Originally Posted by
DaveBlaine
Elijah Craig 12 is probably the super secret, Un-Official Bourbon then. Seems to come up quite a bit in this thread. At least, I seem to think it does.
OWA is worth a try. Should be available.
Anyways, as for "flipping" bourbon, anything you would suggest? I considered doing this with duty-free liquor exclusives but I'd be too tempted to just keep the Scotch/Bourbon for myself.
Actually getting the stuff at retail is, of course, the challenge. But it seems that there is a robust secondary market in not just Pappy and Weller but anything from the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, Old Forester Birthday Bourbon. (The latter being one I've never tried) Really anything in limited release and perceived quality...
Considering the Horse and Bourbon DO in Kentucky. I'm guessing it's close to Lexington?
Hope you can join us. There's already a thread in CommunityBuzz soliciting input for preferred dates for the next edition in Spring 2015 which will coinicide with Keeneland's spring horse racing meet. Lexington is always the headquarters and we fan out from there to go to the track, hit different horse farms, craft breweries and, of course, bourbon distilleries.
As for tonight's Bourbon selection, trying out the Costco Kirkland Signature 7 year old Bourbon. I'm told it is from the Jim Beam distillery and *speculation here* the same mash bill that is Jim Beam Black but this is bottled younger and stronger. So, who knows?
I believe that (almost?) every bourbon distilled at the Jim Beam distillery shares the same mashbill. I stopped by Clermont a couple weeks ago on my way to Lexington and asked the Jim Beam tour guide that question. He said he thought that all Beam bourbons including their small batch line, with ONE possible exception, all share the same mashbill.
FWIW, I've always liked most Beam product. Basil Hayden's is my go-to summer bourbon when I want a refreshing light-bodied whiskey. Knob Creek never disappoints. Tried Baker's and Booker's recently for the first time and enjoyed both of them.
Even the mid-shelf Jim Beam that used to show up on AA (AA used to serve Beam Black and Devil's Cut) was drinkable. Nothing great. Nothing I'd buy in a liquor store. But certainly not offensive (I'm looking at you, Wild Turkey).
Originally Posted by
thelark
It's not cool and I certainly wouldn't do it. Creates further scarcity and deprives others of the opportunity to try something. Flippers are part of the reason why stores are increasingly keeping their supplies of the good stuff off the shelves.
I understand that us bourbon lovers want to have unlimited access to great bourbons at great prices but since no one seems to throw wine investors under the bus I guess I wonder why I shouldn't take an "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em" approach and buy bourbon for investment as well as consumption.
Again, wine investment (fine, call it speculation if you prefer) is an established concept. There are even hedge funds that treat investment in wine as a legitimate category of alternative investments. Why the double standard for bourbon?
In a way, price is truth. The fact that many bourbons appear to be trading at 2x-4x premia to their retail pricing indicates that these are undervalued assets.
Originally Posted by
exerda
I generally drink everything I buy. That said, I do have a few bottles (most of them Japanese whisky or Scotch whisky) that I have not opened. The Scotch I would consider "flipping" at some point, I suppose (JW Explorer's Club selections I picked up at Duty Free), but the rest I intend to consume myself.
On the one hand, I understand keeping aside a 2nd bottle with the thought, "That way I can enjoy one, and maybe sell the other some day." On the other hand, the speculators and flippers are despicable scum who have driven up the prices of everything and made it very hard for real enthusiasts to obtain some of the better bourbons out there for their own consumption.
Despicable scum seems pretty harsh. Do you feel the same way about people who invest in wine? Is it not possible to be both an enthusiastic consumer and intelligent investor in a product you enjoy?
If someone is going to exploit an arbitrage, why shouldn't it be me?