Pursuing allocated whiskey bottles

[Sharkytrav]

I’m recently started down the fun, dark road of whiskey as a hobby.

For the longest time Woodford was about all I bought. Then I found a store specific barrel, then I took a recommendation and picked up a bottle of double oaked. Eventually I decided to branch out and have ventured through Russell’s reserve single barrel rye, four roses single barrel, and Jack Daniels single barrel barrel proof.

I’m, of course, now terribly interested in stuff like blantons, pappy, Weller and all the other limited release bottles but not sure how to get my hands on these harder to find releases.

How do y’all pursue the allocated gems?

[Lt. head-shot]

If you are in Austin, check out these guys. https://crowdedbarrelwhiskey.com/ They have an awesome, albeit strange, youtube channel. It helped me get deeper into whiskey and I have enjoyed it ever since!

Whiskey is strange. As a west coast guy, Weller is super rare out here. Yet I've chatted with some folks from the midwest that can get it at their local store, but Buffalo Trace is rare over there. Distribution is funky as hell sometimes. IMO unless you are trying to find something specific (like say one of the Game of Thrones releases), just keep buying new bottles and trying new things. You'll be surprised what you might like.

Some favorites for Bourbon - Bulleit (for everyday), Four Roses Small Batch, Old Forester "Statesman".

Some favorites for Scotch - Bruichladdich Classic Laddie, Highland Park 12, Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban, Monkey Shoulder (GREAT value if you can get it cheap)

[Sharkytrav]

Nice, thanks! I’ll definitely check them out. It has been a while since we visit that part of town and I think there are several distilleries down there now.

I got a Glenmoraingie 18 year a couple years ago and enjoyed it for the most part. I don’t think a lot of Scotch is in my future, but you have good company in recommending the Quinta Ruben. I’ll see if I can give it a taste before buying a bottle.

[coyote]

Make sure the guy that owns the best liquor store in town knows your name.

Talk to him about what you like, and what you want to try. Ask for recommendations.

Build relationships with purveyors.

[Sharkytrav]

Good advice. I’ve heard this a couple times now and it seems like the most reliable way of achieving the goal. I’ll need to mentally prepare myself for this kind of action as my MO is to get in and out of places quietly.

It sounds like there are 3 options- relationship based (make a friend), first come (stand in line all night), and lottery based (no). Relationship based sure seems like the way to go.

[dkv23]

What coyote said, build those relationship. I have a good one with a smaller local store that has got me a few gems but because it’s smaller I doubt I will see any pappy or btac. But I have got Elmer t Lee, weller, and a few ETH and mitchers. It’s just important to go in talk to them and buy something every time, doesn’t have to be big a soda/gum/lotto.

Larger stores will do raffles etc same with state controlled stores best bet for a chance at BtAc and pappy.

-Duncan

[chrislognshot]

I’m recently started down the fun, dark road of whiskey as a hobby.

For the longest time Woodford was about all I bought. Then I found a store specific barrel, then I took a recommendation and picked up a bottle of double oaked. Eventually I decided to branch out and have ventured through Russell’s reserve single barrel rye, four roses single barrel, and Jack Daniels single barrel barrel proof.

I’m, of course, now terribly interested in stuff like blantons, pappy, Weller and all the other limited release bottles but not sure how to get my hands on these harder to find releases.

How do y’all pursue the allocated gems?

the issue you going to have down the road your going to get into whisky that cost in to hundred of dollars. have place that sells irsh whisky and you can play close to $500 and more just watch what you spend on and just do small shots to make them last longer

[Sharkytrav]

Oh man, one of the things I have run across recently is the Buffalo Trace Very Rare Double Eagle ($2k) and Woodford Baccarat ($1500-$2k). I’m not in for that kind of dough. If I had a better display setup then I might be down for some collecting of the super rare stuff but even the nicest bottles don’t fit with the wife’s decorating scheme. Probably for the best.

