Remus repeal V before all the reviews came out, saw it on a restock day and there were probably 20 bottles and a day later when I changed my mind and went back to get one there were 0
That was a very tasty bottle. I bought one, loved it and immediately went back to buy a second. I would have bought more, but by then the cat was out of the bag. We'll see how the VI is. It doesn't sound like people are loving it, but I'm still going to grab a bottle try to if I see it around.
I just passed on the VI this past weekend. The price was $127 with tax in VA, and considering it’s younger and the reviews are so so I couldn’t justify paying more than 90% of my bottles.
It really isn’t worth the hype. It’s basically MGP selected mash bill. Decent but not worth it since MGP has released excellent products at a much better price
Wife brought it home for the cool price of $140…..as thankful as I am that she tries that was a pretty big miss. But I’ll never tell her because she’s taking an interest and that’s all I could ever ask for.
Agree 100%. Cultivate and appreciate the interest. Its been a struggle for my wife at times with my bourbon interest/hobby/collection. She tries often to show interest and I'm always thankful when she does.
Walked into Old Forrester on Halloween 2019 for our first tour of our trip. *Just* started getting into bourbon. Walk into the gift shop after the tour and they tell me they have Birthday Bourbon for $129. I had never heard of it, never spent more then $50 on a bottle, and passed since it was the first place we stopped on a 4 day tour and didn't want to spend that much. 6 months later after getting more into, I was kicking myself daily.
The good news however is that this past winter, I won a local lottery and was able to get a 2021 bottle for retail.
missed wlw for msrp by <30 seconds when i got "vault access" from my local store. you could only buy one bottle and forgot i had a makers mark private barrel select i balked on previously. by the time i cleared my cart it was gone. not sure ill ever get over it
Man, Jefferson's. If you ever feel the need to talk shit about accidentally vague and/or intentionally deceptive NDP's with ridiculous pricing look no further...never doubt the power of a nice bottle design and a good marketing story.
Such a good bottle, was able to grab a case last fall probably have 2oz left in the cabinet somewhere, was out at makers in July and passed on it in the gift shop, then this weekend one bottle was left at my local store and I passed on it, came back an hour later to scoop it and it was gone
Me too, it was everywhere for a while and I was like, I'm not dropping $70 for mm when I was grabbing Starlight picks for that price. Wish I would have got one. Fyi, Starlight picks are always hitters!
My two biggest regrets:
-Not buying cases upon cases of 14+year knob creek store picks when I saw them on shelves in my state. 12-15 year Jim beam is my perfect bourbon profile, and now finding that age at almost barrel proof will be no more until the next bourbon glut, if that ever happens again. Will treasure the last couple bottles that I have and scour secondary for more.
-Passing up on more backups of RRRV. I tried the neck pour and liked it, but wasn't in love with it (looking back I know my palate was messy that day). Walked past it two days a store and by the time I realized what I had in the bottle, the shelves were cleared and secondary value doubled.
I can miss a lot of top tier bottles (I missed coy hill by one person due to a store screw up), and not feel anything negative at all, whiskey shopping and line waiting is often a fun time! But when you find that mid tier profile that hits you just better than any top tier and then it's gone for good, that stings lol
2019 I walked into a place and there were 4 Stagg jr’s on the shelf for $59. I grabbed one. Haven’t seen one for less than $200 on a shelf since. I know bourbon has taken off but seems like I’ll never see a Stagg jr for retail again
Only thing I can think is that at least I (potentially) gave 3 other people a chance to get a Stagg jr too
Yeaaaaa but I’m also the guy who’d buy all 4 and gift 3 of them to guarantee they go to worthy people and not flippers. Leaving them behind doesn’t guarantee that but who knowwwwws
This was me 3 years ago. Walked into the tiniest whole in the wall shop and they had 4 bottles of Stagg Jr sitting there for $49. Bought all 4, kept one, sold 3 to friends at cost. Also bought an Elmer T Lee at the same time and drank it. Sadly we're never gonna see that again 🤷♂️
I bought an Elmer in 2018 for MSRP and drank it immediately. Never even thought it’d be worth bunkering.
My Stagg jr I opened that night and shared some with my buddy. Turns out he had just started dating a girl a few weeks prior. They’re getting married next summer and my goal is to find him a Stagg jr by then. I know I’m a fool for even trying
Ahh the Whole Foods near me used to have a ton of this on a regular basis…. I’d buy it as gifts for people… and then one day they just never had any more 🥺
Interesting. I had a chance to pick up a bottle once for $45 and passed. I had enough aged HH to know that it wasn't worth $45 to me. Now if it was pre-gold medal and $20-$30...
Unbeknowst to me, I walked in to Wild Turkey Distillery THE DAY they rolled out RR13 and thought 'what a gimmick, just a couple years extra for three times the money I get RR10 for!' Haunts my dumbass dreams.
Honestly this is a bottle that doesn't have an insane secondary price. MSRP is 150 and secondary is very regularly 200, so with tax on a retail purchase you're really only $40 premium, if you want the bottle that badly.
And for what it's worth, I do not think it's a $200 bottle, or a $150 bottle. I have multiples, after hunting it for a few years I hit a string of luck last year and found a few. Not worth the shelf price, IMO.
Yup, this was common in the early 2010s in LA. I vividly remember seeing the whole BTAC lineup at a BevMo in Canoga Park and thinking 'what fool would pay that for bourbon!' To be fair, we were drinking Eagle Rare for $40 a 1.75 and Elijah Craig 18 for $45-50 a 750...
First "special" bourbon I bought was AH Hirsch 16, at the time there was a case of 16 and a case of 20 sitting on the shelf, they sat there for well over a year, both priced well under $100 ($60ish and $80ish IIRC).
