Bourbon prices are up... what have you seen...

[spun_cookie]

The BTAC has always been a decent price until the last 2 years worth.

2007 I was picking up Stagg for $48... 08 just hit Tucson with the 09 (can you say distributor screw up).

The 08 price started at $75 two weeks ago and then the 09 hit and they are both $85 to $100 plus at AJs ...

After speaking with the Manager at BevMo and the Owner of a single owner spot here in Tucson, they both said the distributors are killing them on price increases. In one case I got to see the incoming price and their mark-up.. It truly was pennies of profit... Cannot keep stores open like that for long...

The one thing I cannot figure out is why. Both said prices are going to almost double from 07 on the bourbons they are selling (WTRB, OWA, WSR, etc).

You would think we are in. Economical boom right now with the prices going up, but we all know that is not true.

Taxes here are nearing 10%, but I did not add that to the above. The 08 Stagg today was $93ish.. .eBay prices...

Anyone else feeling the price hike...

I think I will go get the price list for the juices here add post them. I wonder if we are the highest in the Union... Hawaii and Alaska was cheaper when I was there...

[cowdery]

When I first began to freelance, 20 years ago, I panicked when I hit my first dry spell and took the first fulltime job that was offered to me. Now I know that's normal and don't freak out about it.

Whiskey cycles are long and most of you haven't lived all the way through even one, at least not as an aware bourbon consumer. Arguably, I haven't either, at least by that criteria. Point is, most of you haven't been through a big reshuffle in the industry. What you have to do now is not worry about the values that are no longer values, use that energy to find the new values. For example, with the BT Antiques likely costing about $70 this year, and several coveted products crossing the three-digit threshold, products such as Van Winkle Lot B, Old Forester Birthday Bourbon, and Weller 12 look like great values. Even Templeton Rye, though I still have my issues about their business model, is starting to look like a good value compared to the prices High West is charging for Lawrenceburg, IN, rye.

[hectic1]

I just started buying bourbon about a year ago but I have seen prices increase in Chicago by 15-20% depending one what stores you go to. Elmer T. Lee for example was selling for 24.39 in April...that same Elmer T. Lee is now $29.99 at Binny's. I'm amazed how prices continue to climb even with a down economy...can you imagine what will happen in a couple years when inflation really kicks in?

[spun_cookie]

When I first began to freelance, 20 years ago, I panicked when I hit my first dry spell and took the first fulltime job that was offered to me. Now I know that's normal and don't freak out about it.

Whiskey cycles are long and most of you haven't lived all the way through even one, at least not as an aware bourbon consumer. Arguably, I haven't either, at least by that criteria. Point is, most of you haven't been through a big reshuffle in the industry. What you have to do now is not worry about the values that are no longer values, use that energy to find the new values. For example, with the BT Antiques likely costing about $70 this year, and several coveted products crossing the three-digit threshold, products such as Van Winkle Lot B, Old Forester Birthday Bourbon, and Weller 12 look like great values. Even Templeton Rye, though I still have my issues about their business model, is starting to look like a good value compared to the prices High West is charging for Lawrenceburg, IN, rye.

Chuck, great response... very true for long term bourbon perspective... and there are some great values to be had. Not sure that the B-Day wuaifies anylonger as it creeps into the high $40s, but the others do.

What bothers me is not so much the distilleries hike, it is the middle additions through distributor to distributor. I actually feel that a little hike at the distillery would be a good thing, but when the distributors are raking in more than the distillers, something is wrong.

There is no way in hell I am going to believe that BTAC should be $85-100 here, $70 in Cali and $50-55 in other states... I am waiting for Andy (funknic) to post his BTAC cost... he was the lowest last year.... if his still run $48-52, then it should not top $60 anywhere else... Hell, DC prices are better than AZ!

[CajunKY]

BTAC here in Lexington was at the low $68 with me paying $70 a bottle for Stagg and Weller.

-Clay

[callmeox]

BTAC is 61.00 in the highest tax rate county in Ohio. Too bad we only get maybe a dozen cases combined of just two flavors. (Stagg and Saz 18)

[ILLfarmboy]

You would think we are in. Economical boom right now with the prices going up, but we all know that is not true.

I wonder if the general shortage of aged distillate isn't warping the normal business cycle. Prices should fall in a recession.

Also, I think we are in for some stagflation. Quite unavoidable with the falling dollar. Rising taxes unavoidably sops up spending power and big government deficits are ran ostensibly to do just the opposite, increase aggregate demand. Idiots at the helm are riding the break and being throttle happy at the same time, economically speaking.

[cowdery]

Here is an illustration.

In August of 2002, I bought a 750 of Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye for $23.99. The following March I bought another for the same price. That June it went up to 29.99, at least in Chicago. In April of 2004, I paid $25.99 for it in Louisville. I didn't buy it again until November, 2006, and it was $36.99, in Kentucky. About a year later it was $40.99, also in Kentucky. The last bottle I bought was here in Chicago, last December, for $44.99.

But I have more comparative data since 2004, so let's use that as the baseline. Between 2004 and 2009, the price went up 73%

Back in 2004, I paid $17.99 for Elijah Craig 12-year-old. It's now $27.99. That's a 56% increase.

In 2004, I paid $11.99 for Rittenhouse Rye BIB. It's now $19.99, a 67% increase.

Since February of 2007, Elmer T. Lee has gone from $20.69 to $29.99, a 45% increase. (Note, shorter time span than the previous examples.)

The first Hirsch Gold Foil I bought was in May of 2005, for $49.99. The last bottle I bought was for $79.99 in November of 2007. That's +60%.

On the other hand, JTB Brown BIB was $8.69 in April, 2007; and it's $9.49 today, a 9% increase A 750 of Very Old Barton BIB was $9.49 in 2004 and is $11.99 today, a 26% increase. A 750 of Old Fitz BIB was $13.99 in January of 2004 and it's $16.99 now, a 21% increase.

What does this tell us?

[ILLfarmboy]

What does this tell us?

That the demand for premiums is growing faster than value brands?

[callmeox]

What does this tell us?

That Chuck keeps meticulous records on what he spends on booze?