10 Whiskeys You Should Never Buy-Bourbon Real Talk Episode 115
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 มิ.ย. 2024
- There can be a lot of trickery with regard to whiskey and its value. The tips in this video should help you avoid regret!
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Motion graphics intro by robsusman.com
0:00 Intro
0:50 1st NDPs
5:19 2nd Price Gouging Retailers
7:07 3rd Missing State of Distillation
9:15 Shameless Merch Plug
10:50 4th Out of Your Budget
11:58 5th Expensive high age statement
14:44 6th Overpriced Finishes (Said 7th in video...sorry)
16:29 7th Overpriced Cask Strengths
17:59 8th Tater Traps
23:04 9th Unmonitored Secondary
25:43 10th Any Secondary You Have Not Tasted
27:12 Show Philosophy/Sign-off
29:30 Outtakes - บันเทิง
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Great information! I’ve become a bourbon drinker and my single malt has taken a back seat, your videos have helped me to decide what I want to try and how much to spend. Now I can venture out with a very basic knowledge of bourbon and be comfortable with my purchases. Again thanks!
Great to hear! Cheers!
Great tips here! Agree about avoiding to pay secondary on bottles you’ve never tasted. I will admit that I experienced FOMO and purchased some expensive bottles without sampling… my biggest regret there wasn’t that I didn’t enjoy it, but that it wasn’t NEARLY worth the price I paid. Almost all bottles on secondary aren’t worth the price tag, especially with expensive bottles mostly coming from Buffalo Trace.
I agree it’s all about community, and I love sharing samples with local enthusiasts. I’ve been able to try some samples and decide whether or not I want to purchase them, and I’ve also been introduced to some whiskey I’ve never heard of and completely fell in love.
Hopefully things level out and everyone gets to enjoy all the great whiskey, at more reasonable costs. Thanks for the great video! Cheers
It will happen eventually! In the mean time the community will provide opportunities for everyone to try something interesting that the taster could not find on their own.
It took me about 2 years to finally get my first bottle of Blanton’s because I refused to buy it from the store where it was $129. In those 2 years I drank a lot of really good stuff because I talked to the staff at the stores when I was stopping in. They had a lot of great people with a lot of really good recommendations. I love the whiskey community.
That is what I am talking about!
My local store (Virginia ABC. In Virginia every liquor store owned by state) have relatively dumb people who have no idea what they are selling. No matter how many times I asked questions they couldn’t give any reasonable information and their advice was always awful
I think my wife and I got lucky and stumbled upon Buffalo trace while on a nursing assignment in Lexington and our 2nd bourbon purchased was actually blantons and we were bummed that day it wasn’t Eagle rare. Got it for around $60 a bottle.
Love the list videos. I have been building a whiskey collection for about five years but I still learn something new from many of your videos.
My state is a control state with ABC stores so most of what I see is MSRP. My general rule of thumb outside of that is I’m normally willing to go about 10% above MSRP and I’d go another 10% if it’s a barrel pick to support the store (or whoever picked the barrel). There are exceptions to every rule (if I saw a GTS for $150 I would NOT turn it down) but that’s typically what I expect to pay when I walk in a store and walk out with nothing when I see gouging.
I definitely have tater impulses tho. Put a good sticker on the back and I’ll make poor decisions 9 times out of 10 😂
Sounds like a good strategy. SSW does a lot of single barrels, and most of them have a sticker. I guess because I have no eye for design I have never felt the urge to buy a bottle because of a sticker. Thanks for supporting the channel.
As a relatively new person in the serious Bourbon world, I appreciate this. By serious I mean looking into different distilleries, learning about the notes and more.
Glad I could be of service!
I appreciate your honest response to bourbons and whiskey’s. I’ve learned so much from channels like yours including mash and drum and SLB. Also thank for your openness about your brother. Very sorry for your loss. I lost my sister last year to Covid so I can empathize with your loss. Thanks again for great information and transparency
Thank you for supporting the channel and I am sorry for your loss.
I needed this 2 years ago, great information. Each palate and wallet is different but this will help me with my due diligence in the future. Excellent episode.
Glad it was helpful! Cheers!
Thanks for sharing the story of your brother. Real talk indeed. Your a good person Randy...We need more of you in this world. Cheers to you and your family and wish you continued wisdom and gratitude.
I appreciate that! If we all shift our focus to love instead of division the world will be a better place. Cheers!
Thank you sincerely for your thoughts and expertise. A real Bourbon rookie here but enjoying the journey so far! Thanks for the Love!
Glad you enjoyed it! If you have not done so already, I recommend you join facebook.com/groups/bourbonrealtalkcommunity.
Just found your channel for the first time. I thought your video was reasonably informative and entertaining. However, I really appreciate your signoff and I wish more people out there took this approach to others' feelings. Well done.
Awesome, thank you!
Great point on #9!!! I got burned bad on Instagram regarding this unregulated secondary market. Learned a hard lesson. basically, if it's not on a shelf of a retailer, not every buying it...period! Good Stuff Randy!
Glad you agree! Thank you for watching!
