The Price For a Bottle of SMSW

@HP12 I've just written a similar reply! Anyway, in Italy the situation is: Laphroaig 10 from 26 euro, Laphroaig QC from 33, Lagavulin 16 from 47, Talisker 10 from 35, Highland Park 12 from 32, Balvenie 12 dw from around 40, glenmorangie 10 from 39...I have no idea of the Macallan :)

@lucadanna1985 Sorry if this is a redundant thread. Not intended to be. Interesting subject.

@HP12 oh it isn't! Absolutely! I just meant I was writing on the same thread at the same time! for every porr man who has to face the frowned eyebrows of a wife/girlfriend or the empty sadness of his wallet after a purchase this is absolutely interesting topic!

@lucadanna1985 yes, the wallet can take a quick beating in our exploration and pursuit of various bottles of Scotch to adorn our cabinets and moods. What a journey! Stay thirsty my friend!

@HP12

Here's a sampling from Ontario, Canada (courtesy of the provincially run Liquor Control Board of Ontario website). All prices are for 750 mL bottles, in Canadian currency, which at the time of this posting is roughly on par with the US $: - Laphroaig 10 (in a 1000 mL bottle) - $84.95 - Laphroaig QC - $64.95 - Lagavulin 16 - $109.95 - Talisker 10 - $69.95 - HP 12 - $59.95 - Balvenie 12DW - $65.95 - Glenmorangie 10 - not certain as the website does not specifically identify a 10 yo. - Macallan 12 Sherry - $89.95 (though it does not specify the Sherry component.

• Some prices appear to be comparable, most make me want to drive to Buffalo or Detroit (or Virginia) to pick up product!!! :)
• From what I gather, the LCBO rarely puts SMSW's on sale (the only one listed on sale at this time is the Smokehead, going for $55 instead of $60), and I believe it may only be done when certain labels are being introduced.
• If anybody is interested in browsing, the LCBO website is www.lcbo.com

@Pudge72 Looks like "Oh, Canada" is "WOW Canada" when it comes to SMSW prices, eh?! Looks like you get the crown for priciest malts so far.

@HP12

I am pretty much in the same boat as Pudge72. Here in Quebec, like Ontario, we get hit with a nice Sin tax that just pushes the prices up. The bottles you mentioned are priced as follows. Lagavulin - 101.75, Talisker 10 - 69.75, Highland Park 12 - 61.50, Balvenie 12 Double Wood - 60.50, Glenmorangie 10 - 62.75, The Macallan 12 - 82.00. The Laphroaigs are not sold here (God only knows why) so no price comparrison on those.

@Pudge72 , it would indeed be most perverse and fascinating to see the reverse of the '20s with hordes of Canadians smuggling in liquor from Detroit!

@Victor There you go. Bring back the Purple Gang!

@HP12, here in Quebec, we have the Laphroaig Quarter Cask that comes out twice a year at 63$. It is not a regular product. Ardbeg 10 is 90$, Ardbeg Uigeadail is 145$ and Highland Park 18 140$. The others are like @nthum mentioned. I think that we have the priciest whisky. Although some times, there are deals that pop out from nowhere. The Ontario (LCBO) got the Kilchoman Summer Release a few months ago and sold it at 35$. I believe a LCBO employee just messed it up when he entered the price in the system.

Here's the current inventory / price list for Scotch at Virginia state controlled stores (seems like we have a decent selection albeit pricey) ---> abc.state.va.us/Pricelist/…

@Kutter, how does the general availability and selection of whiskies in P.Quebec compare to that in Ontario (LCBO)?

@Victor I would say that the selection looks better at LCBO although I do not shop often at LCBO because it is too far away from my place. I take a look at the web site to compare sometimes. I know that LCBO started Whisky Shop, which tends to proposes a greater selection and I think that the LCBO detected that there is a rising demand for great whiskies, which I don't believe the SAQ did. I received a Nikka Yoichi as a gift recently that was bought at the LCBO. This is a good example of the less conventional products that the LCBO offers. Kilchoman is another good example. There are more independent bottlings also. Another difference is that at SAQ, any product that has a limited offer or is a bit more luxury are not spread out in all SAQ, they are only offered at the SAQ Signature stores and there are only two of those stores: one in Montreal and another one in Quebec City. I believe that the products are more available through out the Province of Ontario in the case of the LCBO. In conclusion, I think that LCBO offers a better selection with better availability, but as for pricing, I think we are both in deep s*&$#... The best place for whisky in Canada looks to be Alberta. Anyone from there can confirm ?

@Kutter, thanks much for the excellent information on availability in Quebec and Ontario. I am going to Collingwood Ontario in April and hope to find some interesting whiskies. Of course, coming from the US, Alberta Premium is extremely exotic, since it is not distributed here at all. (although, oddly, my Maryland shop has Tangle Ridge on the shelf) When I am next in Quebec City or Montreal I will look to visit the SAQ Signature stores.