You may remember that we launched the new BourbonHunt site last summer as a way to add more features for the Bourbonr readers. As I’m sure, you’ve noticed, nothing about Bourbonr has changed nor will it change in the future. BourbonHunt and the “pro” membership is a completely separate site with its own benefits. I greatly appreciated everyone that decided to support Bourbonr with a “pro” membership.

After seven months I’ve decided to reopen membership. Why now? BourbonHunt was a new idea that I wanted to make sure it worked and everyone was happy with the experience. I’ve learned a lot and decided there’s room for a few more people to join and still receive plenty of benefits.

The main attraction is the Bourbonr barrel picks. Due to a limited number of bottles, there are a limited amount of BourbonHunt spots available today.

SOLD OUT! There are 60 bottles of Bourbonr Four Roses OESK available for purchase by new members. First come first serve.
It wouldn’t be a Bourbonr (re)launch without a giveaway. One lucky member will receive an Old Rip Van Winkle 10 year for FREE!
Finally, February 17th was World Cholangiocarcinoma Day which is a rare form of cancer that affected my family this past year. 10% of all new memberships will be donated to The Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation.

Here’s what we’ve done so far:

Old Rip Van Winkle 10 year bottle giveaway

Private barrel bottles: Four Roses OBSK and OESK, Blanton’s and Smooth Ambler.

Free samples of the full Buffalo Trace Antique Collection

Old Forrester Birthday Bourbon, Michter’s 10-year and Angel’s Envy Cask Strength bottles at retail and sample split

Discount at preferred retailers. (Ezra’s and Broudy’s)

Free Shipping on Bourbonr Tasting Kit’s

Free Digital copy of all Bourbonr material

Here’s what we have planned for 2016:

Smooth Ambler barrel pick round 2

WhistlePig Barrel pick (the first private barrel to come to Florida)

High West Barrel pick

Wild Turkey barrel pick (brand yet to be decided)

Buffalo Trace Barrel pick (brand yet to be decided)

Four Roses Barrel pick (recipe yet to be decided)

More discounts from retailers

Free copy of all Bourbonr digital products.

Membership Tiers

Unfortunately, Bourbonr Pro is full. If you add your email address below we will let you know if spots open up. Thanks!

Basic

Access to private trading group and forum
Trade group is only for trusted BourbonHunt members
Profiles can be linked to Facebook
Membership to the Bourbonr Journal
Read the blog ad free
Discounts at preferred online retailers

Premium

Preferred spot in barrel purchases*
Discounted price on your first barrel purchase
40% discount on NEAT glasses purchases
Read the blog ad free
Access to private trading group and forum
Enrolled in bottle giveaways and bottle splits
Membership to the Bourbonr Journal
Discounts at preferred online retailers
Free shipping on Bourbonr Tasting kits
Free copy of all Bourbonr digital products.

* Does not include cost of bottle

Connoisseur

Part of the selection committee for private barrels (when possible)
Free monthly sample of a limited edition bourbon (your pick of George T Stagg, Thomas H Handy, Old Forester Birthday Bourbon or Angel’s Envy Cask Strength in the first month)
Free set of four NEAT glasses
Guaranteed spot in barrel purchases*
A free 1776 Leather Flask
Discounted price & free shipping on your first barrel purchase
40% discount on NEAT glass purchases
Read the blog add free
Enrolled in bottle giveaways
Access to private trading group and forum
Membership to the Bourbonr Journal
Discounts at preferred online retailers
Free copy of all Bourbonr digital products.
Free shipping on Bourbonr Tasting kits

* Does not include cost of bottle

76 comments

What states can you ship alcohol to? I live in NC, and it’s been generally impossible to get things through the mail. (aside from second market sales/trading)

Here is a list of states they can’t ship to. AL, AK, AR, DE, HI, IA, IL, KY, MA, ME, MS, ND, NV, OK, PA, RI, SD, TX, UT, WA or WV

Looks like you’re in the clear with NC. Obviously if that changed I would refund your money. Thanks!

So for those of us living in the listed states, there is no access to the private barrel bottles or any bourbon samplings?

Unfortunately, I suggest that you don’t sign up unless you can have it shipped to a neighboring state. Missing out on the main benefit just doesn’t make it worth the price.

well I was going to join but I live in MI so I guess I’m out

my bad, it is a list of states you “can’t” ship to………….long day!

I receive wine club shipments in TX? Is this separate legislation that stops this?

Yes beer and wine fall in a different category than liquor

You can remove Delaware from this list as legislation was passed as of Jan one 2016 allowing shipments to private residences in Delaware

Sorry to hear your family was affected by cholangiocarcinoma. I lost my father to it three years ago. Thank you for donating to the cause.

Can you ship to Canada?

Unfortunately, no.

I’m in Tx, can I have bottles shipped to a different state? Also…is it possible to pay the connoisseur level monthly? Or in 2-4 payments? I want in! Thanks!

Just thought I’d post that I joined Bourbonr Pro this year and am very happy with it. Thanks Blake for making a great program.

I’ve only bought 1 each of every bottle offered but they’ve been fantastic. I’m about to run out of Blanton’s so if there’s any more of that left, let me know!

I also have enjoyed the samples and communications. It’s a great program.

Blake I enjoy reading your pearls of bourbon wisdom immensely!
My line of expertise lies with credit card processing. Please allow me to give a free evaluation of what your current processor is charging you. Email your statement to:
ignitepaymentscoastline@yahoo.com Steve Paré 805-910-9010
I am a direct agent with First Data

I am very interested in joining, however, I live in Chicago and it does not appear that I would receive the actual whiskey benefits of joining. What are the options for me?

