What bourbon did you purchase today? Summer 2017 bragfest!

[Insanityabounds]

These finally showed up. Apparently we got like one barrel for the whole state. Store I went to had 4 cases of 6. Guess Sazerac is being stingy with these too. Grabbed two and will probably get two more at a store a little closer. Stuff is good, and pretty decently priced. $48. 

[kevinbrink]

3 minutes ago, Insanityabounds said:

These finally showed up. Apparently we got like one barrel for the whole state. Store I went to had 4 cases of 6. Guess Sazerac is being stingy with these too. Grabbed two and will probably get two more at a store a little closer. Stuff is good, and pretty decently priced. $48. 

I would guess that it is more an issue of what the ABC is ordering, we are flush with Full Proof here both store picks and the standard bottling. 

[Insanityabounds]

3 hours ago, kevinbrink said:

I would guess that it is more an issue of what the ABC is ordering, we are flush with Full Proof here both store picks and the standard bottling. 

Idk. They said they could only have so much. Sounded like they would have gotten more if allowed. Allocations across the Country are strange. 

[fishnbowljoe]

Yesterday I stopped at a store to see if their private barrel picks of BT and Weller SR had come in. Both barrels were picked at the same time. The BT had arrived, but not the Weller SR.  I got to taste a sample of the BT.  One came home with me. 

 

Cheers! Joe

[gurgalunas]

On 9/5/2017 at 0:48 PM, Insanityabounds said:

These finally showed up. Apparently we got like one barrel for the whole state. Store I went to had 4 cases of 6. Guess Sazerac is being stingy with these too. Grabbed two and will probably get two more at a store a little closer. Stuff is good, and pretty decently priced. $48. 

My local LS had a barrel pick of 1792 Full Proof show up this week.  I've enjoyed the single barrel and small batch standard issue.  Heard good things about the full proof too, and can't pass up a store selection...  I'll stock a few once I've tasted it.

 

Bought a store selection of small batch a few weeks back and still haven't tried it.  Got me thinking, though...  how is a small batch offering done as a private selection?  Obviously as a single barrel, but why is it not 1792 SiB instead of 1792 SmB?  Based on age of offered barrels?  It was my first time in that store, and no reason to mistrust, but it got me wondering if that LS owner might have just slapped stickers on some bottles...

[Wedelstaedt]

12 hours ago, gurgalunas said:

how is a small batch offering done as a private selection?  Obviously as a single barrel, but why is it not 1792 SiB instead of 1792 SmB?  Based on age of offered barrels?  It was my first time in that store, and no reason to mistrust, but it got me wondering if that LS owner might have just slapped stickers on some bottles...

Yes, it is a strange way to offer a Store Pick.  A single barrel, bottled in a Small Batch brand.  But we have seen this situation with many brands, over the years.  Buffalo Trace, EC12/ECNAS, 1792, ER10(since it went to SmB), OWA to name a few.  So don't worry about the LS.

[Insanityabounds]

16 hours ago, gurgalunas said:

My local LS had a barrel pick of 1792 Full Proof show up this week.  I've enjoyed the single barrel and small batch standard issue.  Heard good things about the full proof too, and can't pass up a store selection...  I'll stock a few once I've tasted it.

 

Bought a store selection of small batch a few weeks back and still haven't tried it.  Got me thinking, though...  how is a small batch offering done as a private selection?  Obviously as a single barrel, but why is it not 1792 SiB instead of 1792 SmB?  Based on age of offered barrels?  It was my first time in that store, and no reason to mistrust, but it got me wondering if that LS owner might have just slapped stickers on some bottles...

That is kinda weird when you think about it. The Elijah Craig Small Batch Single Barrels are the same way. I guess you could say its the smallest batch. 

[gurgalunas]

I think the wierd part is that all of those other brands are stand-alone brands.  With the 1792, there is already a SiB available, and it is the next step up in price.  What makes a SiB version of SmB any different than SiB?  I assume its a different, younger group of barrels that were for SmB bottling, or maybe not the "honey" barrels already earmarked for SiB.  But you'd think they would want to offer/pick "better than the normal".  Scratching head...

