Friday, April 24, 2020

No Rubbish




On an airline flight one day (I have a hundred stories that start like this) I sat next to a brand manager for Beam Suntory, a company that makes some very fine Bourbon and they also make rubbish - Jim Beam.  If the only bourbon you have ever tried is Jim Beam, I don't blame you if you dislike bourbon.  It is harsh, and lacks the complexity of flavors and mellowness of good stuff.  She asked what I thought could be done to improve bourbon sales, and I said, get bars and duty free shops to feature and sell the good stuff, as Spo would put it, no rubbish.   When I travel, I am often in pursuit of the good stuff.  In Ireland I discovered good Irish Whiskey and when I returned home found it in my local store.  I did bring home a couple of souvenir bottles.  I almost always check bags, and I always have bottle bags in my bags.  I need to order a new supply, I used the last of them on the last adventure. 

Do you bring home bottles of the good stuff when you travel?  


17 comments:

  1. my lawd, those look like the liquor cabinets at maddie's house!

    the only time we have brought home bottles was from lewes. DE. we have since found the brands in our local state store.

    and what happened to yesterday's post?

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    1. Were you unable to see yesterday's post or was it just too boring? It only had 20 views. I did blogger have a glitch?

      I wish the local selection here was better. I have brought home some items that are in limited distribution.

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    2. never saw a post pop up in my feed; it's probably blogger.
      try total wine; they have EVERYTHING.
      wish we could have total wine stores, but noooooooo; stoopid PA laws!

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    3. I was here, I haven't missed a day since 2005.

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  2. No i travel light....but when Hendricks comes out with there "special editions" like Midsommer Solstice and Amazonia the only place to get them are those duty free shops at airports. I have no idea why. Not even bars or very few liqueur stores have them. I'm having a time trying to find the new Amazonia from Hendricks.

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    1. Some releases are for duty free only, Blanton's barrel strength is exclusive to duty free in Europe and Japan, when you can find it in the USA, it is very expensive. Justins House of Bourbon in KY, resells unopened collectables, they may be able to get the Hendrix.

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  3. Anonymous4/24/2020

    Only duty free of what we know. Bottles of liquid weigh a lot in your luggage. I am not a bourbon drinker as I find it too sweet, but then I have only ever tried Jim Beam.

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    1. There are a few airports that now sell booze inside of security for domestic travelers, usually locally made (retail alcohol sales regulated at the state and local level in the USA.) The airport in Lexington Kentucky has a very nice specialty stop, in Providence Rhode Island you can buy rum made in Rhode Island, the airport in Portland has sales for a couple of local distillers.

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  4. Never have and since I'm not a whiskey drinker, I haven't often sampled the good stuff. Although when I did, I was impressed by the difference and realized I had wasted my few drinks in the past on things unworthy.

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    1. Regret not the past, only the best in the future.

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  5. Back in the day, we used to go to Tijuana and bring home rum and Kahlua. That's the good stuff to me and it's cheaper there. As for whiskeys, I don't have a discerning palate. They all taste like nail polish remover to me!

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    1. Kahlua and vodka on ice, very, very good.

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  6. The only time I brought back alcohol from a trip was a bottle of wine from Italy. I was very impressed by how the winery cushioned it in a special styrofoam container so it could be safely put in our luggage.

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    1. I have had good luck with the bubble wrap bags like Wine Skin. I have also used a jumbo zip lock and wrapped in sweaters.

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  7. I bought a small bottle of Marker's Mark after a distillery tour, and I bought a small bottle of Glenfiddich from a duty free shop at either Gatwick or Heathrow because I liked the shape of the bottle! That was back in 1990s, and it's never been opened.

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    1. Glenfiddich is worth opening.

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  8. My soul swoons!
    I generally don't bring home good booze from travel as I worry about its transport.
    By the way I've drank up all the cheap stuff at home now what's left is the 'no rubbish' stuff I am being too cheap to drink.

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