Is Bourbon Doomed in 2024?
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- Опубліковано 31 гру 2023
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So many great products in the $30-$50 range and available on the shelf’s every day. No need to pay the outrageous prices
This is a damn good start to the video series for 2024. Agree 💯
Amen
May your words be heard by the makers of this brown juice we all love!!
This has got to be the best heartfelt and most HONEST video from start to finish on this topic that I have ever seen. Kudos to both of you! I'm a spirits promiscuous fella and enjoy tasting many different aged spirits. I started out a bourbon guy and I remember seeing Elmer T. Lee for $29.99 on store shelves in New York City back in 2013. Now I see them collecting dust on a top shelf with price tags of $400! Prices for allocated 12 year old bourbon at $500 were really turning me off considering a superior Single Malt Scotch at 24 years old could be had for under $300. The more I taste other aged spirits, the more I appreciate them. Tequila and rum are definitely on the rise and have become more interesting of late. I am a fan of true additive free Tequila, however it seems the industry also has an eye to follow in bourbon's foot steps, and capitalize with more, and more allocated and limited edition tequila bottles. Prices are really getting out of hand. It is bittersweet for me on the rums, because I have been enjoying the lower price points of the spirit for years, but now I am seeing the prices on the rise with its new found popularity. Can't keep it a secret forever. Ha! With all that said I'd love to see you fellas add some tequila and rum reviews to the channel. It would be great to witness. Wishing you all a Happy New Year!.
Well said. Being in a similar boat (just don't like scotch) I agree on all points. Happy new year. Stay well.
There are plenty of other UA-cam channels that review tequilas and rums
Bardstown should be commended for their $45-$50 shelf-stable releases offered in 2023.
Just tried their Original black label for first time yesterday. So good!
Same for Barrell Foundation for 50-55 most places. Really good stuff
Wasn’t available for most of 2023. Just now started seeing it regularly on shelves in the last two or three weeks
That's unfortunate for your area. We've had it in Upstate NY for several months.
We had the bardstown BiB for about 10 days here middle of summer 2023, them it disappeared. It finally came back constantly only since about two weeks before Xmas 23'.
I feel like Jim Beam and Heaven Hill did a great job making more of their brands available. It is disappointing to see Wild Turkey pump the market with more unobtainable whiskey.
Never tried an allocated bourbon that was so much better than rare breed. So will rarely pay more than $60
Diffrent yes, better, eha?
Michter’s 10
@kingsroadwrestling I haven't had it, but it is on my list. You think it's "better" or you really think it's better?
Russels 13, MMCA, and Michters 10 are all quite a bit better than your standard $60 bourbons such as Rare Breed. They’re worth the $200 every single time.
@@jameslane9267 they get you drunker?
I always love that you guys don’t feed into the hype surrounding bottles. People are buying bottles out of FOMO and then feeling let down, myself included. We need more sanity in the secondary market. The secondary market would be wildly different if people felt silly for paying $1k for a bottle that’s msrp’s at $100.00.
It reminds us that P.T. Barnum was right...
Yep. There is a local store that has a bunch of cases of both Eagle Rare and E.H Taylor small batch. He’s asking $80 for the ER and $120 for the EH. They’ve been sitting there for over a year so eventually he will want to sell them so it’s good to see nobody is biting on those prices
@@jasonczfan8658 Good-ole American hucksterism...limited-time, limited release, get it before it's gone...
@@jasonczfan8658$50 for ER $70 for EHT is absolute top dollar for me
Love the whole conversation!!! Hope it helps us all!!!
12:12 "worth $500... nothing really is." Damn. This is the truest, maybe most worthwhile sentence I've heard on this channel. Cheers to you and cheers to the cheers we just did to you, because on secondary, that cheers is even more pricey!
I got lambasted by another commenter on Chad & Sarah’s channel for stating that their best of list was almost entirely unobtainable whiskey. This isn’t a complaint about It’s Bourbon Night, but there is starting to become a callousness towards allocated products because they are incredibly dominant in the market. It’s quite concerning. There used to be a time when none of those bottles would be considered because most people can’t get them. Now the attitude has become “too bad so sad, you’re poor, build more relationships”. I’m not saying Chad & Sarah say that, but I see lots of people in comment sections say that, and it’s very concerning.
Blame the taters.
@@trparky I do all the time.
@@trparky but as I said, people are becoming callous to it.