Edited September 7, 2017 by gurgalunas

[gurgalunas]

Got a message last night from Postal Grunt about a BT PS at a local grocery.  I was going to be in the area running errands, so I stopped in.  I don't think it was the right grocery (right store, wrong location?), as the several cases were nowhere to be found, but I was pleasantly surprised to find a 12 yr KCSiB PS on the shelf, and on sale for $34.99 through October.  That was $1 cheaper than the regular KC was selling for...  Opened it tonight while prepping dinner, and I love it.  Great oak flavor, tastes like a rick house smells- heaven.  I'm going to be buying several more of those...

 

Oh, and as I was checking out, noticed a lonely bottle of Blanton's behind the counter.  At $51.95, I couldn't pass it up, even though I've got 1 open and 2 waiting.  That's $10 cheaper than what i usually find, and what I always take to share on hunting and fishing trips.  My buddies would probably miss it if my sources dried up...

 

Saw BH for $29.95 at another LS.  While I REALLY like it, it's more of a summer pour for me.  Weather is cooling off here, and the old favorites sit better again...

Edited September 7, 2017 by gurgalunas
Add pic

[Richnimrod]

5 hours ago, Wedelstaedt said:

Yes, it is a strange way to offer a Store Pick.  A single barrel, bottled in a Small Batch brand.  But we have seen this situation with many brands, over the years.  Buffalo Trace, EC12/ECNAS, 1792, ER10(since it went to SmB), OWA to name a few.  So don't worry about the LS.

I believe the Brand's owners would have to clear an entirely new label (Single Barrel) for it.    It's just easier to add the 'selected' tag to the existing already approved labeling.    Also the same reason they must be bottled at the proof listed on the label, rather than allowing a one-off barrel proof selection.    Too Bad!

[smokinjoe]

20 hours ago, gurgalunas said:

...how is a small batch offering done as a private selection?  Obviously as a single barrel, but why is it not 1792 SiB instead of 1792 SmB?  Based on age of offered barrels?  It was my first time in that store, and no reason to mistrust, but it got me wondering if that LS owner might have just slapped stickers on some bottles...

The official "Single Barrel" is a slightly higher proof than the "Small Batch" (~94 proof vs ~98 proof).  Though it sounds odd, you can select a "Small Batch" single barrel at the standard proof, or a "Single Barrel" single barrel at the slightly higher proof.  Not sure why one would go for the latter, except for cost considerations, ignorance, or just not wanting to rock the boat in their market.  

[JT3NSB]

North GA finds today.  Old bottle weller special reserve 1L and halfies were a nice surprise. 

[Gorzo]

Maybe I am not looking in the right places, but  except for the OF I have a better chance of spotting a unicorn in Saint Louis.... and by chance I do find something it's ridiculous. Saw Blantons in one store today for $99.99. Need to move to another state or hire a bourbon consultant.

[Golzee]

JBB 8 year for $20.  Makes me wonder what craft bottle this stuff is in for triple the price since they dropped the age statement.

 

[Clueby]

24 minutes ago, Gorzo said:

Maybe I am not looking in the right places, but  except for the OF I have a better chance of spotting a unicorn in Saint Louis.... and by chance I do find something it's ridiculous. Saw Blantons in one store today for $99.99. Need to move to another state or hire a bourbon consultant.

RHF came and went in day but if you travel just a little of town you might find some. WSR is still  around STL pretty regularly but I agree OWA and W12 are ghosts for the most part.

[MOwhisky4me]

33 minutes ago, Gorzo said:

Maybe I am not looking in the right places, but  except for the OF I have a better chance of spotting a unicorn in Saint Louis.... and by chance I do find something it's ridiculous. Saw Blantons in one store today for $99.99. Need to move to another state or hire a bourbon consultant.

