tu ag said:
I have made some deals with some guys who have 20 times the number (and price) of bottles I have.
I ask them how they got the bottles. Some have dropped a "tip" of managers of Specs stores every time they get a bottle "from the back". This leads to phone calls and more greasing of payoffs. Tips are dependent on the price of the bottle.
They also buy a LOT.
This has, without doubt, been the greatest contributor of me falling out of the bourbon "scene." I don't have time or inclination to grease things along. Sure, I could focus on smaller, unique stuff, but at this point, the whole charade is a turnoff. I'll just by a plain-jane bottle of Maker's for $25 and call it a day.