LCBO new products

[Pudge72]

BERNHEIM ORIGINAL WHEAT WHISKEY (HEAVEN HILL DISTI
VINTAGES 278077 | 750 mL bottle

Price: $ 74.95

not showing stock yet. I enjoyed a bottle of this last summer on a trip south of the border - paid under $30 for it. I'll pass!

I am glad the LCBO seems to be making a concerted effort to increase the variety of US product offering, but I REALLY wish they would start to get a clue about pricing. Specifically, to compare to another recent addition, the Evan Williams Single Barrel is basically $20 cheaper at the LCBO (and still excessively priced...it should be $40 to $45 up here, as a 'reasonable' price mark-up, relative to other similar bourbons) for a bottle that more or less costs the same as the Bernheim Wheat in the US!

[portwood]

... but I REALLY wish they would start to get a clue about pricing.

Complain to:
- The Premier (responsible for appointing the Attorney General)
- The Attorney General (minister responsible for the AGCO)
- Chair of the AGCO (agency responsible for the LCBO)
- Chair of the LCBO (bureaucrat)
- President of the LCBO (bureaucrat)
- SVP Finance, CFO (bean counter)
- Buyer for Spirits (chief taster)
- your MPP (invisible, unless he happens to be one of the first two above)

In that order ....

[Yello to Mello]

BERNHEIM ORIGINAL WHEAT WHISKEY (HEAVEN HILL DISTI
VINTAGES 278077 | 750 mL bottle

Price: $ 74.95

not showing stock yet. I enjoyed a bottle of this last summer on a trip south of the border - paid under $30 for it. I'll pass!

I am glad the LCBO seems to be making a concerted effort to increase the variety of US product offering, but I REALLY wish they would start to get a clue about pricing. Specifically, to compare to another recent addition, the Evan Williams Single Barrel is basically $20 cheaper at the LCBO (and still excessively priced...it should be $40 to $45 up here, as a 'reasonable' price mark-up, relative to other similar bourbons) for a bottle that more or less costs the same as the Bernheim Wheat in the US!

Perhaps this is their marketing strategy. Over the past couple years they have increased the US whisky category by a lot. The first bottles they added were very reasonably priced and successful. In the past few weeks the latest additions raised eyebrows. Otherwise its the opposite and they bought what they could by cheaper first to test the market then slowly added....IDK.

[dbk]

Honestly, there is a very simple way to deal with this sort of issue: if you find a product has been unfairly priced, don't buy it. The LCBO will make money off of their reasonably priced products, and we will either buy the good stuff from the LCBO when they price things properly—I'm not opposed to a reasonable increase in price to help pay for health care, etc. (though, admittedly, I think there are better ways to finance government services than this)—or we will buy the good stuff on the other side of the border, duty free.

portwood's jokey list of complaint recipients aside, I think it wouldn't be a terrible idea to inform the LCBO administrators of this very issue. Send them an email saying something to the effect of: "Thank you for bringing in Rock Hill Farms. From what I have heard, it is excellent whisky. Some day, I plan to buy a bottle, but only when it is reasonably priced. I know what its value is in the United States, and what its value is relative to other whiskies. I hope you will entertain the possibility that not all of your clients are deep-pocketed cretins, and price items more fairly in the future."

[Card Player]

People are paying the price. The lcbo at mavis sold out and the bay/bloor is moving some too. With pricing, someone will pay it....someone always pays it....

[dbk]

People are paying the price. The lcbo at mavis sold out and the bay/bloor is moving some too. With pricing, someone will pay it....someone always pays it....

Fortunately, that isn't true. I regularly see posts on the MLL about some products not moving because of the price. Moreover, the LCBO doesn't have any incentive to see items sit on the shelves, so the speed at which a product moves is also relevant. But, like I said, just because others are buying the stuff at the LCBO doesn't mean you have to. Wait for a trip to the US and pick up a bottle for your duty free allotment. In fact, with RHF, you could find several stores in which you would save money if even you paid duty on the bottle!

