A Sad Day in Elizabethtown, Ky . . .

[Kyjd75]

Well folks, I have the sad duty of reporting that Packages and More in Elizabethtown is closing its doors.  When the town went "wet" 8 years ago, Eric was a pioneer in opening a first class store that focused on outstanding craft beers and as complete a bourbon selection as could be had at that time.  I'm proud to say that for the first couple of years of operation it was my pleasure to work there (having obviously retired from my real profession) as the "bourbon guy" and try to give folks the best possible selection of quality bourbon, as well as some bourbon education for those interested in learning.  It was both fun and educational for me as well.  I got to visit most, if not all, of the distilleries and meet several of the master distillers, participate in a lot of private barrel selections, and discover the wonders of this incredible forum.  I maintained that special relationship with Packages and More even after I no longer worked there and always considered it to be my bourbon "home."  A lot of other bourbon folks in our area feel the same way--family.

 

What happened?  Eric subsequently opened two other stores, one off of I65 at Cave City, and the other in Campbellsville, Ky as those areas voted to go "wet" and opportunities presented themselves.  Those stores have been very successful and required a lot of Eric's time and effort.  Packages and More continued to do well, and has always been "the" bourbon center for Elizabethtown.  But, a "friendly" local competitor (John O's) made Eric an offer he "couldn't refuse" to purchase his liquor license.  John O's is opening a much larger store a couple of blocks down the street toward downtown in what used to be a Rite-Aid drug store.  Time will tell what type of store we will see, but I look for a local version of a Liquor Barn.  Eric will continue to operate his other two stores.  Out of loyalty to him, I guess I will be driving a little farther for my bourbon runs now.

 

To those of you who visited Packages and More that I had the pleasure of meeting, I can only say thanks.  One special moment for me was keeping two cases of a Willett WFE selection we had done at my home for several months while the "Black Tot" was at sea.  I personally delivered them to him at Packages and More one day when he returned and was on a driving tour around the country.  As for me, I'm not planning on going anywhere.  I'm enjoying retirement and experiencing the pleasures of living in the heart of bourbon country.  And of course I will be on here from time to time when I feel like I have something worth saying.  Best wishes to all.

[Wrangler]

I've never been there but it sounds like it was a great place to be whether working there or just picking  up a bottle of hooch.  

Well, I hope the new place makes the loss of your local Packages and More a little easier to get over.  Hey, you never know, you might like it!

[PhantomLamb]

Cool to see I'm not the only one that is holding cases of stuff for The Black Tot.  Sorry to hear about the store but should be exciting to see how the new one turns out when open.

[Sgtspitter101]

What is the name of the store at campbellsville? I do not have a go to store in that area.

[Kyjd75]

34 minutes ago, Sgtspitter101 said:

What is the name of the store at campbellsville? I do not have a go to store in that area.

Mammoth Liquors, 400 Campbellsville Bypass #5, Campbellsville, Ky.  It is a much larger store than Packages and More was.  Excellent bourbon selections.

[silverc]

Sad to hear the E-town store is closing. I always found good store picks when I was traveling through the area. I only went to the Campbellsville store the first time back in June but I'm glad they will remain open, along with Cave City.

[fishnbowljoe]

Sad news. I've been to P&M on a couple of occasions My timing was off as Eric wasn't there either time. The last time I was there was right after someone drove through the front of the store. Best to you, and give my regards to Eric please. We did meet a couple of times, but he probably doesn't remember me.

 

Biba! Joe

[Kyjd75]

Joe, Eric doesn't forget much.  I'm sure he would remember you!!

[fishnbowljoe]

13 minutes ago, Kyjd75 said:

Joe, Eric doesn't forget much.  I'm sure he would remember you!!

I dunno. Sometimes things could get a little "foggy" at the GN gazebo. 

 

Biba! Joe

[Kyjd75]

Hmmmm . . . , now that you mention it, . . .

[The Black Tot]

@Kyjd75  Wow, definitely the end of an era.

 

P+M is one of my favorite entries in my GPS, and I never pass through E-town without stopping there. 

 

Those Willetts are still some of the jewels in the crown of my bunker, and I thank you so much again for your help on those. Different times, for sure. May they return!

 

I haven't been to the Campbellsville store yet, but I never miss Mammoth when I drive across country.

 

Despite probably 20 visits to the various stores, I still have yet to see Eric in person - he's always left just before I get there.

 

I'm glad that the bad news for E-towners is balanced by the fact that Eric has been very successful, which he certainly deserves. 

