What Bourbon did you pass up today? Fall 2015

[El Vino]

On 22 West in Union next to car dealer and pizza shop. Before the craziness (and this clerk) I could usually find a bottle or two of Handy there at release price. Last year, they got a bottle of GTS for me at MSRP. I think this whole situation with limited releases and crazy orders requirements to get the limiteds has begun to take its toll on what were once reasonable retailers. Little guys like this shop must be feeling it. Now the idiotic comment that 1792 is hard to get...well that is just that...an idiot running his mouth on overtime.

[jeffrey r]

Well, I guess 1792 Sweet Wheat and Port Finished are technically limited, but at least as to the Port Finished, certainly not highly-sought-after-limited. And as willmohawk pointed out, I've seen it, and purchased a bottle, for $35.99 at Bottle King. Bottles still around.

[TheOakMonster]

In regards to the special release 1792s, our store was allocated 3 bottles of Sweet Wheat each of the past two months. For Port finish, we were allocated two six-pack cases. Distributor isn't sure what will be available going forward, but, at least initially, the Sweet Wheat is in shorter supply than Port-finish.

[Renegator]

I never saw a bottle of Sweet Wheat on the shelf in GA but the Port Finish is 6 deep on every shelf I see. Not sure why it is so much more available...

[GAbiker]

I never saw a bottle of Sweet Wheat on the shelf in GA but the Port Finish is 6 deep on every shelf I see. Not sure why it is so much more available...

[willmohawk5]

Passed up on PVW15 for $825 and Lot B for $550. Just laughed my way out of the store. I didn't bother to ask how much for the bottle of baby Saz next to those 2 bottles. I might've died of laughter.

[pmirish]

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...

Yeah it may seem like a ton of money for a one time purchase, but how much would those regulars spend throughout a year if they knew they had a chance at getting LE's at a reasonable price each fall?

[km1589]

Yeah it may seem like a ton of money for a one time purchase, but how much would those regulars spend throughout a year if they knew they had a chance at getting LE's at a reasonable price each fall?

I think there could be something to this post. If liquor stores tracked purchases throughout the year and those that meet a certain threshold($500, $1000)have the opportunity to purchase LEs. Wouldn't that deter most flippers? Just food for thought.

[GAbiker]

I think there could be something to this post. If liquor stores tracked purchases throughout the year and those that meet a certain threshold($500, $1000)have the opportunity to purchase LEs. Wouldn't that deter most flippers? Just food for thought.

Don't want everyone to think that all the bottles of LE's go to these One Time HUGE offers. We did a raffle for FRLESmB, EC18, ETL etc to people that have signed up on our website. And we're doing a raffle (every bourbon purchase until Dec. 13 gets a chance) for the 12 bottles of Van Winkles we have on hand.

HOWEVER....you have to realize that $1000 for a Pappy 20 equals the sale of about 100 cases (600 bottles) of Jim Beam or Evan Williams 1.75's. Just to put it into perspective.

[mbroo5880i]

This weekend seems to be blurring into one long day. Of course, on Monday, it will seem like a short weekend. Recent passes include Booker's 2015-5 @ $44.99, WTKS @ $39.99 and SOAS SB Rye @ $64.99. All are probably decent whiskies at a decent price but I am saving my $$$ for a local chain's holiday sale next weekend.

[Sluggo]

This weekend seems to be blurring into one long day. Of course, on Monday, it will seem like a short weekend. Recent passes include Booker's 2015-5 @ $44.99, WTKS @ $39.99 and SOAS SB Rye @ $64.99. All are probably decent whiskies at a decent price but I am saving my $$$ for a local chain's holiday sale next weekend.

I bet I know where you are going.

[bourber]

It was the reverse in Gwinnett County. we got 12 bottles of Wheat, only 3 bottles of the port finished....

I've seen it all over Gwinnett County. Are you limiting yourself to Duluth?

[GAbiker]

I've seen it all over Gwinnett County. Are you limiting yourself to Duluth?

Had a fellow SBer pick me one up when it first came out, and haven't bothered looking for it since. Actually was just talking about 1 store...

[tanstaafl2]

I never saw a bottle of Sweet Wheat on the shelf in GA but the Port Finish is 6 deep on every shelf I see. Not sure why it is so much more available...

