Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

So for about 4 months now, I've been hitting up the sunday paper for the 8.99 1/2 gal o' rotgut thinking that WTSHTF, people are going to want to have a stiff drink. Anyone else stocking up?

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

bought a few cases of wine awhile back.

unfortunately they're all empty now.

i should probably stock up on tequila since i can't stand the stuff.

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

No need, don't drink.

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

Dmitry Orlov said vodka was like rocket fuel after the Soviet collapse

http://goldismoney.info/forums/showthread.php?t=21537
CTRL-F "vodka"

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

hell yeah, buying with both hands.
Russian vodka has been on sale here for 3 months, cheeper than silver.
buying 3 days a week.

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

I think good quality liquor would be the way to go. Chivas, Jack Daniels, Hennessy. They will be worth their weight in gold should the SHTF.

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

Everytime I go to the liquor store and try and stock up I come home with a few hundred worth of good liquor. Then about a month later it is all gone from me drinking it everyday.

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

Do you really want to be bartering with drunks, or do you........oh wait.....you guys are drunks too.:confused_ma:

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

How about 190 proof Everclear? Most alcohol by volume and easily 'weaponized'. Fuel as well. The potency/taste factor might keep ya's from drinking it up too soon...or not.

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

I've been stocking up on airline bottles, when I can get them cheap. They will sell like ice water in hell (literally!) when TSHTF.

The top shelf stuff, I've been accumulating as Christmas gifts from my suppliers, over the years. I have a nice selection of good stuff!

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

I'm doing a little stocking up on Jack Daniel's at the moment, although I haven't done much buying yet (just a couple fifths so far). I think good-quality whiskey can always come in handy as a bribe if needed WTSHTF. I'm also stocking up on bulk tobacco and rolling papers. For the record, I'm neither a drinker nor a smoker, so I won't be tempted to do quality-control checks on my stash.

Just curious, what's the shelf life of most liquors if the bottle is unopened?

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

As long as the bottle is well sealed, Kentucky whiskey will still be good in 50 years.

I would rather try it with a bottle that is corked, like the Buffalo Trace bottle. As long as the bottle is laying on it's side keeping the cork wet, it could last 50 years. That would be much better than the plastic cap on a Jack Daniels bottle.

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

+1

This is exactly why i don't stock up despite it making sense. I would stock up and then i would guzzle down.

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

Everytime I fly overseas now I stock up on duty free Gordon's Gin, Bacardi, 42 Below Vodka, Jim Beam, Jack Daniels, my Mexican buddy Jose Cuervo and of course my old friend Johnny Walker . . .

I'm not a real hard liquor drinker but I probably have 3 or 4 bottles of each now. It doesn't take long to build up a nice stash. WTSHTF I reckon this stuff will be very tradable. After all, Australia's first currency was in fact rum. :D

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

People 'buy' alcohol?

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

you might be surprised at how many liqueurs can be made with this as a starting point. This knowledge alone can save money and provide some entertainment.

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

If TSHTF and you are one of the only alcohol "dealers" you will be killed.

Anyone seen an alcoholic that hasn't had a drink in a week????

Oh wait, there's a guy over there that has lots, but he wants $150 a bottle. First he'll come to you with what he has, beg, be nice. Then he'll be insulted and yell and maybe threaten you. You pull out one of your weapons and scare him off. He then decides it's not fair that you have it and he can't so you are now a target. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, you are a target. Now if there is more than one drunk in your area, then mutliply that by however many there are.

Your plan works great in a scenario where all the drunks are extremely wealthy. You will do great. But no one will be wealthy and you WILL have to turn people away that don't want to pay what you ask.

WHY would you want to put yourself in that position in an already crazy, hostile environment?

Word of advice, buy and stock up on toilet paper. No one will kill you over it, and you could do well in bartering after about a couple of weeks of people with no toilet paper.

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

agree. plus you'll need all your wits about you. i'd rather buy another solar panel

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...3174_200263174

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

If you don't advertise or offer any of your preps to anyone for several months after the "TSHTF"... then the loonies will already have gone crazy.

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

,,,but, but offissser, I only did/had one drink...ass alll

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

I can't imagine why anybody smart enough to stash booze would be stupid enough to buy it retail and pay taxes on it. It's so easy to make your own, and there is no law against it. (In spite of some people assuming there is.) WTF?

If you need instructions, they're here.

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

Interesting site. I really like the writing style.

