I Tried Bourbon Hunting Outside of Louisville | Shepherdsville, KY

[@Brewzle]

Brewzle Whiskey Festival 2024 Tickets on Sale Now! bit.ly/brewzlefest2024details

[@2011blueman]

Wathen's is pronounced Wa-Thins.

[@ssracer02]

As someone who lives just outside of Louisville, the sad state of bourbon hunting here is 90% of the stores are owned by a small number of Indian families who pool their sales to get allocated bottles and then sell them for well above secondary. The stores outside of that control (Kroger, cox/evergreen, liquor barn and total wine mainly) get wiped out of any allocated stuff immediately because the area is so saturated with flippers who have contacts that let them know when drops are coming. Some never even make it to the shelf/counter…just right out the back door. It’s damn near impossible to be just a bourbon lover and get an allocated bottle at retail around here.

[@kevincoe-e3o]

It’s everywhere and it needs looking into

[@apeekintime]

It doesn't matter the nationality of the owners. Every metro has a small group of people who own the majority of stores. Those stores always pool their allocations together and the secret to getting access at a good price... talking to them. Who cares their nationality, they are people. They want happy customers and they will work with loyal customers. I've developed far better relationships with the stores in my area owned by immigrants. They appreciate loyal customers and they hook you up. They just don't want to give out their good product to random bourbon hunters who will never buy a regular shelf bottle. Some of them have reward systems and whatever but if you are a good customer they almost always go above and beyond to repay loyalty. If you actually understood the amount of crap they have to sell to get a single Russel's 15 you'd start to appreciate those bottles a bit more. In all reality - the stores that service the most alcoholics get the most allocations. High class stores actually get less from distributors because they tend to move less of the bottom shelf stuff and it's a GOOD thing stores move their allocations around. My neighboring store sells tons of high end wine (98-100 point wines) and a decent amount of whiskey and tequila but they only manage 1-2 set of BTAC a year. My buddies store in a very rough neighborhood gets 3-4 sets and they mostly sell shooters, Fireball, Don Julio, and Hennessey. The first store probably does 10x the dollar sales but only 1/10th of the unit sales. Unit sales are king for allocations. Anyway - Stop judging people by their skin color.. That's why they don't work with you. Immigrants get pretty good at recognizing allies vs enemies.

[@ssracer02]

@@apeekintime that wasn’t a dig at the nationality, it’s simply a fact in this area. Hell, I work a couple of times a month at one of said stores. While I have seen them discount to loyal customers, that discount has only been like a 100 off an 1100 bottle of GTS. The sad reality of it is the actually small, locally owned liquor store is becoming a thing of the past. They get bought up and added to one of the groups at every chance.

[@kevincoe-e3o]

@@apeekintime it’s ILLEGAL!!!

[@louisvillebmxr]

​​​@@apeekintimeExactly. I recently came upon a new small store on the south west side of Louisville that is middle eastern owned. He pulled a Col. E.H. Taylor small batch out from behind the counter to show me and said "$150". I sat and chatted with him for about 30 mins about the bourbon market and bourbon in general and even showed him proof of secondary for that bottle being much lower and he kindly agreed to give it to me for $75 if I bought another bottle or two, and that I did. He also lowered the prices of 2-3 regular shelf bottles that I showed him he was asking a bit too much for by $3-$10. Before we ended our conversation, he agreed to do the same thing for me anytime I came in if I could get him some new customers.

[@BrianTheVAMortgageGuy]

TJ - the majority of liquor stores in Kentucky are owned by the same group of people. If there's a Tesla parked there, it's that group.

[@2006matthewwrx]

This is funny and I'm sure soooooo true.

[@rolyat]

Two of my favorite local spots were just bought out by Patel Bros, unfortunately. Now everything is $10 more and they have the rare stuff, but it's secondary +.

[@run-a-milekyle3835]

Good to know.

