What Bourbon Are You Drinking Winter 2022-2023?

[Obree]

2 hours ago, Anwalt said:

 

Yup.  Much harder to find and considerably more expensive.  While wine-searcher dot com is not the "end all be all" of pricing, it's pretty useful for showing trends.  Run SFTB on there and compare "Europe" to "USA".  Big price differential.  

Indeed it is! I have one, bought at an auction, paid 90 Euro for it. Shipping from France to Netherlands added a bit to it, but still "decent" compared to some of the prices I see. It is regularly available on auction, so is the regular 93 proof and the gold edition. 

[Obree]

36 minutes ago, Anwalt said:

 

I found it while on vacation in France.  And cultivated a relationship while there, so I just bought more from afar to be picked up when I next visit. Will I visit France just to repatriate Merkun whiskey?  No.  Does the comparatively easy availability and lower price of SFTB, Gold and W12 (at circa $50 to $60 per 700 ml for the W12) puts a thumb on the scale?  Yup.  We enjoyed France immensely in its own right.  The bourbon was a nice bonus.

 

Similarly: 5-Star cruises that depart and return to San Juan (I do not even need an Uber to get to the cruise ships; I just roll the luggage two blocks) are very cheap up through April.  For $500 bucks per person, I can get fed for a week, work out, get work done (quite efficiently in fact), and enjoy local offerings (mostly food, I already live on a tropical island with booze and beaches).  Now...will I make sure that the cruise stops in St Maarten so I can get SFTB at Gulmohars at $175/bottle (the absolute max I'd pay for it, cheaper in many French locales)?  Well, yes.  Will I be on the lookout on the other islands?  Yes.

 

Do I want to stay married?  Yes.  Do I want to wake up with all parts intact (married to a Latina)?  Yes. So bourbon time shall have its limits, as well it should.

 

We work with what we've got.  Unlike many of you, I cannot drive & look, easily cultivate relationships with Stateside stores, etc.  So I do it My Way.

 

PS:  I found a vineyard that will ship one bottle of whiskey for $10 for every bottle of wine I purchase.  It's in St. Emillion and I'd buy those wines anyway, bourbon or no bourbon.  So if we end up with more than 16 bottles (4 per suitcase), we'll ship in that fashion.  I also have an address in France for the few outfits that still ship the named whiskeys - that's quickly getting to be a short list, most only sell in person and limit 1/bottle per person.  Also, the dollar is dropping against the Euro, sad, so sad.

Love the cruise story

[Anwalt]

2 minutes ago, Obree said:

Indeed it is! I have one, bought at an auction, paid 90 Euro for it. Shipping from France to Netherlands added a bit to it, but still "decent" compared to some of the prices I see. It is regularly available on auction, so is the regular 93 proof and the gold edition. 

 

90 Euros for SFTB is a freaking steal even with postage.  I notice some auctions in the Netherlands on Wine-Searcher.  Are they any good?  I have not seen the French ones, I'll have to look for them.  Some of the German prices aren't bad, even with shipping.  I should have an address there soon, knock on wood.

 

The ones on Wine-Searcher in the UK have final bids that tend to match to the penny (shilling?).  Way too expensive based on posted results for past auctions.

[Obree]

Just now, Anwalt said:

 

90 Euros for SFTB is a freaking steal even with postage.  I notice some auctions in the Netherlands on Wine-Searcher.  Are they any good?  I have not seen the French ones, I'll have to look for them.  Some of the German prices aren't bad, even with shipping.  I should have an address there soon, knock on wood.

 

The ones on Wine-Searcher in the UK have final bids that tend to match to the penny (shilling?).  Way too expensive based on posted results for past auctions.

Yes, I have seen those UK auctions, well overpriced, and not just for Blanton's by the way. I usually bid at Catawiki, and sometimes get lucky with a decent price for certain bottles like the SFTB.

I picked up the gold for 95 EUR, Noah's Mill combined with Willet 4 year for 80 EUR,  1792 FP for 71 EUR, WP 15 for 107 EUR, a combined lot of WP 10 and 12 for 110 EUR, JD SBBS for LMdW for 50 EUR, combined lot of Bookers batch 2015-02 and bakers 7yo for 90 EUR and just a week ago a combined lot of WF five malt stouted mash and JB12yo for 80 EUR. With some luck you can get quite some good stuff fairly reasonably over here.

I also use the German channel, I have a contact to ship to, as these companies do not deliver across the German border unfortunately. Found a lot of fine priced bottles over there, just ordered a ECBP batch B522 for only 65,90 EUR. Combined it with WFR straight wheat (32,80 EUR) to have no shipping cost. 

[Anwalt]

3 minutes ago, Obree said:

Yes, I have seen those UK auctions, well overpriced, and not just for Blanton's by the way. I usually bid at Catawiki, and sometimes get lucky with a decent price for certain bottles like the SFTB.

