Just found a bottle of Blantons Gold and EH Taylor Barrel proof for $600 a piece here in Iowa. Thankfully I have more sense than money. 😂 That isn’t saying much because I don’t have much sense. Very educational and informative videos. Love the channel. I’ve learned more from you two about whiskey in the last week than my first 48 years on this Earth.
I'm REALLY hoping that the boosted production at Buffalo Trace means that the general public actually get to see some of these at MSRP once in a while.
Since BT changed distributors for 2023, I see Buffalo Trace and Weller Special Reserve all over Northern Illinois. In the lastv7-8 weeks, I have bought 11 bottles of Buffalo Trace ($26.99) and 7 bottles of Weller Special Reserve ($29.99). I even see it now in grocery store’s liquor stores. I saw it again this week and did not buy any, since I have so many now. I even found and bought 2 bottles of Eagle Rare ($34.99), 1 bottle of EH Taylor Small Batch ($50), and 1 bottle of Weller Full Proof ($54.99). You have to be Johnny on the spot when these bottles hit the stores, because they are gone within a day or two.
I obtained my Blantons gold through a buddy before they were sold here in the states. We’re in Kentucky, but he had family in indiana across the river that could mail order alcohol and he bought several from the UK. Haven’t got to try the others, but I the gold is much better than the standard
Hey Randy, I feel bad about the old fits because I had a part to play in that episode. Steaks are on me my friend. I didn’t know the whole story because you’re such a gentleman. Great episode couldn’t agree more with your lineup.
Thanks for the kind words and gesture, I appreciate it. It's all water under the bridge now, no hard feelings. So, what's your favorite bourbon from the lineup?
You're welcome! We appreciate your support and glad to hear you enjoy our content. That's awesome to have Still Austin nearby - have you had a chance to visit their distillery?
Great episode guys!! Finding allocated or even hard to find whiskey here in Alberta can be difficult. I recently picked up an Eagle Rare 10 yr, a Jefferson's Aged at Sea and my second of the year Wild Turkey Rare Breed. Now the Wild Turkey isn't much of a hunt which is good because it has become my daily pour, but the other two took me a while to find and acquire. For me that search and hunt is half the fun, only surpassed by sitting down with a buddy and cracking and sampling the bottle. General consensus is the Eagle Rare and Wild Turkey are full on winners and the Jefferson's is sitting on the border of good and okay for taste and experience. I'm a little nervous to pick up a Blanton's or EH Taylor not because of the cost but because they are very young bottlings. So, while we often get some great upper end bottles in our market most is middle of the road which suits me fine because my daily sipper in the Wild Turkey Rare breed is only $55.00 CDN and the lovely weekender Still Austin Musician regular and cask range from $75 - $104 CDN which in this market is not too bad at all. Keep the videos coming, I always learn something from your experiences!! Love from Canada - Dave.
Thank you for sharing your experiences and thoughts, Dave! It sounds like you have a great appreciation for the hunt and the enjoyment of sharing and sampling hard-to-find bottles with friends. I'm glad to hear that you have found some great middle-of-the-road bottles that suit your taste and budget. Keep on sipping and exploring, and thanks for watching! Do you have any particular recommendations for Canadian whiskies to try?
@@BourbonRealTalk I'm a fan of Gibson's 18 yr old and Wiser's 18 yr old but there's some good buzz around Alberta Premium Cask Strength 2022, and Caribou Crossing neither of which I have had. Thanks for the kind reply and best of luck in your quest!!
I don’t really “hunt” for bourbon and I won’t pay crazy mark up prices either. I’ve been lucky enough to be at the right place at the right time and score a bottle or two. I do realize there are bourbons that I will never get a hold of and that’s fine as there’s plenty of others that I enjoy and can always get
I totally understand your approach to bourbon hunting. It's great to be able to score a bottle or two without having to pay crazy mark-up prices. And you're right, there are so many other great bourbons out there to enjoy! Do you have any personal favorites that you always go back to?
@@BourbonRealTalk I’m a fan of the Whiskey Row series and Rare Breed. Those are usually available all the time out here in Southern California. Surprisingly Buffalo Trace and Eagle Rare are fairly easy to come by too. Store picks are always a good bet as you may find some brands/labels you know little about and they can be really good. I like variety and trying new things
You can most definitely try Twin Liquors, Spec’s on Brodie, and Total Wine those are just more hit or miss plus already have their preferences on who they will share allocated bourbon with but yeah give them a shot
I've been noticing a lot of whiskey tubers shying away from allocated bottle reviews and what not. I think a lot of people in general are tired of hearing how great this or that whiskey is when they know they have basically a zero percent chance of getting it unless they want to take out a second mortgage on their house.
Thanks for the comment! I hope you have a great time in Austin and find something nice to enjoy. Have you tried any Texas whiskeys before or is this your first time trying them?
I personally haven't had the IW 15, but from what I've heard, it's a great pour. As for drinking it or not, that's up to you and what you're comfortable with. Some people like to save special bottles for a special occasion, while others prefer to enjoy them whenever the mood strikes. It ultimately depends on your own preferences. Do you have any other special bottles you're saving for a certain occasion?
I don't go crazy hunting allocated...except for trying to get Weller Green Label, just because it's one of my favorite whiskeys to drink! It can't be beat for $20ish when you can get it.
@@BourbonRealTalk going out to as many stores in different states that I can, as well as entering the OF raffle when it comes around. I’ve seen it online but I’m not paying $1k+ for any bottle.
Great choices. The msrp's seemed awful low tho. I've never seen them that low. What's funny about Wellers? Well, not funny, but my dad and two of his buddies used to drink Wellers all the time. You could buy it anywhere back then. Which was the late 70's and 80's. We camped every weekend during the summer and dad would always say, time to get out the old wellers. Lol. Now, it's one of the most difficult to find. I do have a bottle of Wellers Special Reserve. Great videos guys.
Thank you for the feedback! MSRP can vary by location and time, so it's always worth checking around. It's interesting how availability and popularity of certain whiskies can change over time. Have you tried any other bourbons that remind you of those camping days with your dad and his buddies?
@Bourbon Real Talk I live in Houston. I found EH Taylor at liquor store. A $110 dollar bottle, and they wanted $159. The Blantons I wanted, they had. $135 bottle they wanted $249. But if I paid cash, theh would sell it to me for $229. 🤣 I bought my Eagle Rare there for $119. And the Wellers Special Reserve there for $49. I don't have any memory for dad's wellers because I was young back then. This Wellers Special Reserve is dam good. So is the Eagle Rare. The Specs here in Baytown doesn't have crap! I have to travel across Houston to buy a good bourbon. Of all these so far, Buffalo Trace is my favorite. And it's even hard to find. Lol.
@@markwindholz816 Look for Benchmark BiB and Full Proof. They are effectively higher proof buffalo trace for less money, and much easier to find in TX.
I appreciate the recommendation, thanks! I haven't tried Pikesville Rye yet, but I'll definitely keep an eye out for it. Have you tried any other ryes that you really enjoy?
I have been able to get all except the Blanton's Gold, Four Roses LE and the Birthday Bourbon ... but frankly I have given up chasing bottles and stressing about not having tasted this or that ... there is enough good bourbon out there on the shelves ... enjoy!
Thanks for sharing your perspective! It's true that there are plenty of great bourbons available on the shelves, and it's important to remember to enjoy what you have instead of getting caught up in the chase. Have you discovered any new favorites lately?
@@BourbonRealTalk Well, I haven’t bought anything new in over a year. I have I really enjoyed the OF 1920 and the WR Double Oaked from what is easily available on the shelves.
I will never understand how or why anyone would get mad over a difference of whisky opinions. But obviously some do - there was a guy on MeWe who got insulting because I love Balcones Texas Pot Still Bourbon. As subjective as whisky appreciation is it just makes no sense to condemn anyone for a difference of opinion. Thanks for a) making it clear that your opinions are only your opinions, and b) maintaining your honest opinions even when a few arrogant snobs attack you. 🙂🥃
Thanks for your kind words and support! I couldn't agree more - at the end of the day, whisky appreciation is highly subjective and everyone has their own preferences. It's important to respect each other's opinions and be open to trying new things. Cheers to that! Do you have a favorite whisky that you would recommend trying?