At the moment, this learning and hunting is scratching the same itch for me that Craigslist-finding an old eclipse mag or cocker scratches.

[Nish]

I'm cheap. remember that price in whiskey is based off brand value and rarity not quality.

Check these guys out, especially on YouTube. They are kind of goofballs but can help you get an idea of what you might not want to drop the money on and what you might. Also.. you might be close enough to get a chance to visit. https://whiskeytribe.com/

Remember. The best whiskey is the one YOU like. Have fun experimenting and keep us posted on what you find.

[Sharkytrav]

Ah, yeah! That link got me to roughly the same place that lt. head-shot’s link landed. There appear to be at least a few goofball YouTube whiskey channels and that is perfect for me. Thanks for the link!

So far nothing has unseated Woodford Double Oaked for me though Four Roses Single Barrel is a close second.

Russell’s is really nice but feels kind of middle of the road compared to the other stuff I have handy.

The Jack Single Barrel Barrel Proof looks the swankiest out of all the bottles and it is tastey for sure. It is 127.6 proof and I haven’t figured out the right water or ice addition to get it where I want it. Heartburn or watered down. I heard that letting it sit for a few months will elevate the experience.

[Nish]

I tend to lean more to the other Irish Whiskeys though they don't hold up well to ice IMHO. Knappogue Castle is my go to. Ryes have also recently found their way into my house. Rittenhouse bottled in bond is a good one so is Old Forester 100%

[Sharkpocalypse]

Remember that price in whiskey is based off brand value and rarity not quality.

This is the most important thing to know when getting into whiskey. There's plenty of $25-$60 bottles out there which are already great. In my opinion, once you go above $75 or so you start running into diminishing returns pretty hard, unless there's just something super-specific that you're in love with. Whiskies that have spent more time aging will have a different character, but that doesn't always mean it will be better. It will just be more expensive since it takes longer to make and more is lost to angel's share. Besides, paintball can already be more expensive than a heroin habit. No need to let all of your vices bleed you dry.

[chrislognshot]

[Sharkytrav]

Good video, I like those guys.

[chrislognshot]

both are good video to watch and search of on

[Magoo]

I do like that I can get Weller for $28 and Eagle Rare for $32 pretty regularly. Not sure how long that will last, though. I really enjoy the whiskey, but I've decided it's just not worth pursuing once the supply dries up. I'm plenty satisfied by readily available bottles...

That said, I did try some Pappy van Winkle 10 year. Holy hell, that was some good stuff...

[A.Greenleaf]

I have been collecting for years. I have or have had all the big names. I have been going to the same place for almost 20 years I get to know when all the good stuff is coming in before anyone else. Honestly, Knob Creek 12 year has been the on of best bourbons I have had to date.

[dkv23]

Have to agree with Aaron knob creek is some of the best value in bourbon. The store picks can be amazing.

-Duncan

[flyweightnate]

I'm gonna recommend Balcones as a good, easy to get whiskey from Texas. Rock Town, from Little Rock AK, is very, very good, but has become highly sought.

The 120 dollar bottles are good, but so are a lot of the 35 dollar bottles. Keep a mix on the shelf so you have the option.

Edit: to more directly answer your question, the distillery typically has a good selection.

[Sharkytrav]

I did like Balcones the couple times I had it. I also recently had some Still Austin for the first time in a while and enjoyed it.

[Sharkytrav]

I just found a Reddit thread that talks about how Specs, the big regional warehouse liquor store chain, does their allocated bottles and it seems to vary store to store. Policy is to use a points card but people have been posting pictures of tables full of rare stuff that is first come first serve.

this is a bummer on a couple levels- these pictures were from over the weekend so if this is a once a year thing (which Specs claims it is) then I just missed it. If the points card is my local store’s way, then I made a few big purchases recently that didn’t get counted.

oh well, live and learn. I feel like a points system is encouraging unhealthy behavior but I guess they don’t have a lot of ways to keep score.

