Just want to announce that to help my fellow local whiskey drinkers with the new system, I created a Discord- discord.gg/kVrtcuH8QJ I don’t think I explained the system prior to this and why putting the allocated bottles on the shelf might actually hurt the average consumer- VA ABC used to send an email to everyone on their list whenever they put out allocated bottles. Everyone had the same notice and the same amount of time to go to the store and purchase. The reason a lot of people don’t like the new system is because now, by putting bottles on the shelf at random times, they will likely be discovered quickly by bottle flippers or customers who send info to bottle flippers. They will now have time to call their friends/family to clean out the top bottles before the average customer even knows that any bottles are available. I know it might seem like a good/fair system on paper, but honestly I think it will make things harder for the average customer. Just wanted to make that part clear since I didn’t really explain it in the video. But maybe I’m wrong and the system will be great, I hope that’s the case!
I've written my elected officials and I'll contact VA ABC as well. This new method gives an advantage to people connected to families, clans and social networks. People can communicate quickly through text message groups, discord, facebook, etc. While waiting in line, I've met teetotaler relatives who buy for their families. One guy was on vacation and he asked his father-in-law to wait in freezing temperatures for two hours. This new method is only fair if the website inventory is updated when the allocated bottles hit the shelf.
I disagree I think it's the opposite. Most abc employees do not care at all about trying to buy out all the Eagle Rare so they can resell it, it's illegal anyway. All the email system did was change it so that vultures would come descending on every drop location within 15 minutes. This is back to the old system where I would just randomly find shelves full of Eagle Rare and Buffalo Trace. Ever since they've switched to the email system I've never seen it in stores.
This system is fine. Go to the store, get lucky. Coming from a VA resident, I like the luck of the draw. Scored a Russell's 15 first week of the new system. Your commitment will reward you
This is how is works for not state controlled areas. We either have markup museum pricing, some sort of club where you earn points by spending dollars at the store, an early morning event which is heavily promoted or they just throw it on the shelf at retail. This last is the cheapest way to get bottles but you definitely have to luck into finding things.
@@joshuabunkers1494 It's a pretty terrible system if you actually have a job. They tend to do the drops in the early afternoon and a bunch of unemployed and retired guys go around every day to all the stores buying up all the allocated bottles before you'll get off work. At least when they did the weekend drops where you could line up ahead of time you could actually get the occasional EH Taylor and still have a 9-5 job.
Recognize all of these stores. Nice to find a VA whisky channel. Under the new system, I've found a Blanton's, tons of BTs & ERs, & a smattering of others.
He walks into three different stores within a few hours and finds allocated for non-allocated prices and seems distributed about how hard it is to work around a new way of doing things in VA.....while here in northern MD (less than 200 miles away) you can't find half the bottles that he stolled past looking for the allocated. Problems are different in different locations but the video was worth a watch.
Where in northern MD? I was going to check out some stores up there, looking for some feedback. I know the Total Wine in Laurel is pretty solid. VA isn’t bad, I just think their new system will make it harder for the regular folk and easier for the flippers.
I live in Fair Hill MD....we have tons of little locations and a few "bigger" stores in the NE area of MD. I could drive to Towson but I'm closer to Delaware's Total Wine stores (and a Costco) and every once in a blue moon they might have a buffalo on the shelf. It's just been a weak restocking in my area as of late.@@averagejoeswhiskey
Nice! You’re right, it truly is very different in each state, even county to county sometimes. Total Wine in VA doesn’t sell liquor, if they did I’d have a shit load of points. Cheers!
Sounds frustrating but at least you have a shot at finding some good stuff sitting on shelves. In GA you can find plenty of options on shelves but the super allocated stuff ends up either at secondary prices or you have to hit a lottery or raffle which costs a lot more just to get a chance.
Durham County in NC does the same thing but they announce on the website when they do it so you have to rush to whichever store got the drop. At least you don't have to just hit random stores all week long. Plus they release the list for the week beforehand so you know what they will have. I like the system though I haven't gotten a ton of stuff.
We had a very similar system until they started this one, except they never released a list so you never knew what they had until you got to the store. Sometimes I got good stuff, often I missed out, but thought it was a pretty fair way to do it.
Not to mention, Durham County’s drop usually contains some nice bottles. Their recent grand opening had the spectrum of allocated bottles; except for BTAC, all the other bottles were there. I missed out, but boy, did they flex their ability to put out some high-end allocated bottles.
@@bryancook4553 I couldn't believe my eyes at that one!! And I wasn't even there right away. I had bottles in my hands that I'd never seen before and had to choose which one to get!
I was unsure how to feel about the new system. Yesterday I lucked out stopping at a store on the way home and they had Blantons, ER, and McKenna. Got my bottle and figured I’d stop again on the way home today and there was still at least one of everything. If it keeps up I’ll be happy.
I understand it isn't great for people that can drive around each morning hunting, but for the 95% of us that work Mon thru Fridays in the am at least it gives us a slightly better chance of EVER finding an allocated bottle.
That's not how it's actually working. It's a pretty terrible system if you actually have a job. They tend to do the drops in the early afternoon and a bunch of unemployed and retired guys go around every day to all the stores buying up all the allocated bottles before you'll get off work. At least when they did the weekend drops where you could line up ahead of time you could actually get the occasional EH Taylor and still have a 9-5 job.
