I’ve been wanting to mention these guys for a while now. I have no afilliation with them. I’m just mentioning it because I think it is a great idea.
If you don’t belong to a whisky club, and you aren’t near (or can’t afford) a whisky festival, how can you sample a whisky before you buy one? It’s difficult. And the last think you want to do is get stuck paying for an entire bottle of whisky you don’t like.
That’s why I like the “Drinks by the Dram” concept by UK retailer Master of Malt. They sell 30 ml samples of whiskies at a reasonable price. You can see the list of whiskies they have available here, along with the prices. Have a look.
Fabulous idea! I’m guessing it would not be legally possible in the US, or too complicated to make it legally possible. Lucky Brits.
Their website does list shipping costs and times to the U.S., along with the other countries.
Wow. I thought they didn’t deliver to the US. A new development perhaps? Good news either way!
Or am I thinking of Whiskysamples?
if anyone in the U.S. has used them please comment.
In Belgium a well know whiskylover is also doing something like that. He’s called Luc Timmermans and his website is http://whiskysamples.flyingcart.com. He’s got some fine samples like a Bowmore 1956 (which is waiting in my cupboard …)
Hello Stu/PS – I am in the US (Connecticut) and I use Master of Malt all of the time and actually do have some affiliation with them. You can check out the link on my blog: http://jewishsinglemaltwhiskysociety.com/?page_id=932 which details my relationship with them and how you can get a free “Drink by the Dram”.
Not trying to solicit here, I just think the program is great and I’ve been working with them to try and help spread the whisky, I mean love…
I live in Las Vegas and have purchased several of the dram samples from Master of Malt. No problems at all with shipping. The Whisky Exchange has a large miniatures collection for some of the more standard releases http://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/C-385.aspx.
It’s a good idea but not fully original nor very new.
The site “RareWhiskySite” has been around for a long time and have a great professional product.
I am not in any way connected. Just a customer.
See: http://www.rarewhiskysite.com/
Enjoy,
Piet (aka Peat) in the Zen-garden http://www.zen-garden.org/
and the Scotch Malt Whisky Society (Germany/The netherlands) is doing the same for their own products.
Mom are a great site. with great service, and their wee samples are a great idea. so far i’ve gotten 2 shipments from them (i am not affiliated with them) and all arrived just fine.
i also got a free Glencairn glass and when it didnt arrive in the shipping , they sent me 2 others after a few days.
service at it’s best.
until now i’ve reviewed and opened about 5 of their dram size whiskies, all were great.
Sku, as far as I understand the laws in the USA, you are totally correct: it is illegal to repack liquor and sell it again, but Timmermans and Rarewhiskysite have been doing it for a little while and as long as it stays under the radar by not becoming a million dollar industry or shipping anthrax or mini terrorists, it will probably be able to continue.
I’ve ordered from Master of Malt a couple of times, samples and full bottles, and have received shipments via USPS in the US without a problem. Sample bottles are indeed a great idea, I’ve ordered more than a dozen so far including some rarities that I would never buy in a full bottle. Great way to expand your palate.