Balvenie 21 Price Increase

[Photon]

Well, the other shoe is falling with Balvenie. First the Founder's Reserve goes off
the market, now the 21 Portwood is getting a 37% ($91 to $125) price increase from
the Oregon LCC come Feb 1.

I assume this is part of their plan to reposition the 21 as a premium malt. I'm sure
they have a strategy here, but the only result I can see is that I'll be drinking less
Balvenie

- P.

[Virginia Gentleman]

We had the same price increase in Virginia as well.

Scott

[Lawrence]

Poor Balvenie, too small to keep up with the demand and it's too bad they've decided to sacrifice the 10 in most markets for increased capability for the 12 Doublewood. If you are experienceing sticker shock about the 21 perhpas you might consider the 1991 Port Wood, truly excellent.

[Photon]

[quote="Lawrence" If you are experienceing sticker shock about the 21 perhpas you might consider the 1991 Port Wood, truly excellent.[/quote]

I would, but the fine state of Oregon doesn't stock it.

I think I'll just go cry into my doublewood... yet that'll make me happy...

[Lawrence]

I have friends who live in Portland and visit here frequently, perhpas they will agree to take you back a bottle or two next trip. Where do you live?

Lawrence

[Photon]

I have friends who live in Portland and visit here frequently, perhpas they will agree to take you back a bottle or two next trip. Where do you live?

Lawrence

Truly a generous offer. I may take you and your friends up on it. I'm about a 1/2 hour west of Portland. But I think I would be better served convincing the wife that we need a weekend in Victoria. I haven't been in years. Do they still have the direct ferry from Seattle?

-P.

[Lawrence]

Yes, a passenger only ferry from downtown Seattle to downtown Victoria and then the car/passenger ferry is from Port Angeles. There is also a another car ferry that departs from the San Jaun Islands and docks in Sidney about 20 minutes north of Victoria. If you do come up for the weekend let me know,

Lawrence

[Deactivated Member]

Those latter two do not run through the winter months (as Ron and I discovered). But I'm sure you'll want to wait for nicer weather, anyway.

[Photon]

Yes, a passenger only ferry from downtown Seattle to downtown Victoria and then the car/passenger ferry is from Port Angeles. There is also a another car ferry that departs from the San Jaun Islands and docks in Sidney about 20 minutes north of Victoria. If you do come up for the weekend let me know,

Lawrence

Absolutely. I feel that I owe you a dram just for getting to read your sage advice.

-P.

Mr.T

Yeah, probably wait until May-ish. Butchart Gardens is spectacular then.

[Lawrence]

Yes, the gardens are quite something, now if they put a distillery on the grounds it would be really something!

[Wendy]

Hi Lawrence, re Butchart Gardens and Distillery
You have described my dream job of combining my love of gardening with whisky...
Cheers,
Wendy

[Photon]

Taking this thread completely off topic...

Isn't there a malt distillery on Vancouver Island (either running already or in development)?

Granted it's a big island, but civilization seems clustered at the southern end. Still pretty wild up north if memory serves.

Then again, distilleries often arise on the outskirts of civilization (see Kentucky).

-P.

[MGillespie]

Yes, there are plans for one to be built on the island over the next year or so...it was announced back in January. Andrew Currie, who used to manage Arran, is one of the developers on the project.

Mark

[Vange]

Is there a price difference in the various BPW 21 vintages or is it a general price hike altogether? Rae certain BPW bottlings better or more rare than others?

If I can get BPW for $63, should I stock up?

[Lawrence]

If it's the Balvenie Portwood 21 then that seems to be an incredible price.

[Vange]

Yeah, as long as they still have them at that price. So I assume you are telling me to stock up?

[Lawrence]

Yes, the price seems to be a little low, the have them for GBP 52.50 at LFW currently.

[Jan]

You can't really compare price across different countries imo, as they are relative to the general income levels, taxation and such.

But that said, the BPW 21 retails for $144 here in Denmark... So yes, I would say stock up - from this side of the pond it seems an incredible price

Cheers
Jan

[Arebee]

From what I understand, the new bottles will come in a wooden cabinet as part of the new presentation. Unfortunately here in Connecticut most stores have marked up their old stock in the cardboard tubes to $120+.

[Choochoo]

Yes, I've seen the wooden boxes & high price as well.

However, I did manage to find one bottle of the 21yo last month that was still selling for $80, and snapped it up before it got marked up.