Most You've Overpaid

[TBoner]

for a bottle, that is.

Thinking about Brad's $100+ Hancock's (which he didn't buy) and the thread about big disappointments got me to wondering how often and by how much we overpay for whiskey.

I know a lot of my purchases have been bargains since they were old and dusty and priced as they were in the 70s or 80s. But I also know that the first time I bought KC several years ago, I didn't know enough to price liquor stores out around here, and I wound up paying $42.99 for a fifth.:shocked: :bigeyes::shocked:I know buy it for $23.99.:grin:

I know some guys have high prices set by state liquor boards, or just live in areas with higher liquor prices (not to mention the hard-to-find eBay purchases we may have made), so it's all relative. But what's the most you've overpaid for a fifth of whiskey?

[ThomasH]

I have never really overpaid for a bottle of whiskey, but there are a few I am definitely glad I didn't pay regular price for. 2 of the most notable examples are Hancocks Reserve and Mckendrick. Hancocks is one of my favorites, but is no where near worth the normal 50.00 price tag. Mckendrick, while I don't hate it, isn't superstar whiskey by any means, but the normal 40.00+ price tag is entirely too high for what it is. One that I probably overpayed for but am extremely thankful to have purchased is a duty free only bottle of Bushmills 1608 12yr. This is now discontinued and one has to seriously wonder what Bushmills was thinking when they gave this brand the ax. I am not really a fan of Bushmills but this version is a must have for any serious Irish whiskey fan. This stuff is excellent!

Thomas

[ILLfarmboy]

Two years ago I paid eighty some dollars a bottle plus shipping for three bottles of '05 WLW from Mission Liquors. While waiting for that shipment to be delivered I ordered one more from either Sam's or Binny's along with other sundry items. To date I have drank exactly three quarters of one bottle of the '05. I'd gladly unload the rest for less than half of what I paid for them. I guess I can always use it for bourbon balls.

[mgilbertva]

I don't have any stories with quite that disparity, but I've overpaid on more than one occasion. I don't think you can avoid making a few mistakes if you're starting out and trying to build up your collection.

I have a Michter's US1 Rye that I paid $45 for from Central Liquor in D.C. Central has a decent collection, but grossly overpriced.

On another occasion I was dusty hunting a found some "Stizel-Weller Bourbon" in a run-down, out-of-the-way liquor store. I had no idea what it was, other than knowing I loved S-W products. Well, as discussed in this thread, it was pretty much junk.

So, from a drinking perspective any money spent was a waste. From a good story perspective, well, maybe it was kinda worth it.

[OscarV]

Including shipping, I paid $135.00 for a bottle of George T Stagg.

I could not get any here and I really wanted it, so ebay-ing I went.

[TomH]

I guess I would rate my purchase at the KBF as overpaying. As a auctioneer (on the side) I normally have a decent feel of how an auction is going and will frequently go ahead and make a set in bid (opening bid) just to get things started if openings are slow figuring that someone else will bid.

So when a box of 5 autographed bottles and some misc stuff was slow at opening I went ahead and bid $200 since single bottles had been going for 60-70. To my surprise, no one else bid until right as the auctioneer was hammering the lot, a lady in front of me bid. However, since he had hammered the lot (and to encourage faster bidding in future lots) he did not take her bid. So I now have extra bottles of 1792, Makers, Bullet, Pogue and Craig. At least the box did have an older miniture and the money went to a good cause (the Getz Museum).

Tom

[luv2hunt]

Including shipping, I paid $135.00 for a bottle of George T Stagg.

I could not get any here and I really wanted it, so ebay-ing I went.

OMG!!! Next time, drive to Indiana!

Somewhere in these threads is a story of me walking out of a store with a bottle of Weller 19 that was priced at $225. I didn't pay that much, but someone else did....And I still paid too much for the bottle I bought! We drank it at a gazebo gathering....I remember it was dry and woody.

Dawn

[gothbat]

Including shipping, I paid $135.00 for a bottle of George T Stagg.

What year/edition was it?

I'm right there with you. I paid $150, shipping included, for a '04 GTS (In 2006).

[OscarV]

OMG!!! Next time, drive to Indiana!

I used to drive to Indiana to get cheap cigarettes.

At the time my wife had a company car, (insurance road adjuster), and I would drive her car to Fremont on the insuance company's gas, and get a couple of month's worth.

Fremont is only an hour and 20 minutes from me.

[OscarV]

What year/edition was it?

I'm right there with you. I paid $150, shipping included, for a '04 GTS (In 2006).

It was also the 2004, 129 proof, I think I got it in '06 also.

[squire]

Paid 100+ for a Glenlevet 21 yr aged and bottled by Gordon & McPhail at cask proof about 15 years ago while in Washington, DC on business. Opened it for some special friends and we all decided the whisky tasted too strongly of oak.

Sometimes older is not better.

Regards,

Squire

[Hedmans Brorsa]

One that I probably overpayed for but am extremely thankful to have purchased is a duty free only bottle of Bushmills 1608 12yr. This is now discontinued and one has to seriously wonder what Bushmills was thinking when they gave this brand the ax. I am not really a fan of Bushmills but this version is a must have for any serious Irish whiskey fan. This stuff is excellent!

Thomas

I also miss that one. It p**ses all over the flat 10yo bottling.

By the way, here in Sweden we pay too much all the time. The taxes on alcohol are gruesome.

[reg]

All in Alabama, pickings is slim. there are some package stores that carry some goodies. I want to thank them, so i get a few bottles of different brands not carried in ABC stores. Evan Williams 1876 and BIB, Buffalo Trace are marked up but not shocking in total cost, just glad they are available.

The thread starts off with a $100 bottle of Hancocks. will fess up and say I bought a $49 bottle of Hancocks. I have not opened it yet, so i cant say that i overpaid. This thread will motivate me to open and i will respond back when tested.