Booker's MSRP and allocation?

[amg]

5 hours ago, Caskstrength said:

I've been dusty hunting and noticed that older Bookers were typically aged longer than the current releases (eg 2013-06 was around 7.5 years, and another C04-J-19 I saw the other day was almost 8 years).  Recent releases have been closer to 6 years even.

 

Were earlier batches better quality?  I know age isn't the end all and be all, however this is one-third less maturing time - would appear a working capital grab by Beam.  Cheers all.

 

 

I have a batch C06-K-8 that's 6 years, 2 months, and it was bottled in 2013, so younger batches aren't a new thing.

 

I haven't noticed big differences from batch to batch despite the age difference. If the price is the same I would probably go for an older batch.

[Whiskey Dick]

I saw some yesterday at $90, the new green labelled batch, with a "We still have Booker's!" hand written sign next to it. I dont know if the distributors went ahead and raised the price a bit early, or if this store is just trying to pre-gouge.

 

I have 10+ bottles stashed away now. most of them the "Off your rocker" batch, but a few other recent bottlings, and a diminishing stash of varying 1987-2013 batches. I remember a few 13 and 14 batches on shelves a while back, I'll go hunt for those today. The retailers who havent realized the price increase yet (havent ordered any in a while), will likely have them at the normal $50-60 price for a few months, until they try to reorder them. Some of those retailers may rethink ordering any at all, if they realize they sat on the last stock for a year or two at the old price.

[Richnimrod]

6 hours ago, Caskstrength said:

I've been dusty hunting and noticed that older Bookers were typically aged longer than the current releases (eg 2013-06 was around 7.5 years, and another C04-J-19 I saw the other day was almost 8 years).  Recent releases have been closer to 6 years even.

 

Were earlier batches better quality?  I know age isn't the end all and be all, however this is one-third less maturing time - would appear a working capital grab by Beam.  Cheers all.

 

 

I agree with Whiskey Dick.    For the most part the 'quality' hasn't seemed to differ much in recent years from those of the previous few years.   This is of course just my own experience.

Please note..."Quality" is a nearly meaning less term, IMHO.    As far as how well it hits one's personal taste preferences; maybe.     But, that is so variable, and so dependent upon nothing quantifiable, it loses meaning. 

AND, One should be careful to avoid the thinking that 'age equals quality', IMHO, also.     I've tasted many, many Bourbons in the 6-10-year age range that were ambrosia, and more than a few in ranges above that one that were less than pleasing; to my palate, at least.     .....Just sayin'

[Louisiana]

1 hour ago, Richnimrod said:

I agree with Whiskey Dick.    For the most part the 'quality' hasn't seemed to differ much in recent years from those of the previous few years.   This is of course just my own experience.

Please note..."Quality" is a nearly meaning less term, IMHO.    As far as how well it hits one's personal taste preferences; maybe.     But, that is so variable, and so dependent upon nothing quantifiable, it loses meaning. 

AND, One should be careful to avoid the thinking that 'age equals quality', IMHO, also.     I've tasted many, many Bourbons in the 6-10-year age range that were ambrosia, and more than a few in ranges above that one that were less than pleasing; to my palate, at least.     .....Just sayin'

 

 

I'm currently drinking an 8.5 year that will smack the pants off of most older Bourbons. And the best part is I can buy cases of this stuff sub $40. Not sure how much longer this will last though. Cheers!

 

 

[Limegoldconvertible68]

2 hours ago, Louisiana said:

 

 

I'm currently drinking an 8.5 year that will smack the pants off of most older Bourbons. And the best part is I can buy cases of this stuff sub $40. Not sure how much longer this will last though. Cheers!

 

 

Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought the rules of SB.com required you to state what bourbon that is and where we can buy it at!  Of course I'm still just a newbie here so it's possible I'm wrong. 

[Louisiana]

11 minutes ago, Limegoldconvertible68 said:

Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought the rules of SB.com required you to state what bourbon that is and where we can buy it at!  Of course I'm still just a newbie here so it's possible I'm wrong. 

