What Bourbon did you Pass up?? Winter 2016/2017

[jvd99]

1 hour ago, DonutsNBourbon said:

 

I asked the guy at Binny's over here if anyone is actually buying it... and the guy said yes people are buying it but they get a lot of stock... I wanted to call BS right away but decided to be nice and bite my tongue.

 

My understanding of Binny's sale items, (from talking to loosed lips employees), is when something is marked down significantly, it's primarily because they ordered too much of it, thinking it would sell.  When it turns into a shelf turd coupled with an abundance of inventory, the deep sale price will be applied.  Notice that the KC2001 has been at $99 for several weeks, when a typical sale price at Binny's is much more temporary - another signal they have too much inventory.  I don't believe for a second this product is moving even at $99 for the reasons stated above and it's possible an even bigger discount could materialize.  However, no other stores in Chicagoland are selling it that cheap, so if people are buying it, and they're smart, they're getting it at Binny's.  Anecdotally, Binny's marked down a Bowmore 23 matured entirely in port casks from $599 to $399 to $199 (which is an exceptional pour BTW) and the explanation given was they just ordered way too much of it and it wasn't selling at the retail price or even at the first mark down.  It worked because I bought 2 bottles at the discount rate which was literally too good to pass up, and I think some other SBers did too.  After some time, and I'm assuming the dwindling of inventory, it's back up to the retail price.  So, as with all supply/demand situations, Binny's just needs to find the right price where they can get customers to actually buy in to a uncompetitive product.

[OldFitzWithTheGoldLabel]

I wish we had a Binny's in Lexington. I would love to find some deeply discounted bourbons. I like Knob Creek and have been interested in trying the 2001. I guess I can just stick with the single barrel.

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[jvd99]

It's not like Binny's is so magnanimous that they're deeply discounting bourbons for our purchasing pleasure.  In reality, it takes a perfect storm to get a bourbon discounted like KC2001.  Typically, they don't discount the bourbons we actually want to buy, so it's not like you're missing out on some sort of promised land of bourbon purchasing power.  While Binny's is huge, it's stocked with a lot of garbage as can be seen in my photo from the other day.

[PaulO]

On 2/6/2017 at 9:16 PM, jvd99 said:

HMbib - on the top shelf of Binny's no less.   People are moving up in the world

 

 

This reminds me of the new Big Red store that recently opened near the Greenwood Mall.  They have a huge wall of whiskey, but most of it is like this.  Granted, the store just opened.  They're only selling what is available to them.  Too bad so much is: overpriced NDP mystery whiskey, artificially flavored garbage, and "craft" whiskey that could never win a blind tasting against the bottom shelf of any major distiller (regardless of price).

Makes me wish there was a small area with only the legitamate good stuff.  Long live HM BIB!

[jvd99]

5 minutes ago, PaulO said:

 

Makes me wish there was a small area with only the legitamate good stuff.  Long live HM BIB!

 

See the 'Show us your stash' thread

[Nm0369]

The first time I saw that picture above, I thought "those bottom two shelves are horrible."  

[Bbstout]

13 minutes ago, Nm0369 said:

The first time I saw that picture above, I thought "those bottom two shelves are horrible."  

Except for the Ezra 7 IMO.

[Nm0369]

23 minutes ago, Bbstout said:

Except for the Ezra 7 IMO.

At $24.99 I'll pass every time.  The closest store to my house has lots of green label for $16.99.  OE7 is a decent pour but the finish is really short and lacking.  Just my $.02

[mbroo5880i]

 

On 2/8/2017 at 7:20 PM, jvd99 said:

 

It was Whoop & Hollar for $200.  

 

I saw an old friend today who told me he bought two bottles at $227 each.  He doesn't drink it.  He sees it as an investment.  I have tried to tell him that while you see outrageous secondary prices for bourbon it is not a good investment.  If for no other reason than selling bottles is illegal.  

[mbroo5880i]

5 hours ago, PaulO said:

This reminds me of the new Big Red store that recently opened near the Greenwood Mall.  They have a huge wall of whiskey, but most of it is like this.  Granted, the store just opened.  They're only selling what is available to them.  Too bad so much is: overpriced NDP mystery whiskey, artificially flavored garbage, and "craft" whiskey that could never win a blind tasting against the bottom shelf of any major distiller (regardless of price).

Makes me wish there was a small area with only the legitamate good stuff.  Long live HM BIB!

 

Well, I know the store you are thinking of.  You saved me a 45 minute trip!

