How do you not have 10K subscribers by now! You continue to kill it with content. Great ideas for people getting into whiskey and so cool you brought us together like this. Thanks for the invite, and I look forward to your next creative idea! Cheers!
@BourbonOfTheWeek2 жыл бұрын
One day we will all be up there at 10k subs! Thank you Jon as always for being a part of this with me and I look forward to working with you again in the future. Cheers. 🥃
@AndreaKopanaiko10 күн бұрын
Awesome episode!! Thanks for sharing some of your secrets and introducing us to other awesome groups and people! ❤
@templar1060 Жыл бұрын
Tip Go the store, ask for allocated bottles in the back, bring plenty of cash.
@josevasquez17812 жыл бұрын
Good info, in NYC one can get all of them but just above or twice the price. I can get pappy now but I don't want pappy at five times above retail and it's not the old uncle it's that new buffalo Trace juice that it's okay. Bottle hunting is something I still enjoy for years.
@BourbonOfTheWeek Жыл бұрын
Ill be honest, I have started to see a big shift in "hunting" vs online drops. I plan to make a follow up video to this soon.
@guy5542 жыл бұрын
3 tips I learned from managers in PA stores if you're looking for non-unicorn but still hard to get bourbons (because in PA, even bar staples can seem like a myth): 1. Most non-lottery limited bottles (ex. Eagle Rare) only get released around Philadelphia. If you're near Pittsburgh like me, you're screwed. 2. PA stores are seperated into two kinds: regular and premium collection. ONLY Premium collection stores will ever get limited releases AND more hard to find bourbons! Most premium stores get up to four trucks a week, but only one truck every 5-8 weeks with only a couple cases any normal (but still limited) products like Buffalo or Blantons, and usually in the spring and summer. If you're going Christmas shopping, you're screwed. 3. The bourbon scarcity is getting worse and more and more good ones are becoming allocated or put on lottery. If you want Weller, you're screwed. If you want bottles that are technically not unicorns but still hard to get in PA, it's a good idea to find stores out of state that carry them and people who often travel that way. It's embarassing but sometimes it's the only option if online groups aren't feasible and you can't afford to travel out of state very often. That's what I've always hated about living in Pennsylvania. It's hard enough when you can't even get non-unicorn bottles and the only places that carry them are out of state and you can't even order them online to ship into the state. There's bourbons I've wanted to get for years that're wholesale a few hundred miles away!
@LeeHanyoPhoto2 жыл бұрын
North of Pittsburgh (I live in Kittanning area and work in Harmar) I've had decent luck getting Eagle Rare, Blantons, Blood Oath, and store picks among other things between Waterworks / Cranberry / Indiana PA stores.
@roccocantaffa3788 Жыл бұрын
Shoutout to your mom @ KOP tavern promoting ur channel. Good stuff dude!
@waynemontpetit81812 жыл бұрын
Lotteries and camping out 💥 BOOM
@BourbonOfTheWeek2 жыл бұрын
You ain't wrong. I wish my states did more camping out kinda stuff. I never win a lottery
@BlackBourbonFamily2 жыл бұрын
Great episode and awesome tips that we can use as well. We hope it helps everyone. Cheers!!
@BourbonOfTheWeek2 жыл бұрын
Thank you for being a part of it. It seems to be going very well! Cheers. 🥃
@manualboyca2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the tips! I live 10 mins from the DE border, and I like hitting a lot of the mom-and-pop shops there a couple times a month - it does me well. Cheers!
@BourbonOfTheWeek2 жыл бұрын
Thats the way to do it. I wish I lived closer to a boarder, although im guessing my wife is happy I dont haha. Cheers. Also, check your patron messages. Gotta get you in the discord.
@NorthWestBourbon2 жыл бұрын
Great video, with some good tips. Networking and building relationships is key. Cheers 🍻
@BourbonOfTheWeek2 жыл бұрын
Absolutely, I wish it was more of an option in PA but I've made some friends across the border in NJ
@DumptruckDAV32 жыл бұрын
Great video! The hunt truly never ends. Any time I go somewhere, even in PA, if I have time to stop in the local store I will. You never know what you're gonna find.
@BourbonOfTheWeek2 жыл бұрын
Thats the best part! Never know what may be at the next store.
@IndyGuy652 жыл бұрын
Just found your channel and glad I did. Some real content without inside jokes and pranks.
@BourbonOfTheWeek2 жыл бұрын
Welcome! Thanks for checking it out!
@montanathrasher3016 Жыл бұрын
Great channel! I grew up in Newtown, Bucks County. Living in Georgia now. Thank for all the great info!