[@-2a-2a]

Sounds like where I'm at in GA

[@dbealby]

​@rolyat if it's owned by the Patels I don't bother going in

[@JohnJ502]

I live like a mile from Liquor Palate and the place is a complete joke. I went in there around the time the 1924 Old Fo dropped and they told me it was 800 dollars. I basically had the same reaction as Brewzle and haven't been back. Also it was nice meeting you TJ at Four Roses and having those drinks out of the back of my car. I apologize for offering you Amburana finished. LOL

[@Jollytyme984]

Same, haven't been back in probably over a year.

[@timothynalley8411]

I live up the street from the m&s. I go in to the palate . Mist of the stuff behind counter is either his personal bottle or selling for a customer.

[@phyrexiancoffee6324]

It's always a trip to see you visiting liquor stores I go to frequently. The main issue with Bourbon hunting in and around Louisville is the Patel brothers own about 90% of the "independent" liquor stores, so they pool allocations and corner the local market.

[@TheNewRevolution]

I live in Lexington. I've been drinking Bourbon for almost 30 years. Kentucky used to be the best place in the world to get whiskey. I could get anything I wanted even 10 years ago. I hate what it's turned into. Even 5 years ago, I could go into stores in Georgetown and Lexington and get allocated bottles at MSRP. Now I have 1 store that I can go into and get good bottles at MSRP. They don't even put them on the shelf. They keep them in back for me. Recently I picked up a Weller Antique 107 store pick for $64. Unfortunately, you have to find a store that will work with you if you don't want to get screwed and want to get those good bottles. My advice to anyone buying in Kentucky is check out a lot of stores. Get to know the people working there. If they won't work with you, move on. Don't buy shit from the stores that won't work with you. Once you find that store that will, buy from them. Even if they're not always the cheapest store, you'll still win when you pickup that bottle of Old Rip for $50, that Mitchter's Double Oaked Rye for $80, etc. When I walk in the store I go to they recognize me immediately. They know my first question is "you got anything new or special". Many times they just say let me check if they put anything in back for you. Then they come out and it doesn't really matter what they have. I'm buying it. Even if it's something that may not be my favorite. It's going to be something I can trade and it's going to be a bottle other stores have marked up anywhere from %100- %1000. I'll be glad when the bubble bursts and some sanity comes back to the market. I've seen the lean times when it was a buyers market. It's gonna happen. What's going on now just isn't sustainable.

[@TurdFerguson2011]

TJ!!! My favorite thing to do is pour me a nice Glen of good bourbon, light me a good cigar and watch you bourbon hunting! No better way to spend a lazy Sunday! Keep up the hard (yet fun I’m sure!) work!!! 💪🏻

[@beardedliontakilicious4012]

@TJ being a beer guy, especially those barrel aged / pastry style stouts, if you can come across anything from Eclipse 50/50, jump on it. Cool packaging with color wax associated with specific barrels and the beer is amazing. You won’t be disappointed. Cheers!!!!

[@BigTheSlow]

Brewzle drinking game…. Take a sip of your pour whenever TJ says “I like (brand), but I have (number) of bottles at the house.” Take a sip when the prices in the store are so insane, the editor adds a meme Finish your drink when T.J goes into a store looking for new and interesting bottles, and leaves with tater bait. Enjoy being plastered. 🤣 (I love all these videos, btw, just having fun with it) Edit- Also, if you’re under the age of 30, B. Turner’s in the Auburn mall is a great store.

[@tonytone4867]

I've come to realize that I love the taste and feel of limestone water, that minerality of good spring water. Forgive me, but I may have to try some George Dickel and see if I enjoy it.

[@katrinagagliano7993]

We love you and Jill! We watch your videos all the time! Hey from Chesapeake, VA!

[@FriedBolognaSamich]

When you coming to Dayton Ohio? Had a Weller drop last week, and some buff trace. Scored 2 bottles of antique for $63+ ea after tax

[@kevinrhodes7573]

Dang you were right here in my area. I live not far from those stores and I shop at those stores. Welcome to Shepherdsville. I hope you have a good time in Kentucky.