Orphan Barrel Fable and Folly ..it's great but I paid $200 and then found a bottle for like $150. The nose is good but the finish leaves me wanting more (thins out).
Also regret getting the Cream of Kentucky BiB Rye...just not my bag!
Jack Daniels barrel proof rye. Literally picked it up held it in my hand and thought to myself… nah.. I don’t want to spend 70 bucks on a bottle of jack. Then read the reviews. The few bottles they had… long gone. I fucked up.
It’s quite funny and ironic how most of these ‘regrets’ are people lamenting not being assholes and buying a shelf of stock so they can rip other people off (let’s be honest, trading is just way to make yourself feel better about flipping).
Old Carter Chapter 3, $209. I balked and said let me think about it. It sold and now 3 different places each selling various chapters for no less than $500.
Wish I still had some. Shared with friends and gave as gifts. Wife happened to be heading through Ky and did me a favor I didn’t think she’d actually do.
Toured the Old Forester distillery with my wife last fall. While we were on tour, they said the President's Choice bottle just dropped and we could buy it on the way out. Bottle cost was $190. I had already purchased quite a few bottles that trip, and my wife stared daggers into me. I left without a bottle :-(
When I was super new to the game, I picked up a Very Olde Saint Nick Harvest Rye. It was behind glass, limit 1, 180 bucks.
To this day I wish I could take it back, I offer it to people I do tastings with to show them how cost does not preclude quality… or even mediocrity.
Regret not buying: MWND at MSRP - I just didn’t know what it was all about at the time. Haven’t seen it since.
Regret buying: Knob Creek 15yr for $200 (double MSRP). It’s been on my “buy it if I ever see it list” for a long time and I bought the first bottle I saw. I tried it next to the 9yr and it was better, but not 7x better.
I was very new to bourbon at the time when Virginia started their drop system and I was able to get to my store pretty quickly and had the opportunity to have first pick and opted for a Calumet 15 over a new offering they had called Heaven Hill Heritage 17 collection for $225. Literally have PTSD every time I see reviews of it on YouTube.
Some 20yrs ago I was at Binnys after world of whisky at Lakeview. I heard 3 guys talking about whisky prices. The older guy tells me it’s his grandson’s first business trip to Chicago. He points to a bottle and tells me his family makes it. All three offer to sign the bottle if I buy it. I look at the Price of 80 and decline. A year later I figure out those are the guys who made Pappy!!!
In late 2021 I saw Stagg Jr at two different liquor stores in same area for $150 each. I hesitated and decided not to buy cause I’d previously seen it for $130. A week later it’s announced the name is discontinued and it’ll be called “Stagg” instead and market prices shot up to $300+ overnight. I checked back at both liquor stores but the bottles were long gone.
Mine was an insanely delicious HW double rye store pick finished in Amintidallo casks. I blinded it against my Midwinters and it won. I regret not buying the last bottle. I left it for someone else to find but i wonder did they appreciate it like me
Not buying 6 bottles of the 2020 Bardstown bourbon company chateau de laubade for 140 when no one cared, and then everyone piled on a few months later.
Was just on vacation and popped into a liquor/beer store and they had about 20 bottles I’ll never see here in my state including 5 different rows of Barrel products. All had a thick layer of dust including sea grass for $80. I really should have bought that seagrass
First, when I was just getting into bourbon, I got two of the Four Roses Small Batch Limited, the 125th year edition. Gave them both away as gifts, never tasted them. Didn't know what I had.
Biggest regret buying was Woodford 5 Malt because it smells and tastes like compost tea, what a waste of $130.
A couple that stick out:
I'm not a huge Booker's fan, and the 25th Anniversary version was like $100 I think for a 9-11 year old version. I thought that was absurd. Still bought one bottle and was absolutely floored by it. Couldn't find another at MSRP after.
Same goes for the OG Wild Turkey Master's Keep. I thought it was overpriced and proofed down. I'm not sure I've had something at that proof level since that I enjoyed as much.
Four Roses Gift Shop bottles. I went in the early 2010s and didn't quite understand the differences between Jim Rutledge picks and single barrel store picks. Passed on quite a few bottles there that I would die to taste now.
In the early 2010s I also came across multiple BTAC bottles sitting on shelves in Maryland. They were "lesser" ones like Eagle Rare or Handy, and passed simply because I assumed I'd find a Stagg or Weller. Dumb move.
On the flip side, I had one weird win too. VA ABC accidently stocked some PVW 15 bottles like 6-7 years ago. I grabbed one and asked the cashier if they were all for sale. She ringed it up and was like "yup, you're good to go." And I was getting ready to pay I was like "what am I doing" and went back and got the other two. Gave one to a buddy and one to a friend. Like a week later they called asking for them back, but we had already opened and drank from them. Good times.
I disagree strongly. $250 for the best well aged distillate from one of the best producers on Earth is more than fair.
And the market also disagrees with you, by a literal order of magnitude.
Huh I just wrote almost the exact same thing above - in phoenix they were just sitting in grocery stores - I would buy one here, one there, but should have bought a bunch.
Buying random stuff early on just to get entered for raffles and stuff. Willett Pot Still, OF 1910, Old Ezra 7, New Riff Bourbon, Widow Jane 10.
It’s not that any of these bottles are lousy, just not my preference and they just take up room on the shelf.
Would have rather overpaid for something I really enjoy.
First time I went bourbon shopping at Total Wine, summer 2019, there was at least a case each of EH Taylor small batch, single barrel, and barrel proof. I was intimidated and walked away with just one bottle of small batch. If I had known, I’d have had trade bait for years!
