What's the most outrageous retail markup?

@Nozinan I never forgot that story when you first told me. Still haunts me today.

It seems that it is a thread for Canadians and their friends. Although I know the Aussie can join us with unfortunately very good credentials.

@Nozinan The Premium Spirit Release listings are on the BC Liquor Stores website. All available Nov 4th. There is a 1964 Black Bowmore listed for $33,500, that's before they bang on another 15% tax at the till. They say quantities are limited, so I should shop early to avoid disappointment. I think I should not shop at all to avoid personal bankruptcy.

@BlueNote, "quantities are limited!" is one of the weakest & overused sales pitches known to man.

Because of course, if they hadn't pointed that out, then you expect their supplies of 1964 Black Bowmore to be unlimited?

@BlueNote I didn't realize the BC prices weren't all in. I guess the only good thing about the LCBO is the price you see is the price you pay. That was the most refreshing thing about shopping on our trip to Spain this year was the all in pricing.

@BlueNote You have to be careful. From what I understand there were 3 black Bowmore 1964 releases of 29-30-31 years, then about a decade later there was an older 1964 release.

I am told the 30 YO version is only worth in resale about $15000.

@Robert99 maybe for those from Ontario and or BC. Certainly no one from Alberta is bitching about SM prices nor Nova Scotia to some extent.

totalwine.com/spirits/scotch/…

mynslc.com/en/products/…

@Astroke In Calgary A'Bunadh jumped from ~$80 to ~$120 in the space of a year. There HAVE been some complaints.

@Nozinan Agreed. These days you definitely have to shop around in Alberta.

@Nozinan I did notice that all Aberlour went up in Alberta, 16 was $109.00. For the most part SM prices in Alberta are reasonable.

@BlueNote I would love to have the opportunity to take a Saturday and just shop around looking for a good deal or forgotten SM.

@Astroke Excellent way to spend a day. You would probably have to send your wife or girlfriend off to shop for shoes and handbags in order to get away with it. It would be interesting to see who could inflict the most damage on their credit card.

For core expressions: Ardbeg Oogie.
$175 in Ontario. $95 in Calgary.

Ardbeg Corey $205 in Ontario. $103 in Calgary.

Glenfiddich 21 $477 in Ontario. $269 in Calgary

Balvenie 14 Carib Cask $134 in Ontario. $91 in Calgary.

Balvenie 12 doublewood $95 in Ontario. $74 in Calgary.

Those are some examples to illustrate disparities in higher end and entry level stuff. A few months ago I got Octomore 7.2 for $100 in Calgary (on sale). It’s $250 at the LCBO. The LCBO sucks.

@nooch I could give you examples of other "steals" and also the lack of variety at LCBO compared to Alberta. Calgary is the whisky retail capital of Canada.

The only good thing about my sister living across the country is the chance to buy whisky at better prices. I subscribe to every flyer in Calgary and get a nice influx of bottles a couple of times a year!!

Here's one that I never understood. Highland Park 25 year old is $899.95 at the LCBO while just East of us in Nova Scotia HP25 is $500.08. How does that make sense?

@Mancub The NS dollar is stringer than the Ontario dollar....

@Mancub It's the only way they can get any tax money out of the super rich Ontarians? They learned everything they know from BC. where HP 25 is a mere $856.75.

@Mancub I have brought in about 30 bottles of SM/Whisky/Rum from NS over the last 3 years and saved thousands if bought in Ontario. I look forward to the March releases in NS every year.

@Astroke That's awesome! It's hard buying some bottles when you know they are cheaper somewhere else. I had a friend that just got back from there and I was tempted to ask her to grab me a Balblair 1990 Vintage as it's almost half price there. I think Benromach 10 100proof is $88 if I remember correctly too. Some decent prices on things we can get here and some selection that we don't get (Kavalan and Edradour come to mind). She had a rough trip though and I didn't want to pile on my favor.

A local store by me had Redbreast 21yo marked down to $200. That's a pretty solid deal not just for Ontario but vs. the States too, I think.

@Mancub I think my friend had someone grab the last Balblair 1990/2015 today in NS. I have purchased 3 of them over the last 2 years. There are still some good deals there but I notice after each summer the American and Ontario (including me) tourists clean them out.

Having an understanding sister living there and sympathetic to my cause helps mightily

@Astroke Hah, what are the chances. I read a bunch of reviews and got really excited over it, but it's just marked up way too much here. Sounds like you have a good thing going for you over there!

@Mancub Don't forget the few bottles of Amrut Intermediate Sherry sitting there as well.

@Astroke Don't tease the rest of us ;)

@Mancub There are always ways to get these bottles out of NS.

@Astroke I have 4 bottles of Lemon Hart 151 sitting there and no way to get them here... (my cousin chickened out of mailing them...)

@Astroke You may have to enlighten me!

@Nozinan My sister sends by UPS, there is no issue. They even pack them for her.

@Astroke My next step...

@Nozinan The UPS route worked well for us from Calgary to BC. KWM did a great job of packaging up our order of 10 bottles. My 6 bottles came to $495 and my share of the shipping was $46. Well worth it.