I Went GRAND RESERVE At Total Wine! Was It Worth It??
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- Опубліковано 8 лип 2024
- I Spent $2500 To Join The Grand Reserve Club At Total Wine!? Was It Worth It??
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Thank you all very much... saved me $2500!
I am a grand reserve member as well and I agree with you 100%. It's not worth spending the money just to be a grand reserve member, but if you spent the money anyway you can get some benefits like the ones you mentioned. I get many more allocated bottles from smaller shops in my area where relationships matter.
I first made Grand Reserve in 2016 (I was buying expensive wine then) and then you got an email and had to rush to the store. I usually only got Old Rip , and once got Pappy 15. Sometime in 17 it went to the current lottery style, but with one HUGE difference, everyone had an equal chance of getting something. There were 2-3/ year and I got something almost every time. The last time I got something was Birthday Bourbon in 2020. They then changed to a point per dollar spent system that favors the biggest spenders (wine collectors who spend $100K/yr on Bordeaux futures). I got nothing in 2021, and no longer make sure to hit the tier (stopped buying wine to age at that point). Unless you’re spending at least 10K yr, you’re wasting your time getting into Grand Reserve now.
Every year you gotta spend $2500 to give to some big Corporation. No thanks, I buy local and build relationships with Liquor Stores that are fair priced and don’t play games to get Allocated Bottles. Thanks for the information.
I was in Grand Reserve for several years and won squat. so it's a no-go now for me... besides, they rarely have what I am looking for anymore
I spend about 5,000 per year at Total Wine and they don't ever call me. I spend about 15,000 per year at Spec's and they call me weekly offering Allocated bottles at s.r.p. I do turn many down, because they are not my jam and i want others to have a chance at them. I have 1,200 bottles of Bourbon/Whiskey........so i don't need for anything. Although, I do love some Allocated. Every bottle I own is open. The first thing I do when arriving home is open and taste. Total Wine is a Sucky retailer!
That's one hell of a collection! Wanna to friends? 🤔👍🥃
Specs is my main source of shopping as well. I am not on your level but I do get calls a few times a year
For $2500 I can overpay for a lot of bottles on the secondary market that I actually want.
I was a Grand Reserve member in 2023. I got picked twice out of the 5 lotteries I entered. Picked up a Blanton's and Weller Full Proof Store Pick since I've never had them. I will tell you, I probably am not going to be a Grand Reserve member again. While their prices on baseline products are great, once you get to the step up products, their pricing is awful. I shop elsewhere, *cough* Costco *cough*.
😂
@@whiskeybondednot sure why but the comment bar is missing for me on this video but couldn't agree more. Been in for three years and always nothing on the lotteries! Pure bs to me. Did get an opportunity to buy a russell's camp nelson for 329. About it!
I was a grand reserve member for 2/3 of the year last year at TW Arden in Sac… due to my status, I got offered numerous bottles for the hell of it via email, excluding the ranking lottery system which made it well worth it for me. On top of that, they had the Saturday 8am releases for GR members.. in total last year due to my GR status… I made out with Weller FP, 2 Rock Hill Farms, 2 Blantons SFTB, AE Cask Strength, Weller SiB, Russel’s Rickhouse CNF, Michters Toasted Rye, and a Van Winkle Lot B. So at least my experience, GR was wellll worth it!!!
That's a big haul! Nicely done. 👍🥃
You do not have to spend $2500 to get GR, if you are in a state that has 10x multipliers on wine... you can spend $250 and get GR. There are also other multipliers that make it way easier to get GR if you are just buying the way you normally do.
I hit grand reserve status for this year. Got an email for 1 lottery so far and got a rock hill farms, so finally completed the #2 vertical. The one thing I didn’t really appreciate was when receiving the email about the lottery and setting the bottles in ranking order the confirmation stated that to better my chances to make sure to buy more before the draw date. It made me feel like Ralphie in the Christmas story when he found out that the decoder ring was a commercial.
I guess I’ll have to see if any more lotteries pan out.
😂 Thanks for adding your experience!
If you have to pay $2500 to qualify, just pay secondary for BTAC and pocket the rest.
I also spent over $2500 to get to Grand Reserve. 2 lotteries later - Nothing. I can probably spend money on secondary market and buy something I want (for a lot less).
In any case - this year, I am purchasing booze at Costco and not bother driving to Total Wine. I am fairly convince (along with my buddy - who also did the Grand Reserve) that these lotteries are probably rigged.I am not convinced anybody gets anything (other than insiders).
They add odds for extra points. So, if you are living in a bigger metro where people are spending $5000 to $10000 a year, it's hopeless. You also go down to 0 points on Jan 1. So you will not have a shot until you spend at least another $2000 to $4000.