[mbroo5880i]

8 hours ago, jvd99 said:

 

My understanding of Binny's sale items, (from talking to loosed lips employees), is when something is marked down significantly, it's primarily because they ordered too much of it, thinking it would sell.  When it turns into a shelf turd coupled with an abundance of inventory, the deep sale price will be applied.  Notice that the KC2001 has been at $99 for several weeks, when a typical sale price at Binny's is much more temporary - another signal they have too much inventory.  I don't believe for a second this product is moving even at $99 for the reasons stated above and it's possible an even bigger discount could materialize.  However, no other stores in Chicagoland are selling it that cheap, so if people are buying it, and they're smart, they're getting it at Binny's.  Anecdotally, Binny's marked down a Bowmore 23 matured entirely in port casks from $599 to $399 to $199 (which is an exceptional pour BTW) and the explanation given was they just ordered way too much of it and it wasn't selling at the retail price or even at the first mark down.  It worked because I bought 2 bottles at the discount rate which was literally too good to pass up, and I think some other SBers did too.  After some time, and I'm assuming the dwindling of inventory, it's back up to the retail price.  So, as with all supply/demand situations, Binny's just needs to find the right price where they can get customers to actually buy in to a uncompetitive product.

 

I trust Old Dusty's opinion on this so I will stick with KCSB PS until the price drops low enough that I just have to try it.  

[PaulO]

2 hours ago, mbroo5880i said:

 

Well, I know the store you are thinking of.  You saved me a 45 minute trip!

I'm happy to help.  They have plenty of non-whiskey items.  It's a nice enough place, but no bourbon unicorns I saw.

[Bbstout]

4 hours ago, Nm0369 said:

At $24.99 I'll pass every time.  The closest store to my house has lots of green label for $16.99.  OE7 is a decent pour but the finish is really short and lacking.  Just my $.02

I'm basing my opinion on my local price of $17. $24 seems a little high but I agree that it remains a decent pour..

[Kness]

Parker's Heritage 24, $495. Was bit of a struggle, since I doubt I'd ever find it cheaper in NY.

 

[mbroo5880i]

Local Kroger is clearing out some common bourbons/ryes as part of a "last call" sale.  The most notable were EWSB 2008 for $23.78.  If you buy 6 bottles, it would be about $20.  Four years ago, I would have bought what they had.  Today, I won't even buy one.  They also were clearing out CR Nothern Harvest and JB Rye.  They have been expanding their offerings and starting to offer more mid-shelf stuff so they must be moving bottles that don't sell well at this particular store.

Edited February 11, 2017 by mbroo5880i

[BottledInBond]

49 minutes ago, mbroo5880i said:

Local Kroger is clearing out some common bourbons/ryes as part of a "last call" sale.  The most notable were EWSB 2008 for $23.78.  If you buy 6 bottles, it would be about $20.  Four years ago, I would have bought what they had.  Today, I won't even buy one.  They also were clearing out CR Nothern Harvest and JB Rye.  They have been expanding their offerings and starting to offer more mid-shelf stuff so they must be moving bottles that don't sell well at this particular store.

Remember when CRNH was whiskey of the year last year? What a joke

[PaulO]

Where?  In Canada?  Ha-ha

[garbanzobean]

Passed on Stagg Jr @ $53 and store picks of Makers PS as well as a store pick of Elijah Craig, around 9 years old.  Both tasted solid, but neither really jumped out at me.  

 

It's good to see Stagg Jr. on shelves almost continuously these days.

[BigRich]

I passed on everything today. They didn't even have the damn beer I wanted


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[OldFitzWithTheGoldLabel]

I went in a liquor store in a higher crime part of town (bars on the windows, employee has to get bottle for you) in hopes to found something out of production or difficult to find. I generally buy Weller Special Reserve anytime I come across some. I passed tonight as they were charging $40 a fifth and $70 a handle. I'd hate to see how much they would charge for Blanton's or Stagg Jr.

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[Limegoldconvertible68]

I've thought about going into dangerous parts of town but figure it's not worth getting mugged. Glad you didn't find anything to make me rethink my decision. 

[Nm0369]

7 minutes ago, Limegoldconvertible68 said:

I've thought about going into dangerous parts of town but figure it's not worth getting mugged. Glad you didn't find anything to make me rethink my decision. 

I'll go into any liquor store but you have to pick your spot.  Saturday mornings are the time to hit seedy venues.  Most of the people who could cause problems will be sleeping at 9am.  

[mbroo5880i]

1 hour ago, Nm0369 said:

I'll go into any liquor store but you have to pick your spot.  Saturday mornings are the time to hit seedy venues.  Most of the people who could cause problems will be sleeping at 9am.  

 

 Yeah, Saturday late afternoon or evening is a bad time is some stores in Indy.

[mbroo5880i]

1 hour ago, Limegoldconvertible68 said:

I've thought about going into dangerous parts of town but figure it's not worth getting mugged. Glad you didn't find anything to make me rethink my decision. 

 

I find if you flash a lot of cash they will realize you are big time and not mess with you.  

[Limegoldconvertible68]

7 hours ago, mbroo5880i said:

 

I find if you flash a lot of cash they will realize you are big time and not mess with you.  

Maybe I'm crazy but I could swear I've been marked as a target just because I was looking at some of the high end top shelf bottles. Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean I'm wrong.