You guys are spot on. We need more wide production shelf stable, solid bourbons in that 40-80 price range than more unobtainable bottles driven by FOMO. The recent batches of ECBP, larceny and Bardstown come to mind
can you list some non shelf stable bourbons?
@@josephvalerio6665I believe what is meant is that they are readily available on shelves, therefore stable in obtainability.
@@jeremyhamilton1309 ok thanks cause to be honest that didnt make any sense otherwise
I miss the old Kurt making cocktails for us😢 Please bring this back here and there.
Don’t forget about the Benchmark line! A great bang for the $$$. 🥃
I was drinking bourbon 40 years ago and you are right about the old days. I don't remember when it happened, but all of a sudden all the "Trend Geeks" jumped on the bourbon band wagon and before you knew it everybody was a "Bourbon Snob".
40 years ago bourbon was the working mans drink of choice, but today it seems to be more of a status symbol for those who follow the crowd and want to be part of the "In" thing.
Blanton/John Wick
@@JerboFotiusI think covid played a big part in it as well.
@@SamFromQueens definitely playing a part in these scotch prices 😒
I agree, covid was a huge part. I got into it near the Summer of 2019 since I wasn't into the IPA frenzy and wanted to try something different. I had always been a fan of old fashions so bourbon was my next choice. Bottles I had gotten the Fall before Covid nearly doubled and became almost impossible to find@@SamFromQueens
@@SamFromQueens I'm sure covid didn't help but bourbon blew up way before covid happened.
Guys I agree 100%! As a retired old man I can’t even look at the ridiculous priced bourbons! Hint,Hint, Wellesley Farms Irish is the best I have to offer visitors or guests. But this video has hit the nail on the head! As usual you continue to put out fantastic ,interesting and truthful videos!!!
Happy New Year and keep the videos coming!
I’m with you man
Happy 2024!! You all have enhaced my bourbon journey unbelievably which all started earlier this year with a Longhorn old fashioned. What a revelation that was! It made me realize how good bourbon really is. I've been keeping my purchases to the $70 and under for the most part and just really enjoying finding and sipping bourbons. Thank you
I really like these podcast style videos. As a whiskey novice, about 6 months into my journey, it helps to learn and more than just smelling and tasting. Also excited for the expansion into your admiration of other spirits. As always, thank you for sharing your passion!
Try Arron 10 year scotch
Love you guys! When I'm watching your videos, It feels like I'm spending time with old friends. Happy New Year!
Happy New Years to the whole SLB family. Here's to 150k subscribers this year and hopefully more!
The amount of bourbon product that is currently aging in rickhouses is setting the stage for a real glut in the coming decade, especially if the collector market collapses.
I would put Woodford double oak in the $60 range (actually found it under $50 at Binnys) as a high quality, easily available and reasonably priced bourbon. Agree with the Bardstown Origin Series.
I just purchased my first Woodford double oaked(also first bottle I've spent up to $50 on) and it's certainly worth the price for the taste/experience.
Exactly. I would love to see more competitors emerge in this price range for that quality with a double oaked than I would with more at the $100+ and if they do that there would be more repeat buyers.
You guys doing the blinds really opened my eyes. The integrity of the channel and the honesty is the best please keep it up
Happy New Year, SLB!
Happy New Year gents! Looking forward to 2024 with you guys!
Happy New Year. Loving the videos. Loads of good points made on distribution and prices.
Blanton's was bringing $200- 300 and now you can get it form $80-100 all day. It retails for 70. Buffalo Trace doubled their capacity 4 years ago and Weller SR and Buffalo Trace and Sazarac Rye are showing up in stores regularly and staying for a week or more. I am in Ohio and used to have to get my Sazarac from Cal. because we never saw it here. Now it is sitting on the shelves. There is no bottle worth $500.
Thank you, totally agree. All the best for SLB in 2024 🇺🇲
Great video as usual guys. Keep up the good work. Happy New Year, everyone!!
Well spoken guys!! Thanks and Happy New Year!🎊
It’s my birthday tomorrow got an eagle rare store pick I’m opening cheers!
Happy New Year guys. Great points about the over-hyped bourbon market. I can’t stand the prevailing attitude that exists now of buying up as much allocated stuff as possible and then holding it so you can flip it. Most of the guys at my office do this and it drives me crazy.
There was a lot of heartfelt truth in this video. I genuinely appreciate and wholeheartedly agree with you guys. I also plan on trying some good American Single Malts and Rums this year. Happy New Year!🥃
Happy new years and cheers!
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year!!
