Bourbon prices

[Randy_Ricchi]

Michigan used to be a price-controlled state, but recently changed to a "minimum price"-controlled state, meaning you have to charge at least the minimum price set by the state, which incidentally, is the same as the old price which was mandated by the state.

The powers that be claimed this would be good for competition. The powers that be believe we are all idiots.

The current "minimums" (and it seems to me that no one charges more than the minimum for fear they will lose business - so much for the theories of the state) for the bourbons mentioned in the original post are as follows (all 750 ml):

Wild Turkey Rare Breed $32.97

Wild Turkey 101 $19.97

OGD 86 proof $13.95

Jim Beam Black $19.91

I can go a couple hundred miles from where I live in Michigan's U.P., and beat the hell out of these prices in Wisconsin, where they have no controls on prices and true competition. We Yoopers do a lot of "stocking up" when we travel to Green Bay!

[CrispyCritter]

Interestingly, those prices are pretty well in line with what we'd pay in Illinois (unless something's on sale here). We don't have state-mandated minimums here - but Chicago tends to have rather high prices in general, whether it's real estate, gasoline, or booze.

[krisk]

Okay, I agree with what you are all saying, but it rankles me when others in many other states can buy something for $28, but it costs me $31 and that is raised to $36. Plus, there is no competition, here, so I can't just find another store with better prices. Plus, the selection sucks. :hot:

Tim

I'm kind of new here and I just read this. I had to reply because this struck a chord with me.

I'm in Louisville and I've found cheaper prices in other states (in WI on a couple varieties) of good bourbons.

Maybe other places around my state are cheaper, but of most places around Louisville, it's roughly the same.

Kris

[ratcheer]

Another "Ouch!" moment.

I went into a little strip mall, privately owned liquor store this morning, just to see what they have and how the prices run. I rarely do this because the prices always shock me, but I wanted to check the current situation.

On the selection front, things are pretty good. They have Blanton's, which I haven't seen in an ABC store in two or three years. They had a few other nice bourbons (I remember Booker's and 1792 Ridgemont Reserve). They have a very nice lineup of single malt scotches and vodkas, and a respectable array of gins.

But, I was even more shocked by the prices than I had expected to be. :bigeyes: The Blanton's was $65, Rare Breed was $50. The Balvenie 15-yr old was $100. An ordinary bottle of Beefeater's gin was $30. :smiley_acbt:Everything else was comparably outrageous.

Needless to say, I won't be going back. I will have to live with the ABC's meager offerings and merely very high prices. :frown:

Tim

[full_proof]

With the Politburo (aka the Alabama ABC Board) having complete control and imposing a 56% tax on spirits, Alabama citizens will suffer with poor selection and high prices. You might already know, but you can go to this web site to see the anual report with budget and breakdown of the Folmar-led organization which is run without any funding from the state general fund:

http://www.abcboard.state.al.us/Documents/AnnualReport_FY2005.pdf

Of course, demand might be playing a role, and with what I've seen in some of the bourbon bunkers from some of the bloggers on this site, you better drive fast to the store while supplies last. :slappin:

[melting]

Sometimes I feel awefully bad about the prices some of you have to pay for spirits in your area. The stores in central Mass have an excellent selection of spirits. Prices are generally 5 - 15 percent than what I've observed on this forum.

If I drive to New Hampshire the selection of whiskey is more limited but still pretty good. Here you can routinely get products on sale for half of what I've

seen here. Their regular prices are generally lower priced than Mass.

The more popular brands can be had for a steal. Wild Turkey, one of my favorites, routinely can be had for $14.99 750 ml.

Interestingly, New Hampshire is the controlled state and they usually have the better deals.

[FlashPuppy]

I am going to be travelling to NH soon, and I amwondering if there is a link to the NH website for liquor. Can someone point me in the right direction?

[melting]

Yes, www.nh.gov

Then click on shop nh, then nh liquor commision, very easy.

Chris

[ThomasH]

You can type in a search for TTB and get the Tax and Trade Bureau (formerly the ATF) website. Click on distilled spirits and a menu comes to the right with a list of alcohol control boards for all 50 states. I have found this to be the quickest way to get to any of the states sites with out searching through a long list of junk sites. All of the control states are listed in parentheses!

Thomas

[ratcheer]

Excellent info, Thomas. Thanks.

Tim

[FlashPuppy]

Excellent info, Thomas. Thanks.

Tim

Agreed. I have part of the TTB website bookmarked, I should have looked through the rest.

[Briscott99]

Maryland prices really run the gammut of super cheap to ridiculously expensive depending on the store. But I will mention that if anyone is ever in the Wash. D.C. area you should check into the Montgomery County Maryland liquor stores... Montgomery County borders DC on the northwest and they have a dept. of liquor control.

This month you can get the following bourbons on special in Montgomery County:

WTRB - 23.99

ETL - 16.99

Booker's - 34.99

Baker's - 26.99

Among others....

Here's a website for them: http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/Apps/DLC/Retail/spirits_specials.cfm

The everyday prices at these stores are great. :grin: In DC itself I've not yet found very good pricing on liquor, but haven't spent a lot of time looking there.

My wife is from NH and, as others have already mentioned, they have great prices as well. I got an Eagle Rare SB there for 20 bucks recently.

Also, I owe thanks to Stoopsie and Jspero for telling me about the Montgomery County stores!

-Brian