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

Awesome link, Saul --- thanks :applause_

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

As far as I can tell the Treasury Department considers distilling alcohol without their permission- whether for fuel, consumption, or experimentation- to be illegal. Googling 'distillers permit' links to states that require those. Distillation is not achieved by heat alone: freezing accomplishes the same result. Would leaving your 'shine fixin's outside during the winter be considered using a distillation apparatus by the BATFE? I dunno. On a small scale this would seem to be a non-issue like friendly poker games and office pools. Bigger operations of course tend to attract the wrong kind of attention.





http://www.ttb.gov/spirits/faq.shtml "Well, under current law and regulations, we cannot allow you to conduct experiments involving distillation of alcohol at your home."
Spirits

You cannot produce spirits for beverage purposes without paying taxes and without prior approval of paperwork to operate a distilled spirits plant. [See 26 U.S.C. 5601 & 5602 for some of the criminal penalties.] There are numerous requirements that must be met that make it impractical to produce spirits for personal or beverage use. Some of these requirements are paying special tax, filing an extensive application, filing a bond, providing adequate equipment to measure spirits, providing suitable tanks and pipelines, providing a separate building (other than a dwelling) and maintaining detailed records, and filing reports. All of these requirements are listed in 27 CFR Part 19.

Spirits may be produced for non-beverage purposes for fuel use only without payment of tax, but you also must file an application, receive TTB's approval, and follow requirements, such as construction, use, records and reports.






http://homedistiller.org/wiki/index.php/Legality
United States

Tough out of luck - see the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, their FAQ page, and some of the latest amended laws. You will find ....

Spirits: You cannot produce spirits for beverage purposes without paying taxes and without prior approval of paperwork to operate a distilled spirits plant. [See 26 U.S.C. 5601 & 5602 for some of the criminal penalties.] There are numerous requirements that must be met that make it impractical to produce spirits for personal or beverage use. Some of these requirements are paying special tax, filing an extensive application, filing a bond, providing adequate equipment to measure spirits, providing suitable tanks and pipelines, providing a separate building (other than a dwelling) and maintaining detailed records, and filing reports. All of these requirements are listed in 27 CFR Part 19.

Ray emailed the BATF for the reference statutes concerning home distillation. Here is their response:

Ray, you have not been able to locate anything on home production because there is no provision for it. Moonshining is still illegal!! Unlike wine or beer, the laws and regulations governing distilled spirits contain no provision that would allow someone to produce spirits in their home for personal use. Under 26 U.S.C. Section 5171 operations as a distiller, warehouseman or processor may be conducted only on the bonded premises of a qualified distilled spirits plant. To qualify such a plant, a registration, application for permit and bond must be filed in addition to other supporting organizational documents. 26 U.S.C. 5178 places restrictions on where a plant can be located. Hope this answers your question.

Carol Coy Industry Specialist National Revenue Center-Cincinnati, OH Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms e-mail: cjcoy@cinc.atf.treas.gov

What all this basically comes down to is ... 1. Americans can own a still, but it must be no larger than 1 gallon, and may only be used for water purification or the extraction of essential oils from plants. 2.Dealers/manufacturers of stills in the United States must surrender any address or other info on any customer who buys a still to the BATF, when they request it.(no warrant is required.)

What this means is that anyone who buys a still in America can at any time expect a knock at the door and a man with a badge demanding to see what is being done with the still they bought. How this affects the companies seen advertising 5 gallon stills for use as a water purifier, was not listed, nor is there any info on solar stills. It is probably VERY illegal to import a still too.

If you're trying the angle of making alcohol as a fuel (yes, this is legal!), see Steve Spence's site for all the details.

Whats the cost of doing it right ? Don advises ...

State license(varies from $75-$4,500 per year) & a Federal license ($500 per year) plus State & Fed. production taxes. Registration of all supplies, suppliers, formulas (Subject to classification and approval) and label reg. (Subject to classification and approval). More paperwork than money. If you already have a brewery or winery (bonded premises) an "alternation of premises" may be obtained to operate a distillery (with the additional license) on site. Well worth the trouble, because there is still room at the top.

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

Good Point! Hold tight on the Jack Daniels and don't advertise. The SHTF scenario will play out in 6 months or less. Do you think the government is going to go away??? A little martial law and everyone will quiet down. They will make sure everyone eats. I am not saying how good you will eat, but you will eat. It might be beans and rice, but hey!! During the Great Depression food was destroyed to prop up prices. The government has run computer simulations on possible outcomes of a collapse, so they have some general knowledge of what to expect. They are ahead of the game. That's why they are governing you and you aren't governing them. Expect martial law. Curfews. Possible gun confiscations until they figure out what the **** to do! They will let you know via the tube and radio. In other words, they will get the word to you.

