What Bourbon did you Purchase the Spring of 2023?

[mbroo5880i]

Local chain had a 20% off of a 3 bottle mix and match.  Picked up a KC9, Chattanooga 91 and Chattanooga 111.  I am really digging the Chattanooga 111 so I thought I would grab a backup and pick up a Chattanooga 91 for comparison since I have never tried it.  They also had the Cabernet finished bottle but I passed on it.

[PhantomLamb]

4 hours ago, fishnbowljoe said:

How much was the HH? 

I’m also curious. I’ve passed on it twice now at $50 due to principle.

[jvd99]

The HH was around 45-49ish. It wasn't 50.  I didn't really pay attention. Binnys is usually like a $5 markup on MSRP for a somewhat hard to get bottle in that price range. I've been wanting a bottle and this was the first Ive seen, so I pulled the trigger. There's a lot worse out there for a lot more money, so I feel good regardless 

Edited May 26, 2023 by jvd99

[mbroo5880i]

44 minutes ago, PhantomLamb said:

I’m also curious. I’ve passed on it twice now at $50 due to principle.

 

I have seen it for $49.99 in Indy.

[Skinsfan1311]

7 hours ago, PhantomLamb said:

I’m also curious. I’ve passed on it twice now at $50 due to principle.

I'd do the same.   

[Cibsie]

1 hour ago, Skinsfan1311 said:

I'd do the same.   

Never found it until visiting Heaven Hill and they were gone within minutes of being put out.  I had a few other items with me so I didn't notice, but when I checked my receipt later it was apparently $60.  A little ridiculous being nearly secondary pricing at the distillery.

[Skinsfan1311]

29 minutes ago, Cibsie said:

Never found it until visiting Heaven Hill and they were gone within minutes of being put out.  I had a few other items with me so I didn't notice, but when I checked my receipt later it was apparently $60.  A little ridiculous being nearly secondary pricing at the distillery.

That's crazy!   I don't understand the hype.   Back in the day the BiB was a very good buy, when it was $15.00.  I don't see how adding a year  in the barrel justifies the huge markup for a good, but not great, whiskey.  There are a ton of better choices in that price range.   

 

It's weird how they price stuff in KY.  If memory serves, it's cheaper to buy it at LS, than the it is to purchase at the distillery.  Maybe it's some kind of weird KY distribution law.       

[PaulO]

What I've always heard is distillery gift shop pricing is always at least a couple bucks above retail.  They really aren't out to compete with regular stores.  On the other hand, you might get lucky finding something scarce.

[kcgumbohead]

5 hours ago, Skinsfan1311 said:

That's crazy!   I don't understand the hype.   Back in the day the BiB was a very good buy, when it was $15.00.  I don't see how adding a year  in the barrel justifies the huge markup for a good, but not great, whiskey.  There are a ton of better choices in that price range.   

 

It's weird how they price stuff in KY.  If memory serves, it's cheaper to buy it at LS, than the it is to purchase at the distillery.  Maybe it's some kind of weird KY distribution law.       

It is a reflection of the current market reality, it'll be interesting to see what transpires over the next 5-10yrs, most things are cyclical and whiskey will not be immune. I am not looking for a full blown glut 2.0 with distilleries closing and people losing jobs, but a glut 1.5? A downtrend in pricing and an uptick in availability?, a return of age statements?, whiskey actually old enough to sport a desirable age statement? Oh yeah, THAT is something I am looking forward to.

[Skinsfan1311]

3 hours ago, PaulO said:

What I've always heard is distillery gift shop pricing is always at least a couple bucks above retail.  They really aren't out to compete with regular stores.  On the other hand, you might get lucky finding something scarce.

Makes sense.

We snagged a William Heavenhill 15 year shortly after the Heaven Hill Experience opened.

[jvd99]

2 hours ago, kcgumbohead said:

It is a reflection of the current market reality, it'll be interesting to see what transpires over the next 5-10yrs, most things are cyclical and whiskey will not be immune. I am not looking for a full blown glut 2.0 with distilleries closing and people losing jobs, but a glut 1.5? A downtrend in pricing and an uptick in availability?, a return of age statements?, whiskey actually old enough to sport a desirable age statement? Oh yeah, THAT is something I am looking forward to.

I agree a glut 2.0 is coming, probably in the next 5 - 10 years. Age statements are already coming back, that's the first step IMO. The prices probably won't come down for quite a while. There was an incredible amount of expansion over the past few years and seems like there could just be way too much aging industry-wide for the current scarcity and pricing to be sustainable.

[smokinjoe]

Definitely, legacy Distillery gift shop pricing is higher than retail.  It’s been explained to me, as others have said, that they don’t want to compete with their liquor store customers on pricing, and thus mark up their own pricing accordingly.  
 

