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Knob Creek 120-proof single barrel vs barrel picks?


IamMatt
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I hear an awful lot of people praising KC SiB 120-proof store picks. I know the barrels can vary, and the pickers' palates can vary, but if you have had experience with both, do you think (in general) that a barrel pick is worth the $ premium over the standard SiB?  KC SiB is usually about $40-$50 locally, while barrel picks are usually $50-$60.  Just wondering if those who have tried them think that, in general, barrel picks are $10-$20 better than the standard KC SiB?  Thanks.

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8 hours ago, IamMatt said:

I hear an awful lot of people praising KC SiB 120-proof store picks. I know the barrels can vary, and the pickers' palates can vary, but if you have had experience with both, do you think (in general) that a barrel pick is worth the $ premium over the standard SiB?  KC SiB is usually about $40-$50 locally, while barrel picks are usually $50-$60.  Just wondering if those who have tried them think that, in general, barrel picks are $10-$20 better than the standard KC SiB?  Thanks.

I have done several SBS - and I believe the store picks are worth the extra $$$.

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If you can try a sample or get any additional information from the store, that would help.  In the past, some barrels considerably older than the standard 9 years were offered.  Now that 12 and 15 year old labeled KC are their own brands, the much older KC 120 may not be an option for picks.

Personally, I think even the un named standard KCSB is really good.  I've had several where the profile varied a bit (in a good way).  It's still single barrel.

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11 hours ago, IamMatt said:

I hear an awful lot of people praising KC SiB 120-proof store picks. I know the barrels can vary, and the pickers' palates can vary, but if you have had experience with both, do you think (in general) that a barrel pick is worth the $ premium over the standard SiB?  KC SiB is usually about $40-$50 locally, while barrel picks are usually $50-$60.  Just wondering if those who have tried them think that, in general, barrel picks are $10-$20 better than the standard KC SiB?  Thanks.

In the past, when you could get store picks in the 12 to 15 yr range, I'd say the store picks were worth the premium.  The only store picks I've seen recently have been 9yr so probably not worth it.  I did pull the trigger on a 9 yr. K&L store pick at $50 and it's pretty good but not in the league with the extra aged picks of a few years ago.  Before it's gone, I'll have to do a SBS with a non pick SiB. 

 

Other than profit motive, I'm not sure why store picks should cost more.  Does the distillery charge extra more for a store pick barrel than a regular single barrel?  I would think that, since the store is buying a whole barrel, they might even get a discount.  But, this seems to also hold true for Russell's Reserve SiB store picks which seem to be $10-$15 more than the regular RR SiB. 

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1 hour ago, fosmith said:

Other than profit motive, I'm not sure why store picks should cost more.  Does the distillery charge extra more for a store pick barrel than a regular single barrel?  I would think that, since the store is buying a whole barrel, they might even get a discount.  But, this seems to also hold true for Russell's Reserve SiB store picks which seem to be $10-$15 more than the regular RR SiB. 

Smitty here, touched on what I was going to say. When I started this trip 5 or so years ago, all store pick that I ran across were 5 to 10 bucks cheaper than the shelf stock to include the KC. The LS passed their savings on to us. Now, they seem to be that 5 to 10 higher.

 

Know that some stores have better pickers than others or they are just offered better choices. In the past the store pick was almost always better and I believe worth the extra. Now, what Paul said above^^^ seems to be the case...

 

 

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This makes a lot of sense.  Probably a big taste premium before when the picks were 10-15 years old; maybe less so now when it is between "standard" KC SiB 120-proof 9-year bottle and a pick of the same age.  I bought my first of these picks recently; haven't opened one yet.  They were only two bucks more than the cheapest price I have seen the standard SiB listed for, and less than it sells for at a lot of stores. 

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for Store picks the distillery generally pulls a bottle of 3 different barrels to send to the retailer to make their pick. So there is a cost associated with choosing which  barrels to use (they usually take care to pick 3 distinctively different barrels). Then bottle and ship the samples. During this process - until the barrel is selected - these three barrels are not available for use. Consider that if you are doing this across the nation on an ongoing basis, you are tying up a big inventory of barrels. For the distillery pick, it is pick, bottle and ship - much more efficient. Considering this it is understandable that they would charge more for store picks.

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Am I crazy but it seems not that long ago stores would get a discount for buying a whole barrel and barrel picks would be priced the same or less than regular offerings.  

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1 hour ago, HoustonNit said:

Am I crazy but it seems not that long ago stores would get a discount for buying a whole barrel and barrel picks would be priced the same or less than regular offerings.  

No, you are not crazy.  I've had the same thought several times.  Total Wine seems like the first locally to "premiumize" their barrel picks but others are following suit. 

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39 minutes ago, BigRich said:

No, you are not crazy.  I've had the same thought several times.  Total Wine seems like the first locally to "premiumize" their barrel picks but others are following suit. 

Yup TW is the first place I noticed this as well, than saw Spec’s here doing the same.

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2 hours ago, HoustonNit said:

Am I crazy but it seems not that long ago stores would get a discount for buying a whole barrel and barrel picks would be priced the same or less than regular offerings.  

 

42 minutes ago, BigRich said:

No, you are not crazy.  I've had the same thought several times.  Total Wine seems like the first locally to "premiumize" their barrel picks but others are following suit. 

