Show us your whisky!

[Cheese Mechanic]

NRS said:

As a newer member to the family, what timescale are you thinking in regards to the prices being almost half? A lot of stuff has prices that rise very quickly - for cars think of how many complaints there are about a Golf costing x amount on PH for example. I'd say it's more the top end that has seen a bigger change, which relates to the companies trying to gain more of the profits that speculators having been making previously.

I'm another who has perceived a rise in prices way in advance of inflation. Its not so long back that I recall Caol Ila 12 at approx £27 when on promo (30 when not) , nowadays hiting £40 or so. As for time scale, I couldn't be bothered in looking to far into my order records, but one key parameter is a bottle of Bulleit Bourbon in my stash. I paid £19.75 for it New Year 2013 , it is now £28.45 from the same retailer. A pretty big difference.

As for the higher end, very true concerning distilleries ramping up premium whiskies that have previously been speculated on. The main reason I had a hissy fit with Diageo, prior to them ramping Lagavulin special releases at least I had a chance of getting in at reasonable cost before the speculators, they killed that, and pumped up prices to what I cannot justify. Its seems to have had an effect however, it seems the special releases are not selling, hardly suprising in some cases.

As for NAS releases, it seems that the distilleries have been pumping these out and pricing them close to aged statement whiskies, with (I assume) the aim to make the NAS whisky the "new" price and quietly elevate the aged expressions upwards cost wise. In fact in most cases it seems that things have climbed, but the NAS and aged not having much, if any, price difference (at least of what I've noted)

The economy being what it is, may well have influenced this. I'm unsure, but it does seem that distilleries over reached themselves in some cases, got a bit too greedy , we shall see, as they say.

[NRS]

Cheese Mechanic said:

As for the higher end, very true concerning distilleries ramping up premium whiskies that have previously been speculated on. The main reason I had a hissy fit with Diageo, prior to them ramping Lagavulin special releases at least I had a chance of getting in at reasonable cost before the speculators, they killed that, and pumped up prices to what I cannot justify. Its seems to have had an effect however, it seems the special releases are not selling, hardly suprising in some cases.

I have to agree about the Diageo stuff - every year they just give it another silly increase. Generally they're supposed to be very good, but at several hundred pounds upwards no one is buying.

[Podie]

The whisky market has exploded - NAS offerings means they can churn out the stuff consistently but without having to wait as long. I think it's that simple.

To be honest, I find myself buying more obscure and single cask offerings.

[sheepsplitter]

The reason we've seen a massive increase in whisky prices recently is due to the alcohol escalator for tax, that was introduced in 2008.
This wonderful legislation means that you are now paying 79% tax on every bottle of whisky!!
In essence, tax on whisky has increased by 44% in the last 5 years. So it's not greedy distillery's it's a greedy government that has caused the massive increases of late.

So a £50 bottle of Laphroaig (for example) leaves £10.50 for the retailer and the distillery after the government takes their share.

Or to put it another way, a £30 bottle of whisky in 2008 (about what I was paying for Laphroaig back then) had £19.50 to share between the retailer and the distiller after the tax, and now they only have £10.50 on a £50 bottle.

More info here for those who are interested:-
http://www.scotch-whisky.org.uk/news-publications/...

Edited by sheepsplitter on Saturday 14th February 20:03

Edited by sheepsplitter on Saturday 14th February 20:04

[Mr Trophy]

For the Highland Park fans out there, the new special release is out - highlandpark.co.uk/shop/odin/

However, £180 for a 16 year old ..... !

[sheepsplitter]

Mr Trophy said:

For the Highland Park fans out there, the new special release is out - highlandpark.co.uk/shop/odin/

However, £180 for a 16 year old ..... !

Judging by the sluggish performance of their web server, the demand for £180 16 year olds is high.

Interestingly I bought a bottle of 16 year old Waitrose Highland Malt ( http://www.waitrose.com/shop/DisplayProductFlyout?... ) at the weekend.
I believe it may be Tamdhu or Glengoyne. Anyway there is an offer in Waitrose currently and you can get it for £27 a bottle.
For that price it has to be worth a punt?

Edited by sheepsplitter on Monday 16th February 09:14

[F-Stop Junkie]

Blown2CV said:

bullies180 said:

£45 normally unless its on a deal i thought.

£36.34 on master of malt, with £5 delivery. I guess you'd need to buy two bottles to get it for £38 all-in, but just because it's touching £50 in the supermarket doesn't meant that's what you need to pay. I wouldn't get decent whisky from a supermarket, i don't think they buy enough of it to make it cheap. Unless it's on offer though as you say.

This is based on probably a ten year period (if that!) and observations on Supermarket shelf prices. It's a subjective measure, but seeing the same malts again and again (Laphroaig Quarter Cask, Lagavulin 16, Jura, Glenfiddich) gives a sense of where prices are going. Ardbeg is rare enough in supermarkets to make it notable.

This is why I have a litre of duty free Ardbeg 10 tucked away!