This is good stuff. I am a stickler. I don’t buy bourbons just “to try it out”. I do lots of research, and if I am not simply buying an existing personal favorite, I am looking for new favorites, so I read lots of tasting notes and lots of reviews, and buy fairly carefully. High priced 2 year bourbons, port finished whiskies, tater traps and super expensive blended bourbons I generally stay away from out of principle. I want pure crafted stuff. I end up having a lot less to choose from as a result, but that’s okay. I still have a list of about 40 bottles that are on my radar to eventually pick up over time.
Sounds like you are doing it right my friend. Cheers!
Awesome talk Randy. Couldn’t agree more with all of the reasons. Cheers!
Thanks!
Brother, thank you so very much for this video. This is information that you can’t put a price on. I’ve been into whiskey just shy of 18 months. Thankfully, I’ve not yet made any of the mistakes you address, which makes this the perfect compass to navigate through this great big whiskey world. Cheers!!!!
Thank you! Cheers!
Thanks so much for the information. I was starting to get frustrated with my new bourbon hobby. Often people talk up a great bottle, but they are too difficult to find. So, I'm enjoying your talks.
Glad I could help! Join a free club and get involved. It will help you avoid the frustration. Cheers!
I'm too broke to buy those anyway but I've found a ton of stuff to enjoy. Don't worry!
I have always enjoyed bourbon/whiskey but this year has really begun my true bourbon journey and collection building. This video was very informative and helpful. I have really enjoyed your videos in general. Thanks for the great content
Glad you enjoy it! Cheers!
It legitimizes alcoholism. I love it.
Great info. Love your new "production set" and have been enjoying my tiny glencairn! Be well!
Glad you enjoy it! Cheers!
I feel ya! However; when I get allocated bourbons for the liquor store I’m told there isn’t enough to send everyone a case, so we get two bottles. Well, the single bottle price is higher than the case cost- plus there is a bottle charge! We pay pay almost retail for them to begin with. Our Blantons run 79.99… and we are not gouging, but it is over MSRP.
Please join the BRT community and say that in a post. People need to hear about this.
facebook.com/groups/bourbonrealtalkcommunity
Exactly, even non allocated stuff is going to cost a little more in my store than it does in a wal mart or total wine because of how much they buy! We price stuff at a fair markup that allows us to stay in business. The narrative here makes it seem like we have total control and are raising prices out of greed. I will listen to the podcast though to see what else is talked about. Big fan of the channel and your content though!
@@peterstull1013 And as long as you you aren't charging a 50% markup I'm willing to bet your customers are extremely appreciative of it!
Here in NorCal I've never seen a Blantons under $150 or a Stagg Jr under $250
I would happily take JUST a 50% markup on these bottles. It's getting ridiculous out here
I love your channel! It’s very helpful and I too lost my brother in 2017…being kind to your neighbors despite any “political” bs is a great thing! ✌️
Sorry for your loss! Together we change change the tide!
Absolutely loved your closing. It's upbeat and encouraging! Most excellent information.
Thanks so much!
Great info! Thanks for keeping it positive and upbeat!
You are so welcome!
Great info Randy ! I've been getting into Whiskey for a little more than a year now ! Really appreciate the knowledgeable advice! Thanks !
Glad to help!
Great video and mission! Nothing but love for the channel and the FB page!
Thank you for the support!
I just found your channel and truly appreciate your transparency. Thank you and Cheers!
I appreciate that! Thank you for watching!
I refuse to pay over MSRP for any of them. I've been fortunate to find a few allocated things here and there and pay the normal price. Earlier this year I found Weller Special Reserve at BevMo for $26 and was happy with that. I was more excited about finding it than I was the actual taste of it. it was good but I have no idea why someone would pay the secondary price for it. I'm so glad I found your channel as I'm learning a lot.
Congrats on the find. The thrill of the hunt is part of the fun. Just don't let the hype negatively impact the experience. The margin of level of enjoyability between well made bourbons is small, and does not justify the hype differences between brands. I look at hype not as an indicator of enjoyability, but as a tool to increase the quality of the interactions I have with people I am sharing a pour with. If they have wanted it but can't find it, the connection we feel when we drink it together is better. That is why I seek overhyped bottles. Thank you for watching the channel.
Great episode for me to watch. I am just recently getting into the Bourbon world with more passion. This episode gave me some great insights on what to look at before purchasing
Thank you Randy
You are welcome. Go watch how bourbon is made and the history of whiskey. Those are both GREAT pieces for beginners.
Great video! Thankfully since I have gotten more into whiskey I have been able to find hard to find bottles from low to mid MSRP because of videos like this and research. I admit I have been guilty of a couple of these things, thankfully the whiskey was really good. Thanks again for the info!
I am guilty of all these things, I just want people to know what they are getting into so they don't feel taken advantage of. Cheers!
Spot-on advice about NDP’s, but personally, I don’t have patience for them when there are so many more whiskies on the shelf that I like better with tastes and prices I like better.
That is fair.
Great information! Excellent delivery. Thank you.
You're very welcome! Glad you liked it!
Lots of details to give thought to but very informative. Thanks Randy.