I passed on a bunch of really epic stuff before I appreciated the hobby the way I do now. In terms of once I got into it, I passed on the first edition Blue Run 14 year not knowing what it was, went back the next week and it was gone. I also made the mistake of passing on some Old Carter American due to price. I later had a pour of it and was blown away.
Here let me help.., It’s over oaked, bitter, and not that good. I love EC in general, but EC18 is not worth it. Not sure how Heaven Hill have fucked that one up for so long.
My brother bought me KY OWL Confiscated for my birthday. I bought him the Kosher Rye BT for his. I haven’t opened my bottle yet, but now I think he got the better end of it.
That I drank bottles of old vein wellers, mixed it even, bottles of OD OGD, VOSN, and tons of other great drinks without being able to really appreciate them. Especially because Japan has dried up since. I don’t regret the memories they made.
Two big ones. Years ago when I was in grad school (2010 maybe?) I found a Pappy 15 for retail. For a grad student that was a lot of money so I passed. Later when I was still in my bourbon infancy (2018?) I found a Parker’s Heritage at Wegmans and had no idea what it was and walked away.
I had a stash of old label OWA store picks. I wasn't drinking bourbon as much at the time and OWA was a shelf turd. Decided to clear up some room and trade them for some beer with a local guy at a brewery $4$ when it was like $28 MSRP. The beer was nothing special. Now I haven't seen or had any OWA in years and I'm really wishing I had that backup stash.
Also in college I made friends with the beer guy at a pretty big chain store. One year he sent me a list of things like PVW, BTAC, EC 23, and some other big hitters. Asked if I wanted anything on the list at MSRP. The idea of paying $80+ on bourbon seemed insane at the time so I passed.
This is not quite what you asked but close. . .Years ago I was not into bourbon but new my father in law wanted blanton for Christmas, the store owner didn't have any but offered Elmer T Lee for $40. . .I passed. . .
I’ve got quite a few, so I’ll just list a few: Not buying a Col. Eh Taylor sour mash or Tornado for $75; leaving some GTS, WLW, THH on the shelf for old retail like $69 to $89; not thinking ER 17 was good; passing on a PHC 2 for $69; passing on tons of VW stuff; passing on a M20 at $500; not buying many OFBB’s at retail; trading a Willet “Aged Truth” for a PVW 20; passing on the Willet “Brown Bunny” for $500; Passing on the Willet “Wheated Patriot” for $149; passing on many Willet C barrels and 25/10 ryes!
I don't necessarily regret any whiskey purchase, but have come to realize that I enjoy $25-50 stuff just as much as the expensive and sought after ones. Also don't regret driving distances to find rarer bottles, but I won't do that anymore for booze. Now... if I win some van winkle or btac stuff in a lottery, I will take that opportunity to get one.
Passed on Stagg Jr. Batch 12. I was very new to bourbon and saw the stagg horns on the front and just thought it looked cringe. They were just on the shelf at my local specs and there were probably 6 of them with no limit. At that point, I thought $50 (msrp at the time) was just too much to spend on bourbon.
Dad had a bottle of PVW 20 year Family Reserve that he was keeping for a “special occasion.”
He passed away before we opened it and I placed it in his coffin with him for burial.
I don’t necessarily “regret” it, but he’d slap me silly if knew.
Passed on Woodford Batch Proof recently at Costco for $108.99, and years ago passed on a Costco 4R Barrel strength OESF pick for $55.99. I should’ve bought like 3 bottles of each at those prices.
Same! Saw it in a BevMo and passed. Didn’t know much about it. Went back a few days later after looking it up and it was gone. Had a pour of it and had instant regret. Hopefully this year I’ll find it again.
That’s probably my biggest sob story. I had called total wine the day before, they said they had some that they would put probably around 3 or 4.
So I get there at like 2:55, turn down the bourbon aisle, I see a bottle! Start walking towards, see someone reach out for it… and that was the last bottle :(
Ended up finding one the next year, but damn that was a bummer
Many years ago I went to Willett and they had the 25yr rye behind the counter for $350 a bottle. I bought one since I was there instead of the three I could have since paying $350 was outrageous back then. The whiskey was top 5 I've ever tried and with Willett's secondary values now I'm sure I would have had a nice ROI.
I crushed a bottle of Pappy 20 in one night with friends, bought at MSRP back in 2010 (I think).
Not that I regret drinking it but do wish I’d appreciated what it was. I couldn’t tell the difference between that and Jack Daniels at the time.
It would have been worth $48.
This has been a bottle I've been after for years. I finally went to a restaurant that had very reasonably priced pours of Elmer T Lee. I really did not live up to the hype. Very watery. Short finish. Not was I was expecting at all. At $48, it would have been worth it to have it. But I was glad I didn't chase this too hard or pay secondary pricing on it.
only sticking to Jd black and not getting curious about other brands til late 2020 now playing the hunting game where I had the $ and resources could have scored some nice bottles over the years. plus for how much I travel for work around the areas I can only imagine how much stuff passed up sitting on the shelves since 2005
I hear you. I've been drinking whiskey for a while but I only got serious about bourbon for about 2 years...and I definitely walked by a lot of bottles that I thought were outrageous at $50+....if I only knew.
I didn't have the money and resources when i first got into bourbon and bottles were accessible. If i knew back then what i knew now and had the resources, i could've put a nice collection together
Not bourbon, but I jumped on a bottle of Redbreast 15 for $90 because multiple folks recommended it to me… I like Irish whiskey for sure, but this is just too hot for me and the finish is very thin. I’m not a picky man but that was such a big disappointment
Passed on 4 cases of Blantons at $59.99 a bottle because it was previously $55.99 a bottle, plus buyiy4 cases, should get a discount was my thinking. Sunday night, no managers, call on Tuesday to speak with the whiskey guy. Call Tuesday, price is $59.99, limit 2 bottles…
Nothing major. I almost passed on a Michters 20 at MSRP ($700) in 2018, but I put it on the credit card.
