ORVW Price Increase

[Big Chipper]

Up until a year and a half ago, ORVW 90 was my daily pour. Fantastic bourbon for $21. For some reason, the supplies at my local liquor store dried up and it's been unavailable for over 18 months. Went in yesterday and low and behold, there's ORVW in stock again, only this time its $32. That kinda prices it out of my daily pour...I'll stick with Weller Antique. I also noticed that VWFR 20 jumped from $79 to $102. Is this typical, or is my liquor store gouging?

[mozilla]

Since other stores still have them at the old price, I would guess that you can find them cheaper. My first idea is to call BT, they have it in the gift shop. There are a few other websites with bourbon prices....Sams, Spec's, Binny's and Lanelles.

[Big Chipper]

Since other stores still have them at the old price, I would guess that you can find them cheaper. My first idea is to call BT, they have it in the gift shop. There are a few other websites with bourbon prices....Sams, Spec's, Binny's and Lanelles.

Can't ship here. I'm stuck with the local (SC) ABC stores.

[mozilla]

Can't ship here. I'm stuck with the local (SC) ABC stores.

Right.....but at least you know if your getting ripped off. Maybe, buy something local until you can get out of the state and stock up. Could save alot of dough. I wouldn't go to NC though, they didn't have much to choose from the last time I was there.

[Big Chipper]

Can't get it at all in NC, as we're ABC with limited selection. I'm real close to the SC border, where there's a store that carries Van Winkle bourbons. In any case, my original question wasn't about having to drive all over to get it cheaper, it was geared more towards asking if there had been a price increase, or is the liqur store gouging? I just finished a bottle of the new stock ORVW 10/90 and must say, it's sublime.

[cowdery]

With the supply situation the way it is--and it is likely to stay that way--price increases are pretty much inevitable.

In my WHISKY Magazine article (no. 54, March 2006), "Are We Running Out of Bourbon?" I pointed out that at the end of 2004, the Kentucky whiskey industry had 224,173 barrels of whiskey aged eight years or more in its collective inventory. The stockpile was down 40 percent from the previous year and stood at its lowest level since 1998.

When you can't readily increase the supply of something for which there is growing demand, you raise the price. That's Econ 101. Get used to it.

[mozilla]

Can't get it at all in NC, as we're ABC with limited selection. I'm real close to the SC border, where there's a store that carries Van Winkle bourbons. In any case, my original question wasn't about having to drive all over to get it cheaper, it was geared more towards asking if there had been a price increase, or is the liqur store gouging? I just finished a bottle of the new stock ORVW 10/90 and must say, it's sublime.

BC, Have you tried checking prices on the internet? You don't have to buy it or drive anywhere...just checking the prices should answer your question.

[NickAtMartinis]

Up until a year and a half ago, ORVW 90 was my daily pour. Fantastic bourbon for $21. For some reason, the supplies at my local liquor store dried up and it's been unavailable for over 18 months. Went in yesterday and low and behold, there's ORVW in stock again, only this time its $32. That kinda prices it out of my daily pour...I'll stick with Weller Antique. I also noticed that VWFR 20 jumped from $79 to $102. Is this typical, or is my liquor store gouging?

BC, just yesterday I was able to purchase some ORVW 10/107 (haven't been able to get this or the 90 proof in more than 4-5 mos.) and I paid $27.99. At another liquor store, the owner said he can get it for me at a price of $25.99, though, I haven't heard from him in a couple days.

Weller Antique is $21.99 in my area and it's only three years younger and the same proof as the ORVW 10 yr. If you paid $32 for ORVW 10/90, then I would most certainly switch to Weller Antique. It's the same bourbon, just a bit younger and much cheaper in your area.

Why would I purchase Lot B for $43.99 (in my area) when I can purchase ORVW 10/107 for $25.99-$27.99? The same applies to ORVW and Weller Antique in your case.

[Phischy]

Lot B and ORVW 10/107 aren't the same are they?!?! I have both bottlings open at home and I much prefer the Lot B over the other. I pick up a much more nutty flavor in the ORVW and the Lot B is just so good.

[NickAtMartinis]

Lot B and ORVW 10/107 aren't the same are they?!?! I have both bottlings open at home and I much prefer the Lot B over the other. I pick up a much more nutty flavor in the ORVW and the Lot B is just so good.

Lot B and both renditions of the ORVW 10 yo are Bernheim and not SW. Unless, of course, you have an old bottle of Lot B and a new bottle of ORVW 10 yo. Then I could see your saying that Lot B is so much better providing that Lot B is indeed a SW product.

Weller Antique is the same bourbon as ORVW 10/107 just 3 years younger and a much better bang for the buck than ORVW 10/107 and definitely Lot B.

[Phischy]

Ok, so it's the same juice just aged to different years, 7, 10 and 12 years. I'll have to get the Antique and give it a run...if I can't notice a diff, then cheaper is better! i still think my Lot B is better than my ORVW...I'll have to do a side by side blind taste test....

[craigthom]

My understanding is that they are the same mash bill and distillate, but barrel aging varies, and different people are picking the barrels used for the Weller and VW. They share common roots, but they aren't necessarily the same finished bourbon.

[Big Chipper]

I drink Weller Antique daily. At the NC ABC, the retail price is $16.95, though every other month, it's on sale for $13.95...no lie. I love the Weller, but I prefer the ORVW 10. At $21, it was affordable for an everyday pour...at $32...it's now an occasional pour.

[gblick]

I've only opened one bottle of ORVW10/107, and this bottle is better than all of the bottles (about 3) of Weller 7/107 that I've had (though the Weller 107's were all still very good). I got all my bottles of ORVW 10/107 for $23-26, and the Weller 107's were $15-19. If I could find more of the ORVW 10/107, I'd gladly buy it for that much again.

I also thought the ORVW 10/107 was better than the Lot B, but I've only had one bottle of each. The one bottle of Pappy 15 that I've opened beats them all, of course it should for the price.

I've also liked all the Weller 107 more than the one bottle of ORVW 10/90 that I've opened.

Pappy 15, ORVW 10/107, and Weller Antique 107 just might be my three favorite bourbons, but there are many I've yet to try (I've only been at it now, with bourbon, since April 2007).

[NickAtMartinis]

I drink Weller Antique daily. At the NC ABC, the retail price is $16.95, though every other month, it's on sale for $13.95...no lie. I love the Weller, but I prefer the ORVW 10. At $21, it was affordable for an everyday pour...at $32...it's now an occasional pour.

BC, those are some great prices for Antique!!!! I wish I could find prices like that around Connecticut.