Glad it was helpful!
This is one of the best videos on whiskytube, no one else has done anything like this, I wish I had watched this when I first started on whiskey.
Holy crap! That is high praise! Thank you for watching.
Thanks this was a really good insight video. I guess what I dont like about the secondary market is when it comes to select releases. I live in an area where we just don't get a select releases; for instance the newly released Wild Turkey Masters Keep One. Relased about $180, but I won't be able to see it until it hits the secondary market at twice the cost. There are some other really good less expensive whiskey available to me though.
I always find it interesting how rare bottles get distributed in such an uneven manor. Luckily in Dallas we get a little of everything, but there are so many people hunting that I have given up on finding anything great in the wild.
Excellent talk, Randy. I've not seen anyone else provide this whiskey education on bourbon podcasts.
I try, but I can not take too much credit since I learned all this stuff from others who also serve the community. Cheers!
2:23 I knew the slang term "juice" for whiskey *years* before I began drinking whisky. I know some people don't like it, but a lot of those same people say "dram" or "pour" when they mean whisky. As far as I'm concerned it's a matter of personal preference.
5:32 I tried that, and all I got was reviews. Of course some might include the MSRP, but none of the results actually were the MSRP.
It generally works for me, but I do have to click a few links some of the time.
Randy: You Sir, are a good man. Appreciate your sharing your knowledge, passion and closing philosophy. Just getting into whisky's myself (mostly bourbons, but I'm loving a few Canadian whiskies as well). I have viewed, enjoyed and have learned a great deal from you, Matt (ADHD), Jason (Mash and Drum), Chad and Sara (It's Bourbon Night), Rex and Daniel (Whiskey Vault), Whiskey Dictionary, Fred Minnik Show, among others. This is a wonderful community of subject matter experts hellbent on uniting us. How refreshing! As a NOOB I just ordered your American Whiskey Aroma Kit as I'm completely unable to identify anything specific during nosing, tasting etc. Any other advice on developing a more sensitive sensory system would be appreciated. Keep up the good work Randy!
1. Not sure my channel deserves to be mentioned in the same sentence with those titans...truly appreciated your comment. 2. I think people are not very intentional when they eat and drink things. You can concentrate no mater what you are eating and discover nuance that most people just glaze over. Do this with everything you eat until you really feel like you understand the flavor...then plow through how ever you normally experience things, but concentrate FIRST. This is actually a technique Fred's post war PTSD counselor taught him to deal with social anxiety. It truly concentrates your mind on something engaging but not anxiety inducing. The other thing is I taste EVERYTHING. If I am someone and someone says something taste bad...I try it. If I am in a barrel warehouse and there is something leaking out of a barrel...I taste it. I am not afraid of germs, so I put a lot of stuff in my mouth (insert joke here) that I do not intent to eat/drink just to see how it tastes.
Again you’re correct in my need to be more mindful while eating. I really don’t savor flavors as much as texture. The military trained me to eat it now and taste it later. Will start trying to slow down. Thank you. By the way, you’re every bit of a quality content contributor as those I mentioned. Would love to share a pour with you if you’re ever in SW Florida.
@@jeffponkratz8012 I will be traveling more in the future. I am going to start announcing my trips, so maybe we can sink up sometime.
I totally agree with you on all of these but 1 comment, it is hard to avoid stores that charge above retail where I am. They all do it. You will have to buy from grocery stores here to avoid a mark-up but the grocery stores do not get the up level versions nor brands. Great video.
It is OK to pay above MSRP if you are experienced and know the premium you are paying, and also aware of what the secondary shipped to your house price is. I bought a bottle last week from a price gouge retailer at 8X MSRP, but 40% of secondary...so it was a relative deal.
I agree ALL the stores in my area are above MSRP.
Excellent video! Thank you for making this video.
You hit the mark on the Willet potstill. I purchased it exactly for the reason of the bottle being pretty. I actually bought two - one for my collection and one to drink.
I tried to drink that bourbon so hard! I tried and drink neat, I tried drinking on the rocks, I tried it with limestone water, I even tried to drink it with in cocktails - it was not pleasing to my palate in any way shape or form no matter the way I made it. I ended up pouring the remaining down the drain.
I like WPS, but everyone's palate is different. Please never drain pour. One man's trash is another man's treasure. You find that bottle an adoptive home that will give it the love it deserve :-)
I poured half a bottle of Eagle Rare down the drain. Thin, hot, nasty. That's how I like my women, not my whiskey.
@@kirbyculp3449 you need Jesus! 😂🤣😂
Yeah, I like Willet Pot Still too. To each his own though. Cheers.🥃
Great information, thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks for discussion on whiskey! You have a great channel and I appreciate your efforts to educate and inform.
That being said, I didn’t see any videos discussing the qualifications of a bourbon. Being Kentucky Born and Bred, I have strong feelings for anything that is labeled as “Bourbon” but is not distilled and aged in Kentucky. In my opinion, part of what makes Bourbon Bourbon is that the grain is grown in Kentucky and the water comes from Limestone springs.
