Old Weller Antique shortage??

[KCJason1]

Liquor store owners and distributors (and a few SBers ) love to gossip. If it doesn't sell they won't carry it. As with the Weller 12 supply issue, it's most likely regional and sporadic.

A place by me had cases of weller 12 all sizes with a 5th only being $20... And then bam... Last week all gone. They said their distributor can't get it right now..

i can can get it one other place but it's $30 5th..

OWA is around but you gotta look a little and it's $22.

[Ravensfire]

The major stores in the St. Louis area haven't had any for at least several weeks, and my wife just mentioned that we're almost out of it. Erk!

-- Ravensfire

[rod]

I bought a barrel of OWA this year. Two interesting notes:

* As expected for buying a fixed volume of juice, it would have been significantly cheaper to get 1.75L or 1L bottles - but they aren't distributed in my state. Initially, the Sazerac rep said that it would be a quick paperwork file which wouldn't delay the order, but it turned out that Sazerac had no appetite to expand Weller distribution in any way - I ended up buying 750mls.

* Initially OWA/WSR were 'limited availability' for the barrel select program, but they are no longer offered by the barrel.

[T Comp]

So we know that shortages are occurring in areas and Buffalo Trace issued a press release about expected shortages of brands (post 17). Anything more to discuss here. I guess reporting where the shortages are continues to serve a purpose but speculation why is disregarding what we have been told.

"Buffalo Trace estimates the bourbon shortage could start at any

time and may last a few years, based on current sales trends."

[HP12]

So we know that shortages are occurring in areas and Buffalo Trace issued a press release about expected shortages of brands (post 17). Anything more to discuss here. I guess reporting where the shortages are continues to serve a purpose but speculation why is disregarding what we have been told.

"Buffalo Trace estimates the bourbon shortage could start at any

time and may last a few years, based on current sales trends."

[Restaurant man]

I expect the 'same as Pappy' line is getting increasing play now days.

Yes sir. Where shall we point the "pappy lazer" next?

[squire]

Won't be at Larceny, I think those fellas would've been more successful playing up the Old Fitzgerald angle.

[Enoch]

Fouńd four bottles tonight and snatched them up.

[Ravensfire]

I talked to several retailers in the St. Louis area and they are all claiming that they should get more sometime in January. I sure hope so, my bottle is getting seriously low...

-- Ravensfire

[P&MLiquorsEric]

I bought a barrel of OWA this year. Two interesting notes:

* As expected for buying a fixed volume of juice, it would have been significantly cheaper to get 1.75L or 1L bottles - but they aren't distributed in my state. Initially, the Sazerac rep said that it would be a quick paperwork file which wouldn't delay the order, but it turned out that Sazerac had no appetite to expand Weller distribution in any way - I ended up buying 750mls.

* Initially OWA/WSR were 'limited availability' for the barrel select program, but they are no longer offered by the barrel.

For the past year, all BT barrel selection products have been subject to availability.

And Owa is out with KY distributor until late January.

[TunnelTiger]

All of sudden I can't find any OWA here but did luck up on two bottles of W12 that I haven't seen on the shelves in many moons.

[Enoch]

I just talked with the Sazarac rep and he said he has been told the OWA will be released once a year with reduced allocations compared to previous years. (May be a SC issue.) Too bad as it was my favorite faux Pappy with my many brothers-in-law. They mix everything with Coke and get pissed if I don't bring Pappy.

Edited January 10, 2014 by Enoch

[smknjoe]

I just talked with the Sazarac rep and he said he has been told the OWA will be released once a year with reduced allocations compared to previous years.

...in certain areas.

[JonRob]

Was on vacation in NC during the holidays and they had lots of it on the shelves. Picked up one bottle... should have picked up more.

The guy at the normal store I go to says that they are expecting more in January. We will see.

[Enoch]

...in certain areas.

It may be a Southern Wine issue. They still can't explain why we can't get W12 in SC or why WSR is 40% cheaper in Georgia.

[Enoch]

Was on vacation in NC during the holidays and they had lots of it on the shelves. Picked up one bottle... should have picked up more.

The guy at the normal store I go to says that they are expecting more in January. We will see.

NC is strange. On my last trip through the state, I stopped at several stores and all had ample supplies of old label WT Rye. Haven't seen any in SC for quite awhile.

[393foureyedfox]

I just talked with the Sazarac rep and he said he has been told the OWA will be released once a year with reduced allocations compared to previous years. (May be a SC issue.) Too bad as it was my favorite faux Pappy with my many brothers-in-law. They mix everything with Coke and get pissed if I don't bring Pappy.

yet another black eye for BT.

Im lucky, I guess, that Ive yet to have anything from them that really turned me on, because it appears everything they make is soon to be allocated/rationed.

[HP12]

Yep, the OWA could soon be another tough one to get. Limited releases during the year and tighter allocations while also having a popular following spells more difficult acquisitions up the road. Glad I have a few and will be looking for more in the Commonwealth. I love the stuff.

[callmeox]

yet another black eye for BT.

Im lucky, I guess, that Ive yet to have anything from them that really turned me on, because it appears everything they make is soon to be allocated/rationed.

Seems like distilleries can't win with you. This is no different than the Knob Creek shortage that you have praised elsewhere in the forums.

Sell younger and younger bourbon or put what you have on allocation to try to maintain a profile. Other than firing up the WABAC machine, I'm not sure that there are any other choices for the distilleries.

[393foureyedfox]

Seems like distilleries can't win with you. This is no different than the Knob Creek shortage that you have praised elsewhere in the forums.

Sell younger and younger bourbon or put what you have on allocation to try to maintain a profile. Other than firing up the WABAC machine, I'm not sure that there are any other choices for the distilleries.

Im not saying it is BT's fault, I'm saying they're getting lots of bad raps on here lately. Pappy this, Weller that, Barton here, inconsistencies there......

[P&MLiquorsEric]

Not available from KY distributor. No ETA.

Another in the long list of out of stock from BT. We used to have an entire section of BT products (5 shelves high by 14 facings wide). It is down to just over half that now.

[theglobalguy]

Not available from KY distributor. No ETA.

Another in the long list of out of stock from BT. We used to have an entire section of BT products (5 shelves high by 14 facings wide). It is down to just over half that now.

They seem in panic mode about this, or just figure customers will wait?

[P&MLiquorsEric]

They seem in panic mode about this, or just figure customers will wait?

Haven't seen the brand rep in a while. The distributors sales reps can do nothing but apologize. It's hitting them in the pocket books too.

They are still pushing barrel selections aggressively. They used to claim they would help with pappy/btac and other limited edition allocations. Now all they help with is keeping products on the shelves.

[theglobalguy]

Haven't seen the brand rep in a while. The distributors sales reps can do nothing but apologize. It's hitting them in the pocket books too.

They are still pushing barrel selections aggressively. They used to claim they would help with pappy/btac and other limited edition allocations. Now all they help with is keeping products on the shelves.

[BourbonGuy]

When I first read this, I posted this link: http://www.superwinewarehouse.com/r/Bourbon/wl-weller-old-weller-antique-original-107-brand-7-year-old.

He promptly ran out. He told me, "No worries, I'll get more." It is back on the shelf. Not sure what the issue is. Don't ya getting the feeling we are

being manipulated to get prices up?