MM Proof Change

I hadn't bought Maker's in a while and I probably won't buy it again for a long time. Too much good OWA out there!

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Originally Posted by jeffrey r

That's what I would have thought, though BT did follow up their "super"-snarky original post on FB, with the following "just"-snarky post on FB that has not been pulled:

"90 PROOF" with a picture of BT.

Perhaps b/c it is the BT page, they don't and won't refer to the Weller wheated bourbons, but that is the logical distinction for the distillery to point out--wheated bourbons of greater age and proof than MM, at a better price (that most of us here would also say taste better than MM).

Anyway, the whole thing is pretty interesting, and will be more interesting to see how it plays out in the short and long term.

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Maybe one of the Aussies should post a picture of the 80 proof BT we get here :rolleyes:

NPR ran a 5 minute spot on this today. Interviewed two or three people who were not happy about the change. Also made a passing remark about the proof going down and the price staying the same. Was on the whole negative. I thought that this was some pretty significant national press in a bad way.

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Originally Posted by jeffrey r

Agreed on the wording of BT's post. It came off a bit disingenuous when I read it to be honest. They should be touting their products, rather than calling out the practice of watering down bourbon, which all of these guys do to some extent.

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Buffalo Trace
Elmer T. Lee 107 BUB -- 90 proof
Eagle Rare 10, 101 proof, 90 proof
Buffalo Trace, export only -- 80 proof
no more age statement on OWA (but it's STILL 7 years old- we swear!)


Wild Turkey
Wild Turkey Russell's Reserve 101 --90 proof
Wild Turkey Rye 101 -- 81 proof

Jack Daniel's 90, 86, then 80 proof

Evan Williams- suffered proof cuts (the older 7 year higher proof black wasn't too bad!)


EVERY single distiller has done this on some level or other. Every single one. Overhead goes up, popularity goes up, and quality goes down. Eventually only a few brands will be viewed as quality, and then the whole bottom will drop out so we can start over again (maybe that won't happen, but American Business is Business)

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Originally Posted by ErichPryde

Buffalo Trace
Elmer T. Lee 107 BUB -- 90 proof
Eagle Rare 10, 101 proof, 90 proof
Buffalo Trace, export only -- 80 proof
no more age statement on OWA (but it's STILL 7 years old- we swear!)


Wild Turkey
Wild Turkey Russell's Reserve 101 --90 proof
Wild Turkey Rye 101 -- 81 proof

Jack Daniel's 90, 86, then 80 proof

Evan Williams- suffered proof cuts (the older 7 year higher proof black wasn't too bad!)


EVERY single distiller has done this on some level or other. Every single one. Overhead goes up, popularity goes up, and quality goes down. Eventually only a few brands will be viewed as quality, and then the whole bottom will drop out so we can start over again (maybe that won't happen, but American Business is Business)

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Beam has fooled around with their Black label, too. When it was 7 years old it was 90 proof and now at 8 years old it's 86. I guess maybe it's a quid pro quo--another year in the wood for 4 degrees of proof.

I'll bet Heaven Hill is wishing they had Larceny in national distribution right about now.

http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2013/...ntcmp=features

The current story:

Maker's Mark reducing alcohol volume to stretch supplies of its bourbon amid strong demand

Published February 12, 2013

Associated Press


Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2013/...#ixzz2KhdgGXNe

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Originally Posted by Brisko

I'll bet Heaven Hill is wishing they had Larceny in national distribution right about now.

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Maybe they'll rush more to market in an effort to capitalize, be successful, run short on product and then be forced to reduce proof or abandon markets.

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Originally Posted by TheOakMonster

Maybe they'll rush more to market in an effort to capitalize, be successful, run short on product and then be forced to reduce proof or abandon markets.

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Thanks, that made me chuckle and I could use one today.

It's worth noting that while the outcry is loud, Maker's at least approached this the right way. Think back to the WT rye debacle and how we found out about it (Josh saw the new product on the MI price list) and how many conflicting official and semi-official statements were made before we got the whole story.

My understanding was that they are trying to meet rising global demand. While there might not be a significant shortage in the US now, there would be if they started shipping more overseas.

While I have never seen a store without MM on the shelf, I have noticed that I rarely see the 1.75L bottles anymore. I just though the MM46 had cannibalized the shelf space.

The 1.75L bottles are still plentiful around here.