Heaven Hill 7 Year BIB

[PowderKeg]

8 hours ago, JoeTerp said:

That’s my guess as well. Gift shop only and $50. 

 

I dont see any any way this comes back as the best value in bourbon that HH6yrBIB was. 

I have complete confidence in HH happily shafting the consumer like this, since they've already done so with EC12yr & OFbib, not to mention insanely priced triple digit EW12yr and Lcs.  Only thing missing is Bernie L insisting it ain't so...  just before it is.  All with big 'ol smiles on their faces and $$$ in their eyes.  

[GaryT]

My guess is limited release (maybe Kentucky and not just gift shop, but could be a gift shop) and coming in at $25-$30.  My assumption is they'll bottle less than they did of the 6 yr regardless of the distribution, and let the price point restrict the sales volume accordingly.  And if they're stocking out at that price point - bring it up a few dollars.  If if they come out swinging at $50, unless the bottle is some fancy decanter thing, I'll be disappointed (and uninterested).  

 

Actually, even with a fancy decanter thing I'd be disappointed  

[gurgalunas]

I'm curious what the difference in this new product and Virgin will be.  By the measurables, it's only one proof point, and the BiB terminology.  Hope the cancellation of the Virgin brand isnt in the future.  Can buy for $12/L currently.

[PaulO]

HH has so much storage capacity, different sites, and different locations in those sites.  We won't know what kind of profile they sought out until some of us taste some.  We can't assume this is the discontinued 6 year BIB aged one more year.  After all, they did redesign the label.

[flahute]

Now confirmed with an MSRP of $40 and a limited release that does not include KY. 

Released in CA, TX, NY, GA, FL, IL, SC, and CO. 

[EarthQuake]

I was thinking $30. $40 seems a bit high, especially since it's now priced above McKenna 10. That's odd, unless they plan to bump the price on McKenna as well.

 

It will be interesting to see if this ends up being a shelf turd, or if tater new release syndrome kicks in and everyone needs to try it. I'm guessing the latter. Equally as interesting is whether they'll get repeat buyers on this stuff.

 

This will act as a "has the boom peaked?" indicator. Can Heaven Hill take an obscure, regional bottom shelf brand it transform it into mid-range to premium level product over night? They probably can. I think this is why it's not going out in KY as well, they're targeting regions that don't have a reference point for the old bottle. For every bourbon nerd on sites like this that they'll annoy with the new label/pricing, there's probably hundreds of, thousands even, bourbon buyers that don't have a reference point and will get excited when a new, allocated bottle shows up at their local store.

 

Personally I have mixed feelings on this. I harbor no ill will towards them for adjusting their product line to reflect the going rate of bourbon in today's market. In general, I would rather see higher prices and better availability on bottles than see low prices retained for the sake of tradition, which creates a big difference between retail price and what people are willing to pay - which in turn drives the secondary. Basically, I would rather the money goes to the distilleries than to the flippers. But the price point seems a little high on this one.

Edited June 24, 2019 by EarthQuake

[fishnbowljoe]

This is indeed sad news. I was doing some thinking after my original post here. Yeah, dangerous I know. 

 

A couple of folks mentioned HMc 10. We all know what happened with that. I'm sure HH is well aware too.   As I hinted in my original post here, I was hopeful that HH would give us a break. My one concern was that they realized an opportunity with this product, and would make the most of it. I guess my concern was justified. That being said, I do realize that 7 year old products from other distilleries are priced at or above this price point. Baker's and Weller Antique to name a couple. Coincidentally, both recently had price increases.   "I hear the train a com in'. It's comin' 'round the bend."

 

Biba! Joe

[dad-proof]

1 hour ago, EarthQuake said:

I was thinking $30. $40 seems a bit high, especially since it's now priced above McKenna 10. That's odd, unless they plan to bump the price on McKenna as well.

  

 It will be interesting to see if this ends up being a shelf turd, or if tater new release syndrome kicks in and everyone needs to try it.

In today's climate, I can't see a scenario in which a 7-year age stated BIB for $40 is a shelf turd. 

 

EDIT: The does make me expect a HMcK 10 BIB price bump to $45-$50 MSRP.

Edited June 24, 2019 by dad-proof

[Richnimrod]

Awwwww.    Too bad The Mitten State is not among the 'chosen people' for the new 7-year BIB HH.    I'm not certain I'd have been a buyer at $40; but, may have talked myself into one.   

Oh, well....   I probably have enough good-to-great Bourbon already to outlast me by many, many years anyway ...unless I set some sort of new human longevity record ...by about 50-years. 

[Shizzy]

On ‎6‎/‎22‎/‎2019 at 11:58 AM, Soberiquet said:

Any word on MSRP? I really loved the profile of the 6yr, and hope this won't be crazy high like the new Old Fitz BIB. I am hoping for under $30.

