I was halfway through the video, paused, joined the discord, found that my local store had just dropped, and ran to grab a bottle. Now I’m back to watch the second half of the video lol
Per the ABC website: Additionally, to make these products available to as many customers as possible, Virginia ABC is restricting purchases to one bottle per customer per day from all the limited availability products offered in any location.
The problem you have is that a "family" will come in and buy a case of Stagg and the store manager suspects they plan on reselling it (based on their discussion) but he can't do anything about it. Nothing like watching a crime being plan and feeling helpless. (It is a crime to resell spirits in most states)
You all are part of the problem. If most drank their stuff instead of trying to resale it this would not be a problem. I liked the new system till I saw what goes on in this video. It's alcohol, most need a life 🤷♂️
I’d say 95% of people I meet at the drops do indeed drink their bottles. Sure there’s a percentage who flip, as there will be in any control state. But as long as they don’t have an unfair advantage, I can’t waste time worrying about them.
Embarrassing/cringe watching these grown men drive around and wait to try to snatch up “rare” bottles. Gotta be for the rush of the find? Lots of non allocated bottles are great and will always be there.
The new rules are so much better. In the last six months I’ve gotten so many bottles that I never would’ve been able to get standing in line on an early Saturday morning before work.
It's easier for me too . . . I go to KY, GA and FL now to purchase hard to find bottles. I don't have the patience or desire to stop into an ABC store daily :(
@breakinghues2751 I waited multiple Saturday mornings and got 3 Staggs, RR13, OF10 and OF8...will never be lucky enough to get those with this new system
I’ve done the exact same thing for these two bottles. Drive around like a madman checking the local discord. It was cool at first but got old real fast. I can’t be bothered anymore. Plenty of great whiskey sitting in shelves. The only thing I would agree with some of the commenters is that I would hope you’re giving that other EHT SiB away or something and not just hoarding bottles that other people could score. Cook video otherwise reminding me of how cool it was to hunt!
I gotta say I'm glad I don't have any urge whatsoever to do such antics to acquire any sort of bottle. I just go into stores willy nilly and if I'm lucky enough to find something then cool. If not, there's legitimately so many other great bottles worth drinking that nobody is really seeking out and snagging up before others even get the chance to even know the store even had them. I've come across some good bottles like EHT SiB, EHT Small Batch, Stagg23B, Weller 12, Makers Mark The Heart Release etc. Some of the best bottles I've ever had were store picks, so there's those types of bottles people don't usually snag up also. Looking for specific bottles really ruins the fun towards the hunt
This week in the New River Valley the store clerk scanned my driver’s license when I bought EH Taylor so that I couldn’t purchase another BT allocated product. Is this a rule statewide?
What’s crazy is you and how many other people that rolled in at the same time knew stores were about to drop. Insider info must be common. This is why the systems have to keep changing and stuff stays allocated. It’s frustrating as hell for us in VA that RARELY get lucky
no system is perfect but one change that would help is to adjust what is comsidered a drop. For example, take the BT products (Blantons, ER, BT, JJB etc.) should go out when they come in or next day. still limit 1 per but that would slow some of the taters down and let noobs get those bottles. Then the drops would be annual releases, quarterly releases, etc. As we are seeing ER is sitting on shelves a little longer.
Just keep track of the when each district drops. Sometimes it’s the same day (or two) each week, sometimes the whole district will drop together or if not the whole district, multiple stores. So when there’s a couple stores left that haven’t dropped and you hear or see that one drops, you can bet the other is dropping too.
