant anyway. If I am out on the town having a drink it is usually for a well made cocktail and besides the bar in my basement is almost always better stocked with whiskey and already paid for!

[Louisiana]

I agree on having better stocked whiskey than restaurants. Went to a few in New Orleans recently and they had the most basic pours you can buy.

Now the food was the best that you can buy. So I was still very happy!

[jvd99]

I thought this might be the time to inject this thought into this thread. Over and over I read complaints about Retail Liquor Stores "Gouging" when it comes to allocated bottles. Here in Atlanta, a customer told me yesterday that he had bought a 2 oz. pour of WLW at a downtown on premise (bar/restaurant) and it was $20. SO...12 2 oz. pours in a 750 X $20= $240. Why don't I ever hear anyone complaining about THIS? On premise pays the same price as off premise. Just sayin...

The same reason I pay two bucks plus a tip for a Miller Lite at the bar. I don't think Miller Lite is worth $48.00+ a case, but I just want a damn beer

[Tony Santana]

When I go out to a bar/restaurant its almost always to socialize, eat, attend an event, kill some time/have a quick one before a dinner or a show, etc. In other words, I rarely go to a bar with drinking as the primary reason for me being there. While I do still like to drink something decent, it's a very rare occasion when I drop more than $10 or $12 on one drink, and it's usually less than that. About the only time it happens is when I'm out of town. I'm pretty sure there isn't a bar in my area that has a better selection than my house, and as someone noted above, it's all paid for at home. I can probably count on one hand the number I've times I've spent more than $20 on a pour.

[Richnimrod]

I have been told by industry insiders that on premise accounts do tend to pay a bit more than retail stores for bottles and of course overhead is likely different for a bar/restaurant as well. But I find much over roughly twice retail cost to be more than I am willing to pay. Not that I drink much straight whiskey at a bar/restaurant anyway. If I am out on the town having a drink it is usually for a well made cocktail and besides the bar in my basement is almost always better stocked with whiskey and already paid for!

With the possible exception of the well-made part.... HA!,

What Bruce Said!!!!!

[ThirstyinOhio]

$20 for a 2oz pour of WLW doesn't come off as a rip off to me. As others have said, I'm paying for the ambiance of the place, someone to wash my glass, and all of that other overhead that they have to deal with.

[-icon-]

Bars are for profit business with overhead. They provide a service, they pour it for you, they wash the dishes (hopefully), they provide ambiance. If they pour shots for reasonable markup, that's great. People get to taste flavors. If they gouge, go somewhere else. If they charge $20 for 2 oz pour of BTAC, then that's good deal in my book. Better deal than the $50 shots of Pappy people buy.

[Luna56]

Anybody seen any of the '15 BTAC yet?

I'm in NH and very little of the stuff makes it up here each year. I've checked in with a number of folks here in the northeast and nobody's seen it yet. It goes very quickly.

If I missed it I'll be heartbroken.

Cheers guys!

[jaxn slim]

Anybody seen any of the '15 BTAC yet?

I'm in NH and very little of the stuff makes it up here each year. I've checked in with a number of folks here in the northeast and nobody's seen it yet. It goes very quickly.

If I missed it I'll be heartbroken.

Cheers guys!

[bourbonfish]

15 BTAC just got distributed in FL last week. It's all gone off the shelf but there is still some supply for certain counties and business types depending on their fulfillment warehouse.

[gusto16]

15 BTAC just got distributed in FL last week. It's all gone off the shelf but there is still some supply for certain counties and business types depending on their fulfillment warehouse.

My big box store in Central FL hasn't received theirs yet.