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On the rare occasion I’m brave enough to take a look at my credit card statement, I’m always greeted with the harsh reality that when it comes to trying to keep track of how much money I spend at bars on a monthly basis, I tend to underestimate the total like it’s a ragtag team of youths playing with secondhand equipment for a coach who’s out of his element in a sports movie made in the 90s.
This usually leads to me berating myself for routinely dropping $12 on a cocktail when I already have all of the ingredients needed to make it at home and buying eight ounces of craft beer for the same price a six-pack of Narragansett would run me.
Do I also make a concerted effort to cut down on how much I go out? Yes, but I know it’s only a matter of time before the cycle begins anew.
The truth is that there’s something to be said for paying a premium to drink in a social setting as opposed to alone in a dimly lit apartment, and after spending a month doing plenty of the latter because the former is legally banned, there is nothing I would love to do more right now than have one of those nights where your heart drops a bit when you’re handed your tab.
Bars and restaurants around the United States are doing what they can to adjust to the situation they’re currently facing, whether it’s whipping up premade cocktails to go or offering a free roll of toilet paper with every delivery.
Suzanne and Roger Perry had to lay off hundreds of people employed at the restaurants they own in the Tampa area when they suddenly found themselves in dire straits, and with no real source of revenue to speak of, they were also forced to come up with a plan so they could continue to pay the people they’ve been able to keep on the payroll.
According to CNN, they examined the options and found a possible stopgap in the form of a bottle of Old Rip Van Winkle, a 25-year-old whiskey that most bourbon drinkers would kill to get their hands on. However, I’m pretty sure an actual hitman would have to complete multiple contracts to afford the asking price.
The bottle in question retails for $1,800, a price that sounds pretty steep until you take a look at what people on the secondary market want for it—which is exactly what Suzanne did before deciding to sell her liquid gold for $20,000 (although she was nice enough to offer a 15% discount if the purchase was made online).
After being lowballed by a number of people, the Perrys were contacted by a military veteran willing to pay the asking price who offered to pick it up himself. He did exactly that the following day but an issue arose when Roger noticed the check he’d been handed was for $40,000. However, when he pointed out the potential issue, he was assured it wasn’t a mistake.
Thanks to the act of this unnamed man, the Perrys say they’ll now be able to keep their kitchens open for takeout and ensure their current employees will receive a paycheck for at least another month (in addition to some they’ll be able to bring back).
I’ll drink (from my $20 bottle of whiskey) to that.