 

Nah, you don't have to move to another state... Just move about 120 miles west. Plenty of good selections at fair prices around Jefferson City/Columbia/Lake Ozark areas.

[Gorzo]

40 minutes ago, Clueby said:

RHF came and went in day but if you travel just a little of town you might find some. WSR is still  around STL pretty regularly but I agree OWA and W12 are ghosts for the most part.

Randals had a bottle of OWA in a locked case for $100. Same place where Blantons was a $100. Total Wine never has anything. Most of the Lucas good stuff stays behind the bar. Just getting frustrated I guess. Seems like every store has the exact same selection and if you find something interesting there is a reason why..... it's marked up a 100%.

Edited September 8, 2017 by Gorzo

[Gorzo]

27 minutes ago, MOwhisky4me said:

 

Nah, you don't have to move to another state... Just move about 120 miles west. Plenty of good selections at fair prices around Jefferson City/Columbia/Lake Ozark areas.

Could be a good weekend for a road trip.

[GeeTen]

ECBP A117  for $49.99 OTD (I have a pic of the sales receipt, if you want . . . .)!  Didn't love this one when it first came out, but she's certainly grown on me while I wait for the next iteration to hit our shelves.  Only my fourth bottle, tho'.  Others are GONE!    

 

Also bought a bunch of Rogue 7 Hop IPA for evening consumption after today's first session as a Range Office at the Area 7 USPSA (US Practical Shooting Association) Championships in Harvard, MA.  Dinner at the our club (we're hosting the match), but NO alcohol allowed - not a good idea to have loaded firearms around booze, eh?  

 

 

Edited September 8, 2017 by GeeTen
Spelling corrections

[jtn]

I forgot to post when this happened, but a while back I ran across 3 bottles of SAOS 10-yr bourbon on a *clearance* shelf for $30 apiece. Took two, and left one for the next guy.

 

The following week, the next guy was me, and obviously that last bottle still needed a good home.  So, I took it to a friend.

[Clueby]

9 hours ago, Gorzo said:

Randals had a bottle of OWA in a locked case for $100. Same place where Blantons was a $100. Total Wine never has anything. Most of the Lucas good stuff stays behind the bar. Just getting frustrated I guess. Seems like every store has the exact same selection and if you find something interesting there is a reason why..... it's marked up a 100%.

TW just had ER, Blanton's, CEHT, etc. all at regular retail prices. I got an OWA there last fall for $22. They had cases of WSR a couple months ago for $17.  I know they don't have stuff long. I make it a point to stop in on Tues. or Thurs. afternoons on my home.  I feel your frustration most of the time. PM if you are looking for BT stuff  I can probably help except for OWA/W12.

[gurgalunas]

11 hours ago, Gorzo said:

Maybe I am not looking in the right places, but  except for the OF I have a better chance of spotting a unicorn in Saint Louis.... and by chance I do find something it's ridiculous. Saw Blantons in one store today for $99.99. Need to move to another state or hire a bourbon consultant.

I honestly find more good bottles at grocery stores in my area.  And they always sell at msrp.  Find a grocery with a good liquor department and put it on your "stop list" - stop by whenever in the area.  I only have 2 liquor stores that I routinely go to, and they are decently priced, but there's a little more markup on the limited stuff at the LS.  The 5 or so grocery stores that essentially have a LS in them (vs 2 short aisles of wine and spirits and a beer cooler) put the good stuff behind the counter, sell at msrp, and are first come, first serve.  No hidden bottles for the insiders...

[LongGone]

Picked up a replacement OF1920 today. Probably won't stay in the bunker for long.

[kevinbrink]

Admittedly I think those of us that "find" stuff at retail probably spend more time stopping at liquor stores than those of us that don't.  

[LongGone]

5 minutes ago, kevinbrink said:

Admittedly I think those of us that "find" stuff at retail probably spend more time stopping at liquor stores than those of us that don't.  

Funny, and true. One of my goals for the next year or so is being able to stop in at the LS - not find anything special - and then leave without picking "something" up.