@@BourbonRealTalk My favorite of all time is Balcones Texas Pot Still Bourbon. My next favorite is also from Balcones - Lineage Texas Single Malt. Their Baby Blue corn whisky is also fine stuff. I also like Knob Creek 9, Elijah Craig, Woodford Reserve Double Oaked, Four Roses Small Batch... I think that might be all that I'd consider a favorite. I'm sure y'all have covered at least some of 'em. Probably the Balcones offerings are the least likely to have appeared on the show so far. :)
Birthday Bourbon is my shiner gold unicorn… Doubt ill ever see it or even taste it, but man, your list is spot on with my golden dream list too! Cheers!
Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts! Have you tried any other bourbons that come close to the Birthday Bourbon in terms of taste and quality?
Great video! I don't chase after too many highly allocated bourbons, I think there are too many great bourbons out there that everone can get that is on the shelf in most places. That not to say I don't have some allocated bourbons. Wild Turkey Masters Keep 17 yaer BIB, Some Wellers and Colonel Taylors. If I can get an allocated bourbon for cost or a fair price I will buy it.
Thank you for watching and sharing your thoughts! It's great that you have a balanced approach to bourbon and appreciate the variety of great bourbons that are more readily available. And it's always a good idea to try and get allocated bourbons for a fair price rather than overpaying. Have you tried any new bourbons lately that you would recommend?
I saw your video on the Belfour spirits, I bought the one bourbon finished in Texas pecan wood,,, I would say it might be on par with some of the allocated bourbons! It was great!
Let me clarify I do have a bottle of EH Taylor barrel proof and I don’t think it is better than that one lol that bottle is the gem in my collection. I was fortunate as hell to get that one at retail price in North Dakota.
Thanks for watching our video on Belfour Spirits and for trying out their bourbon finished in Texas pecan wood. We're glad to hear that you enjoyed it and found it to be comparable to some of the allocated bourbons. Have you tried any other unique bourbon finishes that you would recommend?
@@BourbonRealTalk I really had to think about that question because I normally don’t really like bourbons that are finished, but I think the Bowman Brothers small batch finished in port wine casks was very good,,, but I am normally a fan of your bold flavored bourbons like wt101/rarebreed and ogd114. Since I enjoyed the Belfour Pecan wood finished bourbon,, I am going to buy the belfour single barrel bourbon tomorrow
@@BourbonRealTalkThanks for asking. You know, I am curious about store picks and barrel picks. Are they better than the regular bottles? How does it actually work? I assumed someone from the store goes to the distillery and spends a lot of time trying different barrels before they make their decision on what they truly feel is a better barrel compared to what’s used for the regular bottles. I had a store owner tell me every time I came in to be ready for their store pick of New Riff single barrel. I got super excited, but when it finally arrived at the store I asked the owner if he had fun doing the whole experience and he said he never visits distilleries, they just send him samples of three different barrels and he tells them which one he wants for the store. It’s still kinda cool I guess, but I felt like he ruined it for me. Where’s the effort, where was your excitement and heart in this process? why should I as the customer appreciate this pick? I didn’t say this to him, but I was thinking that it seemed like a gimmick to try and sell more bottles. I mean you tried three samples that were mailed to you so this whole process took less than 5 minutes. Am I wrong for thinking this way? Did I miss something? Is this store owner doing what everyone else does or am I right and he just went about this in the laziest way possible? If he’s not passionate about his store pick, than why should I buy it over the regular bottle that’s a few bucks cheaper? I still shop at his store and talk to him and I’m super polite and cordial, I just don’t buy any of his store picks. What do you think? Am I being too harsh?
@@joewinckowski A little information will likely change your perspective. First of all, we have already recorded the episode you suggested where we blind SiB against their small batch counterparts and it will be out soon. Regarding the single barrels just being a gimmick, they are not. There are tasting teams for every distillery that taste barrels to decide when they are ready for market, which brand line they are right for (most distilleries make more than one whiskey from the same mashbill), and whether they are marked to go into a batch or go into the single barrel program. When I pick barrels for the single barrel program for The Prideful Goat, we do not earmark any barrels for the program that are not exceptional for one reason or another. Either they are plussed up versions of the average barrel from that lot, or they have a flavor component that is not present in the average barrel. I have don't over 100 single barrel selections. Some at the distillery and some off of samples that were sent to me. When you travel to the distillery to pick a single barrel they do not let you loose in the barrel warehouse to tray whatever you want until you find the one you like. They bring out 3-6 barrels (some are more than 6 but that is rare) and you pick one of those. The experienced tasting panel has already determined that these barrels are exceptional in some way, and that is why they are in the barrel program. In this way, it doesn't matter if you pick at the distillery or off of mailed samples, in either case you are not going to be able to pick a barrel that isn't exceptional. So don't be too upset at how he picks. If you went fishing in a pond that only contained monster fish, it doesn't matter which one you catch, it is going to be a keeper.
@@BourbonRealTalk Randy, thank you so much for taking the time to explain everything. I absolutely love your fishing analogy, it makes perfect sense. I didn’t realize the distillery already did the hard work of separating the best options for single barrel and store picks from the rest of the juice. That’s actually pretty cool to know that a professional is basically presenting you with what they already feel are delicious options and you just have to pick what you like the most out of their picks. Thank you so much for shedding light on what I was missing. I’m loving the process of diving deeper into the bourbon world or should I say going down the bourbon rabbit hole….and I appreciate you for spending the time to talk and help me out. I’m in Downers Grove, IL which is about 30 miles west of Chicago. I went on the prideful goat website and looks like your bourbon isn’t anywhere near me. I think the closest it gets is Indianapolis which is about 3-4 hours from me. I’ll see if one of those websites you mention has availability for the 6 year bourbon or rye. It sounds so delicious. Have a wonderful rest of your weekend, cheers brotha!
@@joewinckowski So glad this was helpful. Along those lines, I noticed something else enthusiasts should be aware of. Often when you do a barrel pick with distillery staff present, the pick coordinator is part of the barrel selection team. For instance, the barrel proof barrel pick coordinator for Jack Daniel's is the assistant head distiller Lexie. She helps select all the barrels for the program, so to her, they are all special. I was at a barrel pick when someone noticed the condition of one of the bung plugs indicated that the barrel had been part of another barrel pick and was passed over. The person who noticed started calling it the reject barrel. I had the thought that to Lexie, there are no "reject" barrels in her barrel program. So understanding how barrels make it into the barrel program can help inform pickers how to act so they don't end up putting their foot in their mouth. You can order both the bourbon and rye of The Prideful Goat on Seelbach's and have it shipped to your door. It is a little cheaper online to help offset the cost of shipping, and when you add a second bottle the cost of shipping per bottle drops the overall cost to about retail price.
love that christmas gift surprise. So good. I do enjo Still Austin need to try that cask str. keep hearing great things. This is an amazing list. All so hard to get, but I agree worth the hunt. thanks for sharing. cheers.
Thanks for the comment! I'm glad you enjoyed the video and the list of hard-to-find whiskeys. Have you tried any of the ones on the list? If so, which one was your favorite?
Glad to hear that you enjoyed the video and that it helped you learn more about different bottles and tastes. What have been some of your favorite whiskey discoveries so far?
@@BourbonRealTalk I have recently tried the Old Forester 1920 and that is some amazing stuff! I just got the 1910 but have not cracked it open yet. Curious to try Maker's Cask Strength, the Austin Cask Strength and other on the shelf bottles that I have overlooked before. I might be missing out on some good stuff.
Cool video. Would not even know how to begin hunting for any BTAC's but would love to find! Heck even something simple like EHT small batch is rarely in Pittsburgh or like 6 bottles might show up at a liquor store once in 6 mos and if u happened to be there in that 2 mins u might get lucky
Thanks for watching the video! Hunting for BTAC can definitely be challenging, but keep checking your local stores and building relationships with the employees. And don't forget to ask for store picks or other quality bourbons that are more readily available. Have you found any other great bottles in your area?
@@BourbonRealTalk Blanton's hits once a month and if u are committed u can post up and get one . Usually 12-24 bottles hit a given store and goes immediately . They occasionally may get some eagle rare simultaneously.. still trying to determine the process for other stuff.. store picks, barrel strength stuff etc . Getting there!