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

Welcome to the jungle. It get worse here every day.

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

You should make your own!

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

Obviously you will not let anybody know that you made the stuff yourself. And you are not going to try to make a living selling it, just bartering a bottle for stuff you need.

Why do people keep saying "TSHTF" and then assume that all the rest of the world will go on like it did before? If things are still so organized that you have to worry about tax collectors, it's probably not yet time to start bartering. It might be wise not to even make it in advance, just store a few bags of sugar and yeast and a pressure cooker for when the time comes.

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

I have a pretty good stock. When the lights go out and no one is working or has any money, booze will be the entertainment of choice!
I doubt I'll be selling my stash.
Weed may be good to store too for those that like it.
http://www.reason.com/UserFiles/schw...king_joint.jpg

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

About a case and 1/2 of vodka in the pantry. I'm trying to give up alcohol for good so I might start giving it away as gifts, but who knows.

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

How long will this stored weed last? Will it lose its effectiveness?

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

I'm buying 1.75 litre bottles of cheap vodka and Everclear and storing them downstairs. I can get a 1.75 of "white label, black letter" vodka for about $10. The Everclear is about $18 - $19.

I don't plan on drinking these till TSHTF. Until then, I'm _also_ buying some good stuff to sit & drink. Well, unless I get really broke!

I'm also looking into the distilling process. A 25 lb bag of sugar goes a long way!

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

with the money they had

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

Ideally you get your sugar in 5 lb bags and you have a 3 gallon jug. That simplifies measuring. One bag of sugar and three gallons of water will get you just over 2 1/2 quarts of 80 proof. They tell me 80 proof is the ideal strength (actually they say 38%). More has a bitter flavor, less is too weak.

I say "they tell me" because I don't drink the stuff.

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

At least once a week I think about buying at least a couple of cases of decent (not too cheap) vodka. I think it will keep well, and I can drink it whenever I'd like. Also, as someone on GIM pointed out, it is a "multi-purpose" beverage.

I drink, but I don't drink regularly, so it will be easy to store it and ignore it.

So, what's a decent, reasonably priced vodka? I am no connoisseur, but I am thinking Stoli. Any suggestions?

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

I would choose something YOU'D drink, because if you never need to barter it, you can consume it. Why have a stash of something you don't like?

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

If you folks really want to stock booze, whether for personal consumption or for barter, at the very least buy booze in glass bottles.

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

We have a mixed case of various stuff tucked away, along with at least a half case in our "bar" (it is actually a cupboard where we keep the liquor).

Neither of us drink much at all, but if the SHTF, we'll probably start.

--Willie

btw, I have a bottle of Jack Daniels that has a tax stamp dated in 1955, and I wonder if it is good. (I kept it because 1955 was the year I was born.)

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

I am not sure if this was directed toward me, but I'll answer it even though it is past my bedtime.

I hadn't considered bartering it. It's for my friends and I, and possibly used as a disinfectant(?) I asked about a brand because I just don't drink it enough to know what brand would be considered a decent mid-price.

Thanks to your suggestion, I just looked up prices and it seems that Stoli is about as expensive as Kettle One, which I know I like. :emotions16:

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

Geez, all this talk of ALCOHOL and no one mentions TOBACCO to go WITH that drink?

Come on.

I've put away several boxes of rolling papers and seven or eight boxes of cheap cigars. Plus one humidor of really expensive cigars.

So if you just GOTTA have a drink and a smoke (or two), come on down to my SALOON. Security will be tight, but prices are reasonable, the place is clean and well lit and you can get a meal if you have the bucks and it will be good and fairly priced.

Just trying to stay ahead (behind?) the curve...

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

"no connoisseur, but I am thinking Stoli. Any suggestions?"
Stoli is a good pick. smooth, pretty well neutral, easy price. I Buy it on sale every chance I get.
Another one to look for is TITO's from Austin TX, damn good domestic, as good as anything out there, and priced real reasonable.
Anything from Poland on sale is going to be nice on the palate, Gvori, Belvedere are both FINE drink, wait till the weekly sale, and buy a case.
Just like watching the metals and buying on the dips, stock your booze on sale days.

