Old Grand Dad rumor

[marshbound]

I posted this in the "what bottle did you open today" thread before realizing this one existed.

 

I stopped in a Va ABC store yesterday and they had AGD114 on sale for $23, so I picked one up.  After seeing this thread I'm thinking I might go back for a few more for the bunker.

[KrispinD]

I picked up two today for $23 each. The rumor may not be true but I pretty much don't care - it got me to give the stuff a try and now I have a super affordable daily drinker.

[Nm0369]

 I stopped into two stores today that I don't frequent, and had OGD pushed at me with discontinued stories.  1st store said the whole OGD line is done, 2nd store said Bonded is being discontinued.  Neither place had 114 and they both said their distributors told them.  

 

 I'll believe it when I see something official from beam.  What I'm actually wondering about is;  why are these lower level stores all saying the same thing?  Are their  distributors just lying to them because OGD stocks are more limited.  Is Beam quietly phasing things out?   I know they have responded about 114 not going anywhere… something just seems fishy.

[flahute]

1 hour ago, Nm0369 said:

 I stopped into two stores today that I don't frequent, and had OGD pushed at me with discontinued stories.  1st store said the whole OGD line is done, 2nd store said Bonded is being discontinued.  Neither place had 114 and they both said their distributors told them.  

 

 I'll believe it when I see something official from beam.  What I'm actually wondering about is;  why are these lower level stores all saying the same thing?  Are their  distributors just lying to them because OGD stocks are more limited.  Is Beam quietly phasing things out?   I know they have responded about 114 not going anywhere… something just seems fishy.

Read up thread. Fred Minnick asked Fred Noe directly about this a couple weeks ago and Fred said that either 114 or the 80 proof is going away but that they haven't decided yet. I'd believe him before I believe anything you hear from a distributor that's been passed down to a store employee.

[Kepler]

3 hours ago, flahute said:

Read up thread. Fred Minnick asked Fred Noe directly about this a couple weeks ago and Fred said that either 114 or the 80 proof is going away but that they haven't decided yet. I'd believe him before I believe anything you hear from a distributor that's been passed down to a store employee.

I've wondered this before but don't have a clue what the answer is:  Who the hell buys the 80 proof anyway?   Is it popular with the masses?  That's the one OGD sku that seems to gather the most dust on the caps,  in my neck of the woods anyway.

[flahute]

48 minutes ago, Kepler said:

I've wondered this before but don't have a clue what the answer is:  Who the hell buys the 80 proof anyway?   Is it popular with the masses?  That's the one OGD sku that seems to gather the most dust on the caps,  in my neck of the woods anyway.

If squire were still checking in regularly he'd likely tell us that the 80 proof is one of those legacy labels that a certain segment of old timers is loyal to. People of his generation tended to be loyal to a few brands and not stray too much. squire preferred the bonded and to a certain extent the 114 so he's not one of the 80 fans, but it's probably guys like him who chose the 80 proof a long time ago who are still drinking it today.

The newer generation prefers higher proofs. 80 proof was much more common to the previous generation.

[Kepler]

Makes sense.  Hmm well then, I don't wish to take away the old timers' favorite pours, even though selfishly that's the one a lot of us could care less about here.  It's a dilemma and somebody is sure to be upset when the axe falls.  No easy answer; such is life.

[PaulO]

People could dilute the 114 to any lower proof they like.  We can't take 80 and go up.

[flahute]

9 minutes ago, PaulO said:

People could dilute the 114 to any lower proof they like.  We can't take 80 and go up.

This is an excellent point. Beam needs to keep the all the recent converts happy anyway. They need to think about the future.

[musekatcher]

4 hours ago, Kepler said:

I've wondered this before but don't have a clue what the answer is:  Who the hell buys the 80 proof anyway?   Is it popular with the masses?  That's the one OGD sku that seems to gather the most dust on the caps,  in my neck of the woods anyway.

 

If you calculate the cost per ounce of barrel proof whiskey in each bottle, the 80 proof is the cheapest.  As an example, the 114 is more than twice the price of the 80 proof, yet it only has 42% more barrel whiskey per volume.  As suggested elsewhere, just pour 40% more 80 proof in your glass, and take bigger swallows  

[ethangsmith]

Who drinks the 80? My wife and I often do when we're not in the mood for anything heavy or higher proof. As 80 proof whiskey goes, it's actually quite good and a really easy sipper. I would really hate to see it go.

[Old Dusty]

4 hours ago, musekatcher said:

 

If you calculate the cost per ounce of barrel proof whiskey in each bottle, the 80 proof is the cheapest.  As an example, the 114 is more than twice the price of the 80 proof, yet it only has 42% more barrel whiskey per volume.  As suggested elsewhere, just pour 40% more 80 proof in your glass, and take bigger swallows  

Of course that works if you just want that much alcohol. But it is still cut to 80 so the flavor is different and can't be "uncut".  If you like the flavor of the 80 your analysis is good. If you prefer the 114 then you pony up the extra $ as I do. 

