Bib

[ThomasH]

I stopped at a couple of liquor stores on the way to work yesterday and found some more BIB bourbon. I have known for several months that one store had Kentucky Tavern BIB but now a 2nd store carries it as well as JTS Brown BIB. JTS runs 13.00 a 750 and Kentucky Tavern is 10.00. If anyone is interested in either, feel free to send me a PM. I see JTS in stores periodically but this is only the 2nd place I have found Kentucky Tavern and I have searched a lot of places!

Thomas

[OscarV]

You know what I'd like to get?

Colonel Lee Bourbon.

Don't ask why.

[callmeox]

You know what I'd like to get?

Colonel Lee Bourbon.

Don't ask why.

Why?

padpadpadpadpadpadpadpadpad

[StraightBoston]

You know what I'd like to get?

Colonel Lee Bourbon.

Don't ask why.

You can get VOB in MI... vat that with Ten High!

[mozilla]

Picked up some CL Bib, last trip to Ky. One bottle almost didn't even make it home. It is a very smooth and easy drinking bourbon with all of the flavor one expects from a Bib pour. Wish I could find it locally.

I would say it is a little more tame and sophisticated than the Tom Moore Bib, I usually buy.

[cowdery]

Truth is, right now those cheap BIBs, in their limited distribution, are some of the best values in straight bourbon whiskey. I can't explain why they're so good, they just are. Very Old Barton BIB has been one of my go-to bourbons since I lived in Kentucky more than 20 years ago. Now I'm very big on JTS Brown BIB too. My other perennial favorite is Old Fitzgerald BIB. Old Fitz and the equally excellent Old Grand-Dad aren't particularly good values--not bad, just not particularly good. It's the BIBs from Barton and Heaven Hill that are the great values. There's also Beam's Old Bourbon Hollow, but I'm not sure what that's going for right now.

[callmeox]

Now, Chuck's motivating me to head out to get the JTS BIB at my local retailer. If I don't like it, I'll gift him a bottle less one pour at KBF. :grin:

[plaid_emu]

Now, Chuck's motivating me to head out to get the JTS BIB at my local retailer. If I don't like it, I'll gift him a bottle less one pour at KBF. :grin:

I'm sure you'll enjoy it. One of the best Bourbons available here in Ohio regardless of the price. It's a damn steal for $13.

Last night I was at a friends house and his buddy is a big Maker's fan. Pretty much exclusively a MM drinker. I busted out some JTS Brown BIB and he said he's switching. He not only loved the taste but the price is just right.

Also, has anyone noticed that MM is cheaper in OH if you buy it in the 12 pack of little 50 ML bottles?

$16.65 - 600 ML Vs. $14.00 - 375 ML

[gothbat]

$14.00 - 375 ML

Even that isn't so bad, I grabbed a 375 of MM on the way to a friends house, didn't look at the price tag, and was shocked when it rang up $18.99! I never would have even thought to buy a bunch of mini's instead though (assuming it does actually work out to be a better price in my area...), definitely something to look into though!

[cowdery]

I grew up in Ohio. Every peculiarity noted is a direct result of socialized booze. One thing you don't do in Ohio if you're a producer is delist, so you're liable to see brands there that were pulled out of everyplace except the Bourbon Belt 30 years ago. JTS Brown, Mattingly and Moore, Kentucky Tavern and, I'm sure, several others. Today, a listing in Ohio is an asset that probably makes those brands more valuable when they change hands.

[dhineline]

I am running low on bourbons and I usually make a trip to KY to stock up, both because it is cheaper and because there is a better selection than here in ohio. Decided to go in and buy a CHEAP bottle of bourbon, didn't want anything 80 proof or 86 if I could help it. Didn't really care if I liked it, just wanted to try something cheap for poker night. Was going to buy Evan Williams black label, but have had it before (and thought it was okay). I bought JTS Brown BIB for $13. Ugly bottle, figured it would suck and I would go back to my normal stuff in a week or so. Ooops. Very good bourbon. Dang, now there is another brand I have to stock.

[callmeox]

I never posted my follow-up after I bought the JTS Brown BIB, so here it is:

Awesome value and a very under rated bourbon.