My biggest score so far under the new system was walking into a store with my wife and seeing them putting out Knob Creek 18 and John J. Bowman. Other than that, just Eagle Rare and Benchmark.
The first store you went too, ALWAYS seems to have barrel picks available a good bunch of stuff I can't find at other ABCs but rarely seems to get allocated bottles compared to other stores in the area for some reason.
In Reston Va. Randomly found some McKenna on the shelf one day. Guy said that there was EH Taylor and Blantons on the shelf earlier in the day but the word got out and the bourbon clubs all game and scooped up the supply
This is how I would prefer to shop. I would just stop at the same store on the way home everyday looking for something nice. Instead I go once a week to my local store to see if they got anything good from the truck load that morning
Sounds like the only thing that has changed is that the store doesn’t email their release anymore. According to a VABC employee I talked to last year, it has always worked this way. They could have cases of something allocated in the back, but the VABC will tell them the time and day they can put it on the shelf and how many bottles.
This is normal for us in NY. But you don't have to deal assclowns marking up bottles 2x higher than msrp. Wellers 107 for $350, jack 12 $700....nonsense....but if you go to 3-5 stores you will definitely find something or multiple. In one day I bought 2 blantons sftb, stagg 22b, eh taylor single barrel
How it should be. Go to store when you’ve got a minute, see item on shelf, decide it’s something you want at a price you’re willing to pay, buy item. Majority can’t play the stand in line, points system, get buddy buddy with store peeps and owners for intel, know the drop date/time bring the whole uninterested family so they can buy their limit too so you can flip secondary, stock up for backups on your backups on your backups or trade for 🔴s to turn and trade for your unicorns that you can’t find because of everything above game. Remember, friends… for most of the allocated bottles you can’t find there’s a dozen bangers sitting on the shelf that’ll hug your soul (and maybe in an even better way). I’ve chased and continue to chase to an extent but I’m largely a “if I’m meant to have it; the opportunity will present itself”.
the one employee who said that this new system just delays the problem is spot on, I'm just hoping to get lucky and be there at the start of the delay occasionally. and anything that adds friction to the process for flippers, hunters and chasers is a good thing imo
Exactly. I don't understand at all the fear that "this just helps flippers". The amount of flippers out there with "vast spy networks" is wildly overinflated by people.
Thanks for the videos on the new ABC policy. I've spoken with a couple of store clerks in the Nova area and they also agree that the new system is a bit problematic. I got a McKenna 10 a little while back when they still emailed about drops and it was one of the few things left in the store at the time. I don't have enough experience to say it's hit or miss, and it's a pretty good bottle, but as far as being allocated, at least from my singular experience, that's kind of a head-scratcher. I think it's a little overpriced.
There is gonna be a fight at a store when someone sticks all 6 staggs from a case in his shopping cart and walks circles around the store while waiting for the friends he calls to get there.
Nah that won’t happen and they’ll make you put them back. I grabbed two different bottles and the associate told one or the other not both. If someone refuses they’ll be removed from the store and if they become irate the proper authorities will be called and will be trespassed from all VA ABC stores.
New system is great! Butt sitters can't be passive. They now have to get off their duffs and work for what they want. Either you put in the effort or you drink shelf items. It's that simple.
I’m all for effort. But with this system effort does not guarantee you anything. You could hit stores all day only to learn some of them dropped after you left. I think the goal for a system should be to combine effort and luck, this one feels more like luck to me so far. But we’ll see, maybe this system will be great, I’m open to it.
@@averagejoeswhiskey Correct. It's not promised. It's far better than camping out all night or hours early only to find Blantons and ER10. The new system is far far better. Remember the complaints during the drop system? Those same complainers are still complaining. The only way they're stop complaining is when they're bottle fed, like a baby.
Yes, it would be nice to get an allocated bottle once in awhile as I have. But, I would never pay secondary market prices with so many choices already on the shelves.
I’ll never go looking to buy bottles in my own state any longer. I’ll just pick up interesting bottles or allocated stuff in ohio or kentucky when i visit family now
Wow. Sorry to hear you can't get a notification of a drop and go get highly prized bottles. Sounds to me like the average guy now has a decent chance at finding a good bottle by just walking in randomly instead of standing in line on release day. Here in California it is rare to get a notice of a "drop" unless a store owner is trying to reward frequent customers. Nice to see a more fair way of releasing sought-after bottles. D
It would be great if it actually works that way. But myself and many others feel that many of the most prized bottles will go to the customers with the biggest network, which are usually flippers. Sure the average guy will get lucky once in awhile, but my money is on the majority of bottles going to flippers, at least more than before.
This is not a “bourbon hunting” video. This is bourbon stalking. It’s bad optics to whine about not being able to find the “prized bottles”. That’s flipper language. This video vibes like a stressed junkie trying to get a fix. Running back and forth to stores and hitting up the juice dealer for first drop Intel. This is the Dark Side, this is therapy evidence.
@@richhutch4205it’s not a regular bourbon hunting video, that’s the point. The state used to have a fairly transparent system for allocations, which is what the video is about- now, this is the way you have to do it. But I’ve put out several regular bourbon hunting videos and will continue to do so if those are more up your alley 😉
Did you even watch the video or are you daft? Follow the trucks all you want, the stores hold them in the back room until told to shelve them which is random. At best following a truck means you will have an idea what kind of bourbon was dropped off at a particular location.