Who has the time to drive around to all these stores all the time. Crazy. I have a rule as well: if I reallyyyyyyy like a bottle, I’ll back it up with 1. NO MORE. People who drive around like this and hoard are a HUGE part of the problem. You know damn well you don’t need more than 1 backup of anything
Agreed. I have 2 staggs. Had the opportunity to buy 2 more at msrp in TN and NC. I passed on it because a 3rd is just excess...some ppl cant even find 1 at retail
I get the thrill of the hunt but man watching this is so cringey LOL . Whats crazy is the second if any of this stuff became extremely available, it would sit on the shelf. Its like people dont want it if its not rare. Take bookers for example people used to freak TF out over bookers and now i just sits in stacks of cases at stores around me. Also could be I people are tired of paying 100$ for a 7 y/o bourbon that has very little to no difference from batch to batch. And it tastes like a jar of peanuts.
I agree, it’s a bit cringe but worth it for me lol. The best part of the new system is that they’re figuring out they had too many allocated products and many of them do now sit on the shelf.
I live in a non controlled state, and the grocery store liquor stores and big box stores get great bottles, but there’s so much insider information from people who know store managers and distributors that it makes it nearly impossible to get anything worthwhile because of it.
It's got the better trade value of the two here. I'd rather drink the EHT SiB, but if you are looking for something not dropping at VA ABC, EHT is probably the better bet.
This new system is the worst version yet...VA ABC has all the data to show that the stuff goes just as fast, the good stuff(not the Eagle Rare, Blantons). Move back to the Saturday drops if anything but do it weekly or simply allow 1 allocated product to be sold at a time at random times, put it upfront on the counter. That way if you walk in and get lucky, having group chats does you no favors. Leave the less allocated stuff to delivery days or keep it the way it is now, people won't hunt drops like this if they know the unicorns won't be there. They could easily calculate what qualifies based for which based of the data of how fast stuff goes, and the amount of stuff they get. Managing when to drop a random unicorn would have to be computer based, but would be the best at eliminating insider stuff so long as you can't hack the computer. You would almost always have one a day and you wouldn't know what it would be which discourage camping. Even if the employees text a buddy odds are the 1 bottle would go before they could get there.
I was an hour early for Stagg Jr. at one store and an hour too late at another for Stagg and Weller 107. I did pick up a John J. Bowman Single Barrel, so it wasn't a fail per se, just unlucky with getting some of the other highly sought after allocations.
I like your hustle but this is actually awful. How is anyone supposed to get a rare/allocated bottle in Virginia??? I get allocated bottles in my state by spending money at the same liquor store and getting offered rare bottles (or very rare) by being a good customer. That system is a win win for myself and the store. They sell lots of bottles to me both allocated and non allocated.
I love the video but terrible behavior from everyone involved. The vulture mentality literally waiting for the poor man to stock it on the shelf is some of the worst I have seen.
I was halfway through the video, paused, joined the discord, found that my local store had just dropped, and ran to grab a bottle. Now I’m back to watch the second half of the video lol
Thank you for my favorite comment ever!
@peterjacobi794 Peter can you tell me where to go to watch the districts or is it on virginia abc somewhere?
Per the ABC website: Additionally, to make these products available to as many customers as possible, Virginia ABC is restricting purchases to one bottle per customer per day from all the limited availability products offered in any location.
That prt has been going on for years now
1 per customer per day per location.
I literally pasted from the ABC website
The problem you have is that a "family" will come in and buy a case of Stagg and the store manager suspects they plan on reselling it (based on their discussion) but he can't do anything about it. Nothing like watching a crime being plan and feeling helpless. (It is a crime to resell spirits in most states)
You all are part of the problem. If most drank their stuff instead of trying to resale it this would not be a problem. I liked the new system till I saw what goes on in this video. It's alcohol, most need a life 🤷♂️
I’d say 95% of people I meet at the drops do indeed drink their bottles. Sure there’s a percentage who flip, as there will be in any control state. But as long as they don’t have an unfair advantage, I can’t waste time worrying about them.
Most of us absolutley drink it. I'll go for one and a backup. If I luck into more of something, It's to trade it for something that I don't have.
many trade as well. There's absolutely nothing wrong with buying an Elmer T Lee and trading it for an EH Taylor Single Barrel as an example.
