Bourbon prices

[cas]

Hey Tim,
I know what you are going through, in MI we too have very high prices and a terrible selection.
But to make you feel better 'Bama has better weather in the spring, fall and winter.

Oscar

I just moved to MI and I'd call the selection fair rather than terrible. I've lived in a few different states over the last 5 years and seen quite a bit of variability. In NC the selection was terrible. In SC it was pretty good, but spotty. What MI lacks are the big discount places that are available in the non-control states. Fortunately my in-laws live in the Chicago suburbs so I can swing by the big outlets there when I visit to stock up.

MI prices are high, some items are probably 50% more than what I paid in SC.
Craig

[ratcheer]

Tim,

The downside is that I can't get bourbon over the Internet shipped to FL.

-Kevin

It is a felony to have it shipped to yourself Alabama. Again, no options.

Tim

[wadewood]

Just curious, does anyone know if a State (acting like a business) can better negotiate prices and variety from a Distillery because of the volume they sell?

WA state does often have one time buy specials. Trust me; prices are always negotiable, often depending on competition. However, one of the state run board agendas is to reduce alcohol consumption through higher prices.

The WA State liquor board does have monthly meetings and they post these notes on website. I have read these in past; the discuss tastings & pricing, then vote on if a product gets approved for distribution. There is currently a task force looking at the Three Tier system and possible changes to this (probably as result of lawsuit from Costco). Lots of interesting stuff: http://www.liq.wa.gov/3ttf-site/3ttf_Minutes.html

[OscarV]

I just moved to MI and I'd call the selection fair rather than terrible.
Craig

Maybe terrible is to harsh a word, but I have 130 different bourbon labels and I would say only about 30 were purchased in MI.
We can't get any of the BT Antique Collection,(not to mention the Experimental Collection). Only a couple of the Van Winkles, nothing by the Kulveens,(and thats a lot). I could be wrong but I don't remember any Old Fitz's. Used to get Very Old Barton 86 proof, but no longer. Blanton's is now $57.00.

Have you ever been to "Village Party Store" in Saline?
Andy is a nice guy, he has a good MI selection, and he is closing out some and they are on sale.
Also "Williams Party Store" close to US23 on Michigan Ave has a decent selection. Tell Kurt and Kent that Oscar sent 'ya.

[AVB]

The State Pennsylvania is the largest liquor buyer in the world. Sometimes that means a good price and sometimes it doesn't. In the case of Rare Breed it is $32 and 101 is $20. I can get slightly better prices in Maryland but I'll spend $10 in gas so that doesn't make it worthwhile.

On the plus side Pappy 20 is $72 for example.

[CrispyCritter]

My impression of Michigan has been that the lower-priced brands tend to be more expensive than in Chicago, but the upper-shelf brands tend to have prices in line with what I see on this side of the lake.

As I understand it, in Michigan the wholesale business is state-controlled, but the retail stores are private - with state-mandated minimum prices.

[ProofPositive]

Okay, I agree with what you are all saying, but it rankles me when others in many other states can buy something for $28, but it costs me $31 and that is raised to $36. Plus, there is no competition, here, so I can't just find another store with better prices. Plus, the selection sucks.

Tim

I was in Alabama for 2 weeks back in July and traveled across several counties between the Mississippi state line and Decatur. At least from my personal observation, what you are saying about the prices & selection in 'Bama is absolutely correct and I sympathize with your situation down there. I also suffer from higher prices here in the western part of Tennessee on some particular labels. At the same time though, others can be quite reasonable (ER, ETL, and the Weller line to name a few). We are not a control board state though - which is definitely a plus.

Are you anywhere near the Mississippi border? If so, you can save some money going across the line. If not, are you near Georgia or Florida? I don't know about those states but maybe the selection & prices would be better(?). Miss is a control board state but they seem to have a very decent selection most of the time. If you can find any GTS there, it is normally at least $10 less per bottle. Of course, finding it is the problem. For the most part though, I find as much selection in Olive Branch, Miss as in Memphis, Tenn.

I make a trip into north Mississippi every so often just for Rare Breed which is $28.50 plus sales tax of 5% in Olive Branch. That gets me out the door for slightly over $30 which is a deal compared to the Tennessee stores where I noticed there has been an increase lately from $36 to $38. Maybe WT is raising prices a bit and perhaps Miss has not felt the pinch yet....don't know. Overall though, I can usually save a few bucks every time I go south of the border if for nothing else the sales tax is almost half! The key is buying in quantity as much as possible. Due to the recent price of fuel, the savings can be negated quickly if I make too many trips south.

[ratcheer]

Thanks, but I am pretty much in the center of the state. It is over 100 miles to any other state. When I do go to Atlanta or Tennessee or Kentucky, I always pick up a few things, but the opportunities are few and far between.

Also, my original post was trying to say that I think AL prices have gone up, and sharply, since July. So, they are quite worse now than what you saw.

For some reason, I rarely find myself in Mississippi. I like the state and have even given it thought as a place to retire to, but I only go there every five years or so.

Tim

[TNbourbon]

...I make a trip into north Mississippi every so often just for Rare Breed which is $28.50 plus sales tax of 5% in Olive Branch...

Ah, yes -- Olive Branch, MS. (sigh!) I used to know where there was some good bottles there.

[wintersway]

My prefered liquor store has not had ANY Van Winkle product in stock for a couple of months. Yesterday I went there and !hallaluja! the shelves were once again laden with the sweet nectar. After loading up with as much Family Reserve Rye as my card would float I noticed that an old favorite of mine, the 10 yr old 107, was now priced @ 37 dollars! The last time I bought this was in early July and I paid $21 so for some reason this bottle has appreciated tremendously.