[Smithford]

In fact, with RHF, you could find several stores in which you would save money if even you paid duty on the bottle!

If you bought RHF and Bernheim on the same trip, you'd save enough to pay for your fuel too.

[Lawrence]

Privatize the LCBO; that'll sort out the market. And government will still have the revenue to finance health care but more likely they'll just waste it.

[portwood]

Privatize the LCBO; that'll sort out the market.

... don't tell zunak

[portwood]

Independent bottling of Clynelish:
97 14YO 1ST ED. CLYNELISH SINGLE MALT (EDITION)
VINTAGES 279703 | 700 mL bottle
Price: $ 137.95
Made in: Scotland, United Kingdom
By: Edition Spirits Ltd

bottle specs:
52.8%
NCF, no added colour
distilled 1997, bottled 2012
single cask ref ES 009/03

[Zunak]

People are paying the price. The lcbo at mavis sold out and the bay/bloor is moving some too. With pricing, someone will pay it....someone always pays it....

Fortunately, that isn't true. I regularly see posts on the MLL about some products not moving because of the price. Moreover, the LCBO doesn't have any incentive to see items sit on the shelves, so the speed at which a product moves is also relevant. But, like I said, just because others are buying the stuff at the LCBO doesn't mean you have to. Wait for a trip to the US and pick up a bottle for your duty free allotment. In fact, with RHF, you could find several stores in which you would save money if even you paid duty on the bottle!

Excellent points DBK. I totally agree. You and I are fortunate when it comes to Bourbons to be in very close proximity to US stores and this post is in reference to Bourbons only. My rule of thumb is if it's less than half of the LCBO price I can safely buy it, pay duty, and bring it back all nice and legal like and save money. Some items however are more beneficial for me to buy here. Eagle Rare is just one example that immediately comes to mind (it's more than half the LCBO price at a store close to me in the US). Another factor for me is how far I have to travel to get the damn thing. If my option is to drive an hour or more one way to get a bottle Stateside that I will have to pay duty on, or sit at home and have one sent to my local store that costs me slightly more than twice as much.... I'll stay home. As I personally reserve my duty free 48's for really high end stuff that we can't even get here I never find myself using that option for a Bourbon that the LCBO currently stocks.

[bebdo]

Don't know if this has been posted before. Wish the site was still showing the abv - made it easier to identify/compare online

1. MACKMYRA BRUKSWHISKY*
Sweden | Mackmyra
LCBO 269704 | 700 mL | $ 49.50 | LIMITED SUPPLY
2. MACKMYRA MOMENT 01 MEDVIND*
Sweden | Mackmyra
LCBO 269662 | 700 mL | $ 185.00 | LIMITED SUPPLY
3. MACKMYRA SPECIAL 04*
Sweden | Mackmyra
LCBO 269647 | 700 mL | $ 106.00 | LIMITED SUPPLY
4. MACKMYRA THE FIRST EDITION*
Sweden | Mackmyra
LCBO 269639 | 700 mL | $ 66.95 | LIMITED SUPPLY

BLACK BULL 12 YEAR OLD*
LCBO 272336 | 700 mL bottle
Price: $ 68.70

[portwood]

Don't know if this has been posted before. Wish the site was still showing the abv - made it easier to identify/compare online

Looks like they are all in stock at Summerhill location.
I will check them out and report back to the collective.

[portwood]

Don't know if this has been posted before. Wish the site was still showing the abv - made it easier to identify/compare online

1. MACKMYRA BRUKSWHISKY*
Sweden | Mackmyra
LCBO 269704 | 700 mL | $ 49.50 | LIMITED SUPPLY
41.4%

2. MACKMYRA MOMENT 01 MEDVIND*
Sweden | Mackmyra
LCBO 269662 | 700 mL | $ 185.00 | LIMITED SUPPLY

3. MACKMYRA SPECIAL 04*
Sweden | Mackmyra
LCBO 269647 | 700 mL | $ 106.00 | LIMITED SUPPLY
53% bottled summer 2010

4. MACKMYRA THE FIRST EDITION*
Sweden | Mackmyra
LCBO 269639 | 700 mL | $ 66.95 | LIMITED SUPPLY
46.1%

BLACK BULL 12 YEAR OLD*
LCBO 272336 | 700 mL bottle
Price: $ 68.70
50%ABV, 50% malt/50% grain