Embarrassing/cringe watching these grown men drive around and wait to try to snatch up “rare” bottles. Gotta be for the rush of the find? Lots of non allocated bottles are great and will always be there.
The new rules are so much better. In the last six months I’ve gotten so many bottles that I never would’ve been able to get standing in line on an early Saturday morning before work.
It's easier for me too . . . I go to KY, GA and FL now to purchase hard to find bottles. I don't have the patience or desire to stop into an ABC store daily :(
@breakinghues2751 I waited multiple Saturday mornings and got 3 Staggs, RR13, OF10 and OF8...will never be lucky enough to get those with this new system
It was really nice meeting you at that 385 drop! Here's hoping we get more good luck in the coming weeks.
I’ve done the exact same thing for these two bottles. Drive around like a madman checking the local discord. It was cool at first but got old real fast. I can’t be bothered anymore. Plenty of great whiskey sitting in shelves. The only thing I would agree with some of the commenters is that I would hope you’re giving that other EHT SiB away or something and not just hoarding bottles that other people could score. Cook video otherwise reminding me of how cool it was to hunt!
Just got a 4R LE last night in VB. Going back today to see if more is available!
Good times Joe. Keep up the good work! I'll be sipping a EHT tonight!
I gotta say I'm glad I don't have any urge whatsoever to do such antics to acquire any sort of bottle. I just go into stores willy nilly and if I'm lucky enough to find something then cool. If not, there's legitimately so many other great bottles worth drinking that nobody is really seeking out and snagging up before others even get the chance to even know the store even had them. I've come across some good bottles like EHT SiB, EHT Small Batch, Stagg23B, Weller 12, Makers Mark The Heart Release etc. Some of the best bottles I've ever had were store picks, so there's those types of bottles people don't usually snag up also. Looking for specific bottles really ruins the fun towards the hunt
This week in the New River Valley the store clerk scanned my driver’s license when I bought EH Taylor so that I couldn’t purchase another BT allocated product. Is this a rule statewide?
What’s crazy is you and how many other people that rolled in at the same time knew stores were about to drop. Insider info must be common. This is why the systems have to keep changing and stuff stays allocated. It’s frustrating as hell for us in VA that RARELY get lucky
The new system has turned me into a wanderer. Nice meet you Joe! I live in Centreville. I think we' meet someday!
They had elijah craig 18 just chilling on the shelf
The price point slows a few down on that one.
At what price and proof is it in the US? In the UK you can find the 18 on most good retailers websites
no system is perfect but one change that would help is to adjust what is comsidered a drop. For example, take the BT products (Blantons, ER, BT, JJB etc.) should go out when they come in or next day. still limit 1 per but that would slow some of the taters down and let noobs get those bottles. Then the drops would be annual releases, quarterly releases, etc. As we are seeing ER is sitting on shelves a little longer.
Can you tell me how to track the districts? Please.
Just keep track of the when each district drops. Sometimes it’s the same day (or two) each week, sometimes the whole district will drop together or if not the whole district, multiple stores. So when there’s a couple stores left that haven’t dropped and you hear or see that one drops, you can bet the other is dropping too.
What were the prices for ETL and EHT SIB?
ETL is 50 and the EHT is 80, msrp in VA.
I'll give you 80 and 110, deal?
Great video!
Second store had ec18 right in front of the camera
Who has the time to drive around to all these stores all the time. Crazy. I have a rule as well: if I reallyyyyyyy like a bottle, I’ll back it up with 1. NO MORE. People who drive around like this and hoard are a HUGE part of the problem. You know damn well you don’t need more than 1 backup of anything
1000%. This system only benefits those who work from home or a ton of free time on their hands
Agreed. I have 2 staggs. Had the opportunity to buy 2 more at msrp in TN and NC. I passed on it because a 3rd is just excess...some ppl cant even find 1 at retail
What were the prices
Virginia doesn’t mark up. All are msrp. Can check that on the vaabc website if you Google va abc
I get the thrill of the hunt but man watching this is so cringey LOL . Whats crazy is the second if any of this stuff became extremely available, it would sit on the shelf. Its like people dont want it if its not rare. Take bookers for example people used to freak TF out over bookers and now i just sits in stacks of cases at stores around me. Also could be I people are tired of paying 100$ for a 7 y/o bourbon that has very little to no difference from batch to batch. And it tastes like a jar of peanuts.