I was a rep for over 14 years so I may look at this a little differently. These “rare” bourbons don’t really make a store any money. Not only is it hit and miss for most stores but Sazarac takes a dim view of a Pappy 10 in a lockbox with a $1000 price card in front of it. Throw in the buzzards waiting outside for the delivery trucks and the constant inquiries about these bourbons and they are usually not worth the headache. The customers who go from store to store hoping to come across a rare find are, for the most part, wasting their time. Stores exist to make money and their regular customers are who keeps the doors open and the lights on. So if you pick a store and become a regular customer the chances are that eventually the store will reward your loyalty by offering you an allocated bottle from time to time. And if you actually drink those bourbons your chances usually go up. An owner/manager would rather sell a Stagg to someone who will drink it than to a speculator who turns it into $1000. There’s no perfect formula for finding these bottles, you just come up with a plan and stick to it. One more thing, the speculators set the tone for the rare bourbons because of the money involved. As long as the secondary market is strong, and right now it is, it will be hard to come across any of the brands that bring stupid money on the secondary market. Over the years I have seen far more loyal Beam drinkers walk out of a store with a BTAC bottle than the guys pulling up in the Escalades who have never bought even one bottle out of the store they’re in. In my opinion if you want to end up with some of these “Unicorns” plan long term. No need to be in a hurrry, you can drink until you die. Good luck out there.
Thank you for sharing your perspective on the allocation process. It's interesting to hear about it from a rep's point of view. It definitely seems like building a relationship with a store and being a loyal customer is the best approach for finding allocated bottles. Do you have any advice on how to build those relationships and become a valued customer at a store?
@@BourbonRealTalk I have been fortunate enough to have developed an awesome relationship with an owner who has two stores. I have 6 of the 10 bottles you mentioned in video. I have been serious for 2 years and have 85 bottles. You need to shop and be friendly. I buy a lot of beer and that helps. FYI I also pay higher than MSRP but nothing like crazy secondary prices. To me it is worth it to get these allocated bottles. I do shop other places and also ask them to keep me in mind. I also do buy things from them. Beer etc. Some of the stores get squeezed by distributor, as you know, and need to commit to so much other product to get the in-demand bottles. One of the reasons I don't mind paying more because owner takes a risk with their commitment to buy additional and unwanted product ie. Fireball!. I also don't flip my bottles. Shop, introduce yourself to the staff and owner. Buy something and be friendly. Let them know you love bourbon and compliment them on their beer selection, in my case, or wine selection. Then say hi whenever you're there to shop. They also like when you buy their barrel picks. Works good for me. It's gotten me Blantons Gold Edition, Rip 10, Lot B, Pappy 15, Fitzy 17 year, EH Barrel Proof x2 and many others. Happy Bourbon hunting and drinking!
@@BourbonRealTalk You bet I would! Colorado has some very good whiskeys and bourbons….291, Breckinridge, Mythology, Old Elk, Stranahan’s. Any chance y’all could review some? Maybe even blind flight some? Thanks!
I recently did the same thing with my eh Taylor .. got a little carried away and drank a little over half the bottle in a sitting 😅 great video! It’s hard too find anything allocated in my area for msrp so this is very helpful since I have too be picky with what I pick up
Thanks for sharing your experience! It's important to savor the whiskey and enjoy it responsibly. I'm glad you found the video helpful. Do you have any favorite allocated bottles that you've been lucky enough to try?
@@BourbonRealTalk I’ve liked all of my allocated bottles I’ve been able to get. I have yet too open my old fitz 19 and my Sam Houston 15 I’m looking forward too those! And yes responsibly and moderation is key 😊
@@dustintyson354 I loved the Old Fitz 19, which surprised me because I thought it would be too oaky for me. The Sam Houston 15 was good too. I tried that at Wes's house.
I think Parker's Heritage is an excellent bourbon with a unique flavor profile. It's definitely one to try if you have the chance. Have you tried it before?
Too bad these aren't available at retail anymore. Those were the days. Good thing now though is more people are into whiskey and thus willing to share with friends.
Thanks for your comment! It's true that some of these bourbons are now difficult to find at retail, but sharing with friends is always a great way to enjoy whiskey together. Have you ever had a rare bourbon and shared it with your friends?
It's ultimately up to the individual to decide whether they're willing to pay secondary prices for WLW or GTS. However, in my opinion, I don't believe any whiskey is worth paying such exorbitant prices. Have you had any luck finding other, more reasonably priced options that you enjoy?
@@BourbonRealTalk Actually I did have some good luck and it was on 1 of your recommendations from a vid years ago. Y'all suggested as an alternative to the Pappy 15 we should try the IW Harper 15 year. I lucked out and got one at retail. It's a little on the lighter side but good tasting. I've never had a Pappy 15 year but the IW Harper 15 was good. Now I went to another store to find a back up and I think the owner must've seen your alternatives video as he marked up the IW Harper 15 year to double retail. One of these days I'll get a back up.
Interesting but all of these are definitely unavailable in my area. These whiskeys range from $1K to $5K+ on the secondary market. Apparently your status allows you to play by a somewhat different set of rules (god bless you) but if you were like the rest of us, I’d be interested in knowing how much you would actually pay to get each of these on the secondary market. Thanks.
@@LeatherDaddy97 With the right stores, 100% agree with you. That said, I'm not a RUclipsr myself, but people like folks from It's bourbon night get samples from HH etc. which they seem to show how thankful they are, which makes me think that sphere of influence exists. Edit/add-on: @WD C, drop some 5-10k+/yr in your store; maybe then they'll get you some. Cynically speaking, "relationship" that Bourbon Real Talk and others mention at the core can be said to be consistent cash flow ("keep their lights on", "pay their rents", etc) after all. While money doesn't mean everything, we're human. Be valuable to them. My store gets so many catering type of people that you can't compete unless you spend 10k+/yr to make it to their end of year wish list (that they try to fulfill).
MSRP is mostly reasonable for these bourbons. It's a shame that they generally can't be found unless they are marked up to an absurd level. I have no inclination to participate in the hunt, as there are numerous other great whiskies that aren't expensive and hard to find. If I happen to stumble across one of these, and the price is close to MSRP, I'm not one to argue with good fortune, so I'll grab it. I'll drink it too, and I'll share it with friends. I have never re-sold a bottle of booze, and I doubt I ever will.
Thanks for your comment! I completely agree with you that MSRP is reasonable for these bourbons, but it's unfortunate that they can be hard to find at that price. And you're right, there are plenty of other great whiskies out there that are more accessible. It's always nice to stumble upon a rare bottle at MSRP and share it with friends. Have you had any luck finding any of these bourbons at MSRP?
@@BourbonRealTalk I haven't run into any of the extremely popular semi-rare or rare ones at retail for a reasonable price in recent years. (I did find a bottle of Jack Daniel's Sinatra Select recently at below MSRP, but it is merely scarce and isn't usually heavily marked up.) Many years ago, it wasn't so difficult, as some of today's allocated unicorns used to be common. When I bought a bottle of Blanton's years ago, it was just another bourbon that was common on the shelves, and I bought that bottle simply because I had tried it at a bar and liked it. If someone had told me back then that people would go completely nuts over Blanton's one day, I wouldn't have believed it. Bourbon isn't the only whisky that is afflicted by this problem. Yamazaki 18-year single malt used to be an incredible value, selling for around US$60. Nowadays, if a bottle can even be found, it is over $1000. I'm glad I bought a bottle for $60 and got to enjoy it before the price got jacked up. Had I known what was coming, I would have bought a case. Local bars have many of the semi-rare ones at good prices (and also many of the rare ones at high prices), so I have tried a few of them. I'm not actively searching for them, so if I find any, it will be because I had the good fortune to be in the right place at the right time, and where I live, it isn't likely to happen. The small stores always mark them way up, and I've never seen them in the big chain stores (i.e. BevMo and Total Wine). I'm sure those stores get their share of the rare ones, but I've never tried to figure out how they handle them.
@Bourbon Real Talk I just heard that I have a coin coming in! Thank you 1000000% times I cannot wait to see it and continue growing in this community! If yall are on this RUclips and aren't on Facebook group what are you even doing! Go join it's the best group on Facebook!
Thank you for your comment. It's interesting to hear about the availability and price of Buffalo Trace in Germany. Have you tried any other bourbons that are popular in the US? If so, which ones are your favorites?
@@BourbonRealTalk Great question. I am fortunate to already have a RVW10 and a GTS,, both of which that I obtained through trades, so I think OFBB would be the next choice.
@@BourbonRealTalk My most regrettable (for the money) was Woodford Reserve 5 Malt Stouted Mash>. I paid $139 at the distillery and it just wasn't my thing.
I think with things like btacs people get really caught up in what they are drinking and suddenly think "oh this is the best thing ive ever had". I had a sample of 2022 gts recently and while it was good, i found it disappointing, it lacked balance and drank overly hot and simple. thats been the consensus among people ive sampled it to as well. I say that on youtube and people think im insane. Knowing what you like is more important than whether its rare to me.
