The Bottle

[dcbt]

I hate the boxes. Such a space killer in the bunker to boot.

[smokinjoe]

I hate the boxes. Such a space killer in the bunker to boot.

Legally speaking, I believe that you may ask the retailer to remove the bottle from the box or tube prior to the sales transaction, and in fact, the retailer may sell the removed bottle to you and still be in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. This is part of a compromise reached in the Federal Mattress Tag Requirement Law. That is, in all states except New Hampshire. There, you are legally bound to take the box, and must retain it in your possession In Perpetuity. However, New Hampshirians may cut off mattress tags at will. They're nutty like that.

[dcbt]

Legally speaking, I believe that you may ask the retailer to remove the bottle from the box or tube prior to the sales transaction, and in fact, the retailer may sell the removed bottle to you and still be in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. This is part of a compromise reached in the Federal Mattress Tag Requirement Law. That is, in all states except New Hampshire. There, you are legally bound to take the box, and must retain it in your possession In Perpetuity. However, New Hampshirians may cut off mattress tags at will. They're nutty like that.

I'll have to consult an attorney on this matter. And then maybe a second opinion. Can't be too careful.

[smokinjoe]

I'll have to consult an attorney on this matter. And then maybe a second opinion. Can't be too careful.

Heehee...I can help you with that. I was Pre-Law in college. I just do this plastic sales gig for funsies.

[fozzy71]

booker boxes work well for shelving rifle scopes

A bbq restaurant I went to used them turned on their side for holding their various flavors of bbq sauce. I don't know what to do with the one empty box of bookers I have so far, or the 2 others in the bunker that will eventually be empty ...

[Master Distiller]

In my opinion the appearance of the bottle doesnt mean squat if the contents arent outstanding. Not all but most that put a lot of time and money in fancy bottles do so to attract people because the product itself isnt doing the job. One exception, Willett Pot Still Reserve, cool damn bottle and excellent bourbon! Look at Woodford Reserve, plain ordinary bottle and outstanding bourbon. Buffalo Trace, same thing. After Shock, cool theatrics, terrible product. Bottle means nothing if the spirit isnt worth drinking.

[ThirstyinOhio]

A fancy bottle or box won't cause me to buy a known product of poor quality, but I do enjoy looking at a pretty bottle while I imbibe my favorite brown spirit. I am a big fan of the Orphan Barrel labels and hope to be able to figure out a way to print a high quality image of said labels to hang in my man cave. Now if its a new product that I know little about, I'll admit that pretty packaging has persuaded me to buy it on multiple occasions.

[bullitt]

We have all been conditioned to make connections with packaging. Think Noxzema, San Giorgio, the Chevy bowtie, Rolling Rock, Kikkoman. Even without knowing it we are influenced into making buying decisions by colors, wording, labeling, and packaging. Distillers' are all concerned about their brands image and how it goes about helping to get their bottle into your hand. You love your favorite bourbon's bottle, the way it looks on your shelf, and in your hand as you pour yourself a glass. That being said, what would you say is the most iconic bourbon bottle?

[squire]

The color that influences me most is green as in the stuff in my wallet. Most iconic bottle? Jack Daniels.

[Paddy]

For me, it's always been the 'Wild Turkey' on the 101 bottle.

[bullitt]

The Jack Daniels bottle is a great combination of color, label design, and shape. Evan Williams and Jim Beam have a few twins of that JD style.

[bullitt]

For me, it's always been the 'Wild Turkey' on the 101 bottle.

I like that one for sure too. Sweet and simple.

[shoshani]

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

I used to leave Lot B on the shelf. Because hey, why get 90.4 proof when I could get ORVW 107 proof for around $30 for 10 year old, a bit more than that for $15?

Ha ha, yeah. Where's Marty McFly when I need him?

[BigBoldBully]

For me, it's always been the 'Wild Turkey' on the 101 bottle.

I third this. That turkey calls out to me.

[BourbonGuy]

Being a lab guy, I like the Virus Vodka bottle

[Kyjd75]

Means nothing to me.

[Hop]

I'm always attracted to a nice bottle but it's so subjective as we all have differing tastes/styles.

I don't buy because of the bottle but it does make me look closer at the product which is the first step in marketing-being noticed

[DBM]

Packaging is extremely important to any product; luxury items like spirits even more so. I am partial to BT bottles (ETL, RHF, Blantons) for their compact dimensions and unique packaging.

I always buy RHF for my office - it's the best bottle to show and pour for colleagues and guests after stressful days at work. I've been tempted to put other (good) bourbon in an empty, but I can't bring myself to misrepresent the contents of a bottle, even if the replacement is better.

[dcbt]

While I'd never buy a bourbon based on the bottle alone, there is something to be said for a nice presentation. I also do scrape off labels when done to keep empties on hand for busted corks, homemade kahluas, or bourbon vats. I think the Blantons may be my favorite bottle design. Classy, unique, decanter-esque. I keep a large number of ETL empties too, it looks nice, but mostly its labels are the easiest to peel off.

[dcbt]

I stand corrected when I said ETL labels are the easiest to peel off. Blantons wins by a mile. Just finished a bottle and decided to keep it, so I started to submerge the bottle in water as I usually do. Now usually I let it sit underwater for a few hours, then peel with fingers, scrape unruly bits with a knife, and finally use Goo Gone to get the last of the glue. Not with Blantons. I wasn't even done with submerging it in water before the label was halfway off on its own. Effortless instant decanter. And the whiskey inside was delicious to boot.

[SebastianLloyd]

I like the style of the short-fat bottles such as RHF, Stagg Jr. and such. The tall bottles are making it hard for me to find the right cabinet to purchase. 

[jvd99]

On 10/18/2015, 9:44:15, bullitt said:

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?

As far as bourbons go, I hate big boxes and they go straight into the garbage.  I've only kept the first natural wood AECS box b/c it was cool looking and the dark Booker's box from the 25LE, before they started making them all that color, both sit atop my bunker cabinet.  Bottle shape is irrelevant, but I do like a cool bottle like the WTMK - classy.  Balvenie bottle shape is tops for me in single malts.

I keep more packaging for single malts.  I don't mind the standard cardboard box as it does not interfere with shelf space.  Tubes are OK also for the same reason, and they're stackable.  Big boxes, however, usually go into the trash unless it's a collectible/dusty bottle.  Superfluous packaging is also really annoying, like Compass Box's clear plastic box they sometimes use that serves no purpose except to add a cost to the product itself.    

[tanstaafl2]

30 minutes ago, jvd99 said:

  Superfluous packaging is also really annoying, like Compass Box's clear plastic box they sometimes use that serves no purpose except to add a cost to the product itself.    

I guess I am just a superfluous kind of guy! The CB acrylic boxes make for a nice way to display the bottle almost anywhere and not needing to go into the cabinet to protect it from getting too dusty. So I keep any that I acquire.

Most cardboard boxes and tubes are discarded but for a few things, usually higher end stuff, I do keep the boxes. I have all the AECS wooden boxes for example. Some may end up being put to other uses when done. Bookers boxes make a nice way to hold bitters bottles on the bar when turned on their side for example. The Arran Devil's Punch Bowl trio are nice because the box lists the different barrels used in the creation of the blended malt.

And some bottles just demand a fancy box so you can show just how snooty you are! Caol Ila 30 is a good example.

[jvd99]

1 hour ago, tanstaafl2 said:

I guess I am just a superfluous kind of guy!

If I come across anymore clear acrylic boxes, I'll let you know. 

[ebo]

I always liked the Buffalo Trace bottle.