Buffalo Trace shortage/allocation

[lcpfratn]

I do have to wonder what is going on in Alabama with BT products, and in particular BT. I have family and friends in Alabama and it does seem like they have very little or none when I've checked out their ABC stores. We are swimming in BT in most stores around Memphis, and many of the stores have PS barrels of BT. I even saw some PS bottles marked less than $22 the other day...the average has been around $25-$27 lately. However, there has been no W12, ETL or RHF in Tennessee like has been found in other states lately. The word I've heard is that distributors have received some but are holding what they have to combine with the fall allocation from BT. 

[garbanzobean]

7 hours ago, Charlutz said:

 

It's here Eric. Several stores. I'll pm you. 

Good looking out!

[kevinbrink]

I think one of the issues BT tends to get a pass on is that while they have cut some products and clearly have challenges keeping up with demand, they have also introduced new products during that time period (Stagg Jr, some EH Taylor products) so they have clearly helped in creating that shortage by making new labels.  Some of these products are pretty damn redundant as well, if you lined up two different recent Stagg Jr's and one CEHT BP I don't know that you would find the two Stagg's to be any more similar than the Taylor would be to either.  On the plus side for me I can generally find most BT products though ETL, RHF only once every couple months. W12, the one off CEHT, Van Winkles and BTAC releases never show up at retail price so they might as well be not available.

[PaulO]

Indy area has plenty of standard BT and ER.  Many grocery stores and pharmacies even have it; no limit, even some sales.  The only mash bill #2 I ever see anymore is Blanton's.  I did see some plastic handles of AA 80 proof.  (Maybe that doesn't count.)  Weller has been gone for years.  I gather that we get a very small amount twice a year.  I have never seen the new label in person.  Frankly, I don't have the free time anymore to jump through all the hoops to get a bottle.  I'm not big on paying over MSRP, or kissing people's rear ends either.

I'm happily enjoying many fine brands from: HH, 4R, WT...

[Charlutz]

It's all symptomatic of the boom. Demand is greater than supply and it's a pick your poison situation. Drop age statements, raise price, discontinue brands. BT has maintained most of their brands and held the line on price which should be commended. Unfortunately, that's also resulted in a thriving secondary market, bottle limits, shelf clearing and some markets not seeing brands that other markets appear to be swimming in. Should we criticize BT for holding the line on price because of some of the results? Rhetorical question. I don't think there's a correct answer. Only solution is to make more bourbon... 10 years ago. 

[Jackinbox]

Let's just hope that Hollywood never decides to make a biopic on Pappy Van Winkle.  While I would love to see such a film, it would probably put the supply of BT products in dire straits for a decade.

[DCFan]

1 hour ago, Jackinbox said:

Let's just hope that Hollywood never decides to make a biopic on Pappy Van Winkle.  While I would love to see such a film, it would probably put the supply of BT products in dire straits for a decade.

 

Justified already did that and I suspect it's why Pappy vaulted to the top of the unicorn list.

[Clueby]

10 hours ago, DCFan said:

 

Justified already did that and I suspect it's why Pappy vaulted to the top of the unicorn list.

I don't know. I'd never even heard of Justified before this forum. Still have never watched it. But..I'm one of the 4 people that have never seen a single Game of Thrones either.

[garbanzobean]

6 hours ago, Clueby said:

I don't know. I'd never even heard of Justified before this forum. Still have never watched it. But..I'm one of the 4 people that have never seen a single Game of Thrones either.

I have watched all but the last season of Justified (got busy and now have trouble sitting still long enough to watch TV), and the only thing I can tell you is that I have a number of friends who A.) Love Justified, B.) Don't know s#1+ about bourbon, and C.) Want to try to the point of actively looking for/have tried and claim ETL and Pappiez are the best.  At worst they know both exist and think they are super rare and amazing bourbons that only people with connections can get.  My story is purely anecdotal and may just indicate that I associate with sheeple, but product placement is a thing for a reason.  