I completely agree with you. It's important to know your own palate and what you enjoy, regardless of the hype surrounding certain bottles. It's also important to not get caught up in the hype and remember that just because a bottle is rare or expensive doesn't necessarily mean it's the best. Cheers! Do you have a favorite whiskey that may not be considered rare or hyped up?
@@BourbonRealTalk its rare to some people but for my money and palate ecbp smokes most things i blind it with, almost regardless of batch. Past that its rare breed or 101. Painted stave rye is also a personal favorite. Lee w sinclair too
Sorry to hear that you didn't find any WLW in your shoeboxes. Keep looking, you never know where you might find it! Have you had any luck finding other rare bottles recently?
@Bourbon Real Talk @Bourbon Real Talk I'm always hunting and pick up gems when I see them. Not much difference noticed in hard to find bottles though obviously prices are much higher than before with limited bottles skyrocketing in months...i.e. HH 17, GTS...JD special releases.
I disclose all my sponsorships. I have never received anything from BT. People get the wrong impression because if you make videos about allocated whiskey, you are going to be talking about BT a lot. That said, I talk shit about them when it is appropriate, which I would not be allowed to do if they were a sponsor. Case in point: ruclips.net/video/P2ZK0YdUkpU/видео.html
Treat the people in the store well..buy lots of different products…be patient grasshopper and they will reward you. Or you can just get darn lucky hunting…maybe. Great lineup guys!
Thanks for the comment and glad you enjoyed the video! Do you have any tips or strategies for building a good relationship with your local store and getting access to allocated bottles?
@@BourbonRealTalk i guess I am old fashioned but just doing what you should for anyone.. open doors,say please, buy stuff, and know their name! I make a point to banter with all of em and the store manager will notice, I guess you know this already so sorry of it sounds preachy. Over the last four years since we moved to Granbury I know the managers at two Fort Worth locations and of course here in Granbury. They do not call me per policy but you can pick up when special delivery’s are coming or at least the truck. Also helps to check in with corporate people to make sure your name is on the allocation list. Since they send so little to small stores you may get your wish list through another Location not near your home. Love your channel! What ever happened to the Boubonheads thing? Take care!
Thanks for the feedback and support! We'll try to keep up with regular content as much as possible. In the meantime, what other topics or whiskies would you like to see us cover in future videos?
The new George T Stagg is available a few minute walk away from me. Unfortunately it's priced at 1699.00 There are 2 bottles of Old Fitz near me at 799 and 1000. Blah.. lol
Thanks for sharing your thoughts! It's always interesting to hear about different experiences and availability of rare bottles. Have you ever considered doing a video on the secondary market for bourbon or exploring the reasons why some bottles command such high prices?
@@BourbonRealTalk Have thought about doing whiskey videos, but there are so many whiskey channels already. After I criticized one of my local liquor stores for their secondary prices, they informed me that the distributer would make them pay secondary prices for some rare bottles in order to purchase other items at regular prices. Thus the recent distributer shake up that's affected some states, like Arizona. They said those types of bottles should be available more reasonably in the future with the new distributer. And here I was thinking they were just being greedy. lol I've always known the liquor laws in the US were screwed up with the mandatory thirdman/distributor laws, but I didn't know how bad shops were being treated by some distributors.
@@AnAbortiveRomance Unfortunately your shop lied to you. I would not shop there anymore. RNDC was not charging additional for allocated items. That is a bold faced lie. What they were doing was possibly worse. They were pressuring the store to buy other items that there is not demand for before they would sell the allocated items. A lot of these stores have taken to lying rather than telling the truth, which surprises to me since the truth is pretty compelling for their case too. If you confront them and they protest I would be happy to talk with them. They are lying.
@@BourbonRealTalk I appreciate your first hand experience and knowledge, being directly in the business yourself as a distillery. A store near me came through for me a few years ago on a bottle of Weller Special Reserve green label, but last year they called me and wanted secondary prices for a bottle of Blanton's to celebrate my 50th. The owner flat out told me that people are happily paying $150 for these bottles online, so he would sell it to me for that same $150, take it or leave it. He said no worries if I declined, as he had a whole list of people he could call next who would jump at it. He didn't know that by the time he called me, I had already sourced a bottle for MSRP through a friend of mine, so I politely declined his ridiculous offer. Still, it's frustrating that small stores are doing this to people who don't know any better. Now I won't go into his store again even if I'm in a pinch and I need something last minute for entertaining.
@@chriskvikstad4980 For me that is the appropriate reaction to price gouge stores. If you price gouge you might get someone for a few extra dollars, but you won't get any more of my money.
Just found a bottle of Blantons Gold and EH Taylor Barrel proof for $600 a piece here in Iowa. Thankfully I have more sense than money. 😂 That isn’t saying much because I don’t have much sense. Very educational and informative videos. Love the channel. I’ve learned more from you two about whiskey in the last week than my first 48 years on this Earth.
So glad you found the channel and are enjoying it. I wouldn't pay those prices either. I hate museum liquor stores.
I'm REALLY hoping that the boosted production at Buffalo Trace means that the general public actually get to see some of these at MSRP once in a while.
Agreed. BUT the 2nd still just went LIVE so I mean it has to take some years one would think
Maybe in 5+ years
I don’t think that happens for at least 15 years. I guess it depends on the bourbon market at that time
Since BT changed distributors for 2023, I see Buffalo Trace and Weller Special Reserve all over Northern Illinois. In the lastv7-8 weeks, I have bought 11 bottles of Buffalo Trace ($26.99) and 7 bottles of Weller Special Reserve ($29.99). I even see it now in grocery store’s liquor stores. I saw it again this week and did not buy any, since I have so many now. I even found and bought 2 bottles of Eagle Rare ($34.99), 1 bottle of EH Taylor Small Batch ($50), and 1 bottle of Weller Full Proof ($54.99). You have to be Johnny on the spot when these bottles hit the stores, because they are gone within a day or two.
@@davevogelsang6791 interesting stuff. Thanks for the info. I need to make my way over there
I'm still enjoying how 4 Roses single barrel beat out the limited edition in your other video.
That shocked me a little. I love 4RLE.
I see Still Austin everywhere on shelves. esp. the cask strength. hmm maybe I should finally buy a bottle. I have tried their regular bourbon
Check it out! I think you will really like it.
I obtained my Blantons gold through a buddy before they were sold here in the states. We’re in Kentucky, but he had family in indiana across the river that could mail order alcohol and he bought several from the UK. Haven’t got to try the others, but I the gold is much better than the standard
Agreed. Some days I like the SFTB more, and some days it is the Gold.
Hey Randy, I feel bad about the old fits because I had a part to play in that episode. Steaks are on me my friend. I didn’t know the whole story because you’re such a gentleman. Great episode couldn’t agree more with your lineup.
Thanks for the kind words and gesture, I appreciate it. It's all water under the bridge now, no hard feelings. So, what's your favorite bourbon from the lineup?
Thanks for the content! Love the still austin sponsorship. Lucky to have it just down the road from me
You're welcome! We appreciate your support and glad to hear you enjoy our content. That's awesome to have Still Austin nearby - have you had a chance to visit their distillery?
Great episode guys!! Finding allocated or even hard to find whiskey here in Alberta can be difficult. I recently picked up an Eagle Rare 10 yr, a Jefferson's Aged at Sea and my second of the year Wild Turkey Rare Breed. Now the Wild Turkey isn't much of a hunt which is good because it has become my daily pour, but the other two took me a while to find and acquire. For me that search and hunt is half the fun, only surpassed by sitting down with a buddy and cracking and sampling the bottle. General consensus is the Eagle Rare and Wild Turkey are full on winners and the Jefferson's is sitting on the border of good and okay for taste and experience. I'm a little nervous to pick up a Blanton's or EH Taylor not because of the cost but because they are very young bottlings. So, while we often get some great upper end bottles in our market most is middle of the road which suits me fine because my daily sipper in the Wild Turkey Rare breed is only $55.00 CDN and the lovely weekender Still Austin Musician regular and cask range from $75 - $104 CDN which in this market is not too bad at all. Keep the videos coming, I always learn something from your experiences!! Love from Canada - Dave.
Thank you for sharing your experiences and thoughts, Dave! It sounds like you have a great appreciation for the hunt and the enjoyment of sharing and sampling hard-to-find bottles with friends. I'm glad to hear that you have found some great middle-of-the-road bottles that suit your taste and budget. Keep on sipping and exploring, and thanks for watching! Do you have any particular recommendations for Canadian whiskies to try?
