Buffalo Trace Antique Collection Retail Price
Retail Price for 2014 BTAC
While the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection hasn’t seen the same price inflation as Pappy Van Winkle bourbonr’s are still paying a premium whether it’s at retail or on the secondary market. Buffalo Traces set the retail price for the entire Antique collection at $80 for 2014. This is a slight increase over 2013 but not by much.
What’s interesting is the secondary market has then set its own price based on age and taste. George T. Stagg has 1 1/2 times the amount of bottles produced as Eagle Rare 17 but yet it still sells for relatively the same price on the secondary market. Apparently, people prefer sweeter barrel proof bourbons to a drier well-aged bourbon.
33 comments
what’s a good secondary market for someone just getting into the collection phase of his/her bourbon hobby? i’ve found some good spirits sellers, but not all reliable. is there a bid place anymore (I know eBay is done doing it, and WineCommune points you to spirits’ sellers). maybe there a licensed bidder market online?
bottle-spot.com is my go to
Thank yoU!!!!
I have a complete 2013 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection I am trying to get rid of if you’re interested.
I would like to know more…
Winning4life@yahoo.com
-Michael
Having seen the availability of BTAC dwindle to nearly impossible for the sensible consumer due to black market re-sellers, I propose the following: if a retailer wants to honor folks that appreciate bourbon for consumption not a money-making commodity, they should sell at two price tiers: a reasonable retail if you are willing to open the bottle on site and a ridiculous premium price if you are not.
Good idea but but it’d be illegal and a great way to get an open container ticket
The bottles are corked. You cannot get an open container ticket. It falls under the same statutes that allow you to take an opened bottle of wine from a restaurant. The cork simply needs to be put back.
I think this law may vary by city. I know a lot of breweries locally that had a lot of problems with people buying growlers because of this law
Depends on the state, my local liquor store used to frequently open bottles for me to sample when I was in my heaviest buying phase. About 70-80% of the time I bought the bottle they opened for me.
What’s even worse is some liquor stores jacking up prices astronomically. A friend of mine just spotted 2013 GTS (I realize the article is about 2014) in Washington DC tonight, the price? $499
Does not surprise me. The DC market seems higher than other places.
I believe that DC’s liquor market prices are unregulated as opposed to Montgomery County, MD where prices for BTAC were actually at or $1 above actual retail. Even VA ABC prices are closer to regular retail, but still overpriced compared to MoCo, MD.
Example:
Booker’s (not 25th anniversary)
VA ABC: $75
MoCo: $51
I’d rather have the astronomical retail prices compared to what we have now.
BTAC and plenty of other bottles are essentially nonexistent in my state of Michigan. The small allocation of product that gets here gets swallowed up by the black market and never makes it to retail shelves. The retailers I deal with can get zero product.
I have a complete 2013 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection I am trying to get rid of if you’re interested.
I don’t really understand when stores price their items way beyond that of the secondary market. Sometimes it sells, but most of the time it sits on the shelf for an eternity. I feel like the distributors should penalize retailers by not allocating any products (or greatly reduce the number of allocated products) if they have remaining stock from the previous year(s). I have a local store that still has a 12yr Van Winkle Lot B ($499.99) and a 15yr Pappy ($999.99). Should they get more Pappy this fall? I think the answer is a resounding “no”.
I’m sure most distributors will realize this too and won’t give them anymore. At least that is my hope.
>Scott: Where is your store that wanted that kind of scratch for the Pappy 15? At that price it’d better be Stitzel-Weller!! (Tho’ I doubt it.)
Bob….in a suburb of Kansas City, MO but prices like these are becoming more and more prevalent especially in the big cities. And it is definitely not SW; this was last year’s fall release. They had a ’13 ORVW for $399.99 and someone actually bought it. I hate it when people buy this stuff from retailers at those prices. I’m hoping distributors step up like Blake said and start holding back allocated items when stores are unable to move older inventory. It makes total sense to me.
Let me say that the retailers in KCK and KCMO are great for the most part. A lot of retailers stay close to MSRP and some even below. There are just a couple stores I’ve come across that jack up their prices on BTAC and the Van Winkle lineup.
Just missed out here in California. The bottles arrived at my Total Wine in Tustin yesterday and sold out immediately. The said shipment could start at any time but no sooner than October 1st. They never come on the first week….until this year. Can’t believe I missed it pay 24 hrs. I have been looking to get Sazerac 18 Rye for so long. Now to wait and see if I can get the Pappy Rye.