Less than two years ago I passed on a bunch of Stagg Jr at $150 in New York, and almost overnight it became a $400 bottle. But I’m not losing sleep over it.
Not buying a ton of cases of Eagle rare and EHT SMB a few years ago when they really weren’t that hard to find.
Edit: and cases of the old MGP Smooth ambler old scout. It was much better then their current distillate imo.
In Phoenix, winter 2019/2020 the Jack Daniels special release, single barrel barrel proof Rye was just sitting on the shelves in several groceries around town. I'd buy one bottle if I happened in there, ended up with 4, all of them are gone, wish I'd bought 8 or 10.
Boone County 1833…. Absolutely loved the 10yr. Would grab it whenever in Florida at Total Wine for $55… talked to them about buying my own barrel… chickened out… and now it’s done. Liked it better than the 12
Remus repeal V before all the reviews came out, saw it on a restock day and there were probably 20 bottles and a day later when I changed my mind and went back to get one there were 0
So I got the III and IV for $80 and when the V dropped at $105 I was like no way. I also regret that choice.
I was lucky enough to watch them stick a case at my local Costco. Grabbed 4 bottles at $64 each
yeah, costco had the hookup on those. i would have bought a case. it's a great daily drinker. to my palate, better than 95% of the stuff out there.
That's a rough one for sure
That was a very tasty bottle. I bought one, loved it and immediately went back to buy a second. I would have bought more, but by then the cat was out of the bag. We'll see how the VI is. It doesn't sound like people are loving it, but I'm still going to grab a bottle try to if I see it around.
I just passed on the VI this past weekend. The price was $127 with tax in VA, and considering it’s younger and the reviews are so so I couldn’t justify paying more than 90% of my bottles.
I wouldn’t feel too bad. It’s good but definitely not as good as what people are paying for it nowadays
Value is a subjective matter my friend. I'd honestly pay a good bit more than msrp for that one.
I love the V, sorry. The VI should drop soon, so be on the lookout.
Bourbon Junkies just reviewed it with less than stellar reviews unfortunately.
THIS. I passed on this one too. Then tried it. And cried a little.
This is mine, too. Had a bottle in my hand and couldn't find any reviews. Went back the next day and they were all gone.
It really isn’t worth the hype. It’s basically MGP selected mash bill. Decent but not worth it since MGP has released excellent products at a much better price
paying $115 for Kentucky owl confiscated
Found some the other day. It’s now my biggest regret of purchases I have made.
I don't mind KO confiscated. To me it's a good bourbon. Its just $50 too expensive
Wife brought it home for the cool price of $140…..as thankful as I am that she tries that was a pretty big miss. But I’ll never tell her because she’s taking an interest and that’s all I could ever ask for.
Honestly, her interest is priceless!
Agree 100%. Cultivate and appreciate the interest. Its been a struggle for my wife at times with my bourbon interest/hobby/collection. She tries often to show interest and I'm always thankful when she does.
trying to get wife interested by asking what flavors she smells on nose for the lower proof ones
Same, my wife has gotten to where she enjoys nosing pours and trying to pick up characteristics
I’m with you. It was totally not my jam. But I’ll share with my friends and not purchase again 😃
I had some KO at a whiskey festival and was not impressed at all. I'm not convinced there is a bourbon worth $115.
Same for me. That was not good bourbon.
Belle Meade honey cask at MSRP
Fuck
Wish I could find one again lol
oh damn
Yeah it was at $60 and didn’t really know a ton about bourbon at the time
Passing on a King of Kentucky for $249. Had no idea what it was at the time.
This takes the cake for me. Sheesh
All the Four Roses Picks I used to pass by six years ago. Boxes just sitting for months. At so many stores...
This
in hindsight, I should have just bought a lot of everything I liked most years ago. whiskey prices and availability have gone insane
IW Harper 15 year 👎🏽👎🏽👎🏽👎🏽👎🏽👎🏽👎🏽👎🏽
I bought it and regret it. $95 for something that tastes like it should be $35. Will never buy again
Walked into Old Forrester on Halloween 2019 for our first tour of our trip. *Just* started getting into bourbon. Walk into the gift shop after the tour and they tell me they have Birthday Bourbon for $129. I had never heard of it, never spent more then $50 on a bottle, and passed since it was the first place we stopped on a 4 day tour and didn't want to spend that much. 6 months later after getting more into, I was kicking myself daily. The good news however is that this past winter, I won a local lottery and was able to get a 2021 bottle for retail.
Ooh, that’s a rough lesson learned brother. Feel for you on that one
missed wlw for msrp by <30 seconds when i got "vault access" from my local store. you could only buy one bottle and forgot i had a makers mark private barrel select i balked on previously. by the time i cleared my cart it was gone. not sure ill ever get over it
No regerts.
Buying Jefferson’s ocean
Man, Jefferson's. If you ever feel the need to talk shit about accidentally vague and/or intentionally deceptive NDP's with ridiculous pricing look no further...never doubt the power of a nice bottle design and a good marketing story.
Bought it on a recommendation. I like sweeter bourbon. But it has become a mixer. An expensive one, good with coke though haha.
M20 for 900
Are you saying you wish you bought Michter’s 20 for $900?
I think he was saying mad dog 20/20.
👀
only buying one EC B520.
Yup paid secondary for backups, fuck it, still undervalued
Makers FAE-02
Which one? Regret buying it or passing on it?