Sweet Wheat was presumably an entirely different mash bill from regular 1792 so they only have as much as they made. The port finish is presumably the standard 1792, of which there seems to be plenty, finished in some sort of port or port style wine barrel. So I suppose they are only limited by how many port barrels they have. Given they probably weren't finished for that long the barrels aren't going to lose much to the Angel's share so they get more bottles per barrel.

Or something like that...

[KyleCBreese]

Saw a lot today, but didn't pull the trigger on any.

1792 Sweet Wheat and Port Finish, ECBP Batch 8, Metze's Select, Yellowstone LE. The most intriguing was an OBSK. It's been a while since I have seen an OBSK, so I will go back at some point and get one.

[atbat82]

Left a PHC Straight Malt on the shelf. Asking $175, which was too rich for my blood.

[jaxn slim]

I passed on ECBP at $85.

[Louisiana]

Passed on an SAOS Cask Strength Rye today at $68. I thought the price was high? 

Been wanting try one and this was at 57.7% which is nice. Not sure if I should go back?

 

[DeltaAlphaVictorEasy]

Redemption Rye 8yr CS just showed up here, the $100 price tag has me and my wallet pausing for now. Tempting, though, especially if it ends up being as good as a Willett 8yr. There doesn't seen to be any information on it out there just yet.

 

Also passed on a local distillery product, a 375ml CS whiskey called 'Heart of Mystic' - price is $26 (which isn't really out of line)

[Paddy]

Of note, WT MK and Diamond.  Of lessor note, Cassius Clay bourbon (which apparently was just released to great fan-fare)! 

[taddraughn]

Passed on some CEHT Straight Rye at $68.00, also I keep passing on the Master's Keep that's been on the shelf for months lol

[jeffrey r]

14 hours ago, Louisiana said:

Passed on an SAOS Cask Strength Rye today at $68. I thought the price was high? 

Been wanting try one and this was at 57.7% which is nice. Not sure if I should go back?

 

Look, this is just my opinion of course, but the SAOS Cask Strength Ryes are as good as virtually any whiskey on the market today.  IMO, they are well worth the general $60-$70 price tags that they go for.  This assumes that you like rye, the MGP profile, etc.  Mind you, with the extra age and proof on the cask strength SAOS ryes, the more typical MGP profile is masked dramatically, and the flavor shines through.  A definite buy for me, and these are getting rarer by the day.

 

Yesterday, I passed on a bunch, including the new Woodford Reserve limited edition (whatever that is) for $90, a Woodford Reserve Double Oaked store single barrel for $50, and everything else Woodford Reserve.  Just not a fan.

Edited December 4, 2015 by jeffrey r

[Charlutz]

A store I like seems to have jumped into the markup game. Passed on Elmer T. Lee at $60 and Stagg Jr. (didn't bother to see what batch) at $70. Went down the street and paid $40 for the ETL and $60 for the Stagg Jr., because it was batch 4, which I love.

[El Vino]

13 hours ago, jeffrey r said:

Look, this is just my opinion of course, but the SAOS Cask Strength Ryes are as good as virtually any whiskey on the market today.  IMO, they are well worth the general $60-$70 price tags that they go for.  This assumes that you like rye, the MGP profile, etc.  Mind you, with the extra age and proof on the cask strength SAOS ryes, the more typical MGP profile is masked dramatically, and the flavor shines through.  A definite buy for me, and these are getting rarer by the day.

 

Yesterday, I passed on a bunch, including the new Woodford Reserve limited edition (whatever that is) for $90, a Woodford Reserve Double Oaked store single barrel for $50, and everything else Woodford Reserve.  Just not a fan.

I completely agree with the points you are making.  I have three different private barrels of SAOS CS Rye open on the bar at prices ranging from $55 to $80 per bottle.  They are all recognizable as MGP rye - yet the different nuances are there.  While I'd rather spend in the $50 range, for a great barrel selection at cask strength, I would not hesitate pay up.  If it is true that they have put the private barrels of rye on hiatus, prices will only go up.  

Edited December 5, 2015 by El Vino
misspelling

[Golzee]

I passed on OWA at $39.99 plus tax.  I have still only tried WSR, but, I am not curious enough to pay above msrp on OWA or W12.