 

"Loose Lips Sink Ships". I'll PM you. Never know who's lurking. 

 

 

[Limegoldconvertible68]

I'd appreciate that. Thanks!

[Caskstrength]

2 hours ago, Louisiana said:

 

 

I'm currently drinking an 8.5 year that will smack the pants off of most older Bourbons. And the best part is I can buy cases of this stuff sub $40. Not sure how much longer this will last though. Cheers!

 

 

 

Please let me know as well, thanks!

 

(although it will probably end up costing $160 where I'm from...)

[BourbonDrinkingSailor]

2 hours ago, Louisiana said:

 

"Loose Lips Sink Ships". I'll PM you. Never know who's lurking. 

 

 

 

As a salty old sailor your secret will be safe with me! I'm always looking for new ones to try. 

[Richnimrod]

4 hours ago, Louisiana said:

 

"Loose Lips Sink Ships". I'll PM you. Never know who's lurking. 

 

 

Don't really about 'where', since I'm around 1100 miles (as the crow flies) away from wherever it may be; but "what" is of interest to many here, I would surmise.... Be kind and spill, please.    What is it that you favor at this age and price?

[Tazwell35]

Hi folks ! I'm new to this forum - thank you for having me .  I came on to this site because I own a few liquor stores in Indiana and I wanted to see the public reaction to the disco of OGD 114 .  I was told a few weeks ago about the decision to drastically increase the price of Bookers . For those who are on the fence rather to buy it at a decent price now or to wait . Keep in mind this product will end up being so allocated at some point it will end up being chased by bourbon lovers just like so many of the limited released allocated products out there .  I was told the price point will not be the problem .  The problem will be just finding anyone that has any to sell or willing to sell . It's going to end up being very hard to find . I had a meeting last week with the dist. regional  manager and I was informed that after the first of the year most stores will not get any Bookers at all for the entire year and that only the largest accounts will get any and that will be just a few bottles .  I hope if you like this bourbon you get it while it's still here . Good luck to those who decide to invest or to get some to enjoy  . Thanks again for letting me join your discussion.

[Louisiana]

 

That is true that none of you guys live around me, but doesn't mean that several lurkers on here don't live close to me. I am very generous with sharing information on my Bourbon Journey. Karma is Great. There are some great guys who have steered me to some great stuff. I learned last month from a good buddy that several in our area are flipping for profit. It's just good business to not always spill the beans. Anyways. Sorry for rambling. I know several spots where RR(110)  & 1792FP can be had for $39.99 each. Case discount applied for $36/btl. Some are single barrel & some are standard bottling. The 8.5 year is the 1792FPSB. That's why I said not sure how much longer this will last in the earlier post. That to me is about as good as it gets! If anyone is truly interested then just send me a PM. I was slightly kidding in the earlier post, but people do some screwy stuff over Bourbon. I sure don't want my supply to get fucked up! 

 

 

[Louisiana]

7 minutes ago, Tazwell35 said:

Hi folks ! I'm new to this forum - thank you for having me .  I came on to this site because I own a few liquor stores in Indiana and I wanted to see the public reaction to the disco of OGD 114 .  I was told a few weeks ago about the decision to drastically increase the price of Bookers . For those who are on the fence rather to buy it at a decent price now or to wait . Keep in mind this product will end up being so allocated at some point it will end up being chased by bourbon lovers just like so many of the limited released allocated products out there .  I was told the price point will not be the problem .  The problem will be just finding anyone that has any to sell or willing to sell . It's going to end up being very hard to find . I had a meeting last week with the dist. regional  manager and I was informed that after the first of the year most stores will not get any Bookers at all for the entire year and that only the largest accounts will get any and that will be just a few bottles .  I hope if you like this bourbon you get it while it's still here . Good luck to those who decide to invest or to get some to enjoy  . Thanks again for letting me join your discussion.

 

 

Do you work for Beam Suntory? Just Kidding.  Welcome...

 

 

[Whiskey Dick]

12 bottles ought to get me through to the next bust......

 

at over $100, and chasing them to find them at that......SAOS Barrel proof, and FRSB Barrel proof are easily attainable here for $65ish, at least for now.