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

Stored alcohol, infused with herbs, and you get medicinal tinctures in a preserved medium (alcohol) to work with in case need arrises.

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

My example, Zombie Apocalypse edition,

Columbus is over run with hoards of zombies. Thankfully my family and I got out in time to avoid the panic from the suburbs. Make it safely to a bug out location in a well fortified area. Going on a scouting mission with patrols to scavenge supplies, we run across an old man who has ammo we need. He is well stocked as well, but thankfully uncle jack does the talking. We are both happy, we have ammo, he has jack...Sadly in a drunken stupor he leaves his gate open and is turned into one of the undead......

Just saying, I would not outright trade something like alcohol without a group with me, and only at a location that was not at my hideout. Use the Airline bottles to show what you have and the big bottles to make the trade. Not saying there is risk, but hypothetically people could be killed for anything with a tangible value. It is about how you conduct the trade.

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

I have read that this works very well with cannabis and somniferum poppies (this tincture is well known as "laudanum")

As far as stocking up on liquor goes, I wouldn't buy the rotgut... you just may have to end up drinking it yourself and there's little worse than terrible liquor.

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

.. I stop drinking 3 years ago.. tho might be wise to stock up on alcohol as it may become even more priceless as PM's when SHTF :wink:

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

Go watch the movie Silverado...

The 'rotgut' is for the normal customers. Careful not to spill any ON a customer, it could raise boils...

'THE GOOD STUFF' is only for your top clients, served in a private room. And is VERY EXPENSIVE.

Really, go watch Silverado.

Think 1880's, NOT 1980's.

Or earlier. Where we were BEFORE those two new fangled devices, the tin lizzie and 'lectricity.

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

I think the enforcers will all be shot dead.

I see very little patience for enforcers.

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

I have an adequate collection that I slowly add to.

Like most things that don't have an expiration date, I try and purchase a bit more then I consume. I don't drink much but over the years the collection has grown.

In a SHTF scenario I might barter a bit of it but I wouldn't do so out of my home or show strangers my stock. Booze works better as a social lubricate. As a gift or as a bribe or just a little something to help cement an agreement or move things along.

As a worst case scenario you could use a case of booze as a rather creative means of distracting the zombies. If you can get the other side smashed before the firefight so much the better.

Alcohol can also be used to sterilize, as heating fuel, or as a mixer for Molotov cocktails. While poor subsititutes its always nice to be aware of the options.

Primarily, I keep a collection of booze so I can have a drink when I feel like it even if the liquor stores are all gone. Its just one less thing I'll have to do without. Not really a necessity, but the luxuries become even more important when things go south.

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

The federal government has no jurisdiction as long as the product doesn't cross a state line. But aside from that, if there is any concern about legalities, it's not time to trot out your wares yet. That is why I recommend storing raw materials instead of the finished product.

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

I've been buying a combination of glass and plastic. I think that glass is better but don't know the reason why.

Other than plastic leeching (I think), what's the down side of plastic? It won't break if dropped.

What are the pros and cons?

Thank you!

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

Willie - I also had a 1955 bottle. VO or 7, not sure which. I sipped on it until the late 90s when my son and I had a toast before he joined the Corps. It lasted 40 years, even after opening.

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

Where can I get more information on this? I know that I could Google it, but I'm sure that there are forums that GIMers know and trust...

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

Try http://www.erowid.org/

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

This is the correct answer.

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

So what should my priority bee right now? Distillery equipment, or a road trip to Kentucky for some Everclear? (Or my friendly neighborhood liquor store?

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

Glass is a better oxygen barrier than plastic. Some kinds of plastic are better than others at slowing or blocking oxygen transmission. For example, PET plastic such as is used in soft drink bottles is far better at blocking oxygen transmission than HDPE such as is used in milk jugs. But all plastics will eventually pass enough oxygen to oxidize whatever is stored inside. Glass is impervious to oxygen transmission.

High proof alcohol will last many decades in glass bottles.

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

STUDYING...STOCK UP ON CASES OF CONDOMS! :36_1_25:

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

For christmas I asked my FIL for the brewing equipment he doesn't use anymore. He's glad to get rid of it and I'm glad to have it :coolbeer:

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

I would just recommend googling it.

There is a forum with a lot of good information and experience writeups, I think it was called "drugs-forum" or something.

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

Also, anyone here regularly travel to/from Mexico? Marlboro cigs are about $15 per carton there, and about $50 in PA. Buy a carton and put in checked bag and another in your carry-on bag. Nice small profit when you get home. Everyone on this board knows a Marlboro smoker, the most popular brand in the world.