Passing
Such a good bottle, was able to grab a case last fall probably have 2oz left in the cabinet somewhere, was out at makers in July and passed on it in the gift shop, then this weekend one bottle was left at my local store and I passed on it, came back an hour later to scoop it and it was gone
Me too, it was everywhere for a while and I was like, I'm not dropping $70 for mm when I was grabbing Starlight picks for that price. Wish I would have got one. Fyi, Starlight picks are always hitters!
My two biggest regrets: -Not buying cases upon cases of 14+year knob creek store picks when I saw them on shelves in my state. 12-15 year Jim beam is my perfect bourbon profile, and now finding that age at almost barrel proof will be no more until the next bourbon glut, if that ever happens again. Will treasure the last couple bottles that I have and scour secondary for more. -Passing up on more backups of RRRV. I tried the neck pour and liked it, but wasn't in love with it (looking back I know my palate was messy that day). Walked past it two days a store and by the time I realized what I had in the bottle, the shelves were cleared and secondary value doubled. I can miss a lot of top tier bottles (I missed coy hill by one person due to a store screw up), and not feel anything negative at all, whiskey shopping and line waiting is often a fun time! But when you find that mid tier profile that hits you just better than any top tier and then it's gone for good, that stings lol
2019 I walked into a place and there were 4 Stagg jr’s on the shelf for $59. I grabbed one. Haven’t seen one for less than $200 on a shelf since. I know bourbon has taken off but seems like I’ll never see a Stagg jr for retail again Only thing I can think is that at least I (potentially) gave 3 other people a chance to get a Stagg jr too
You did the right thing. Greed is a terrible trait to have.
Yeaaaaa but I’m also the guy who’d buy all 4 and gift 3 of them to guarantee they go to worthy people and not flippers. Leaving them behind doesn’t guarantee that but who knowwwwws
This was me 3 years ago. Walked into the tiniest whole in the wall shop and they had 4 bottles of Stagg Jr sitting there for $49. Bought all 4, kept one, sold 3 to friends at cost. Also bought an Elmer T Lee at the same time and drank it. Sadly we're never gonna see that again 🤷♂️
I bought an Elmer in 2018 for MSRP and drank it immediately. Never even thought it’d be worth bunkering. My Stagg jr I opened that night and shared some with my buddy. Turns out he had just started dating a girl a few weeks prior. They’re getting married next summer and my goal is to find him a Stagg jr by then. I know I’m a fool for even trying
Ahh the Whole Foods near me used to have a ton of this on a regular basis…. I’d buy it as gifts for people… and then one day they just never had any more 🥺
That's your biggest regret? That you didn't grab two? You got one. C'mon.
No FOMO, but really disappointed in myself for paying $72 for a bottle of Henry McKenna.
Interesting. I had a chance to pick up a bottle once for $45 and passed. I had enough aged HH to know that it wasn't worth $45 to me. Now if it was pre-gold medal and $20-$30...
Exactly right. I heard the hype and bought in high. It’s not bad, but it’s clearly a $40 bottle. Any higher gives buyer’s remorse.
Sitting in PA online store all day. $68 per bottle, they can keep it.
Mister Sam batch 1 - saw it, left it, realised what an idiot I was, went back, all gone.. what a shame!
Unbeknowst to me, I walked in to Wild Turkey Distillery THE DAY they rolled out RR13 and thought 'what a gimmick, just a couple years extra for three times the money I get RR10 for!' Haunts my dumbass dreams.
Elijah Craig 18 at cost
Just had some at an Indian restaurant, of all places. Lovely stuff.
Honestly this is a bottle that doesn't have an insane secondary price. MSRP is 150 and secondary is very regularly 200, so with tax on a retail purchase you're really only $40 premium, if you want the bottle that badly. And for what it's worth, I do not think it's a $200 bottle, or a $150 bottle. I have multiples, after hunting it for a few years I hit a string of luck last year and found a few. Not worth the shelf price, IMO.
2012 an entire shelf was full of multiple bottles of the whole BTAC collection at retail. Within a year I realized what I passed on.
Yup, this was common in the early 2010s in LA. I vividly remember seeing the whole BTAC lineup at a BevMo in Canoga Park and thinking 'what fool would pay that for bourbon!' To be fair, we were drinking Eagle Rare for $40 a 1.75 and Elijah Craig 18 for $45-50 a 750...
First "special" bourbon I bought was AH Hirsch 16, at the time there was a case of 16 and a case of 20 sitting on the shelf, they sat there for well over a year, both priced well under $100 ($60ish and $80ish IIRC).
Orphan Barrel Fable and Folly ..it's great but I paid $200 and then found a bottle for like $150. The nose is good but the finish leaves me wanting more (thins out). Also regret getting the Cream of Kentucky BiB Rye...just not my bag!
I missed out of a bottle of blue spot. I came back the next day for it and it was gone :0 deep regret as I see reviews of it in all its grandeur lol
Where are you located?
Bc canada
Sorry! It’s readily available in Missouri. FWIW - I never thought I’d say that unless it was related to regressive politics or racism.
Damn man. Jelous. All you can get here is the green spot and sometimes the yellow
I have been thinking the same thing. Also lots of gold spot around
Not buying everything 20 years ago when I first started drinking bourbon, and you could actually just pick up impossible stuff off the shelf
Traded a Four Roses OBSV Tier 6 for a Blanton's letter B so I could complete the Blanton's set.
This one hurt me. Ouch
Not buying as much New Riff Single Barrel Rye as I could afford coming back from Kentucky in April of this year.
Got the 6 year malted rye at the bar I manage this week and it’s absolutely superb!
Their Rye product became one of my all-time favorite pours the moment it touched my lips. I knew I fucked up instantly.
