Found...

[TNbourbon]

I visited a store earlier this week that had a number of items either recently discussed in these forums, or that are getting hard to find and aren't likely to be 'restockable', or both.

To wit:

• Black Maple Hill 11-, 14-, 16-, 18- (rye), and 21-yos, in quantities from 5 to 7 bottles each, priced ranging from $49.99-$118.99
  
• Rowan's Mill 12yo (age stated, boxed, at least 6), bottled 2004, $36.99
  
• Noah's Mill 15yo (age stated, boxed, at least 6), bottled 2005, $49.99
  
• Classic Cask 13yo bourbon (2004, 2 or 3 bottles), $64.99
  
• Classic Cask 15yo bourbon (2005, 2 bottles), $79.99
  
• Michter's Single Barrel 10yo Bourbon (4 bottles), $54.99
  
• Michter's Single Barrel 10yo Rye (5 bottles), $58.99
  
• A.H. Hirsch 16yo (gold foil, 7 bottles), $70.99
  

PM me should you desire contact store-contact info (but, remember -- Tennessee merchants can't ship, and prices don't include almost 10% sales tax), or other assistance.

[kbuzbee]

Nice finds, Tim, did you add to your collection?

I found (but haven't yet opened) a bottle of American Spirit last week. Intrigued to try it but many great bottles open right now.

Take care,

Ken

[OscarV]

• A.H. Hirsch 16yo (gold foil, 7 bottles), $70.99

.

About a month ago I was at a store that had the gold foil Hirsch 16yo at around $150.00.

Today I was there and it was priced at $201.99.

I asked if that was the correct price, and told him I saw it in Chicago last summer at $69.00.

He said, "yes that is the right price they just went up this week".

A 34% increase on something that they have not made for a couple of decades? How can there be a price increase from a now out-of-business distiller?

Of course he was BSing me, but I let it slid.

[barturtle]

About a month ago I was at a store that had the gold foil Hirsch 16yo at around $150.00.

Today I was there and it was priced at $201.99.

I asked if that was the correct price, and told him I saw it in Chicago last summer at $69.00.

He said, "yes that is the right price they just went up this week".

A 34% increase on something that they have not made for a couple of decades? How can there be a price increase from a now out-of-business distiller?

Of course he was BSing me, but I let it slid.

Preiss Imports owns all the remaining stocks of A.H.Hirsch...they are well known for Preiss Gouging.

[TNbourbon]

Nice finds, Tim, did you add to your collection?..

Ken, my one-time bunker is reduced "a bundle of vain strivings tied together" -- and I'm alright with that. Makes it and I twins, of a sort.

I brought home Four Roses Yellow Label, the FR version I've least-recently had. Glad that they are now in Tennessee.

[cas]

About a month ago I was at a store that had the gold foil Hirsch 16yo at around $150.00.

Today I was there and it was priced at $201.99.

I asked if that was the correct price, and told him I saw it in Chicago last summer at $69.00.

He said, "yes that is the right price they just went up this week".

A 34% increase on something that they have not made for a couple of decades? How can there be a price increase from a now out-of-business distiller?

Of course he was BSing me, but I let it slid.

There are a few places in the Ann Arbor area with Hirsch on the shelf - and this is the general pattern I've seen. Very rapid increases over a period of months.

Craig

[Pharaoh]

Oscar,

I could not defend those prices but I do believe there are at least a small handful of distributors that still have Gold Foil 16 in their warehouses. In the meantime (at least here) the wholesale price has been increasing steadily.

That's not to say that the merchant you speak of isn't using NASA as its guide for markup or taking advantage of the situation, but just to point out that while the product has been out of production for quite some time, the cost to retailers still purchasing it - isn't the same as it was years past.

For example what I see here shows almost a 25% wholesale increase in cost since 2004. Again, not to imply that what I see here represents every or any where else or that what I'm looking at is the gospel. Of course that doesn't mean it should be 200 a bottle nor does it mean the merchant didn't have the whiskey stocked prior to the described increases.