Elmer T Lee - worth it?

[berto]

ETL gained notoriety because it was a $25 bottle that drank like a $40 bottle.  Add some love for the bottle’s namesake on top.  It was a good value play.  Then things got goofy.  A $40 bottle that drinks like a $40 bottle is fine. The secondary FOMO tax turning it into a $150+ bottle can lead only to disappointment.  Inflation turning it into an $80 bottle, well that’s just how it goes. I don’t know if the quality is there because I haven’t t bought a bottle in probably a decade.  If you gotta have it try to get it at MSRP.

[0895]

40 minutes ago, berto said:

ETL gained notoriety because it was a $25 bottle that drank like a $40 bottle.  Add some love for the bottle’s namesake on top.  It was a good value play.  Then things got goofy.  A $40 bottle that drinks like a $40 bottle is fine. The secondary FOMO tax turning it into a $150+ bottle can lead only to disappointment.  Inflation turning it into an $80 bottle, well that’s just how it goes. I don’t know if the quality is there because I haven’t t bought a bottle in probably a decade.  If you gotta have it try to get it at MSRP.

 

A perfect summary.

[Richnimrod]

9 hours ago, Special Reserve said:

Is it the Liquor Control Commission or the distiller that sets the price?

AFAIK, the LCC is the 'final answer' here; but, it's everybody above the consumer really.   My understanding is that when The State of  Michigan 'orders' liquor, they receive a MSRP for each item; allowing retailers, the State, and (of course) themselves healthy profits.   Then the LCC decides based upon that number, and market trends, where to set the retail price as a 'base' (retailers are free to charge that price or exceed it - but never sell below it).   AFAIK, the LCC always sets it at or usually slightly above the MSRP (If they didn't they would be derelict in the mission to not only 'control'; but, ensure the State treasury a decent return on investment).     However, in deference to retailers profit margins they will frequently set some prices rather higher.   This much?   I have no idea.   Quite likely the distiller (BT) has quoted Michigan a considerably higher MSRP than in those golden days of years ago.   ...As well as charged a significantly higher wholesale price to The State.      So, I guess one could say that everybody up the supply chain from the retailer, to the distributor, to the MLCC, to the distiller is demanding their pound of flesh from the consumer.   When any liquor becomes as sought-after as so many are today the cost will inevitably go skyward.   It's always the entity least able to do so that bears the cost of escalating market demand - the consumer.   

...Because of the "Golden Rules".  ...Them that's got the gold makes the rules.

[PaulO]

What I'm gathering from the discussion is, the people that had enjoyed it in the past will decline to purchase at newer (crazy IMHO) prices.  The last one I bought was $25.    It's an easy drinking 90 proofer, nothing stands out to make it worth the mad money.  I don't drink labels.

Edited Thursday at 03:59 PM by PaulO

[flahute]

16 hours ago, berto said:

ETL gained notoriety because it was a $25 bottle that drank like a $40 bottle.  Add some love for the bottle’s namesake on top.  It was a good value play.  Then things got goofy.  A $40 bottle that drinks like a $40 bottle is fine. The secondary FOMO tax turning it into a $150+ bottle can lead only to disappointment.  Inflation turning it into an $80 bottle, well that’s just how it goes. I don’t know if the quality is there because I haven’t t bought a bottle in probably a decade.  If you gotta have it try to get it at MSRP.

Exactly this. And good to see you around again.

[berto]

1 hour ago, flahute said:

Exactly this. And good to see you around again.

Thanks!  Drinking curtailed and purchasing ceased so I sometimes have to remind myself to come see my friends in this corner of the internet.  

[0895]

11 hours ago, PaulO said:

What I'm gathering from the discussion is, the people that had enjoyed it in the past will decline to purchase at newer (crazy IMHO) prices.  The last one I bought was $25.    It's an easy drinking 90 proofer, nothing stands out to make it worth the mad money.  I don't drink labels.

 

Sounds pretty accurate.

The last one I bought was $39.99 and I would struggle to pay much more than $50-60 for it currently.