[callmeox]

After reading this thread, I headed over to a friend's house...a guy who as an equal appreciation for malts as well as bourbon. I told him to hand me the bottle of Knob Creek behind the bar, along with two glasses and to turn his back to me.

I poured equal amounts of KC and JTS BIN in tasting glasses and told him to have at it. He couldn't tell the difference between the two. I was able to peg the Beam quickly, but the demo achieved it's purpose to him. Why buy the ~30.00 plus bottle of KC when the ~14.00 of JTS Brown BIB would suffice?

[cowdery]

How sad you have to pay $14 in Cleveland for JTS BIB. It's $9 in Kentucky. I love the stuff, by the way.

[callmeox]

At least it's available here, so it's tough to complain.

[ThomasH]

Kentucky Tavern BIB seems to be showing up in more stores around here. Now my favorite store has it. I also noticed some other new stuff at this store that covers a variety of categories. Either Ohio is expanding their offerings or they are getting a very early start to the holiday season. They even have some of those gift packages out on display already. Certain brands seem to be offering gift packages on a more year round basis than before. JD is one and Southern Comfort is another. Even Absolute vodka is offering them!

Thomas

[cowdery]

Kentucky Tavern BIB is not a new listing in Ohio because I bought some in Mansfield a few years ago. Does anyone know how Ohio merchandises its stores now? In olden times, every state store had the same selection, but since the stores are now franchised by the state to private operators, they presumably don't have to carry everything on the list.

[callmeox]

The store owner can order in items that the state doesn't send automatically. If the item is in stock at the warehouse, they will normally send it. How the state decides what to send where automatically is a mystery.

I stopped by my favorite local store today to see if the new Beam rye was in and I asked the owner about it. He said that he hasn't seen it yet, but he has been trying to replenish the Saz Jr. that flew off the shelf after the state sent him two cases. (Saz Jr isn't a "regular" item in Ohio, it is on the special order list).

It looks like the state sent him Beam Rye instead as he pointed that out as a new product on the shelf. :skep:

[cowdery]

Beam rye got a label change not long ago and the proprietor may have been thinking of that. I don't believe the new Beam rye is available at retail anywhere yet.

[callmeox]

Correct. Beam Rye with the buff colored label was on the shelf (where the Saz Jr. used to sit) not the new unpronounceable rye from Beam.

The ODLC thought process there was probably "He want's a rye, send him this since he doesn't carry it."

[ThomasH]

The ODLC can send a store whatever they want. Sometimes a store wants something and the state decides whether or not to send it to them. There basically isn't any logical reasoning to what they do. They can also transfer stock out of any store and into any other at any time. I thought it was ironic how long I looked for a KT BIB and all of the sudden it started showing up in my own back yard. I think it was absent from store shelves at one point!

Thomas

[cowdery]

All that sounds like Ohio, but the baseline is The List. Ohio only buys, from the producers, what is "listed," which is the master list of those products approved for sale in Ohio. A mere change in label design doesn't require a new listing, but something like a change of proof would. The producer pays for each listing and pays to change them, and requests to delist one product and replace it with another aren't necessarily recognized. Once you get something listed you don't delist it unless it sells nothing, because it's so hard to get listed.

[callmeox]

I guess that the answer that you're looking for is that not everyone stocks everything on The List. Higher volume stores end up with more of what is on The List than others since the state likes selling product more than warehousing it.

Ohio will buy stuff that's not on The List if you request it, but they must not require a deposit as a number of these Special Order items ended up in stores (Ritt, Saz Jr, WT Rye, Weller SR). There's a store near me with 10 bottles of WT Rye on the shelf and it's on the Special Order list.

[barturtle]

There's a store near me with 10 bottles of WT Rye on the shelf and it's on the Special Order list.

Is it a good price? I find many of the control states with state stores happen to have pretty good pricing.

[callmeox]

9631B WILD TURKEY RYE WHISKEY $ 20.70 TO $ 21.00

That price includes tax and the range is based on the different county taxes.

Binny's and Sams list it at 19.99 (before tax if you buy locally) and Bevmo wants 21.99.