Liquor Store Bandits?

Just an example of the variation in prices I have run into for a long time now.

In London there is a pretty good selection of Whiskey if you know where to look. Every time I go to see the family home in Manchester (about 200 miles North of London) I visit a local wine store as it has the best selection of Bourbon locally.

Knob Creek is about £24 in London - they sell it for £35!

Gentleman Jack is £22 in London - they charge £42!!!!!!!!!!!!

JD SB is about £35 in London - they charge £50!

I could give more examples but I'm sure you get the picture. Anyone else run into such blatent overcharging?

Not on that scale but Randall's (aka internetwines.com) is the closest I can get. A real shame because they really do have a great selection.

I've seen some outrageous markups recently of Van Winkle products. Lot B for $89, while most stores in my area are at least under 50 and Binny's is $33. Pappy 15 is $100 compared to $52 or $40. And the Rye is $90 compared to $40 and I've seen it as low as below $30. I think many stores can do this simply because in some areas they can get away with it. They put the Van Winkle away locked up in glass cases and triple the price. I'm in no way putting down VW, I absolutely love their products, but I'm not going to pay just south of $100 for Lot B either.

I've always felt that whisk(e)y prices were set by the rolling of dice.

I guess I should consider myself to be fortunate to live in the Chicago area. Even though Binny's prices aren't always the best (cf. WT 101), they are generally reasonable. Sam's tends to be a dollar or two more than Binny's, but there are some things (e.g. Old Fitz, Rittenhouse BIB) that are a better deal at Sam's.

Some smaller shops (and chains) have better deals on WT 101 and such, though...

Of course, once you shift the source of the hooch from Kentucky to Scotland, all bets are off. It's been almost two years since I've had a glass of Lagavulin, due to the price jump. :( :( :( Ocean crossings do bad things to alcohol prices...

Oregon stores are state-controlled, so prices are the same everywhere. I can download the list of prices every two months and see what's on sale. Relative to mail order and prices I've seen here, Oregon prices are a little high on most items and a lot high on others (mostly superpremiums), but there is no sales tax and my regular pours are frequently on sale. I gladly pay $47 for Pappy 15 and $57 for Stagg because they are my favorites.

I couldn't be happier with my local store. They order several things for me, and have held a couple of bottles they happened upon in case I wanted them. Last week they came up with another WLW and one of the last Saz 18's in Portland for me. What they don't have, I get from Binny's.

Jeff

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Originally Posted by contrarian

Oregon stores are state-controlled, so prices are the same everywhere. I can download the list of prices every two months and see what's on sale. Relative to mail order and prices I've seen here, Oregon prices are a little high on most items and a lot high on others (mostly superpremiums), but there is no sales tax and my regular pours are frequently on sale. I gladly pay $47 for Pappy 15 and $57 for Stagg because they are my favorites.

I couldn't be happier with my local store. They order several things for me, and have held a couple of bottles they happened upon in case I wanted them. Last week they came up with another WLW and one of the last Saz 18's in Portland for me. What they don't have, I get from Binny's.

Jeff

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Because the stores are state controlled can you order any whiskey from your local store and can they get it from a state distributor or other group that would allow you access to everything sold in the state or does it vary from store to store, as it does in my home state, Indiana? One reason, I'm curious because I'm considering a move to Oregon at the new year.

Try this for starters : Elmer T. Lee for $ 87 and Eagle Rare 10yo SB for $ 91.

And these aren´t even ripe for the picking on the shelves, you have to special order them. How often do you think that will happen? Especially if you consider the fact that I can get Elmer from Germany for about $ 50.

Obviously, this is not any fault of BT:s. It is the importer who tries to make a nice profit but in this case it will no doubt backfire.

Bandits bandits everywhere and not a drop to drink! (At those prices anyway!)

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Originally Posted by TimmyBoston

Because the stores are state controlled can you order any whiskey from your local store and can they get it from a state distributor or other group that would allow you access to everything sold in the state or does it vary from store to store, as it does in my home state, Indiana? One reason, I'm curious because I'm considering a move to Oregon at the new year.

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Tim, the Oregon Liquor Control Commission is the sole distributor so any store should have the same access to all the items OLCC routinely orders. Inventory varies some from store to store, but where I notice it most is in superpremium items that aren't on the main list at OLCC website. My local has had several Van Winkle, BT Antique Collection, and BMH expressions this year, all items that they special ordered. They regularly carry all Beam Small Batch bourbons, BT, WTRB and WTKS.

Last month, I asked my local store to order some Rittenhouse BIB. This is something OLCC doesn't routinely buy, but it's readily available. OLCC says these special orders usually take about 6 weeks. They also have a list at the OLCC website of "orphaned" bottles and case items in the distribution warehouse. If what I want is there, I should be able to get it much quicker.

Don't forget, mail order is an available option. Honestly, I'd prefer to spend all my booze money locally, but I can't get AAA 10 year except through Binny's and a few prices really are out of whack: $42 for Rowan's Creek, $56 for Bookers, $88 for Hirsch 16, and $94 for BMH 16. If I can put together enough things to make a case, it cuts shipping down to about $3 a bottle.

Good luck with your moving decision, Tim. Don't let bourbon be the deciding factor.... Rain should be the deciding factor. If you're coming to look around and have time to get together for a drink, let me know.

Jeff

Jeff,
Actually skiing is my deciding factor. I'm looking at some resort towns around the west and Mt Hood was considered. I just was curious about the bourbon situation. Thanks so much for the info.