Bourbons going rare

[morebourbon85]

I thought this may be a good thread to start...I purchased a bottle of eagle rare 10yr several months back after someone on he recommended I try. I finally cracked it open a few days ago and wow, it's good. My brother and I really liked it.

I was looking into getting another bottle and an attendant at a local liquor store told me it's getting hard to find. Sure enough I search a few of the total wines in the area and they're all out.

Is this getting rare? I was also told that some of the buffalo trace bourbons are becoming hard to find. Is this true?

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[jaxn slim]

Depends on the locale, probably. I see it pretty regularly, though, during my travels around the country. But you get spots of shortages here and there. Then the next town or state is flush with what you're looking for. Whiskey is funny like that lately.

[Harry in WashDC]

morebourbon85 - Don't know where you are from, but -

 

Saz/BT products can be spotty as there have been rolling shortages of products.  However, some recent threads here have quoted statements from BT reps high enough up to be believed AND press releases indicating they are catching up.  One problem seems to be that, due to prior shortages, some persons scarf up more than their share when it does get to the shelves.  one can only hope their bunkers and car trunks get so full they stop this behavior.

 

I opened this with ". . . where you are from . . ." as some of the rolling shortages seem to be regional.  For example, the Virginia ABC stores (owned and controlled and stocked and run by the Commonwealth) have had basic BT and even Blanton's regularly for the past year or so.   ER appears from time to time; for example, I've seen it around for the past few months although it was never available early this year.

 

All that said, three retailers in WashDC have told me, since I'm on their list, that they have been waiting for BT to deliver on their latest orders for a couple of months (DC being a funny jurisdiction where retailers don't have to rely on wholesalers to offer product).  Hence, store picks of Blanton's BP are eagerly anticipated (although one store got its pick last week) along with other "basic" things like VOB BIB which have been in short supply lately.

[Charlutz]

6 hours ago, Harry in WashDC said:

One problem seems to be that, due to prior shortages, some persons scarf up more than their share when it does get to the shelves.  one can only hope their bunkers and car trunks get so full they stop this behavior. 

 

I second what Harry said about BT products being spotty. There was a while where you couldn't find BT regularly, but everyone has it now at retail prices. ER always seems to be available if you want to pay $35-40 but I am a bit guilty of the behavior Harry mentioned above when it goes on sale in the neighboring county's ABC for $22. I stocked up on 4 bottles 6 months ago but I probably needn't have as it continues to be available. Baby Saz is more available recently it seems but I've got 4 of those as well, when I found them at $30. Now if you go to New Orleans, they've got baby Saz and EHT SmB coming out of their ears. They are everywhere including Costco for as little as $22 and $32 a bottle, respectively. Just some anecdotal evidence that shortages and pricing are regional and especially with BT products. 

[Thig]

It's amazing how many people are up this early on a Saturday morning with bourbon on their mind.

[Richnimrod]

1 hour ago, Thig said:

It's amazing how many people are up this early on a Saturday morning with bourbon on their mind.

Bourbon is nearly always on my mind (or at least nearby).... However, whether or not I'm 'up' this early is open to question, if by; "up" you mean awake and functioning.   Using my one good typing finger more or less effectively may belie my state wakefulness.

[morebourbon85]

Lol well I'm on the way to total wine to see what they have.

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[whiskey buyer]

Blanton is getting harder to find as well. The problem is very simple; some of the better bourbons that are aged longer were being produced when the vodka craze was happening, and bourbon sales were down. So the distillers started producing less; keeping with market the market trends of the day.

 

Now bourbon is enjoying a resurgence of popularity, justly so, and the demand is out stripping supply. Unfortunately Buffalo Trace, and the others cannot snap their fingers and produce a product aged 10 to 15 years, it will take another 10 to 15 years.

 

What you will see happening is the same thing happening with scotch. The producers will start putting out no age statement bourbons to keep product on the shelf.

[morebourbon85]

Gotcha...I'm in Miami, FL. There's a couple spots I go to here to buy. Total wine and a place called Grove Liquors. Grove Liquors had a huge section of different bourbon, whiskey and scotch. The prices vary. It can be good price or pay $36 for a buffalo trace. Ripoff. Total wine has it for $23.99.

Blatons is a really good one. I really like the original buffalo trace and eagle rare as well.

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[morebourbon85]

Just found a place that has the eagle rare 10 but for $35 and even the 17 which I haven't seen before. ..I believe for $90...

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[garbanzobean]

30 minutes ago, morebourbon85 said:

Just found a place that has the eagle rare 10 but for $35 and even the 17 which I haven't seen before. ..I believe for $90...

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If they have the 17 in stock for a reasonable price (MSRP is around $70)  might consider splurging on it.  It is typically at least good, and as part of the antique collection, rarely on shelves.  That's only if you're interested in trying it of course, but you're not likely to see it on shelves again for at least a few years.

Edited June 19, 2016 by garbanzobean

[morebourbon85]

If they have the 17 in stock for a reasonable price (MSRP is around $70)  might consider splurging on it.  It is typically at least good, and as part of the antique collection, rarely on shelves.  That's only if you're interested in trying it of course, but you're not likely to see it on shelves again for at least a few years.

