Whiskey Mistakes I Avoided In 2024 - BRT 290

[@CoffeeAndSteel]

Great stuff. Once more people wake up and realize whiskey producers are incredibly intelligent with their marketing, they'll also realize how much whiskey is out there. Artifical scarcity and consumerism are rampant amongst whiskey right now.

[@skepsswag]

My old forester single barrel barrel proof is one of the best things I have ever had honestly. Really great stuff

[@hankf616]

I hit that same point about 2yrs ago where I started to scale way back on my bunker stocking, and everyday drinkers. And also, like you, started enjoying my nicer bottles on a more regular basis. Once you cross the 3 or 400 bottle mark, you have to re-evaluate where you're at, haha.

[@domingocorona7028]

Great video, much needed. I try to never pay much over retail ever. Maybe +$15 or so. But my issue has been bunkering. Friends are doing a two bottle limit for single barrel/store picks. I’m going to follow that.

[@silasforza]

Great episode found this channel when i was sick last weekend. Been binge watching whenever im done running around and work.

[@BourbonRealTalk]

Hope you're feeling better!

[@DBTdad]

I appreciate the chapter time markers

[@BigWodie904]

Randy, I'm totally in the same boat with you!! If I check out a store and they have astronomical prices for some of their allocated bottles, I always walk out. I never support stores like that!

[@kevinkotrla8786]

Always the great content, always learning something new - even on bottles that I might have or be thinking about

[@ZahraIsMyDog]

Great video! Hoping for a great year for everyone.

[@chasesimmons6451]

This year…I gave a particular store almost all my business, bought somewhere in the neighborhood of 30 bottles of bourbon and maybe half that in wine. When the end of the year rolled around…he wouldn’t budge off his ridiculous pricing of allocations that started rolling in. Claimed “a doctor or lawyer will pay it”. Never again…never again…

[@aaronpalmer6947]

Great advice here all around. I totally agree on the price gouging stores. Just stay out of them. We have a couple where I live that will always have the most sought-after allocated bottles for insane prices ($400 for Elijah Craig 18 for example). I won't buy so much as a six pack of Pabst from them. On the other hand, we have a great, small locally owned store that has the best raffles. You buy a bottle of any bourbon, you get a ticket, which is very fair. Say what you want about Total Wine, but their points system is also a very fair way to get access to the hard to find stuff.

[@nschlueter13]

You fellas are one of my favorite channels. Just found ya all on your, are whiskey tubers full of B.S. video. Love ya all's content, keep em coming! Cheers!

[@BuffaloBourbonEnthusiasts]

Yeah, I'm starting to purge the bottom shelf stuff. Still love grabbing SiB picks and people that come over enjoy tasting them. They enjoy trying unique stuff. TBH, whoever comes over is usually a whiskey enthusiast and wants something extraordinary. Love WRDO and a store by me has a phenomenal pick. Love it! We were in a an OFSBBS pick for a store and love the bottle we picked. I love bringing different people in on picks. Keep up the great content.

[@kirklandeche937]

As Wes suggested, taking time off from enjoying bourbon once in a while is a good way to gain further appreciation for what we enjoy every day. As for myself, the season of Lent presents me with this opportunity each year. So between Mardi Gras and Easter, I will abstain from drinking any alcohol each year. As Wes suggested, appreciation for enjoying bourbon is greatly improved! Great show as always! Cheers!

[@dee13lee]

I’ve never understood “bunkering”. There are so many bottles to try and new stuff coming out constantly. Why not save that money for something different? Anyway, that’s just my thought process. Too much of a good thing becomes boring. Always drink your good stuff. Tomorrow is never guaranteed.

[@BigChimpEnergy]

I live in an ABC state so a lot of these things are impossible for me to fall prey to. That's about the only good thing about state controlled stores. The main downside is that the supply is pretty bad so about once a year I'll hop the state border to a non-ABC store so these tips are still helpful for me.

[@markbrooks6788]

Agree with you completely on not spending money at store's that gouge. Unfortunately I can't buy online as no one out of state can ship to Michigan.

