What Bourbon did you pass up today? Fall 2015

[cde1218]

I was $69 a bottle which based on it being a one time recipe and limited to a handful of barrels seems fair to me. Tastes nothing similar to any of the other four roses I've had. I'm not unhappy with the pickup.

[Radsman13]

Running into the same here, things are 2-3 x MSRP and the owner/mgr says that someone will pay that price..

Makes me mad as I have spent quite a bit in that store in the last 18 months trying to build a relationship

[Radsman13]

The Good News: I found a liquor store sort of near me that has many of the limited releases on the shelf.

The Bad News: GOUGE CITY, worse than I have ever seen.

2015 OFBB $269

2015 WLW $999

EC18 $299

PHC9 $129

WT Master's Keep $189 (they have a lot)

And the one that pisses me off most of all, the very same ETL that I bought a couple of at $39.99 two months ago (and they have a lot of bottles) has been marked up to $139.99 now.

I politely told the guy that it was nice to see the selection, but the prices were outrageous even by secondary market standards. He said the owner sets the prices and the owner does not care if the bottles ever sell -- he likes to have them in the store. He also confirmed that they had to buy massive amounts of undesirable liquor to get the limited bottles (Fireball, flavored vodka, etc.). He said the deal with the distributor was very explicit "If you want a bottle of this limited edition, you have to buy at least four cases of that."

Pretty depressing. Glad my bunker is full. Just about giving up on the limited stuff. Same dollars spent on dusty bourbon, in my opinion, are much better spent.

Running into the same here, things are 2-3 x MSRP and the owner/mgr says that someone will pay that price..

Makes me mad as I have spent quite a bit in that store in the last 18 months trying to build a relationship

[flahute]

Passing on WTMK at $150. Just haven't heard good enough things about it for that price. I can get WT12 for less than that from overseas.

[GAbiker]

The Good News: I found a liquor store sort of near me that has many of the limited releases on the shelf.

The Bad News: GOUGE CITY, worse than I have ever seen.

2015 OFBB $269

2015 WLW $999

EC18 $299

PHC9 $129

WT Master's Keep $189 (they have a lot)

And the one that pisses me off most of all, the very same ETL that I bought a couple of at $39.99 two months ago (and they have a lot of bottles) has been marked up to $139.99 now.

I politely told the guy that it was nice to see the selection, but the prices were outrageous even by secondary market standards. He said the owner sets the prices and the owner does not care if the bottles ever sell -- he likes to have them in the store. He also confirmed that they had to buy massive amounts of undesirable liquor to get the limited bottles (Fireball, flavored vodka, etc.). He said the deal with the distributor was very explicit "If you want a bottle of this limited edition, you have to buy at least four cases of that."

Pretty depressing. Glad my bunker is full. Just about giving up on the limited stuff. Same dollars spent on dusty bourbon, in my opinion, are much better spent.

Bottles of undesirable liquor.....that's true in many ways. According to our sales rep, Van Winkle allocation this year (and next) are based primarily on how much 1792 and Fireball you sell. To get other LE's, you have to stock other bourbons like Duke, Yellow Rose and Straight Edge. (Although Duke isn't bad...a blend of 5-10 YO FR's).

And as to prices....someone WILL pay that price. I've had people walk into the store (not regular customers) and straight out offer me $1000 for a bottle of 20 YO Pappy and $600 for a bottle of 15 YO. Put the shoe on other foot....if that happened to you, what would you do? Hold on to them and sell them to a regular for $300 or take the money and run? That's a TON of money...

[Paul W]

Bottles of undesirable liquor.....that's true in many ways. According to our sales rep, Van Winkle allocation this year (and next) are based primarily on how much 1792 and Fireball you sell. To get other LE's, you have to stock other bourbons like Duke, Yellow Rose and Straight Edge. (Although Duke isn't bad...a blend of 5-10 YO FR's).

And as to prices....someone WILL pay that price. I've had people walk into the store (not regular customers) and straight out offer me $1000 for a bottle of 20 YO Pappy and $600 for a bottle of 15 YO. Put the shoe on other foot....if that happened to you, what would you do? Hold on to them and sell them to a regular for $300 or take the money and run? That's a TON of money...

You make a valid point. I am a fan of free markets, the price is set by supply and demand, and stores are there to make money, and if I had a store I would want to make money too, and someone probably will buy those bottles (though I will silently hope they just sit there until the owner finally has to cut the price).

I guess my real frustration is seeing all you folks picking them up for MSRP. I don't think that is going to happen for me here in CA.

[kcgumbohead]

Bottles of undesirable liquor.....that's true in many ways. According to our sales rep, Van Winkle allocation this year (and next) are based primarily on how much 1792 and Fireball you sell. To get other LE's, you have to stock other bourbons like Duke, Yellow Rose and Straight Edge. (Although Duke isn't bad...a blend of 5-10 YO FR's).

And as to prices....someone WILL pay that price. I've had people walk into the store (not regular customers) and straight out offer me $1000 for a bottle of 20 YO Pappy and $600 for a bottle of 15 YO. Put the shoe on other foot....if that happened to you, what would you do? Hold on to them and sell them to a regular for $300 or take the money and run? That's a TON of money...

