Podcast Summary
Trying to Get Coveted Items: Persistence and Creativity Pay Off: Persistence and creativity are key to acquiring elusive items, like rare bourbon or insurance savings. Reach out to strangers or make multiple attempts to secure your prize.
Access to desirable products, such as rare bourbon or insurance savings, can be elusive and require creativity or persistence. Johanna Ferreira, content director of PopSugar Juntos, shared her experience of trying to buy a coveted bottle of Pappy Van Winkle bourbon for a wedding gift, which involved numerous attempts and eventually reaching out to a stranger in Mississippi. Similarly, Progressive Insurance offers significant savings on average for those who switch, but potential customers may need to actively seek out quotes to take advantage of the discounts. The market for expensive American whiskeys, like Pappy Van Winkle, has seen significant growth since 2016, making these sought-after bottles difficult to obtain. While the methods to acquire these items may not always be straightforward, the rewards can be substantial.
The high demand for Pappy Van Winkle bourbon leads to exorbitant prices and illegal sales: Despite its high price and limited availability, Pappy Van Winkle bourbon's exclusivity and cultural significance drive consumers to pay thousands for a bottle, creating a black market.
The demand for rare and high-end bourbon, specifically Pappy Van Winkle, far exceeds the supply, leading to exorbitant prices and even illegal sales. This phenomenon started in the late 1970s when American consumers mistakenly believed that single barrel bourbon was similar to single malt Scotch and was therefore a worthwhile investment. As a result, the popularity of bourbon has skyrocketed, with Pappy Van Winkle becoming the epitome of desirability. Despite its high price tag and limited availability, people are willing to pay thousands of dollars for a bottle due to its exclusivity and cultural significance. This situation, reminiscent of prohibition era tactics, has created a black market for bourbon and put immense pressure on producers to meet the insatiable demand.
The high demand and limited supply of Pappy Van Winkle bourbon lead to exorbitant prices on the black market: Pappy Van Winkle's success led to a black market where bottles sell for high prices due to high demand and limited supply, causing some to hoard, steal, and sell for profit.
Despite the immense wealth one may have, obtaining rare and coveted items, such as a bottle of Pappy Van Winkle bourbon, is not guaranteed. The Van Winkle family's success with this unique bourbon, which is made with corn, wheat, and barley, aged for a long time, and personally approved by Julian Van Winkle, has led to a booming black market where bottles sell for exorbitant prices. This secondary market is a result of the high demand and limited supply, leading to people hoarding and selling the bourbon for a significant profit. The Van Winkles may have started the business, but much of the financial gain does not go to them. The difficulty in obtaining Pappy Van Winkle has also led to people trying to gain favor with those who may have a bottle, even if they were once just acquaintances. The 20-year-old Pappy Van Winkle, considered one of the finest bourbons in the world, has even been stolen due to its high value.
The theft of Pappy Van Winkle bourbon caused frustration for bartenders and customers alike: The theft of a rare bourbon created a shortage, frustrating bartenders and customers, and highlighted the complexity of producing aged bourbon
The theft of a rare 20-year-old bourbon from Buffalo Trace Distillery in 2013, resulting in the disappearance of 195 bottles and 65 cases, created a significant headache for all involved, particularly for bartenders who are constantly asked about its availability. Despite speculation that the Van Winkles themselves may have orchestrated the theft for publicity, Julian Van Winkle III did not need the publicity and was frustrated by the shortage as much as everyone else. The demand for the bourbon was already high, and creating a shortage would not help supply the market. The issue is that producing a 20-year-old bourbon is not as simple as making more when there's a shortage. It requires predicting demand and having the foresight to produce enough years in advance. The bartenders we spoke with were tired of the constant inquiries about Pappy Van Winkle and the frustration it brought to their customers.
Managing the Challenges of Carrying Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon: Carrying Pappy Van Winkle requires understanding its value, dealing with customer pressure, and navigating the arbitrary allocation process.
The scarcity of Pappy Van Winkle bourbon creates a unique challenge for bars and their managers. While the whiskey is highly sought after and considered fantastic, its scarcity allows bars to charge exorbitant prices. However, having Pappy on the shelf can also attract unwanted attention from customers trying to profit from it illegally. This can lead to pushy and even threatening behavior towards bar staff. The allocation process for obtaining Pappy is also arbitrary and mysterious, adding to the frustration for bars that are unable to secure bottles. Ultimately, managing a bar that carries Pappy Van Winkle requires a clear understanding of the value and potential risks associated with the whiskey, as well as the ability to set boundaries and maintain professionalism in the face of customer pressure.