[CrowsFeast]

I've been into whisky for quite a while now (140+ open bottles currently). I've been watching Whisky Tribe and Whisky Vault for quite a while. They're the same guys involved with Crowded Barrel. They both started out as scotch guys but since they review stuff that gets sent in they mostly do bourbons now. In addition to finding them entertaining I also find that my taste tends to line up with theirs so I can take their suggestions and figure out what to look for and what to skip. From watching their stuff I'd recommend checking out Balcones, Ironroot, and Garrsion Brothers for Texas distilleries.

Granted everyone's tastes are different I'm going to say skip Blantons (at least their regular offering with the tan label). I've had samples from several batches now and I find it really over-hyped. budget juice (hot) in a fancy bottle. It might be a good one to have around for friends in order to protect your good stuff though.

Weller, I would skip their SR (green label). The Antique 107 and the 12 yr are really good though. Pappy, don't pay much over MSRP because it just gets crazy. I have Van Winkle Family Reserve (Lot B, not technically Pappy) and it's quite good but not crazy (mind you I haven't found any bourbon that really blows me away into a happy place, only a half dozen scotches have done that).

Personal favourites for various categories:
Bourbon: Stagg Jr. (kicks your ass at over 60% but so much to dig through)
Canadian: Lohin Mckinnon Bordeaux finish (peated Canadian finished in a wine barrel, just a combo you don't see every day!)
Irish: Yellow Spot (just so malty and tasty)
Peated Scotch (tough one): Octomore 10 yr (I like it more than my 11.3, can't say which others I've had) or Ardbeg Uigedail.
Unpeated Scotch... I have to make this a top 3:
1) Black Art 4.1
2) Glendronach 21 yr Parliament
3) Longmourn 16


Honourable mentions:
Aberfeldy 16
Aberlour A'Bunadh
Anything Compass Box
Anything Edradour
Colonel EH Taylor
High West Yippee Kay-Yay
Alberta Premium Cask Strength (though it's become over-hyped)
New Riff
Port Charlotte
Tipperary 10 Knockmealdowns
Wyoming Whisky

I'm going to stop now because I could fill the whole page... Feel free to ask me anything you like though!

[ATBen]

This guy knows our secret Canukistani elixir... it's a French Canadian Scottish bastard like me

"Lohin Mckinnon Bordeaux finish (peated Canadian finished in a wine barrel, just a combo you don't see every day!)"

[Nish]

Wise man once told me.

"You know the difference between a 12 year and a 16 year? The 16 year still tasted like shit after 12 years."

[A.Greenleaf]

Your best bang for your buck will be store pick barrels. I will buy one of those before I pick up an allocated bourbon. Send me a message if you need any advice or you are looking for anything in particular.

[Sharkytrav]

Things I have learned, including some stuff I learned yesterday.

ABC liquors seems to be store that is most in touch with the bourbon hunters locally. Oak Liquor Cabinet might be a close second? Specs has the goods but isn’t very public about availability and Twin liquors has had a tough time with deliveries. Also, the latter two do enough volume with everything that they could care less about the advertising that allocated bottles brings to their tables.

Instagram looks like the best place for updates from stores on drops.

December is when the local stores bring out the big guns. Especially, unfortunately, the 24th. Maybe it was just the 24th this year and usually hits the Friday before Christmas, or something like that…

There is NO room for messing around. Gotta be Johnny on the spot to be successful.

I am a rookie novice in this game and there are seasoned professionals. Some see you as a friend to help and some see you as competition to dissuade. You don’t know who is who until you start talking.

I learned about myself that I need to be better rehearsed with my line of questioning just in case someone wants to talk. I went into a twin liquors and was expecting zero interaction with the employees. Then someone asked me what I was looking for and I went awkward a.f. Was a great opportunity and I got a few answers, but could have made a much better connection. Out of practice I guess. Practice makes perfect I guess.