Fireball I get but 1792 as undesirable? This does answer why I saw a particular store advertise that buying 2 1792's granted the purchaser a ticket for the Pappy raffle. I passed as I am good on 1792 and don't care to chase Pappy but in my book 1792 is a worthy pour.

[KyleCBreese]

I don't think Fireball is undesirable from a business standpoint. That stuff moves fast, in high quantities.

[kcgumbohead]

I don't think Fireball is undesirable from a business standpoint. That stuff moves fast, in high quantities.

Ahh, I was looking at it from an SB standpoint :drinking:

[big pete]

Passed on a OFBB for $89 and a EC18 for $149. Had to think about the EC18 but it was a little more than I wanted to spend

[GAbiker]

Fireball I get but 1792 as undesirable? This does answer why I saw a particular store advertise that buying 2 1792's granted the purchaser a ticket for the Pappy raffle. I passed as I am good on 1792 and don't care to chase Pappy but in my book 1792 is a worthy pour.

I don't think Fireball is undesirable from a business standpoint. That stuff moves fast, in high quantities.

In 2014, there was reportedly $130 million in sales of Fireball which does not include restaurants and bars.

And when I said "undesirable" did not mean to include 1792....and yes, that's why the store KC went into in Roswell was making you buy 2 bottles of 1792 to get into their "Pappy" raffle.

[Hop]

For members in SC ETL, Stagg Jr, 1792 Port Finish arrived in the last day or so. If these are on your list I'd go sooner rather than later

[KyleCBreese]

Passed on ETL at $33. I have a few bottles and decided to pass.

[Radsman13]

For members in SC ETL, Stagg Jr, 1792 Port Finish arrived in the last day or so. If these are on your list I'd go sooner rather than later

In SC and have seen that ETL for $79, the Stagg Jr for $79 adn the Port Finish for $89...passed on all

[b1gcountry]

Weller 12 and bt single oak 375ml for 99.99.

Passed

[mrfat]

Found a Pappy 15 for $1000 but easily passed on that. Also passed on EC18 for $99. Used to buying it when it was in the $50 range but now I'm thinking of running back there and getting one or two.

[Hop]

In SC and have seen that ETL for $79, the Stagg Jr for $79 adn the Port Finish for $89...passed on all

Didn't see a price on the ETL where I was but the Stagg Jr was $58 and the Port Finish was $45 - agree I would have passed on the prices you saw as well -

[Swoboda]

One lonely ETL at $34.99 . . . left it for someone else as we have some in the basement.

[Special Reserve]

A couple of guys passing on ELT at the MSRP. That is unnecessarily disciplined. Around here that's an unusual find.

[bin31z]

A store owner I spoke to said that to receive a full collection of Pappy, you have to order 50 cases of Fireball, with 6 handles in each case. Could explain why they are selling so much of the stuff!

In 2014, there was reportedly $130 million in sales of Fireball which does not include restaurants and bars.

And when I said "undesirable" did not mean to include 1792....and yes, that's why the store KC went into in Roswell was making you buy 2 bottles of 1792 to get into their "Pappy" raffle.

[mbroo5880i]

A store owner I spoke to said that to receive a full collection of Pappy, you have to order 50 cases of Fireball, with 6 handles in each case. Could explain why they are selling so much of the stuff!

[O'DubhGhaill]

Got the call from my store, BTAC Handy in for one hundred something and a Pappy 15 for more than that, and you have to buy a nearly equal amount of other liquor though. I laughed, thanked my contact for the call, chatted about my >$51 bourbon preference, then bid him farewell.

[fjr1606]

Pappy 20 for $1400, ORV 12 for $500, ORV 10 for $400 and ETL $99. I just laughed and walked out.

[El Vino]

Ridgemont 1792 Port Finish for $58.95 before tax. First time I have seen any of the 1792 special releases. Clerk told me their distributor gave it to him as a consolation prize since they did not get any Pappy. He told me it is almost as hard to find as Pappy. When they told me the price I said I thought it was a $40 bottle. They said the "owner" set the price. I handed it back and said he could have it. Went 5 minutes down the road to Stew Leonard's and bought one of the six on the shelf for $39.95.

[willmohawk5]

Ridgemont 1792 Port Finish for $58.95 before tax. First time I have seen any of the 1792 special releases. Clerk told me their distributor gave it to him as a consolation prize since they did not get any Pappy. He told me it is almost as hard to find as Pappy. When they told me the price I said I thought it was a $40 bottle. They said the "owner" set the price. I handed it back and said he could have it. Went 5 minutes down the road to Stew Leonard's and bought one of the six on the shelf for $39.95.

Being from NJ I would love to know what store this is so I can laugh at his face for that ridiculous comment and comparison. I've passed many bottles of 1792 Port so far. Bottle King sells them for $35.99 all day long. And the casual smaller store sells them for $40-45. You should've asked this "clerk" when was the last time he saw Pappy on the shelf? I swear, idiots.