I hit grand reserve. I have gotten 2 Weller 12, an Elmer T Lee, a Rockhill farms and a Blantons gold. From December through now. That being said, it’s a lot of money and it’s lead to me spending more money. It’s been fun but I won’t be going for grand reserve again.
Thanks for adding your experience. Sounds like you did better than most. 👍🥃
I'm near Tulsa Ok, the closest Total will be 2.5 hours W near Oklahoma City. I'm from Texas and go to Dallas occasionally. I usually do a curbside order at Total and drive by and they bring my box outside. I usually do a $300-$400 order. I don't want to and can't do $210 a month for a chance at most of bottles you'll never get. I usually buy stuff I can't get here in Oklahoma.
Great video and you shoot straight as always 🥃🥃
Thank you! 👍🥃
Thx 4 ur honesty. I wouldn't do that anyway. I just wish I could trade some of the whiskeys I have right now!!!
I was a Reserve member for 2yrs starting in 2022. 1st time out i got a Old RIP for $100 and thought this is great! The next 2 yrs i was either not picked or just a blantons. Wasnt worth it for me anymore. It was like just buy stuff to make the $2500 or just pay the price for the bottles i really want.
...and they charge $80 for Blanton's. I would never pay that. Blanton's is $67.50 in our big biannual drops. $60 when you find it in Walmart.
Excellent video. Total Wine here in southern Wisconsin has great prices on the Barrell products I like, but I’ve found way more at Costco for my $60 membership.
You shouldn't need a membership to buy alcohol.
In MN at least its a law that they can't require membership to purchase alcohol.
@@grantchesborough5690 , agreed. There’s 11 states that have Costco’s that don’t require a membership to purchase alcohol. The alcohol laws are all over the map here in the USA.
You won a GTS! It was worth it for you. I got in line as a GRM once and paid for a WFP SiB. It wasn’t worth it for me.
Very helpful man, you just got a new subscriber.
Thank you and welcome! 🥃
I got a GR status at EOY last year, and got the subscription for the Pappy and BTAC lottery, didn't win anything. Back in April I got the invitation for the Blanton's lottery, same thing. Their prices are creeping up, so I prefer investing my money somewhere else. I only go there for bottles I plan to use in cocktails now, but not for the good stuff.
Hey Great video. I think this is good information. I like your perspective on this. I kinda look at it in a way that I am gonna spend the money so why not get the benefits. now like you if you have to spend more to meet it, then might not be worth it. Mainly because it works on the more you spend. So just because you spend the $2500 a year just means you meet minimum requirement. The more you spend above that the more chances you have to win. It still does not guarantee you anything either. I was lucky this year and won a pappy 15 which was my unicorn dream bottle. So I was happy, but I know it does not guarantee me anything in future. So if you are going to spend it, why not it does not cost anything more but what you spent anyways. But if you are having to spend more to hit it and don't really plan to spend much more, you have less odds of winning what you really want. So definitely do what's best for you and your budget. Thanks for such a great video. cheers
Thanks for taking the time to add your experience! 👍🥃
It completely depends on your location. Some metro areas have terrible odds, some not so bad.
That sams Adam utopias is nice though
I've heard similar experiences from others who are in Grand Reserve
3 years in the program only one win it was angel envy cast strength. Built a relationship with a small local shop got a George t Stagg. Very disappointing program
You may have missed out on those Blantons they tell you to come down and get. I went to two of those and they always said Blantons but had way more stuff. Got 2 Weller Full proof barrel selects for $60 each.
Great info
Been a grand reserve member for 3 years and have only ever one a single bottle of regular Blanton's, followed by "jack" and "squat." I think I'm done with it.
😂 Love this comment.
Got a bottle of bobs bourbon for 78$
I would quit drinking before I pay 2500.00 for a chance to buy liquor at msrp. Anything else in life you try to get on sale why pay 3x or more for liquor that should have never been priced over msrp.
Grand Reserve!!!! Unless you are in Michigan where the grand reserve email or lottery isn't offered!
If you wait until certain promotion events, you can get 8x points for their direct product, of which they have some good ones. If you go that route, you can get grand reserve at $312.50 and at that price, it IS worth it.
I got a Parker's Heritage my first lottery.
Oh interesting, never heard of that. Are those just marketed as 8x points events? Wondering what to look for.
@@G-Major yes, they will be on the website and in store market as a bonus event
@@wakes_inc Nice, thanks for the tip!
Grand Reserve can be done much cheaper than $2,500 if you take advantage of points multipliers. As low as $250. Just so people know.
