The cheapest country in the world to buy whisky?

[Mr Fjeld]

Glenfiddich 12 = Usd 65,-

Glenfiddich 30 = Usd 293,-

"Cheap" is always expensive in Norway but "expensive" is usually relatively reasonable. Port Ellen 6'th release was more or less the same in Norway as what Royal Mile Whiskies demanded.

[kljostad]

Well, here are the results so far:



It looks like Alberta, Canada is cheapest place so far. And my home country the most expensive, at least when it comes to the cheaper stuff...

[irishwhiskeychaser]

In Ireland, Glenfiddich 30 is 230 euro - I know for sure that we're not the cheapest in Europe.

The 12yo is 40.95 in Galway so you can finish the Irish Comparison kljostad.

[mithril]

And I can start off. In Norway, where we have a state owned wine and spirit monopoly, these would cost:
- Glenfiddich Single Malt 12 Years Old: 45,9 €
- Glenfiddich 30 Years Old: 207,0 €

BC is also a state owned monopoly in the sense that private liquor stores can exist, but they must purchase/import their product via the BC Liquor Control Board which also runs at the BCLC stores. BCLC prices of some standard expressions, dollar amounts are all in CDN:

Your selections:

• Glenfiddich 12 Year: $43.09 (28,09 € or £19.16)
• Glenfiddich 30 Year: not available at the BCLC

Other common standard expressions:

• Ardbeg 10 Year: $73.16 (47,74 € or £32.56)
• Balvenie 10 Year: $49.09 (32,05 € or £21.85)
• Balvenie 12 Year: $67.85 (44,29 € or £30.20)
• Glenfiddich 21 Year: $126.09 (82,25 € or £56.09)
• Glenlivet 12 Year: $43.29 (28,24 € or £19.26)
• Glenmorangie 10 Year: $50.15 (32,72 € or £22.31)
• Lagavulin 16 Year: $95.05 (62,04 € or £42.30)
• Laphroaig 10 Year: $56.16 (36,64 € or £24.99)

[mithril]

Wow that is mad.... well worth a trip if you can stash 6-12 bottles home with you

There's typically a $10 per bottle difference between BC and AB whisky prices and it's all due to the different rates of "sin taxes" applied by the provinces. In Canada taxes on items such as alcohol, tobacco, fuel, etc. are applied at both the federal and provincial level which can lead to radical differences between provinces (petrol is about $0.30/L cheaper in AB that it is in BC ).

Unfortunately it's illegal to ship alcohol across provincial borders but you are allowed to carry it across for "personal" consumption. My parents live in Calgary and I generally try to make a run to the Kensington Wine Market each time I visit to bring home several bottles of whisky, usually expressions that I can't get in BC (Glen Garioch 21 for example) or where there's a significant price difference like my Longrow 14 which was $60 cheaper in AB.

[WestVanDave]

Here are some Canadian extremes:

In B.C.:

Glenfiddich 12 (Special Reserve) - 750 ml = $42.99 Cdn ($37.60 US)
Glenfiddich 30 - 750 ml = $425.44 Cdn ($372.25 US)


In Alberta:

Glenfiddich 12 (Special Reserve) - 750 ml = $30 Cdn ($26.25 US)
Glenfiddich 30 - 750 ml = $215 Cdn ($188.12 US)


Note: Flights from Vancouver to Calgary ~ $200 Cdn - round trip!!!

Wow that is mad.... well worth a trip if you can stash 6-12 bottles home with you

Whaddya mean "if"...

[WestVanDave]

Wow that is mad.... well worth a trip if you can stash 6-12 bottles home with you

There's typically a $10 per bottle difference between BC and AB whisky prices and it's all due to the different rates of "sin taxes" applied by the provinces. In Canada taxes on items such as alcohol, tobacco, fuel, etc. are applied at both the federal and provincial level which can lead to radical differences between provinces (petrol is about $0.30/L cheaper in AB that it is in BC ).

To augment Mithril's comments - the pricing differences can be much greater than $10/bottle... as there are several differences impacting the BC/Alberta divide (beyond the Rocky Mountians).

