The Bottle

[BourbonGuy]

I started a post about V small batch bourbon. The store manager said something interesting. He said "it didn't sell because it had an ugly label".

Maybe not as much for the forum members, but how often do you think the bottle results in a sale.

How important is the bottle or packaging?

[flahute]

For newbies it's very important. They want to believe they are consuming a quality product and without the kind of information that comes from experience, high quality packaging usually wins out.

[Tony Santana]

When I first started growing my collection I wanted to get a Willett Pot Still because I thought the bottle was cool. Fortunately I was on a mission to try more major distillery products first, so in time I came to realize via reviews and comments that the Pot Still was an iffy proposition in terms of quality, and that the bottle just took up too much space. I've still never bought one.

I'll confess part of the allure of the I.W. Harper 15 year was that I could use the bottle as a decanter later when I finished with it. But I did want to try the bourbon inside.

[flahute]

I'll confess part of the allure of the I.W. Harper 15 year was that I could use the bottle as a decanter later when I finished with it. But I did want to try the bourbon inside.

[ebo]

I don't know how important the bottle is but, I like the new OGD BiB bottle. :cool:

We need a "wink" emoticon.

[Vosgar]

Before the bourbon boom was in full swing, a store owner I know was positive the reason his bottles of Lot B stayed on the shelf as long as they did was due to its plain and boring label. Hard to imagine these days

[squire]

. . . .How important is the bottle or packaging?

Quite important I think, and rightly or wrongly will remain so.

[Richnimrod]

For many, many folx the purchase of liquor, even Bourbon (GASP!), is a 'point-of-purchase' decision. ...Meaning the mind isn't necessarily made up about brand; or even liquor type in some cases.

Therefor the packaging is extremely important to the distillers, bottlers (if different from the distillers), as well as the sellers; and often the purchasers, for the reason stated.

For me, personally, other than quick recognition; I couldn't care less.

[bullitt]

I've never been able to figure out the boxed items. Why cover the bottle and juice? What's your opinion on the boxes? Are you more impressed by the boxed items on the shelf? I can tell you additional packaging definitely adds to the price. Sometimes I've seen vendors take bottles out of their boxes to make more shelf space. Do you want the box if your bottle came with one?

[Trappersim]

Just about every time I go to the liquor store with my wife she purposefully looks for cool looking bottles no matter what liquor is in it. I go with a purpose to find a bottle I want to drink, she buys for how it will look in our bar. So far as my wife is concerned the looks is important. My wife and a bunch of her friends are always trying to one up each other to find the coolest bottle.

[flahute]

I've never been able to figure out the boxed items. Why cover the bottle and juice? What's your opinion on the boxes? Are you more impressed by the boxed items on the shelf? I can tell you additional packaging definitely adds to the price. Sometimes I've seen vendors take bottles out of their boxes to make more shelf space. Do you want the box if your bottle came with one?

Experienced members of this board don't care about the boxes. They only care about the whiskey. Again, though, the inexperienced may see it as a sign of quality.

I personally don't care for them because they are a waste of material that serves no purpose. What am I supposed to do with it?

[B.B. Babington]

booker boxes work well for shelving rifle scopes

[Flyfish]

Good storage for odds and ends in the workshop. The clear cover lets you see what's inside.

[bullitt]

Just about every time I go to the liquor store with my wife she purposefully looks for cool looking bottles no matter what liquor is in it. I go with a purpose to find a bottle I want to drink, she buys for how it will look in our bar. So far as my wife is concerned the looks is important. My wife and a bunch of her friends are always trying to one up each other to find the coolest bottle.

Look at tequila's for tons of unique bottles

[kjbeggs]

I've never been able to figure out the boxed items. Why cover the bottle and juice? What's your opinion on the boxes? Are you more impressed by the boxed items on the shelf? I can tell you additional packaging definitely adds to the price. Sometimes I've seen vendors take bottles out of their boxes to make more shelf space. Do you want the box if your bottle came with one?

I think some people may see the "tube" as a sign of "This is so special it must be protected from the elements"...

Really, they just take up space, unless you find creative storage uses for them. I thought those Kavalan leather-look containers with the metal latch looked pretty cool, so i threw a couple of them up in my attic until I could figure out a use for them. Unfortunately, they started to fall apart from the heat.

[ken_mays]

booker boxes work well for shelving rifle scopes

I keep my highball glasses in a Booker's box. Keeps the dust off, keeps the glasses handy on the bar and looks neat.

[O'DubhGhaill]

I just saw a vodka for sale in a clear human skull bottle! I actually shied away from Blanton's because I thought the bottling was hokey and that I was being charged for decoration compensating for nothing more than regular whiskey. Bookers packaging seemed special enough to focus my attention on the product inside, no bells or whistles, but something genuinely special.

[Flyfish]

Any thoughts on Blade and Bow? I almost bought a bottle when I saw the reference to S-W. Read further, however, and saw they were not claiming S-W juice, just an homage to S-W. Back on topic, the key attached to the neck is supposed to have some actual function at their visitor center. Or, did I hear that wrong from the lady at Costco?

[TunnelTiger]

For newbies it's very important. They want to believe they are consuming a quality product and without the kind of information that comes from experience, high quality packaging usually wins out.

You just described me until I joined SB.

[BourbonGuy]

I have not opened the bottle of "V" yet. But if "packaging" is so important, you would think peope selling the bourbon (marketing?) would give it more thought. It would be a shame if a great boubon went unpurchased due to an ugly bottle. I will say a good bottle does make an impression. For example, I recently saw a bottle of J. R. Ewing bourbon and thought, that is one pretty bottle. Members here don't think much of what is in the bottle. I have also seen some limited addition rare scotch bottles that a lot of thought went into. Darn are they pretty.

[Paddy]

IMO, no one consistently 'dolls up' a bottle better than WT for a limited/special release.

I wish I'd collected every old decanter they released. Having said that, I'm to the point where I very rarely let the bottle influence my decision on whether to purchase or not.

Like others have noted, the package is VERY important to the average consumer... often times being the only thing that ever drew the potential 'marks eye' in the first place.

[fishnbowljoe]

I know I've posted this before, but I think it bears repeating.

As a once avid fisherman, I was always on the lookout for the latest and greatest lures available. Fortunately, I established a good relationship with one of the guys that worked at my favorite outdoor store. One time, a new lure caught my eye. It was bright and flashy, etc…. I asked my guy about it. Here's his answer. "It's not bad. It'll catch fish, but like a lot of other lures nowadays, it was meant to catch fishermen first."

Cheers! Joe

[squire]

. . . . What's your opinion on the boxes? Are you more impressed by the boxed items on the shelf? . . . .

[BourbonGuy]

I think the box is for people giving it as a gift. Personally I rather buy a bottle of Booker cheaper and loose the wooden box.

[smokinjoe]

Personally I rather buy a bottle of Booker cheaper and loose the wooden box.