[@tonyjennings3702]

Here to say the Bourbon County’s are my favorite beers to share in the summer by a very long stretch. Amazing to break out with friends. Solo mission’s will end in some high level intoxication.

[@CorruptIgnition8]

Those goose island cherry are amazing. Also if you ever find a earl grey tea that one is my personal favorite. At first it sounded gross, but its my entire family's favorite goose island bottle to date.

[@haroldsmith7044]

I would have bought that Goose Island Bourbon County Fourteen Stout (the one with the coconut that you thought sounded awful). It was based on one of the Proprietor's Reserve releases (Chicago only) that they did several years ago. A buddy of mine brought one to a bottle share and it tasted like a Mounds bar.

[@alwaysfishhard4953]

I smell a new channel. BrewzleEats!!

[@tomhubbard7053]

You found two of my favorites in the very first few minutes to this video. Anything. Evan williams is very nostalgic for me and i'm a real big fan of jeff, the creed, so that doesn't happen every time I watch one of your videos.

[@stelent369]

Found some Frey Ranch at my local store here in TN yesterday, you were right thats some good stuff. Thanks for the recomendation :)

[@richarddowswell264]

Where do you live? Im in Oak Ridge, and I've been seeing it more but I haven't found the high proof or wheated yet

[@stelent369]

@@richarddowswell264 Winchester area , the big stores didnt have it but i found it at a little rinky dink store of all places.

[@peterbaptiste2750]

I would pick up a bottle of Tumblin Dice Bourbon Whiskey single barrel, barrel proof. Excellent! It’s from Indiana but still excellent!

[@hedgeymcgee3079]

Recently got into bourbon drinking, came from stout drinking. Love your content. I have to tell you what great advice at the end of the video. Keep enjoying what you’re doing, it shows and we watch because of it.

[@robertdoster3893]

At 2.53 you have the best bottle of vodka right behind you. Chopin’s potato vodka is unmatched on how good it is.

[@Paulie771]

Would love to see you all swing by Old Glory Distillery in Clarksville, TN. Small business, distilling their own stuff, and right up the road from you all. They have a small batch, a single barrel, and a BiB that are usually readily available in the Middle TN area the next time you're up here.

[@sumoneelse3011]

Seeing a Larceny SBBP A123 still on the shelf is wild... I found an A124 in Milwaukee back around March and it was the last one. Haven't seen any batches since.

[@kytillidie]

Great video and even nicer finishing thoughts, it gave my ice cold heart momentary release from the icy grip of the void! Greetings from the Emerald Isle.

[@evankordys8571]

Man. As a Chicagoan, Bourbon County sits on shelves in grocery stores here and usually gets marked down by 50% come January.

[@Seasonedwithscience]

If you’re heading to Indianapolis or Chicago, stop by Bloomington Indiana! The Kroger in Bloomington has a surprisingly good selection for MSRP, and the Big Red Liquors sometimes has good stuff for only a slight markup

[@MattsArchive]

Those Barrel batch 33's are fantastic bottles.

[@calvinsutphin1213]

Devs liquor in Charleston South Carolina is phenomenal. Just got into bourbon a few months ago, and very nice helpful people with a phenomenal selection! Great store picks!

[@tjeffers99]

TJ got me 3 bottles of the KC 10year Rye at Sam's for $58 each. So good I had a half a bottle by my self one night....goes down too easy. Cheers.

[@olinwigginsjr8639]

The Responder, from what I understand, Is a collaboration with Bardstown Distillery. It is a different mash bill from other Bardstown products. I've had a chance to get a bottle and absolutely love it.

