The Vice Thread --- Whisk(e)y, other spirits, beer, wine, and cigars

[AlpineSummer]

[happycamper]

On 7/13/2024 at 8:35 PM, Bitteraztec said:

 

@happycamper they also have Angels Envy for $39 plus a lot more

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Snag bottles of that Four Roses Small Batch Select. It's one of my absolute favorites at that price point, definitely the best of what you have pictured!

[The San Diegan]

On 7/13/2024 at 5:35 PM, Bitteraztec said:

 

@happycamper they also have Angels Envy for $39 plus a lot more

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costco's been crushing it lately. My buddy bought six bottles of the Balvenie when it appeared at our local Costco.

This was my find a couple days ago at the same location:

A good enough deal that it was worth walking back in for a second after dropping one off in the car. I already have a couple bottles of the SmB bunkered, so I picked these up to either bring to a friend's houses when we all get together, or maybe give as a gift.

I haven't really been on the hunt, but July ended up being a good month for serendipitously scoring shit at a good price, with eight bottles across three whiskies, all at our below MSRP: 2x OWA ($44), 3x EHT SmB (avg. $35), 2x A. Overholt Monongahela Rye ($36),  and a near-hazmat bottle of JD SiBBP Rye ($65).

Cheers and happy summer, everyone.

[Bitteraztec]

On 7/18/2024 at 12:35 PM, The San Diegan said:

Costco's been crushing it lately. My buddy bought six bottles of the Balvenie when it appeared at our local Costco.

This was my find a couple days ago at the same location:

A good enough deal that it was worth walking back in for a second after dropping one off in the car. I already have a couple bottles of the SmB bunkered, so I picked these up to either bring to a friend's houses when we all get together, or maybe give as a gift.

I haven't really been on the hunt, but July ended up being a good month for serendipitously scoring shit at a good price, with eight bottles across three whiskies, all at our below MSRP: 2x OWA ($44), 3x EHT SmB (avg. $35), 2x A. Overholt Monongahela Rye ($36),  and a near-hazmat bottle of JD SiBBP Rye ($65).

Cheers and happy summer, everyone.

I ended up getting the Balvenie, it was just before closing when I was there.  Next time I will get the Four Roses based on @happycamper ‘s recommendation. I later compared the ones I posted above to TW and the recommended FR was in fact the best comparable price to TW.

 

This has been a good learning experience and I should be able to start spotting deals a lot quicker. Thanks to all that have made recommendations on this and the other thread that started under @mugtangprior reign.

[The San Diegan]

Our Friday Night Flight for last night was a special release rye proof ladder, progressing R-to-L in the photo, beginning with the 100 proof JD Twice Barreled and finishing with Little Book Chapter 8 at 118. 

[SWspartan]

Price: $23,430 (youbooze.com)

 

[tailingpermit]

On 7/20/2024 at 11:37 AM, The San Diegan said:

Our Friday Night Flight for last night was a special release rye proof ladder, progressing R-to-L in the photo, beginning with the 100 proof JD Twice Barreled and finishing with Little Book Chapter 8 at 118. 

You guys are lucky over there, my local wants $200 over MSRP on little book.  

[The San Diegan]

On 7/20/2024 at 12:20 PM, tailingpermit said:

You guys are lucky over there, my local wants $200 over MSRP on little book.  

Yikes. My buddy got his at Costco for $135, IIRC. I passed on having him pick one up for me as well, though after seeing how much the Booker's rye has appreciated on the secondary market, I'm questioning that decision now. That being said, it is not a $300 whiskey IMO, unless you're willing to bet on the come and sit on it like an egg for the next decade to see if it follows in the Booker's rye's footsteps.

[tailingpermit]

On 7/20/2024 at 4:26 PM, The San Diegan said:

Yikes. My buddy got his at Costco for $135, IIRC. I passed on having him pick one up for me as well, though after seeing how much the Booker's rye has appreciated on the secondary market, I'm questioning that decision now. That being said, it is not a $300 whiskey IMO, unless you're willing to bet on the come and sit on it like an egg for the next decade to see if it follows in the Booker's rye's footsteps.

Haven’t had little book, but have had bookers. Overpriced but decent.  
 

Our Costco’s suck here, ones in Chicago were good. 

[Bitteraztec]

On 7/20/2024 at 1:26 PM, The San Diegan said:

Yikes. My buddy got his at Costco for $135, IIRC. I passed on having him pick one up for me as well, though after seeing how much the Booker's rye has appreciated on the secondary market, I'm questioning that decision now. That being said, it is not a $300 whiskey IMO, unless you're willing to bet on the come and sit on it like an egg for the next decade to see if it follows in the Booker's rye's footsteps.

I was surprised that the Scottsdale Costco had a couple of $1000+ bottles behind glass.  I’ll take a picture of what they were next time.

[The San Diegan]

On 7/20/2024 at 1:56 PM, tailingpermit said:

Haven’t had little book, but have had bookers. Overpriced but decent.  
 

Our Costco’s suck here, ones in Chicago were good. 