@@BourbonRealTalk I'm a fan of Gibson's 18 yr old and Wiser's 18 yr old but there's some good buzz around Alberta Premium Cask Strength 2022, and Caribou Crossing neither of which I have had. Thanks for the kind reply and best of luck in your quest!!
I don’t really “hunt” for bourbon and I won’t pay crazy mark up prices either. I’ve been lucky enough to be at the right place at the right time and score a bottle or two. I do realize there are bourbons that I will never get a hold of and that’s fine as there’s plenty of others that I enjoy and can always get
I totally understand your approach to bourbon hunting. It's great to be able to score a bottle or two without having to pay crazy mark-up prices. And you're right, there are so many other great bourbons out there to enjoy! Do you have any personal favorites that you always go back to?
@@BourbonRealTalk I’m a fan of the Whiskey Row series and Rare Breed. Those are usually available all the time out here in Southern California. Surprisingly Buffalo Trace and Eagle Rare are fairly easy to come by too. Store picks are always a good bet as you may find some brands/labels you know little about and they can be really good. I like variety and trying new things
@@jasonczfan8658 I love the 1910 and 1920. The 1890 and 1897 are a little out of my wheel house, but they are quality and a good price.
Just picked up a 4RLE today in a raffle. I say worth it!
Nice, good for you!!
Glad you already opened it. I actually have not tried this years final product, just some of the component barrels.
I wish I could find at least one of those, and at retail. Great video guys. Cheers
It takes time and some luck, but we find something every year and drink it slow enough to create videos with it.
Nice video. I'm surprised this topic isn't covered more often. Headed to Austin on Monday, hoping to find something nice.
Checkout out these
Oak Liquor Cabinet
Deb’s Liquor
@@miraclemartinez6782 Should i stay away from the big box stores
You can most definitely try Twin Liquors, Spec’s on Brodie, and Total Wine those are just more hit or miss plus already have their preferences on who they will share allocated bourbon with but yeah give them a shot
I've been noticing a lot of whiskey tubers shying away from allocated bottle reviews and what not. I think a lot of people in general are tired of hearing how great this or that whiskey is when they know they have basically a zero percent chance of getting it unless they want to take out a second mortgage on their house.
Thanks for the comment! I hope you have a great time in Austin and find something nice to enjoy. Have you tried any Texas whiskeys before or is this your first time trying them?
I see it half full on your shelf, thoughts on IW 15? I finally found one for over MSRP but not sure if I should drink it yet or not
I personally haven't had the IW 15, but from what I've heard, it's a great pour. As for drinking it or not, that's up to you and what you're comfortable with. Some people like to save special bottles for a special occasion, while others prefer to enjoy them whenever the mood strikes. It ultimately depends on your own preferences. Do you have any other special bottles you're saving for a certain occasion?
I don't go crazy hunting allocated...except for trying to get Weller Green Label, just because it's one of my favorite whiskeys to drink! It can't be beat for $20ish when you can get it.
Thanks for sharing! Have you been able to find Weller Green Label recently, or has it been a challenge?
@@BourbonRealTalk It has been a real challenge to find here in Southwestern Ohio. I haven't had a bottle in three months.
@@prof.schreiber8925 😔
Old Forester Birthday Bourdon is my dream bottle! Hopefully one day I will own one.
Keep up the hunt! You will find one! What are you doing to help increase the odds you will get the chance to buy one?
@@BourbonRealTalk going out to as many stores in different states that I can, as well as entering the OF raffle when it comes around. I’ve seen it online but I’m not paying $1k+ for any bottle.
Keep checking stores for lottery that's the only way or bottle drop , but you have line up over night
Great choices. The msrp's seemed awful low tho. I've never seen them that low. What's funny about Wellers? Well, not funny, but my dad and two of his buddies used to drink Wellers all the time. You could buy it anywhere back then. Which was the late 70's and 80's. We camped every weekend during the summer and dad would always say, time to get out the old wellers. Lol. Now, it's one of the most difficult to find. I do have a bottle of Wellers Special Reserve. Great videos guys.
Thank you for the feedback! MSRP can vary by location and time, so it's always worth checking around. It's interesting how availability and popularity of certain whiskies can change over time. Have you tried any other bourbons that remind you of those camping days with your dad and his buddies?
@Bourbon Real Talk I live in Houston. I found EH Taylor at liquor store. A $110 dollar bottle, and they wanted $159. The Blantons I wanted, they had. $135 bottle they wanted $249. But if I paid cash, theh would sell it to me for $229. 🤣 I bought my Eagle Rare there for $119. And the Wellers Special Reserve there for $49. I don't have any memory for dad's wellers because I was young back then. This Wellers Special Reserve is dam good. So is the Eagle Rare. The Specs here in Baytown doesn't have crap! I have to travel across Houston to buy a good bourbon. Of all these so far, Buffalo Trace is my favorite. And it's even hard to find. Lol.
@@markwindholz816 Look for Benchmark BiB and Full Proof. They are effectively higher proof buffalo trace for less money, and much easier to find in TX.
Wes, I herd you say you weren’t much of a rye guy, I really am not either,, just wondering if you ever tried Pikesville Rye, I thought that was great!
I appreciate the recommendation, thanks! I haven't tried Pikesville Rye yet, but I'll definitely keep an eye out for it. Have you tried any other ryes that you really enjoy?
Actually yes! The Peerless Rye is fantastic and I really enjoy the Russell’s Reserve Single barrel 10year rye too!
Great list... I would add Heavan Hill 17 year!
Thanks for your input! Have you had a chance to try the Heaven Hill 17 year? If so, what are your thoughts on it?
WLW, Stagg Jr., Russell’s 13, 13th Colony Double Oak Cask Strength, EHT Barrel Proof
I am about to do a video about 13th Colony Doube Oak Cask Strength and their regular product. It is mind blowingly good!
I have been able to get all except the Blanton's Gold, Four Roses LE and the Birthday Bourbon ... but frankly I have given up chasing bottles and stressing about not having tasted this or that ... there is enough good bourbon out there on the shelves ... enjoy!
Yeah...there's enough out there now that you've tried many of them. Many don't even see 1 from here, never mind a low-tier BT product.
Thanks for sharing your perspective! It's true that there are plenty of great bourbons available on the shelves, and it's important to remember to enjoy what you have instead of getting caught up in the chase. Have you discovered any new favorites lately?
@@BourbonRealTalk Well, I haven’t bought anything new in over a year. I have I really enjoyed the OF 1920 and the WR Double Oaked from what is easily available on the shelves.
@@silverlochwhiskyreviews6157 Both really solid pours in my opinion! Cheers!
I will never understand how or why anyone would get mad over a difference of whisky opinions. But obviously some do - there was a guy on MeWe who got insulting because I love Balcones Texas Pot Still Bourbon. As subjective as whisky appreciation is it just makes no sense to condemn anyone for a difference of opinion.
Thanks for a) making it clear that your opinions are only your opinions, and b) maintaining your honest opinions even when a few arrogant snobs attack you. 🙂🥃
Thanks for your kind words and support! I couldn't agree more - at the end of the day, whisky appreciation is highly subjective and everyone has their own preferences. It's important to respect each other's opinions and be open to trying new things. Cheers to that! Do you have a favorite whisky that you would recommend trying?
@@BourbonRealTalk My favorite of all time is Balcones Texas Pot Still Bourbon. My next favorite is also from Balcones - Lineage Texas Single Malt. Their Baby Blue corn whisky is also fine stuff. I also like Knob Creek 9, Elijah Craig, Woodford Reserve Double Oaked, Four Roses Small Batch... I think that might be all that I'd consider a favorite. I'm sure y'all have covered at least some of 'em. Probably the Balcones offerings are the least likely to have appeared on the show so far. :)
Birthday Bourbon is my shiner gold unicorn… Doubt ill ever see it or even taste it, but man, your list is spot on with my golden dream list too! Cheers!
Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts! Have you tried any other bourbons that come close to the Birthday Bourbon in terms of taste and quality?
Great video! I don't chase after too many highly allocated bourbons, I think there are too many great bourbons out there that everone can get that is on the shelf in most places. That not to say I don't have some allocated bourbons. Wild Turkey Masters Keep 17 yaer BIB, Some Wellers and Colonel Taylors. If I can get an allocated bourbon for cost or a fair price I will buy it.
