The Rising Prices of Whisk(e)y

@OdysseusUnbound - Dreaming big I'd buy/build a golf course next to my favourite distillery and, you know, offer a few complementary VIP memberships to the chiefs . . . get in via the back door, so to speak!

I feel I should add, all jesting aside, that if you have the means to pay higher prices than I do, I do not in anyway condone that. If that notion comes across I apologise and would wish to set the record straight! As I hinted at above, given the chance I'd spend a heck of a lot more on whisky, I just wouldn't like to feel I was paying for a name over quality, and feel that distilleries that are should be called out on it by the more discerning customers i.e you lot!

If you can, do it and good luck to you! But please do share your experience. I'll only be a teensy weensy bit jealous, honest

@RianC You'd be hard pressed to find a decent single malt for 50 pounds (86.00) in Ontario. Most start at the mid 90 and century mark and go up from there. There is one word used in marketing that I absolutely detest. That word is "only". It is used a lot in car ads here. Hurry in and purchase this XXX car for only $36,995 while supplies last. I'm surprised the LCBO has not jumped in and started using the subliminal "only" word.

@PeterG7 - I know and I do feel for you Canadians - the LCBO is mind boggling to me. Mind you, you can now smoke pot without fear of reprisal so every cloud

To be fair, it seems like the mark up you pay on Scotch (as an import) is similar to what we in the UK pay extra on bourbon compared to US prices. I don't mind that per se, but I wont be paying £££ for a Pappy Van just because . . .

@RianC Actually, a very fair point by my learned colleague. I shall stand corrected. Here Here! :-)

@RianC Your original post got me thinking about some of the whisky I have currently that are unopened. I like Balvenie and have over the years purchased many. I have the following ones unopened that I purchased years ago when only myself and maybe 10 other people in the entire world drank single malts (humour). The point I'm making is prices were reasonable. I didn't come anywhere near the prices I've listed when I bought them

Balvenie 21 price today 493.00 Balvenie Tun 851.95 Caribbean cask - 139.95 Balvenie Doublewood 17 - 293

There are some more, but, you get my point.

Had I been far sighted I might have bought 2 maybe 3. So, my dilemma is open them. Enjoy them and never buy another. You know! I'm going to open them.

@casualtorture: bad news, good news. Bad in that you failed to win the $300 mil MEGA lottery. Good news is you get a shot at $900 mil. Or, perhaps in your eyes, opportunity to buy THREE distilleries

Speaking of rising prices of whisky I just checked on the latest release of Lagavulin 12 as I was thinking of getting a bottle.

It actually gives a good timeline of the rising price of whisky. It's a favourite I frequently go back to. I first brought a bottle in 2009 when at the time it was just a little more expensive than the 16. The argument being although it was 4 years younger it was cask strength. The price of the releases from memory.

2009-£55, 2012-£70, 2015-£80, 2017-£90 (I didn't by the 2017 but I considered it and checked the price online)

They've just released the 2018 version and its priced at £110

How they justify that price heaven only knows. I just hope people don't buy it.

To give a comparison the Springbank 12 which I think is a better whisky (although it's not an easy comparison as they scratch different itches) goes for £60.

Lagavulin which was the first single malt I ever drank may sadly be added to the list of distilleries I no longer buy whisky from.

@Wierdo - ' . . . in 2009 when at the time it was just a little more expensive than the 16. The argument being although it was 4 years younger it was cask strength. '

A valid argument and fair enough. I wonder what their justification for the more than doubling the price since then is?

I see the MoM review section has highlighted this rather bluntly . . .

@RianC I've left a rather scathing comment on their Facebook page too!

Some interesting articles here.

thewhiskymarketltd.com/the-market/…

Scotch whisky provides a greater return on investment for producers than the London property market.

Also in 2006 a distillery could expect to make a 50% profit on investment. By 2015 that figure had increased to 225%.

statista.com/statistics/422809/…

According to the article above. Production of scotch has gone down. Which makes little sense when viewed in comparison to increasing demand.

Unless, like the housing market you are purposely keeping stocks low to driveup prices.

@Wierdo - Unless, like the housing market you are purposely keeping stocks low to driveup prices.

. . . now who would do such a thing?!? lol

Seems whisky gives you a better return than selling property in that there London . . . blimey!

@RianC can’t get a mortgage on whisky though ... believe me i’ve Tried ...