[CardsandBourbon]

On 8/14/2020 at 11:27 AM, PhantomLamb said:

Cool to see I'm not the only one that is holding cases of stuff for The Black Tot.  Sorry to hear about the store but should be exciting to see how the new one turns out when open.

I think we've all held bottles for The Black Tot at one time or another.  KCSib Barrel #3094 should ring a bell with the Tot.

[The Black Tot]

18 hours ago, CardsandBourbon said:

I think we've all held bottles for The Black Tot at one time or another.  KCSib Barrel #3094 should ring a bell with the Tot.

 Trying to forget, CardsandBourbon...

 

Trying to forget.

[CardsandBourbon]

9 hours ago, The Black Tot said:

 Trying to forget, CardsandBourbon...

 

Trying to forget.

I have so many PS of KC that I've been nursing that one since I bought it.  Next time you're in E'town let me know and if there's still any left we'll polish it off together.  Kind of a send off for P & M.

[The Black Tot]

1 minute ago, CardsandBourbon said:

I have so many PS of KC that I've been nursing that one since I bought it.  Next time you're in E'town let me know and if there's still any left we'll polish it off together.  Kind of a send off for P & M.

It's a date.

[Kyjd75]

It is now "Official."  Packages and More is closed.  Eric had conducted a closeout sale of inventory that ended sooner than anticipated, due to a great public response and the purchaser of his liquor license buying the rest of the inventory.  As I stated in my original post, Eric has two other stores, Mammoth Liquors in Cave City and Campbellsville, and both are doing very, very well.  So while P&M's chapter has closed, Eric's journey in the world of bourbon continues.  Still, a sad time for those of us in E'town.

[PowderKeg]

Was/is he also connected to North Hardin Liquors in Radcliff?  Been a few years since I moved, but I'm almost sure I saw/bought a KC SiB ps for Mammoth Liquors there (for N Hardin too),as well some other Mammoth ps bottles, and had a discussion or few up front about the stores in E-town, Cave City, and Camp.

[Kyjd75]

Rob Fogle is the owner of North Hardin Liquors in Radcliff.  I do not believe there was any connection between Eric and Rob as far as the E'town and Radcliff stores are concerned.  I do believe there is some business relationship between them with respect to the stores in Cave City and Campbellsville, but I do not know the specifics of what that arrangement is.  I've known Rob ever since P&M opened, and have to say that Rob is a heck of a nice guy and he has been with us on several barrel selections in the past.

[GaryT]

Sorry to hear this news - have been in there several times over the years, and on our last visit appreciated the young lady behind the counter offering a thimble-sample of a private pick (which sold me on a bottle of Old Fo Single Barrel).  Always a really solid selection at fair prices.  Haven't been to Eric's other stores, but wish him well and hope the new store that comes in serves the E'town community as well as P&M.

[Kyjd75]

Yeah, sampling of special picks was something we tried to do for those folks who might appreciate a taste.  They always seemed to appreciate it and we sold a lot of bottles that way.

[tanstaafl2]

On 8/21/2020 at 3:41 PM, CardsandBourbon said:

I think we've all held bottles for The Black Tot at one time or another.  KCSib Barrel #3094 should ring a bell with the Tot.

What do you mean by "held"?

 

Still holding...

 

[tanstaafl2]

Campbellsville sure is close to a whole lot!

 

Of nothing...

 

Is the Cave City store also called Mammoth Liquors? I think I have been there some years ago as it is right off 65 but didn't remember it being all that remarkable. Maybe it was before it was owned by Eric.

[CardsandBourbon]

On 8/22/2020 at 7:38 PM, The Black Tot said:

It's a date.

Talking about #3094 got me so fired up that I had a wee nip from it the other night.  Still the best PS of KC SiB I've ever tasted.

1 hour ago, tanstaafl2 said:

Campbellsville sure is close to a whole lot!

 

Of nothing...

 

Is the Cave City store also called Mammoth Liquors? I think I have been there some years ago as it is right off 65 but didn't remember it being all that remarkable. Maybe it was before it was owned by Eric.

Yes, the one in Campbellsville is also called Mammoth Liquors.  It's on the north side of town.

[Sgtspitter101]

On 8/14/2020 at 2:02 PM, Kyjd75 said:

Mammoth Liquors, 400 Campbellsville Bypass #5, Campbellsville, Ky.  It is a much larger store than Packages and More was.  Excellent bourbon selections.

I paid a visit over the weekend. They did have some picks i would normally be interested in but i left with a bottle of glenmorangie 12 the lasanta.