SAN ANTONIO – A long line wraps around a San Antonio Spec’s Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods store on the Northwest Side as people wait for a limited release of hard-to-come-by bourbons.
Some people waiting for the “bourbon drop” release, slated to be at 10 a.m. on Dec. 28 at 11751 Bandera Road, said this isn’t the first time they’ve camped out for days for the release – and it won’t be the last.
For many, this is a chance to buy bottles at the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) rather than an upcharge.
“The kind of bottles that you don’t get your hands on, unfortunately, and you have to resort to camping here,” Wajih Omar said.
“I love bourbon,” Parker Rivera said. “It’s kind of like a ritual at this point, where it’s like a part of the day. Like you just sit down and have a good glass of bourbon.”
Rivera said this was his second time waiting for the “bourbon drop” release, while Omar said it was a number he didn’t want to count.
“In San Antonio, we got it five years ago, and I was there for that,” Omar said. “I was number two. My gosh.”
Some others aren’t in line for the age-old liquor but instead to make memories.
“Building the relationships and sharing stories of bourbon – how and why you got into bourbon,” Whittie Vince Capone said. “I have over 400 bottles of allocated bourbon. I have a collection of 120 bottles of Eagle Rare. It’s a tribute to my father-in-law and his brother that served in the Vietnam War.”
It’s a tribute for some and a hobby for others.
“I’m hoping for Old Forester, Buffalo Trace, Four Roses, Elijah Craig,” Rivera said.
In hopes of getting what they want and making friends, memories are made in this once-a-year camping line.
The list of bourbons to be sold at the store can be found online.