Every year in the fall, whiskey geeks decent upon every store hunting for bottles from Buffalo Trace's Antique Collection (BTAC), Pappy van Winkle, Old Forester Birthday Bourbon, and others. It's like a zombie apocalypse. Many, if not most, of those bottles will never be opened by the original purchaser. Rather, they'll be sold on the secondary market for many times their suggested retail price. Even more folks will work every store lottery, charity auctions, or other program meant to at least attempt to fairly distribute a product in short supply relative to its demand.
All I want is to be rewarded for being a consistent customer of a store throughout the year, not just for whiskey and not just in the fall. I've found that and Dan has found that, and maybe it doesn't yield the full-on unicorn bottles but it has allowed us to buy some nice bottles all year long with little fuss and it's what made it possible for both of us to get each other favorite bottles for our own birthdays when there were none on the shelves for sale.
Why can't it be simpler? Why do whiskey enthusiasts insist on becoming the worst of the worst retail consumer for something that shouldn't be so hard to buy? Do you blame the distilleries, the retailers, or the consumers? Or, do you love the hunt and think this is the most awesome setup for a hobby ever?
In the end, I guess I don't care. I find delicious bottles all the time that don't cost an arm and a leg even if they cost more than they should.
Of course, nothing is forcing me to remain a whiskey drinker either if I don't like the system. Coffee is good. Wine is good. There is plenty to drink beyond overpriced, overhyped bourbon and rye whiskey.
Cheers!
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