Liquor Store "Huh?" Moments

[mbroo5880i]

On 4/29/2021 at 11:04 AM, Harry in WashDC said:

Frank, I still have two left from the five I bought in that Richmond store you told me about back then including the five I found in Arlington a week later. All were in boxes.  Three made GREAT gifts.  The rest seem to have wandered off  . . .

gifts?  I am still waiting for mine.

[Kepler]

On 4/29/2021 at 5:57 AM, fishnbowljoe said:

Old picture of my liter bottle bounty.

 

Biba! Joe

 

I like Liter size bottles the best.  I wish more brands made them a better value per volume than the 750.  If they did I'd buy more of them.

Edited May 14, 2021 by Kepler
P.S. In my market I believe only Four Roses prices the 1 Liter size correctly (4RYL better price per volume than the 750).

[B.B. Babington]

1 hour ago, Kepler said:

I like Liter size bottles the best.  I wish more brands made them a better value per volume than the 750.  If they did I'd buy more of them.

I'm with you.  For things I like, liter would be perfect.  And sometimes 1.75 is just too much.  Yep, liter is perfect.

[PaulO]

2 hours ago, Kepler said:

I like Liter size bottles the best.  I wish more brands made them a better value per volume than the 750.  If they did I'd buy more of them.

Liter is just a tiny bit more volume than the old quart bottles.  That was the standard size for a full size bottle for a long time, until WW II.

[dwg13013]

I tried Eagle Rare at a restaurant, I like to sample at.

 

Really really liked it, and searched the city trying to find it.  Most stores say they just don't get it anymore.

I did find one small place, in the suburb over, that put me on a list.  They sold me 2 bottles over a few weeks, at 69.95.

 

Then on a Saturday, I stopped by the really small store 1/2 mi from home.

On the shelf was one bottle at 39.95. Also some Wellers special reserve, that have been equally hard to find.  The ER had come in the Thursday before. Got it, and 2 Wellers.  

[PhantomLamb]

Passed on ECBP at $65, $70 OTD just because I didn’t feel like spending it. The only time I had ECBP it drank a bit too hot. Granted, this was without water added.

[Skinsfan1311]

3 hours ago, PhantomLamb said:

Passed on ECBP at $65, $70 OTD just because I didn’t feel like spending it. The only time I had ECBP it drank a bit too hot. Granted, this was without water added.

You're not alone.

All of the ECBP releasea that I've tried drink a little too hot for me...and I love barrel proof whiskey.  I'll take JDSBBP over the EC, every time.

[Wedelstaedt]

3 hours ago, PhantomLamb said:

Passed on ECBP at $65, $70 OTD just because I didn’t feel like spending it. The only time I had ECBP it drank a bit too hot. Granted, this was without water added.

 

9 minutes ago, Skinsfan1311 said:

You're not alone.

All of the ECBP releasea that I've tried drink a little too hot for me...and I love barrel proof whiskey.  I'll take JDSBBP over the EC, every time.

Some batches of  ECBP can be hot. 

For this reason, I usually let my pour stand for minimum of 30 minutes before enjoying. For me it really cuts down the burn. Leaving only great intense flavors. Your mileage may vary. 

;-)))

 

Cheers 

[Wedelstaedt]

@Skinsfan1311, JDSBBP is a great whiskey. I hope JD continues to release large amounts of it. 

 

Cheers 

[Skinsfan1311]

21 hours ago, Wedelstaedt said:

 

Some batches of  ECBP can be hot. 

For this reason, I usually let my pour stand for minimum of 30 minutes before enjoying. For me it really cuts down the burn. Leaving only great intense flavors. Your mileage may vary. 

;-)))

 

Cheers 

That sounds like a great plan of attack.

 

Thanks!

[Skinsfan1311]

21 hours ago, Wedelstaedt said:

@Skinsfan1311, JDSBBP is a great whiskey. I hope JD continues to release large amounts of it. 

 

Cheers 

Same here.   It's very , very good and reasonably priced too.    

[Wedelstaedt]

2 hours ago, Skinsfan1311 said:

That sounds like a great plan of attack.

 

Thanks!

Your welcome. I hope it helps. 

:-))

 

Cheers

[Kepler]

On 5/21/2021 at 9:29 PM, Skinsfan1311 said:

You're not alone.

All of the ECBP releasea that I've tried drink a little too hot for me...and I love barrel proof whiskey.  I'll take JDSBBP over the EC, every time.

 

Some JDSiBBP can be on the hot side too.

[geclbxf]

6 hours ago, Kepler said:

 

Some JDSiBBP can be on the hot side too.

I had an A119 last night, and man was it good!   

[Skinsfan1311]

19 hours ago, Wedelstaedt said:

Your welcome. I hope it helps. 

:-))

 

Cheers

I tried it...let it sit out for 35 minutes.

 

It did make a difference,  and in a good way.   I'll do this from here on out.

 

Thanks!

[IamMatt]

I blend ECBP and "regular" 94-proof ECSB all the time.  Add a splash of SB to a glass of BP to tone it down, or add a splash of BP to a glass of SB to add a little ooomph.  Delicious.

[Wedelstaedt]

On 5/23/2021 at 5:40 PM, Skinsfan1311 said:

I tried it...let it sit out for 35 minutes.

 

It did make a difference,  and in a good way.   I'll do this from here on out.

 

Thanks!

