Why We Started BRBNFNDR: Revolutionizing Whiskey Hunting for Every Enthusiast
In this article, I want to share the personal story behind BRBNFNDR and why we built the internet's only real-time spirits drop notification service.
Why did we create a liquor disovery platform?
What problems were we trying to solve?
How does BRBNFNDR level the playing field?
What role does our partnership with Bourboneur play?
Let's talk about it
The Frustration That Started It All
f you're reading this, you probably know the struggle. You wake up at 6 AM, drive to three different liquor stores, wait in line for hours, only to find out that the Buffalo Trace allocation was gone before you even got there. Or worse - you discover that your local store got a case of Weller Antique 107 yesterday, but by the time you heard about it, every bottle was already in someone else's collection.
This was my reality for years. As a spirits enthusiast, I was tired of the endless game of cat and mouse. The whiskey hunting landscape was broken - it favored those with insider connections, unlimited time, or deep pockets to pay secondary market prices. The average enthusiast was left out in the cold.
I knew there had to be a better way. The spirits community deserved a platform that would democratize access to great bottles, eliminate the guesswork, and create a level playing field for everyone - from the casual collector to the serious enthusiast.
The Problem We Set Out to Solve
The Information Gap
he biggest challenge in whiskey hunting wasn't the scarcity of bottles - it was the scarcity of information. Most enthusiasts were flying blind, relying on word-of-mouth, social media posts that came too late, or store relationships that took years to build.
I watched friends miss out on incredible bottles simply because they didn't know when or where they were available. Meanwhile, a select few with the right connections seemed to always be in the right place at the right time. This information asymmetry was killing the joy of whiskey hunting for the majority of enthusiasts.
The Time Investment Problem
Whiskey hunting had become a full-time job for many enthusiasts. People were spending hours every week driving from store to store, calling retailers, and monitoring social media feeds. This wasn't sustainable for anyone with a job, family, or other responsibilities.
The time investment required to stay competitive in whiskey hunting was creating a barrier to entry that excluded passionate enthusiasts who simply couldn't dedicate their lives to the hunt.
The Secondary Market Explosion
The secondary market was pricing out genuine enthusiasts. While flippers and resellers were making money hand over fist, real bourbon lovers were being forced to pay 3x, 4x, or even 10x retail prices for bottles they wanted to actually drink and enjoy.
Our Vision: Democratizing Bourbon Access
e envisioned a world where every bourbon enthusiast had equal access to information about bottle drops, store allocations, and limited releases. A world where your success in finding great bourbon wasn't determined by who you knew or how much time you could spend hunting, but by your passion for the spirit itself.
Real-Time Notifications
The core of our solution was simple but powerful: real-time notifications delivered directly to your phone the moment bottles become available. No more checking social media, no more calling stores, no more driving around hoping to get lucky.
When a store gets a Buffalo Trace allocation, you know about it instantly. When a limited release drops online, you're the first to know. When your local retailer gets that bottle you've been hunting, you get notified immediately.
Community-Driven Intelligence
ut we didn't stop at notifications. We built a community where enthusiasts could share information, verify drops, and help each other succeed. Our users became our eyes and ears across the country, creating a network of intelligence that no individual could match.
This community aspect was crucial. We weren't just building an app - we were fostering a movement of bourbon enthusiasts who believed that great whiskey should be accessible to everyone who appreciates it.
The Technology Behind the Solution
Advanced Monitoring Systems
We developed sophisticated monitoring systems that track hundreds of retailers, online stores, and distributors in real-time. Our algorithms can detect when new bottles are added to inventory, when prices change, and when limited releases go live.
Smart Filtering and Personalization
Not every spirits enthusiast wants to be notified about every bottle. That's why we built intelligent filtering systems that let you customize exactly what you want to be notified about. Whether you're hunting for specific brands, price ranges, or proof levels, our system learns your preferences and delivers only the most relevant notifications.
Online-First Approach
We understand that whiskey hunting is now primarily online. Our system focuses on online retailers and distributors, ensuring you get notifications for bottles available through e-commerce platforms that can ship directly to your door, regardless of your location.