Dude has the same people coming in 3x a day to check the shelves and he’s not allowed to tell anyone anything. And I think at that time he was saying how now they have to figure out the best way to implement the policy while providing customer service (which should be their only job really. Maybe it will be more fair, we’ll see.
S&W liquors in temple hills has the best prices I’ve seen on those and they have an app you can order online with, but up to you if it’s worth the drive to save $10-20. Seagrass is great, I think Vantage is my favorite though!
Stores could go multiple weeks without putting anything out. And the bottles might not be great. So at least we don’t have to deal with people hanging around all day.
I too, am from Virginia. And I hate this new system. Local to me they said that they can’t even say if allocated things are in the store. I asked, do they have Buffalo trace, while staring at Buffalo trace. And they said they couldn’t tell me. It’s awful. And it’s gonna turn into a buddy system for the really hard to find bottles. At a minimum they should have still done announced drops with half the stuff they get twice a year in addition to this. But they completely removed the social aspect which is a huge part of the fun Also. That Ben holiday bottle you looked at at store 2. It’s pretty good. For an easy sipper.
Very well said. I’m hopeful they’ll work out some of the kinks or at least supplement by continuing with those Saturday drops every now and then. But we’ll see.
@@averagejoeswhiskey supposedly they are going to still do special release drops like the Willett and Weller only drops and the va abc barrel picks like they have in the past. But supposedly that’s it for now
@garnetreecejones9222 I thought they were keeping the lottery system for a lot of stuff. And they could always decide to change things once they get some feedback. It’s still too early for anyone to form a definitive opinion, including myself.
@@averagejoeswhiskey I was referring to drops only. Not lottery. So far as I know the lottery system remains the same. Which I’m cool with because I actually won an old rip (which I’m trading next week for a 9year store pick Willett purple top
It's a disaster. I'd rather get in line early in the morning and hang out with my friends, knowing I'll get something decent, than waste gas driving around for this. Cheers from Falls Church!
Counterpoint: many people have to parent and can’t drag their kids to parking lots for hours. Many people have to work on weekends. So no one system will work really well for everyone.
@JustForKicks-va3 that’s very true. Probably the best system would be a combination of systems. If they supplement this random system with the Saturday drops they used to do, I think a lot of people would be happy with that.
Being in roanoke, this is incredibly stupid, i mean sure i probably know what store id go to for if i was looking, but im not going weekly on friday for it (when that store historically put out john bowman before it became allocated, so id guess that be the most likely day for them) Id be fine with this is they moved things like stagg/eh taylor to lottery just because those will absolutely be tipped off to buddies in advance and it will only become hard to get.... BT/ER they get so much of it(ive seen bottles left oger from drops the next morning) putting it on shelf is fine
Dont get me wrong, I'd happily accept the chance to get more of non small batch version of 1792, i feel thats one that will slide underradar and are my go to value distillery...that single barrel BiB from a few single barrel events ago is fantastic@averagejoeswhiskey
I did see someone post on facebook they found an old rip 10 sitting on a shelf. I think that’s what those guys in the store were talking about, I noticed it afterwards. But pretty sure that won’t be the norm, I believe lottery items will stay lottery.
I only would approve of this system IF the computer inventory was updated. I should be able to sit in my home and see an updated computer inventory. I might want to drive twenty miles to get a Benchmark Full Proof or Willett Pot Still handle while others would just walk right by. Presently, I have to go to two or three stores to see if anything is available. I definitely think it's better when the rare bottles are placed on the counter or in a special area since I have trouble finding the bottles in the aisles. I loved the Saturday morning events since I could get something good by showing up at 6am. The text/e-mail system didn't work for me since I usually missed the e-mail or I was busy doing other things. This new system will put employees, social media groups and networks at an advantage over the average consumer.
I absolutely agree. I think this system will reward the fewest amount of people but if they were willing to post the inventory online that would make it a solid idea. Bottom line I don’t think it will work out the way they think it will work out
I’m on most of the Facebook bourbon groups that start with ‘DMV’. But for this purpose, I’m not sure what the best is. I think I’m going to start a discord for this specific purpose. Stay tuned.
Those that sell for secondary ruined being able to find better bottles on the shelf. Half of the fun is finding the bottles. The other half is opening it up and tasting the bourbon. Don’t be the guy/girl that makes relationships with owners/managers/employees to get better bottles only to sell them and don’t be the guy/girl that buys bottles and is afraid to open them.
Welcome to the real world of bourbon hunting. Government shouldn’t be dictating what stores do with their product. This is closer to what it really should be like, instead of relying on luck in a lottery.
Agree that it’s closer to what it should be like, but now it seems the govt is actually dictating even more exactly what stores put out and when, they just stopped telling the public. But so far it’s been alright, maybe it will be better than I thought
@@oggaspack7971 I feel you man, I’ve wasted a day or two before, especially when I’m in an unfamiliar state. But when it pays off it’s a great feeling!
A good store pick beats 99% of these allocated bottles people spend time "hunting". Im starting to wonder if people actually like bourbon, or just scavenger hunts.
Sounds like it’s a system of luck, I live in another state that controls liquor and they do just lottos or random/ (but same day of the week) drops each month. So everyone has more or less the same chance of getting an allocated bottle and reduces the flippers.
I think this will actually help the flippers as they’re the ones with the contacts and resources to know which bottles are where as soon as they appear on the shelves.