Protests against Pappy Van Winkle's high demand: A man's Jell-O shot protest led to threats, but he continued to sell Pappy at cost, highlighting extreme lengths for rare bourbon
The high demand and overvaluation of rare bourbon like Pappy Van Winkle can lead to extreme reactions from consumers. A man named Jeremy, who received an allocation of Pappy, decided to make Jell-O shots with it as a way to protest the situation and make light of the situation. However, this led to death threats and graphic online messages. Despite this, Jeremy continued to sell glasses of Pappy at cost the following year, and a large turnout of people were grateful for the opportunity to try it. The case of the stolen Pappy Van Winkle barrels was eventually solved a year and a half later with an anonymous tip leading to the arrest of Toby Kurtzinger. The incident highlighted the extreme lengths some people will go to obtain rare bourbon and the potential consequences of such actions.
Organized Crime Targets Rare Bourbons: An investigation into the theft of highly sought-after bottles of Pappy Van Winkle and other bourbons revealed a larger network of thieves using a softball league for communication and transactions. The incident raised questions about the value of rare bourbons and the potential for more affordable options to offer comparable taste.
The Buffalo Trace whiskey distillery faced a significant loss due to organized crime involving the theft and sale of highly sought-after bottles of Pappy Van Winkle and other bourbons. The ringleader, Toby Kurzinger, was eventually caught and sentenced to prison, but the investigation uncovered communications and transactions among the thieves through a softball league, indicating a larger network. The thefts affected various counties in Kentucky and possibly beyond. The Van Winkle family, who own the Pappy Van Winkle brand, declined to comment on the case. The incident raised questions about the extreme prices some collectors are willing to pay for rare bourbons and whether they are worth it. The investigation also revealed that other, more affordable bourbons can offer comparable taste. Kurzinger served only a short prison sentence before being released on shock probation. Another employee was interviewed but never charged. The incident, known as "Pappygate," remains an ongoing investigation.
The Allure and Risks of Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon: Former employees taking bottles led to reduced allocations and potential counterfeiting, causing high prices and controversy surrounding Pappy Van Winkle bourbon.
The demand for Pappy Van Winkle bourbon has reached unprecedented levels, leading to exorbitant prices and potential counterfeiting. Toby Kurtzinger, a former employee of Buffalo Trace, admitted to taking bottles as part of the company culture, but this practice led to significant consequences. Jeremy Johnson of Medabar shared how their allocation of Pappy Van Winkle was drastically reduced after making jello shots with it. Adam Hers, a screenwriter and producer, discovered empty Pappy Van Winkle bottles selling for high prices on eBay, raising concerns about counterfeiting. These incidents highlight the allure and exclusivity of Pappy Van Winkle, but also the potential risks and consequences associated with it.
Counterfeit Pappy Van Winkle Bottles: Be cautious when purchasing rare whiskey, particularly Pappy Van Winkle, as counterfeit bottles are common. Signs of fakes include refilled bottles with different whiskey, uncleaned bottles with contaminants, and specialized machinery-applied foil capsules.
The world of rare and collectible whiskey, particularly Pappy Van Winkle, is riddled with counterfeit bottles. These fakes can range from simply refilling an empty bottle with a different whiskey and replacing the shrink band, to more complex methods involving obtaining empty bottles and applying new foil capsules using specialized machines. Some counterfeiters even go as far as not cleaning out the bottles before refilling them, leading to the growth of bacteria and other contaminants. There are prolific sellers of these fakes, some of whom have been operating for years and remain hidden from the public eye. It's essential for collectors and consumers to be vigilant and educated about the signs of counterfeit bottles to avoid being deceived.
Spotting Fake Whiskey Bottles: Be vigilant when buying whiskey. Compare bottles to authentic examples online, look for inconsistencies in capsules, seals, and labels, and use distillery apps or security tags to ensure authenticity.
The world of whiskey, like other collectible markets, is plagued with counterfeit goods. These fakes can be difficult to spot, even for experts, as they often replicate the appearance of genuine bottles with impressive accuracy. The bourbon community relies on self-policing due to the gray market nature of buying and selling alcohol. While it can be tempting to let people enjoy their potentially fake whiskey without revealing the truth, most people appreciate being informed. The easiest way to spot fakes is by comparing the bottle to authentic examples online. Counterfeiters use accessible equipment and materials to replicate bottles, so it's essential to be vigilant and pay close attention to details such as capsules, seals, and labels. Distilleries are also taking steps to combat counterfeiting, such as using security tags and developing apps to detect opened bottles.
Personal preference is key when enjoying bourbon: Appreciate bourbon for its unique flavors and enjoy it according to personal preference, disregarding special features or others' opinions, while being cautious of bottle authenticity.
While some collectors may find value in special features like chips or scannable foils on Buffalo Trace bottles, the most important thing when it comes to enjoying bourbon is personal preference. The speakers emphasized that there's no need to follow strict rules or let others dictate how to drink it. They also warned against naivety regarding bottle authenticity but assured listeners that the issue isn't widespread. The production team of Criminal reminded everyone that the joy of bourbon comes from appreciating its unique flavors and enjoying it however one likes. The speakers also shared that there's no shame in liking cheaper options and that everyone's taste preferences are valid. The episode was produced with the help of Gravy, a podcast from the Southern Foodways Alliance, and featured interviews with experts in the field.