I picked up the gold for 95 EUR, Noah's Mill combined with Willet 4 year for 80 EUR,  1792 FP for 71 EUR, WP 15 for 107 EUR, a combined lot of WP 10 and 12 for 110 EUR, JD SBBS for LMdW for 50 EUR, combined lot of Bookers batch 2015-02 and bakers 7yo for 90 EUR and just a week ago a combined lot of WF five malt stouted mash and JB12yo for 80 EUR. With some luck you can get quite some good stuff fairly reasonably over here.

I also use the German channel, I have a contact to ship to, as these companies do not deliver across the German border unfortunately. Found a lot of fine priced bottles over there, just ordered a ECBP batch B522 for only 65,90 EUR. Combined it with WFR straight wheat (32,80 EUR) to have no shipping cost.

 

Nice!  Some of those prices are good by European standards (usually high for most bourbon).  And some are great even by US standards...that Bookers + Bakers was especially juicy.  Ditto the WR stouted mash + JB12.  

 

Gotta play what game we got.

 

I have not looked into Catawiki yet, on the list of "To Do's".  I assume they'd ship to France.

[Obree]

4 minutes ago, Anwalt said:

 

Nice!  Some of those prices are good by European standards (usually high for most bourbon).  And some are great even by US standards...that Bookers + Bakers was especially juicy.  Ditto the WR stouted mash + JB12.  

 

Gotta play what game we got.

 

I have not looked into Catawiki yet, on the list of "To Do's".  I assume they'd ship to France.

They sure do, quite often the bottles offered are from France, so you would save on shipping, probably around 10 EUR then instead of 25 or more! There are also quite a few offered from Spain. There is a Blanton's 93 proof offered from France ending in 2 hours, current bid is 54 EUR.....

[Anwalt]

19 minutes ago, Obree said:

There is a Blanton's 93 proof offered from France ending in 2 hours, current bid is 54 EUR.....

 

Good luck! Keep us, umm, posted.

[Obree]

1 minute ago, Anwalt said:

 

Good luck! Keep us, umm, posted.

I have one still unopened, I will likely not be bidding, the regular 93 is not really worth it in my view, unless it is for a trade or so

[Obree]

2 hours ago, Double C's said:

I had to "import" the bottles I have of it from Europe a few years ago. The shipping costs was the worst part of it.

Bizarre situation, getting it from the US to EU and then back again! I can imagine shipping was high indeed.....

[Anwalt]

17 minutes ago, Obree said:

unless it is for a trade or so

 

Agreed.  Not sure what it'd trade for there.  Here?  A whole lot more than $100 USD.  This is where taters are a good thing.  Some are willing to trade well for "special" things. Bwahahahaha!

[Anwalt]

It's 4 pm.  Drinking the Widow and hoping the Wifey is not in a hurry to become one.  

[Obree]

2 hours ago, Anwalt said:

 

Agreed.  Not sure what it'd trade for there.  Here?  A whole lot more than $100 USD.  This is where taters are a good thing.  Some are willing to trade well for "special" things. Bwahahahaha!

The Blantons went for 73 EUR, did not bid,

[Anwalt]

8 minutes ago, Obree said:

The Blantons went for 73 EUR, did not bid,

 

Got it, thanks for the heads up.  Good to know what things go for.

[Kjbarth]

Tonight’s pour. Wasn’t sure what to expect, but it’s pretty good. Giving me a nice Washington hug.

[Skinsfan1311]

Dedicating this pour to @Anwalt 

[Skinsfan1311]

Couldn't let that cube go to waste

[Kepler]

A couple of high value staples, ... one pour each of WT101 and HH6BiB.

[steven s]

Kosher wheat after a WSR. nice step up.

 

 

[Obree]

6 hours ago, Skinsfan1311 said:

Dedicating this pour to @Anwalt 

Wish I had the chance to try that one! 

[CaptTim]

9 hours ago, Skinsfan1311 said:

Dedicating this pour to @Anwalt 

Well what did you think of it?

[Anwalt]

4 hours ago, Obree said:

Wish I had the chance to try that one! 

 

If shipping from France to Netherlands is not stupid, we might talk.  Luggage will be full leaving France.  Filling up with things to take there....

[Anwalt]

10 hours ago, Skinsfan1311 said:

Dedicating this pour to @Anwalt 

 

Annnnd?

[Obree]

2 minutes ago, Anwalt said:

 

If shipping from France to Netherlands is not stupid, we might talk.  Luggage will be full leaving France.  Filling up with things to take there....

I am interested for sure! Are you planning a trip to France?

[Anwalt]

Just now, Obree said:

I am interested for sure! Are you planning a trip to France?

 

Either March or October.  Let's PM.

[Obree]

1 minute ago, Anwalt said:

 

Either March or October.  Let's PM.

Perfect!