Getting comical now. I always manage to get a Pappy 12, 15, or 20 but the rye always seems to sell out first. Last year my Total Wine only got 2 bottles.
Saw the invoices for GTS and WLW that came through last week. This is a small store that has never gotten BTAC before. $65 per bottle on a split case. This is up 25% from last year.
Add standard operating margin and you’re at $85. Add tax and your over $90 OTD. Don’t be too quick to accuse retailers of ‘gouging’ if you’re generally clueless how business must be done on a Gvmnt controlled substance like alcohol. Retilers have every right to price anything as they please.
Big difference between $90 for a BTAC and $1,000 for Pappy 15. I don’t mind paying a premium, but there’s a line to be drawn somewhere between a premium and unscrupulous price gouging.
Just heard that BTAC is in the Virginia ABC warehouse. Shipping out to stores to the stores next week. Will only be available to the people who have special ordered the products. Good luck!
Blake-please point me to where i can purchase a 2014 WLW for $250-I’ll buy it now
thanks
Steve – I’ve updated the post. It’s crazy how much prices have increased since I wrote that 2 months ago
Hey brother, here’s an idea. Find someone that lives say in the South or close to the stores and get a brother you can trust. Then they can box it up good and mail it to you. I’m starting the bourbon trail in Kentucky and the Whiskey one in Tennessee.
Blake, I am looking for 2 bottles of Pappy Van Winkle and I am a novice. Can you tell me where to begin my search?
Are you willing to pay secondary prices? If not, You’re pretty much out of luck until next fall.
An Impassioned Letter About The Currently SAD Condition Of Buffalo Trace / Van Winkle Products — THE RETAILER PROBLEM.
We are at a point in the season where the mad rush for VW / BTAC is dying down. The Holidays are over. Gifts have been given. Good times have been had by all…
SO, why do so many retailers still think they can get ludicrous prices for the BTAC / VW stocks? Now I understand and “get” that due to ridiculous demand and limited supply of the aforementioned products, there will naturally be an increase in “retail” price at the counter level. But, when a store has the audacity to charge $2999.99 (PVW 23 – Westchester Wine Warehouse, White Plains NY) when WE ALL KNOW that the product retails for only $249.99 (slp). That is not just gouging, its robbery & being wholly dishonest. You want to charge 40% over list ($416.65) – while still HIGH – its understandable due to the fanaticism the product is currently experiencing.
We all need to make money to survive & thrive – it’s America – I get it. But when it’s at the condition of just being a Lowlife (and that’s WHAT, if you do decide to rape & pillage regarding the mark ups, you are being!!). You might want to re-evaluate the your business practices, especially if you have to resort to this sort of thievery to survive.
Now retail is the “honest” way to go (give or take 1040 % – varying mark ups)… but the secondary market… THEY are the “flippers” (we all know what they ARE & how we feel about them!). Ultimately, in an ideal world, there would be no secondary market,. Those of us who purchase the product would do so out of love & enjoyment.
How do you stop the “flippers”?… Well stop buying form them. If you stop feeding the beast – it will die. As an educated consumer of any taste & intelligence, you know retail vs. ludicrous.
The more serious issue begins when the Retailers surpass the secondary market (see below) and truly begin to harm the idea & name of the product.
Now I get that there are several fine examples of the Buffalo Trace products on the shelves year round (I enjoy ALL of them). But come the fall, we consumers look forward to the special releases. Some even save all year to obtain them (like Me), but when I walk into a shop to try & purchase these special releases, how do you think I feel when I’m confronted with the prices listed below?
Surprised? Disappointed? Insulted?
These are prices well outside the realm of the average bourbon enthusiast. We save all year hoping to afford a Pappy (any of them) & the retailer just makes them unreasonable & out of reach. If we do purchase them – the 10 or 12 – (usually on a credit card), we’re afraid to drink them – which leads to the same issue of not being able to afford them. Why spend the money if we can’t use the product?
The retailer is hoping for that “BIG HIT” – but that’s not how you run a successful business. You cultivate a following by being honest.
Charging so far above retail is NOT, IN ANY WAY shape or form – Honest.
Just trying to be part of the solution.