At the GBS St. Paddy’s Day Extravaganza, we conducted a totally blind tasting of the prior HH BIB 6 year and the recent 7yr BIB iteration.  The only info given, was that the tasting was not a trick (the thought of that can mess with people who out-think the process due to fears of being “wrong”), the whiskies were “related snd similar”, and you just chose the one you liked best.  I think we had 12-15 people participate.  
The result was a very close vote.  The older iteration had the most votes, like 8-7 or something like that.  As I remember, the two were very close taste-wise.  The older had a bit more body to my palate.  A tad richer.  But, I believe they were so close, that I probably would go 5 and 5 if tasted blind 10 times.  
So, good news is that the newer BIB is still good.  Bad news is the price jump.  That price is why I only pick it up sparingly.  Like, I’m on my second bottle since it’s release.  

[Anwalt]

A relative was traveling in South Africa. He picked up some Blanton's Gold for me.  Per Wine-Searcher, that's the cheapest in the world at $70 USD for 750 ml. 

 

Still may not be cheap enough for MBroo though.

Edited May 27, 2023 by Anwalt

[Skinsfan1311]

On 5/26/2023 at 10:32 AM, PaulO said:

What I've always heard is distillery gift shop pricing is always at least a couple bucks above retail.  They really aren't out to compete with regular stores.  On the other hand, you might get lucky finding something scarce.

Makes sense.

We snagged some William HeavenHill at the HH Experience.

[Skinsfan1311]

Snagged all of these, for the whopping total of $20.00, at an estate sale this morning

@mbroo5880i They wanted $30, but settled for $20.00.

The Chivas is for guests

[jvd99]

11 minutes ago, Skinsfan1311 said:

Snagged all of these, for the whopping total of $20.00, at an estate sale this morning

@mbroo5880i They wanted $30, but settled for $20.00.

The Chivas is for guests

Great find!! Estate sales are tricky because, at least in Illinois, they can’t sell booze. Usually if a company is running the estate sale, it’s no bueno on the stocked bar, but occasionally they’ll facilitate a private sale sale or off the books. I scored some nice 1970’s dusty scotch many years ago this way.  It’s too much effort nowadays though - lots of chasing and very few scores. 

[Skinsfan1311]

26 minutes ago, jvd99 said:

Great find!! Estate sales are tricky because, at least in Illinois, they can’t sell booze. Usually if a company is running the estate sale, it’s no bueno on the stocked bar, but occasionally they’ll facilitate a private sale sale or off the books. I scored some nice 1970’s dusty scotch many years ago this way.  It’s too much effort nowadays though - lots of chasing and very few scores. 

Thanks!

I don't know the rules here in the Socialist Republic of MD.    I've never bought, or seen, booze at an estate sale.   I lucked into the whiskey....Mrs. Skinsfan saw the bar and called me over...I opened the bottom cabinet, rummaged around and the Lagavulin was behind several bottles of open cheap crap, (Mr. Boston, Seagram's, etc), and I couldn't believe when I spied this unopened gem.  The Chivas was bought on a whim.  All of my scotch is single malt, mainly from Islay, and none of it is cheap.  With the exception of some Johnny Walker Blue, I've never had a blended scotch.   I figured that I couldn't go wrong for the price and I'll have something on-hand for whomever likes blended scotch. 

 

I was surprised at how easily the guy settled for $20.00.  I would've paid $50.00  without batting an eye...Hell....I'd a paid $75.00 and still come out way ahead.

[jvd99]

2 hours ago, Skinsfan1311 said:

Thanks!

I don't know the rules here in the Socialist Republic of MD.    I've never bought, or seen, booze at an estate sale.   I lucked into the whiskey....Mrs. Skinsfan saw the bar and called me over...I opened the bottom cabinet, rummaged around and the Lagavulin was behind several bottles of open cheap crap, (Mr. Boston, Seagram's, etc), and I couldn't believe when I spied this unopened gem.  The Chivas was bought on a whim.  All of my scotch is single malt, mainly from Islay, and none of it is cheap.  With the exception of some Johnny Walker Blue, I've never had a blended scotch.   I figured that I couldn't go wrong for the price and I'll have something on-hand for whomever likes blended scotch. 

 

I was surprised at how easily the guy settled for $20.00.  I would've paid $50.00  without batting an eye...Hell....I'd a paid $75.00 and still come out way ahead.

Most people have no idea what gems are awaiting us enthusiasts in their home bars

[Skinsfan1311]

I just reread the labels on this shorty. Evidently it was bottled for American Airlines.  What is more of interest,  to me anyway,  is that 4R had a Baltimore connection. I posted the blend, for anyone that's interested in that kind of thing. I can't imagine that it's very good, but the plan  is to stick it in the freezer and drink it anyway. It doesn't look like much, if any, evaporated. 

