Sampling/sharing mailing list?

[Steve Broady]

Every now and then I read of members here sharing samples or bottled with other members. I realize that friendships spring up over years of communication and collaboration, which is a great thing. It got me thinking, though. It would be great to be able to share something I’ve made with other hobbyists and get honest feedback. I imagined having a short list of people who are willing to share their address and let me send them samples on occasion, and of course they’d be able to do the same if they liked. In my head, it went like this: 4-5 people have shared addresses, and any time one of us makes something we want to share or get feedback on, we send out a small bottle to everyone else on the list. No expectations, no schedule, just a group of like-minded hobbyists helping each other out.

Is this something that anyone here does, or would be interested in doing? I’m too new here to just call up one of the big names and ask for their address, or their opinions. I know my place. And I figure there have to be a few other folks who are relatively new and in the same boat, basically working in a vacuum, and not knowing anyone else here well enough to reach out.

[Archee72]

Due to the illegality aspect of our hobby private messaging of addresses may be your only avenue? Or to start off with shared email and then privately share addresses?

[StillerBoy]

I read the post as a call for " validation"..

The question becomes, why is there a need to be validate that your product is OK ?

That need, to be validate, is sign of lack of confidence in whatever it is.. build confidence and the mental need is over come..

I personally don't need others to validate if the product is good.. I know if the product is good or not..

Mars

[BlueSasquatch]

I read the post as a call for " validation"..

The question becomes, why is there a need to be validate that your product is OK ?

That need, to be validate, is sign of lack of confidence in whatever it is.. build confidence and the mental need is over come..

I personally don't need others to validate if the product is good.. I know if the product is good or not..

Mars

I see your point of view, but I also know that I can't taste but 1-2 flavors in any bottle, made or bought. Yet the list and what others say they can taste in a commercial bottle can be up to 6 different flavors. I enjoy feedback from my friends and family as to what they can taste, and what they may or may not like. Also I am rather curious to taste just pure corn off the still, where some have said "overwhelming corn flavor" and mine is rather mild by that standard, yet is it my tongue or product? There is value to having others taste your stuff, and value in tasting others. Say you want to try a new a new grain, but your buddy already has, why not taste it for an idea on what to expect?

Plenty of valid reasons outside validation.

[Sporacle]

I read the post as a call for " validation"..

The question becomes, why is there a need to be validate that your product is OK ?

That need, to be validate, is sign of lack of confidence in whatever it is.. build confidence and the mental need is over come..

I personally don't need others to validate if the product is good.. I know if the product is good or not..

Mars

I read the post as someone who is new to distilling wanting to share and get feedback on his product with other likeminded people.
I didn't see it as a validation at all.
I think Steve just wants to get as you say "confidence" by sharing his product and I think he'll get that from sampling other people's product and vice versa
He certainly won't get it by being told he should know when his product is good or not.
Steve I'd send you something but the legality and logistics has already proved to be to difficult
Not to sure where you are Mars, maybe you could help Steve out by giving him some of your stuff

[Saltbush Bill]

Steve , Turn a blind eye to the negative response above, what you are suggesting is often done on other distilling forums in other countries and Im pretty sure the subject has come up here before in other threads.
Its always good to get the feed back that you can get from a bottle swap no matter if you are a Newbie or are an experienced distiller.
Just knowing that you've got your cuts reasonable is good to know when your new to the game.

[zach]

You might want to look locally. Mailing can be a hassle. I found that a local home beer brewing club had a few closet distillers.

[Stonecutter]

You can reach out to me anytime brother. Just hit me with a PM and we can chat.

[Dougmatt]

Steve, happy to swap addresses and samples when we meet during the south east meet up.

D

[jonnys_spirit]

I’m hoping to make the SE meetup and bring some bbq sauce

Cheers,
J

[Deplorable]

There is more to this that "validation" as I see it. Regardless of whether you've been at this a while, or relatively new to the craft, getting an opinion on your spirits from someone who understands what it takes to make a fine craft spirit and give thier own opinion of it knowing that free flowing free booze isn't at play can be enlightening.
If the only ones tasting my spirits is family and close friends who might not want to "hurt my feelings", (of which I have none BTW)and I tell them "this is what good whiskey should taste like", how are they going to provide constructive criticism?
And honestly, I never really knew if my white cut whiskey was tasting like what it should, until I got a sample from Twisted Brick.
That helped me understand more that just cuts.
If you have made friends on this forum you trust enough to ship BBQ sauce or Hot Sauce to, then do it!

[NZChris]

At a meetup of several new and old home distillers, one of the relatively new distillers told me that his trip was worthwhile because it made him realize how good his own product was compared to the product of the other distillers present or who had provided samples. I'm sure that his product is even better now, several years later, both his new make and his aged product, as he isn't a sucker for poor advice.

I have accumulated a few samples of other home distillers products and some of them are getting quite old now, but most of are not on wood so haven't aged. Most of them will never get emptied by me and will remain in my "library" until their distiller knocks on my door.

If you are going to do swaps, I suggest that you only swap sample sized volumes.

If you are new, swapping is a great idea, as you will likely receive better product than you sent.

[Jstroke]

I’m hoping to make the SE meetup and bring some bbq sauce

Cheers,
J

I don’t live in the SE, but someone mentioned Q. Depends when and where but I’m game

[Beerswimmer]

I have and do ship samples of homemade and purchased liquors. For years! Boston bottles are the norm for sample sending. I'm always willing!

[higgins]

I don't know how I missed this topic when Steve started it, but now that I've found it I'd like to say that I would be willing to participate in an exchange of product with others.

Mailing doesn't need to be a hassle. Years ago (probably about 15) I used to participate in an online tasting of high gravity homebrewed beers with a dozen or so other folks, and we had to send bottles of our 'entry' to each of the other participants. We would set up a schedule (online chatroom, Fridays at 10pm during the winter months), and roughly 2 weeks before your beer was scheduled you would pack up a dozen boxes with your beer (and a few others) and ship one to everyone on the list. During the 3 or 4 years I did this I can only remember one time someone received broken bottles.

In the US, shipping alcoholic beverages is either illegal (USPS) or violates company policy (UPS, FEDEX, etc). But we did it anyway - wrapping bottles in bubble wrap, double-lining the box with a plastic bag (hopefully to contain liquids if there is any breakage), and labeling the box with a description of the contents (non-perishable food items) but no return address.

So I am in.