Increase in price

[scopenut]

While at my favorite local retailer yesterday, I noticed 2 significant price increases:

Knob Creek (750ml): Was $22.00, now $28.00 (27% inc.)

Eagle Rare 10yr SB (750ml): Was $20, now $24.00 (20% inc.)

These increases occurred in the last month.

This is in South Florida. Is the rest of the country experiencing these price increases, or is this confined to this particular retailer?

-Kevin

[CrashRiley]

I have to sell Knob Creek 750's for $29.99 now.

ER 10yr is now $26.99.

:cry:

(Washington, D.C.)

[NorCalBoozer]

I have to sell Knob Creek 750's for $29.99 now.

ER 10yr is now $26.99.

:cry:

(Washington, D.C.)

Wow I just bought a bottle of ER 10 SB for $19.99....better go get some more.

[melting]

I mentioned the same thing about the Eagle Rare about a month ago. They have had two price increases in the past year. The small batch collection hasn't really moved this year. I bought 6 bottles of the Eagle rare for $18.99 the last time it was on sale. Now it's $23.99. Still not bad for the quality I'd say.

There has also been a slight increase in the Wild Turkey bottles.

Chris

[Sijan]

ERSB has been badly underpriced for quite awhile now. It's still a bargain at anything under the mid-$30s.

[TNbourbon]

ERSB has been badly underpriced for quite awhile now. It's still a bargain at anything under the mid-$30s.

In Tennessee, it's always been just badly priced -- it's never been under $30, and now is $33-ish. Even Buffalo Trace recently took a price hike to $22.

It was only a matter of time till BT's bottlings started inching upward -- they've been on allocation even with limited distribution for quite some time. Now, with the distillery trying to take many brands national (or, at least, more widely sold) it must, in effect, discourage some value buyers in order to have enough whiskey to attract even more upscale buyers.

[Old Lamplighter]

In Tennessee, it's always been just badly priced -- it's never been under $30, and now is $33-ish. Even Buffalo Trace recently took a price hike to $22.

It was only a matter of time till BT's bottlings started inching upward -- they've been on allocation even with limited distribution for quite some time. Now, with the distillery trying to take many brands national (or, at least, more widely sold) it must, in effect, discourage some value buyers in order to have enough whiskey to attract even more upscale buyers.

Sounds like a rather difficult position for BT to say the least. When I am in the Nashville & Memphis metro areas, I have noticed prices higher than 1-2 years ago for BT products and every other distillery/company as well. In W TN areas some brands lower and some higher compared to M TN areas. Don't get to E TN much, so I don't know how they compare. I've always heard the distributors pretty much control the flow & prices in the state.

As for ERSB in particular, I have seen prices all over the board from $20 to $35 in TN. In some spots down the eastern side of MS, I have seen it for $16-18. I cannot recall one label/brand having so much price difference as ERSB seems to have from place to place. All I can figure is the old supply/demand equation coming into play as well as who is 'controlling' the prices - be it a distributor state or board state (such as MS).

[ILLfarmboy]

In Tennessee, it's always been just badly priced -- it's never been under $30, and now is $33-ish. Even Buffalo Trace recently took a price hike to $22.

It was only a matter of time till BT's bottlings started inching upward -- they've been on allocation even with limited distribution for quite some time. Now, with the distillery trying to take many brands national (or, at least, more widely sold) it must, in effect, discourage some value buyers in order to have enough whiskey to attract even more upscale buyers.

This past Saturday I picked up a bottle of Buffalo Trace at a local

Hy Vee. Reading this thread prompted me to dig out my receipt. I payed $22.39, which I think is what I payed a couple months ago. In any case even if it edges past the 25 dollar mark I'd much rather that than have the brand suffer from too much success.

[darkluna]

While at my favorite local retailer yesterday, I noticed 2 significant price increases:

Knob Creek (750ml): Was $22.00, now $28.00 (27% inc.)

Eagle Rare 10yr SB (750ml): Was $20, now $24.00 (20% inc.)

These increases occurred in the last month.

This is in South Florida. Is the rest of the country experiencing these price increases, or is this confined to this particular retailer?

-Kevin

$22 for Knob Creek is a screaming deal. $28 is still about $6 cheaper than I can buy it here locally, unless it's on sale

[texascarl]

God Bless the excess bourbon in my bunker. Prices have gone up since I went on my last buying spree. I'll try to buy some more whusk right after Christmas as they sell off their stock of giftsets.

[ThomasH]

At the duty free store on the way back from Windsor,Ontario this past weekend, I saw some 1L bottles of Knob Creek for 42.00. The last 750 of KC I bought was 22.00. The same thing was going on with Woodford Reserve, seriously inflated prices. WT 101 8yr. was 19.00 for 1L, which is a good price and by the looks of things, its was flying right off the shelf. Some duty free is a bargain, others is a ripoff!