I agree, it’s a bit cringe but worth it for me lol. The best part of the new system is that they’re figuring out they had too many allocated products and many of them do now sit on the shelf.
Yeah this shit is so cringey it’s not even funny.
God these allocated bourbons are getting crazy
So much inside info still leaking. It's ridiculous. Go back to planned Saturday morning drops. Put in the work and get good bottles
I live in a non controlled state, and the grocery store liquor stores and big box stores get great bottles, but there’s so much insider information from people who know store managers and distributors that it makes it nearly impossible to get anything worthwhile because of it.
What’s the discord to join?
Link in the description 👍
🥔
what is the discord?
Link in the description 👍
I would have gotten the elijah craig 18
ETL was swill when it was 35 bucks. I’m sure nothing has changed
It hasn’t.
How much was that Elmer?
$50
Awesome video, Joe 😃
Any help with this an invite to this discord? Local VA resident here
Link should be in the description. Lmk if it gives you any issues.
Dude ETL? You have to grab that
If not for nothing but to put it in a giveaway
It's got the better trade value of the two here. I'd rather drink the EHT SiB, but if you are looking for something not dropping at VA ABC, EHT is probably the better bet.
Don’t waste your time hunting the Four Roses LE or the Cellar Aged. I’ve tried both and they don’t touch prior releases. Not worth the money!
This new system is the worst version yet...VA ABC has all the data to show that the stuff goes just as fast, the good stuff(not the Eagle Rare, Blantons). Move back to the Saturday drops if anything but do it weekly or simply allow 1 allocated product to be sold at a time at random times, put it upfront on the counter. That way if you walk in and get lucky, having group chats does you no favors. Leave the less allocated stuff to delivery days or keep it the way it is now, people won't hunt drops like this if they know the unicorns won't be there. They could easily calculate what qualifies based for which based of the data of how fast stuff goes, and the amount of stuff they get.
Managing when to drop a random unicorn would have to be computer based, but would be the best at eliminating insider stuff so long as you can't hack the computer. You would almost always have one a day and you wouldn't know what it would be which discourage camping. Even if the employees text a buddy odds are the 1 bottle would go before they could get there.
Agreed. When I go to a store chasing a good bottle but find Blantons or ER, I feel obligated to grab one just so I didn't "waste" my time.
👍
I was an hour early for Stagg Jr. at one store and an hour too late at another for Stagg and Weller 107. I did pick up a John J. Bowman Single Barrel, so it wasn't a fail per se, just unlucky with getting some of the other highly sought after allocations.
It’s really hard to be there for the top tier stuff!
I like your hustle but this is actually awful. How is anyone supposed to get a rare/allocated bottle in Virginia??? I get allocated bottles in my state by spending money at the same liquor store and getting offered rare bottles (or very rare) by being a good customer. That system is a win win for myself and the store. They sell lots of bottles to me both allocated and non allocated.
This nerd about panicked over the eht lmao like chill bro they’re gonna let you get it
This new system is a mess, i've never driven so much
I love the video but terrible behavior from everyone involved. The vulture mentality literally waiting for the poor man to stock it on the shelf is some of the worst I have seen.
ETL sucks, but hype rules all
Disagree...probably my favorite 90 proofer. Any time I go to the bar...that is my first pour of the night.
lol people wanta be different so bad they gotta hate on anything, stuffs quality
ETL is trash.