[Journeyman]

10 hours ago, Clueby said:

I don't know. I'd never even heard of Justified before this forum. Still have never watched it. But..I'm one of the 4 people that have never seen a single Game of Thrones either.

Make tha 5 people...

[Charlutz]

3 hours ago, garbanzobean said:

I have watched all but the last season of Justified (got busy and now have trouble sitting still long enough to watch TV), and the only thing I can tell you is that I have a number of friends who A.) Love Justified, B.) Don't know s#1+ about bourbon, and C.) Want to try to the point of actively looking for/have tried and claim ETL and Pappiez are the best.  At worst they know both exist and think they are super rare and amazing bourbons that only people with connections can get.  My story is purely anecdotal and may just indicate that I associate with sheeple, but product placement is a thing for a reason.  

 

I came away with a very different impression from Justified re Pappy. The only person who regularly drank it was Robert Quarles, the white haired mob guy from Chicago. An out of towner who was drinking it 'because it was the best.' He was introduced to it by the shady real estate salesman who slept with his secretary and put Pappy in his coffee with a showy presentation on a silver platter by the curvy secretary. To me, that was the show making fun of people who drink Pappy because it's the best. Justified did a really good job of matching bourbons to the characters. It was never by accident. I do think Art, a serious drinker of good bourbons, did have Pappy in one episode but I think it was to celebrate an extremely special occasion. 

[Clueby]

7 hours ago, garbanzobean said:

I have watched all but the last season of Justified (got busy and now have trouble sitting still long enough to watch TV), and the only thing I can tell you is that I have a number of friends who A.) Love Justified, B.) Don't know s#1+ about bourbon, and C.) Want to try to the point of actively looking for/have tried and claim ETL and Pappiez are the best.  At worst they know both exist and think they are super rare and amazing bourbons that only people with connections can get.  My story is purely anecdotal and may just indicate that I associate with sheeple, but product placement is a thing for a reason.  

I agree that product placement is a thing for a reason, I just don't think that Justified has entered the mainstream consciousness to have that big of an impact.  Its not a Game Of Thrones, Seinfeld, or Saturday Night Live.

Edited August 14, 2017 by Clueby

[garbanzobean]

1 hour ago, Clueby said:

I agree that product placement is a thing for a reason, I just don't think that Justified has entered the mainstream consciousness to have that big of an impact.  Its not a Game Of Thrones, Seinfeld, or Saturday Night Live.

Probably true.   I don't pay enough attention tv to know what is really popular.  I started watching it because other active duty mil and US Marshals I work with recommended it.

[garbanzobean]

5 hours ago, Charlutz said:

 

I came away with a very different impression from Justified re Pappy. The only person who regularly drank it was Robert Quarles, the white haired mob guy from Chicago. An out of towner who was drinking it 'because it was the best.' He was introduced to it by the shady real estate salesman who slept with his secretary and put Pappy in his coffee with a showy presentation on a silver platter by the curvy secretary. To me, that was the show making fun of people who drink Pappy because it's the best. Justified did a really good job of matching bourbons to the characters. It was never by accident. I do think Art, a serious drinker of good bourbons, did have Pappy in one episode but I think it was to celebrate an extremely special occasion. 

That is an interesting observation.  Art had that bottle of Pappy for awhile, but I don't think he trotted it out regularly.  Again, just reporting anecdotes from my small circle of friends, more than one of whom spent a lot of time looking for bourbon from Justified.

[DCFan]

3 hours ago, Clueby said:

I agree that product placement is a thing for a reason, I just don't think that Justified has entered the mainstream consciousness to have that big of an impact.  Its not a Game Of Thrones, Seinfeld, or Saturday Night Live.

 

I would counter that an argument could be made that it was in large part responsible for the current boom that we're in.  Look at the period it aired and look when the boom started. I will be the first to admit that it's what got me, a soon to be 63 year old, thinking about things other than Jim Beam and Jack Daniels. But I have never watched Game of Thrones nor do I intend to (not my cup of tea).