That's how the system is going to be better.....the flippers wont be guaranteed the best bottles. The guys like myself who want to buy and drink for MSRP rather than secondary have a chance.
I'm not sure this new plan will work out. Most people will get frustrated even more than before. I can't drop what I'm doing to get to a drop in tile to get what I'm looking for, so I'm out of luck anyway. But to walk in at random and find something is even less likely now. What a mess.
I've found more now. Popped into a store on my way home from the gym. Bomberger on the shelf. No fighting people. No getting run over in the parking lot. New system is great!
This is the thing, allocated drop dates only favor the people waiting in lines. Personally I’m not waiting in a line, if these companies can’t keep product on the shelf I’m never buying it. So that means Buffalo Trace products???? never seen it. Don’t buy it. Probably never will. The lines are making me hate the brands
It's definitely stupid. Although I can definitely live without Buffalo Trace products, I do get more excited about the special releases from other distilleries.
lol I was at that same last store yesterday afternoon. Saw the employees call the cops on a repeat stealer who got arrested down the street. I managed to stumble on a Blanton’s at the Fair Oaks store near the Harris Teeter. Feels like allocated bottles just got designated as a lottery items with this new chance drop
Nice! Yea I heard about fair oaks, didn’t hit that store though. I’m with you man, I think it will be easier to get BT, ER, and the other usual suspects. Might luck into a blantons every now and then but everything else I don’t expect to find 😬
This is how it should be. If it is on the shelf great. The previous system was ridiculous. It going to make it more difficult for hunters which is the point.
I really hope you’re right but I have a feeling it won’t work that way. As soon as a flipper spots anything that’s a blantons or better, they will alert all their family/friends to clear out the best bottles. But anything below blantons should be easier to find now. Like I said though, I hope I’m proven wrong here. And I admit I don’t have a better alternative.
Y’all abunch of cry babies .. that system not bad .. try leaving here where stores are 100’s over secondary.. stagg 300-400 , Owa 250-350 , reg ol buffalo trace 80-100, Russell’s 15 is 550-650 , eht sb 250-300, eht bp 600
@@averagejoeswhiskey dude I’d love for SC to go to a system like that.. greedy store owners charge us MORE then secondary so it’s cheaper to buy from fb groups but ya have to worry about getting scammed so we’re in a no win situation here
Just want to announce that to help my fellow local whiskey drinkers with the new system, I created a Discord- discord.gg/kVrtcuH8QJ
I don’t think I explained the system prior to this and why putting the allocated bottles on the shelf might actually hurt the average consumer-
VA ABC used to send an email to everyone on their list whenever they put out allocated bottles. Everyone had the same notice and the same amount of time to go to the store and purchase.
The reason a lot of people don’t like the new system is because now, by putting bottles on the shelf at random times, they will likely be discovered quickly by bottle flippers or customers who send info to bottle flippers. They will now have time to call their friends/family to clean out the top bottles before the average customer even knows that any bottles are available.
I know it might seem like a good/fair system on paper, but honestly I think it will make things harder for the average customer.
Just wanted to make that part clear since I didn’t really explain it in the video.
But maybe I’m wrong and the system will be great, I hope that’s the case!
I've written my elected officials and I'll contact VA ABC as well. This new method gives an advantage to people connected to families, clans and social networks. People can communicate quickly through text message groups, discord, facebook, etc. While waiting in line, I've met teetotaler relatives who buy for their families. One guy was on vacation and he asked his father-in-law to wait in freezing temperatures for two hours. This new method is only fair if the website inventory is updated when the allocated bottles hit the shelf.
I disagree I think it's the opposite. Most abc employees do not care at all about trying to buy out all the Eagle Rare so they can resell it, it's illegal anyway. All the email system did was change it so that vultures would come descending on every drop location within 15 minutes. This is back to the old system where I would just randomly find shelves full of Eagle Rare and Buffalo Trace. Ever since they've switched to the email system I've never seen it in stores.
I like it! Gives the regular customers who stopped to buy something anyway a chance to score.
Welcome to the world of us regular bourbon hunters who aren't in controlled states lol!
Yep two years of hunting here and haven’t even found an Taylor small batch lol
This system is fine. Go to the store, get lucky. Coming from a VA resident, I like the luck of the draw. Scored a Russell's 15 first week of the new system. Your commitment will reward you
Obviously we love the system when it works out. Congrats on the rr15!
This is how is works for not state controlled areas. We either have markup museum pricing, some sort of club where you earn points by spending dollars at the store, an early morning event which is heavily promoted or they just throw it on the shelf at retail. This last is the cheapest way to get bottles but you definitely have to luck into finding things.
Unless you can afford museum prices, this is a pretty good system.
@@joshuabunkers1494 It's a pretty terrible system if you actually have a job. They tend to do the drops in the early afternoon and a bunch of unemployed and retired guys go around every day to all the stores buying up all the allocated bottles before you'll get off work. At least when they did the weekend drops where you could line up ahead of time you could actually get the occasional EH Taylor and still have a 9-5 job.
Recognize all of these stores. Nice to find a VA whisky channel.
Under the new system, I've found a Blanton's, tons of BTs & ERs, & a smattering of others.
He walks into three different stores within a few hours and finds allocated for non-allocated prices and seems distributed about how hard it is to work around a new way of doing things in VA.....while here in northern MD (less than 200 miles away) you can't find half the bottles that he stolled past looking for the allocated. Problems are different in different locations but the video was worth a watch.
