I Scored Free Christmas Cheer!
I’ll Strike Up a Conversation With Anyone, Anywhere, Especially if They Are Knowledgeable and Have Something to Say, or, They Have Free Samples. Or Both.
I was Christmas shopping in the vast supermarket-size wine, beer, and spirits store in my neighborhood, buying a gift for a family member. It was a particular handcrafted beer from Spain, a simple lager just like many U.S. national brands, but this one was really good.
At the entrance to the store, there was a young lady sampling a new brand of small-batch gin. Compared to many product samplers, she knew her stuff, way beyond the minimal 3x5 index card they’re seemingly required to learn about the booze they’re sampling. I explained to her that I’m not a gin person ( I don’t like the flavor of juniper berries), but that I would try it anyway, because I enjoy sampling even things I wouldn’t drink, in order to gain the experience of trying that brand/type of booze/flavor.
After the tasting, I let her know that even though it wasn’t my thing, the gin she was sampling was better than many, and I also apologized for not buying any of her products that day, because I know she would be credited for sales during the demo. We chatted a bit more about booze (okay, we nerded out), and I had an excellent five minutes there.
I found the beer I was buying and was standing on the it’s-mid-December-so-it’s-not-too-long-but-yeah-there’s-a-bit-of-a-line checkout line, when the gin sampling woman came up behind me to pay for a great bottle of wine. She sees my beer and asks me about it…
“So tell me about your beer because I know wine, and I know spirits, but I don’t know beer. I’m going to a party soon, and I want to bring a nice beer that would also be a little bit different or unexpected, but I also need it to be something that everyone would like.”
“Well, this might be the perfect beer for you. It’s a pilsner beer like many leading-brand domestic beers, but this one is handcrafted using only water, malted barley, really nice hops, and yeast. There’s no rice or other grains, and it tastes crisp and refreshing. It has lots of flavor, but it’s not heavy or overbearing. It’s just a premium version of what you might expect from a regular American beer, and that’s why I’m buying it. It’s a gift for a family member that drinks domestic name-brand, but I want her to experience nirvana, in the same style of beer. It even comes in beautiful bottles.”
She was thrilled to learn this, as it was exactly what she was looking for. She then asked…
“Do you like single-malt scotch?”
“It’s really the only spirit I drink. I love it.”
“Well, I’ve got a bottle in my car I’ll be getting rid of. I did a different sampling earlier today and only poured a shot or two from it. It’s really good stuff, and I’d like to give it to you in return for your recommendation. Really, I’ve got to give it to someone, because I won’t drink it.”
“You really don’t have to, but if you’re just going to get rid of it? Twist my arm!”
After checking out I walked past my car to hers, and she gave me the bottle, still in its box, about 2 ounces shy of full. Not only was it the good stuff, but it was also from my favorite region, in my favorite style. (That would be the Scottish Highlands, in Sherry Cask finish.)
“Merry Christmas!”
“Thank you! This is incredible, and it’s a huge sample, isn’t it?!”
“Thanks again for the beer recommendation!”
I guess even though she would never be officially credited for it, she did close a sale with me after all. That single-malt Scotch whisky became one of my favorites, even after sampling dozens of others across many, many tastings. Whenever this bottle is done, I’ll definitely replace it. Yum.
PS- Chat someone up today!