 

[jvd99]

51 minutes ago, Skinsfan1311 said:

I just reread the labels on this shorty. Evidently it was bottled for American Airlines.  What is more of interest,  to me anyway,  is that 4R had a Baltimore connection. I posted the blend, for anyone that's interested in that kind of thing. I can't imagine that it's very good, but the plan  is to stick it in the freezer and drink it anyway. It doesn't look like much, if any, evaporated. 

 

That’s cool…kudos to them for putting the blend on the label. Agree the light whiskey is probably pretty bad, but I’d drink it in a heartbeat to find out how bad it is and how far FR has come.

 

Speaking of FR, I picked up the first store select I’ve seen in 3+ years from Binnys, it was 9 yr. 11 mo. OESO for $99. That’s a big price jump from when these things were in every shelf at any decent LS or grocery store. 

Edited May 27, 2023 by jvd99

[Skinsfan1311]

17 minutes ago, jvd99 said:

That’s cool…kudos to them for putting the blend on the label. Agree the light whiskey is probably pretty bad, but I’d drink it in a heartbeat to find out how bad it is and how far FR has come.

 

Speaking of FR, I picked up the first store select I’ve seen in 3+ years from Binnys, it was 9 yr. 11 mo. OESO for $99. That’s a big price jump from when these things were in every shelf at any decent LS or grocery store. 

Yeah...I'm not a huge 4R fan. It's just not in my wheelhouse,  but keep a couple bottles on hand for the Missus and guests who like it. I only buy it when it is on sale, which is my MO anyway

I'll post my thoughts on the shorty, (or my wife will if it doesn't end well), in the drinking thread.

[smokinjoe]

41 minutes ago, Skinsfan1311 said:

Yeah...I'm not a huge 4R fan. It's just not in my wheelhouse,  but keep a couple bottles on hand for the Missus and guests who like it. I only buy it when it is on sale, which is my MO anyway

I'll post my thoughts on the shorty, (or my wife will if it doesn't end well), in the drinking thread.

Yeah, when people mention to old timers that Four Roses is really good,  that blend is the only 4R they know, and also the reason their gag reflux kicks in right then…

 

That’s a cool little bottle.  I think you should leave it unopened and put it on your bar as a conversation piece.

[Skinsfan1311]

22 minutes ago, smokinjoe said:

Yeah, when people mention to old timers that Four Roses is really good,  that blend is the only 4R they know, and also the reason their gag reflux kicks in right then…

 

That’s a cool little bottle.  I think you should leave it unopened and put it on your bar as a conversation piece.

Yeah...Mrs. Skins said the same and that blend is not awe-inspiring. I've been collecting shorties, off and on, since the late 70's so at least it found a good home.

[smokinjoe]

36 minutes ago, Skinsfan1311 said:

Yeah...Mrs. Skins said the same and that blend is not awe-inspiring. I've been collecting shorties, off and on, since the late 70's so at least it found a good home.

Nice!  Mrssmokinjoe has been putting a bottle of whiskey in my Christmas stocking since about a year after we started dating.  1982 was the first.  Up to 42, now.  She hasn’t missed a year yet.  Amazingly, the first 8-9 were whiskies just due to wchance.  We then made it a requirement.  Another requirement is that it has to be a glass bottle.  That had been getting tougher to find.   But, it seems more brands have been showing up in glass the last couple of years.  Interestingly, the 4R are glass (though not sure of the yellow label, and even the SmB Select has a glass mini).   I still find it a miracle that those first couple years bottles, which she gave me in college, didn’t get drank, stolen, lost, or broken.  

[Skinsfan1311]

12 minutes ago, smokinjoe said:

Nice!  Mrssmokinjoe has been putting a bottle of whiskey in my Christmas stocking since about a year after we started dating.  1982 was the first.  Up to 42, now.  She hasn’t missed a year yet.  Amazingly, the first 8-9 were whiskies just due to wchance.  We then made it a requirement.  Another requirement is that it has to be a glass bottle.  That had been getting tougher to find.   But, it seems more brands have been showing up in glass the last couple of years.  Interestingly, the 4R are glass (though not sure of the yellow label, and even the SmB Select has a glass mini).   I still find it a miracle that those first couple years bottles, which she gave me in college, didn’t get drank, stolen, lost, or broken.  

 Nice!!

It's a miracle my collection has survived. Navy brat here. Dad was stationed in Naples, (Italy, not FL), and I started collecting them when I was in High School. We dipped the necks in paraffin, and they've followed me around since then, and most of them survived, several moves, including 20+ years in the attic.

Back in the day, the biggest threat for my collection was keeping the bottles away from High School buddies