[@MurfsKitchen]

I just came back from a Louisville trip and had great experiences at John O's in Elizabethtown, and various Liquor Barns and Total Wine locations. And then some of the smaller liquor stores had bangers as well. Almost every store is for sure going to have ridiculous prices on anything BTAC related or "allocated" but I found a bunch of stuff at MSRP or damn near that was on my list. My wife is super pissed lols :)

[@davidkloeckener7446]

Yeah definitely need take out a loan when going to Kentucky for whiskey. A few places in or around Louisville have half way decent prices that I typically go to. Schreck’s Baxter Liquors is a hole in the wall place I go to for solid prices and random bourbon finds

[@Skwurm2297]

I’m seeing that knob Creek 10 Rye everywhere in NJ. Going for about $60 up here

[@Sk8ndrummer963]

I was just at that Cox’s and they had a Hard truth sweet mash rye for $50. I had to grab it and it’s fantastic..

[@jpakaferrari]

Im glad you put back that Kentucky Fog BCBS.

[@TheRollingTrip]

I normally grab some Very Old Barton 100 when I’m in Kentucky, always on the look out for their Smallbatch. Don’t let the price scare you away.

[@brfriedm]

I love how he called out Brewzle. Brewzle has been talking trash about MGP for some time and as the dude escorting him stated, "I just care about what the Bourbon tastes like". Well said.

[@dalvinsmash3800]

The first store is amazing I work around the corner and after you have been a few times he maks some amazing deals for you

[@CarlosCampos-wc6yz]

Regarding the beer: I'm the same way. I'm in my mid- 40's, and beer messes with me something awful. It's actually why I turned to bourbon! Thank you for your content and hard work!

[@run-a-milekyle3835]

@@CarlosCampos-wc6yz I’ll be 40 soon, and I just feel bloated after 2 beers. I used to be able to drink 5-6 easy.

[@tylermyers5172]

Burton James is owned by my Uncle in Adairville, KY. He is blending whiskey from barrels he sourced from MGP and discloses exactly what is in each blend. He is also starting to distill his own under the name Kentucky Grit

[@Boringbogan]

Tj, If you haven’t tried it, I recommend the Angles Envy rum cask finished rye.

[@lancelamoon6743]

I travel a lot for work and every where I go in Kentucky it’s allocated items almost like in Texas and secondary prices on good stuff.

[@louisvillebmxr]

Corner Creek is made by Kentucky Artisan Distillery (same who do Jeffersons) in Crestwood KY just east of Louisville. The 10 year and the select are solid for the price.

[@robertcaldwell4097]

Great video Enjoyed watching

[@steeljedi7902]

If your around Frankfort and Castle And Key… you definitely need to check out Glenn’s Creek Distillery. Hidden Gem!

[@kennymiller6633]

BCS is the bomb. I can sit down with one of those, a cigar on a fall football Sunday & enjoy.

[@Jollytyme984]

M&S, Liquor Palate, City liquors all secondary prices on the allocated bottles. But decent prices on the regular stuff. Cox's doesn't usually do secondary prices.

[@ashythedon]

You da man BREWZLE!

[@matthewelliott2213]

Hoping to see you in the PNW soon! Love the hunts!

[@rickbreeden7102]

Yea have y’all been to Frisky Whisky in West Point, Ga? It is a nice size location with a large selection. Just a thought

[@camdenhochgesang6554]

Knob Creek 10 year Rye is a new release. Should be pretty easy to find wherever the other knob creeks are common before too long.

[@Tommatto]

Welcome to my hometown. I hope you enjoyed yourself.

[@apeekintime]

I'm there with you on the bourbon county stouts. I can't finish one. I'm lucky to drink half of one before the thickness just starts to turn my stomach. They are tasty but I'm good after like 3 oz.

[@clayloftis6786]

Nice to see jonathans KLuke has made it all the way there and sitting up top too. Lived in ocean springs and still couldnt get my hands on any…

[@Lord_Leche]

Grabbed a Charter French Oak in the wild at costco in CA last week for $56 out the door. They must've dropped a batch recently since they seem to be popping up!