The Bluegrass region of Kentucky has soil the sits on limestone bedrock where the crops can draw additional calcium into the plant. Secondly, water what is naturally filtered through hundreds (if not thousands) of feet of limestone had a unique chemistry and alkalinity. To produce the water chemically leaves trace elements of the original water that the limestone filters out.
My point is, that whiskeys from places like the Hudson River valley, or the Colorado Rockies may have water from natural springs, and it taste of hard water. Some of these whiskies are damn good whiskeys, but being a good whiskey, regardless of the mash Bill doesn’t make it Bourbon. Even Jack Daniel’s and Belle Meade have resisted calling them selves bourbons for respect for the origin, history, and tradition of bourbon.
In fact, it used to be that Bourbon only came from Bourbon County Kentucky (Back when Kentucky was still part of Virginia and bourbon county covered 25% of the state).
There are a lot of Whiskies that call themselves bourbon that diminish themselves for the sake of riding the “Bourbon” wave. Greed is a dangerous thing, and putting Gucci stripes on a pig doesn’t give you better bacon!
I appreciate your passion, but every statement you have made is factually incorrect. Bourbon is a distinctly American product that can be made in any US state or province, not just KY. KY bourbon is made from commodity grain grown all over the place, not just KY. Most major distilleries no longer use limestone filtered water. They are on municipal water. The marketing around the limestone filtered water is almost all deception either because it is flat out untrue, or because the water is altered so entirely by purification and sanitization processes that it is molecularly identical to the water being used at distilleries all across the country. Keep in mind that limestone filtered water can only come from a well or a spring. If you are pulling out of a river, reservoir, etc, what you are using is not "limestone filtered". You mentioned that Jack Daniel's refuses to call itself bourbon out of respect for KY. Nothing could be further from the truth. Jack Daniel's father was killed in the civil war fighting for the south when he was a small boy, and he had to flee his childhood home because his step mother hated him. KY started the war fighting for the South, but switched sides part of the way through the war. When JD started making whiskey most bourbon was made in KY, and he hated the idea of his whiskey being associated with KY, so he labeled his whiskey as TN Whiskey. The company eventually fought the TTB to keep the word bourbon off their label since it is actually bourbon. The TTB allowed it, but also acknowledges their right to call it bourbon, and Jack Daniels does sometimes label their whiskey as bourbon in foreign markets when it suits their marketing purposes. There was never a law requiring bourbon to come from bourbon county. In fact, there has never been a legal definition of bourbon that required it to come from KY. There has always been bourbon produced outside of KY, albeit small amounts compared to the volume coming from KY.
I do not like to argue online, especially with a viewer, but since you presented yourself as an educational authority and made public statements that my viewers will see I felt it necessary to correct the inaccuracies of your statement. That being said, I totally support your right to only drink KY bourbon, to dismiss "bourbon" from outside of KY as inferior, etc, but I can not have you use the channel to spread marketing propaganda that is inaccurate. There is nothing "greedy" about a distillery following the law and accurately labeling their product as bourbon. I am guessing based on your statements that you do not know this, but if a spirits producer makes a product that follows the standards of identity to be bourbon, and then they try to leave the term off the label, it is illegal. This is why JD got into a legal battle with the TTB, because their label not saying bourbon was illegal, until they secured a exception. So your suggestion that distilleries outside of KY need to show respect and leave bourbon off their label is impossible. They would end up losing their license to produce spirits and be shut down for following your advice.
Great video. 1 thing I would like to mention is the retail stores. If you are lucky enough to live in a state that has liquor control laws the retails can not raise the price. there are many. Ohio is one, I live on the border in Kentucky and the local Party Source jacks the prices up and plays games on when they put certain bottles out (most of their friends get them) sad. I travel around alot for work and have filled my collection at very close to msrp because of these states. 1 recent example is a bottle of George T Stagg for $95 in New Hampshire. I also buy in Maine, I get Buffalo Trace there for $26 and my local Party Source charges $40 and plays a game with it.
This subject comes up frequently. The only downsides are supply and state officials unethically reserving bottles. Oregon and Virginia both have investigations going on right now. It is great to get it at a good price, but if there is nothing you can do to increase your odds and supply is lower than in some other states that can be a downside too.
At $10 a year rule of thumb is spot on. I saw a single barrel in Michigan of Nulu bourbon finished in a honey barrels for $200. It was like five year MGP bourbon.
With inflation I have raised it to 12-13 max, but 5 year MGP should not be 200.
Just found this channel, and lo and behold you're just down 380 from me. I'll have to agree with the "Pretty Bottle" trap. The Abner Doubleday bourbon from Cooperstown distillery that comes in a baseball looking bottle isn't great, but as a baseball fan the bottle drew me to it. Looking forward to watching more of your videos!
If you are not already you should get involved with Someone Say Whiskey on Facebook. There are a lot of great opportunities in their. Hosting a free tasting at my house on Saturday.
@@BourbonRealTalk I wasn’t aware of it, but I have joined now. Thanks for the heads up!
@@dameron75 You should come over Saturday. Check the events tab for details.
