MM Ambassador Barrels

[barturtle]

So this is the weekend, while I can't be there for the release, I'll be picking mine up as soon as I get back to KY. Who else's barrel is ready to go? And who is there to pick it up? What do they look like? It's been 6 damn years I wanna know!

[chilidawg7]

Mine isn't done for another 2 years so I am very interested to hear from those who will be going through this first go-round.

Give us some details/pictures!

[NeoTexan]

I couldn't make it down this week but plan to pick mine up while I am down for the Sampler.

[camduncan]

I think I've still got another two years on mine as well.

When it's ready, it could be my reason (excuse) for another trip to the US :cool:

[HighTower]

I remember receiving my 5 year card last year some time, so 6 years is approaching....I wonder if they will let me know when the barrel is being dumped?? And I wonder if there's any way I can get anything from "my" barrel?

Scott

[barturtle]

Checking Bills Blog, here's the ones being bottled this year

Spring 08 479001-479401 Yup 400 barrels

Fall 08 479402-480460 Yikes 1058 barrels!

Mines 479017...the name on my plate are alphabetical (P's Q's R's and S's) So I'm guessing I was one of the early ones to sign up.

[mgilbertva]

Care to enlighten the unenlightened? I've heard the phrase, and from what I understand it's something only certain people are allowed to purchase in limited quantities. What's the details?

[barturtle]

Care to enlighten the unenlightened? I've heard the phrase, and from what I understand it's something only certain people are allowed to purchase in limited quantities. What's the details?

For a while--I'm not sure if they do it anymore--there were tags on MM bottles to join their Ambassador Club, and they would put your name, along with 29 others(for a total of 30) on a barrel, and let it age. Then when ready, they would bottle it (as a batch--apparently not a particularly small one) and let each person who had their name on it buy 2 bottles.

Each barrel had/had it's own forum on the MM Ambassador site (not a lot of posts on mine.) And if you wanna throw some extra money at it you can buy a replica of the name plate that is on the barrel.

Here's the thing...30 people, two bottles, so that's 60, and there are only about 7 of the people on my barrel who have any posts (that's only 14 bottles)...but there are about 240 or so bottles in a barrel...where's the rest of that go? And with 400 barrels in my "batch" if those numbers stay the same only 5600 of 28000 bottles will go to the people who have their names on the plates...that's 20%...so I'm guessing the rest gets relabeled as standard MM and sent on its way...no barrel proof, unfiltered, single barrel or anything else to make it particularly special other than a label...but then that's what MM does, lots of labels for the collectors.

Yup, I'm a bit disappointed to say the least, if it was 5 barrels or 20 barrels in the "batch" I'd feel a bit better. or higher proof, unfiltered, older...but alas, I think these will be nothing special except to people who collect MM labels.

[HighTower]

For a while--I'm not sure if they do it anymore--there were tags on MM bottles to join their Ambassador Club, and they would put your name, along with 29 others(for a total of 30) on a barrel, and let it age. Then when ready, they would bottle it (as a batch--apparently not a particularly small one) and let each person who had their name on it buy 2 bottles.

Timothy,

Those tags have just started appearing down under. They must be pushing the ambassador program here.

Scott

[pepcycle]

Sorry, I've been partying since last Wednesday and haven't been on the forum.

After all, there was a pub crawl in Lexington and then Makers Mile and the Thoroughbreds and Redheads stuff.

What I know

1. All 400 barrels that are ready now were mingled into one big batch. So if you cared to buy one, you got a "Batch Bottle" which is not so unique. It has a little tiny label on the back that says

"After years of patiently waiting, this bottle was hand dipped by Maker's Mark Ambassador________________ on ___________.

There's no indication what Batch its from. The top has a 2008 and a barrel embossed.

2. They allowed you to buy one for each ambassador. (Maybe it was two)

3. The price was $38 for a litre. So a little markup.

4. The lines were terribly long and slow moving. If you had cash, you could jump right to the front of the line and get out in a few minutes. They did set up four more lines for cash only later in the day.

5. You get to dip your bottle.

6. I tasted the stuff from the batch. Tastes like Maker's Mark.

Timothy, sorry I didn't pick yours up, but they limited purchasers to 3L total, so I couldn't even pick up more than Patty's and Mine.

Overall, I'm pretty disappointed that there's no special dip or label or batch number or barrel numbers or thanks. Looks like a rush job to me.

[pepcycle]

Heres the back Label from the Batch Bottle

[jeff]

That is kind of a let down. My hand-dipped 375ml bottle from my first trip years ago is much more special to me. Too bad, they've done every other Ambassador thing pretty well.

[barturtle]

Well, damn..I'm not sure I could be more disappointed. No special front label, no batch date, no special wax...

I blame Jim Beam!

Just think what coulda been:

Silver frosted VIP bottles with silver wax and a matching plate on the front, hundreds of people willing to pay whatever for it after a six year wait, they coulda really done something special and jacked up the price and nobody woulda blinked.

[NeoTexan]

Although I am also a little disappointed, I understand. I believe it is a problem of logistics. How many "special" label/wax bottles do you make from the batch? How do you determine the number of people who are going to go and pick up a bottle?

I believe (and it is all speculation on my part) that the thinking was that the neck hangers (along with the sticker on the back) where the "special" attributes.

I would have liked to see something a little more on that label to indicate which batch it came from though.

[pepcycle]

Neck Hanger?

I didn't get one.

[NeoTexan]

Neck Hanger?

I didn't get one.

These were sent a few weeks ago:

[pepcycle]

Darn,

I didn't get that!!

Seems like Patty gets her stuff and I never get mine.

Her barrel isn't due until the fall.

I'll send a note Bridget.

(BTW, Emily is a new mom. Lucian (sp?) Patrick, borne 3/17/2008)

[NeoTexan]

Darn,

I didn't get that!!

Seems like Patty gets her stuff and I never get mine.

Her barrel isn't due until the fall.

I'll send a note Bridget.

(BTW, Emily is a new mom. Lucian (sp?) Patrick, borne 3/17/2008)

No love for you!! The Patty is much better looking, so I understand why she would get items and you wouldn't.

I knew about Emily. I have been conversing with her temp, Chris. He seems like a nice guy.

Dale

PS You notice the big influx of baby picture avatars? I think your's may need an update.