Bourbon pursuit reported SRP of $39.  I think it's reasonable give that the six year was underpriced, we gain another year and retain the coveted age statement.  Sadly, I'd also read that it wouldn't be offered in Kentucky, but would reach shelves in limited markets of California, Texas, New York, Georgia, Florida, Illinois, South Carolina and Colorado.  Though I live in California and have always wanted the BiB 6 which I never attained, I'm hopeful they do something right for Kentuckians who made it what it is.

[Shizzy]

2 hours ago, fishnbowljoe said:

This is indeed sad news. I was doing some thinking after my original post here. Yeah, dangerous I know. 

 

A couple of folks mentioned HMc 10. We all know what happened with that. I'm sure HH is well aware too.   As I hinted in my original post here, I was hopeful that HH would give us a break. My one concern was that they realized an opportunity with this product, and would make the most of it. I guess my concern was justified. That being said, I do realize that 7 year old products from other distilleries are priced at or above this price point. Baker's and Weller Antique to name a couple. Coincidentally, both recently had price increases.   "I hear the train a com in'. It's comin' 'round the bend."

 

Biba! Joe

I feel like all the fuss over HMcK 10 is blown out of proportion.  There once was a huge run on OGD 114 when it was rumored that it would be going away.  Once again...it sits on shelves collecting dust.  Some other bourbon will win the spirits award and HMcK will no longer be the golden bottle.  Just my two cents.

[berto]

Hit larger markets with the first release at a higher price.  Build hype with the taste makers in NY, SF, LA, Chicago, Atlanta, Charleston, etc.  $40 becomes the new normal.  Slower roll out everywhere else at the same high price which doesn't seem too high because all the articles about this new great thing mention how hot and popular it is and how it's reasonably priced.  HH isn't marketing this towards the folks who grabbed cases of the 6yr when it was limited to a few states and under $15/bottle.  This is straight growth and profit mode.  Most consumers have no idea about the 6yr being discontinued and replaced with this.  For all they know this release is the stuff.     

[jwperry]

6 hours ago, flahute said:

Now confirmed with an MSRP of $40 and a limited release that does not include KY. 

Released in CA, TX, NY, GA, FL, IL, SC, and CO. 

We get something cool in Florida? Let's hope it is not a single distributor exclusive that is going to lock it down to some BS rewards program (looking at you ABC!)

[fishnbowljoe]

6 minutes ago, jwperry said:

We get something cool in Florida? Let's hope it is not a single distributor exclusive that is going to lock it down to some BS rewards program (looking at you ABC!)

Know what you mean jw. We’re fairly lucky here in Illinois. However, I believe that being in somewhat close proximity to Chicago sometimes has its drawbacks. 

 

Biba! Joe

[Bob_Loblaw]

 I think the $40 price is a bit high, but I feel that way about pretty much every new release and it is in line (actually a bit lower) then both Baker's and W107.  I will be a initial buyer and am hopeful that the product is in fact a better version of the old 6 year BiB.  It's not going to be the amazing value the 6yr was, but that was a significantly underpriced bottle.

[jwperry]

16 minutes ago, fishnbowljoe said:

Know what you mean jw. We’re fairly lucky here in Illinois. However, I believe that being in somewhat close proximity to Chicago sometimes has its drawbacks. 

 

Biba! Joe

Maybe I never paid attention in my prior travels before, but my last trip to Illinois I found liquor in a gas station. I can only imagine the damage "Floridaman" would cause if we had liquor in gas stations, so I realize why we can't have nice things down here. 

[Spade]

$40? If it were 107-115 proof, sure. Not for 100 proof. 

 

Just the latest sign that bourbon is still great but no longer the value it used to be. It’s actually inching close to being a bad value proposition. 

[FreddyC]

6 hours ago, EarthQuake said:

I was thinking $30. $40 seems a bit high, especially since it's now priced above McKenna 10. That's odd, unless they plan to bump the price on McKenna as well.

 

It will be interesting to see if this ends up being a shelf turd, or if tater new release syndrome kicks in and everyone needs to try it. I'm guessing the latter. Equally as interesting is whether they'll get repeat buyers on this stuff.

 

This will act as a "has the boom peaked?" indicator. Can Heaven Hill take an obscure, regional bottom shelf brand it transform it into mid-range to premium level product over night? They probably can. I think this is why it's not going out in KY as well, they're targeting regions that don't have a reference point for the old bottle. For every bourbon nerd on sites like this that they'll annoy with the new label/pricing, there's probably hundreds of, thousands even, bourbon buyers that don't have a reference point and will get excited when a new, allocated bottle shows up at their local store.

 

Personally I have mixed feelings on this. I harbor no ill will towards them for adjusting their product line to reflect the going rate of bourbon in today's market. In general, I would rather see higher prices and better availability on bottles than see low prices retained for the sake of tradition, which creates a big difference between retail price and what people are willing to pay - which in turn drives the secondary. Basically, I would rather the money goes to the distilleries than to the flippers. But the price point seems a little high on this one.

