Best States to Buy Bourbon

[dcbt]

Interesting project over at breakingbourbon: http://breakingbourbon.com/best-state-to-buy-bourbon.html

Interesting tax info to boot. WA sucks. On the other end of the spectrum is WY and NH with no alcohol tax.

[kjbeggs]

I filled out their survey questions. will be cool to see how it turns out.

[Flyfish]

Prices in OH seem fair to me. The real issue is that so many desirable bourbons are simply not available at any price whatsoever. You may think you want something named Weller but you are just delusional. Pappy? BTAC? Come on! Get real!

The OH Bourbon Gods decide what we want to drink and how much we want to pay. On the other hand, I considered buying bourbon in Washington--for about five seconds. Prices in the People's Republic of WA are way beyond ridiculous. Most of my bourbon dollars get spent in KY.

[fozzy71]

Prices in OH seem fair to me. The real issue is that so many desirable bourbons are simply not available at any price whatsoever. You may think you want something named Weller but you are just delusional. Pappy? BTAC? Come on! Get real!

The OH Bourbon Gods decide what we want to drink and how much we want to pay. On the other hand, I considered buying bourbon in Washington--for about five seconds. Prices in the People's Republic of WA are way beyond ridiculous. Most of my bourbon dollars get spent in KY.

[Richnimrod]

There are certainly a good many available in KY that cannot be found in our beloved Mitten State, Fozzy. The prices aren't always waaaaay better, but many are almost always somewhat better.

AND, in KY the retailers are allowed to put selections 'on sale' whenever they feel the urge. I have found some 'sale' prices that approach half-rate when compared to Michigan's "State Minimum" (the lowest price for which a retailer is allowed to sell a given item). So, a trip down to the hallowed ground is certainly worth it, not to mention the chance to do some distillery tours, and ogle some of the 'gift shop only' selections at 'em.

[fozzy71]

Thx, I am looking forward to it. I just need to knock down the credit car balances (I always pay them full but the current/next bills for my 2 main cards are a bit higher than I would like) in preparation for it and then pick a week to take off. I was thinking September but might do it in July or August instead as I could use a break from work.

[flahute]

Prices in OH seem fair to me. The real issue is that so many desirable bourbons are simply not available at any price whatsoever. You may think you want something named Weller but you are just delusional. Pappy? BTAC? Come on! Get real!

The OH Bourbon Gods decide what we want to drink and how much we want to pay. On the other hand, I considered buying bourbon in Washington--for about five seconds. Prices in the People's Republic of WA are way beyond ridiculous. Most of my bourbon dollars get spent in KY.

You preach the truth my brother!! Here in WA state, we get gouged by taxes on a daily basis. This is why I mail order so much. Even with shipping, it's still cheaper.

[dementedavenger]

You preach the truth my brother!! Here in WA state, we get gouged by taxes on a daily basis. This is why I mail order so much. Even with shipping, it's still cheaper.

I mostly buy from out of state as well, though the price and selection gap is narrowing a bit. I'd like to complain but the lack of income tax keeps me silent. I moved here from NYC way back when and the lack of income tax had the effect of a 15% raise.

[heydobro]

Living in Ohio and having had a girlfriend, now fiance, live in both Northwest Indiana and Lexington, Kentucky for work I've found Indiana to have the most consistently reasonable prices. The selection isn't as good as Kentucky, but I've found lots of good things at surprisingly low prices.

[fozzy71]

Living in Ohio and having had a girlfriend, now fiance, live in both Northwest Indiana and Lexington, Kentucky for work I've found Indiana to have the most consistently reasonable prices. The selection isn't as good as Kentucky, but I've found lots of good things at surprisingly low prices.

Yes, my friend/co-worker in IN tells me prices some times and he generally pays ~20% less for the same bottle there than I do in MI.

[whiskeyagonzo]

Yes, my friend/co-worker in IN tells me prices some times and he generally pays ~20% less for the same bottle there than I do in MI.

I live in Indiana and it depends on the bottle and store. I would say this was true 3 years ago, but prices are steadily creeping in the upwards direction. Everyone is catching on to the boom and retailers are more than happy to cash in on the craze

[amg]

Around Indianapolis there's enough competition you can usually still find a good deal here and there, but the prices have definitely been on the climb for the last year or so. Everything seems to be up around 10-15% over last year's prices, but I think that's probably true in every state.