[@antoniokeck]

Have you had the horse soldier bottles you keep walking past? Solid bottles in my opinion and a cool origins story

[@BluegrassDaimyo]

Corner Creek, it’s between Rowan Creek and Noah’s Mill neither of which I enjoyed, I’d be scared! Check out, Southern, Kentucky, especially in the southwest you can get some Kentucky exclusives, but at decent prices

[@danielducharme466]

Rock Castle Barrel Proof is so good. M&S Liquor had it on shelf.

[@jordonmunson8212]

Have you had the Very Old Barton @ 9:54 ? It's so good for the price.

[@jonathanestes7679]

Man! You were next to my firehouse. I wish I knew you were in town, I would’ve loved to hunt with you! Sadly, Shepherdsville is full of nothing but high priced bourbon. Coxs and Kroger wine is the only place that sells at MSRP. Most goes to normal customers though. Elizabethtown is going to be the same way.

[@dananichols6226]

I like it when you buy others bottles good stuff!!

[@MF-ng9um]

Check bourbon blue book. He updates regularly and the secondary prices are pretty accurate. Great closing message

[@mythicfour]

The Patels own most of the good stores in Owensboro, too.. Your best bet is Elizabethtown in KY!

[@niksherman5170]

The turnpike has alot of allocated stuff come through, just gotta be lucky with timing. i picked up a lot be there for 120 ish. All of their allocated is msrp, which is why it goes so fast.

[@waynej1883]

I feel like I just scored big after seeing the price on Buffalo Trace in this video. I purchased two bottles of Buffalo Trace and two bottles of Eagle Rare. They were limited to one bottle of each per person per day, and I was able to snag two yesterday and two today. While I was there today, the last bottles they had were sold. I've already got folks wanting to come over to help me open them! LOL!!!

[@connorhale599]

I'm not a bourbon drinker, I much prefer a nice wine, but i enjoy watching someone share their passion.

[@clstewart5588]

The brand 14 goose Island is my favorite ever goose Island. It's got a great cinnamon flavor to it from the cassia bark

[@zachsoult353]

Give that EJ Curley a try sometime, one of my buddies is a part owner. One of my favorites

[@richdunn9774]

I’ve liked everything I’ve tried from Barrell! I’ve got a 14 year old store pick that’s delicious.

[@jason4202012]

Love these hunts

[@andrewflowers1508]

You’re hunting where I live! Definitely a lot of secondary pricing, but a few gems if you know where to look.

[@jeremywarren5748]

I’m in Indy and Ky, was shocked at my success in Detroit last week. Landed owa107, Jack 12, and of1924 at slight markups in 2 different stores after hunting less than 10 one day. The catch of course is that I was in Detroit.

[@davidcook9246]

I live in Detroit area. Eagle Rare and Blantons can be found not too hard. And got a 1924 for $129. After watching this I am happy.

[@paulyoshida1747]

I've definitely had some lackluster Russell's SB picks. I recently got one at a northern KY store. It was an 8 year old from warehouse CN-B, and I honestly don't like it much. I have 4 other Russell's picks open for comparison, mostly around 10 year, although one of them is just shy of 12 years. I really enjoy those. In blinds, this particular pick stands out as being the worst, every time. My wife also had the same opinion about it.

[@kav59]

Wathens Barrel Proof is amazing!

[@kerrmoney]

Omg! Brt02 is one of the best bottles ever!,!,!,!,!

[@brandonpriest6567]

You missed a good shop just down the road from Moby Dick in Mt. Washington. Cut Rate Liquors. It has some good prices.

[@Mondo_Monroe]

The EJ Curley single barrel at 123.80 proof is an outstanding bottle

[@hectorsanchez3890]

Love what your doing, unfortunately there are people paying tose outrageous secondary prices. I live in Salinas CA near Monterey, if your ever in this area I would love to join you in a bourbon hunt.