 

I sip the 6 year HH green label and McKenna fairly regularly and was hoping this was going to be a $25 to $30 price point as I tend to gravitate to BiB bourbons for no good reason, and I like Heaven Hill products. I have to say I'm a little disappointed in the price and that it won't be available initially in Kentucky, as I'm going to want to try it. I can't help but feel like you may have hit the nail on the head on it not being released here (KY).  For people that swore by the 6 year BiB, this probably isn't going to go down well with them. 

 

I keep expecting the green label to have the age statement taken off. I already lost Barton BiB (I have one damn unopened bottle left) and even if I may not taste the differences, there is something to the "feel" of an age statement and BiB when I buy a bottle. Can't explain it, but it's there. 

 

 

 

 

[fosmith]

4 hours ago, Shizzy said:

I feel like all the fuss over HMcK 10 is blown out of proportion.  There once was a huge run on OGD 114 when it was rumored that it would be going away.  Once again...it sits on shelves collecting dust.  Some other bourbon will win the spirits award and HMcK will no longer be the golden bottle.  Just my two cents.

I don't see HMcK 10 coming back to its previous level.  If OGD 114 were a 10 age stated single barrel product, it wouldn't be gathering dust on shelves for $29 or even $50. 

[fosmith]

4 hours ago, Shizzy said:

Though I live in California and have always wanted the BiB 6 which I never attained, I'm hopeful they do something right for Kentuckians who made it what it is.

I was able to obtain a bottle of HH6 BiB in a trade with a fellow SBer.  It's pretty good but not substantially better than Evan Williams BiB, IMO.  When the HH7 hits the Bay Area, perhaps we can get together for a tasting. Where in the Bay Area are you?  

[Shizzy]

2 minutes ago, fosmith said:

I was able to obtain a bottle of HH6 BiB in a trade with a fellow SBer.  It's pretty good but not substantially better than Evan Williams BiB, IMO.  When the HH7 hits the Bay Area, perhaps we can get together for a tasting. Where in the Bay Area are you?  

I live in Antioch, so I believe I go right past you on my way home.  A tasting is certainly doable.

 

9 minutes ago, fosmith said:

I don't see HMcK 10 coming back to its previous level.  If OGD 114 were a 10 age stated single barrel product, it wouldn't be gathering dust on shelves for $29 or even $50. 

I guess I'm just optimistic.  Also, I'm not really bothered by it.  Tons of other stuff to drink at a reasonable price and it's never really wowed me.  It's an above average bourbon, but it's not the end all be all.  Funny, I've heard the same about some other bourbons *cough cough pappy cough*

[GaryT]

Yeah - I'm a pass.  I do want to try it to see how much one year does, but can't see paying $40 for 7yr BIB HH when I can pay $24 for EC SmB NAS.  I wonder if they skipped Kentucky because they know it wouldn't sell well there (I mean - folks who were buying the 6yr on the secondary . . . clearly NOT folks from Kentucky  )

[fishnbowljoe]

I’ll probably pass on this too. I believe I’ll be able to get by with EW BIB and ET BIB. 

 

Biba! Joe

[Jazzhead]

On 6/22/2019 at 5:42 PM, Richnimrod said:

I hope kevinbrink & dad-proof are the ones with the inside track; but, I fear it's unlikely.   I wouldn't be at all surprised to see it being gift-shop-only and falling in around $50.    I guess we'll know before too long.   

Heaven Hill was a very good source for a good number of reasonably priced, very good value, very high quality pours; but that situation has moderated down a good deal, in my estimation over the last few years.   Don't get me wrong.   They are aren't ripping anybody off, especially compared with some other distilleries (Beam!); but the price value quotient has come back toward the middle from the better end... again; in my opinion.

Beam?   Ripping folks off?     I just picked up a Distiller's Cut for $20.99,  and the Pennsy state stores have had the Double Oak on sale all month for $16.99.  And the Black for no more than $25.99?     Those are some of the best values for GOOD whiskey,  IMO, in the business!

[GaryT]

3 minutes ago, Jazzhead said:

Beam?   Ripping folks off?     I just picked up a Distiller's Cut for $20.99,  and the Pennsy state stores have had the Double Oak on sale all month for $16.99.  And the Black for no more than $25.99?     Those are some of the best values for GOOD whiskey,  IMO, in the business!

I'm with you on Distiller's Cut - that is one of the best values in whiskey IMHO (and I've stopped telling people at this point because sh!t, we used to say the same about OGD114 at $21, or HH6yrBIB at $11, or . . . you get the picture   

 

But I think the poke at Beam was aimed at the recent price changes with Booker's (and soon to be Baker's).  Which reminds me - I need to go get a few of those before that changes . . .