Barrel Club

mikeecho · 12-10-2022 11:13pm #1

Any other members of the Barrel Club here.. I know there's a few.

What the thought on the Xmas release.

People have been saying that it's a RB27 , but the image doesn't match..

Screenshot_2022-10-12-23-11-50-55_40deb401b9ffe8e1df2f1cc5ba480b12.jpg

Any ideas what Mr DHL will be bringing?

kuang1 · 13-10-2022 8:18am

You're right the image doesn't match.

I'd be utterly shocked if it was redbreast 27 for xmas!

Maybe they'll feel obliged to give something a bit nicer than usual after the recent rumblings of discontent.

Justin10 · 13-10-2022 10:22am

This was in line for a while before the issue with the jameson pot still.

Seems to be a purple cork, which would be a sherry cask.

My best guess would be a cask strength px or lustau

sceach16 · 13-10-2022 11:25am

It ain't a 500 euro Redbreast 27 yo! It is a redbreast ...possibly a follow on of the Iberian series started with PX last year.....as usual, time will tell.

Smurts · 13-10-2022 11:40am

Yes likely a cask strength, definitely not a 27 year old or even a 15 year old at that!

Hopefully decent whatever it is, giving the release this week of the Jameson Single Pot Still at €60, outside of the Johns Lane Cask Strength that was included in one of the deliveries, (and maybe the small bottle of Jameson 21 last Christmas) there hasn't really been anything else to write home about in the other packages...

Justin10 · 13-10-2022 2:44pm

Its poor really, for €500 euro I'd be expecting a lot more. First preference on all ballots be a start.

Jameson retailing at €60 sure give people two bottles of last quarters release so because the price of that package was €125

Smurts · 13-10-2022 3:09pm

Not forgetting one of the samples with the pack was the Jameson Cold Brew! Less said about that the better.

Agreed, the first year was underwhelming but I thought they had taken the initial feedback on board with the Johns Lane Cask Strength, but as you say if its reverting to essentially a €60 bottle of whiskey every month that's available in the shops shortly after then what's the point of joining really!

Black Sheep · 13-10-2022 4:09pm

My neighbour is in it and when I went around for the John's Lane cask strength tasting with him I almost signed up myself.

The value element would not necessarily be the decision maker for me, more a question of whether I would actually want this much Irish whiskey coming my way, but for what it's worth when you do the maths of what members receive from an annual perspective I think it works out better than on a monthly basis.

That month with the cask strength John's Lane and deconstructed samples... Certainly that would make up for one or two dud months. How much did bottles of that and the deconstructed tasting set go for online? 200?

He also told me there was some bonus associated with signing up for another year, another bottle of something, can anyone confirm?

In general with all these clubs, however, I accept that if they become a matter of "trying to get your moneys worth" every time there's a delivery then yes, probably not an enjoyable thing for someone to pursue.

Smurts · 14-10-2022 11:16am

Yea the bonus for the 2nd year sign up was a bottle of Black Barrel Cask Strength, which was decent. Its lovely stuff.

I suppose from my viewpoint, its not trying to deduce the monetary value out of the packs as I have no interest in what I might get if I was to sell on a bottle but moreso that if you're a member of a club you do expect some exclusives/specials, regardless of value. There's little point paying a premium and having no choice in what you are getting quarterly, if they are available in the shops where you can pick and choose what you want and don't want, and don't have to pay a subscription.

mikeecho · 23-10-2022 7:57pm

Christmas Cake... Who saw that coming .

Smurts · 23-10-2022 8:55pm

Wow, where did you find that picture! Interesting…

mikeecho · 23-10-2022 9:30pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119784457#Comment_119784457

Facebook, barrel Club page.. it's up on some whiskey appreciation pages as well.

Smurts · 23-10-2022 10:50pm

I see that, strange that they’ve released it prior to the release, first time they have done that, obviously trying to push more sign ups! Still, bring it on, looking forward to it

mikeecho · 24-10-2022 8:13am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119785092#Comment_119785092

They did the same with the new Jameson pot still.. it did come with different packaging for the BC

CardinalJ · 27-10-2022 11:00pm

I signed up the other day.