[@89sooner]

I have never been a secondary over spender, but the thing I also did in the last 12-18 months is buying no classic shelfers (save keeping a 100 cocktail mixer or two around for Paper Planes and the like) and drinking down my slightly bougier bottles (like Disco 11 and 12) and picks. I do always get into the new shelfers like the Green Rivers, Holladays, and Origins and such.

[@r2skyvader]

Recently I was talking to a small store owner and asked about his high prices on a couple of highly allocated bottles. His philosophy was he wanted them on the shelf for advertising, but those were so rare and hard to get for him based on the distribution system. If someone was really wanting to pay for those, he would sell them. He wasn’t really trying to screw the consumer. He did tell me where to go to find allocated bottles at a reasonable price at a higher volume store. Ended up with an A Smith Bowman and a Stagg there at reasonable prices. Gave me a different perspective on the game.

[@BourbonRealTalk]

I don't buy this reasoning. If the customer knows what it is they are not motivated to shop at the store when they see the price, and if they don't know what it is what difference does it make that it is on the shelf.

[@Stew_Burner]

Great episode! As someone who works in a liquor store, when someone comes in looking for a bottle to give as a gift, the first question I ask is "what is your budget?" If I do try to up sell it's only one price bracket. I really believe it's not the price of the bottle but the thought of the bottle that makes the gift special.

[@thebrubakermaker2754]

Randy, your comment on “bottom shelf regulars” really hit home; as I thought about it, that’s what I’ve been doing. Makes no sense with all the great bottles I have in my collection! Thanks for the wake-up call.

[@ericpevey2636]

Great video. I find myself in a similiar position, i've built up my collection to the point i decided 2024 was the year i was actually going to try and start enjoying it. I was able to pretty much stick to the same criteria you listed although i will say I did purchase what i think would fall under your "tater" category....OGD 16 YR. Other than that one purchase i was happy i was able to avoid the same mistakes. Great video and look forward to more great content from you and Wes for 2025.

[@jamesshavers5462]

like the insights. thank you!

[@BourbonRealTalk]

Our pleasure!

[@smittysmith234]

Now that’s awesome!!

[@peterhoney4387]

Simply great content and good solid advice!!

[@jamesshavers5462]

like the nights. thank you!

[@thebourbonengineer6903]

Well done! Love the moderation and time off comments. Cheers and HNY!!

[@72cmcinc]

Great content and agree 100%, thanks!

[@leerichardson397]

Great video always live the new content

[@keithstarks6038]

Great episode, I appreciate your struggle with opening a special bottle by yourself. I'm dealing with that myself now.

[@Usonian7]

I stopepd shoppinf a place i was building a relationship with the moment they got a weller fp barrel and prices it at $220. I laughed at them in that moment and walked out leaving the daily bottel on the counter.

[@Liz_DrB]

Great list of avoidance/strategies. And those are some interesting samples. Happy New Year🎉

[@michaeltuthill6442]

I am getting to the point of only buying club single barrel picks. There is so much amazing stuff out there.

[@toddstallings3939]

1 I find myself drinking my bottom shelf bottles rather than enjoy some of my favorites. Preservation or feeling of unworthiness? Not sure. 2 i am observing Dry January for my second year. A good way to do a systems check on my relationship with whiskey.

[@BentleyPascoe]

WA is one of the hardest states to get any allocation at retail. When you can it feels like the clouds have opened, the rays of sun are shining and you've been blessed by the brown water gods. There are certain bottles I will happily pay over retail for, but I certainly won't do full on secondary. Great topic fellas!

[@romansailer8052]

Loved my time in WA state (go cougs) and hunting in NY state is pretty dang bad.

[@michaelcassidy4566]

Happy New Year!

[@thomashood3748]

Excellent content! Enjoyed this episode very much!

[@BourbonRealTalk]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@D-NiceL-i1e]

Cheers I love your content

[@Urban-bourbon]

Time away: if a month seems too long, try a week, or even just a long weekend.

[@robertrackuzius3722]

That's right. Don't give money to stores that are openly trying to steal from you.

[@jonkraner]

Great stuff as usual!

[@BourbonRealTalk]

Thanks for watching!

[@ericekency8194]

Thanks. This is how I will start 2025

[@chriswright1160]

Mistakes are lessons learned.

