Why is it?

[misa]

Why is it, that every time Jim Murray raves about one(or few) particular whiskys (whiskeys), they instantly increase in price and esteem? A certain Ardbeg 1975 DL, Aberlour a´bunadh (batch 14) and George T. Stagg come to mind. No more available, or double or triple the price.

[voigtman]

Good rhetorical question! But, if you are in the USA and close to New Hampshire, they have George T. Stagg bourbon (141.2 proof, the Fall, 2005 release) available right now, selling for $46.99 per bottle. No sales tax, either. Just check out the state web site:
http://www.state.nh.us/liquor/
for daily updates of inventory and store locations. Also available are the new William Larue Weller wheated bourbon, the Sazerac 18 YO straight rye and Eagle Rare 17 bourbon. All are $46.99 per bottle. The 1975 DL Ardbeg is presumably long gone, sad to say. Hope this helps a little. Slainte, Ed V.

[Badmonkey]

In the wine industry, reports of a fine vintage will jack up the price of high-end wines, so I would not be surprised if rave reviews of high-end whiskies resulted in similar increases, especially if the bottle has small batch appeal. That is less likely to happen when a product is targeted on a less wealthy demographic, as those people are less willing to absorb sudden price increases. Jim Murray has been raving about Alberta Premium for years, and its prices have largely remained static.

[kallaskander]

Hi there,

we have discussed here the advantages and disadvantages of having whiskies rated and points given to them by "whisky authorities". It seems to me you just found another shortcoming of the system of whisky bibles and whisky companions.
It is irritating, that a high score for a malt that is made public sends prices rocketing as it is your own taste which is the deciding factor. It is a pitty that a good Murray or Jackson score makes it more unlikly that you buy a bottle of a high rated whisky because that rating just drove the price out of your range, i.e. exceeded what you would be willing to pay.
On the other hand, there are always samples you can try to find without paying many times over.

Greetings
kallaskander

[Deactivated Member]

Prices usually only rise dramatically (and stay inflated) where medium-term demand exceeds supply.

I'm not sure that a good write-up Jim Murray (or any other whisky 'pundit') creates sufficient demand to 'strip the shelves bare'.

Cetainly, if a supermarket wine gets a rave review in a Sunday newspaper it often sells out for a couple of days. But usually, it's back on the shelves at the same price within a week.

[MGillespie]

I'd agree with that...even with a great write-up, Jim or Michael may only reach a few thousand whisky lovers...but a similar article rating a good wine may reach tens of thousands of wine lovers. Look at the differences in circulation between whisky magazines such as Whisky Magazine and Malt Advocate and wine publications such as Wine Spectator...the wine publications reach far more people, and local newspapers/magazines are more likely to publish wine reviews than those for whisky or other spirits...

Mark

[sunsolid]

Admitedly, a whisky review is read by less people than a wine review, and said whisky review wont have the same effect on demand, but could those reviews have an effect on those setting the prices, the merchants? Just a thought.