A little disappointed with the Christmas cake RB. It's obviously pure novelty so could be good or bizarre. But it also rules out another bottle of RB for the year.

Citizen Six · 28-10-2022 2:28pm

I wouldn't let that put you off, it could be quite nice. I'm getting a sample of it in December, and looking forward to trying it.

Justin10 · 28-10-2022 2:41pm

I've a feeling it's going to be very very similar to standard redbreast.

Hope I'm wrong.

kuang1 · 08-12-2022 1:43pm

Got my Christmas redbreast delivered yesterday.

Haven't tried it yet!

One the drams is redbreast 12 so will be very easy to determine similarities/differences.

A unique, never-before-released redbreast does make up a bit for the last quarter's offering I think.

Smurts · 08-12-2022 3:32pm

Yep received mine yesterday too, will open the RB over the Xmas.

A bit disappointed with the other samples, nothing there to get excited about, but the RB makes up for it, especially at that ABV!

Justin10 · 08-12-2022 4:16pm

Had really hoped for a cask strength lustau in the samples.

Looking forward to trying the redbreast over the weekend.

26-01-2023 2:13pm

So, for anyone who has been a member for a while..........is it worth it? Would you be better off spending €500 on bottles that you know what you're getting?

Citizen Six · 26-01-2023 8:21pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120160385#Comment_120160385

I know about three people who are members, and they all think it's worth it. They are also the kind of guys who buy a decent amount of whiskey anyway.

Tech_Head · 26-01-2023 9:33pm

Signed up for it in September so this will be my first year.

Haven’t tried it yet. Spotted it for auction at Christmas and went for €390-€410 which is almost the cost of a years subscription.

https://irishwhiskeyauctions.ie/views/all-auctions.php?page=search&word=Redbreast%20christmas&date=1

Citizen Six · 26-01-2023 10:35pm

Hadn't looked at the Christmas Redbreast prices. Mad that people are paying those prices, when they could have just subscribed themselves.

Tech_Head · 26-01-2023 10:45pm

Agreed. I know there are meant to be only so many places available but was easy enough to subscribe.

Maybe it just lets them pick and choose. The club could give you stuff that you don’t care about either so this way you just get the rare/exclusive stuff.

Citizen Six · 27-01-2023 6:16pm

The number of places isn't limited. No one has been turned away. And once membership 'closes', it reopens fairly soon after.

foxsake · 02-02-2023 5:09pm

i'm on my second year . I really enjoy it and glad I signed up

nice to get something nice in the post.

Ive a bit of a backlog built up though

BobBobBobBob · 16-03-2023 3:41pm

Knappogue Castle 12 year old bottle and 14, 16 & 21 year old samples.

A bit disppointing quarter package.

Smurts · 16-03-2023 3:51pm

As expected. I assume its the standard 12 year old? Pretty disappointing, a bottle you can pick up for just over €50

Black Sheep · 16-03-2023 4:21pm

Did they not do anything, like a higher ABV 12 year old or something like that?

Smurts · 16-03-2023 4:30pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120366657#Comment_120366657

I havent been home to look at it yet but I believe it is just the standard bottle

Smurts · 22-03-2023 9:05pm

Looks like they’ve changed up the tasting format, no where to join in or comment.

kuang1 · 24-03-2023 10:39pm

It was said at the virtual tasting on Wednesday night, that the next barrel club instalment in June will be a unique, never-before-seen offering.

Between that and the Redbreast Christmas Cake, that's pretty satisfying to happen within the same year I think.

The Knappogue 12 is a fine drink. Nothing spectacular, but fine.

The knappogue 14 was my favourite of the evening though.

Citizen Six · 25-03-2023 7:46pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120397947#Comment_120397947

Never before seen, until it's released to the general public six weeks later.

Smurts · 25-03-2023 11:51pm

Aye. Think it needs to be a decent offering next time, or else I won’t be renewing. The Knappogue was a poor offering (notwithstanding its a lovely whiskey!) and the presentation was fairly dull. Their customer service leaves a bit to be desired too.

kuang1 · 26-03-2023 10:36am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120400446#Comment_120400446

We'll in fairness the Redbreast Christmas Cake hasn't been seen on any shelf in public yet that I know of.