[@RussellSnider-r5q]

TJ love the videos and the content helps me with my selections

[@jonathanwilkes8141]

Let me know if you ever come back through the area! I would love to show you around Elizabethtown!

[@klesko12222]

Just a thought from someone relatively new to the channel and hunting, when you are asking stores the prices on items, is there a place to reference what msrp is on bottles, or throw up a suggested price you would buy said bottle for? I always feel like I have no clue when looking around what is normal or outrageous on pricing. Love the content!

[@Anthony-iz8lv]

I’m a big fan of the BCBS Tea stout, but I also really like tea. It’s definitely not for everyone. Lol

[@jordanmorgan5381]

Hate alcohol but love these videos 😅

[@Defx10]

The Jeptha Creed Four Grain is really good

[@Sk8ndrummer963]

Next time you’re in Kentucky, we need to take you to the real honey hole in Shively.. unreal finds, almost all msrp bottles. I’d love to meet you!

[@dominicsfreddo7394]

Heading there in September for the KYBF, any must hit stores?

[@Shrike2415]

Not the one off of Cane Run. Better not lol we tryna keep that secret Hoss, $120 Stagg is something I'd like to continue to experience...

[@Benderisgreat219]

Got a question for ya? Have you ever tried canadian whiskey? Im starting out my whiskey journey after buying longbranch in the usa on vacation and really enjoyed it. I live in canada and we finnaly got some american stock but i see alot of whiskeys you guys havent tried (to my knowlege, could very well be wrong) thats here.

[@brodyroberts6748]

TJ surely you have been to Ming House on South College in Auburn. Get the chicken/steak hibachi with a Dr. Pepper and get them to bring you a bottle of the yum yum sauce. Thank me later.

[@WatchBillywork]

Love the content got a bourbon question going to Florida going to buy a bottle for my father-in-law want to buy a nice bottle between 50 and 100.00 what do you recommend in that price range this question is for anybody

[@C_GOODIES]

Could pick up a Wild Turkey Rare Breed and an Old Forester 1910. Should be $50 for each.

[@vincec727]

I live in Ca. There are like 600 panda express locations in Ca. Only a handful have the Orange Burrito. Ive never seen one.

[@traj2327]

Lmao. I was in that Liquor Palate back in December. Prices were absurd. Did the same thing you did. Walked the hell out.

[@j.nickellingsworth5686]

Not like it used to be, but still some great finds out there if you are persistent

[@the_E4_Mafia]

You’re missing out on the JW Dant bottled in bond

[@1OF1WNL]

Back with it again with another video!

[@Ryan40272]

It's a struggle living in Louisville. Everyone wants pretty much secondary price.

[@CoconutMigrating]

Same all over the place, they just never even have it to begin with.

[@johnchall6796]

Liquor store next to my house in florida has a box of eagle rare and sells it for 150 lol, been there for 4 months. dam stores becoming museums

[@SteelheadTed]

You don’t know how good you have it. Yes, the allocated stuff is expensive but there is so much good whisky sitting on the shelf at the cheapest prices in the nation.

[@Ryan40272]

@@SteelheadTed not really. I drive a little over an hour to just north of Cincinnati to buy most of my bourbon.

[@SteelheadTed]

@@Ryan40272 I’ve bought bourbon in probably 15 different states, Kentucky is one of the best for great, everyday whisky and prices.

[@nollm23]

I saw a 10 yr rye at Jim Beam distillery last month. I should have picked it up

[@jacksonalbrecht2321]

Be glad you passed on Responder. I can count the number of truly BAD bourbons I've had on one hand, and that's one of them. I had a friend bring one to a bottle share as a joke, and it is not good.

[@matts459]

Brutal you missed out on that bourbon county fog with a black tea. That is the best.

[@Jay-ln6wm]

16:17 goose island in chicago is going on clearance $5 to $10 bottles

[@biggss02]

Secondary prices will kill the market. Went to Maryland this weekend and prices were jacked up.