 

I'm glad Beam at least gave us a heads up so we had time to load up, which I did. But, this is part of a series of what I see as missteps by their leadership. It probably will work out for them, and I understand it, but I don't have to like it. They have taken away, modified, or priced out of reach/reason to me everything in their lineup that I routinely bought, except KCSB. With a good decade's worth of bunker though, I don't care all that much anyway. There are more options every day.

[amg]

2 hours ago, Tazwell35 said:

Hi folks ! I'm new to this forum - thank you for having me .  I came on to this site because I own a few liquor stores in Indiana and I wanted to see the public reaction to the disco of OGD 114 .  I was told a few weeks ago about the decision to drastically increase the price of Bookers . For those who are on the fence rather to buy it at a decent price now or to wait . Keep in mind this product will end up being so allocated at some point it will end up being chased by bourbon lovers just like so many of the limited released allocated products out there .  I was told the price point will not be the problem .  The problem will be just finding anyone that has any to sell or willing to sell . It's going to end up being very hard to find . I had a meeting last week with the dist. regional  manager and I was informed that after the first of the year most stores will not get any Bookers at all for the entire year and that only the largest accounts will get any and that will be just a few bottles .  I hope if you like this bourbon you get it while it's still here . Good luck to those who decide to invest or to get some to enjoy  . Thanks again for letting me join your discussion.

No offense intended, but given that I still see bottles of Booker's from 2015 on the shelves of most stores I go to, a year of no Booker's deliveries probably won't make a huge difference to them.

[flahute]

3 hours ago, Tazwell35 said:

Hi folks ! I'm new to this forum - thank you for having me .  I came on to this site because I own a few liquor stores in Indiana and I wanted to see the public reaction to the disco of OGD 114 .  I was told a few weeks ago about the decision to drastically increase the price of Bookers . For those who are on the fence rather to buy it at a decent price now or to wait . Keep in mind this product will end up being so allocated at some point it will end up being chased by bourbon lovers just like so many of the limited released allocated products out there .  I was told the price point will not be the problem .  The problem will be just finding anyone that has any to sell or willing to sell . It's going to end up being very hard to find . I had a meeting last week with the dist. regional  manager and I was informed that after the first of the year most stores will not get any Bookers at all for the entire year and that only the largest accounts will get any and that will be just a few bottles .  I hope if you like this bourbon you get it while it's still here . Good luck to those who decide to invest or to get some to enjoy  . Thanks again for letting me join your discussion.

Welcome to the forum.

 

What your distributor is telling you makes absolutely no sense. Beam is only decreasing production by 1/3. According to their press release, they will still release 4 batches per year and the batches are still comprised of 350 barrels each. This works out to about 260,000 bottles. If what you have been told is true, what are they going to do with all those extra bottles?

[flahute]

^^^^^^^^Thinking about this more. Assuming that the restaurants and bars still get the same amount they always do, then the 130,000 bottles less produced come out of what's usually available to the stores. I don't know what the breakdown is of on premise/store ratio, but I suppose that many less barrels could represent a significant hit to what's usually available to stores.

 

[amg]

10 hours ago, flahute said:

^^^^^^^^Thinking about this more. Assuming that the restaurants and bars still get the same amount they always do, then the 130,000 bottles less produced come out of what's usually available to the stores. I don't know what the breakdown is of on premise/store ratio, but I suppose that many less barrels could represent a significant hit to what's usually available to stores.

 

Sounds to me more like a distributor trying to manipulate the retail market.

[FacePlant]

16 hours ago, Tazwell35 said:

I was told the price point will not be the problem .  The problem will be just finding anyone that has any to sell or willing to sell . It's going to end up being very hard to find . I had a meeting last week with the dist. regional  manager and I was informed that after the first of the year most stores will not get any Bookers at all for the entire year and that only the largest accounts will get any and that will be just a few bottles .  

