Whisky Prices

[squire]

Newspaper or other print ads you fellas may have come across from say 1960 to 1975 listing the prices of whisky for sale. I am particularly interested in Jack Daniels, Evan Williams Black label and Ezra Brooks 90 proof.

[Kalessin]

It's kind of wonky to work with, but if you go to http://news.google.com/newspapers, you can search a few million pages of old newspapers that Google was digitizing for a few years. The advertising money that would have paid for the project never really materialized, but they left the work they did before the project shut down online.

[T Comp]

Squire, I had some luck with 1960's ads in the St. Petersburg Times and Pittsburgh Press. Here is a link I saved to April 6, 1960 Pittsburgh Press ad showing Old Fitzgerald at $6.95 a Fifth and Cabin Still at $5.00...an inflation calculator shows that $6.95 is at $54.85 today.

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=N7wbAAAAIBAJ&sjid=tU4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6588,2131267&dq=stitzel+weller&hl=en

[mbroo5880i]

Squire, I had some luck with 1960's ads in the St. Petersburg Times and Pittsburgh Press. Here is a link I saved to April 6, 1960 Pittsburgh Press ad showing Old Fitzgerald at $6.95 a Fifth and Cabin Still at $5.00...an inflation calculator shows that $6.95 is at $54.85 today.

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=N7wbAAAAIBAJ&sjid=tU4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6588,2131267&dq=stitzel+weller&hl=en

[bjbronwyn]

Man, what a different time! So, based on inflation, these brands are a bargain!

Maybe, but a lot better juice back then Id say!

[GaryT]

The impact of inflation is definitely interesting, and considering how much tax is included in the retail price - sort of amazing that we're able to buy anything worthwhile for under $20, let alone under $10.

I found some interesting prices when looking back there though!

From The Palm Beach Post, Dec 10, 1969:

On Sale - 18" Color TV for just $329.95

Maverick Torino hardtop for just $1,995

Walgreens Discount Liquors offering Bourbon Supreme for $3.79 a fifth, or Old Stagg Bourbon for $3.99 a quart! Go uptown with Harper's Bourbon for $4.79 a fifth.

Or Crown Liquors, where 100 proof Old Grand Dad is just $5.39 a fifth (same price as a fifth of Old Fitz 100 proof

[squire]

Yes, I remember when you could buy entry level Bourbons for less then $4.00 a fifth. I'll bet the NDPs would love to get their hands on some of that bottom shelf stuff now.

[GaryT]

I think it is interesting how the prices differ by products. Similar bottle of bourbon today is 5x that price (more or less), while the price of a car is 25x the price at that time . . . and you can get a TV twice the size for the same price today. What a world . . .

[WhiskyRI]

Old Fitz can be had for $12 a 750ml in my neck of the woods. The fact that the price in nominal dollars has only gone up $5.00 in 53 years is amazing.

[393foureyedfox]

I think it is interesting how the prices differ by products. Similar bottle of bourbon today is 5x that price (more or less), while the price of a car is 25x the price at that time . . . and you can get a TV twice the size for the same price today. What a world . . .

or the '71 Hemicuda convertible you couldve bought for a "measly" $6000 new that would now set you back about $5 million now......

[deathevocation]

Squire, I had some luck with 1960's ads in the St. Petersburg Times and Pittsburgh Press. Here is a link I saved to April 6, 1960 Pittsburgh Press ad showing Old Fitzgerald at $6.95 a Fifth and Cabin Still at $5.00...an inflation calculator shows that $6.95 is at $54.85 today.

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=N7wbAAAAIBAJ&sjid=tU4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6588,2131267&dq=stitzel+weller&hl=en

If Cabin Still cost $5 today I still wouldn't buy it.

[Pikesville]

If Cabin Still cost $5 today I still wouldn't buy it.

Gas is getting close to that- if my lawnmower would run on it, I might be a buyer.

[squire]

Market forces of course, yet I'm surprised we can still get such good Bourbons relatively cheap.

[T Comp]

Market forces of course, yet I'm surprised we can still get such good Bourbons relatively cheap.

And when you equate in inflation as buying power it is a heck of a lot cheaper today. Interesting in comparing the 1960 prices to 1969 prices of bourbon it appears that it was even getting cheaper in that span. Consider that $5.00 in 1960 is the equivalent of $39.44 in buying power today and in 1969 it would be $31.81. The producers didn't appear to adjust pricing much on bourbon though in that 9 year period with it still in the $5.00 range.

[squire]

Let's keep this among ourselves, we wouldn't want Heaven Hill to realize what their stuff is worth.

[bingstein]

I would still live a fulfilling life if I couldn't spend more than $25/bottle. #thingsicanttellmywife

[ThomasH]

The reason the prices haven't kept pace with inflation is the automating of the industry. I read at one point, over 98,000 jobs were lost in the industry since 1980.

Thomas

[squire]

I can easily do the same for under $15.00.

[mbroo5880i]

I would still live a fulfilling life if I couldn't spend more than $25/bottle. #thingsicanttellmywife

Haha! I am fortunate. My wife is ok with the occasional splurge on a Blanton's or FRSB. She knows they are solid bottles and that I enjoy them. I don't think she would like it if I spent much more than $50 on a bottle unless it was something very special. I think she would be ok with me paying a little more than that for PVW but that ain't going to happen any way. She just doesn't want me to spend $50 on every bottle or to drink bourbon every night. Both of which, I am ok with any way. I typically don't drink during the week, especially during soccer season.

I should also add that she doesn't mind going into the local store and looking at the bourbon selection, which is decent, to see if there are any recent additions, or to stop at a larger store in Indy to see if there is something new. Interestingly, she will point out brands that she hasn't seen before.

[squire]

Sounds like Santa's little helper there.

[T Comp]

The reason the prices haven't kept pace with inflation is the automating of the industry. I read at one point, over 98,000 jobs were lost in the industry since 1980.

Thomas

And also losing the cost of the free pint all those workers used to get come Friday :grin:...at least at the Owensboro distilleries, back in the day, per my mother in law who had many neighbors on the line at both.

I also don't remember the specifics of price but that first fifth of Beam I bought legally in '72 sure seemed costly next to the 2 cases for 3 bucks of Huber beer or even the $1 a bottle Boone's Farm that was my groups usual.