Also, many Mexican doctors will write a prescription for a $20 office visit. Tell them you have a partially herniated disc and you take four Vicodin per day for pain, and you forgot to pack your pills. Ask for a script for 50 or 60 tablets. They cost about 30 cents each. Street price in US is $5.00 each.

Not telling you to do this, just mentioning some ways to make a little profit from your Mexican vacation.

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

Does alcohol get better over time in a glass bottle?

can you buy whiskey in oak barrels?

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

I've been buying cases of wine lately because I'm getting a good deal. I hadn't really thought of it as a trade item. Mainly because I don't believe in the coming economic collapse of the system. What will happen is we will become a country where 20% of the population is permanently out of work. The major collapse will come someday as an ecological event. And it will be ugly beyond all imagined scenarios. Save the last bullet for your loved ones ugly. In any event, say something like Argentina did in fact happen. Nothing would be a better trade good than alcohol.

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

Good, because we'd hate to see illegal drug activity advocated on this forum.

This thread is about the barter value of certain legally-obtained comestibles.

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

Me thinks FOOD would be better....

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

What!!

You have never had a beer sandwich

for lunch!!:10_1_20:

Most of us guys have...:yes:



Most men regard beer as one of the food
groups...."Grain's"




:111:

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

I think the Everclear is one good option.
(Almost) No one would want to drink it straight.
In a pinch it can be used as fuel.
As someone mentioned above, medicinal/sterilizing/deodorant uses, tinctures, etc.
If you must have a drink and there is no other more desirable beverage available, it can be mixed with juice of your choice, etc.
Not sure if it would be as desirable a barter item as other spirits/wine, etc.

R.

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

Interesting thread.

But at least in my neck of the woods - I am wondering what good bartering with someone who would give an arm and a leg for a bottle of booze when SHTF would be. People that need it that much around here anyway don't tend to have much in the way of useful things...

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

Plug for my group, since it relates to the topic:

(sort of)

http://goldismoney.info/forums/group.php?groupid=41

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

Ohio revenue agents will arrest you for bringing a bottle into Ohio without paying the tax. They used to loiter in the parking lots of liquor stores in Newport KY watching for cars with OH plates. Then they would follow cars back across the bridge and arrest people. About 20 years ago Newport KY passed a law specifically making it illegal for Ohio revenue agents to enter the city limits while on duty. Richmond IN has also arrested Ohio revenue agents for loitering and harassing Ohioans that were avoiding the high alcohol taxes by crossing the border.

Formerly it was much much cheaper for Cincinnati residents to go across the river to buy liquor. Lately the state of KY has raised the taxes.

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

Thread reminds me of a lecture I had from a x-convict on how to produce behind behind bars. Various ways to produce your mash. Crockpot inside a sealed 5 gallon bucket as your still. Good info, better than 98% of the college lectures I've had.

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, teach him to fish and you feed him for life"

Brewing beer (or stilling alcohol if you believe law and order will eventually break down) is fairly easy. The great part is that without preservatives, it'll only last about a year so you have to drink it, then make some more. Beer and wine brewing is legal here (read your own provincial and state laws).

So start brewing now in preparation for tomorrow, even if it's only your thirst you are preparing for.

:beer:

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

Maybe. But you have to consider ease of transport, storage, cost. Alcohol is pretty damn good as a trade object.

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

Look at it as trade good DENSITY, like gold having more value than silver for the same weight, alcohol might carry more trade value per storage space taken than food.

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

Here's an interesting article about bartering distilled spirits.

It says to be sure never to trade a full sealed bottle.

Rather you should make it look like it's your last bottle, in order to prevent a future robbery attempt.

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

That's the phrase I was looking for!

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

I got lucky then, I can go to liquor stores here, but they don't sell Ever clear in my state. FYI Ever clear jello shots are not fun, like green flavored napalm...eww
--------------------------------------------------------------------
I see it a lot on here and I think if anything liquor will be used as a comfort in a SHTF situation. Just like people will probably hit mattress stores as well. Even for people that don't drink it is something to help them feel normal again. Like the Shawank redemption, when Andy managed beers for the other inmates working on the roof. Stuff like that, any little thing to feel normal. A good drink and a nice quiet room would be what I would want after a long hard day fighting skynet, or zombies.