 

Welcome aboard. Allocations are expected when they're waiting for hours in the cold to get a chance. I think this regional manager is either buying into the hype BS is shoveling, or setting up his retailers to feel real lucky when the Bookers arrives in stores. I have always enjoyed Bookers but if they quit selling it tomorrow I'd get by just fine.

[miller542]

14 hours ago, Whiskey Dick said:

They have taken away, modified, or priced out of reach/reason to me everything in their lineup that I routinely bought, except KCSB.

 

Same here.  Beam has decided they don't need me as a customer any more.  We'll probably both be ok.

[DonutsNBourbon]

43 minutes ago, miller542 said:

 

Same here.  Beam has decided they don't need me as a customer any more.  We'll probably both be ok.

 

this is my sentiment as well.  I've come across a couple of booker's for $50 in the last week and I'm not even sure I want to buy at that price point.

[Harry in WashDC]

17 hours ago, Tazwell35 said:

Hi folks ! I'm new to this forum - thank you for having me .  I came on to this site because I own a few liquor stores in Indiana and I wanted to see the public reaction to the disco of OGD 114 [and] about the decision to drastically increase the price of Bookers . . .

Welcome to SB.  Judicious use of the SB "Search" function should turn up several recent and ongoing threads replete with our thoughts about BS's decisions re: OGD114 and Booker's (as well as about KC becoming NAS and, a little further back in time, about Beam's BIB which, IMHO, is certainly worth its $19 sale price).

 

Some of us who like Booker's and OGD 114 already have admitted publicly to buying sufficient bottles already that should last years at current consumption rates.  After the first of the year, however, when Booker's new price is cemented, for BPs, I likely will drift toward, say, multiples of 4R PS offerings which around here usually are $75-85 retail, about $10 less on sale.  WT BPs may get a bump, too.  And, the recently released JD SiBBPs @ $80-85 here satisfy an itch I first had scratched by JD Black circa 1972 but stopped scratching in the mid-1980s.

 

I do have a question which you may decline to answer, of course, as it may be a "trade secret" question.  How much leeway will Beam give you on pricing Booker's?  IN other words, suppose that their pricing/marketing results, over time, in Booker's languishing on the shelves: Could you drop its price to be competitive with the standard retail price of those JD and 4R releases I mentioned?

[Ravensfire]

 
Same here.  Beam has decided they don't need me as a customer any more.  We'll probably both be ok.

 
this is my sentiment as well.  I've come across a couple of booker's for $50 in the last week and I'm not even sure I want to buy at that price point.

At 50 I'd still get it - good barrel proof bourbon is hard to find at that point. After my bunker runs out in 3-4 years, when i want some over-proof Beam it will be the substantially older KCSB that I'll purchase.


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[DonutsNBourbon]

24 minutes ago, Ravensfire said:

 

 

 

 

 

At 50 I'd still get it - good barrel proof bourbon is hard to find at that point. After my bunker runs out in 3-4 years, when i want some over-proof Beam it will be the substantially older KCSB that I'll purchase.


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I agree that $50 for barrel proof bourbon is a great deal, but with the way Beam is trying to create demand for their product, it just doesn't sit well with me.

[mbroo5880i]

I like Booker's well enough but prefer other Beam products, primarily due to quality for the price.  Therefore, by default, I already thought it was overpriced compared to Bakers and Knob Creek.  However, I have seen Bakers starting to creep into the Booker's price range over the past few years so I have moved more toward KCSB.  I really like Knob Creek because you can often find it on sale or stellar KCSB barrel selects.  I don't plan to boycott Beam products.  My buying decision will be based on price and availability of those Beam products I like.  My concern is that there might also be a jump in price or allocation of KC and KCSB.  We have already seen the age statement removed on standard KC.  

 

I have heard that some price adjustment upward may be over due because bourbon prices, specifically Booker's, having held relatively steady during this boom.  I don't believe this is universally true with respect to Booker's or most brands.   Booker's price went from $45 to $60 in my area over the past few years.  Yes, I can occasionally find it for $55 but I am talking about at the main liquor outlets.  Bakers from $35 to $45, Knob Creek from $20 to $30, FRSB from $25 to $35, OGD BIB from $12 to $22.