Exciting new Canadian whiskies coming in September

Also taxes are ridiculous. There are no laws in Ontario governing spirit taxes, unlike beer and wine which have historically been greatly favored by the government. There are federal tazes but they are small. The LCBO can do what they want, and the taxing regimen is pretty extreme - I have heard similar numbers about ABV. Even to be approved by the LCBO, you have to have an approved marketing plan, by them, for new products. Any sales in the LCBO are because companies pay the difference, so the Gooderham sale last week was because Corby payed the LCBO for the sale. It's a fascinating system.

I know of a producer with product costs of beteween 4 and 5$ per bottle. With less than a dollar profit per bottle, the minimum that company can sell for is 35$. The big boys can do a bit better, but it's not a cheap market. From Spirits canada, they estimate (for 40% ABV) that 23% of the cost goes to supplier, 17.4% to feds, and 59.4% to ontario. Bigger companies can have lower costs on lower end products, and can thus charge less for the same profit.

So, doing some math: if 23% goes to Corby, let's say they get $9.20 per bottle of Lot 40. Supposing it is the same stock, only higher ABV, let's guess a cask strength bottle costs them (53%/43%)*9.20 = 11.32. That's perhaps a slight overestimation because of fixed costs in the bottling, but let's assume they'll charge a bit of a premium since they move less stock so keep it here. Assuming, once again, that 11.32 is 23% of the cost of the bottle, and adding $1.45 per ABV, we get a cost of 63.75 a bottle. So I think in the 60-70$ range is reasonable, but I'd be surprised to see it at less than 60 a bottle.

@paddockjudge a 200 ml sampler pack is a terrific idea. I'll write Spencer Gooderham, Livermore, and Corby's about it :)

@JasonHambrey, you would think that with Ontario having that sort of financial racket that they would be encouraging the production of new spirits!

So Ontario is confiscating nearly 100% of the selling priced of Canadian-produced whiskies? You know, one definition of slavery is being taxed 100% on what you produce. It appears that with respect to spirits, Ontario is moving strongly in that direction.

Yes, indeed. It has gotten better for micro distillers, but not much. It's too bad, really, because the best in Canada (and elsewhere) isn't coming from the micros. The Canadian micro scene has gotten a lot better recently though, but the prices are still far too high for what you get with a few small exceptions.

Because of how much whisky can be bought as, I wonder how different prices would be if distillers weren't taxed. Then I guess we'd get proper supply/demand.

This isn't new news, but I was listening to a podcast a while back and Don Livermore mentioned that the Gooderham & Worts Little Trinity is a three grain whisky, and the grain they're dropping from the Four Grain expression is barley. Meaning LT will be a rye, wheat, and corn whisky.

Price points for The Northern Border Rare collection, this from memory.

Never under estimate the power of ONE...and then two, and then a choir of voices. As an advocate for fair pricing, transparency, and one of many voices advocating for Canadian whisky, it pleases me to know that our voices have been heard. It would be nice to have softer price points; however, the below listed prices are what I consider to be fair. Lot No.40 will be launched near the $60 range that I anticipated and Wiser's 35 YO has been pegged below the are-you-out-of-your-fecking-mind range. Good job Corby/Wiser's team. Great juice, fair pricing. WIN-WIN. The real challenge will be getting your hands on some of this stuff.

Lot No.40, 12 YO Cask Strength $65

Pike Creek 10 YO Rum Finish $80

G&W 21 YO Trinity $90

Wiser's 35 YO $185

@paddockjudge I think you meant the Pike Creek 21 YO Speyside malt finish. It will be sold for $89.95 according to the masterclass.

G&W 17 YO $79.95, Lot 40 CS $64.95 and Wiser's 35 (50% ABV) $164.95.

No, my memory is no better than yours, but I wrote 'em down...

@Nozinan, yep, that's what I meant. Thanks for keeping good notes...you just saved me $25 on a bottle of the 35 YO.

@paddockjudge You might save another $165 - unless we can get you a bottle of the stuff!

