Blanton's Gold Coming Back to the USA (Finally!)!

[GaryT]

If they were selling it for $80 overseas before the tariffs for a 700 mL, it sounds like the $120 local is only a small bump from what they expected the market would bear over there (except they save the freight and avoid the tariff).  If they've still been selling it over there for that, I don't blame them for trying to sell it here at nearly the same price point, but with significantly more direct benefits (especially if they were concerned about a decrease in demand in the EU).  Hell, they could announce at $120, decide to go "on sale" at $100 and still be way ahead (and likely not keep the shelves stocked).  

 

I mean . . . I'm still not a buyer.  But I get the rationale.  

[GeeTen]

Hmm, with daughter #2 making bi-monthly trips to Bermuda and Barbados for work and daughter #1's husband's family in the UK, I'll still share a dram with all y'all.  I love Duty Free shops!  But it costs me in babysitting time with the grandkids - tough duty, eh?   

 

Edited February 29, 2020 by GeeTen

[FasterHorses]

4 hours ago, GeeTen said:

Hmm, with daughter #2 making bi-monthly trips to Bermuda and Barbados for work and daughter #1's husband's family in the UK, I'll still share a dram with all y'all.  I love Duty Free shops!  But it costs me in babysitting time with the grandkids - tough duty, eh?   

 

Frank.. I have a friend going to Barbados in March. Do they have SFTB anywhere there? Or should I just have her pick me up some Rhum? 
 

[Vosgar]

13 hours ago, smokinjoe said:

On the surface, I can’t disagree with your sentiment on this release. However, because none of us really knows the dynamics of the BT/AI relationship/agreement, I personally can’t lay all blame on BT’s potential motivations.  

It was only a couple of years ago that Mark Brown, head man at BT, told fishnbowljoe and me that the original agreement with AI precluded BT selling anything but the standard bottling. It would be very interesting to know the real why's and how's of this change. I'll let the BT haters do the speculating.

[mal00768]

Other than the additional bump in proof, what is the difference in the juice?

[GeeTen]

1 hour ago, FasterHorses said:

Frank.. I have a friend going to Barbados in March. Do they have SFTB anywhere there? Or should I just have her pick me up some Rhum? 
 

Have her check Duty Free - local shops don't carry a lot of whisk(e)y, IIRC.  Bajan r(h)um is among the best in the Caribbean, IMHO.  

 

[EarthQuake]

5 hours ago, GeeTen said:

Have her check Duty Free - local shops don't carry a lot of whisk(e)y, IIRC.  Bajan r(h)um is among the best in the Caribbean, IMHO.  

 

+1 If you're looking for a good bottle for your friend to bring back from Barbados, it should be something from Foursquare!

[Harry in WashDC]

Just got my blast email from Fred M.  SO, this must be true.

[FasterHorses]

14 minutes ago, EarthQuake said:

+1 If you're looking for a good bottle for your friend to bring back from Barbados, it should be something from Foursquare!

Anything that is distillery only?

[GeeTen]

12 hours ago, Harry in WashDC said:

Just got my blast email from Fred M.  SO, this must be true.

 

Just remember you heard it here first!  

[EarthQuake]

16 hours ago, FasterHorses said:

Anything that is distillery only?

I think some of the Exceptional Cask series hasn't made it to the Us (Europe only?). There's aslo been some Velier releases but I don't know if they ever sold them at the distillery. Sorry, I've not been myself so I don't know what they typically have. But any of the Exceptional Casks series tends to be worth trying.

Edited March 1, 2020 by EarthQuake

[FasterHorses]

4 hours ago, EarthQuake said:

I think some of the Exceptional Cask series hasn't made it to the Us (Europe only?). There's aslo been some Velier releases but I don't know if they ever sold them at the distillery. Sorry, I've not been myself so I don't know what they typically have. But any of the Exceptional Casks series tends to be worth trying.

Thanks. Ill see if I can suggest “things to do in Barbados” for her!

[GaryT]

Heard Harlen Wheatley on WhiskyCast mention that Blanton's Gold is typically 8 years old, vs standard Blanton's in the US being typically 6 yrs.  So a couple of extra years of aging on top of the lift in proof.  

 

Still not a buyer at $120 (just too much whiskey I can still buy for less that I like a helluva lot), although if they'd just disclose the ages it would help educate consumers more.