For those of you who have been around the block a few times, can you explain to me how the world of spirits works? I mean, it wasn't long ago I was tripping over Buffalo Trace bottles in the liquor store and now you can't find one. A fifth of Weller Special Reserve was $60 the first time I passed it by. Now it's $90!!! I just paid over $40 for a bottle of Redemption High Rye and discovered the MSRP is $25 (it wasn't worth $25 btw).

I get supply vs demand but do prices just fluctuate as a new batch come out? I am assuming they don't release daily? What the heck drives availability and cost?

For drinking questions we have lots of staff experts...pricing questions go to WAWI.

Sazerac who owns Buffalo Trace Distillery (which is home to Wellers, Eagle Rare, Blanton's, Pappy's and more) tried to get a rise in prices a few years back by cutting their production. They hoped that others would follow them and cut production, but no one did. Thus their supply now has dried up pretty much, while others are easy to find. In a year or two they should be back to normal.

I've got nothing. I only drink the finest Rich and Rare Reserve. It's cheap everywhere!!

Covid sales have driven everything up. BT is now considered allocated and the shipments are slow. Everyone is on the OMG band wagon when your talking about Buffalo Trace products, and the secondary market is having a hay day, just like ammo. I picked up a bottle of Blanton's Monday, haven't seen a bottle of BT, Eagle Rare or EH this year. Its time for another bourbon run

Thought was this about airline tickets...

Seriously

You’re joking.

Are you serious?

Got it right finally. I think...

Bourbon is very hot right now, certain ones are almost impossible to get. Lots of the sought after stuff gets allotted. The distributor only gets so much, the liquor stores only get so much, the ones that sell to bars use it to keep certain accounts happy. What does hit the shelves of these rare ones get bought almost immediately if they are priced at msrp. The msrp really hasnt changed much in the last 5 years. Some stores, especially those that dont sell to bars do 2 things. They either double or triple the price or they hold for their best regular customers in back. Basically it's a pay to play game. I'm having a hard time getting anything right now due to specs buying goody goody.

Btw, don’t fly spirit

Sorry. Changed the title.

Me too. I was going to warn you guys and refer you to the long line of angry folks at the airport for proof. (I could have used a few different adjectives there)

I don't call hard liquor a spirit. It might be right but just seems weird.

Now I refer you back to the folks who've been around the block....

This development puts our very own BCBassCat in quite the pickle.