I know I’ve posted this before, but..🙄 There’s a store I used to frequent that has been doing barrel picks for many years. They usually picked pretty good barrels and had decent prices. Vosgar and I were even asked for our input on  a couple of their picks. They’d pretty much already picked the barrels, but had us taste the barrel samples to get our opinions. Anyway, last year I was in the area and stopped by. They had a Weller SR pick for $49.99, and a Blanton’s pick for either $89.99 or $99.99. When I asked the manager about the prices, he basically said they wanted to get their cut of the secondary market pricing. Passed on both, and I’ve only stopped there once since and didn’t buy anything. FWIW, due to tater pricing and their seemingly non caring attitude towards loyal customers, Vosgar swore off this store a few years before he passed away last year. Chances are I probably won’t stop there again. It’s a bit of a drive from where I live, and I don’t want to drive aways just to be disappointed. Again. 😡

 

Biba! Joe

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In the good old days, a store in Indy would knock a buck or two off of their store picks.  I used to make special trips there. I always figured they got a volume discount, then suddenly had a lot of inventory to unload.  A couple I managed to keep unopened over the years take up the most hallowed corner of the bunker.

 

Here's something I've seen with KCSB.  In grocery stores, I've seen bottles with a silver tag above the label.  It says specially selected by Fred Noe for store name, and a barrel number.  Most of the bottles don't have this, no tag or barrel number.

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The dilemma this creates for me is how alacritously I should snatch up these newer barrel picks when I find them (and how much, if any, of a premium I should pay) when they are all 9-years rather than the previous 10-14-year barrels.  The ones I referenced and linked to in my earlier post were $42, which is less than most stores charge for the standard SiB.  Lowest I've seen for the standard SiB is $40.  Other 9-yr barrel picks I see tend to be S50-$55 and up.  Probably worth grabbing if they were older, but I guess I am hesitant when they are only 9 year. 

 

I don't have enough experience with any particular stores' (or clubs') picks to know who has the golden palate.  I guess I'll pay my money and take my chances.

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I've heard some of our veteran members taste stuff out in the parking lot, then maybe run back into the store if it's a honey barrel.

 

For me, I was never sorry I bought a KCSB.  They've all been within a more than acceptable spectrum, actually rather consistent.  Also, better stores in Indiana keep open bottles behind the counter. 😃 I've actually turned down some free pours. 

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As one who feels that bourbon is just about perfect at 9 years of age and tends to be over-oaked at 12 or 15 years,  the KC older barrel picks never really appealed to me.   I've got a half-full  13 year KC barrel pick that's been gathering dust for many months.

 

For me,  the choice would be between a 9-year small batch KC vs a 9-year single barrel pick.   I might be tempted to buy the latter,  for the fun of the gamble of finding a "honey" barrel vs. the consistency of the small batch.

Edited by Jazzhead
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On 9/15/2021 at 9:34 PM, IamMatt said:

I hear an awful lot of people praising KC SiB 120-proof store picks. I know the barrels can vary, and the pickers' palates can vary, but if you have had experience with both, do you think (in general) that a barrel pick is worth the $ premium over the standard SiB?  KC SiB is usually about $40-$50 locally, while barrel picks are usually $50-$60.  Just wondering if those who have tried them think that, in general, barrel picks are $10-$20 better than the standard KC SiB?  Thanks.

 

As an up-charge percentage of the cost of a regular shelf KCSiB, no the store picks are probably not "worth it" on balance.  BUT you're still only talking about 10 to 20 dollars for a unique barrel experience which can be fun to try and compare with, so I usually go for it.  You can't take it with you.

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On 9/15/2021 at 7:34 PM, IamMatt said:

I hear an awful lot of people praising KC SiB 120-proof store picks. I know the barrels can vary, and the pickers' palates can vary, but if you have had experience with both, do you think (in general) that a barrel pick is worth the $ premium over the standard SiB?  KC SiB is usually about $40-$50 locally, while barrel picks are usually $50-$60.  Just wondering if those who have tried them think that, in general, barrel picks are $10-$20 better than the standard KC SiB?  Thanks.

The retailers charge more because the distributors tell them they can sell them for more when they are pitching the products to them.  And historically, the data supports this to be true.  I typically, won't buy a store pick from an unknown source retailer unless it's something I absolutely must have and the FOMO is out of control.  Which happens much more often than I care to admit.  Typically, I'm buying picks from stores that do them consistently and have been effective at picking ones that suit my palate.

 

Back to your original query.  I agree with what most people have been saying above.  The older picks are worth it in my opinion.  I have not done a SBS of the standard nine year SiB with a store pick SiB. Not even sure it would be worth it since they're both SiBs and I suppose that illustrates your point that the standard at a reduced price is the more frugal way to go.  Who needs tater stickers anyway, right?

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On 9/16/2021 at 7:26 AM, fosmith said:

In the past, when you could get store picks in the 12 to 15 yr range

I found a store not too far from you that has some older picks on the shelf for a very reasonable price.

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There's a LS, near our son's house, that has a great whiskey and bourbon selection. Every pick that I've bought from them  is very good and any markup has seemed negligible.  In fact, they have a JDSBBP pick that was priced $5.00 less than the "non store pick". It's so good,  that I bought two bottles.  They let you "try before you buy" with all of their picks, which is a huge plus in my book.

I hope that they have more, the next time we're in the neighborhood.

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On 9/17/2021 at 11:42 AM, HoustonNit said:

Am I crazy but it seems not that long ago stores would get a discount for buying a whole barrel and barrel picks would be priced the same or less than regular offerings.  

I'm not sure I've ever paid more than MSRP for pick.  Who does the pick makes a big deal.  Some picks are meh.  But I did get a pick from a Marietta Georgia store of single barrel 4 roses that was unbelievable.  Though almost a decade ago I still have it set aside with other treasures.

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