The Impact We've Made
Leveling the Playing Field
ince launching BRBNFNDR, we've helped thousands of enthusiasts find bottles they never would have discovered otherwise. Our members have scored everything from allocated Buffalo Trace products to limited edition releases, often at retail prices that would have been impossible to find through traditional hunting methods.
The playing field is now level. A new enthusiast with BRBNFNDR has the same access to information as someone who's been hunting for decades. Your success is no longer determined by your connections or your ability to spend every weekend searching online.
Building a Community
But perhaps our greatest achievement has been the community we've built. BRBNFNDR members help each other, share information, and celebrate each other's successes. We've created a space where spirits enthusiasts can connect, learn, and grow together.
Reducing Secondary Market Pressure
By giving enthusiasts better access to retail bottles, we're helping reduce the pressure on the secondary market. When people can find the bottles they want at retail prices, they're less likely to turn to flippers and resellers, which helps keep prices more reasonable for everyone.
Our Commitment to Quality
s we've grown, we've remained committed to our founding principles. We're not just about helping people find bottles - we're about helping people find the right bottles. Our exclusive barrel picks and collaborations with industry leaders like Brooks Raley reflect our commitment to quality over quantity.
Strategic Partnerships That Add Value
One of our most impactful partnerships has been with Bourboneur and the Bourbon Blue Book. This collaboration has been instrumental in helping our members make informed decisions when time is of the essence. When those real-time notifications come in, members now have access to current market value data right at their fingertips.
This integration means that when you get a notification about a bottle, you're not just getting the availability alert - you're getting the market context you need to make a smart purchasing decision. Should you buy now or wait? The Bourbon Blue Book data helps answer that question in the critical seconds when it matters most.
Every bottle we feature, every pick we release, and every notification we send is designed to help our members find their perfect pour. We believe that whiskey hunting should be about discovery, enjoyment, and community - not frustration, exclusion, and overpaying.
The Future of Whiskey Hunting
ooking ahead, we're excited about the future of whiskey hunting. As the industry continues to grow and evolve, we're committed to staying at the forefront of innovation. We're constantly improving our technology, expanding our network, and finding new ways to serve the spirits community.
We're working on new features that will make whiskey hunting even more accessible and enjoyable. From advanced price tracking to community reviews and ratings, we're building tools that will help enthusiasts make better decisions and find better bottles.
Join the Revolution
Are you tired of missing out on great spirits?
If you're reading this and nodding along, then BRBNFNDR was built for you. We created this platform because we believe that every spirits enthusiast deserves access to great whiskey and bourbon at fair prices. We believe that hunting for spirits should be fun, not frustrating. And we believe that the spirits community is stronger when we work together.
Try BRBNFNDR free for 30 days and experience the difference. Join thousands of enthusiasts who have already discovered a better way to hunt spirits. Whether you're looking for your first bottle of Weller or hunting for the rarest allocated releases, we're here to help you succeed.
Want to stay whiskey wise™? Check out our partnership with Bourboneur and the Bourbon Blue Book for the most accurate, up-to-date pricing data on over 6,000 bottles. When you're making those split-second decisions on bottle drops, having reliable market data makes all the difference.
A Personal Note
ooking back on this journey, I'm constantly amazed by what we've built together. What started as a late-night conversation over a bottle of Weller Full Proof at my house has grown into something I never could have imagined. The community that has formed around BRBNFNDR is truly special - it's not just about finding bottles, it's about connecting people who share the same passion.
Some of my favorite moments are the messages I get from members who just scored their first bottle of something they've been hunting for months, or the photos of bottle shares where people are meeting up in real life because they connected through our platform. That's the magic of what we've created - it's not just an app, it's a community.
Learn More About Our Partnership
Want to dive deeper into our story and partnership? Check out our recent interview with Bourboneur, where Brady and I share more about our journey, the challenges we've overcome, and how our strategic partnership with the Bourbon Blue Book is revolutionizing bourbon hunting for enthusiasts everywhere.
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