@BourbonOfTheWeek Жыл бұрын
That's awesome! How's the hunting in Georgia ?
@theinsaneone9112 жыл бұрын
My local liquor stores around me are nice guys, and some have sold me EH Taylor and other “allocated” bottles just because they’ve gotten to recognize me. But they admitted to me that they hold Blantons and all the even crazier bottles for their highest paying customers. They simply won’t sell it unless you spend $10k/year. That’s most of them around me.
@WhiskeyStraightAl2 жыл бұрын
Great video Chris and great guests. I love watching both The Bourbon Van and The Whisky Neighbour - and thanks for introducing to to Black Bourbon Family, who I've now subscribed to. Keep up the great work. Cheers.
@BlackBourbonFamily2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for subscribing!
@WhiskeyStraightAl2 жыл бұрын
@@BlackBourbonFamily Looking forward to watching your reviews. Cheers from across the pond in Northern Ireland.
@BlackBourbonFamily2 жыл бұрын
@@WhiskeyStraightAl thank you! Cheers 🥃🥃
@BourbonOfTheWeek2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for checking out the video. I was honored to work with Jason and Brandy they put out some great content and have great insight !
@yourdrinkingbuddy2 жыл бұрын
Solid suggestions. Here in AZ It is kind of a mad house. There are hundreds of stores in my city that could get rare bottles. From small hole in the wall shops that triple retail, to big box stores that sell at retail. I end up sometimes driving to six-eight stores in one day, and sometimes end up with nothing. Cheers! 🥃
@BourbonOfTheWeek2 жыл бұрын
I would love to experience something like that. Closest I would get is trips to New Jersey. Traveling, different stores, looking, actually hunting. Here in PA its basically watch the website and hope. Both systems seem to have its flaws. Thanks for checking out the video. Cheers.
@MetroCollectablesandvlogs Жыл бұрын
I am in AZ as well ..... Just started in the hobby. I been going to a few stores near me and picked up some bottles but I am new to it. I am looking for some to drink and some to invest in. lol
@WTNall2 жыл бұрын
Wonderful advice and tips. Fortunately I live less than 20 miles from Bardstown and the Bourbon Trail is right here. I no longer take my Weller or Willet for granted.
@BourbonOfTheWeek2 жыл бұрын
I've heard living in Kentucky is a blessing and a curse. Is it true it's actually harder to get bottles ?
@mikecoleman34332 жыл бұрын
@@BourbonOfTheWeek depends on the bottle. You can go to Buffalo Trace and get Blanton’s, EH Taylor Small Batch, or Eagle Rare depending on the day - but it is one per person and only one bottle every couple of months. That means that folks who drink bourbon can get some as opposed to flippers
@BourbonOfTheWeek2 жыл бұрын
@@mikecoleman3433 I like that
@thecougarexperience7 ай бұрын
Leaving Texas is a LONG trip!
@kevinstansick97022 жыл бұрын
I love the simple honesty.... "Don't be a D..." to your local store... so true. I hit subscribe on this page and will find PABourbonSquad. Thanks from Uniontown, PA.
@BourbonOfTheWeek2 жыл бұрын
Love to hear that! Welcome to Bourbon of the Week and PA Bourbon Squad!
@mikemorrison65642 ай бұрын
Wow, awesome info pick up Jefferson Reserve bourbon $94 Canadain today today was the summer spirits release 2024 also got Blontons original $109 Canadain last yr summer spirits release got the Blontons Gold Bourbon for $139 Canadain 😍😁🇨🇦
@BourbonJudge2 жыл бұрын
Chris - nice job brother! Nothing better than collaborating with other channels! Cheers brother….
@BourbonOfTheWeek2 жыл бұрын
Thank you! I had a lot of fun putting this together! Appreciate the love. Cheers.
@thomascrompton77752 жыл бұрын
I just got the 2022 larceny flask strength in NJ guy said got 3 of them in. Breaking bourbon doesn't even show it released. And as I informed you we do get dickel. I again saw it in my Montgomery County store on Friday. No bottled in bond though I need another bottle but not paying 60 bucks. Kicking myself Texas had it for 36 bucks.
@PDM19672 жыл бұрын
“Some of us have jobs”. That was funny.
@BourbonOfTheWeek2 жыл бұрын
hahah It gets tough out here.
@johnhoffman47852 жыл бұрын
Thanks for all the tips, Go Flyers!
@BourbonOfTheWeek2 жыл бұрын
Its been a tough year. Thanks for checking out the video. Cheers.
