Heaven Hill and Lux Row's crazy expensive membership programs....

[ThirstyinOhio]

Heaven Hill and Lux Row have both come out with crazy expensive membership programs that guarantee's access to their limited/rare bottle offerings on a quarterly basis.  The Heaven Hill program, called the Connoisseur Circle guarantees you the right to purchase the Heaven Hill Heritage Collection bottle (the HH19yr wheated bottle this year), along with the upcoming Parker's Heritage, William Heavenhill, and the Fall Old Fitzgerald release all for the princely sum of $2000 per year.  That cost does NOT include the cost of purchasing those bottles but does include a ticket to each of these release events and a ticket to each of their normal tours they offer at the visitor center plus a few other perks.  Yes, you must apply for the program but everyone's who's applied has been offered membership as far as I know.  Additional details can be found here.... Connoisseur Circle

 

Lux Row's is very similar to Heaven Hill's except they at least include the bottles in their which looks cheap in comparison to HH at just $1499 per year....then again I'm not sure if I can even name any limited offering from Lux Row other than Blood Oath so not sure what the other three would be.  Additional details can be found here.... Apply | The Front Row by Lux Row

 

While I can understand loyalty and premier membership programs, these sound a bit like a money grab when the big perk is simply getting the same bottles that everyone else can get if they simply line up early enough on release day.  That being said, I did sign up for the HH one because I'm an idiot.  

[kcgumbohead]

1 hour ago, ThirstyinOhio said:

Heaven Hill and Lux Row have both come out with crazy expensive membership programs that guarantee's access to their limited/rare bottle offerings on a quarterly basis.  The Heaven Hill program, called the Connoisseur Circle guarantees you the right to purchase the Heaven Hill Heritage Collection bottle (the HH19yr wheated bottle this year), along with the upcoming Parker's Heritage, William Heavenhill, and the Fall Old Fitzgerald release all for the princely sum of $2000 per year.  That cost does NOT include the cost of purchasing those bottles but does include a ticket to each of these release events and a ticket to each of their normal tours they offer at the visitor center plus a few other perks.  Yes, you must apply for the program but everyone's who's applied has been offered membership as far as I know.  Additional details can be found here.... Connoisseur Circle

 

Lux Row's is very similar to Heaven Hill's except they at least include the bottles in their which looks cheap in comparison to HH at just $1499 per year....then again I'm not sure if I can even name any limited offering from Lux Row other than Blood Oath so not sure what the other three would be.  Additional details can be found here.... Apply | The Front Row by Lux Row

 

While I can understand loyalty and premier membership programs, these sound a bit like a money grab when the big perk is simply getting the same bottles that everyone else can get if they simply line up early enough on release day.  That being said, I did sign up for the HH one because I'm an idiot.  

Fools and their money...I wonder if internally they refer to "members" as Connoisseur Circle Jerks?

Edited April 1 by kcgumbohead

[Richnimrod]

For me only, and I totally get it if nobody else agrees...

Bourbon drinking, enjoying, discussing, collecting, and hopefully savoring; for the qualities and subtleties that can be had, has always (well, not so much lately) been the 'luxury' available to "the everyman".   For me that's been one of the best facets of this hobby.   'Exclusivity' by it's very nature is anathema to that attraction for me.    Bourbon has always been a finely crafted dram for anybody whether or not one's wealth and/or 'connections' set one apart from most folx.   

These sorts of programs seem to me not only a money grab; but, also a way to exclude those of limited means or limited 'connections'.   They set up a kind of "class" versus "lack thereof" scenario.   No thanx!  Turns me off bigtime!

I'm pretty sure I could afford to 'join' any/all of these things but I choose not to do so.   If I'm excluded, then I guess I'm self-excluded.   And, that's OK with me.   As some comedian once said; 'I wouldn't want to join any club that would have a lowlife like me as a member.'  (Or something like that...)

[Skinsfan1311]

That's ridiculous.

I'm glad that we've already visited those distilleries.    I think we'll give them both a hard pass next time around....

[mal00768]

3 hours ago, Richnimrod said:

For me only, and I totally get it if nobody else agrees...

Bourbon drinking, enjoying, discussing, collecting, and hopefully savoring; for the qualities and subtleties that can be had, has always (well, not so much lately) been the 'luxury' available to "the everyman".   For me that's been one of the best facets of this hobby.   'Exclusivity' by it's very nature is anathema to that attraction for me.    Bourbon has always been a finely crafted dram for anybody whether or not one's wealth and/or 'connections' set one apart from most folx.   

These sorts of programs seem to me not only a money grab; but, also a way to exclude those of limited means or limited 'connections'.   They set up a kind of "class" versus "lack thereof" scenario.   No thanx!  Turns me off bigtime!

I'm pretty sure I could afford to 'join' any/all of these things but I choose not to do so.   If I'm excluded, then I guess I'm self-excluded.   And, that's OK with me.   As some comedian once said; 'I wouldn't want to join any club that would have a lowlife like me as a member.'  (Or something like that...)

I love this comment. And feel the same.

Edited April 1 by mal00768

[PaulO]

For $2000 or $1499 or even much less, I could have a lot of fun on my own.  

I could splurge a bit on items I might not normally buy locally.  Or (I really like this option) drive to KY, hit some stores, maybe distillery gift shops.  I guarantee you, I would not come home empty handed.  And a big part is not knowing exactly what I might find.  Also, I have a list of items that are not super rare/expensive that simply are not distributed in the Indianapolis area.

My $.02

[ThirstyinOhio]

19 hours ago, Richnimrod said:

For me only, and I totally get it if nobody else agrees...

Bourbon drinking, enjoying, discussing, collecting, and hopefully savoring; for the qualities and subtleties that can be had, has always (well, not so much lately) been the 'luxury' available to "the everyman".   For me that's been one of the best facets of this hobby.   'Exclusivity' by it's very nature is anathema to that attraction for me.    Bourbon has always been a finely crafted dram for anybody whether or not one's wealth and/or 'connections' set one apart from most folx.   

These sorts of programs seem to me not only a money grab; but, also a way to exclude those of limited means or limited 'connections'.   They set up a kind of "class" versus "lack thereof" scenario.   No thanx!  Turns me off bigtime!

I'm pretty sure I could afford to 'join' any/all of these things but I choose not to do so.   If I'm excluded, then I guess I'm self-excluded.   And, that's OK with me.   As some comedian once said; 'I wouldn't want to join any club that would have a lowlife like me as a member.'  (Or something like that...)

I completely agree

[Anwalt]

I love HH. Not sure I'd pay that, especially if I have to show up (seems to be the case). Haven't done the math, it'd probably be cheaper to just pay secondary - and that's before convenience is factored in (e.g., don't have to travel, delivered to me, etc.).  I'm sure there's some value to The Experience. And not sure I'd pay secondary for all but a few of those bottles. I will own this: I paid secondary for PHC16. And have zero regrets.

 

I get the whole Everyman Thing. Grew up in Youngstown at the bottom end of a steelworker's neighborhood until 8th grade, then a mid-level suburb until graduation. And Lord knows, populism is all the rage now. 

 

I also worked my butt off and took my knocks to have decent money. Having it is better than not. Can I go back to my roots and be happy without it? I imagine so. Do I wanna? No. Does it have perks such as getting spendy things? Yup. Do I apologize for it? Hell no.