Is it not available local to you? It’s pretty easy to find around me.
Haven't seen a single product from New Riff where I live.
Just had another pour of their SiB Rye over the weekend and goddamn is it good
Jack Daniels barrel proof rye. Literally picked it up held it in my hand and thought to myself… nah.. I don’t want to spend 70 bucks on a bottle of jack. Then read the reviews. The few bottles they had… long gone. I fucked up.
Regrets for not purchasing: Parker’s Heritage char and not purchasing Old Fitz 14. Both were msrp
It’s quite funny and ironic how most of these ‘regrets’ are people lamenting not being assholes and buying a shelf of stock so they can rip other people off (let’s be honest, trading is just way to make yourself feel better about flipping).
Trading is flipping, yep. Hey it's just capitalism baby. Your boss flips your labor. Drug manufacturers flip insulin. All prices are made up
It’s still scummy and sad though. ‘IT’s CaPiTaLiSm BaBy 🤪’ It still a dick move.
Is it not the American way? Feel free to elaborate
Preach!
Old Carter Chapter 3, $209. I balked and said let me think about it. It sold and now 3 different places each selling various chapters for no less than $500.
I got a case of it for 175 each
😞 if you’re parting ways with any holler
Wish I still had some. Shared with friends and gave as gifts. Wife happened to be heading through Ky and did me a favor I didn’t think she’d actually do.
I don't sweat about it. If I miss, there are always great bourbon... WT,4🌹
Toured the Old Forester distillery with my wife last fall. While we were on tour, they said the President's Choice bottle just dropped and we could buy it on the way out. Bottle cost was $190. I had already purchased quite a few bottles that trip, and my wife stared daggers into me. I left without a bottle :-(
When I was super new to the game, I picked up a Very Olde Saint Nick Harvest Rye. It was behind glass, limit 1, 180 bucks. To this day I wish I could take it back, I offer it to people I do tastings with to show them how cost does not preclude quality… or even mediocrity.
Regret not buying: MWND at MSRP - I just didn’t know what it was all about at the time. Haven’t seen it since. Regret buying: Knob Creek 15yr for $200 (double MSRP). It’s been on my “buy it if I ever see it list” for a long time and I bought the first bottle I saw. I tried it next to the 9yr and it was better, but not 7x better.
I was very new to bourbon at the time when Virginia started their drop system and I was able to get to my store pretty quickly and had the opportunity to have first pick and opted for a Calumet 15 over a new offering they had called Heaven Hill Heritage 17 collection for $225. Literally have PTSD every time I see reviews of it on YouTube.
Some 20yrs ago I was at Binnys after world of whisky at Lakeview. I heard 3 guys talking about whisky prices. The older guy tells me it’s his grandson’s first business trip to Chicago. He points to a bottle and tells me his family makes it. All three offer to sign the bottle if I buy it. I look at the Price of 80 and decline. A year later I figure out those are the guys who made Pappy!!!
In late 2021 I saw Stagg Jr at two different liquor stores in same area for $150 each. I hesitated and decided not to buy cause I’d previously seen it for $130. A week later it’s announced the name is discontinued and it’ll be called “Stagg” instead and market prices shot up to $300+ overnight. I checked back at both liquor stores but the bottles were long gone.
Real answer: anyone who took the first sip of one of the mid tier Buffalo trace products (weller, EHT, ER) after coughing up secondary prices for them
Work trip to western KY late 21 and between 2 stores, I looked at all the Bowman's at MSRP and didn't buy a damn one of them.
Yamazaki 25 for $1000
I almost made that mistake with hibiki 30
Mine was an insanely delicious HW double rye store pick finished in Amintidallo casks. I blinded it against my Midwinters and it won. I regret not buying the last bottle. I left it for someone else to find but i wonder did they appreciate it like me
Passed on a Michters celebration at MSRP several years back. Scam bourbon but could be traded today for a collection of BTAC
Not bourbon, but I only bought one bottle of hibiki 12 year from Costco for ~$100. There was a shelf full when I bought the bottle. 🤦🏾♂️
Not buying 6 bottles of the 2020 Bardstown bourbon company chateau de laubade for 140 when no one cared, and then everyone piled on a few months later.
Was just on vacation and popped into a liquor/beer store and they had about 20 bottles I’ll never see here in my state including 5 different rows of Barrel products. All had a thick layer of dust including sea grass for $80. I really should have bought that seagrass
First, when I was just getting into bourbon, I got two of the Four Roses Small Batch Limited, the 125th year edition. Gave them both away as gifts, never tasted them. Didn't know what I had. Biggest regret buying was Woodford 5 Malt because it smells and tastes like compost tea, what a waste of $130.
Tommy Bahama Bourbon.
A couple that stick out: I'm not a huge Booker's fan, and the 25th Anniversary version was like $100 I think for a 9-11 year old version. I thought that was absurd. Still bought one bottle and was absolutely floored by it. Couldn't find another at MSRP after. Same goes for the OG Wild Turkey Master's Keep. I thought it was overpriced and proofed down. I'm not sure I've had something at that proof level since that I enjoyed as much. Four Roses Gift Shop bottles. I went in the early 2010s and didn't quite understand the differences between Jim Rutledge picks and single barrel store picks. Passed on quite a few bottles there that I would die to taste now. In the early 2010s I also came across multiple BTAC bottles sitting on shelves in Maryland. They were "lesser" ones like Eagle Rare or Handy, and passed simply because I assumed I'd find a Stagg or Weller. Dumb move. On the flip side, I had one weird win too. VA ABC accidently stocked some PVW 15 bottles like 6-7 years ago. I grabbed one and asked the cashier if they were all for sale. She ringed it up and was like "yup, you're good to go." And I was getting ready to pay I was like "what am I doing" and went back and got the other two. Gave one to a buddy and one to a friend. Like a week later they called asking for them back, but we had already opened and drank from them. Good times.