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

It doesn't take much luck to avoid the Ohio revenue agents. Theie enforcment is largely hit or miss and they are just trying to scare people into paying taxes. I'm sure that 99.99% of Ohioans buying liquor in KY don't get arrested.

The OH revenue agents would mostly focus on people who would drive into KY, stop at the first liquor store across the river, then drive back over the bridge.

I used to drive over to the Grand Ave exit off of I-471, stop in a liquor store, then eat lunch at the Skyline Chili. Then drive around a little bit. Never had a problem with the revenuers. :23_31_2:

Also one time back in the 90s on my way home I stopped in a store in Highland Heights KY just off I-275. I knew they had good prices in there. On my way in from the parking lot I see some guys with a hand truck who are wheeling out many stacked cases of Marlboros. When I leave I saw them loading the cigs into a u-haul trailer pulled by a pickup with Michigan plates. I didn't say anything because I'm sure that was legit :beer:

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

Are you old enough to remember The Jockey Club?

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

I cant resist a Michigan joke, but I will hold back because they are our brothers on here..

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

Small world, I lived in an apartment on Grand Ave back in the early 90's, then bought my first house in Highland Heights. Lived in the Cincinnati area for 20 yrs before moving to Houston, I always liked Nothern KY over Cincinnati.

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

No, I don't remember the Jockey Club. Was that some club down on Monmouth St?

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

Making your own hooch or shine as we call it has more than one use. It can be used as fuel, a cleaning agent for mechanical pieces, engines/carbs, wound cleaning and surgical sterilization.

I'm purchasing the Mustang Still myself and can be found here.

http://stilldrinkin.com/Turbo%20Stills.htm

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

Rawles suggests distilled spirits but not wine for SHTF barter:

http://www.survivalblog.com/cgi-bin/...arch=distilled

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

It says here that opened pint bottles are the way to go. Any one agree, I think it would be easier to carry on person, and less conspicuous in the event travel.

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

I couldn't believe how cheap wine is in the US. $3 for a bottle of cheap wine, not rotgut either, nice wine. It's triple the cost here and it's alllll taxes. :banghead:

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

It's worse than you think here. The companies pay corporate taxes, so when you pay taxes at the till you are paying taxes on taxes.
:coolbeer:

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

i would suggest buying high proof liquor rather then wines...

something like an everclear could be drank, bartered, used in wound cleaning, as a fuel source, chest colds....etc etc.. wtshtf its gonna be down and dirty...the wine and cheese crowd is gonna be toast and the heart healthy antioxidants in wine will be the least of your worries. wine has a better chance of going bad then high proof alcohol.

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

:haha: :haha: I believe it. It's so friggin expensive compared to the US. I didn't notice much difference in the price of other things like gas and grub though.

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

What about storing the miniature size bottles? anyone doing this for barter?

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

All I can say is, Jack Daniels is one of the greatest drinks ever created by mankind! It's expensive, but worth every penny. This thread is reminding me to go out and get more.

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

I hear over and over how dangerous it could be trading with alcohol in a post SHTF scenario.

Trading in anything worth anything is going to be dangerous whenever there are people willing to kill for what you have.

It will be doubly dangerous when they will die if they cannot lay their hands on what you have.

In that sort of environment I believe the only trade that will occur is between trusted friends; if at all.

There needs to be a level of civilization for trade to occur. I'm not entirely certain what level of civilization it needs to be but roving zombie bands are probably not part of it.

Anyhow, I don't think something like that will happen.

Happy Hollow days, enjoy the spic/ked cider :s1:

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

There are two issues here: products and prudence. It would be wise to have a lot of both. I'm stocking up on Jack and Everclear (I don't drink, by the way), but only people I trust to barter with will know that I have them. Rawles says distilled spirits can be a gold mine after TSHTF, so I figure it wouldn't hurt to have a few fifths on hand.

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

Heard that in Argentina after their crash there were huge flea markets. Rather safe while you were there trading as many many were carrying, but the attacks came getting there and getting home.

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

Exactly, and can you imagine NOT stopping at stop lights here in the states ?
Man what a zoo this place will be.

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

Jack daniels sucks,although marketing wise its number one.

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

Which whiskey would be better than Jack to hoard?

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

I'd say something like Segrams, very popular, inexpensive and relatively palatable. I've got a lot of JD stashed, never touch the stuff, my whiskey drinking days are looong past!

Scotch used to be the drink of choice in the past, if one was to hoard it, probably a good choice would be Cutty Sark. There is nothing worse than cheap Scotch!