@@BourbonRealTalk I appreciate the invite, but unfortunately I’ll be driving back from Midland. Looking forward to the next one though!
I recently found a liquor store that marks up the hard to find bottles, but only about $10-20.
It keeps the selection looking good because people are reluctant to go in there and buy a case at a time, but you can get something you might not be able to find elsewhere without paying anything close to secondary prices.
I'm okay with that.
I am OK with this practice.
Agree.
Great information 👍 thanks 😊
Hi, I'm glad you found the information in the video helpful! Is there anything in particular you would like to see more of on Bourbon Real Talk? Let me know and I'll try my best to cover those topics in future videos.
First time coming across your channel. That sign off of yours, it hits hard. Great content my man
Thank you! I appreciate the support!
Great topics to cover!
Thanks. I hope you like it.
Great info!!
Glad it was helpful!
Great video. I really learned a lot. Thanks.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Also bought the 13 year SAOS without realizing the change as was very disappointed opening it. Glad I got it at MSRP but wish I would have passed
At msrp I would have been happy, but I bought it from a friend at the secondary value if it had been MGP.
Good stuff! One celebrity line I think is actually great would be Heavens Door in collab with Bob Dylan. For about $70, they’ve got some cool releases that taste great
Heaven's Door, Belfour Spirits, and Brother's Bond are all pretty legit.
Great job as always.
I appreciate that! Thank you for the support!
I do share your sentiments on Willet Potstill. I bought it partially based on the appearance of the bottle. I then observed many negative reviews before opening it and expected the worse bourbon experience. To my surprise, I enjoyed it and still enjoy it to this day. So many people are influenced by gossip. I recently saw people referring to Makers 101 as "Drain Pour," in a Facebook post. 😅
I am sorry, but if you think MM101 is a "drain pour" you just don't like bourbon. You don't have to think it is world class, but if when you put it in your mouth you experience is so bad you spit it out and want to waste the rest of the bottle to prevent experiencing that bad flavor again...you just don't like bourbon.
The truth is the people who say that stuff don't believe it. It is usually people (almost always men) who have some self esteem issue that causes them to seek attention. It doesn't mater if the attention is negative or positive. The only requirement is that someone...anyone...pay some attention to them. I initially get irritate with them because they ruin the fun for everyone but themselves, but then I remember it is a mental health issue and begin to feel sorry for them.
@@BourbonRealTalk no sir, you've got me all wrong! Makers 101 is perhaps my favorite everyday bourbon. I just thought it was laughable when I saw a Facebook post with negative remarks about this delicious bottle. Again, I was just echoing your sentiments of how people are influenced by the opinions of other novices. I'm also a novice to the bourbon scene, that's why I rely on your channel, as well as several others to enhance my knowledge. Cheers
@@BourbonRealTalk My apologies Randy, I initially missed your second paragraph. Yeah, I totally agree! When I posted a pic of my Potstill, some of them immediately bashed it as a waste of money and a "drain pour." I thought it was insulting and disrespectful. I'd rather just not say anything at all rather than insult another person's investment. Thanks for the comment, along with the excellent content on your channel. 🥃
@@shawn84567 That is how I took it. I knew you were not saying you thought MM101 was a drain pourer. I was just venting to a fellow whiskey lover about the trolls that say stupid stuff that makes it not fun for the rest of us who are here for the right reasons. It breaks my heart to think you were under the impression I was talking shit to you. Nothing could be further from the truth. I really appreciate your support of the channel! Email me. I want to send you some merch for the confusion. bourbonrealtalk@gmail.com. Cheers!
@@BourbonRealTalk It's all good brother. Actually, I felt like an idiot! 🤣 I told my wife a few days ago that your channel is very informative for noobs like myself. I will undoubtedly have some of your merch on my Christmas list! 👊
A lot of great nuggets here. The gimmick/mimic bottles I definitely stay away from. Point 10 is very true. I know of some guys that got caught up in the hunt and fomo that have bottles they never tasted. They got their prize but it will just sit on the shelf.
A full bottle has no memories in it!
See this is why this is my favor channel. Your pragmatic approach to enjoying bourbon is refreshing. Great job and keep up the great work. Btw. Just saw a bottle of birthday bourbon for 999.99 and stagg too. SMH.
Glad you enjoy it! I hate to see a store charging more than secondary. Someone not in the know is going to get taken advantage of.
Thanks so much, Randy. Been into whiskey for a couple years but still feel like I know so little. This helps a ton and I appreciate it.
Great to hear!
I have seen this today!! I found a bottle of Buffalo trace at $32.98. MRSP, I believe, but online, I saw it going for $50 + . Yes, I bought the bottle, lol it's almost impossible to find where I live.
It is a solid pour, but really hard to find in some areas.
@Bourbon Real Talk yes it's very hard to find here, lol . I only found it because it was in the middle of the day, and I saw the delivery truck pull away as I came down the street! Lol, I didn't even go in to look for it, I went in to see if they had any Knob Creek. They had it behind the counter!