[DCFan]

1 hour ago, garbanzobean said:

That is an interesting observation.  Art had that bottle of Pappy for awhile, but I don't think he trotted it out regularly.  Again, just reporting anecdotes from my small circle of friends, more than one of whom spent a lot of time looking for bourbon from Justified.

 

I believe Art liked to pull out a bottle of Blantons.

[garbanzobean]

Just now, DCFan said:

 

I believe Art liked to pull out a bottle of Blantons.

I think you are right.  Or at least I remember him drinking that once or twice.

[GeeTen]

On 6/16/2017 at 5:23 AM, GeeTen said:

 

 

WOW, Harry - Blanton's ($42.99 OTD) is hitting the regularly shelves here (and leaving just as quickly)!  Guess I won't be buying too many 375s in Richmond next August . . . . . . .  

 

 

 

Ok, ok - I bought two (2) 'cause they ere so CUTE!  And I bought a 375ml 112.8pf Rare Breed just to keep them company . . . .  

[mosugoji64]

The strangest allocation I've seen was in April in KY. We stopped at a Liquor Barn in Louisville and they were limiting purchases of VOB to 1 per person, all versions. Weird. Never heard of shortages on that one but it goes to show how crazy the boom has been.

[fishnbowljoe]

22 minutes ago, mosugoji64 said:

The strangest allocation I've seen was in April in KY. We stopped at a Liquor Barn in Louisville and they were limiting purchases of VOB to 1 per person, all versions. Weird. Never heard of shortages on that one but it goes to show how crazy the boom has been.

 

I'm pretty sure it's not actually on allocation here, but when it does happen to show up at one of my go to stores, they have it behind the counter with the allocated and LE stuff. My guess is that they only get two or three bottles in at a time, and don't have a regular spot for it on their shelves. FWIW, it's the BIB, and they don't limit your purchase to one bottle. 

 

Cheers! Joe

[Hop]

 
I believe Art liked to pull out a bottle of Blantons.

Art had both Blantons and Pappy but kept the Pappy in the gun safe in his office.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Clueby]

3 hours ago, DCFan said:

 

I would counter that an argument could be made that it was in large part responsible for the current boom that we're in.  Look at the period it aired and look when the boom started. I will be the first to admit that it's what got me, a soon to be 63 year old, thinking about things other than Jim Beam and Jack Daniels. But I have never watched Game of Thrones nor do I intend to (not my cup of tea).

I guess my point was that I've at least heard of Game of Thrones before but I'd never even heard of Justified until a week or 2 ago. Still know absolutely nothing about it other than apparently people drink bourbon on the show.  Maybe I just live under a rock.

[Hop]

I guess my point was that I've at least heard of Game of Thrones before but I'd never even heard of Justified until a week or 2 ago. Still know absolutely nothing about it other than apparently people drink bourbon on the show.  Maybe I just live under a rock.

Look it up. I think you'll be glad you did


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[flahute]

9 hours ago, Clueby said:

I agree that product placement is a thing for a reason, I just don't think that Justified has entered the mainstream consciousness to have that big of an impact.  Its not a Game Of Thrones, Seinfeld, or Saturday Night Live.

 

7 hours ago, garbanzobean said:

Probably true.   I don't pay enough attention tv to know what is really popular.  I started watching it because other active duty mil and US Marshals I work with recommended it.

 

5 hours ago, DCFan said:

 

I would counter that an argument could be made that it was in large part responsible for the current boom that we're in.  Look at the period it aired and look when the boom started. I will be the first to admit that it's what got me, a soon to be 63 year old, thinking about things other than Jim Beam and Jack Daniels. But I have never watched Game of Thrones nor do I intend to (not my cup of tea).

If we're talking about TV shows that were a precursor to the boom and are believed to have contributed to it, Mad Men is the show I've heard the most discussion about. (I have not watched it myself). 

It's possible that Mad Men got things started and that shows like Justified focused attention on particular hard to find brands thereby making them even harder to find.

[Jackinbox]

I was in Cincy today, so I stopped by Cork N' Bottle and The Party Source.   Neither store had any standard BT on the shelf.   Crazy.