[volks al]

HP Odin is now sold out, I was lucky enough to get a bottle, after waiting up until midnight and 30 mins of battling a slow server.

[jammy_basturd]

Offer on in Sainsbury's - £5 off Monkey Shoulder, down to £22 a bottle. Very easy going blended whisky, nice alternative to Glenfiddich 12 for me.

[Swervin_Mervin]

I think Aberlour 10 is back on at £22 as well in Sainsbury's. Perhaps a little less in Co-Op.

[sheepsplitter]

Asda have Laphroaig 10 for £29 - as a 'rollback' offer.
That's a cracking peaty bottle for less than £30 quid.

[bullies180]

F-Stop Junkie said:

Blown2CV said:

bullies180 said:

£45 normally unless its on a deal i thought.

£36.34 on master of malt, with £5 delivery. I guess you'd need to buy two bottles to get it for £38 all-in, but just because it's touching £50 in the supermarket doesn't meant that's what you need to pay. I wouldn't get decent whisky from a supermarket, i don't think they buy enough of it to make it cheap. Unless it's on offer though as you say.

This is based on probably a ten year period (if that!) and observations on Supermarket shelf prices. It's a subjective measure, but seeing the same malts again and again (Laphroaig Quarter Cask, Lagavulin 16, Jura, Glenfiddich) gives a sense of where prices are going. Ardbeg is rare enough in supermarkets to make it notable.

This is why I have a litre of duty free Ardbeg 10 tucked away!

I have only seen Ardbeg 10 on sale once, that was in Tesco for £35 and couldnt get my hands on any. If you do keep an eye out on mysupermarket you can find some good offers. I prefer more speyside/ highland whiskys myself, although i do like lagavulin which i get from costco

[Blown2CV]

bullies180 said:

F-Stop Junkie said:

Blown2CV said:

bullies180 said:

£45 normally unless its on a deal i thought.

£36.34 on master of malt, with £5 delivery. I guess you'd need to buy two bottles to get it for £38 all-in, but just because it's touching £50 in the supermarket doesn't meant that's what you need to pay. I wouldn't get decent whisky from a supermarket, i don't think they buy enough of it to make it cheap. Unless it's on offer though as you say.

This is based on probably a ten year period (if that!) and observations on Supermarket shelf prices. It's a subjective measure, but seeing the same malts again and again (Laphroaig Quarter Cask, Lagavulin 16, Jura, Glenfiddich) gives a sense of where prices are going. Ardbeg is rare enough in supermarkets to make it notable.

This is why I have a litre of duty free Ardbeg 10 tucked away!

I have only seen Ardbeg 10 on sale once, that was in Tesco for £35 and couldnt get my hands on any. If you do keep an eye out on mysupermarket you can find some good offers. I prefer more speyside/ highland whiskys myself, although i do like lagavulin which i get from costco

supermarkets are rarely cheaper than the cheapest places on the Internet. Good for an opportunistic purchase if your tastes are restricted to what they stock, but that's about it.

[Mr Trophy]

I am like a kid on Christmas Day right now !

[bullies180]

Blown2CV said:

supermarkets are rarely cheaper than the cheapest places on the Internet. Good for an opportunistic purchase if your tastes are restricted to what they stock, but that's about it.

i suppose I need to look more on the net, I'm quite new to whisky, only really been drinking it for a year or so, so I normally stick to offers of the main brand stuff in supermarkets. I haven't really gone off piste with it yet.

[Blown2CV]

bullies180 said:

Blown2CV said:

supermarkets are rarely cheaper than the cheapest places on the Internet. Good for an opportunistic purchase if your tastes are restricted to what they stock, but that's about it.

i suppose I need to look more on the net, I'm quite new to whisky, only really been drinking it for a year or so, so I normally stick to offers of the main brand stuff in supermarkets. I haven't really gone off piste with it yet.

It wasn't a dig! Have a look on masters of malt and whisky exchange. Upside is you can buy testers so you don't need to take a massive punt on a whole bottle of something you've not tried. Supermarkets are getting better but they aim for the masses.

[NRS]

Mr Trophy said:

I am like a kid on Christmas Day right now !

What do you think of it?

[bullies180]

Blown2CV said:

It wasn't a dig! Have a look on masters of malt and whisky exchange. Upside is you can buy testers so you don't need to take a massive punt on a whole bottle of something you've not tried. Supermarkets are getting better but they aim for the masses.

didnt think that was a dig in the slightest I'm quite new relatively speaking in the whisky world and am picking things up as i go along. I even read all 300+ pages of this forum, filled some lunch hours!

[sheepsplitter]

Talikser 10 is up for £27 a bottle in Morrisons, until 15th March.
http://groceries.morrisons.com/webshop/product/Tal...

[Mr Trophy]

NRS said:

Mr Trophy said:

I am like a kid on Christmas Day right now !

What do you think of it?

The glass itself is outstanding. I am too scared to open it up as it's that beautiful

Box and book it comes with is great. I am more surprised it's not damaged in any shape as it's come all the way from New York to Edinburgh!