I’ve recently found your channel and truly enjoy watching your videos. I have very many hard to find bottles and like you, I open them all because I just need to know how it tastes. Don’t laugh but my favorite is still Jack Daniel’s no. 7. Last year I visited Cascade Hollow and Big Machine Distillery as I was driving to visit my parents in St. Louis. I have stage IV cancer I got from environmental exposures in Afghanistan and in Jan. 2016 was told I have 6 months to live. I’m still here and still doing IV treatments monthly and there is one bottle I need to find before I die. Jack Daniel’s 10 year. I found one locally here in Port Charlotte and he is gouging and asking $400, which I refuse to pay. I would like to ask you, if I were to hit the road in search of a Jack 10 this year should I go in October or November?
TBH I didn't get one, so I am unsure. The original press release said it would be an annual release, and it came out one year ago in Sept 2021. It stands to reason that it will hit the shelves again soon. Any stores that still have a 2021 bottle likely have not sold it because it is overpriced. I looked online and there are a number of online retailers selling around $250. If you want to find one in the wild for MSRP I would recommend you join facebook.com/groups/bourbonrealtalkcommunity and post in there. Ask the members who got a bottle. When you find them ask how common it was in their market. This will help you figure out which areas got good distribution. Then ask people to let you know when it pops back into their market, and you will know where to hunt. Hope this helps.
@@BourbonRealTalk Thanks for the reply and information. I appreciate it. I’ll try what you suggested. Keep up the great work and I look forward to more amazing videos.
Great video. Keep it up!
Thanks, will do!
Excellent video, I taste many Bourbons and American Whiskey in my youtube channel and considering I am in Europe this info is really really usefull since prices are higher here for US whisky, all the best!
So glad you enjoyed it.
@@BourbonRealTalk Absolutely, I live in Spain and bourbon culture is not very extended, I do my best to try to change that :) I love Bourbon but I am more a Rye lover..
You Rock my friend. I love this channel. Thanks for all you do.
I appreciate that! Thank you for the support!
Hello Randy, I am a store owner in a control state. Here are my facts. We'll take Knob Creek 100 750 ml as an example. Googled msrp and from what i could tell it varied slightly from $21.99 to 28. Funny thing. My cost from the state on this bottle is $29.50. So right away we have problem. I know you'll say it varies from state to state, but the point is I believe you are misrepresenting independent stores and coloring them in a very bad light. You aren't the only one. Most whiskey youtuber's also do this. My question to you is this. What percent mark-up do you think is fair to charge the consumer? Thank you for mostly good information. I do enjoy when you talk about most things outside of the price gouging conversations. And i really want to try some of your Prideful Goat products, I hear they are really tasty.
I like a store to keep their margin around 25%. Anything above 30% I think is too much. When we talk about MSRP I need to be more specific and state MSRP for your state. Different states have different tax structures, which becomes part of the "laid in costs" that affect the final product on the shelf. We have really low excise taxes on liquor in Texas where I live, so we have low MSRP. Washington state has really high taxes, so their MSRP pricing is way above Texas. The point I want to make is that you should not avoid a store for their prices simply because taxes are higher. You should avoid a store that is charging a secondary market price for a product simply because they can.
We talked with Wyoming about bringing in The Prideful Goat, but they only wanted a couple of cases at a time, and it is cost prohibitive for us to try to sustain that. One day we will go after control states.
Nice episode Randy!
Glad you liked it!
I’m cool with stores that sell for a little bit over msrp but now i’m actively avoiding the few places around here that have crazy prices and I generally still get allocated just fine at or near msrp for most bourbons.
I agree. There is a point somewhere between MSRP and Secondary value that I think it crosses over the line of good capitalism and move into the category of greed. I think stores charging over secondary should loose their license.
Great advice thanks. I have no products from buffalo trace because everyone marks them way up. What good is an MSRP if everyone ignores it?
There are still plenty of stores who do not mark up. You just have to do the research to find them, because they don't advertise they have the bottles. They hid them and use them to reward profitable behavior.
@@BourbonRealTalk so far I have not found those stores. My favorite store knows me, and while they mark bourbon up less than others (for example $40 for Buffalo Trace when they have it, whereas other local stores charge $60) they still mark it up. I look forward to finding one of those stores in my area.
Great video!
Thoughts on Sam Houston and Calumet? Both are great daily drinkers in my opinion!
I have enjoyed them. I have not owned one but have had the chance to try them at bottle shares. I think the quality price ratio might be off for me to invest in a bottle, but they are solid pours based on memory.
Thanks for the video! So are you saying to avoid Smoke wagon, or it’s okay because they define Indiana as star of distillery? Thanks for you time!
Never avoid smoke wagon. They disclose! I don't want people to buy whiskey companies who are trying to trick the public into believing they are something they are not.
Good advice brother.
Glad it was helpful!
RE: Willets Pot Still and labeling. I've had it. It's OK. I didn't buy it because of the bottle shape, but I bought it because I love Irish whiskey made in a pot still. It has a richness I enjoy and I enjoy bourbon, so I wondered what this one would taste like. The thing is when I read the label, a few years ago, it never specifically stated the juice in the bottle was distilled in a single pot still. It raves about the virtues of such a whiskey, but it doesn't take the plunge and say "This is whiskey is made in a pot still" or "You will enjoy the rich flavor of this pot still whiskey." Maybe it is, and the problem is that the person writing the information on the label isn't real good at what he or she does. Or maybe that person is a real good writer leading the consumer to draw a false conclusion. It doesn't taste like I had expected. And since it's been years, maybe the label has changed. Label reading is as important as you say it is, but then so is label writing.