I may pick up a bottle of the BB12. (photo out of focus - not posted)

[portwood]

TEANINICH SINGLE MALT HIGHLAND 12Y(LOMBARD BRANDS)
VINTAGES 278200 | 700 mL bottle
Price: $ 66.95
Made in: Scotland, United Kingdom
By: Lombard Brands Ltd
Release Date: N/A
Spirits

[portwood]

For the adventurous ...

ROGUE OREGON SINGLE MALT WHISKEY
LCBO 272302 | 750 mL bottle
LIMITED SUPPLY - AVAILABLE WHILE QUANTITIES LAST*
Price: $ 88.80
Made in: Oregon, USA
By: House Of Spirits

Rather expensive ... but it was "ocean aged in oak barrels for 3 months" ...

[Yello to Mello]

The new store on front st east has its grand opening on may 11th. It seems like a fair size so it may be relevent. Since its right beside my work I can carry out product investigations there

A tassting bar could also be possible

[Mr Tattie Heid]

Is that near the St Lawrence Market?

[Yello to Mello]

Is that near the St Lawrence Market?

Pretty close, a few blocks east.

[SMC]

May 26 vintages:

278077 BERNHEIM ORIGINAL WHEAT 45.0% $74.95
269712 ARRAN BOURBON CASK 55.0% $91.95

June 9 vintages:

308155 JOHNNIE WALKER BLUE 43.0% $289.95
179150 MACALLAN SHERRY OAK 25 YEARS 43.0% $799.95
981381 GLENFIDDICH GRAN RESERVA 21 YEARS 40.0% $236.95
366963 BALVENIE 15 YEARS OLD SINGLE BARREL 50.5% $145.95

Most are a little too rich for my blood. The Arran looks interesting though.

[Yello to Mello]

New Sazaracs

HERBSAINT (SAZERAC COMPANY, INC.)
VINTAGES 281022 | 750 mL bottle

Price: $ 49.95

HANCOCKS PRESIDENTS RESERVE BOURBON(SAZARAC COMP.)
VINTAGES 273623 | 750 mL bottle

Price: $ 75.95

[SMC]

Surprised to see Hancock's, the other new bourbon listings have been because of the vintages tasting on June 20th, but Hancock's isn't listed as part of the event. The price isn't exactly ideal though, but apparently this can go for $50 in an American store so it does make some sense.

[Smithford]

Hancock's is another expression from BT's Blanton's/Rock Hill Farms higher-rye mashbill. Some tasters have suggested that Hancock's barrels are selected for a tropical fruit character.

It's one I've never tried, and at $76, am not likely to soon. As SMC noted, it can go for up to $50 in some states. But it's also been on sale recently at the Liquor Barn for $27. It's in a squat, rather ugly bottle which doesn't exactly scream 'premium.'

I think I'll save my pennies for the bottles at the BT tasting event.

[dbk]

Just as a follow-up to SMC and Smithford's posts, the reviews I've read of Hancock's—not having tried it myself, either—is that it is typically overpriced in the US. So the $75.95 price tag is a reasonable markup (by LCBO standards) over the US prices, but the US prices are themselves unreasonably high. It's a shame, really. I'd love to keep trying more variants of Buffalo Trace's high rye mash bill (e.g. Blanton's Gold, Rock Hill Farms), but not at the prices we're seeing.

[bebdo]

http://www.vintages.com/vmail/kavalan_en.shtml?utm_source=EmailMay17&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=KavalanOffer

They had a form you could fill out at the SoT booth for this - in case anyone missed it and are interested.
Excellent reviews. This has got me thinking .. limit what I drink and go with the occasional splurge? I can't afford to do both