@petermitchell5452 жыл бұрын
Great video. I also live in Philadelphia area and found many of my hard to finds by stopping by the store on delivery day here in PA. Also by visiting Ohio stores on delivery dates. I will be moving to West Chester next month and will add Wilmington DE to my hunting route. Great video = subscribed:)
@BourbonOfTheWeek2 жыл бұрын
Hell yeah! Love to hear that. Thanks for the kind words and the subscription! Means a lot
@williamwright71872 жыл бұрын
Excellent. Thanks.
@BourbonOfTheWeek2 жыл бұрын
Hopefully you find your unicorns!
@nonameneededorgiven2 жыл бұрын
Speaking of holding bottles. Someone had a store hold Blanton's for them saying they'd be back that evening. I git there the next day. Just looking around and chatting with the cashier. I picked up a bottle of Sazerac and mentioned how I wish I could try Blanton's. He told me about what happened and I was able to purchase it. Always chat with the cashiers, work can get boring for all of us and sometimes they can help you out.
@BourbonOfTheWeek2 жыл бұрын
Never hurts to treat people nicely and try to spark a conversation. I love that this happened for you.
@nonameneededorgiven2 жыл бұрын
@Bourbon Of The Week less then 30 minutes after joking about never getting it and having to imagine an older Ancient Age. Also the PA Bourbon Squad is an invaluable resource.
@WhiskeyWarehouse2 жыл бұрын
Great video man!
@BourbonOfTheWeek2 жыл бұрын
Appreciate that. This one was fun.
@greenpea94122 жыл бұрын
You have a nice channel. I'm over here in Ohio and have been pretty lucky so far getting what I would like with the exception of some of the obvious ones you mentioned. All at MSRP. I agree with these tips and the best tip you mentioned is be there on delivery day and know the staff.
@BourbonOfTheWeek2 жыл бұрын
Love it! Thank you for the compliment on the channel. I'm glad you are able to get your hands on most of the stuff you are looking for. There are still a few I'm working on but with the help of friends within the community I'm sure I'll get them one day!
@kevinfillinger17242 жыл бұрын
I’m in Ohio. What’s your secret
@jonlouis25822 жыл бұрын
I work in a large high end liquor store and we don’t get a lot of allocated Bourbon, and what we do get goes out within hours. I have been in several small hole in the wall stores recently that have good stuff just sitting on the shelf, at retail, with nobody buying it. Look in poorer areas where people don’t spend $80 on a bottle.
@BourbonOfTheWeek2 жыл бұрын
This is smart. Go to where the people aren't buying it. Makes it less likely it's already gone
@embreewalker9788 Жыл бұрын
My name is Embree I live in Jacksonville Florida and have been waiting for this kind of opportunity to get a hold of some unicorn bourbon in my area for retail prices.
@PF-hm9uz2 жыл бұрын
Cool channel, just subscribed. I’m here in Florida so I have some good liquor stores, sometimes I score a decent bottle at SAMS or Costco. some liquor stores have you buy a bottle or 2 of the “staff” picks or something similar if you want to score a good hard to find bottle. I just did it to get a bottle of Blanton’s. 😝
@BourbonOfTheWeek2 жыл бұрын
thats awesome. always wish i could just walk into a grocery store or box store for bourbon. not a terrible system either to treat regular with the "good stuff" but still gotta be a better way!
@lilannalucey2 жыл бұрын
I found a great store near my mother-in-law on Long Island and now every time we visit I pop in and buy a bottle or two. I make sure to make some small talk and mention higher end or unicorn bottles so they have me in mind when they get them. I can't be there for delivery days, so I really have to play up a faux relationship.
@BourbonOfTheWeek2 жыл бұрын
Building relationships is key. It wont happen over night but eventually it will come back to help you! Thanks for checking out the video and if you see anything extra special dont forget to let me know !!
@rthilson2 жыл бұрын
Here in Wisconsin all stores here do lotteries only you never find Weller anything or Elmer t Lee
@BourbonOfTheWeek2 жыл бұрын
Do you like it that way or would you rather a different system?
@user-ku4xw9jz7o5 ай бұрын
lol Stagg drops in March here.
@thomascrompton77752 жыл бұрын
Here in Montgomery County both the 8 and 12 dickel on shelf.
@BourbonOfTheWeek2 жыл бұрын
This is news to me!!
@shpfro Жыл бұрын
This list is helpful depending on how long you have been into whiskey. I've been drinking whiskey, legally, since 2007, after while you don't care about these bottles, probably overrated. And it is possible to build a relationship with a FWGS employee. I've got 2 insiders here in Lancaster County. Best tip is to make friends out of state. Have 2 bottles coming for ND this week. Good vid tho.