Thank you for watching and sharing your thoughts! It's great that you have a balanced approach to bourbon and appreciate the variety of great bourbons that are more readily available. And it's always a good idea to try and get allocated bourbons for a fair price rather than overpaying. Have you tried any new bourbons lately that you would recommend?
I saw your video on the Belfour spirits, I bought the one bourbon finished in Texas pecan wood,,, I would say it might be on par with some of the allocated bourbons! It was great!
Let me clarify I do have a bottle of EH Taylor barrel proof and I don’t think it is better than that one lol that bottle is the gem in my collection. I was fortunate as hell to get that one at retail price in North Dakota.
Thanks for watching our video on Belfour Spirits and for trying out their bourbon finished in Texas pecan wood. We're glad to hear that you enjoyed it and found it to be comparable to some of the allocated bourbons. Have you tried any other unique bourbon finishes that you would recommend?
@@BourbonRealTalk I really had to think about that question because I normally don’t really like bourbons that are finished, but I think the Bowman Brothers small batch finished in port wine casks was very good,,, but I am normally a fan of your bold flavored bourbons like wt101/rarebreed and ogd114. Since I enjoyed the Belfour Pecan wood finished bourbon,, I am going to buy the belfour single barrel bourbon tomorrow
@@rossmckelvey3032 I have liked the ones I have tried.
Love you guys. One of the best channels out there. Great videos and great information.
Thank you so much for the kind words! We really appreciate your support. Is there anything specific you would like to see from us in future videos?
@@BourbonRealTalkThanks for asking. You know, I am curious about store picks and barrel picks. Are they better than the regular bottles? How does it actually work? I assumed someone from the store goes to the distillery and spends a lot of time trying different barrels before they make their decision on what they truly feel is a better barrel compared to what’s used for the regular bottles. I had a store owner tell me every time I came in to be ready for their store pick of New Riff single barrel. I got super excited, but when it finally arrived at the store I asked the owner if he had fun doing the whole experience and he said he never visits distilleries, they just send him samples of three different barrels and he tells them which one he wants for the store. It’s still kinda cool I guess, but I felt like he ruined it for me. Where’s the effort, where was your excitement and heart in this process? why should I as the customer appreciate this pick? I didn’t say this to him, but I was thinking that it seemed like a gimmick to try and sell more bottles. I mean you tried three samples that were mailed to you so this whole process took less than 5 minutes. Am I wrong for thinking this way? Did I miss something? Is this store owner doing what everyone else does or am I right and he just went about this in the laziest way possible? If he’s not passionate about his store pick, than why should I buy it over the regular bottle that’s a few bucks cheaper? I still shop at his store and talk to him and I’m super polite and cordial, I just don’t buy any of his store picks. What do you think? Am I being too harsh?
@@joewinckowski A little information will likely change your perspective. First of all, we have already recorded the episode you suggested where we blind SiB against their small batch counterparts and it will be out soon.
Regarding the single barrels just being a gimmick, they are not. There are tasting teams for every distillery that taste barrels to decide when they are ready for market, which brand line they are right for (most distilleries make more than one whiskey from the same mashbill), and whether they are marked to go into a batch or go into the single barrel program. When I pick barrels for the single barrel program for The Prideful Goat, we do not earmark any barrels for the program that are not exceptional for one reason or another. Either they are plussed up versions of the average barrel from that lot, or they have a flavor component that is not present in the average barrel. I have don't over 100 single barrel selections. Some at the distillery and some off of samples that were sent to me. When you travel to the distillery to pick a single barrel they do not let you loose in the barrel warehouse to tray whatever you want until you find the one you like. They bring out 3-6 barrels (some are more than 6 but that is rare) and you pick one of those. The experienced tasting panel has already determined that these barrels are exceptional in some way, and that is why they are in the barrel program. In this way, it doesn't matter if you pick at the distillery or off of mailed samples, in either case you are not going to be able to pick a barrel that isn't exceptional. So don't be too upset at how he picks. If you went fishing in a pond that only contained monster fish, it doesn't matter which one you catch, it is going to be a keeper.
@@BourbonRealTalk Randy, thank you so much for taking the time to explain everything. I absolutely love your fishing analogy, it makes perfect sense. I didn’t realize the distillery already did the hard work of separating the best options for single barrel and store picks from the rest of the juice. That’s actually pretty cool to know that a professional is basically presenting you with what they already feel are delicious options and you just have to pick what you like the most out of their picks. Thank you so much for shedding light on what I was missing. I’m loving the process of diving deeper into the bourbon world or should I say going down the bourbon rabbit hole….and I appreciate you for spending the time to talk and help me out.
I’m in Downers Grove, IL which is about 30 miles west of Chicago. I went on the prideful goat website and looks like your bourbon isn’t anywhere near me. I think the closest it gets is Indianapolis which is about 3-4 hours from me. I’ll see if one of those websites you mention has availability for the 6 year bourbon or rye. It sounds so delicious. Have a wonderful rest of your weekend, cheers brotha!
@@joewinckowski So glad this was helpful. Along those lines, I noticed something else enthusiasts should be aware of. Often when you do a barrel pick with distillery staff present, the pick coordinator is part of the barrel selection team. For instance, the barrel proof barrel pick coordinator for Jack Daniel's is the assistant head distiller Lexie. She helps select all the barrels for the program, so to her, they are all special. I was at a barrel pick when someone noticed the condition of one of the bung plugs indicated that the barrel had been part of another barrel pick and was passed over. The person who noticed started calling it the reject barrel. I had the thought that to Lexie, there are no "reject" barrels in her barrel program. So understanding how barrels make it into the barrel program can help inform pickers how to act so they don't end up putting their foot in their mouth.
You can order both the bourbon and rye of The Prideful Goat on Seelbach's and have it shipped to your door. It is a little cheaper online to help offset the cost of shipping, and when you add a second bottle the cost of shipping per bottle drops the overall cost to about retail price.
love that christmas gift surprise. So good. I do enjo Still Austin need to try that cask str. keep hearing great things. This is an amazing list. All so hard to get, but I agree worth the hunt. thanks for sharing. cheers.
Thanks for the comment! I'm glad you enjoyed the video and the list of hard-to-find whiskeys. Have you tried any of the ones on the list? If so, which one was your favorite?
just picked up a bottle of still Austin cask strength and a prideful goat rye bottle.
I thank you so much for the support!
Love hearing about bottles I have not had . Still learning my different tastes. Cheers! 🥃
Very important to know what you like. Cheers
Glad to hear that you enjoyed the video and that it helped you learn more about different bottles and tastes. What have been some of your favorite whiskey discoveries so far?
@@BourbonRealTalk I have recently tried the Old Forester 1920 and that is some amazing stuff! I just got the 1910 but have not cracked it open yet. Curious to try Maker's Cask Strength, the Austin Cask Strength and other on the shelf bottles that I have overlooked before. I might be missing out on some good stuff.
@@lisaburket6423 Try to find a local bottle share. You can try a tiny amount of a lot of things.
Great video… completely agree
Thank you for watching the video and for your feedback! Do you have any tips or experiences to share about sharing whiskey with friends?
Cool video. Would not even know how to begin hunting for any BTAC's but would love to find! Heck even something simple like EHT small batch is rarely in Pittsburgh or like 6 bottles might show up at a liquor store once in 6 mos and if u happened to be there in that 2 mins u might get lucky
Thanks for watching the video! Hunting for BTAC can definitely be challenging, but keep checking your local stores and building relationships with the employees. And don't forget to ask for store picks or other quality bourbons that are more readily available. Have you found any other great bottles in your area?
@@BourbonRealTalk Blanton's hits once a month and if u are committed u can post up and get one . Usually 12-24 bottles hit a given store and goes immediately . They occasionally may get some eagle rare simultaneously.. still trying to determine the process for other stuff.. store picks, barrel strength stuff etc
. Getting there!
@@1125mikem Keep working it and you will figure it out.
