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2018 Northern Border Collection Rare Releases

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@OdysseusUnbound
OdysseusUnbound started a discussion

I thought about posting this in the “How Fucked Up Is the LCBO?” thread, because that’s undoubtedly what I’m really asking. Does anyone have a release date for Lot 40 CS 11YO/ G&W 11 Souls/Wiser’s 35 CS etc...? I’m seeing reviews pop up online and FOMO is already setting in...

5 years ago

19 replies

@Nozinan
Nozinan replied

@OdysseusUnbound I've tried asking the LiverDoc the same question on twitter and have received no reply...

5 years ago 1Who liked this?

@cricklewood
cricklewood replied

@OdysseusUnbound @Nozinan, on Instagram the doc answers all those release date questions by telling folks to call their liquor board. Guess they don't want to get any shade for the LCBO incompetence.

Saw folks in Calgary buying up cases and posting photos.

5 years ago 1Who liked this?

@OdysseusUnbound

Lot 40 11 YO CS is currently showing 30 available at Yonge & Queen’s Quay in the centre of the universe, 18 available at Rideau and King Edward in Ottawa, and of course, none available online.

5 years ago 1Who liked this?

@cricklewood
cricklewood replied

Let the shit-show begin! I guess by mid-day the usual reddit or Instagram users will be posing with their case. As they trickle in to stores randomly, since the LCBO can't seem to get organized on distribution.

I don't know why they don't do like the SAQ and have new products as an online exclusive the first week, this allows the remainder stock (if available) the time to show up in stores for a unified launch.

If you're heading to Edmonton you might be able to pick this up easier out there, it's about the same price, a bit more if you factor tax but many of the chains like Liquor Depot or CO-OP have 10% discount if you buy a certain amount of spirits .

5 years ago 2Who liked this?

@OdysseusUnbound

@cricklewood That would be far too logical. And while there’s a 3 bottle per customer limit on Lot 40 11 YO CS, I don’t doubt that some insiders already have a dozen bottles at home. Gooderham & Worts 11 Souls is also a Yonge & Queen’s Quay exclusive. Fantastic. rage

5 years ago 0

@cricklewood
cricklewood replied

What how are they doing that bottle as a store exclusive? That's the only bottle I am really interested in picking up while in TO in a couple of weeks, hopefully there will be some left.

5 years ago 0

@OdysseusUnbound

@cricklewood I don't think it's officially an exclusive. What I meant was Queen's Quay & Yonge is the only store that has the Lot 40 CS and the G&W 11 Souls at the moment. Expect to see a few bottles online at some random moment in the next week or three, and expect to see many bottles show up in GTA stores, a few in Kenora, and maybe some in Glencoe or some other random place.

5 years ago 1Who liked this?

@OdysseusUnbound

Here's a message from @fiddich1980 that could easily be posted in "How Fucked-Up Is the LCBO?" I'm re-posting with his permission:

The Shit Show: The listing of 30 bottles of Lot 40CS 2018 is gone: Here is what happened: 1) I dropped my wife off to work this morning and saw the listing 2) I decide to give it a try and drive down arriving at 9am 3) Store about to open with 5 cars in parking lot 4) Upon entering and inquiry told "they are in the Whisky section and not at customer service area" 5) Then told (while standing around with 4 other guys) still in the back storage / mean while : there is a cart with sorted cases of stuff including 11 Souls in front of customer service 6) an unknown customer is handed a case of Lot 40 CS and promptly heads to check / did not the LCBO app state " 3 limit per customer" 7) The 4 guys and myself are standing in front of customer service desk and told cases are unaccounted for. while two cases on the floor of customer service are on hold for telephone orders 8) they decide to let each of us have one bottle 9) one case still unaccounted for 10) SHIT SHOW!!!

5 years ago 2Who liked this?

@Nozinan
Nozinan replied

I wasn’t really interested in any of the NBC at the inflated prices this year. When I had the opportunity to get some 11 YO Lot 40 CS at 30-45% off in Calgary, I pulled the trigger. I can wait another 3 days until @nosebleed brings it over.

I find it unfortunate that the roll out is so disorganized, unfair, and dare I say, open to manipulation by insiders?

Most fair would be a lottery, max 1 per person until everyone who wants one has one.