@paddockjudge Please please please get me a bottle (or two) of the wisers and gw. Also I have your 16yr CS Alberta juice in my cabinet.

@Nozinan Thank you for the info, the prices seem pretty fair. September has been the talked about release time, but can we expect them to all hit the shelves at the same time? Any idea on the number of bottles? Most curious if there will be enough of that 35yo to go around or if it will be a rush to pickup. I realize you may not have the answers to all of these questions, they were just on my mind and wanted to put out there.

Here's some more wood for the price speculation fire:

J.P. Wiser’s, which is owned by Hiram Walker, is launching an ultra-rare line of four whiskies this fall that will range from $70 to $80 a bottle, up to a 35-year-old J.P. Wiser’s at $140.

That's from this Globe & Mail article: theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/…

Was just reading a write-up from the Toronto Whisky Society on the Northern Border Collection and they have Lot 40 CS listed at $70. Not a big change, but I thought I had remembered it being lower on here.

torontowhiskysociety.ca/2017/08/…

@Mancub $64.95 was the price quoted by them at the SOT master class.

@Mancub, @Nozinan, LCBO raised the price $5 per bottle and it hasn't left the warehouse yet.

@paddockjudge Wait till they factor in shipping and handling...

@paddockjudge @Nozinan Most reviews I've seen have praised Lot 40 CS over the other bottles...so I'm not surprised that they've picked up on that.

@Mancub, that's perfectly fine with me. Lot No 40 is not the best of the bunch when it comes to Northern Border Rare Collection.

@Nozinan, I hope it will be available on-line.

@paddockjudge Which would you consider the standout among the collection? Runner-up?

@Mancub, many people "in the know" consider G&W Trinity to be the best while an adoring fan base supports Lot No 40. I'm keeping mum on this one until the shelves are empty. I don't know how it will be distributed and I don't know if I'll be able to acquire any if only the "A" stores have stock.

@paddockjudge I must admit, I was least interested in that bottle, even though one of the reviews I read said it was the most memorable. Though I'm looking forward to these releases I feel it's a bit unfortunate that they are all coming out at the same time. It's a lot to shell out and I think the opportunity to grab them will be fleeting.

@paddockjudge I meant shipping and handling from the warehouse to the store

@Mancub For what it's worth (and I'm not worried about making public my thoughts because anyone who is "in the know" knows that I know little about Canadian whisky), in my notes from the Masterclass at SOT, I noted that the G&W 17 YO and the Lot 40 CS were "worth getting".

Yes, having them released together will make them pricier. Perhaps it's intended to discourage hoarding and more widely distribute purchases.

If I had unlimited funds (which, contrary to what my wife believes, we do not), I would get at least one of each and 2 of the Lot 40 CS. I've been saving up my gift cards for a while now and with a little added extra I could pick up 2 of the Lot 40 and one of the G&W.

I've acquired only 2 bottles since May (and that was in a trade where I gave up 2 bottles plus some private preserve) and I'm on a pace to buy less than a third of the number of bottles I bought last year (including those 3 above). Of course, I will have to hold back in Calgary...

As much as I would like a bottle of the Wiser's 35 (and a 35 YO for $165 is fabulous) I won't spend that much on a bottle. I am willing to taste it again though......

Not sure how many of you are on Instagram, but I just saw a video showcasing a vile sampler pack of the new Northern Border Collection. It features both the new releases and their predecessors. My apologies for the poor photos, they are phone screen grabs. I don't know if this will hit retail, I messaged someone about it and am hoping to hear back with good news!

NBC Box

@Mancub That would be an interesting set to get. But would you open it?

@Nozinan They look like very small samples. If the price was right I would definitely get it to see which of the new collection is worth purchasing. I have a feeling though that it will be an expensive set.

@paddockjudge Consider me team Lot 40. If the Cask Strength is not available in Barrie, I will riot, in a very Canadian way....which is to say...I will write several strongly-worded emails AND speak politely to the manager at my local LCBO about my concerns.

@OdysseusUnbound, I've got you covered on the flip-side...I'm one "tired" Canuck.