I was a rep for over 14 years so I may look at this a little differently. These “rare” bourbons don’t really make a store any money. Not only is it hit and miss for most stores but Sazarac takes a dim view of a Pappy 10 in a lockbox with a $1000 price card in front of it. Throw in the buzzards waiting outside for the delivery trucks and the constant inquiries about these bourbons and they are usually not worth the headache. The customers who go from store to store hoping to come across a rare find are, for the most part, wasting their time. Stores exist to make money and their regular customers are who keeps the doors open and the lights on. So if you pick a store and become a regular customer the chances are that eventually the store will reward your loyalty by offering you an allocated bottle from time to time. And if you actually drink those bourbons your chances usually go up. An owner/manager would rather sell a Stagg to someone who will drink it than to a speculator who turns it into $1000. There’s no perfect formula for finding these bottles, you just come up with a plan and stick to it. One more thing, the speculators set the tone for the rare bourbons because of the money involved. As long as the secondary market is strong, and right now it is, it will be hard to come across any of the brands that bring stupid money on the secondary market. Over the years I have seen far more loyal Beam drinkers walk out of a store with a BTAC bottle than the guys pulling up in the Escalades who have never bought even one bottle out of the store they’re in. In my opinion if you want to end up with some of these “Unicorns” plan long term. No need to be in a hurrry, you can drink until you die. Good luck out there.
Thank you for sharing your perspective on the allocation process. It's interesting to hear about it from a rep's point of view. It definitely seems like building a relationship with a store and being a loyal customer is the best approach for finding allocated bottles. Do you have any advice on how to build those relationships and become a valued customer at a store?
@@BourbonRealTalk
I have been fortunate enough to have developed an awesome relationship with an owner who has two stores. I have 6 of the 10 bottles you mentioned in video. I have been serious for 2 years and have 85 bottles. You need to shop and be friendly. I buy a lot of beer and that helps. FYI I also pay higher than MSRP but nothing like crazy secondary prices. To me it is worth it to get these allocated bottles. I do shop other places and also ask them to keep me in mind. I also do buy things from them. Beer etc. Some of the stores get squeezed by distributor, as you know, and need to commit to so much other product to get the in-demand bottles. One of the reasons I don't mind paying more because owner takes a risk with their commitment to buy additional and unwanted product ie. Fireball!. I also don't flip my bottles. Shop, introduce yourself to the staff and owner. Buy something and be friendly. Let them know you love bourbon and compliment them on their beer selection, in my case, or wine selection. Then say hi whenever you're there to shop. They also like when you buy their barrel picks. Works good for me. It's gotten me Blantons Gold Edition, Rip 10, Lot B, Pappy 15, Fitzy 17 year, EH Barrel Proof x2 and many others. Happy Bourbon hunting and drinking!
@@YankeeBobCat You just summarized a video I recorded on Monday that isn't out yet 😂
@@BourbonRealTalk Sweet!! Love you channel!!
Awesome stuff fellas! I always enjoy your videos! 🍻
Thanks so much for the support! Is there a particular whiskey you'd like to see us feature in a future video?
@@BourbonRealTalk You bet I would! Colorado has some very good whiskeys and bourbons….291, Breckinridge, Mythology, Old Elk, Stranahan’s. Any chance y’all could review some? Maybe even blind flight some? Thanks!
@@ryanf7729 I have always wanted to try a Stranahan's snowflake. I might be able to work some Colorado whiskey in.
@@BourbonRealTalk I’ve never had; would love to try though. I absolutely love their Blue Peak. Solid pour. Thanks!
I recently did the same thing with my eh Taylor .. got a little carried away and drank a little over half the bottle in a sitting 😅 great video! It’s hard too find anything allocated in my area for msrp so this is very helpful since I have too be picky with what I pick up
Thanks for sharing your experience! It's important to savor the whiskey and enjoy it responsibly. I'm glad you found the video helpful. Do you have any favorite allocated bottles that you've been lucky enough to try?
@@BourbonRealTalk I’ve liked all of my allocated bottles I’ve been able to get. I have yet too open my old fitz 19 and my Sam Houston 15 I’m looking forward too those! And yes responsibly and moderation is key 😊
@@dustintyson354 I loved the Old Fitz 19, which surprised me because I thought it would be too oaky for me. The Sam Houston 15 was good too. I tried that at Wes's house.
What are you thought on the Parker’s Heritage?
I think Parker's Heritage is an excellent bourbon with a unique flavor profile. It's definitely one to try if you have the chance. Have you tried it before?
I found a birthday for $1500. In DC still.
That is crazy! I hope it sits on that shelf forever!
How much would a Penelope light whiskey go for?
I think I paid $80 for mine.
yes they are
So glad you agree. Look out for this week's episode the 11 allocated whiskey's not worth the hype.
LOVED this video !!!!
Thank you for watching and enjoying the video! Do you have any favorite bourbons or whiskies you'd like to recommend?
@@BourbonRealTalk Traverse City Whiskey Barrel Proof Rye and Wheat
@@AVERAGEWHISKEYDRINKER I have tried a few of their products. I remember liking them.
@@BourbonRealTalk Have you tried the ASW Fiddler Georgia Hardwood yet? Divine goodness
@@AVERAGEWHISKEYDRINKER My whiskey club Someone Say Whiskey did a single barrel. I have a couple of bottles left. It was really popular!
Too bad these aren't available at retail anymore. Those were the days. Good thing now though is more people are into whiskey and thus willing to share with friends.
Thanks for your comment! It's true that some of these bourbons are now difficult to find at retail, but sharing with friends is always a great way to enjoy whiskey together. Have you ever had a rare bourbon and shared it with your friends?
@@BourbonRealTalk Rarest I have is JD Rye SiB Special Release. I love to share it with all my buddies! 👍
Ok so not worth the secondary pricing? WLW or GTS is min $900 in my area.
It's ultimately up to the individual to decide whether they're willing to pay secondary prices for WLW or GTS. However, in my opinion, I don't believe any whiskey is worth paying such exorbitant prices. Have you had any luck finding other, more reasonably priced options that you enjoy?
@@BourbonRealTalk Actually I did have some good luck and it was on 1 of your recommendations from a vid years ago. Y'all suggested as an alternative to the Pappy 15 we should try the IW Harper 15 year. I lucked out and got one at retail. It's a little on the lighter side but good tasting. I've never had a Pappy 15 year but the IW Harper 15 was good. Now I went to another store to find a back up and I think the owner must've seen your alternatives video as he marked up the IW Harper 15 year to double retail. One of these days I'll get a back up.
Interesting but all of these are definitely unavailable in my area. These whiskeys range from $1K to $5K+ on the secondary market. Apparently your status allows you to play by a somewhat different set of rules (god bless you) but if you were like the rest of us, I’d be interested in knowing how much you would actually pay to get each of these on the secondary market. Thanks.
Im a little curious what you mean by status
@@LeatherDaddy97 Assuming WD is talking about being a RUclips content creator.
@@Reamer idk i dont usually see that make much of a difference. Building relationships is still the best way in my experience
@@LeatherDaddy97 With the right stores, 100% agree with you. That said, I'm not a RUclipsr myself, but people like folks from It's bourbon night get samples from HH etc. which they seem to show how thankful they are, which makes me think that sphere of influence exists.
Edit/add-on: @WD C, drop some 5-10k+/yr in your store; maybe then they'll get you some. Cynically speaking, "relationship" that Bourbon Real Talk and others mention at the core can be said to be consistent cash flow ("keep their lights on", "pay their rents", etc) after all. While money doesn't mean everything, we're human. Be valuable to them. My store gets so many catering type of people that you can't compete unless you spend 10k+/yr to make it to their end of year wish list (that they try to fulfill).
@@lpagliacco some also really appreciate samples of rare bottles. It helps show that you are there to enjoy the whiskey, not resell.
MSRP is mostly reasonable for these bourbons. It's a shame that they generally can't be found unless they are marked up to an absurd level. I have no inclination to participate in the hunt, as there are numerous other great whiskies that aren't expensive and hard to find. If I happen to stumble across one of these, and the price is close to MSRP, I'm not one to argue with good fortune, so I'll grab it. I'll drink it too, and I'll share it with friends. I have never re-sold a bottle of booze, and I doubt I ever will.
Thanks for your comment! I completely agree with you that MSRP is reasonable for these bourbons, but it's unfortunate that they can be hard to find at that price. And you're right, there are plenty of other great whiskies out there that are more accessible. It's always nice to stumble upon a rare bottle at MSRP and share it with friends. Have you had any luck finding any of these bourbons at MSRP?