Mike James
Below is listing of the current prices being charged in the Lower Hudson Valley NY as of 1/9/15:
ORVW10 — Retail: $39.99 / 2nd Market: $200.00 –> $275.00
Star Wines (Monroe, NY): $399.99 — 1000% Mark Up over Retail
Arlington Wines (Poughkeepsie, NY): $500.00 — 1200% Mark Up over Retail
Sterling Cellars (Mahopac, NY): $399.99 — 1000% Mark Up over Retail
Westchester Wines (White Plains, NY): $399.99 — 1000% Mark UP over Retail
WV12 “LoT B” — Retail: $54.99 / 2nd Market: $250.00 –> $300.00
Suburban Wines (Yorktown, NY): $399.99 — 750% Mark Up over Retail
Star Wines (Monroe, NY): $499.99 — 900% Mark Up over Retail
Arlington Wines (Poughkeepsie, NY): $600.00 – 1100% Mark Up over Retail
Sterling Cellars (Mahopac, NY): $499.99 – 900% Mark Up over Retail
Westchester Wines (White Plains, NY): 699.99 – 1300% Mark Up over Retail
VW Reserve 13 RYE – Retail: $69.99 / 2nd Market: $600.00
Star Wines (Monroe, NY): $849.99 – 1300% Mark Up over Retail
PVW15 – Retail: $79.99 / 2nd Market: $650.00
Suburban Wines (Yorktown, NY): $699.99 – 900% Mark Up over Retail
Star Wines (Monroe, NY): $899.99 – 1100% Mark Up over Retail
Sterling Cellars (Mahopac, NY): $899.99 – 1100% Mark Up over Retail
Westchester Wines (White Plains, NY): $999.99 – 1300% Mark Up over Retail
PVW20 – Retail: $129.99 / 2nd Market: $750.00 $800.00
Star Wines (Yorktown, NY): $1299.99 – 1000% Mark Up over Retail
Arlington Wines (Yorktown, NY): $1500.00 – 1200% Mark Up over Retail
Sterling Cellars (Mahopac, NY): $1299.99 – 1000% Mark Up over Retail
Westchester Wine (White Plains, NY): 1299.99 – 1000% Mark Up over Retail
PVW23 – Retail: $249.99 / 2nd Market: $1200.00 $2000.00
Star Wines (Yorktown, NY): $1999.99 – 800% Mark Up over Retail
Arlington Wines (Poughkeepsie, NY): $2500.00 – 1000% Mark Up over Retail
Sterling Cellars (Mahopac, NY): $1999.99 – 800% Mark Up over Retail
Westchester Wine (White Plains): $2999.99(!?!?) – 1200% Mark Up over Retail
George T Stagg – Retail: $80.00 / 2nd Market: $250.00
Arlington Wines (Poughkeepsie, NY): $399.99 – 400% Mark Up over Retail
Sterling Cellars (Mahopac, NY): $389.99 – 400% Mark Up over Retail
Westchester Wines (White Plains, NY): $499.99 – 600% Mark Up over Retail
Eagle Rare 17 – Retail: $80.00 / 2nd Market: $275.00
Star Wines (Monroe, NY): $499.99 – 600% Mark Up over Retail
Arlington Wines (Poughkeepsie, NY): $499.99 – 600% Mark Up over Retail
Thomas Handy – Retail: $80.00 / 2nd Market: $180.00
Arlington Wines (Poughkeepsie, NY): $399.99 – 400% Mark Up over Retail
Sterling Cellars (Mahopac, NY): $299.99 – 300% Mark Up over Retail
Westchester Wine (White Plains, NY): $499.99(!?!?) – 500% Mark UP over Retail
Sazarac 18 – Retail: $80.00 / 2nd Market: $300.00
Arlington Wines (Poughkeepsie, NY) $599.99(!?!?) – 700% Mark Up over Retail
Hey Mike ………. it’s called culling the herd…………….
“Culling The Herd” defined…
Since livestock is bred for the production of meat or milk, the herd must be culled to a certain number of production or meat animals a farmer wishes to maintain. Animals not selected to remain for breeding are sent to the slaughter house, sold, or killed.
What does this have to do w/ Bourbon?
Supply and demand….one of the cornerstones in the foundation of CAPITALISM. If I have it and you want it, then pay my price or negotiate your best deal (IF I’m willing). I really don’t understand all the whining about “flippers” and the secondary market – it’s not like they’re hi-jacking the delivery trucks or have connections at the warehouses. YES, for the record, I have purchased and resold (“flipped”) numerous bottles. I’ve done the same thing with countless other items over the years as well – cars, trucks, guns….you name it, I’ve probably bought and resold it. YES, for a profit…..as large as I could make it, which was exactly why I was doing it in the first place. You can call me what you will – opportunist, “flipper”….. whatever. I simply observe what’s going on around me, identify opportunities and act – I’ve certainly never had to force anyone to make a purchase.