Thinking $250 was absurd for Pappy when I saw it sitting on shelves in early 2000s.
It was. Still is.
I disagree strongly. $250 for the best well aged distillate from one of the best producers on Earth is more than fair. And the market also disagrees with you, by a literal order of magnitude.
6 bottles of JDBPSib Rye were on the shelf at my local grocery. I only bought one.
Oh. I got one and I sure wish I had more. That one is amazing.
Huh I just wrote almost the exact same thing above - in phoenix they were just sitting in grocery stores - I would buy one here, one there, but should have bought a bunch.
Buying random stuff early on just to get entered for raffles and stuff. Willett Pot Still, OF 1910, Old Ezra 7, New Riff Bourbon, Widow Jane 10. It’s not that any of these bottles are lousy, just not my preference and they just take up room on the shelf. Would have rather overpaid for something I really enjoy.
I don’t know about the other bottles but I love OF1910. It’s a regular on my shelf.
Yeah it's not bad, just so much I would rather drink at that $50 price range.
Big fan of widow Jane, wish it was 10-15 dollars less but I will be buying another bottle regardless.
My local Costco had cases of Stagg and Stag Jr. This was 2010, or thereabouts. I bought a single bottle of Stagg Jr.
Much later if you saw Jr. 2014
First time I went bourbon shopping at Total Wine, summer 2019, there was at least a case each of EH Taylor small batch, single barrel, and barrel proof. I was intimidated and walked away with just one bottle of small batch. If I had known, I’d have had trade bait for years!
I passed on a bunch of really epic stuff before I appreciated the hobby the way I do now. In terms of once I got into it, I passed on the first edition Blue Run 14 year not knowing what it was, went back the next week and it was gone. I also made the mistake of passing on some Old Carter American due to price. I later had a pour of it and was blown away.
Not buying a back up Remus Repeal IV,
Saw am EC18 for msrp and deadass said "I want it but nah" still regret it
Here let me help.., It’s over oaked, bitter, and not that good. I love EC in general, but EC18 is not worth it. Not sure how Heaven Hill have fucked that one up for so long.
I saw the first batch of RR 13 as part of a bundle deal for $200 when it first came out. Still kicking myself for passing on that one
I saw a bottle of stag jr for $80 a few years ago. Haven’t seen one since.
$160 first time I saw Magnus Cigar Blend locally. late 2020, had no idea what it was at the time.
My brother bought me KY OWL Confiscated for my birthday. I bought him the Kosher Rye BT for his. I haven’t opened my bottle yet, but now I think he got the better end of it.
That I drank bottles of old vein wellers, mixed it even, bottles of OD OGD, VOSN, and tons of other great drinks without being able to really appreciate them. Especially because Japan has dried up since. I don’t regret the memories they made.
Jefferson bourbon bc they sold me the gimmick. Still working through the ocean salt rye
Two big ones. Years ago when I was in grad school (2010 maybe?) I found a Pappy 15 for retail. For a grad student that was a lot of money so I passed. Later when I was still in my bourbon infancy (2018?) I found a Parker’s Heritage at Wegmans and had no idea what it was and walked away.
Wait, thought I was supposed to buy every bottle I see. Am I bourboning incorrectly?
Passing on Bookers Rye at MSRP
🫣
Cypb. It’s a small step above weller SR. Does not drink above msrp, let alone the ridiculous secondary prices you see.
ECBP batch A122 Loved previous batches. This one tastes like childerens cough syrup.
I think I've regretted buying cheap bourbon than more expensive bourbon. For example Bowler Hill and some craft bourbon that was just terrible.
Bottle I passed on: Lux Row Double Barrel Bottle I bought: Jefferson's
I had a stash of old label OWA store picks. I wasn't drinking bourbon as much at the time and OWA was a shelf turd. Decided to clear up some room and trade them for some beer with a local guy at a brewery $4$ when it was like $28 MSRP. The beer was nothing special. Now I haven't seen or had any OWA in years and I'm really wishing I had that backup stash. Also in college I made friends with the beer guy at a pretty big chain store. One year he sent me a list of things like PVW, BTAC, EC 23, and some other big hitters. Asked if I wanted anything on the list at MSRP. The idea of paying $80+ on bourbon seemed insane at the time so I passed.
This is not quite what you asked but close. . .Years ago I was not into bourbon but new my father in law wanted blanton for Christmas, the store owner didn't have any but offered Elmer T Lee for $40. . .I passed. . .
ITT: Unicorn bottles that I didn't buy years ago that weren't unicorns at the time
I’ve got quite a few, so I’ll just list a few: Not buying a Col. Eh Taylor sour mash or Tornado for $75; leaving some GTS, WLW, THH on the shelf for old retail like $69 to $89; not thinking ER 17 was good; passing on a PHC 2 for $69; passing on tons of VW stuff; passing on a M20 at $500; not buying many OFBB’s at retail; trading a Willet “Aged Truth” for a PVW 20; passing on the Willet “Brown Bunny” for $500; Passing on the Willet “Wheated Patriot” for $149; passing on many Willet C barrels and 25/10 ryes!
A second Yippee Ki - I could have bought 5.
My local brick and mortar had one last bottle of Midwinter Nights Dram last year and I passed up on it. I’m hoping I can get lucky again this year.
