The initial popularity of the Rare High-Demand Product drawing was a surprise to officials with the Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, said spokesman Terry Wood.
“We weren’t sure how many people might enter,” he said, “but that was more than we expected.”
For the first drawing, which launched at the end of June, 12,031 people registered and 10,947 entered for a chance to buy one of the 108 bottles of Elmer T. Lee single barrel bourbon the state received.
At $37.99, the award-winning whiskey was practically a steal. A 750 milliliter bottle is listed for as much as $300 online.