I have only had two: Ch 7 and Ch 8. Both have some old whiskey in them, both have a good number of whiskies in their blend, and both impart an orchestra of flavors on the tongue. Between Little Book and Old Carter I have really developed an appreciation for the art of blending. But as I understand it, they've also been all over the map and not-good more often than great. Ch. 7 was my gateway to high proof whiskey. 

[tailingpermit]

On 7/20/2024 at 9:12 PM, Bitteraztec said:

I was surprised that the Scottsdale Costco had a couple of $1000+ bottles behind glass.  I’ll take a picture of what they were next time.

On one of the bourbon pages I belong to showed a Costco that was selling an entire barrel of Blanton’s. Such an odd thing to get, and they were not breaking the set, it was like $30k.  

[The San Diegan]

On 7/21/2024 at 1:26 PM, tailingpermit said:

On one of the bourbon pages I belong to showed a Costco that was selling an entire barrel of Blanton’s. Such an odd thing to get, and they were not breaking the set, it was like $30k.  

Was it pre-bottled? My understanding is unless you have a DSP number, you couldn't buy a bottle? 🤔

There is a joint (somewhere in KY IIRC) that offers barrel thieving, but to do so, they have to buy a (bottled) barrel, then decant the bottles back into the barrel along iwht a drop of water to circumvent this law, as by doing so it technically becomes a cocktail.

 

ETA: My bourbon sherpa buddy said by way of a discord, pattern, et al, there were barrel picks avaiolable from a known distillery for as little as $3K (I questioned the accuracy of this statement when he told me). But if so, hell yeah, I'd be down in heartbeat for doing something similar to what's described above have a barrel on hand I could thief on demand. 😎

[tailingpermit]

On 7/21/2024 at 5:31 PM, The San Diegan said:

Was it pre-bottled? My understanding is unless you have a DSP number, you couldn't buy a bottle? 🤔

There is a joint (somewhere in KY IIRC) that offers barrel thieving, but to do so, they have to buy a (bottled) barrel, then decant the bottles back into the barrel along iwht a drop of water to circumvent this law, as by doing so it technically becomes a cocktail.

It was bottled and cased, the empty barrel came with it. 
 

I wonder is some store just backed out of their pick? 
 

Costco in one of the richer burbs of Chicago would always have $60k Rolex’s in their jewelry case. 

[Bitteraztec]

On 7/21/2024 at 2:36 PM, tailingpermit said:

It was bottled and cased, the empty barrel came with it. 
 

I wonder is some store just backed out of their pick? 
 

Costco in one of the richer burbs of Chicago would always have $60k Rolex’s in their jewelry case. 

I guess I’ll be swinging by the watch case now as well.  But I’ll be surprised if they have any more than the $300 range

[tailingpermit]

On 7/21/2024 at 5:31 PM, The San Diegan said:

Was it pre-bottled? My understanding is unless you have a DSP number, you couldn't buy a bottle? 🤔

There is a joint (somewhere in KY IIRC) that offers barrel thieving, but to do so, they have to buy a (bottled) barrel, then decant the bottles back into the barrel along iwht a drop of water to circumvent this law, as by doing so it technically becomes a cocktail.

 

ETA: My bourbon sherpa buddy said by way of a discord, pattern, et al, there were barrel picks avaiolable from a known distillery for as little as $3K (I questioned the accuracy of this statement when he told me). But if so, hell yeah, I'd be down in heartbeat for doing something similar to what's described above have a barrel on hand I could thief on demand. 😎

There’s a lot of local bourbon groups here that pool their money together and pick a barrel. 

[tailingpermit]

On 7/21/2024 at 9:15 PM, Bitteraztec said:

I guess I’ll be swinging by the watch case now as well.  But I’ll be surprised if they have any more than the $300 range

Very location dependent, never saw anything expensive in the other costcos I’ve been to. 
 

Have heard of people getting pappy at Costco’s, they keep it locked up in the back typically and just post a sign. 

[The San Diegan]

On 7/21/2024 at 2:36 PM, tailingpermit said:

It was bottled and cased, the empty barrel came with it. 
 

I wonder is some store just backed out of their pick? 
 

Costco in one of the richer burbs of Chicago would always have $60k Rolex’s in their jewelry case. 

That's very cool then (would be cooler tho if it was SFTB 😀). 

There's definitely precedent for Costco picking up a bailed store pick - we had cases of a SP Sazerac appear at our Costco a couple months ago.

[The San Diegan]

On 7/21/2024 at 6:15 PM, Bitteraztec said:

I guess I’ll be swinging by the watch case now as well.  But I’ll be surprised if they have any more than the $300 range

Rolexes, Omegas, and Breitlings used to make regular appearances in the watch case at our Costco. But for some time now, the selection seems to be stuck in the sub-$500 range.

[The San Diegan]

On 7/20/2024 at 8:48 AM, SW Spartan said:

Price: $23,430 (youbooze.com)

 

Wow. I can't imagine ever enjoying a pour enough to justify spending even 10% of that amount.