I got some disappointing news yesterday, and today I was just in no mood.
So I decided to do some retail therapy. And that involved bourbon. Not a lot of bourbon, but some bourbon.
And Great Screamin’ Caesar’s Ghost there are a ton on bourbons out there. Honey flavored, maple flavored….Maple flavored bourbon? What the hell do you need maple flavor bourbon for? Even a smoked maple flavored bourbon. Blasphemy!!!
I understand market share, and I understand that brands have to grow market share year on year to be considered successful…and I even understand (though the rearing of it’s ugly head pisses me off) that distillers are trying to gain a foothold with women with the new flavorings…..but the sheer number of offerings is daunting to say the least.
I like the middle priced bourbons…Eagle Rare, Woodbridge, Ridgemont Reserve 1792, Knob Creek, Makers Mark, some of the Jim Beam line, Jack Daniels and most of that line, Wild Turkey. And in most of those there are variations that will boggle your mind.
I stood at the Bourbon display for about 15 minutes, when one of the clerks came up to me and asked if I needed help deciding. I declined, telling him that unfortunately I have gotten to that age where I just do not see the need to have a billion offerings of basically the same thing.
How do you feel about all of the items we have available to us in this day and age? Do we really need 20 different ketchups, mustards, mayos, and the like? It seems like everything in the grocery store anymore is spread out to offer us a multitude of choices. Do we really need all that?
Now is the time where I ask you to comment on this post. And to ask you to subscribe via email right over there on the right hand side…..————–>>>>>>>>>>>
And finally to go to my facebook page and hit the “like” button.
You see, I have to market myself also, and it is all about market share, now isn’t it?
4 comments
Comment by Mike Cade on January 23, 2014 at 11:59 pm
I like my Crown Royal and got suckered into purchasing a Maple flavored version ONCE. I was almost run out of Baldwin by my old Hartford riding buddies. “Blasphemy” they said. We were tipping to honor our fallen friend “Beard” (Mike Kelly), and I was told his kind hearted spirit was going to give me another chance to be redeemed next year. Not only blaspbemous, but it just plain sucked. Phil, I understand this was about Bourbons, but the honey thing kind of sticks to your theme.
As for the variety of choices in the market place… it does some good. It keeps prices down due to competition, it keeps producers on their toes about meeting standards of quality and consistency, and it creates more choices, flavors, and jobs.
However, the older I get (and the fewer taste buds I have – think I heard that on your blog too), the more content I find myself with the “middle of the road” originals. I find they old tried and true reciepes and flavors I grew up with were and are still my 1st choice. So here’s to you Beard… regular Crown, cause like you, the original versions of most things are never really improved!
Say what you will… but Hartford produced a lot of mighty fine folks!
Comment by wormdude@gmail.com on January 24, 2014 at 12:10 am
Mike, first off….thank you for commenting. I appreciate you taking the time to do so. And while I appreciate what you say about keeping prices down due to comp, and distillers on their toes….I still take it as insulting to me as a long time bourbon drinker. Like I said, I like my Eagle Rare, my Makers Mark, etc….And I agree that Hartford did right by the world.
Comment by Anonymous on January 24, 2014 at 7:40 am
I tried “Honey Jack”, ONCE. That’s all it took. If I imbibe bourbon or whiskey, it’s Jack Black, Maker’s, or the Knob.. KISS (Keep It Simple, Shirley)!
Comment by wormdude@gmail.com on January 24, 2014 at 8:05 am
You are much braver than I am…I won’t even waste the time on it. Thanks for commenting.