Interesting...maybe I'll think about getting it. horrible photo cause this was behind the coubter and up high...this is what they had...

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[morebourbon85]

It's actually going for $899 there. WOW!

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[garbanzobean]

36 minutes ago, morebourbon85 said:

It's actually going for $899 there. WOW!

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Yeah, that price is terrible.

[Canarse]

On 6/18/2016 at 6:42 AM, Charlutz said:

 

I second what Harry said about BT products being spotty. There was a while where you couldn't find BT regularly, but everyone has it now at retail prices. ER always seems to be available if you want to pay $35-40 but I am a bit guilty of the behavior Harry mentioned above when it goes on sale in the neighboring county's ABC for $22. I stocked up on 4 bottles 6 months ago but I probably needn't have as it continues to be available. Baby Saz is more available recently it seems but I've got 4 of those as well, when I found them at $30. Now if you go to New Orleans, they've got baby Saz and EHT SmB coming out of their ears. They are everywhere including Costco for as little as $22 and $32 a bottle, respectively. Just some anecdotal evidence that shortages and pricing are regional and especially with BT products. 

 

All about where you live.  I wonder how BT and it's distributers decide how much each state gets.  BT and Blantons are pretty difficult to find in NC, especially in the metro areas.  The state warehouse just released BT and Blanton's last week en mass.  Most is behind the counter and if  you haven't bought your Blanton's yet it's probably gone.  BT goes like hotcakes too, but I've bought a few bottles while in MD and VA where it seems to come in cases.  

[morebourbon85]

Good news...I picked up another bottle at the local grocery store @ $30 just in case lol. Its so good but $22 would be a steal!.

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[Kepler]

On ‎6‎/‎19‎/‎2016 at 8:18 PM, morebourbon85 said:

It's actually going for $899 there. WOW!

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Well it's doesn't look like it's actually "going" there, but rather sitting on the shelf collecting dust at that price.  That price could be there just for show, in the hopes of getting some fool to offer him something lower but still a total rip-off.

[Jacket]

For me, it's extremely variable even from store to store.  One store will have an empty slot for Eagle Rare and/or Blanton's, whereas another store 5 miles away has full stock of both.  So stores have relationships with their distributors for certain suppliers, and I assume get preferential treatment for the allocations.

[fenderbender4]

On 6/23/2016 at 10:21 AM, Jacket said:

For me, it's extremely variable even from store to store.  One store will have an empty slot for Eagle Rare and/or Blanton's, whereas another store 5 miles away has full stock of both.  So stores have relationships with their distributors for certain suppliers, and I assume get preferential treatment for the allocations.

 

Yeah, I agree.  Total Wine can be completely out of regular Buffalo Trace at near $30, and yet a nearby (also large) store will have them for $23 and still have like 10 bottles on the shelf.

Edited June 25, 2016 by fenderbender4

[chefmel]

We have plenty of ER10 in my area of Michigan.  I've been fortunate in the past year to be able to pick up multiple 375ml bottles of the ER10SB which is very hard to find now.  If you like the ER10, you'd absolutely love the SB!

[Louisiana]

ER10 is also on shelves in every store in my area.

 

There are even 3 stores around that each have a private barrel.

 

When I think of going rare. EC12 is going rare to me, but ECNAS will be around.

 

Maybe Age Statements are what's going rare?

 

 

 

 

 

[birdie]

Ding....Ding....Ding, that is what I think also, the ability, based on demand, for some of these producers to keep rolling out aged stated bourbon is what is going away. The only way they can keep up is with a NAS product.

 

So if bourbon purchases keep going at this rate the first thing we will see is age statement going away then the NAS will start getting younger and younger.

 

Not that is a bad thing as I think there are some good NAS products out there.

[whiskey buyer]

We just received a shipment of Col E. H Taylor in the barrel proof, single barrel bib and small batch bib. We also got the Sazarac Rye, and the Elmer T. Lee in our store.

I am finding the Blanton is still hard to get in. The Eagle Rare 10 year we have been able to get in without too much trouble, but I keep watching the market.

 

Edited July 3, 2016 by whiskey buyer

[meadeweber]

On 7/2/2016 at 8:43 PM, whiskey buyer said:

We just received a shipment of Col E. H Taylor in the barrel proof, single barrel bib and small batch bib. We also got the Sazarac Rye, and the Elmer T. Lee in our store.

I am finding the Blanton is still hard to get in. The Eagle Rare 10 year we have been able to get in without too much trouble, but I keep watching the market.

 

Thanks for the update.  Nice score on the EHT BP and ETL.  Those will go fast.  Hope you are keeping the prices reasonable for your customers.

[Hideaway]

In Maryland, it is hit or miss. Buffalo Trace products seem to be the hardest to find. Others too, though.

I would be hard pressed to find Stagg Jr, Elmer T. Lee, and and Weller. Eagle Rare is problematic sometimes too. I also can't find Noah's Mill or Willet. 

It is equally as hard to get them through our distributors (I own a restaurant.) 

The bourbon craze is real, thats for sure.