@Thompson8922 жыл бұрын
10 tips to finding unicorns... don't waste your time, it ain't worth it. There you go, fixed it.
@jasonmorgan69707 ай бұрын
As a person that work at a liquor store and love bourbon best tips spend money on other things, second speak ❗ I hate when I say hello how can I help you and I see the eyes looking all over the store I normally call them out like hey the better bourbons are over here so just be friendly ❗
@Ghostfacekilla999 Жыл бұрын
I work for a liquor distributor so I know what stores are getting what lol
@BourbonOfTheWeek Жыл бұрын
Well this is extremely helpful!
@joemajor25532 жыл бұрын
Lol was that Elmer you got at the west Deptford buy rite?
@BourbonOfTheWeek2 жыл бұрын
How did you know ??
@wg14082 жыл бұрын
I'll challenge anyone to a hunt competition. Swear I'm the master and my pictures with prove it.
@Ibanezer332 жыл бұрын
Shout out to PA borbon squad!!!
@BourbonOfTheWeek2 жыл бұрын
Hell Yeah man, that my #1 go-to group.
@yakfish36 Жыл бұрын
Hi
@zoolander2212 жыл бұрын
Just found Kentucky Owl batch 10 in jersey, I’m new to this so not sure it’s a unicorn though
@BourbonOfTheWeek2 жыл бұрын
I picked up the same bottle when I was new to this. If you love the bottle and think its worth it than absolutely a unicorn. Only one way to find out! Thanks for checking out the video.
@zoolander2212 жыл бұрын
@@BourbonOfTheWeek I have been watching Matt Porter and KZfaq suggested you, and I live in Philly too, so I'll be watching them all! Keep it up and thank you
@BourbonOfTheWeek2 жыл бұрын
@@zoolander221 I'm a big fan of ADHD whiskey. He always makes me laugh !
@StillLivinginthewoods2 жыл бұрын
Where I live the liquor stores use key cards to track how much you spend, then the biggest spenders get first crack at the stuff that never makes it to the shelves. And then the REALLY hard to come by stuff (Pappy, OFC, etc..) gets raffled off, generally at about $50 a ticket. Well, the little $50-$80 a week that I spend on whiskey is NEVER going to get me on the big spenders list, and I don't gamble. So I simply live without rare whiskey,... it ain't so bad.
@BourbonOfTheWeek2 жыл бұрын
Another terrible system. I understand "reward those who spend" but to make it so you HAVE to spend is stupid. Maybe those who spend can have a better chance but still should be able to have a chance if you spend anything. Just my opinion.
@jonlouis25822 жыл бұрын
That’s how it is where I work also and I hate it. Not a lot of folks can afford to spend 10k a month just to get allocated Bourbon.
@ikiruyamamoto10502 жыл бұрын
I don't know if you have a Total Wine & More near you, but at that spend rate you would get "access" to unicorns. Of course, despite the Pappy, Weller, etc. teaser bottles, in the four "free" lotteries I've been in, I've always got my last choice (i.e. Blanton's). So, it isn't all roses, but Blanton's at MSRP is still pretty good.
@StillLivinginthewoods2 жыл бұрын
@@ikiruyamamoto1050 No, unfortunately the closest Total Wine is almost a hundred miles away. I do stop in whenever we visit the in-laws, but that's only a couple of times a year. At the rate I'm going I will be in the top tier of the Spec's key card club by early next year,... we'll see if that actually changes anything. Honestly, I don't care too much. The only semi-hard to find bottle that I do like to keep on hand and drink fairly regularly is the Willett 4 year rye. Last year I found every batch with no problems,.. this year I've picked up one.
@rajinferno0072 жыл бұрын
Anyone from Houston,Tx here? I need some stagg jr and Blantons 😎
@BourbonOfTheWeek2 жыл бұрын
Good Luck!
@4202 жыл бұрын
Why do bourbon-heads showcase Weller's? I bought the green bottle during a big local restock I happened to catch and it wasn't anything special. I told my dad about it and he claimed Weller's is a cheap drunk's type of bottle, because apparently that's what he used to see his buddy's drink. Idk what to think now days besides that the green label was nothing special IMO. Keep in mind, idk if my dad is recalling Weller's from the 70s, 80s, or 90s.
@MBTexas1962 жыл бұрын
Can you find Wild Turkey American Spirit?
@BourbonOfTheWeek2 жыл бұрын
I wish!
@isaacgodkin59002 жыл бұрын
So when does Stagg jr drop? 😄
@BourbonOfTheWeek2 жыл бұрын
June/July so for PA next month haha
@Mark-iq6hi2 жыл бұрын
Get yourself a Blantons Gold!