Where in northern MD? I was going to check out some stores up there, looking for some feedback. I know the Total Wine in Laurel is pretty solid. VA isn’t bad, I just think their new system will make it harder for the regular folk and easier for the flippers.
I live in Fair Hill MD....we have tons of little locations and a few "bigger" stores in the NE area of MD. I could drive to Towson but I'm closer to Delaware's Total Wine stores (and a Costco) and every once in a blue moon they might have a buffalo on the shelf.
It's just been a weak restocking in my area as of late.@@averagejoeswhiskey
Nice! You’re right, it truly is very different in each state, even county to county sometimes. Total Wine in VA doesn’t sell liquor, if they did I’d have a shit load of points. Cheers!
Sounds frustrating but at least you have a shot at finding some good stuff sitting on shelves. In GA you can find plenty of options on shelves but the super allocated stuff ends up either at secondary prices or you have to hit a lottery or raffle which costs a lot more just to get a chance.
We clearly live in the same area. You know it's bad when I can recognize pretty much every ABC store that you hit.
Durham County in NC does the same thing but they announce on the website when they do it so you have to rush to whichever store got the drop. At least you don't have to just hit random stores all week long. Plus they release the list for the week beforehand so you know what they will have. I like the system though I haven't gotten a ton of stuff.
We had a very similar system until they started this one, except they never released a list so you never knew what they had until you got to the store. Sometimes I got good stuff, often I missed out, but thought it was a pretty fair way to do it.
Not to mention, Durham County’s drop usually contains some nice bottles. Their recent grand opening had the spectrum of allocated bottles; except for BTAC, all the other bottles were there. I missed out, but boy, did they flex their ability to put out some high-end allocated bottles.
@@bryancook4553 I couldn't believe my eyes at that one!! And I wasn't even there right away. I had bottles in my hands that I'd never seen before and had to choose which one to get!
@@gjlowe what did you end up getting?
@@bryancook4553 I went with a Weller Full Proof
I was unsure how to feel about the new system. Yesterday I lucked out stopping at a store on the way home and they had Blantons, ER, and McKenna. Got my bottle and figured I’d stop again on the way home today and there was still at least one of everything. If it keeps up I’ll be happy.
I understand it isn't great for people that can drive around each morning hunting, but for the 95% of us that work Mon thru Fridays in the am at least it gives us a slightly better chance of EVER finding an allocated bottle.
That's not how it's actually working. It's a pretty terrible system if you actually have a job. They tend to do the drops in the early afternoon and a bunch of unemployed and retired guys go around every day to all the stores buying up all the allocated bottles before you'll get off work. At least when they did the weekend drops where you could line up ahead of time you could actually get the occasional EH Taylor and still have a 9-5 job.
My biggest score so far under the new system was walking into a store with my wife and seeing them putting out Knob Creek 18 and John J. Bowman. Other than that, just Eagle Rare and Benchmark.
is there a real difference between the batches of the cowboy cut?
Not really, the two I've tried are pretty close
The first store you went too, ALWAYS seems to have barrel picks available a good bunch of stuff I can't find at other ABCs but rarely seems to get allocated bottles compared to other stores in the area for some reason.
This is true.
In Reston Va. Randomly found some McKenna on the shelf one day. Guy said that there was EH Taylor and Blantons on the shelf earlier in the day but the word got out and the bourbon clubs all game and scooped up the supply
Thanks for the video and for the Discord! You helped me to an Eagle Rare!!
Hell yea dude!
This is how I would prefer to shop. I would just stop at the same store on the way home everyday looking for something nice. Instead I go once a week to my local store to see if they got anything good from the truck load that morning
So many great prices at the State controlled liquor stores.
Sounds like the only thing that has changed is that the store doesn’t email their release anymore. According to a VABC employee I talked to last year, it has always worked this way. They could have cases of something allocated in the back, but the VABC will tell them the time and day they can put it on the shelf and how many bottles.
Correct. But now only those with inside info will know when and where to go, instead of the ABC alerting everyone.
This is normal for us in NY. But you don't have to deal assclowns marking up bottles 2x higher than msrp. Wellers 107 for $350, jack 12 $700....nonsense....but if you go to 3-5 stores you will definitely find something or multiple. In one day I bought 2 blantons sftb, stagg 22b, eh taylor single barrel
Went to a local store had two places of ER10 had they had McKenna. Can’t wait to find my stagg bottle
I’ve never been to that George Mason location. From your video they have a good selection. I’ll have to start going there. 🥃🥃
Best selection in the immediate area for sure! There are other good stores out there, mostly depends on the manager and what they’re willing to order.
How it should be. Go to store when you’ve got a minute, see item on shelf, decide it’s something you want at a price you’re willing to pay, buy item.
Majority can’t play the stand in line, points system, get buddy buddy with store peeps and owners for intel, know the drop date/time bring the whole uninterested family so they can buy their limit too so you can flip secondary, stock up for backups on your backups on your backups or trade for 🔴s to turn and trade for your unicorns that you can’t find because of everything above game.
Remember, friends… for most of the allocated bottles you can’t find there’s a dozen bangers sitting on the shelf that’ll hug your soul (and maybe in an even better way).
I’ve chased and continue to chase to an extent but I’m largely a “if I’m meant to have it; the opportunity will present itself”.