It is widely accepted that KBD (maker's of WPS) use pot still distillation to make WPS. I think sometimes marketing people are tasted to write a label, but don't understand the nuance that enthusiasts do. Cheers!
I just bought eh Taylor small batch and paid 100, I knew it was over price but I also drove two miles from home to get it.
I don't know how much those are on secondary, but I do know they are great whiskey. Enjoy!
Great education/real life experiences! 💪🏽
Glad you enjoyed it!
For sure!
thanx for a great podcast i listen whenever i drive.im curious as to your take on all the small batch, very small batch etc. from jeffersons which i believe is an ndp. thanx again!
It it technically contract distilled. They have hired another producer to make their whiskey to their specifications. One step above an NDP. I like it quite a bit. They don't have economies of scale, so if you compare it to major distilleries like HH, MM, BT, JB, WT you will feel like you are paying a premium. This isn't because Jefferson's is raking in the dough, their production costs are literally higher. If you like variety like I do you don't mind the small premium.
Have you joined our member community? facebook.com/groups/bourbonrealtalkcommunity/
@@BourbonRealTalk i really want to. but long story short it wouldnt be smart for me to have facebook. ill explain if we ever meet which would an honor
@@boruchfalk1242 Create a burner account. I have LEOs, Judges, a world renowned heart surgeon, people with crazy exes that just make up a name, create an account, and only use it for groups. No personal posts or photos. Just groups. Just an idea. If you decide to do that I will approve your account.
Great way to look at it
Glad you liked it!
love "i'm a TATER, and buy TATERific bottles." Thanks for the info, always good stuff!
It is good to be self aware!
A couple of FB groups used to be an amazing and safe way to get some good stuff.
I miss those days.
This dude is thinker than he drunks he is. Been there!
We film 4-6 episodes per filming session. If it is a later one, and all the ones before included drinking, it can pile up on you.
@@BourbonRealTalk
Wish I was there to share with you. Love the content. Love my aroma kit too. Keep on keepin’ on, brother.
If you’re new, never pay more than $40-$60 + tax for a bottle. Learn which distilleries make products and go one at a time through each distillery. If you like a distillery’s flavor profile, try a more expensive product from them. If not, save your money. NDPs can be good but first know who produced it before you buy it.
Awesome advice. I have a beginners guide video coming out in two weeks that covers a lot of what you said!
A great ethically thought out video 😊
Thanks! 😊
Thank you
Our pleasure!
21:38 I’ve seen Willet go from anywhere between $44 and $76. Gotta be very careful where you buy it but definitely a favorite of mine.
As long as you are aware of what you are buying and it is worth it to you/you can afford it, I say do it. I just don'w want people taken advantage over.
I've noticed the price of Willett PS went down by about $5 ($45) this year, but the last batch I got (21C10) was absolutely horrible, and I normally love that stuff.
Have you tried Rowan's Creek and Noah's Mill? I tried those last year when I couldn't find any Willett PS and actually prefer them now.
@@StillLivinginthewoods haven’t tried either of those yet but I’ve seen them on the shelf and I’ve wanted to see what they’re all about. right now I’m all about Willet Rye 4 year and it’s fantastic!!! Highly recommend picking it up if you get the chance
@@Reesezhatena Sounds like you and I have similar taste, Willett 4 year rye is one of my absolute favorites.
The latest batch I picked up (110.0 proof) was certainly not the best to my taste, and it is still great.
Rowan's Creek and Noah's Mill both have that signature Willett spice, but they are easier to find and cheaper than the Pot Still Reserve.
The 4 Year Rye stands head and shoulders above all three of them though.
All of this is only my opinion, of course, and I am always reluctant to make recommendations, but it seems like you and I like the same stuff, so I will recommend those other two Willett products if you get the chance to pick them up
@@StillLivinginthewoods I think Noah's Mill and Rowan's Creek are both better. NM was once my daily drinker, but around 2016 they switched who's distillate they were bottling and I didn't like it as much. Still a good product.
Great video!
Glad you enjoyed it
That's a feisty headline lol. Love the video
Thank you! We aim to come up with attention grabbing titles.
Just bought Hirsch single barrel and saw your video here. It’s a Willits mash bill. But don’t know how to tell which Willits to know if it’s just a marked up version.
I am just now learning of these new Willet juice bottles. The ones used when the name was first relaunched were not good.
@@BourbonRealTalk Thanks! Like your videos and will keep watching to learn. Saw a few negative reviews on the brand after I got home. But no rush to crack it open and find out. Buying more than I can drink at this point.
Just buy American single malts instead. They are readily available and in most ways, much more interesting then most bourbons.
American single malts have a lot to offer.