Thomas

[HighTower]

At the duty free store on the way back from Windsor,Ontario this past weekend, I saw some 1L bottles of Knob Creek for 42.00. The last 750 of KC I bought was 22.00. The same thing was going on with Woodford Reserve, seriously inflated prices. WT 101 8yr. was 19.00 for 1L, which is a good price and by the looks of things, its was flying right off the shelf. Some duty free is a bargain, others is a ripoff!

Thomas

I just got a 1.75L Knob Creek from Binnys and it was only $48.99, so $42 seems very steep for a 1L

Scott

[ThomasH]

42.00 for a 1L of KC is quite steep, especially at duty free. I previously bought a 1.75 of KC with one of those pourer stands and it was only about 53.00. Canadian duty free is not real kind to the bourbon market, with the exception of WT.

Thomas

[LarryG]

A 750 of KC is $31.99 here in Alabama. It's been about that since I first took note of it, which was about two years ago.

Larry

[swampguy]

Here in Louisiana I am paying:

WL Weller 15.99 Winn Dixie

Knob Creek 22.99 Sam's wholesale

Maker's Mark 23.99 Winn Dixie Grocery Store

Buffalo Trace 17.99 Local Grocery

[Martian]

I noticed WT Rye increase from $18 to $21 in Dallas.

[T47]

I have not noticed much of an increase in WA. our prices for some of these are;

Knob Creek (750) $32.95

Knob Creek (1.75) $59.95

Eagle Rare SB $29.95

Buffalo Trace $25.95

[scopenut]

In looking over the responses, it seems that even with these price increases, I still have it better than many others. Thanks for sharing.

-Kevin

[dcb]

I live near the new hampshire border and they have great prices on liquor (not so great on wine, though). Current sale price (state-wide) of a 750 of KC is $20. Bakers 107 is $28. the Evan Williams SB is usually about $22. not to mention no sales tax in NH. Got the Saz 18 for $47 last week. Vermont has OK prices on liquor, but generally not a great selection. You can special order from their website though and have it delivered to your nearest shop to pick up.

[cowdery]

There are two things we probably need to get used to: less availability of long-aged whiskey at bargain prices, and higher prices for American whiskey across the board.

One bright spot is that we probably can expect to see more frequent deals on mainstream premium brands such as Knob Creek. With Knob Creek especially, we can expect to see it, since that is how Beam operates.

What we are seeing now is cyclical, though that may be small comfort since this expansion could be a long one. If China, India and some other markets develop as they are expected to, there could be supply pressure on whiskey for the next decade.

Producers are moving cautiously, in terms both of price and production increases, so a major backlash seems unlikely. At least here in the USA, American whiskey remains a bargain compared to other aged spirits. Higher prices will have an effect but it is hard to predict what that effect will be.

[dcb]

American whiskey remains a bargain compared to other aged spirits.

Absolutely. and thankfully.

[barturtle]

Here in Louisiana I am paying:

WL Weller 15.99 Winn Dixie

Knob Creek 22.99 Sam's wholesale

Maker's Mark 23.99 Winn Dixie Grocery Store

Buffalo Trace 17.99 Local Grocery

Which part of Louisiana are you in?

[Solomon2]

ERSB has been badly underpriced for quite awhile now. It's still a bargain at anything under the mid-$30s.

Personally, I did not like ERSB 10yr. After taking a sip I sold the bottle to a neighbor. If you like it you are welcome to cross the AL Bridge, where you can buy 750ml for under $20.

That said, it would be strange if bourbon prices did not rise because grain and energy costs are rising, and it's only natural to pass current costs on to current customers. The oil companies do the same thing when it comes to pricing gasoline immediately after crude oil prices rise.

The downside for us is that there is undoubtedly more room to increase prices on the high-end products than those on the low-end.

[OscarV]

Personally, I did not like ERSB 10yr. After taking a sip I sold the bottle to a neighbor.

I got a bottle of ERSB 10yo and I was very underwhelmed.

I thought it was rather bland.

So much so that I have always passed on the ER 17yo from the BTAC.

I did not sell it, my wife made bourbon and cokes with it.

But I am very pleased with myself because I have 4 bottles of Eagle Rare 101 10yo bunkered away.

Now that's some high quality whiskey.

[LarryG]

I got a bottle of ERSB 10yo and I was very underwhelmed.

I thought it was rather bland.

I had my first taste of this bourbon last night. My reaction was exactly the same. "Mild" and "undistinguished" were the first words that came to mind. I didn't dislike it, but neither did it do anything to get my attention.

This came after yesterday afternoon, when I was thinking about what last night's pour would be: whether I'd try something new, or go with a bottle that was already open. I had seen Solomon2's post, so I was both hesitant and eager to open the ERSB. On the one hand I wondered whether his comments might influence my own perceptions; on the other, I was curious to see if my reaction would be anything like his or something completely different.

I won't be selling the bottle or even giving it away, but after seeing so much discussion about ERSB here, I was expecting something more.

Larry