Your welcome, I'm glad I could help. I hope it makes your bottle more enjoyable to you. 

 

Cheers

[Mattk]

I walked into my local store today. Behind the counter was a bottle with my name taped to it. I thought it to be a bit presumptuous, as the bottle in question was quite pricey. But ultimately I guess I'm happy the owner knows me as well as he does and takes care of me.

[Bob_Loblaw]

On 7/23/2021 at 11:02 AM, Mattk said:

 I'm happy the owner knows me as well as he does and takes care of me.

 

Sure, sometimes you will get "stuck" with something less desirable.  *Sighs and looks at the $53 4.5 year Starlight Distillery Single Barrel that I bought yesterday from my local.*   

 

But in the end, you are correct IMO this is exactly the relationship you want.

[BottledInBond]

4 minutes ago, Bob_Loblaw said:

Sure, sometimes you will get "stuck" with something less desirable.  *Sighs and looks at the $53 4.5 year Starlight Distillery Single Barrel that I bought yesterday from my local.*   

 

But in the end, you are correct IMO this is exactly the relationship you want.

Maybe they aren’t all winners but I’ve tried a Starlight bottle that I thought was pretty solid

[fishnbowljoe]

Earlier this year I stopped at a liquor store. As I was looking over the bourbon aisle, a sales rep starting putting a few items out on the shelf. I recognized the guy and we started chatting. When I asked about anything new or different, he recommended a KC SBS picked by the store. The manager at this store picks some good barrels, so I just grabbed one and went on my way. I got home and put the bottle away in my cabinet. Fast forward a few weeks. I decided to open the KC. Upon closer inspection, this pick was barreled on 6-13-05, and bottled on 10-21-19. Cool, a 14 yr 4 month old KC. Wait a minute. Barreled on 10-21-19?  It’s 2021. These bottles have been in the system for over a year? Hmmmm. I decided to check my empties downstairs. Sure enough, I’d bought and finished one of these last year. I’ve never mentioned anything to the manager, or questioned the sales rep in the couple of times I’ve seen him since. 
 

I’m not sure what happened. I’m under the impression that when a store buys a barrel, they usually get the bottles from it all at one time. How did a few cases of their pick suddenly show up over a year later?  Was this an honest mistake made by the distributor? Were the cases of KC mixed up with other items destined for the store, but set aside to be doled out over time. Worse yet, was the distributor deliberately holding back bottles from the pick?  Things that make you go hmmmm.

 

Biba! Joe

 

 

 

[mbroo5880i]

1 hour ago, fishnbowljoe said:

Earlier this year I stopped at a liquor store. As I was looking over the bourbon aisle, a sales rep starting putting a few items out on the shelf. I recognized the guy and we started chatting. When I asked about anything new or different, he recommended a KC SBS picked by the store. The manager at this store picks some good barrels, so I just grabbed one and went on my way. I got home and put the bottle away in my cabinet. Fast forward a few weeks. I decided to open the KC. Upon closer inspection, this pick was barreled on 6-13-05, and bottled on 10-21-19. Cool, a 14 yr 4 month old KC. Wait a minute. Barreled on 10-21-19?  It’s 2021. These bottles have been in the system for over a year? Hmmmm. I decided to check my empties downstairs. Sure enough, I’d bought and finished one of these last year. I’ve never mentioned anything to the manager, or questioned the sales rep in the couple of times I’ve seen him since. 
 

I’m not sure what happened. I’m under the impression that when a store buys a barrel, they usually get the bottles from it all at one time. How did a few cases of their pick suddenly show up over a year later?  Was this an honest mistake made by the distributor? Were the cases of KC mixed up with other items destined for the store, but set aside to be doled out over time. Worse yet, was the distributor deliberately holding back bottles from the pick?  Things that make you go hmmmm.

 

Biba! Joe

 

 

 

My impression is that retailers usually get all bottles from a barrel pick at one time.  I wonder if they misplaced a case or two in the back or had set aside bottles for a special event that never occurred due to Covid.  For example, one of my local retailers has recently ran specials on several different store picks that were set aside for a large event that did not occur last year.  They have been selling them off at a discounted price.

 

I know the same retailer randomly places unclaimed special orders or higher end offerings that are not claimed on the shelf.  They used to do it on January 1 and simply placed them on a cart with first come first served.  Now, I believe they just place them on the shelf.

[fishnbowljoe]

The thing that just doesn’t add up in this is the sales rep suggesting the bottle to me. He knew it was that stores pick. He said as much when he told me it was really good. I even commented that I had bought a bottle of the previous KC SBS selected by that store. I just grabbed one and didn’t even look at it. I must admit I felt a little foolish when I finally opened it and realized what it was. Oh well. At least it’s a good bottle.  

 

Biba! Joe

[Kepler]

Sometimes I believe some stores just hold back bottles and bring them out during "slow season" or when they are not receiving anything else that is new.  Just to give their regulars a reason to keep stopping in.

[kemosabe]

9 hours ago, Kepler said:

Sometimes I believe some stores just hold back bottles and bring them out during "slow season" or when they are not receiving anything else that is new.  Just to give their regulars a reason to keep stopping in.

I've seen this done many times.  I know a major retailer that holds "in demand" bourbon in a locked area behind closed doors and only managers have access. They place a few bottles on the shelf per week.  Their idea is to drive traffic to the bourbon aisle constantly because consumers never know when a fancy bottle will appear for sale.