I have nothing against people hunting for allocated bottles. If this is your passion, I hope you always find what you are looking for. As far as I am concerned, I have stopped looking. When I factor in what my time is worth, hoops to jump through, and insane markups, I can no longer justify the hunt for myself. I go to one big box store, and look for my go to bottles. If there happens to be something "special" sitting there at or very close to MSRP, I might jump on it, but at the end of the day, it's only alcohol, and there are so many choices for me to not concern myself with inflated hype.
Thank you for all this content. You guys are so helpful and informative.
Great start to you 2024 season. SLB you are the bourbon experts that feel like friends. Thanks for your awesome insight. HNY!
Jack Daniel’s has done great with their Single Barrel Barrel Proof bottles that are easier to find and reasonably priced!
Love it boys. I’m new to the Burbon game, and I have learned a lot from you both. Looking forward to 2024.
I work in a liquor store and have seen a huge increase in tequila interest. Lots of bourbon shoppers are moving into the tequila isle. The same thing is starting to happen to tequila that happened to bourbon where people are looking for the same core group of tequilas creating inventory shortages by buying it all up as soon as it reaches the shelf.
I welcome the change, hopefully everyone forgets about bourbon lol.
Fortunately there is still a lot of bourbon from 20-50 that is very good. For all of the stuff more than that who really cares. Rich people problems. This was a great discussion. Happy new year fellas.
I would increase your limit by about $15 to be able to include that many more great bottles but just agree that your price range has some great stuff.
I feel for a limited release this past year, Redwood Empire cast Strength (Pipe Dream, Lost Monarch, Emerald Giant) for $60-$70 was a great option. Not necessarily allocated but definitely hard for some people to find. Also Makers Private selects are fantastic for non allocated in that same price point. Like mentioned before, most allocated bourbons do not overly impress when it comes to taste and drinking experience that much more than easily attainable special releases. Hank’s for another great video. Happy New Year and Cheers!
Amen . To me , a great sipper in the 30 - 60 price range is what keeps me going .
Couldn’t agree more, Trent. I think at the end of the day, the only people who will ultimately suffer, will be the distilleries themselves. The lack of policing of their own prices in these ridiculous stores forces people to look elsewhere for alternative spirits. With inflation, & the economy being the way it is, people are waking up to the ridiculousness of paying big money for a product that if we’re all being honest with ourselves, isn’t all that different from each other. There’s only so many variations of notes available in a spirit all aged the same way. People are also waking up to the fact that you can’t argue a Weller, CYPB is 5x greater than say a Weller 107. IMO at some point, distilleries will be begging for their customers to come back. Once the crowd goes spiteful, people will stop buying out of principle. That audience will be incredibly difficult to recapture.
“The world is littered with the ruins of empires that believed they were eternal.”
Great Video with a great message. Happy New Year all. What's a good site for auctions ?
Happy New Year 🎉
Happy New Year SLB's.
I think there is a MASSIVE amount of bourbon sitting in collections and homes. And I for one am weary of the games and “raffles” chasing the good stuff. And everything is becoming deemed “allocated”. I think this whole thing is going to cave in on itself.
And I wager that production has increased greatly. Walk into a Walmart and look at their slots. I think there is a massive amount of inventory in the pipeline.
You said everything I have been feeling for along time! Thank you!
Happy New Years!!
Happy New Year's everybody!
First off it was amazing to see your mom on the live stream , and I've made an absolute decision .I made a list of bottles that I am willing to replace when there empty or go look for when they've been released and its under 30 , because in 2023 I spent just under $15,000 on bourbon and I think its getting out of hand.
Happy New Year fellas! Based upon your recommendations, I received a bottle of Wild Turkey Rare Breed for Christmas. I'm NOT disappointed!❤
Loved it neat, but I am anxious to try it in a Manhattan with some superior Vermouth.
Keep up the good work!
Happy New Year!! Have you guys tried any of the Bourbon Barrel Aged Tequilas? Would you review them for the channel?
Hundred dollar bills are sometimes called “C notes” because C is the Roman numeral for 100. “Cent” also means 100 in French which is how we in English came to use the word “cent” for a penny as 1/100th of a dollar.
Happy New years to you guys..
Let's go out and get it all! Great start to 2024!