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

I don't know. I buy a few cases every time I go to Reno and it just keeps up with the evaporation rate.

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

+1000

Wayyyy overpriced and overhyped.

Evan Williams bourbon. I prefer the Black Label, a little smoother and aged a little longer than the Green label, which is good for mixing. In SHTF, it will be more than acceptable. The liter size of both comes in glass bottles, but only the 1.75 liter in the Black is in glass. The Black label is more expensive than the Green, but still about half the price of Jack.

If it's for you, and you like a sippin' bourbon, you can't beat Elijah Craig 12-Year. I've got a couple cases held back. It's cheaper than Jack or any of those other high-brow bourbons, but smoother and more flavorful than any of them. Don't waste your money on the 18 year, though. Just my opinion....

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

OK, that's a joke site, right? You can't just buy a moonshine still!

Right?

.....

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

If you're looking for good whiskey, get kentucky straight bourbon. Woodford Reserve and Buffalo Trace are my favorite mid-priced choices. IMO they are just as good as any bourbon you can buy at any price.

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

Ah, a fellow Kentucky bourbon connoisseur! I've tried the Woodford, and I thought it was pretty good. Still prefer my Elijah Craig, though. I'll have to look for Buffalo Trace and give it a try. Thanks for the suggestion!

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

jim bean ..........................

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

Jameson Irish Whiskey is the way to go

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

i agree the evan williams black is the best for the price. i dont find it harsh at all and its half the price of jack. call me crazy but i think its smoother then jack

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

No joke, it's not illegal. I could make one but I really like the idea of it being electric. (It'll run on a solar battery) Easier to buy it than make one.

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

I used to live next door to the Woodford distillery, the smell of mash in the mornin'. If ya like Ky bourbon try the Bookers Noe or the Blanton's Resv. If ya like the Elija though you'll probably not like any bourbon as much because the Elija is sweeter(sugar content) than all the others.

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

Buffalo Trace is #1 in my book. Not a pricey as Woodford or Bookers

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

A still is not illegal until you use it for something illegal. My parents just went to a government course on essential oil extraction. The unit they used was the size of a small shed. It is essentially a still. They were there to encourage essential oil production by private businesses by using these units.

On a side note, if you google amazing still, you will find a low power still made with plastic pails which can do about a mickey a day. If hooked up to a solar or wind unit, no smoke to find it. If you follow my Great-Grandfathers method, buy sugar beet seeds, no large amounts of sugar required as it was shine by Christmas.

:coolbeer:

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

There's no mention or links to the legalities of distilling your own. Also, the audio quote "This still makes moonshine so good make you wanna smack your momma!" doesn't lend itself to an image of professionalism...

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

I'm hoarding vodka and everclear.

I'm also thinking about Back Velvet. It's really prety cheap and tastes decent.

I want the clear stuff primarily, but the wiskey is also good for sippin...

I would love to find a solar powered still. Can someone post a link? It'd be great to make shine with as little power as possible.

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

That's funny Lars, I have a bottle of Elijah Craig 12 year on the shelf, purchased on a whim. I liked it, but not as much as the ones I mentioned. Cheers.

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

Uncle...just get the still and start producing, why worry about them? Do it. I trust them a whole lot more than some suit from Washington!

Weary...There is a way to do a solar still, that's what I'm putting together.

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

Just got back from a trip overseas and managed to bring a few items back...:23_30_104:

Total Stock:
12 - 750ml Smirnoff
12 - 750ml Cap't Morgan
1 - 2 liter Grand Marnier
1 - 1L Crown
1 - Kahluha
1 - Johnnie Walker Green
1 - Patron
1 - 10 Cane Rum
1 - Baileys
1 - Bottle Wine
7 - Cartons Marlboro

Total investment - $350 - $400 :signs1:

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

You're not crazy. EW is smoother than Jack.

Buff, I was at the local strip mall today and stopped in at the liquor store. Picked up a bottle of BT and tried it out right after dinner. Good stuff. A little drier than Elijah (could be the rye), but a very agreeable taste and smooth finish. Still prefer my Elijah - I guess it's that hint of vanilla sweetness that LT mentioned that does it for me. But the BT is up there among the best bourbons I've tried. I'll definitely keep it stocked in my bar. :beer:

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

Ah, I remember those days! Good score - you'd pay that much for the smokes alone around my parts.