Agreed
Yup.
the one employee who said that this new system just delays the problem is spot on, I'm just hoping to get lucky and be there at the start of the delay occasionally. and anything that adds friction to the process for flippers, hunters and chasers is a good thing imo
Exactly. I don't understand at all the fear that "this just helps flippers". The amount of flippers out there with "vast spy networks" is wildly overinflated by people.
You missed a Makers Slam Dunk at the first store
Thanks for the videos on the new ABC policy. I've spoken with a couple of store clerks in the Nova area and they also agree that the new system is a bit problematic.
I got a McKenna 10 a little while back when they still emailed about drops and it was one of the few things left in the store at the time. I don't have enough experience to say it's hit or miss, and it's a pretty good bottle, but as far as being allocated, at least from my singular experience, that's kind of a head-scratcher. I think it's a little overpriced.
There is gonna be a fight at a store when someone sticks all 6 staggs from a case in his shopping cart and walks circles around the store while waiting for the friends he calls to get there.
Nah that won’t happen and they’ll make you put them back. I grabbed two different bottles and the associate told one or the other not both. If someone refuses they’ll be removed from the store and if they become irate the proper authorities will be called and will be trespassed from all VA ABC stores.
New system is great! Butt sitters can't be passive. They now have to get off their duffs and work for what they want. Either you put in the effort or you drink shelf items. It's that simple.
I’m all for effort. But with this system effort does not guarantee you anything. You could hit stores all day only to learn some of them dropped after you left. I think the goal for a system should be to combine effort and luck, this one feels more like luck to me so far. But we’ll see, maybe this system will be great, I’m open to it.
@@averagejoeswhiskey Correct. It's not promised. It's far better than camping out all night or hours early only to find Blantons and ER10. The new system is far far better. Remember the complaints during the drop system? Those same complainers are still complaining. The only way they're stop complaining is when they're bottle fed, like a baby.
Yes, it would be nice to get an allocated bottle once in awhile as I have. But, I would never pay secondary market prices with so many choices already on the shelves.
I’ll never go looking to buy bottles in my own state any longer. I’ll just pick up interesting bottles or allocated stuff in ohio or kentucky when i visit family now
Wow. Sorry to hear you can't get a notification of a drop and go get highly prized bottles. Sounds to me like the average guy now has a decent chance at finding a good bottle by just walking in randomly instead of standing in line on release day. Here in California it is rare to get a notice of a "drop" unless a store owner is trying to reward frequent customers. Nice to see a more fair way of releasing sought-after bottles.
D
It would be great if it actually works that way. But myself and many others feel that many of the most prized bottles will go to the customers with the biggest network, which are usually flippers. Sure the average guy will get lucky once in awhile, but my money is on the majority of bottles going to flippers, at least more than before.
This is not a “bourbon hunting” video. This is bourbon stalking. It’s bad optics to whine about not being able to find the “prized bottles”. That’s flipper language.
This video vibes like a stressed junkie trying to get a fix. Running back and forth to stores and hitting up the juice dealer for first drop Intel. This is the Dark Side, this is therapy evidence.
@@richhutch4205it’s not a regular bourbon hunting video, that’s the point. The state used to have a fairly transparent system for allocations, which is what the video is about- now, this is the way you have to do it. But I’ve put out several regular bourbon hunting videos and will continue to do so if those are more up your alley 😉
Love seeing bourbon hunters pout. Advice, follow the delivery trucks 😂
That’s what the ABC has been trying to avoid for a few years now, but it used to work
Yeah that won't work under this system. They still can't put it on the shelf until told to do so.
Did you even watch the video or are you daft? Follow the trucks all you want, the stores hold them in the back room until told to shelve them which is random. At best following a truck means you will have an idea what kind of bourbon was dropped off at a particular location.
Daft.
That’s how it is in Kentucky at the stores who drop at msrp pricing
B Batch Larceny just sitting around in a couple different in Northern, IL for over a month.
I feel like we’re the only state they haven’t shown up in. And C batch should be out in a few weeks
There was a slam dunk MM at the first store. And what store # was the second one you went to?????
Yea, good catch! I think it’s still there if anyone want it. Second store is 393
Sounds like they made fair for everyone to me I don’t see why people are up set? Also how did it make the employees job harder?
Dude has the same people coming in 3x a day to check the shelves and he’s not allowed to tell anyone anything. And I think at that time he was saying how now they have to figure out the best way to implement the policy while providing customer service (which should be their only job really. Maybe it will be more fair, we’ll see.
@@averagejoeswhiskey I live in MD right on the line of VA
Where was the 2nd store you went to? I’ve never seen that many barrell products at an ABC.
393, by GMU. One of the best selections in the area if not the best
What is the song/artist you have playing in the background?
It’s called ‘the gentleman’, I forget the artist but it’s on UA-cam’s list of music for content creators.
What store is the second store, I have been looking for some of those Barrell bottles thanks!
393, by GMU. I’ve seen some better prices on those Barrells in MD though, in case MD is equidistant for you.
@@averagejoeswhiskey what stores in md would you recommend? I just had the seagrass and it was great!
S&W liquors in temple hills has the best prices I’ve seen on those and they have an app you can order online with, but up to you if it’s worth the drive to save $10-20. Seagrass is great, I think Vantage is my favorite though!
One question, is there a limit on what you can buy?
Yes, all the allocated bottles are one per customer per day. You can only get multiples if you go to another store or call someone to get it for you.
