U.S. members..Is SMS pricing itself out of your life?

[talisker10]

I would assume that folks in the rest of the world pay a premium for Bourbons and Ryes so I think this question is for those in the U.S. The astounding quality of the Buffalo Trace Antique collection for around $65, and also some of the outstanding bourbons and ryes for less than $50 has really made me tail off on my SMS purchases as the economy grips tighter. So I pose the question, is SMS becoming way overpriced to you compared to high quaility American whiskey?

[Ganga]

I would say none really apply to me. It's not so much that I am willing to pay the price but rather that I search out better quality to price ratio whiskies. About the best one I'm finding right now is Glenfiddich 15. Certainly some of the Signatory bottlings are good value too. The upper end of whisky is out of control so I generally don't purchase too much in that area.

[talisker10]

Yep, I should have included that option.

[Drammed]

I did not vote but I am definately more careful with my purchases. I used to just run out and get anything that I pleased (within reason). Now I have to do a little research or wait for a tasting event to try the whisky.

[dylan793]

I think to say that one would switch to American whisky from SMS is a little too broad for me. Is Jim Beam Black the same as Glenfiddich 12yr? I can get the Jim Beam for exponentially cheaper than the 'Fiddich, but if i'm looking for a SMS experience then i'm going to pay the price. I picked the "No" answer just because there are SMS at price points to where pretty much anyone can pick up a decent bottle. Conversely if I feel an American whisky that I want is too expensive for my pocket, I won't reach for a cheaper bottle of SMS. If American distilleries began producing a relatively cheap SMS style whisky maybe I would say yes. Maybe i'm just not aware of it, but I haven't heard of such a whisky yet.

[dramtastic]

We pay anything from 50 to 100% or more for SM whisky in Australia than you do in the States. When i hear you guys complain about prices I role my eyes, there are plenty of countries that are far worse off.

[Drammed]

We pay anything from 50 to 100% or more for SM whisky in Australia than you do in the States. When i hear you guys complain about prices I role my eyes, there are plenty of countries that are far worse off.

I feel your pain

[dylan793]

I hear ya dramtastic. I don't mean to hijack the thread but, for $70 and under, your possibilties are pretty vast for what can be bought in the States. Even $50 and under. Hate paying a lot of money? Limit your consumtion. Drink better, drink less I say.

[talisker10]

OK, taking my own rather unsuccessful poll off-topic.

Well dramtastic, you are seriously bumming me out on how much I will have to pay in Alice when I am there next year.

So how much is a bottle of Wild Turkey 101 in Australia, for example?

[jazz lover]

I will be spending less.
I will be buying an older model
Ford Mustang 5.0 to fix up, this
will be my next hobby.
After I buy a case of Brora 30 yr.

[pkt77242]

Jazz Lover, I don't think this poll is aimed at you and your whisky mountain.

As for me, I have to agree with Ganga, I am more selective with my purchases and looking for value. Aberlour A'bunadh is $47 out here at total wine and is a great value (also Fiddich 15 as Ganga said, Macallan CS at $44, Laph 10 CS $52, HP 12 at mid $30's, Macallan 12 at $35). I am also doing more price comparisons online and buying older whiskies from the UK as they are cheaper there (good example is Cragganmore 29 is on sale for under 110 pounds but it is $330 out here ). The OMC Glenfarclas 43yo that I picked up from TWE was something like $170 including shipping.

Sean

[talisker10]

If I could ship whisky into Texas, I could save as well..but alas I can't and doubt will ever be able to.

[talisker10]

jazz lover, skip the Brora and go for a '69 Stang with a 428 Cobra Jet. Things went downhill when the auto industry in the U.S. went metric.

[pkt77242]

If I could ship whisky into Texas, I could save as well..but alas I can't and doubt will ever be able to.

I am guessing that The Whisky Exchange, Royal Mile Whiskies and Loch Fyne Whiskies will all ship to Texas.

Sean

[Ganga]

If American distilleries began producing a relatively cheap SMS style whisky maybe I would say yes. Maybe i'm just not aware of it, but I haven't heard of such a whisky yet.

Try McCarthy's single malt.

[Ganga]

I will be spending less.
I will be buying an older model
Ford Mustang 5.0 to fix up, this
will be my next hobby.
After I buy a case of Brora 30 yr.

