Since moving to TX earlier this year, I've directed some spend to total wine to hit the highest tier in their rewards program, as those members get first shot at limited releases. Figured it'd give me better odds being new to the area than starting relationships with small stores.

This morning a friend sends me a text asking if I've received my email for their pvw release...I had not. Called corporate to see if it was by state or if there was something wrong and they told me that they weren't receiving any in TX. I was a bit deflated after the call, but then remembered that I'm in CA right now and thought maybe I could pull something off. Called corp back and they told me there was a store about 20mim from my office that had it first come, first serve for grand reserve members. They called the store and added me to their list so I'd be able to buy if there was any left (since I wouldn't have the barcoded email).

Hopped in the car and shot over there...there was quite a line. Fortunately, I made it just in time and was able to grab a pvw15 and orvw. They ran out 2 people after me. Double good luck that I brought a large suitcase that can easily fit the 2 bottles in a box :D

Interestingly enough one of the guys at work gave me a bottle of this last week. I haven't opened it yet but definitely a great gift.. I did use last years bottle to make a manhattan tonite and it was absolutely incredible. Such a great great pour....

Awesome.. so grand reserve is 25K points? 10 points/$ spend? We have a total wine here in Baltimore that I really don't visit too much... they used to be Beltway and less corporatey but now they really tow the Total Wine line. They used to just keep all the stuff first come first serve. Most of my PVW20 that I still have is left over from a great haul in 2011/2012 that I had there (well great as in 3 bottles)... now it's all tied into the system... I put most of my spend at a local shop (probably would have been enough to qualify as Grand reserve) but I got to say they really take care of me so I'm happy...

Anyway congrats again; hope you enjoy and great haul. Do they do the same for the Antique collection?

FDW

Had Reservoir and Hudson last night. Both were quite tasty.

Hoping to find some more Elmer T Lee and Col E H Taylor somewhere locally soon.

Yup, 25k points. Nobody seems to know yet what's going on with btac, but word is that it will somehow be offered to grand reserve members first. When did beltway change?

I still have a mostly full bottle of Hudson left, I was not impressed especially for the price.

How about beam doubling the price of booker's and cutting production? It's a safe, if uninspiring, choice in the $50 range, but forget it at $100. They're also killing old grand dad 114, which is a fantastic value and great for cocktails.

Good to know. My boss loves Manhattans.

A reminder that every six months (April and October) a group of us FTers go to Kentucky for the races and bourbon. For April 2017 we have reserved all the spots for a behind-the-scenes "hard hat" tour at Buffalo Trace.

The link is in my signature.

So total wine sent out and botched their btac emails earlier in the week - sent reservation emails with broken links. Said we'd get a new link the following day, then sent it later that same day. Fortunately, I happened to look at my email and got a reservation. They consolidated to just a few stores in each state - if you received a confirmation email yesterday, they would hold a bottleneck for you, but selection was first come, first serve.

Made the hour drive to Dallas this morning when they opened at 10 and there were about a dozen other people with reservations waiting. Earliest folks were there around 7 and the first 3 people took Wlw. Fortunately, I still have a half bottle of last year's left. Did score gts today. They had no saz.

Guy in front of me in line thought he'd be able to get a walk up bottle. He told the manager he didn't have an email and was told "nope, not happening, it's impossible for me to give you anything." Poor guy.

Being a good husband and father, I then made my way to t&co so I'd have an acceptable reason for being gone so long, other than just buying bourbon. :D

OK, so the boss and I got into the Thomas H Handy last night and WOW is all I can say without being banned from FT.

He was reluctant to mix such a special bourbon but ended up making a Manhattan and did not regret it. The most prominent flavor was this amazing smooth clove note with a honeyed finish. Really impressive drink. FlyingDoctorwu I hope you enjoy your bottle as much as he did ^

Beltway changed in 2014 I think for the PVW; this year for the BTAC. GTS is a good score. Absolutely rediciluous about Bookers- as you said it it is a hard sell at 50-60... Create artificial demand by cutting production and raising the price... I guess they saw what their limited editions did and are trying to create my hype for their normal stock...

I like high proof stuff for cocktails.. makes it seem like I'm getting a real drink...

Glad you liked it.. I find that better ingredients makes better cocktails. What vermouth and cherries did you use? I like carpano antica and Luxardo cherries...

FDW

No idea - sorry. I didn't have one. He is a Manhattan guy, I'm a scotch/ bourbon neat-er

Picked up some Baby Saz in NYC today. Never see it in NC and have heard good things. Saw it in a bunch of stores mostly at $40 so pulled the trigger when one store had it at $32. Looking forward to trying it when I get back to NC this weekend.

Also saw Stagg Jr 130 proof (Batch #7) for $70. Couldn't decide (even at a good price) and ultimately passed (perhaps a mistake) based on a few reviews of Batch 7 that weren't favorable.

Ended up spending the $70 on Ohishi Sherry Cask Whiskey instead (but that's for a different thread).

Have been drinking the Jefferson Ocean Aged batch 8 this week on vacation. Very, very good. Definitely worth the $64 at Costco, not sure if I'd pay the $90+ at a liquor store through. :cool:

Won a Van Winkle 12 in the VA ABC lottery this year. First time I'd tried it; it's good, albeit not in the same league as the 20.

Have the Mitcher's 10 Single Barrel coming in soon on a "2nd change" VA ABC lottery drawing, too. Costs like $40 more than the Pappy 12, but I'll buy it anyway given it's not something I see often at retail prices...


Haven't tried the voyage 8 yet; I do like the cask strength one (7?) a good bit, as well as the earlier batches.


Elmer T. Lee is supposedly showing up on VA ABC shelves again soon and is a good bargain at $35-ish. I haven't seen it at any of the ABCs I frequent yet, though, and got the ABC e-mail that stores would have it a few weeks ago. They also did online ordering for it earlier last year; I dunno if they'll do so again in 2017 or not. I snagged a few bottles when it was on shelves in early 2016.

Ahhhhh SO LUCKY! Enjoy.

I'm not a Bourbon drinker myself but am from a family and friend group who are...last week we found a place near us that had 10yr, 15yr and 20yr Pappy so some serious coin was dropped whilst everyone tried that various ones.

The consensus was the 15yr and 20yr were very different and the latter being spectacular (unfortunately for the wallets of those present! :D )

I used to live in VA but never heard of the ABC lotteries. I assume like most lotteries your $60 is lost if you don't win....do you know how many bottles the VA ABC get?