If California did this system, in my area there would be multiple people that would just wait at the store all day (assuming it was high end bottles).
Stores could go multiple weeks without putting anything out. And the bottles might not be great. So at least we don’t have to deal with people hanging around all day.
It’s a good way to get you in the store more often, spending your money on other items that you did not intend to buy.
That’s their thinking. Not sure it will work out that way though.
@@averagejoeswhiskey I also live in Virginia. I’d rather get the text message like before, rather than wasting my life inside the ABC stores.
Hey man where is the second store that you show in your video? I saw something that I liked. Please let me know. Thanks
It’s 393, university mall right by GMU.
@@averagejoeswhiskey thanks 🙏🏼
I too, am from Virginia. And I hate this new system. Local to me they said that they can’t even say if allocated things are in the store. I asked, do they have Buffalo trace, while staring at Buffalo trace. And they said they couldn’t tell me. It’s awful. And it’s gonna turn into a buddy system for the really hard to find bottles.
At a minimum they should have still done announced drops with half the stuff they get twice a year in addition to this. But they completely removed the social aspect which is a huge part of the fun
Also. That Ben holiday bottle you looked at at store 2. It’s pretty good. For an easy sipper.
Very well said. I’m hopeful they’ll work out some of the kinks or at least supplement by continuing with those Saturday drops every now and then. But we’ll see.
@@averagejoeswhiskey supposedly they are going to still do special release drops like the Willett and Weller only drops and the va abc barrel picks like they have in the past. But supposedly that’s it for now
@garnetreecejones9222 I thought they were keeping the lottery system for a lot of stuff. And they could always decide to change things once they get some feedback. It’s still too early for anyone to form a definitive opinion, including myself.
@@averagejoeswhiskey I was referring to drops only. Not lottery. So far as I know the lottery system remains the same. Which I’m cool with because I actually won an old rip (which I’m trading next week for a 9year store pick Willett purple top
It's a disaster. I'd rather get in line early in the morning and hang out with my friends, knowing I'll get something decent, than waste gas driving around for this. Cheers from Falls Church!
I agree
I love hanging out with bourbon folk early in the morning and being rewarded with good bottles at the end!
Tell that to the 200 that hung out overnight in Va Bch to only find the big store had Blantons and ER10.
Counterpoint: many people have to parent and can’t drag their kids to parking lots for hours. Many people have to work on weekends. So no one system will work really well for everyone.
@JustForKicks-va3 that’s very true. Probably the best system would be a combination of systems. If they supplement this random system with the Saturday drops they used to do, I think a lot of people would be happy with that.
Never understood why Henry McKenna was allocated.
I do have two bottles that have a barrel date of 11-11-11. Kinda cool
Let me know I got about 14 bottles of Eagle rare 🦅 i’ve been passing on Blantons ER and Buffalo trace it’s all over the place
Being in roanoke, this is incredibly stupid, i mean sure i probably know what store id go to for if i was looking, but im not going weekly on friday for it (when that store historically put out john bowman before it became allocated, so id guess that be the most likely day for them)
Id be fine with this is they moved things like stagg/eh taylor to lottery just because those will absolutely be tipped off to buddies in advance and it will only become hard to get.... BT/ER they get so much of it(ive seen bottles left oger from drops the next morning) putting it on shelf is fine
Totally agree, we’ll see how it works out, maybe I’ll be surprised.
Dont get me wrong, I'd happily accept the chance to get more of non small batch version of 1792, i feel thats one that will slide underradar and are my go to value distillery...that single barrel BiB from a few single barrel events ago is fantastic@averagejoeswhiskey
I like it
Welcome to my world with random luck on getting allocated/limited release bottles.
The makers mark slam dunk being left behind 😢
What part of VA is this store? I live in the Danville Va area.
All of these are in the Fairfax area, I hear Danville has a new casino though! I’ve got to check it out.
Do you believe they will put the unicorns like Pappy or BTAC on the shelves?
I did see someone post on facebook they found an old rip 10 sitting on a shelf. I think that’s what those guys in the store were talking about, I noticed it afterwards. But pretty sure that won’t be the norm, I believe lottery items will stay lottery.
What area are you in?
Fairfax
The second store you went to has more stuff than I've ever seen at an ABC. Care to share the store number? I need a few things I spotted.
393, definitely one of the better selections in the area. And employees are generally cool, it’s my go-to spot
I only would approve of this system IF the computer inventory was updated. I should be able to sit in my home and see an updated computer inventory. I might want to drive twenty miles to get a Benchmark Full Proof or Willett Pot Still handle while others would just walk right by. Presently, I have to go to two or three stores to see if anything is available. I definitely think it's better when the rare bottles are placed on the counter or in a special area since I have trouble finding the bottles in the aisles. I loved the Saturday morning events since I could get something good by showing up at 6am. The text/e-mail system didn't work for me since I usually missed the e-mail or I was busy doing other things. This new system will put employees, social media groups and networks at an advantage over the average consumer.
I absolutely agree. I think this system will reward the fewest amount of people but if they were willing to post the inventory online that would make it a solid idea. Bottom line I don’t think it will work out the way they think it will work out
What are some good Facebook groups or discords for this new system?
I’m on most of the Facebook bourbon groups that start with ‘DMV’. But for this purpose, I’m not sure what the best is. I think I’m going to start a discord for this specific purpose. Stay tuned.