Ok, who grafted the wings to the pig?

[dylan793]

Thanks Ganga, is this widely distributed? I'm gonna hit the google machine A.S.A.P.

[talisker10]

"I am guessing that The Whisky Exchange, Royal Mile Whiskies and Loch Fyne Whiskies will all ship to Texas.

Sean"

No, it's illegal for an individual in Texas to import liquor into the state, so will ship here.

When I was working for a while in New Mexico it was really nice to place an order from Binny's (got some High West Rendezvous Rye and Evan Williams Binny's Select

[pkt77242]

I understand but it is also illegal to ship spirits into Arizona but the places in the UK(all the places I listed are in the UK) don't particularly care and still ship here. Heck it is illegal to ship alcohol into the US. Now I understand if you don't want to as it can be risky. I prefer not to do it frequently.

Sean

"I am guessing that The Whisky Exchange, Royal Mile Whiskies and Loch Fyne Whiskies will all ship to Texas.

Sean"

No, it's illegal for an individual in Texas to import liquor into the state, so will ship here.

When I was working for a while in New Mexico it was really nice to place an order from Binny's (got some High West Rendezvous Rye and Evan Williams Binny's Select

[talisker10]

Oh, OK I see. No, I'd rather not take the risk.

[Wave]

The Weller and Stagg are closer to $80 here and really not that much cheaper than premium SMS,l but if I couldn't afford to buy my SMS I wouldn't be in this game in the first place. The only reason I've slowed down in buying newer bottles is the lack of space!


Cheers!

[Holysinner]

I've only been drinking whisky since January of this year, so in that time I haven't seen a lot of price rises (except perhaps at the high end, but I was already priced out of that). I've always been highly price sensitive so I keep track of prices around town and will go out of my way for the best deal and wait for sale prices.

I'm really still just exploring the world of whisky, and I look at it as a marathon, not a sprint.

My vote went to 'Yes it is but I will pay the price anyway', though I will continue to buy a bottle of American whiskey here and there (as well as Irish, Canadian, Japanese, etc.).

[bcrossan]

If I could ship whisky into Texas, I could save as well..but alas I can't and doubt will ever be able to.

TWE has sent to me twice in TX... use a work address and you should be good

[MacAttack80]

I think a move across the state and the coming birth of my second child is pricing me out of SMS. Luckily I have been in a bourbon kick lately anyway.

[dramtastic]

Jazz Lover, I don't think this poll is aimed at you and your whisky mountain.

As for me, I have to agree with Ganga, I am more selective with my purchases and looking for value. Aberlour A'bunadh is $47 out here at total wine and is a great value (also Fiddich 15 as Ganga said, Macallan CS at $44, Laph 10 CS $52, HP 12 at mid $30's, Macallan 12 at $35). I am also doing more price comparisons online and buying older whiskies from the UK as they are cheaper there (good example is Cragganmore 29 is on sale for under 110 pounds but it is $330 out here ). The OMC Glenfarclas 43yo that I picked up from TWE was something like $170 including shipping.

Sean

Useing some of these examples this is what I have to pay In Australia.

'fiddich 15 $90
HP 12 $65
Laph CS $120
Mac 12 $75
A'bunadh $100

Also

Ardbeg 10 $85
Tali 10 $75
Cragg 12 $75
Laph QC $100
HP 18 $150
Tali 18 $130
JW Green $75
Balvenie DW $90

You get the point.

[pkt77242]

That is horrific DT. I will now stop complaining about our prices (well at least for a day or two).

Sean

[dramtastic]

OK, taking my own rather unsuccessful poll off-topic.

Well dramtastic, you are seriously bumming me out on how much I will have to pay in Alice when I am there next year.

So how much is a bottle of Wild Turkey 101 in Australia, for example?

Be afraid Tali 10, be very afraid.

Ok, Wild Turkey 101 $40-45 and that's in the cities. Heaven knows what they charge in the desert.

Now make sure there are no sharp objects around when you first walk into a liquor store and see the prices, you may want to do yourself a mischief from the depression that'll set in.

No better in the bars either check this out.