Citizen Six · 26-03-2023 11:46am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120401874#Comment_120401874

You're right, I was only joking.

Were you happy with the Redbreast? I'd love to have sampled it.

kuang1 · 26-03-2023 12:01pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120402049#Comment_120402049

No! 😂😂😂

I'm not a fan of Christmas cake at all, so was never optimistic about liking that. Passed it on to someone who was much more appreciative.

oleras · 18-05-2023 10:27am

And just like that...it was gone !

Tech_Head · 18-05-2023 10:33am

Mines ending in September. Wonder if there’ll be a final December drop too - presume so.

kuang1 · 18-05-2023 11:16am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120611404#Comment_120611404

Same for me. Joined last October.

Strange decision imo. I mean if they felt it wasn't profitable then surely they should try to increase the membership fee firstly?

I don't suspect that's part of the decision though.

"Following a review of our direct-to-consumer offerings, the curtain will come down on the barrel club in December"

Wtf does that mean?

Have they indirect-to-consumer stuff? I despise that non-transparent corporate garble.

Tech_Head · 18-05-2023 11:23am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120611548#Comment_120611548

I’d imagine they weren’t happy with the markup that was being made on it afterwards. I haven’t had the chance to go to one of the live tastings (blame young kids for that) - do you know if many attended them?

I could imagine them reconsidering if they saw low numbers attending and single drops going for near the cost of the annual subscription (ie Redbreast).

kuang1 · 18-05-2023 11:38am

Those live tastings were all via zoom I think. Was there ever an attend-in-person version? Not sure now.

I partook in the last one (knappogue Castle) and enjoyed it.

There were about 150 people logged iirc.

I'm not sure if the mark up on auction sites would deter them. Perhaps the opposite? I mean the knappogue Castle ones sold for €80/€90 in auctions I think. Maybe that devalues their product?

But I doubt that has much to do with it either. I mean watch what happens with the dream cask 6th release, how many of those will go straight to auction to be flipped for double bubble.

The cynic in me thinks that they want any exclusive releases to be even more difficult for plain Joes and Josephines to get their hands on. Hence the abolishment of the barrel club.

Eldudeson · 18-05-2023 11:54am

I've been a member of it since the start and I'm going to miss it. Even though it's all from the same distillery, it's really expanded my knowledge of whiskeys and the live tastings were good fun.

Would I say that I've gotten €500 of whiskey off them each year? Probably not. Would I have kept paying if they hadn't shut up shop? Yes.

It also means that my whiskey shelf has 8 bottles on it with just about 1 shot left in each of them. Saving them all for a rainy day :)

And as a previous poster said here, the cold brew sample was the only miss for me! One drop had samples of MVR Barry Crocket and a Jameson 21. Another drop had the IPA and Cold Brew! Not exactly equal.

oleras · 18-05-2023 12:44pm

Have never flipped a bottle but I cant really see that as a reason for them to stop it, it was only last week I had noticed they were opening memberships to all of the British Isles, which had been a bone of contention with our northern neighbors, must be purely a financial decision. Pity.

Clareman · 20-05-2023 8:27pm

I'm a bit disappointed it's ending, I got a gift of membership and really enjoyed every drop, the welcome pack was a great thing, I did 1 of the virtual tastings and it wasn't for me but getting the boxes every quarter was great.

kuang1 · 01-06-2023 2:12pm

June's barrel club arriving tomorrow.

I'm hoping for a new spot whiskey. They've hinted that this one could be a good one.

Justin10 · 01-06-2023 2:19pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120666229#Comment_120666229

It's a 59% Jameson

Samples are

Black Barrell proof

Crested

Jameson 18 year old

kuang1 · 01-06-2023 2:53pm

Guess a spot was being too optimistic!

59% Jameson... Ok could be good.

You get yours already Justin?

Justin10 · 01-06-2023 8:17pm

No not yet but seen the listing on a Facebook group.

Had my hopes on a redbreast Iberian series or spot myself

mikeecho · 02-06-2023 4:42am

I've been in the barrel club since day 1.

Disappointed that I'll miss out on the last few releases.

Barrel Club

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