A solution to allocated bottles?

I always say, half the fun of allocated bottles is the hunt. Seriously, nothing beats that amazing feeling when you finally get your hands on a bottle that you have been searching high and low for. However, it can also be very frustrating when the hunt doesn't yield any results, what are you supposed to do then? Well, I change what I hunt for in those scenarios, I hunt for gems that are hiding in plain sight, and that are readily available.

I know this is not the answer you were looking for, but we have all heard the story of some crazy easy-to-find bottle beating out a crazy hard-to-find bottle in a blind taste test. I recently picked out Jack Daniels Single Barrel over Weller Special Reserve in a blind tasting! So I guess what I am trying to say is, don't fall into the trap of thinking that the only good bourbons out there are allocated. Some of my favorites are readily available at almost any store! (Ben Holladay: Bottled In Bond)

Now the hard part to this solution is knowing what hidden gems to try, and that was honestly why we made the app NEAT: Whiskey Finder!, so people could connect and share some of these hidden gems! However, I also recommend asking your local store for their recommendations, this can be a great way to build relationships with the store, and increase those odds of getting the allocated bottle you wanted in the first place!

So if you ask your local store what some of their favorite hidden gems are, let me know what you think of them on the best whiskey rating app in the world NEAT: Whiskey Finder!!