Where has Wathen’s gone?

[WildShot]

The last couple of trips to local stores, I have not found Wathen’s Single Barrel on the shelf. My last purchase required stops at three stores before I found a bottle and that was their last one. I asked the manager at my regular shop and was told all they know is the distributor could not fill the order (they order two cases a week) and would have to reorder the next week. Does anyone know if the distiller has shut down?

[TNbourbon]

The last couple of trips to local stores, I have not found Wathen’s Single Barrel on the shelf. My last purchase required stops at three stores before I found a bottle and that was their last one. I asked the manager at my regular shop and was told all they know is the distributor could not fill the order (they order two cases a week) and would have to reorder the next week. Does anyone know if the distiller has shut down?

The distiller -- presuming it was Charles Medley, who owns and bottles the label -- has been shut down for 15 years or more. Wathen's has been bottled from existing stock owned by a former distiller of a defunct plant. He's bound to run out of it someday.

That said, I have no specific knowledge of whether or not that is the case. It was also 'out of the pipeline' when Mr. Medley had to switch bottling operations from David Sherman/Luxco to a California bottler last year.

[cowdery]

For that matter, we're not sure if any of the whiskey Charlie actually made is left or was even in the last batch he bottled. If any of it is left, he no longer is storing it at the distillery.

[WildShot]

It's back on the shelf. Just glitch with the distributor.