Alberta applies a flat tax versus B.C.'s % tax... so $10 per bottle may be the norm at the low end of the price spectrum - the gap widens substantially as the price point increases.

Alberta privatized their liquor stores - allowing for capitalistic competition - and market responsiveness to work its way into the equation. BCLDB - try as the might (in their own minds) don't know up from down and never cease to amaze me with backward thinking, supply inadequacy and painful pricing...

Other fine examples:

Springbank 10 - BCLDB = $95.07 Cdn
Springbank 10 - Alberta = ~$55 Cdn


Bruichladdich Blacker Still - BCLDB = $260 Cdn
Bruichladdich Blacker Still - Alberta = $170 Cdn

[mithril]

Other fine examples:

Springbank 10 - BCLDB = $95.07 Cdn
Springbank 10 - Alberta = ~$55 Cdn


Bruichladdich Blacker Still - BCLDB = $260 Cdn
Bruichladdich Blacker Still - Alberta = $170 Cdn

To expand on Dave's points here's some addtional comparisons. KWM is the Kensington Wine Market in Calgary and being a relatively high end shop in one of the most expensive parts of the city I'm sure there are cheaper places to buy whisky in Calgary. However the KWM is generally where I shop when there as they've got a great selection (200+ expressions) and all their pricing/inventory is available on their website.

The difference in pricing does vary widely depending on the expression.

• Springbank 32 Year - BCLDB = $744.14 Cdn
• Springbank 32 Year - KWM = $513.03 Cdn
  
• Highland Park 25 Year - BCLDB = $290.05 Cdn
• Highland Park 25 Year - KWM = $238.49 Cdn
  
• Macallan 18 Year - BCLDB = $255.05 Cdn
• Macallan 18 Year - KWM = $175.95 Cdn
  
• Longrow 14 - BCLDB = $164.08 Cdn
• Longrow 14 - KWM = $116.06 Cdn
  
• Springbank 15 Year - BCLDB = $150.47 Cdn
• Springbank 15 Year - KWM = $102.81 Cdn
  
• Glenmorangie 18 Year - BCLDB = $141.36 Cdn
• Glenmorangie 18 Year - KWM = $99.63 Cdn

However it's not always cheaper in AB. For example:

• Bruichladdich 40 Year - BCLDB = $2260.93 Cdn
• Bruichladdich 40 Year - KWM = $2,371.21 Cdn
  
• Bowmore 25 Year - BCLDB = $220.18 Cdn
• Bowmore 25 Year - KWM = $232.13 Cdn
  
• Glenfiddich 21 Year - BCLDB = $125.08 Cdn
• Glenfiddich 21 Year - KWM = $148.39 Cdn

[Badmonkey]

Of all of the cities I have lived in, Tokyo had the lowest prices on whisky. The shop I frequented most often, a chain called Kawachiya, typically sells Glenfiddich 12 for 2080 yen, or about $17.50 US at current exchange rates. The advertised price of Glenfiddich 30 at Kawachiya right now is 15,800 yen, or about $132 US. Very low taxes on spirits, intense retail competition, and a massive (and knowledgeable) market in a relatively small geographic area all contribute to the low prices and superb selection. I could buy Alberta Premium in Tokyo for less than I can buy it in Alberta.

Prices at Topline in Glendale, California has prices that are very competitive with those in Tokyo, as I recall. Haven't been there for awhile, mind you.

[Badmonkey]

Just for the sake of comparison, and to punish myself further, here are the current prices on various Highland Park malts at Kawachiya in Tokyo.

HP 12: 2980 yen ($25 USD)

HP 16: 5680 yen ($48 USD)

HP 18: 5980 yen ($50 USD)
- I have purchased it for as little as 3900 on occasion.

HP 25: 11,500 yen ($97 USD)

HP 30: 29,800 yen ($251 USD)

HP 1967 (36-yr, 49.7%): 69,999 yen ($590 USD)

All things considered, that's not too bad.