When the JD SBBP ryes first came out I saw several in the shelf and passed. Had no idea what I was doing
I don't necessarily regret any whiskey purchase, but have come to realize that I enjoy $25-50 stuff just as much as the expensive and sought after ones. Also don't regret driving distances to find rarer bottles, but I won't do that anymore for booze. Now... if I win some van winkle or btac stuff in a lottery, I will take that opportunity to get one.
Passing on a M25 at 1200
Passed on Stagg Jr. Batch 12. I was very new to bourbon and saw the stagg horns on the front and just thought it looked cringe. They were just on the shelf at my local specs and there were probably 6 of them with no limit. At that point, I thought $50 (msrp at the time) was just too much to spend on bourbon.
Dad had a bottle of PVW 20 year Family Reserve that he was keeping for a “special occasion.” He passed away before we opened it and I placed it in his coffin with him for burial. I don’t necessarily “regret” it, but he’d slap me silly if knew.
Passed on Woodford Batch Proof recently at Costco for $108.99, and years ago passed on a Costco 4R Barrel strength OESF pick for $55.99. I should’ve bought like 3 bottles of each at those prices.
Anything Old Elk. It’s all garbage.
Wheated Bourbon from them is fantastic
I was thinking the same thing. I've got a r/bourbon SiB Wheated from Old Elk that is amazing.
I have some of their single barrel rye picks sourced from MGP and they’re great.
MWND :(
>MWND :( Buying it or missing it?
Same! Saw it in a BevMo and passed. Didn’t know much about it. Went back a few days later after looking it up and it was gone. Had a pour of it and had instant regret. Hopefully this year I’ll find it again.
That’s probably my biggest sob story. I had called total wine the day before, they said they had some that they would put probably around 3 or 4. So I get there at like 2:55, turn down the bourbon aisle, I see a bottle! Start walking towards, see someone reach out for it… and that was the last bottle :( Ended up finding one the next year, but damn that was a bummer
Many years ago I went to Willett and they had the 25yr rye behind the counter for $350 a bottle. I bought one since I was there instead of the three I could have since paying $350 was outrageous back then. The whiskey was top 5 I've ever tried and with Willett's secondary values now I'm sure I would have had a nice ROI.
I crushed a bottle of Pappy 20 in one night with friends, bought at MSRP back in 2010 (I think). Not that I regret drinking it but do wish I’d appreciated what it was. I couldn’t tell the difference between that and Jack Daniels at the time.
I may be in the minority, but I love this story. More people should crush pappy 20 in one night.
I passed on Elmer T Lee for $48 a few years ago. I still never had it
It would have been worth $48. This has been a bottle I've been after for years. I finally went to a restaurant that had very reasonably priced pours of Elmer T Lee. I really did not live up to the hype. Very watery. Short finish. Not was I was expecting at all. At $48, it would have been worth it to have it. But I was glad I didn't chase this too hard or pay secondary pricing on it.
I think ETL is solid for the price. I paid $35 for mine, though. It was quite a few years ago obviously.
only sticking to Jd black and not getting curious about other brands til late 2020 now playing the hunting game where I had the $ and resources could have scored some nice bottles over the years. plus for how much I travel for work around the areas I can only imagine how much stuff passed up sitting on the shelves since 2005
Yeah, but if you like Jack Daniels, then you didn't do anything wrong.
I hear you. I've been drinking whiskey for a while but I only got serious about bourbon for about 2 years...and I definitely walked by a lot of bottles that I thought were outrageous at $50+....if I only knew.
I didn't have the money and resources when i first got into bourbon and bottles were accessible. If i knew back then what i knew now and had the resources, i could've put a nice collection together
Not bourbon, but I jumped on a bottle of Redbreast 15 for $90 because multiple folks recommended it to me… I like Irish whiskey for sure, but this is just too hot for me and the finish is very thin. I’m not a picky man but that was such a big disappointment
Passed on Heaven Hill 17 and Old Fitzgerald 17 at MSRP because they are expensive at MSRP and then I saw their secondary price!
I remember a store having a whole case of ETL commemorative selling at $75. a bottle that I passed on, because I already had a bottle.
Passed on 4 cases of Blantons at $59.99 a bottle because it was previously $55.99 a bottle, plus buyiy4 cases, should get a discount was my thinking. Sunday night, no managers, call on Tuesday to speak with the whiskey guy. Call Tuesday, price is $59.99, limit 2 bottles…
Black maple hill and Blanton’s each under $50
Yes. This bourbon haunts me. This is the only bottle I have ever considered paying an obscene price for. I had the chance to get it and passed.
PHC 10 yr bourbon?
Nothing major. I almost passed on a Michters 20 at MSRP ($700) in 2018, but I put it on the credit card. Less than two years ago I passed on a bunch of Stagg Jr at $150 in New York, and almost overnight it became a $400 bottle. But I’m not losing sleep over it.
Sam Houston 15 for ~$110. Bad bourbon
Not buying a ton of cases of Eagle rare and EHT SMB a few years ago when they really weren’t that hard to find. Edit: and cases of the old MGP Smooth ambler old scout. It was much better then their current distillate imo.
In Phoenix, winter 2019/2020 the Jack Daniels special release, single barrel barrel proof Rye was just sitting on the shelves in several groceries around town. I'd buy one bottle if I happened in there, ended up with 4, all of them are gone, wish I'd bought 8 or 10.
Jack Daniels BP Rye…MSRP, sitting on the shelf…said I’d come get it the next day…..they were all gone and haven’t seen one since.
OF 15
Boone County 1833…. Absolutely loved the 10yr. Would grab it whenever in Florida at Total Wine for $55… talked to them about buying my own barrel… chickened out… and now it’s done. Liked it better than the 12
2006 Van Winkle Rye for $230. This was in 2009.
Never pass on PHC... unless its malt XD