Personally I'm more inclined to overpay for RHF or Blanton's Gold than any of the sub 100p mash 2 bottles. 

[GeeTen]

On 6/11/2025 at 9:58 AM, fishnbowljoe said:

I’m not quite as old as you Frank, but I think I remember (CRS disease) ETL @ $29.99. Definitely $34.99 and $39.99. One oddity I found early on was one of the first bottlings that had the gold wax top. I was also lucky enough to grab a few of the 90th Birthday and two or three of the 93rd Commemorative. I never did even see a 100th.
 

 

$24.99, $29.99 - what's $5 in the great scheme of things???  Just got back from celebrating SWMBO's birthday with @Anwalt and his wife in Puerto Rico last week.  Memory is still a little fuzzy, maybe???   

 

 

[rzelinka]

In my area, it seems the MSRP is $80. I think It's worth it at that price, but not much above it. That said, I understand it may be much cheaper elsewhere. In my travels, I never come across it at MSRP, only secondary, or what I like to refer to as enhanced MSRP for places like Specs, Total Wine here.

[0895]

1 hour ago, rzelinka said:

In my area, it seems the MSRP is $80. I think It's worth it at that price, but not much above it. That said, I understand it may be much cheaper elsewhere. In my travels, I never come across it at MSRP, only secondary, or what I like to refer to as enhanced MSRP for places like Specs, Total Wine here.

Total Whine likes to enhance stuff here too.

Perhaps they need to be thrown in the pool for a bit.

[rzelinka]

I like the variety Total Wine offers. What I don't like is that for some of the allocated products you have to be in their grand reserve category, and that only gets you entered into the lottery. I would rather just go to a liquor store that places its allocated in a case or behind the counter at ridiculously inflated secondary prices and one can decide whether they wish to buy or not. With the volume Total Wine has, I can't imagine they don't have access to more allocated. 

[flahute]

2 hours ago, rzelinka said:

 With the volume Total Wine has, I can't imagine they don't have access to more allocated. 

They get quite a bit but the number of people in Grand Reserve is enormous and includes all of the big wine buyers.

[rzelinka]

1 hour ago, flahute said:

They get quite a bit but the number of people in Grand Reserve is enormous and includes all of the big wine buyers.

Sure, that said, the number of times I can find allocated bourbons there are very limited. I would submit that is by design 

[flahute]

2 hours ago, rzelinka said:

Sure, that said, the number of times I can find allocated bourbons there are very limited. I would submit that is by design 

That's because they never see the shelf.

[rzelinka]

2 hours ago, flahute said:

That's because they never see the shelf.

Nor are they displayed for the general public in a case, or behind the counter 

 

[PaulO]

On 6/14/2025 at 11:56 AM, flahute said:

They get quite a bit but the number of people in Grand Reserve is enormous and includes all of the big wine buyers.

Long before TW came to my state, years ago I was reading posts here from members that claimed to have spent a lot.  They racked up points, were never offered the bottles they desired.

I suspect unless a person is buying for a business or regularly throws parties like the beginning of The Great Gadsby - not enough to get noticed.

There are some games that the way I win is not to play.

 

On the other end of the spectrum, mash bill #2 Bourbons include: Ancient Age 80 proof (36 months), Ancient Age 90 proof, and Ancient Age 10 Star (used to be 10 year).  I believe the AA90 and AA 10* have limited distribution.  Any comments on those.

[Richnimrod]

19 minutes ago, PaulO said:

There are some games that the way I win is not to play.

 

First let me apologize for editing your post, PaulO.   ...For brevity and clarity only.

Your statement is SPOT ON!!!!   I have felt the same for a few years now.   I have enough good-to-fine-to-amazing Straight Bourbons (and Straight Ryes - and a few Scotch & Irish whiskies I favor) to satisfy myself, likely for the rest of my life (unless the actuarial tables are way off).    Coming to that realization and understanding that I have no need of any more (no matter how highly touted, or how rare... and for sure how expensive!) has provided me with more than a little calm satisfaction.

Life is Good... and Good Enough!

(Sorry for the thread drift.)