#1 Weller 12 at secondary it’s an amazing 35 dollar bottle it is not a good 230 dollar bottle.
That is fair!
Can confirm, FOMO is a real thing! Love the no nonsense videos and your sign off Randy.
Thank you for supporting the channel!
I just starting watching your channel. I am new to whiskey / bourbon. 57 years old and entry level. I like WT101, BT, and EW Bottled and Bonded for entry level. I was introduced to Angels Envy Rye (Green) and liked it and messed up and bought the Red one and I don’t like. I will use it fir mixing. The rye (green) label is $100 which I cannot afford. Is there another similar in taste that you could recommend?
Welcome to the whiskey/bourbon world! I'm glad you're enjoying the channel. If you liked Angel's Envy Rye, you might want to try WhistlePig 10 Year Rye or Sazerac Rye. Both are great ryes with similar tasting notes. Let me know if you have any other questions!
@@BourbonRealTalk WhistlePig 10 Year “Small Batch”?
Curious...I have heard, Buffalo Trace sends their Juice to Virginia, and then the Bowman distillery runs it again, ages it and then bottles it. Calling it a Virginia whiskey. I dont know how true that is, but I would like to know if its true. because the John J Bowman Single barrel is my number one drinker right now.
That is my understanding.
OK, I watched all the way to the end and all I can say is you know you have a legit Podcast Production when there is a makeup artist involved. Great stuff as always Randy. Thanks for all you share.
Truth is that is my wife. She is a make-up fanatic. This is also the first time she put makeup on me for the show. We actually recorded 4 episodes that day. The first one was about to start and the producer said I was shinny, and Lindsey sprang into action! Cheers!
Is there a formula for the difference between standard and barrel proof, so I can price compare when I'm in the store?
Price of product/ABV= price per % of alcohol. Do that with both the regular and cask strength products. If the cask strength price per % of alcohol is much higher, then it might be a pass.
Avoid over priced high age statements - Looking at you Orphan Barrel
Avoid over priced finished bourbons - Looking at you Jefferson's
Avoid overpriced barrel proof bourbons - Looking at you Angel's Envy
You odiously get the concepts. Thank you for watching.
Excellent vid.
Thank you for watching!
I live in the common wealth of Pennsylvania we have state stores not bad prices
Yes, some of my content doesn't apply very well in control states.
My name is Victor I like any think smooth I been buying whiskey specially smoothest my question is what do you think about Flavian co please answer my question
I am sorry to say I have never heard of Flavian co.
I just found your Pridefull Goat 15yr online for $199 at Universal Fine Wines, the 160 dollar tag from the competitor you dont mention is sounding much more appealing now.
Wow! We actually don't have any control over pricing. Once we sell it to the wholesaler the downstream pricing is out of our control. We price it so it can retail at 125-140 with normal mark up, but different states have different taxes, and some stores are marking it way up because it has secondary value. I suspect Universal Fine Wines bought it from a retailer and marked it up from there, as opposed to a normal store that buys from the wholesaler. Cheers!
In Oregon all liquor goes through the state run liquor control commission they set the price the retailer does not get to he is allowed to make so much per bottle and that's all he gets and again The liquor control commission sets the price that's a straight run agency 🤠
I have a lot of viewers who like their state run stores because prices are good, but a lot that hate it because the selection is not always the best. I guess you win some and lose some.
In Oregon you have no choice wish you did but that's the way they do it you are in The liquor control commission is got a choke hold on that it's unfortunate 🤠😎
Then we should not even acknowledge those labels that you must’ve had made. You’re a great one. Excellent review though you’re my new favorite
And I am so sorry for your loss
Thank you!
I appreciate that!
Excellent video
So glad you enjoyed it! Is this your first time viewing the channel?
I have watched many of your video and also a subscriber. I am also a patreon member of you web site and buy the way the coasters I purchased are really nice. Thank you
@@thomasbelk3834 Hey, that's awesome! Thanks so much for your support and becoming a Patron. Let me know if there's any content ideas you have that you'd like us to cover. Glad you like the coasters!
Are there any Old Fitz mimic bottles??
Based on flavor I would say no. The younger old Fitz have a nutty component to them that reminds me of some beam products, but the fruit is different. The higher age statement old Fitz bottles seem to develop more of the orange zest that seems to be the hallmark of an higher aged wheated bourbon. So I really don't know what else would taste like that, but the point of alternatives for me isn't to perfectly mimic the taste as much as try to create as enjoyable of an experience. With that in mind any wheated bourbon could do the trick. Larceny would be a great option since it is available, inexpensive, and it is the same whiskey. Just a different proof and age. Hope that helps.
Didn't the Old Scout say it was distilled in Tennessee on the back of the bottle? It seems like that would have been a requirement.
It is required and it was on the back label. The problem it had not become public knowledge that SAOS has switched who they were buying barrels from, and I had a friend pick it up for me, so no one checked until it was too late.
Is the ndp on the bottle somewhere to see?
No. You are looking for a different state of distillation than bottled by state. If the bottles says "bottled by" and the distillery, and does not say produced and bottled by...generally it is a NDP. Hope that helps.