[garbanzobean]

I was surprised to see the early lead Maryland had in normal selection, but the DC area in general is excellent for leveraging diverse liquor laws, including one of the only legal secondary markets in the U.S. But even within Maryland you have multiple distributors, one county that's ABC and has great rotating prices, specialty shops, and stores that rely on volume. The store selection variety could be better, but the picks we get are generally quite good.

[Old Dusty]

I buy all of my bourbon from Alaska and have it delivered via sled dog. Indiana blows for bourbon. Don't buy here.

[smokinjoe]

Bourbon prices have gone up, are going up, and will continue to go up. Where they stop? Dunno. But it is, what it is. My guess, is that with the bourbon distilleries now being more controlled by multinational spirits conglomerates and competing on the global market , the pricing of it is destined to be pegged to scotch pricing. Going back to an earlier thread, 4RSB at half the price of Talisker 10 is an anomaly that will be looked upon to be corrected.

[Old Dusty]

Joe, I agree which is why I look more for value buys these days and ignore the "secondary" market altogether. If you adhere to a buy low sell high investment strategy then buying anything limited, rare (or purported to be limited or rare) right now is a fool's errand IMO. But as Joe points out now is a good time to stock up on the good values before the current market frenzy carries them away. Or.......enjoy your bunker and wait for the storm to blow over. That's why you have 15 EWSB's in that box in your basement right? :grin:

Edited May 18, 2015 by Old Dusty

[smokinjoe]

I agree, but the secondary market is only doing the dirty work for the industry (by providing the fuel of increases like what occurred previously in the single malt market) by pushing the prices up. It would happen anyway, though. I come back to the Talisker 10/4RSB pricing. If Diageo owned both, they would be all over 4R to get that price "competitive". I think the entire bourbon industry is at the point in thinking that their products no longer should be thought of as "budget" whiskeys. The rub for many of us, of course, is that we have grown up with this budget mentality for bourbon. But, as it competes with these other higher priced spirits, it will change to be priced with them.

[garbanzobean]

I agree, but the secondary market is only doing the dirty work for the industry (by providing the fuel of increases like what occurred previously in the single malt market) by pushing the prices up. It would happen anyway, though. I come back to the Talisker 10/4RSB pricing. If Diageo owned both, they would be all over 4R to get that price "competitive". I think the entire bourbon industry is at the point in thinking that their products no longer should be thought of as "budget" whiskeys. The rub for many of us, of course, is that we have grown up with this budget mentality for bourbon. But, as it competes with these other higher priced spirits, it will change to be priced with them.

In a way, it has already happened. The scotch whisky industry is currently only increasing profits by cutting costs and charging more per unit. Quantity of sales is flat, and has been for a few years. Basically finding out exactly what people are willing to pay.

The bourbon price increases have been a bit sneakier. Top shelf brands composed of barrels originally meant for bottom and mid shelf brands are popping up left and right. Take the E.H. Taylor lineup, for example. And that's not even taking into account the annual release type LEs. So far Four Roses in particular has stayed out of these shenanigans, so I can't begrudge them a price increase for maintaining the same quality product. Regardless of how it happens, we are due for a price correction. Personally, I'd rather pay a little more for what I know I like than have new brands poaching quality barrels away from my preferred brands, but there are upsides and downsides to both.

The bright spot in all this is that if even 1% of craft distilleries make it to the big leagues, or if enough grow to the point of a strong regional presence for aged product, we will have an order of magnitude increase in competition.

If not, scotch is due for a contraction, and tons of brandies are outstanding QPR.

Edited May 18, 2015 by garbanzobean

[smokinjoe]

The pricing bar has been set by SMS and others. The challenge from the controlling interests of the bourbon distilleries is (and should be) to reach it. With the demand for bourbon being what it currently is, the time to try and do that is obviously now.

[WhiskyRI]

Montgomery Country, MD is a unique county control system that consistently has some of the best prices in the country. But for selection I'd have to go with Kentucky - if only for the gift shop bottlings.... and other KY only distributions.