Consider yourself lucky if you got a GTS at retail.
Over 4 years I've won a Weller Full Proof Store Pick. I could have spent that at the local points stores and gotten several bottles I wanted. Also there are tons of rare bottles they don't put into the lotteries which you have to be there at open knowing before hand, so what's the point? GR doesn't do anything to help me get a Jack Daniel's 12 yr.
I really started to sour on GR when I did get a Blanton's in a random non choice lottery only to learn that other bottles were also handed out in that round but we didn't get to rank them, they were just randomly given out. The other bottles included Russell's 13 which I had been hunting, so now it felt like I was being given some bait to keep me in the program while also being told I wasn't in the 'cool kids club'.
Well said. Thanks for adding your experience. 👍🥃
had grand reserve for a year (after purchasing the booze for my wedding there) and never saw any benefit. didnt win any lotteries, was never offered any "special" bottles. so, not really worth it for me!
Worthless in Michigan. They don’t do lotteries here so what is the point. A few free wine bags.
I had it for about 5 years. Did well when it was the log in on the computer and first come first served lottery. When they changed to new format, I have only gotten Blanton's. By the way, I shop at the same store as you.
Really? Well, say hey when you see me!
Been in for a few yrs also and only got picked once as well
Oh yeah I got in with discount coupons so I wonder if that affects drawings; 10x on purchases; so think that may
I’ve had better luck with the Grand Reserve the last year or two. Was able to get Weller full proofs, van winkle 10 and PH Double Barrel doing it. I can definitely see where you’re coming from though. I tend to go to Total Wine and a few select smaller shops than in line most of the time or pay secondary.
Glad some of us had some luck! 👍
One thing that some places have is point multipliers, so maybe you don't have to spend $2500, you can spend $250 on Spirits Direct wines and get one-time 10x points, or other Spirits Direct at a lower multiplier. I haven't seen this yet in my short time of curiosity, but it would intrigue me vs spending nearly $3k for the year.
People have brought this up and I heard of it, but personally didn't see a multipier the year I hit it. Not sure what that's about.
@@whiskeybonded I understand some places don't have that, so maybe we get the shaft here in CA.
I have been a GR member for years. I do not try to get there. I just do. I guess spending $2500 is easy to achieve for me as I buy more expensive shelf items. Initially I got great stuff in the lotteries. But that dried up around 2020. It has now come back over the last few years and I am getting good stuff. Even BTAC. Oh and like you I get offered random Blantons and I pass almost every time. Also like you it is not my closest store and is less convenient than the one down the street.
Thanks for adding your experience! 👍🥃
I got a straight from the barrel Blantons last week in the lottery. My buddy got a George t stagg for winter and a birthday bourbon last week. It’s worth it since I spend that easily every year.
You shouldn’t be easily spending that year over year
A bottle of yamazaki 18 and Balvenie 25 gets me almost there. Two of my favorites.
It’s my first year and I won Weller 12, not bad.
Funny, I just got one too. The store I got mine from does 5 a year where you get emails and just have to respond quickly to get the best bottles. Only have to spend $1000/yr and have gotten WLW, GTS since moving over from TW in 21. The funny thing is that I have gotten all the Wellers except CYPB, as TW can't sell Weller in FL as ABC has the exclusive rights.
I don’t have all of that bs to deal with at our total wines just walk in ask what’s behind the counter that’s allocated pick what you want pay for it and 👋 🥳 🎉 .
It's a bust. I have been for a few years and have only gotten a Michter 10 year rye. Great bottle, but not worth the amount it takes. I am buying very little from TW this year and moving forward.
I spent over $4k last year... didn't get anything for it. Definitely not worth it. Maybe in the 3 states that have point multipliers... but to spend at least $2500 just for wine bags and wine classes that you'll never use or attend... biggest mistake in my bourbon journey.
You're not wrong. 🤔🥃
$2,500 is a lot for sure and may not be worth it if you did not already intend to buy that much liquor. I only had to spend $500 because they had a 5x point event going on. I bought about 9 bottles of stuff which I really love to hit the $500. I just had my first lottery and got a Weller CYPB. I think you were super lucky to get a GTS, if TW guaranteed a BTAC bottle for GR that alone would be worth the $2,500!
Good point. Nice win too!
I sign up for their priority access lotteries but I hardly ever buy anything there (I don’t know if I’m GR member but sounds like I’m not). I’m not really sure how this works. It always gives me the email saying sorry I didn’t win anything. Is that cuz I’m not spending $$ there? Why would it even allow me into the lottery then?