The only thing I can say is, if you want any of these, and there is a chance you will be in Toronto in the next year or 2, contact me and we can explore 2 options.

If it’s in store, and I can get to it, I will buy and hold it. If it’s online, you can buy and alship it free to a store near me and I will pick it up and hold it.

And I will do my best to elect a better government that will fix all this.

Who am I kidding?

5 years ago 3Who liked this?

@boatracer
boatracer replied

I also became less interested in these at the $100 price point. I might look at the G&W 11 Souls but not in a rush. G&W and the Pike Creek were still available well after the launch last year. Many more scotch and bourbon offerings that are on my wish list in the

5 years ago 1Who liked this?

@cricklewood
cricklewood replied

@Nozinan I felt much the same, I was really only intent on getting a G&W 11 souls and perhaps a Lot 40 if it wasn't a major hassle, last year I came by a few by seizing occasions as they popped up around me.

Then I went to Banff on Saturday and let's say I lucked out on two bottles at an unbelievable price, I would have cleaned them out if I had any room, sadly I was hiking, besides trying to buyout the store would have probably alerted them to the pricing anomaly, I took it as serendipity.

If and when the SAQ gets any, I'll gladly pick up a couple for folks if anybody cares by then, it was January last year when they finally got some.

5 years ago 2Who liked this?

@cricklewood
cricklewood replied

Ok folks, I wanted to give a heads up to those interested next Thursday's SAQ releases. It's online sale only first two weeks but honestly the truly limited stuff never makes it to shelves.

It's store pickup or delivery within province.

-Gooderham & worts 11 souls 95$ -Lot 40 CS 2018 95$

Also of interest:

Laphroaig Cairdeas Fino 105$ New Port Charlotte 10 100$ New Port Charlotte Islay Barley 110$ Port Charlotte MRC-01 (red wine Cask strength) 140$

They've wised up and set limits of 2 or 3 per person for limited products.

I know many of you have hit your cap for the year. I'm not trying to incite purchase just giving those who missed out a heads up.

5 years ago 1Who liked this?

@Victor
Victor replied

I will say it again, obtaining top tier Canadian whiskies is now in the same position as obtaining top tier US whiskeys was eight years ago. Hustle now! ...because five years from now it may become extremely difficult to obtain a bottle of anything from the top tier.

5 years ago 3Who liked this?

@Nozinan
Nozinan replied

@Victor Agreed. It's ironic. As a "Scotch" person I missed the golden age of buying scotch by just a little bit and I totally missed the BTAC age.

I know there are some Canadians I'll never get (like Danfield's 21) but I "got" Canadian whisky just in time to collect a few really good examples (FC Confed Oak and Heart of Gold, Wiser's Last Barrels, Legacy, U52, Dissertation, Lot 40 CS), some in large enough quantities that I will be set for some time. And I'm also lucky that while I enjoy the taste, I don't appreciate CC 40/41 and W35 enough to spend all that money on them.

I agree with you that the good stuff will soon become rarer and out of my price range. Glad I got in when I did. As long as I am flexible in what I drink, I should be set for life now.

5 years ago 3Who liked this?

@paddockjudge
paddockjudge replied

@Victor, an AMEN from the choir!

Accumulating top shelf Canadian Whisky takes some hustle and a great deal of help from a tightly knit web of like-minded afficianados, each with their own network of contacts. Buy and Hold has long been a recommendation in these circles.

Prices are creeping, sometimes leaping upwards. The days of buying a case of world class whisky for $600 (packed 12's) are well behind us.

I suppose if one could buy a a complete set of current BTAC "blind" for $465, it would be a simple choice. That is exactly the opportunity available today with Northern Border Collection Rare Release of Superior Canadian Whisky. Last year the price tag was more appealing at $405, yet in some regions accumulating this collection was nearly impossible... popup stores and limits of "one per person" made acquisitions a challenge, and one not easily met by many desiring to purchase these offerings. This year it is a somewhat simpler process with product available online as well as on store shelves.

There are no guarantees of future NBC releases. Acquiring a position now is something that will undoubtedly pay dividends in the future.

5 years ago 3Who liked this?

@OdysseusUnbound

@paddockjudge The challenge with the NBC Rare Releases is holding on to them and not drinking them...

5 years ago 1Who liked this?

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