[@axegekko6477]

Taking a 6month break from buying to bottle kill and put dent into the bourbon wall.

[@WTCrawford]

Congratulations on 2024 and Cheers to no tater mistakes in 2025!

[@kenheise162]

Love the video.

[@bigreb62]

Love Woodford DO.

[@frankmastromauro5630]

Good video happy new year

[@BourbonRealTalk]

Happy new year!

[@David13.1]

Ditto on Liquor Depot

[@LibertyLegion1776]

8:30 Shots fired at Fred. Again.

[@BourbonRealTalk]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/nJCQnHeYrqt6pdE 13:15

[@LibertyLegion1776]

Yeah. I watched when it came out. Apparently sarcasm isn’t allowed on the internet anymore… Who knew?

[@Just_One_More_Bourbon]

Curious about Armagnac. I’ve never had that before

[@BourbonRealTalk]

It is a bit expensive at $200, but a solid pour.

[@chrisw.4318]

I take it you guys are in DFW, I just moved here not too long ago and I’m looking for a bourbon group.

[@BourbonRealTalk]

facebook.com/groups/someonesaywhiskey facebook.com/groups/bourbonrealtalkcommiunity

[@jasonczfan8658]

I’ve never seen a BTAC bottle that wasn’t priced gouged. Even places that you can buy a single pour price gouge those. Probably why I’ve never tried one

[@romansailer8052]

I have never seen one period. Yea NY, not

[@jasonczfan8658]

@ wow. They are everywhere here in Southern California (not in big box retailers though). All are priced over $1000 usually

[@mrfuriouser]

I like whiskey stones and I don't care what anyone else thinks about them.

[@BourbonRealTalk]

I am happy to support anyone who likes them. I think it is a gift that gets given without thought of the user. If you are a user that likes them, that is great.

[@robertharper2158]

❤

[@BourbonRealTalk]

Cheers!

[@marklewandowski5996]

my dream is to find a GTS at retail

[@scottmattern482]

My sister bought me a bottle of bourbon for Christmas, she knows nothing about whiskey, but the A-hole who helped her at a store told her she needed to spend $1,000. Thankfully, she didn't spend that, but its that type of stuff that sometimes makes me want to end this hobby altogether.

[@robertthomas8237]

Have ya'll tried Cattleman's Chishom Trail 2024 Limited Edition?

[@BourbonRealTalk]

I have not

[@timstanek47]

Can you briefly explain how the point systems work at your store?

[@BourbonRealTalk]

To be honest, I don't know. It is a third party software Lindsey added. It gives you points for repeat purchases, for your birthday, etc. and you can cash the points in for discounts.

[@ericekency8194]

How can I get that orange bottle

[@BourbonRealTalk]

email me [e-mail]

[@dsyncd555]

Elijah Craig has the exact same story of shipping it to Louisiana. However, the barn burned down with his barrels and he decided to ship it with the charred barrels. I also heard the same story of Left Bank. Who’s telling the truth?

[@BourbonRealTalk]

The Elijah Craig story is just marketing fluff. The subject is not without controversy, but I think most people after doing the research would agree that it was most likely Tarascon brothers.

[@jpt71]

🥃✌️

[@Lawyerboyleslie72]

You broke your rule number one by over paying for client bottles. Right? I'snt that the same as someone overpaying for a tater target bottle for a gift?

[@BourbonRealTalk]

I respect anyone who sees it that way. I purchase secondary bottles for my real estate clients because it would be impossible for me to locate a bottle in June that only comes out in December. Even if I tried to buy all my bottles in December for the hole year, I do not get enough allocated bottles to supply my real estate business with marketing bottles. It is my number one source of new real estate business, and I make plenty of money to be able to justify the cost. If you think it is wrong I understand why.

[@Lawyerboyleslie72]

In 2024 I came to realize that building a hobby around bourbon is dumb.

[@BourbonRealTalk]

Thank you for your feedback.

[@YoJimBo851610]

4👍

[@sammylo6200]

You Don’t like trolls because it’s bad for business and you can get exposed and lose money

[@BourbonRealTalk]

Life is better when you don't use your mind to make up negative stories about people, but instead assume positive intent. Love you brother.