@@averagejoeswhiskey I definitely will. I’m in Hampton/Newport News. Where was that second store you went to with all that Barrel?
Those that sell for secondary ruined being able to find better bottles on the shelf. Half of the fun is finding the bottles. The other half is opening it up and tasting the bourbon. Don’t be the guy/girl that makes relationships with owners/managers/employees to get better bottles only to sell them and don’t be the guy/girl that buys bottles and is afraid to open them.
100% agree.
Hey dude. I hunt in nova all over. Let me know if you need some info for the discord
I just set it up. Anything you can share would be great!
discord.gg/ryBDS3KV
Welcome to NC ABC
They had fox and oden at the top left of whiskey shelves and u didn't even peak
Yep they’re everywhere here.
Makers mark dunker, bottom shelf 20:07
And 3:00
Welcome to the real world of bourbon hunting. Government shouldn’t be dictating what stores do with their product. This is closer to what it really should be like, instead of relying on luck in a lottery.
Agree that it’s closer to what it should be like, but now it seems the govt is actually dictating even more exactly what stores put out and when, they just stopped telling the public. But so far it’s been alright, maybe it will be better than I thought
That's absolutely ridiculous. Alabama ABC is at least fair. They put a list up of what's at each store.
Now you know what my life is like.... I waste HOURS every week in michigan it's brutal. Sometimes a whole day dedicated to hunting and nothing!
@@oggaspack7971 I feel you man, I’ve wasted a day or two before, especially when I’m in an unfamiliar state. But when it pays off it’s a great feeling!
All that for a bottle of ER?
😂😭
It will be nice if 😅u give us the location
Which store? The one with the allocations was 421 but this was a few days ago.
A good store pick beats 99% of these allocated bottles people spend time "hunting". Im starting to wonder if people actually like bourbon, or just scavenger hunts.
Sounds like it’s a system of luck, I live in another state that controls liquor and they do just lottos or random/ (but same day of the week) drops each month. So everyone has more or less the same chance of getting an allocated bottle and reduces the flippers.
I think this will actually help the flippers as they’re the ones with the contacts and resources to know which bottles are where as soon as they appear on the shelves.
Or you make friends at all the ABC store’s & get the connection.
Trying…hasn’t worked so far
Time to start driving to Maryland
That's how the system is going to be better.....the flippers wont be guaranteed the best bottles. The guys like myself who want to buy and drink for MSRP rather than secondary have a chance.
In theory yes, but the flippers will still know when and where the drops happen before the rest of us regular folk.
Welcome to the real world
Thanks 😂. I think I want to go back into the matrix
I'm not sure this new plan will work out. Most people will get frustrated even more than before. I can't drop what I'm doing to get to a drop in tile to get what I'm looking for, so I'm out of luck anyway. But to walk in at random and find something is even less likely now. What a mess.
I've found more now. Popped into a store on my way home from the gym. Bomberger on the shelf. No fighting people. No getting run over in the parking lot. New system is great!
So glad i dont live on a state controlled liqour state
This is the thing, allocated drop dates only favor the people waiting in lines. Personally I’m not waiting in a line, if these companies can’t keep product on the shelf I’m never buying it. So that means Buffalo Trace products???? never seen it. Don’t buy it. Probably never will. The lines are making me hate the brands
It's definitely stupid. Although I can definitely live without Buffalo Trace products, I do get more excited about the special releases from other distilleries.
lol I was at that same last store yesterday afternoon. Saw the employees call the cops on a repeat stealer who got arrested down the street. I managed to stumble on a Blanton’s at the Fair Oaks store near the Harris Teeter. Feels like allocated bottles just got designated as a lottery items with this new chance drop
Nice! Yea I heard about fair oaks, didn’t hit that store though. I’m with you man, I think it will be easier to get BT, ER, and the other usual suspects. Might luck into a blantons every now and then but everything else I don’t expect to find 😬
This is how it should be. If it is on the shelf great. The previous system was ridiculous. It going to make it more difficult for hunters which is the point.
I really hope you’re right but I have a feeling it won’t work that way. As soon as a flipper spots anything that’s a blantons or better, they will alert all their family/friends to clear out the best bottles. But anything below blantons should be easier to find now. Like I said though, I hope I’m proven wrong here. And I admit I don’t have a better alternative.
@averagejoeswhiskey It can be worst. I live in ca and we get nothing at msrp everything allocated is at secondary or above it.😂
I'm not a fan of the new system as well...
North Carolina isnt any better smh
Its only Bourbon
Va abs went full on stupid with releasing their highly sought after bottles.
Y’all abunch of cry babies .. that system not bad .. try leaving here where stores are 100’s over secondary.. stagg 300-400 , Owa 250-350 , reg ol buffalo trace 80-100, Russell’s 15 is 550-650 , eht sb 250-300, eht bp 600
It’s true, definitely better than straight secondary pricing. And I’ve heard some people are finding good stuff. Maybe it will be good after all.
@@averagejoeswhiskey dude I’d love for SC to go to a system like that.. greedy store owners charge us MORE then secondary so it’s cheaper to buy from fb groups but ya have to worry about getting scammed so we’re in a no win situation here
I think this is the most whiney bourbon video ive seen
The system has grown on me since, I probably didn’t need to complain that much. But thank you for watching nonetheless
I would have bought that Slam Dunk.