@@BourbonRealTalk I haven't run into any of the extremely popular semi-rare or rare ones at retail for a reasonable price in recent years. (I did find a bottle of Jack Daniel's Sinatra Select recently at below MSRP, but it is merely scarce and isn't usually heavily marked up.) Many years ago, it wasn't so difficult, as some of today's allocated unicorns used to be common. When I bought a bottle of Blanton's years ago, it was just another bourbon that was common on the shelves, and I bought that bottle simply because I had tried it at a bar and liked it. If someone had told me back then that people would go completely nuts over Blanton's one day, I wouldn't have believed it. Bourbon isn't the only whisky that is afflicted by this problem. Yamazaki 18-year single malt used to be an incredible value, selling for around US$60. Nowadays, if a bottle can even be found, it is over $1000. I'm glad I bought a bottle for $60 and got to enjoy it before the price got jacked up. Had I known what was coming, I would have bought a case.
Local bars have many of the semi-rare ones at good prices (and also many of the rare ones at high prices), so I have tried a few of them. I'm not actively searching for them, so if I find any, it will be because I had the good fortune to be in the right place at the right time, and where I live, it isn't likely to happen. The small stores always mark them way up, and I've never seen them in the big chain stores (i.e. BevMo and Total Wine). I'm sure those stores get their share of the rare ones, but I've never tried to figure out how they handle them.
@@heatherharrison264 I got started when Blanton's, Weller, EH Taylor, and a lot of other things were still on the shelf. If only I had a time machine😂
loved it thanks gentlemen !
Our pleasure!
@Bourbon Real Talk I just heard that I have a coin coming in! Thank you 1000000% times I cannot wait to see it and continue growing in this community! If yall are on this RUclips and aren't on Facebook group what are you even doing! Go join it's the best group on Facebook!
@@blakep8914 For anyone who is confused:
www.bourbonrealtalk.com/pages/brtc-challenge-coins
I appreciate these videos it gives an honest opinion on allocated stuff from someone who has had way more experience with bourbon.
Thank you for your kind words! Is there a particular bourbon you'd like to see us cover in a future video?
In Germany I can order a Buffalo Trace for around 20 and have it the next day.
Thank you for your comment. It's interesting to hear about the availability and price of Buffalo Trace in Germany. Have you tried any other bourbons that are popular in the US? If so, which ones are your favorites?
The birth day 2022 is good
Top hunt bottle for me is WLW. It still eludes me.
I hope you can find a bottle of WLW soon. What's your backup hunt bottle if you can't get it?
@@BourbonRealTalk Great question. I am fortunate to already have a RVW10 and a GTS,, both of which that I obtained through trades, so I think OFBB would be the next choice.
@@markrutherford6139 I have been lucky to have a few years of OFBB.
Next you should do allocated bottles that you regretted buying
It is next week
@@BourbonRealTalk My most regrettable (for the money) was Woodford Reserve 5 Malt Stouted Mash>. I paid $139 at the distillery and it just wasn't my thing.
@@markrutherford6139 You should rehome that bottle. There is someone who loves that whiskey.
I think with things like btacs people get really caught up in what they are drinking and suddenly think "oh this is the best thing ive ever had". I had a sample of 2022 gts recently and while it was good, i found it disappointing, it lacked balance and drank overly hot and simple. thats been the consensus among people ive sampled it to as well. I say that on youtube and people think im insane. Knowing what you like is more important than whether its rare to me.
I completely agree with you. It's important to know your own palate and what you enjoy, regardless of the hype surrounding certain bottles. It's also important to not get caught up in the hype and remember that just because a bottle is rare or expensive doesn't necessarily mean it's the best. Cheers! Do you have a favorite whiskey that may not be considered rare or hyped up?
@@BourbonRealTalk its rare to some people but for my money and palate ecbp smokes most things i blind it with, almost regardless of batch. Past that its rare breed or 101. Painted stave rye is also a personal favorite. Lee w sinclair too
Checked all my shoeboxes...No WLW found. 😕
Sorry to hear that you didn't find any WLW in your shoeboxes. Keep looking, you never know where you might find it! Have you had any luck finding other rare bottles recently?
@Bourbon Real Talk @Bourbon Real Talk I'm always hunting and pick up gems when I see them. Not much difference noticed in hard to find bottles though obviously prices are much higher than before with limited bottles skyrocketing in months...i.e. HH 17, GTS...JD special releases.
Great line up, I got carried away with my Taylor that was gifted sharing with friends. I have a little left so I have been holding on to it.
Thanks for watching and sharing your experience with us! Have you tried any other Taylor expressions that you'd recommend?
@@BourbonRealTalk I haven’t been fortunate to find any. I was gifted the only bottle I have ever tried.
Great video.
Wes, totally agree. What a butthole.
Love the EH Taylor line.
Thanks for watching! Glad you enjoyed the video and the EH Taylor line. Let us know if you have any other favorite bourbons.
No willett
No more dancing!
We get silly sometimes.
I am just wondering if you are sponsored by BT. Besides George T Stagg the rest don’t compare to others. Yet you spend so much time talking about BT
I disclose all my sponsorships. I have never received anything from BT. People get the wrong impression because if you make videos about allocated whiskey, you are going to be talking about BT a lot. That said, I talk shit about them when it is appropriate, which I would not be allowed to do if they were a sponsor. Case in point:
ruclips.net/video/P2ZK0YdUkpU/видео.html
Too many stories from the guy on the left. Makes it difficult to watch.
Thanks for stopping by and giving feedback!
Treat the people in the store well..buy lots of different products…be patient grasshopper and they will reward you. Or you can just get darn lucky hunting…maybe. Great lineup guys!
Thanks for the comment and glad you enjoyed the video! Do you have any tips or strategies for building a good relationship with your local store and getting access to allocated bottles?
@@BourbonRealTalk i guess I am old fashioned but just doing what you should for anyone.. open doors,say please, buy stuff, and know their name! I make a point to banter with all of em and the store manager will notice, I guess you know this already so sorry of it sounds preachy.
Over the last four years since we moved to Granbury I know the managers at two Fort Worth locations and of course here in Granbury. They do not call me per policy but you can pick up when special delivery’s are coming or at least the truck. Also helps to check in with corporate people to make sure your name is on the allocation list. Since they send so little to small stores you may get your wish list through another
Location not near your home. Love your channel! What ever happened to the Boubonheads thing? Take care!
53👍
Cheers!
Great content. Been too long since the last video… quit your jobs or some shit and post at least every other day, please.
Thanks for the feedback and support! We'll try to keep up with regular content as much as possible. In the meantime, what other topics or whiskies would you like to see us cover in future videos?
The new George T Stagg is available a few minute walk away from me. Unfortunately it's priced at 1699.00 There are 2 bottles of Old Fitz near me at 799 and 1000. Blah.. lol
Thanks for sharing your thoughts! It's always interesting to hear about different experiences and availability of rare bottles. Have you ever considered doing a video on the secondary market for bourbon or exploring the reasons why some bottles command such high prices?
@@BourbonRealTalk Have thought about doing whiskey videos, but there are so many whiskey channels already. After I criticized one of my local liquor stores for their secondary prices, they informed me that the distributer would make them pay secondary prices for some rare bottles in order to purchase other items at regular prices. Thus the recent distributer shake up that's affected some states, like Arizona. They said those types of bottles should be available more reasonably in the future with the new distributer. And here I was thinking they were just being greedy. lol I've always known the liquor laws in the US were screwed up with the mandatory thirdman/distributor laws, but I didn't know how bad shops were being treated by some distributors.
@@AnAbortiveRomance Unfortunately your shop lied to you. I would not shop there anymore. RNDC was not charging additional for allocated items. That is a bold faced lie. What they were doing was possibly worse. They were pressuring the store to buy other items that there is not demand for before they would sell the allocated items. A lot of these stores have taken to lying rather than telling the truth, which surprises to me since the truth is pretty compelling for their case too. If you confront them and they protest I would be happy to talk with them. They are lying.
@@BourbonRealTalk I appreciate your first hand experience and knowledge, being directly in the business yourself as a distillery. A store near me came through for me a few years ago on a bottle of Weller Special Reserve green label, but last year they called me and wanted secondary prices for a bottle of Blanton's to celebrate my 50th. The owner flat out told me that people are happily paying $150 for these bottles online, so he would sell it to me for that same $150, take it or leave it. He said no worries if I declined, as he had a whole list of people he could call next who would jump at it. He didn't know that by the time he called me, I had already sourced a bottle for MSRP through a friend of mine, so I politely declined his ridiculous offer. Still, it's frustrating that small stores are doing this to people who don't know any better. Now I won't go into his store again even if I'm in a pinch and I need something last minute for entertaining.
@@chriskvikstad4980 For me that is the appropriate reaction to price gouge stores. If you price gouge you might get someone for a few extra dollars, but you won't get any more of my money.