@BourbonOfTheWeek2 жыл бұрын
If only it was that easy!
@luketdrifter21002 жыл бұрын
I just work at a liquor store and upsell.
@BourbonOfTheWeek2 жыл бұрын
Explain
@luketdrifter21002 жыл бұрын
@@BourbonOfTheWeek when you make a slot money, allocated bottles sometimes fall in your lap. Last week. A guy wanted Four Roses small Batch. He held with Calumet 14. Suddenly a Stagg Jr is available for me if i want
@LeatherDaddy972 жыл бұрын
Tip to people reading comments. Badgering employees, or calling stores is easily one of the worst ways to try and get allocated bottles.
@BourbonOfTheWeek2 жыл бұрын
Well put, people still have a job to do!
@LeatherDaddy972 жыл бұрын
@@BourbonOfTheWeek well it comes down to, everybody does it. The best way to get rare whiskey is to make friends, and you turn people away by badgering employees and callin stores
@jonlouis25822 жыл бұрын
Right. Where I work numerous people a day come in off the street asking for rare whiskeys, and I’ve seldom or never seen it get results. Calling is even worse.
@sitori6632 жыл бұрын
Some grocery & big box stores employees are buying the allocated bourbon so it never hits the floor. Costco employees have told me they wait by the loading docks to get 1st dibs on allocated stock. They hold it back for each other, too. Many of them don't even drink bourbon or do but just want to sell it on the secondary market or to liquor stores. It's illegal but the state regulators don't do anything about it so this BS continues & prices go way up. This past fall the big box store I shop at claimed their store got no allocated bourbon. None. 1st time in the past 5 years they haven't since I've been drinking bourbon. They claimed they had no idea why. Sure. The main alcohol dept employee told me about an expensive gift a customer gave him in the fall. We all know why. I'm over wasting time hunting these unicorns. There is too much great bourbon not being swept up into this private circus of corrupt bourbon buying & selling.
@BourbonOfTheWeek2 жыл бұрын
There should be regulations but much like anything else that blows up, Pokémon cards, graphic cards, ect. People see they can make money and take advantage of the system. It's extremely frustrating for the average consumer which includes me. I would love to review bottles for people that are a little more rare but 1. I can't get them and 2. Even if I could the person watching prolly can't so why would they care.
@mikem44322 жыл бұрын
this is a stupid video for finding OVERPRICED booze that is being flipped by secondary market.. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY ON HYPED BOOZE
@BourbonOfTheWeek2 жыл бұрын
I get all my stuff at MSRP or less than 10% over, but good try
@williamblees60132 жыл бұрын
What's the discord?
@BourbonOfTheWeek2 жыл бұрын
Should be in the description!
@SwizzleStickMcGee2 жыл бұрын
Your video was very good, but videos like this are so frustrating when you actually work in the industry. Whatever your "unicorn" bottle is? There's probably 10 bourbons that taste just like it, or taste even better, for less money....and you will NEVER EVER know about them....because you spent your time & money chasing subpar, overpriced unicorns, to impress your friends. Lol
@BourbonOfTheWeek2 жыл бұрын
I think you should do yourself a favor and watch the rest of my videos. Or take the time to even look at my ranking sheet. 90% of stuff I review is daily on the shelf items. That is what I pride myself on. Sure if I get lucky and can find a unicorn at MSRP I'll pick it up, but by no means am I "Hunting" these bottles. Again you come and watch 2 videos out of 120 and assume a whole lot about this channel. The people who watch every week know this isn't a "unicorn" channel review but unfortunately KZfaq doesn't like "Evan Williams White Label Review" as a title so I have to put out videos like this to increase my audience so they can see the weekly reviews.
@SwizzleStickMcGee2 жыл бұрын
Everyone makes these lists & no one addresses the most obvious point.... "Be willing to pay for something you want." I own a liquor store...if you aren't my regular customer? I'm not giving you ANYTHING. I save my rare stuff for the people who keep my business afloat. Not some out-of-town idiot who came strolling in thinking he might find an untapped well of Blanton's or something. Now that we got that part out of the way...there's a second part to that statement. Go into a liquor store that you have never been in before....and go: "Hey, do you have any Blanton's or Weller?" And they will laugh at you - as they should (they hate you right away if you're asking for these bourbons btw) and then go: "Well if you happen to find a bottle of Blanton's let me know, I would be willing to pay $200 for it." And I bet they find you a bottle of Blanton's right away lol People go: "Do you have Pappy?" "It depends. Are you willing to pay $1500 for it?" "No." "Okay. Then, no, I don't have Pappy."