[kevinbrink]

10 hours ago, flahute said:

If squire were still checking in regularly he'd likely tell us that the 80 proof is one of those legacy labels that a certain segment of old timers is loyal to. People of his generation tended to be loyal to a few brands and not stray too much. squire preferred the bonded and to a certain extent the 114 so he's not one of the 80 fans, but it's probably guys like him who chose the 80 proof a long time ago who are still drinking it today.

The newer generation prefers higher proofs. 80 proof was much more common to the previous generation.

The 80 hasn't been around that long it used to be 86 proof which honestly I found much more enjoyable.

[BDanner]

2 hours ago, kevinbrink said:

The 80 hasn't been around that long it used to be 86 proof which honestly I found much more enjoyable.

Exactly...The old timers would be more loyal to the 86 which is no more. 

[Harry in WashDC]

45 minutes ago, BDanner said:

Exactly...The old timers would be more loyal to the 86 which is no more. 

Funny you should mention this.  Months ago when the 114 rumor began circulating, I stopped in a VA ABC store on I-95 South of Fredericksburg (on a trip home from Williamsburg) because the store's inventory showed multiple 114s.  The gentleman in front of me - a little older than my 71 years - had handles of EW 86 proof.  He saw the two  OGD 114s I had (leaving 8 on the shelf) and commented that he'd switched to EW 86 from OGD 86 when the OGD 86 got hard to find because the OGD 80 "just wasn't the same."  I'd had the same problem when JD dropped its proof.  So, yeah, us old folks can get stuck on favorites.  My list runs to about 20 or so - really pared it down the last couple years.  Why didn't he step "up" to the BIB?  "Gotta please my doctor and avoid high proofers."

[flahute]

4 hours ago, kevinbrink said:

The 80 hasn't been around that long it used to be 86 proof which honestly I found much more enjoyable.

I forgot about that! Thanks for the reminder. 

That really does raise the question as to who is drinking it based on what Harry and others have said about switching after the proof drop. 

[musekatcher]

19 hours ago, Old Dusty said:

Of course that works if you just want that much alcohol. But it is still cut to 80 so the flavor is different and can't be "uncut".  If you like the flavor of the 80 your analysis is good. If you prefer the 114 then you pony up the extra $ as I do. 

It was tongue in cheek, I've avoided the OGD80, because I assume its just weak BIB.  Between the 114 and BIB, I enjoyed both head to head, and couldn't really say one was better than the other, as they were just different, independent of the proof. 

Edited February 15, 2017 by musekatcher

[The Black Tot]

signed

[IncredulousNosco]

On 2/8/2017 at 8:23 PM, musekatcher said:

I signed, but it might have a reverse effect.  They may use the popularity from a petition, to simply raise prices without raising production. 

 

Given that there are fewer than 20 signatories after a week, I don't think this'll be a problem. 

[VAGentleman]

Great news from Chuck!  114 is staying around for now

http://chuckcowdery.blogspot.com/2017/02/dont-cry-for-old-grand-dad-114.html

[meadeweber]

35 minutes ago, VAGentleman said:

Great news from Chuck!  114 is staying around for now

http://chuckcowdery.blogspot.com/2017/02/dont-cry-for-old-grand-dad-114.html

Great news!  Thanks VAGent!

[emr454]

Well now I have 4.5 bottles of 114 that I can enjoy, not ration. First world problems.

[Charlutz]

I am glad for this news as I enjoy OGD114. Sorry to give everyone no time to enjoy the news before raising the inevitable cynicism... First, Booker's somewhat aborted price hike, now this creation of short term demand. Is Beam implementing a concerted effort to clear shelves of so-so selling labels? I'm not the first to put on a tinfoil hat and cry 'conspiracy' but it will be interesting to see if another feint comes along soon. 

[emr454]

9 minutes ago, Charlutz said:

I am glad for this news as I enjoy OGD114. Sorry to give everyone no time to enjoy the news before raising the inevitable cynicism... First, Booker's somewhat aborted price hike, now this creation of short term demand. Is Beam implementing a concerted effort to clear shelves of so-so selling labels? I'm not the first to put on a tinfoil hat and cry 'conspiracy' but it will be interesting to see if another feint comes along soon. 

Well if they were trying to move product, it certainly worked. The stores around this area got cleared out thanks to me and at least one other member here. I'm glad its safe for now but I wouldn't expect the demand to drop. 

[IncredulousNosco]

8 hours ago, IncredulousNosco said:

 

Given that there are fewer than 20 signatories after a week, I don't think this'll be a problem. 

 

Those 19 votes did the trick!!