Grand Marnier is some good stuff - the wife used to drink it in her younger days. And, it's the only alcohol Chuck Norris drinks.... :wink:

Back in Iceland in the 80s, I used to get Tanqueray and Beefeater gin for about $10 for a 1.75L bottle at the Class IV store on Keflavik. Absolut vodka in that size would run you about $8. I brought a ton of the stuff home on my mid-tour and when I left for good. Never had a haul like yours, though. :emotions16:

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

I found some on the side of the road about a month back. (thrown out for trash pick up day) I just pulled the bottles out of my truck's tool box tonight and enjoyed one bottled beer and some OJ with white Tequila. I think there is a champagne and some sangria as well among other weird looking things I would not drink like candied liquor and cooking sherry.

You cant beat free.

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

Up here in WA state you'd pay about $380 for the smirnoff and capt morgan alone. I'll never touch a drop of smirnoff in my life again though. I have an iron gut and that stuff destroys me. Feels like I ate a bowl full of habenero's when I drink it. And thats only a shot or two in a mixed drink. Never run across anything else that does that.

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

I cannot fathom drinking grand marnier straight. I've tried it... once. I use the stuff in recipes and mixed drinks but there is no way I'd just toss the stuff down in a rocks glass or anything.

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

A lil info.....I stated earlier about me buying a still and included a link to the company I was looking at for that purpose. Through some research I found out, DO NOT order from these people!

If you're interested, here's a good reference site on home distillin'.

http://homedistiller.org/forum/index.php

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

Aw shucks, my link to "instructions" got pulled. Well, you can still buy a used copy at Amazon for forty bux, or download it here (registration required), or read the author's bio and buy a new copy for eleven bux here.

Edit: I don't recommend that download. It's not free like they say, and you have to cough up personal info before they tell you what the charge is!

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

I got back from a Caribbean cruise last week and got 15 one-liter bottles of Cruzan and Bacadi rum and Finlandia vodka for $125.

I wouldn't mind taking another one soon to load up on some more.

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

Not entirely sure of the difference between bourbon and JD (Tennessee Whiskey), but there is a huge difference in palatablity, IMO. I like Maker's Mark much better. Many years ago, I remember that when my uncle from KY came to hunt pheasant, he always brought several bottles. You couldn't buy it in Iowa, at the time.

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

Jack Daniel's is bourbon, technically.

I prefer the old Marker's Mark for regular drinking. Bourbon and Ginger are a great combo

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

Bourbon is for slooooowwww sippin', but the ginger sounds good. I'll give that a try tonight.

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

my drink of choice....just a touch of ginger and your good to go....

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

Sounds interesting.

How much is "just a touch"?

Say you had a quart of bourbon you wanted to ginger up. Are you using powder, root, what? Infuse the herb in the hooch for a while? How much ginger and for how long.

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

My wife just gave me my Christmas present. It's a still kit. It came with a 3 gallon pail for fermenting.

It didn't come with instructions and I got all excited and wanted to start right away!

I put ~2 gallons water, 4 lb sugar, 6 cut up apples and a package of "turbo yeast" in the bucket.

I plan to watch till it stops bubbling, then run it through the distiller.

Any suggestions? I'm pretty much beyond the point of no return, just waiting for the bubbling to start and stop.

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

I think they're talking about ginger ale, not the root/powder.

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

Technically, no. George Dickel and JD are Tennessee whiskeys. Unlike bourbons, Tennessee whiskeys go through a charcoal filtration process before they go into the barrels (I think JD's takes four days.) According to some sources, this imparts a "sweet, sooty" character on the whiskey.

There are other subtle differences like grain content, alcohol content, etc. Just try calling JD a bourbon down along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail - they'll set you straight in a hurry!

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

Thanks Lars. I knew there was a difference. Has anyone here tried the "legal moonshine", clear corn liquor, that seems to be popular these days? When I was in the liquor store yesterday, I stopped and looked at a couple different brands, didn't buy any, figured they would just taste like watered down Everclear.

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

I have two jars of "Georga moon" guarenteed less than 30 days old corn liquor on the shelf it is 80 proof and tastes like moonshine lite not so harsh on the body to drink as my buddy's 150+ proof shine.

Re: Is anybody else "collecting" alcohol?
 

Just one more side note on the bourbons. During my tour of the Heaven Hill distillery (brands include Evan Williams, Elijah Craig, Bernheim's, among others), they had a wall display of the lineage of the master distillers of all the Kentucky distillers up to the present. One last name appears in the histories of most of them up to this present day:

Beam