Jim Beam and coke $5-6
JD and coke $7-8

Now assuming you can find a bar with SM's expect to pay for
a 30ml measure of the following, for eg.

'fiddich 12 $7-8
Tali 10 $10-12
HP 18 $18
Springer 15 $22-25

Even duty free here your looking at $75 for a bottle of a'bunadh

[talisker10]

OK, dramtastic, you made your point well. Geez, that is ludicrous. I even feel guilty for starting the thread in the first place. SMS was not nearly so expensive in New Zealand when I was last there in 2008..why so in Australia?

[jimidrammer]

I'm trying to stay ahead of the curve where I can. Less exploration and more stock up on favorites, especially discontinued bottlings. I tend to look for "old prices" and stay away from new releases. Around here they don't raise prices unless they restock or the packaging has changed or something like that. Rebranding always seems to be an excuse for a 25% increase. Even American Whiskey is creeping up and is being premium-ized. Since I started this journey in 2005 the entry level brands ($30-$50 for 10-12yo) have stayed pretty steady, the higher end ($200+like HP25) are still there, but the middle ground where most of what I like comes from has gone from $55-$85 to $75-$125 or more in the 15-21yo range. That's not just an annual price increase, its a complete restructuring of the brand and a little too meddling for me. So I don't jump on every "new finish" release like I did before they commanded a 30% premium. I guess I'm sacrificing that new distillery bottle I've heard about but not sure I'd like and put those resources into a replacement of one that has stayed consistent in price/quality.

[scotchdrinker]

I agree with Ganga and Sean. I look for good quality to value ratio items. I can find great SMS under $60 where I am. Yeah I want ones that are more but I am careful about what I am purchasing. But I didn't vote no proper options.

[dramtastic]

OK, dramtastic, you made your point well. Geez, that is ludicrous. I even feel guilty for starting the thread in the first place. SMS was not nearly so expensive in New Zealand when I was last there in 2008..why so in Australia?

Tax mate. Not only do we pay some of the highest personal income rates in the world, the government love to slug us with tax on "luxury" items, such as whisky. Anyway if your ever in Brisbane your more than welcome to partake of some free drams at Casa Del Dramtastic.

[talisker10]

Thanks Dramtastic! Will let you know if I am going to be in that part of the country. For what it's worth, we will likely be in the same shape soon as our current Congressional leaders are taking us down the same path.

[Mr Fjeld]

.........
Useing some of these examples this is what I have to pay In Australia.

'fiddich 15 $90
HP 12 $65
Laph CS $120
Mac 12 $75
A'bunadh $100

Also

Ardbeg 10 $85
Tali 10 $75
Cragg 12 $75
Laph QC $100
HP 18 $150
Tali 18 $130
JW Green $75
Balvenie DW $90

You get the point.

Wow, I'm amazed! I could neve have imagined whisky could be anywhere near as expensive as here in Tralfamadore. Allow me to use your example - only with Norwegian prices:

Ok, here are the Tralfamadorian prices:

'fiddich 15 $79
HP 12 $73
Laph CS $114
Mac 12 $.....
A'bunadh $......

Also

Ardbeg 10 $87
Tali 10 $84
Cragg 12 $81
Laph QC $102
HP 18 $126
Tali 18 $167
JW Green $79
Balvenie DW $79

[Mr Fjeld]

Useing some of these examples this is what I have to pay In Australia.

'fiddich 15 $90
HP 12 $65
Laph CS $120
Mac 12 $75
A'bunadh $100

Also

Ardbeg 10 $85
Tali 10 $75
Cragg 12 $75
Laph QC $100
HP 18 $150
Tali 18 $130
JW Green $75
Balvenie DW $90

You get the point.

If those prices are in AUD, most of those prices arent *that* bad. Ardbeg 10 looks like a good bargain. The only ones that look like gouges are the Balvenie DW and the Lappies.

Oh, I thought it was USD? The prices I quoted are at least in USD.

[Mr Fjeld]

Oh, I thought it was USD? The prices I quoted are at least in USD.

If they are in USD, then yes both of your lists are crimescenes even compared to the infamous LCBO.

Haha yes, I agree with you. Interestingly, our wine monopoly is very similar to your LCBO I believe but our excessive pricing is a result of political pressure to reduce drinking by increasing taxation.