Let me double check as I thought they were shopping to IL now

Ditto for me. Any idea why IL was off the list?

If Illinois is on the List I would be in.

Just confirmed. They can ship to Illinois

Any update? I’m in Chicago Suburbs…

Just confirmed. They can ship to Illinois

Blake, just to be clear is the pitch here for “new” members, or is this the annual “renewal” membership reminder?

It’s for new members. The renewal reminder won’t come until around July

I joined Boubonr Pro and thought it was a waste of money. Maybe sour grapes, but I didn’t win any free samples nor any chances to buy rare/allocated bourbons. I purchased the Bourbonr Blantons and Smooth Ambler bourbons… both are good bourbons… but both were more expensive than the same products I could find locally. Access to private trading group and forum is a nice concept, but let’s be honest, there’s maybe one post per month about a bourbon found on a website that is inevitably either sold out or super pricey, and there seems to be zero trades happening. It’s disheartening when you follow the Bourbonr blog, IG, Twitter, etc. and see Blake’s access to bourbon, but not see the benefits of being a Bourbonr Pro. I wish Blake all the success in the world building the Bourbonr brand and enjoy reading his thoughtful bourbon analysis, but going forward I won’t be participating in subsidizing it.

Hi Mike, I’m sorry you feel that way about it. I’ve tried to spread the bourbon bottles/samples as well as I could but probably can do a better job. I’d email you directly but this is from an annonymous email address. If you see this please email me as I’d like to make it up to you. There’s still 4 months left on your membership and I want to change your mind about Bourbonr Pro 🙂

Hey Blake, wow – appreciate the response and the offer to reach out. Just emailed you.

Is there adeadline for open enrollment?

Yes, it will close Friday.

What’s the average price of a Bourbonr barrel bottle sold through this program?

It really varies by barreling. Four Roses were $59, Smooth Ambler a little less, WhistlePig and Barrell will be more expenseive but if we get a regular Buffalo Trace it will be in the $30 range

Where do I find the discount code? I just signed up and the price for the Four Roses is $79.

Thanks

If my billing address is in a no ship state (PA) will I have ability to add a shipping address separately in a ship to state (MD or DC)?

Yes, that’s not a problem

Hello,

I am from Canada, and I am interested in signing up, however I don’t think I would get any of the actual whiskey benefits. Which membership option would be best for me?

Can u ship to michigan?

For new members, is it possible to ship to Ontario, Canada?

Sorry, no shipping to Canada

Do memberships need to be paid up front or is it on a monthly billing cycle?

I am in WA State, is it just the barrel programs that can’t ship to WA… Or is it all shipments (samples if I did the top tier)?

I’m also in Washington State…and get bottles shipped to me all the time. I wonder what the difference is? Otherwise, I’d join in a heartbeat.

I’m checking on Washington now. I’ll report back.

Good news. They can ship to Washington!

Have multiple conflicting statements.
Can you ship to Illinois?

Yes, they can ship to Illinois.

I initially thought they couldn’t but I called the owner and he can.

Thanks!

Sounds like a great program. Question – under the “Connoisseur” program it says:
“Monthly sample of a limited edition bourbon (your pick of George T Stagg, Thomas H Handy, Old Forester Birthday Bourbon or Angel’s Envy Cask Strength in the first month)”

Can you quantify sample size- eg.375ml ?

Good question. They’re typically 2 oz samples

Blake, not sure if you saw my above question. I am in WA State… is it just the barrel programs that can’t ship to WA… Or is it all shipments (samples if I did the top tier)?

I’m checking on Washington now. I’ll report back.

Good news. They can ship to Washington!

Great news! Will be signing up tonight. Thanks Blake

I didn’t think you could ship to Georgia. I’m I wrong about that?

If you have a good resource, would you mind checking on Montana? As far as I know, shipment of hard liquor is illegal. They’ve made some changes for direct shipment of wine, and its possible to get a connoisseur’s license for beer, as long as they are coming directly from the winery or brewery, respectively, but I don’t believe they have anything similar in place for whiskey.

I’d like to buy membership for my husband for his birthday. I clicked subscribe and it went straight to PayPal login. Will I have a chance after that step to out in hubby’s info?
Thank you

Yes, you can just email me (blake@bourbonr.com) and I’ll update it for you. Just let me know your PayPal email

I didn’t think you could ship to Georgia. I’m I wrong about that?

Blake,

Can you ship to DC?

i guess australia is out too..

Maybe one day but for now international is out of luck

How large is the monthly sample?

It varies by month and sample but usually 1-4 oz

I just joined the Connoisseur level and am looking forward to the program and of course the samples along with Blake’s blogs……… 🙂

Are the private barrels at barrel proof?

Most are (Four Roses, Smooth Ambler, WhistlePig) but others aren’t (Buffalo Trace, Eagle Rare10)

Hi Blake, I’ve tried to buy from Internet and they said they can’t ship to Michigan, that’s why I haven’t purchased anything with my membership. If I’ve been misled let me know. Thanks. GARY

Just read today’s email solicitation for Pro and it said still some 4 Roses OESK remain. Immediately signed up, paid and clicked the link to the Liquor Store. Couldn’t find the 4 Roses, went back to the email, clicked the link to Pro and, of course, the message now reads that the OESK is sold out?. Any consolation prize or indication of when the next allocated single barrel will be available?

We’re working on a consolation prize. However, a Barrell Bourbon pick should be available shortly.

Thanks, Blake (not!) for the prize offer of the ORVW 10. I bought a bottle at retail (one of THREE at the front counter!) a few years ago, before things went crazy, and drank it without a thought…now if only I’d picked up a second one to “save”!! –So your offering that bottle is like rubbing salt in the wound – OUCH!! (oh, well…)