I do not think it is worth spending money specifically in order to get this membership. If it happens organically because you have spent the money anyway, then it can't hurt to enter a lottery when one comes up. I don't hunt allocated bottles anyway, but if I stumble upon one that I would enjoy and don't have to go to a lot of trouble or pay more than it is worth, then I'm not one to argue with good fortune. So far, I haven't won a lottery. Since people who spend more get a greater chance, the rich people who spend tens of thousands of dollars or more are going to win most of the lottery spots anyway. I taste wine at wine bars regularly and get plenty of it that way, so I haven't felt the need to check out the wine classes at Total Wine, but maybe I will one day. Since it is free, I probably should take advantage of it, but I only have so much time and capacity to guzzle booze, so I have to prioritize things.
The only benefit I have received so far that worked out was an invitation to a tater bottle event at a location near me. I went close to opening, not because I expected to get anything, but because I wanted to see the spectacle of the tater line that I do not have the patience or the desire to wait in. I saw the line, laughed at it, and went in to get some good stuff that didn't require waiting in a line (and I found some great stuff that day). By the time I was done shopping, the tater line had cleared out, so I decided to see if anything was left. There was a limit of one bottle per customer. This is good; otherwise, the flippers would have descended on the place and would have bought out everything. There was a lot of Blanton's, which I think is massively overhyped, and there was a lot of Weller 12, which I also think is overhyped (the full proof is more my style), but there was still some Knob Creek 18 left over, and there were a few other higher MSRP tater bottles. Most people were buying Blanton's or Weller 12, and they wasted their time in the line to get them. I went for Knob Creek 18, and I'm glad I did. It's a bit of a mess (the 12-year is better balanced and more harmonious), but it is a fascinating mess, and I love fascinating messes. If there hadn't been anything else, I probably would have taken a Weller 12 for $40. It's worth that. It is pleasant enough to drink neat, and I'm sure it would make a good Manhattan. I didn't expect anything from this tater event, so since I got something, it exceeded my expectations. It wouldn't have been worth getting the membership only for this event, but since the membership just happened anyway (I didn't even know how much I had to buy to get it, but evidently I bought enough), it was worth checking it out. If I get invited to another one, I'll do the same thing. I won't wait in the line, but if the line clears out before I'm done shopping, I'll check out whatever remains after the selection has been picked over.
I have been beefing up my collection of spirits, and I tend to be attracted to some of the more interesting and off-the-beaten path stuff that can get expensive. Additionally, I like higher quality single malts, which aren't cheap, so I'm almost 4/5 of the way to keeping the membership through the end of next year, and this year isn't even half over yet. Total Wine isn't even the only place I shop, so I must really be blowing a lot of money on booze. It's a good thing that I pay as I go and don't run up credit card debt for it. Eventually, I'll run out of space or I will decide that I would rather waste my money on something else, and my purchases will slow, so maybe the grand reserve membership will persist only through 2025.
I’ve been Grand Reserve since March 2023 and always received a notification that I wasn’t picked. I’m not a fan of their program as it not worth spending $$ there.
Might as well pay the ridiculous secondary to get GTS and have it in hand than hope you get it and you don’t. 😂
Great point!
You gotta spend $2500 just to get in? Nah I’m all the way good on that
If you are a veteran you can get double points on purchases, even then thought it’s a lot to spend
Only on certain things unfortunately like Walcott
This isn’t something I’d be interested in I’m okay without allocated bottles. If I can’t walk in and get it I don’t need it.
first thing is people should consider it a perk , buy from where has the best price and what you what , you should not buy just to make GR thats like chasing rainbows , and most people will be upset if they dont win , but there are thousands of GR members for most stores so if they have 20 or 30 bottles and 10 thousand people your odds are small . it is called a lottery after all . ,do you expect to win the power ball everytime you play?
Good point!
So because you happened upon some bad luck you don’t like it, but if it was good luck you would’ve re-upped and likely recommended it?
I'm sure I would have yes. Just my personal experience. I've yet to hear from anyone that had a lot of good luck in the last few years. 🤔
Approximately how many lottery draws were there each year? One a month?
I think there were 4 and 2 random offers in 2023.
😮
It is absolutely not worth it!
Not Worth It
No. There are no useful perks and you never win any decent bottles in the lottery.
Thanks for sacraficing for us. I just can't allow myself to have $2500 a year worth of Bourbon at my finger tips, so.......I'm out. Just because. I have a hard enough time staying in control as it is! I have a membership (free one) and use it for savings, coupons, deals etc...I didn't even know there was a tier system with a minimum purchace amount. Thanks Conrad!
Thanks for watching and adding your thoughts!