My barrel was used after 7 years of aging and I missed numerous emails and calls starting in 2014 to be there.
Sadly, that email had been compromised sometime during the Great Recession and was relegated to just a junk email for me to use.. it'd been years since I used it last. And my phone changed simply because I was on a plan with a former ex and needed to change it when we broke up.
I would have gladly made the pilgrimage to Loretto, KY for its inauguration and to get my first signed bottles. I even had the opportunity to buy the empty barrel... for $385. Which may seem like alot, but knowing it's provenance and having my name on it... I would have paid twice that. Today it would probably cost $385 just to ship it up here!
Man, I was only 30 in 2008.. was just starting to get serious about liquors.. as opposed to my 20s when we just drank whatever got us drunk.. especially here in WI. Doesn't get much wetter than here. STILL the only state in the entire country where drunk driving isn't illegal.. it's a citation!!
Anyway, if anyone's not an "Ambassador" yet, you can sign up for free these days. I still have MM Xmas wrapping paper, ribbon w/ their logo, bows, and even Ambassador Cards... great marketing idea.. what else can it be used for other than wrapping a MM bottle with it, right?
Just stay on top of your email about 6 years later!
It's also a great conversation starter... "
Say, did you know there's a man in Kentucky that I've never met who gets paid to my taste my bunghole from time to time? True story!".