Bourbon market is starting to sound like the luxury watch market
This is where I'm at with bourbon as well. I moved to Kentucky in 2004, and being new to bourbon, I tried most everything I could get. I chose Buffalo Trace as my everyday bourbon, and could pick up a handle any time, anywhere. Now I have to chase 3+ stores a month just to find a single 750ml, which costs what the 1.75L used to cost. It seems clear that distilleries are no longer taking care of their base customers and are in fact driving their prices to the point consumers will begin choosing different brands. Same with FOMO, I'm tired of all the special allocations. I'd rather distillers release a consistent, quality product rather than constantly putting out single barrels, store picks or special releases.
It is not necessarily the distilleries raising prices, although some brands do have stupid prices. If you buy the BT at the distillery the price is fair. I think the stupid prices are retailers who see flippers making big $ and figure they might as well get the $.
Agree to disagree. Buffalo Trace seems to have no trouble supplying outside markets, Duty Free shops, international markets and Disney (both parks and cruise lines). Now, their current distributor is sending bourbon BACK to the distillery bc they cannot store any more product, which is why you can buy a case at the distillery at present. If supply is short, then prices go up, which is probably the worst thing that can happen to a $25 bottle of bourbon. IMO, people will move on to other brands.@@davidmeier1811
Right, that's the point. I live 40 min from Buffalo Trace and it's not available on the shelves...@@steveverdoo1859
Thank you for a great Honest video. i will be expanding my bar with Rums for sure. look forward to your picks. Happy new Year!
For those who hunt allocated whiskey, like myself, one useful tip is to remember that you have the power as the consumer. A lot of smaller store owners will negotiate prices. Just because a bottle is marked up, doesn’t mean you have to pay that price. And be prepared to walk away. You are bringing the money to the table, no need to beg on top of that.
Exactly.
Awesome 👏🏻 show. The last couple minutes was so true! 💗
Jack Daniels came out with the Barrel Proof Rye and the Bonded Rye. Both are excellent. Green River, Bardstown and Barrell had some good releases also.
Great video
I agree! I honestly think distilleries that can keep their products $80 or cheaper will see a lot of success. It’s those that focus on their luxury products and making $250 bottles that lose the plot.
Excited about the rums! Looking forward to the videos! Bacoo 12 year. $28! Very good. More rums just like that out there too! I think you guys are right. We’re going to see the same great vanishing of rums and tequila as we have with bourbons.
Happy New Year, guys. I've been dabbling in the single malt whiskey arena and it's been nice to find bottles on the shelf and affordable. Went to Stranahan's a few months back and was really impressed with their single malts. Also going to Ireland this summer and I want to check out some more Irish whiskeys heading into my trip. Cheers!
Jack had a good year with their Bonded and Triple Mash in the $30 range. The Single Barrel Barrel Proof and the Rye for $65.
Great conversation gentlemen, ❤ from MI.
What a great way to start 2024 for SLB. You both present such a straight forward honest approach to the crazy bourbon prices we have experienced over the last 3 - 5 years. Until we buyers refrain from purchasing these allocated bourbons at the higher prices the distilleries won't change their marketing approach. I have recently spoken to several industry consultants and they have confirmed that some distilleries are attempting to play both the retail and secondary markets with the whole purpose to increase their profit levels. Hopefully in 2024 we will see a correction in pricing, maybe the bourbon bubble is leaking and/or getting ready to burst?
Gotta add Jack Daniel’s here too, the single barrel barrel proof whiskey and now the rye are becoming available and at the recommended price. Took a while for the ryes to reach Wisconsin but picked one up just before the Holidays… happy days!
Happy New Years 🎉
Great video! Trenton is right, prices for allocated bottles has come down in 2023. I do see both more of them for sale, and for lower prices than years past, at least here in Southern CA. Stuff like Weller Full Proof, Stagg, 4 Roses barrel proof, etc.
Looking forward to different spirit discussions! As I too branched into rum a year ago.
I enjoy every episode. I took your advise on my first 5 bourbons that I bought in over 25 years. Old Forrester, Buffalo Trace, Elijah Craig. I also recently purchased a bottle of Eagle Rare and Woodford Reserve straight Kentucky Bourbon not the double oak. Thank you for your suggestions.
Ever try the base level Maker’s Mark?
Wheated bourbon.
Cheap.
Great video. I had the opportunity to be in a small single malt scotch tasting group a few years back. As a result, I tasted some wonderful scotch from a variety of distilleries ranging from younger to older expressions. It has been tragic to see how outlandish the pricing has gotten with s.m. scotch. I am newer to bourbon. Your channel has been my primary source of information on that. There have been several videos this past year that have concerned me due to the pricing of the bottles. I hope that regular people who are struggling right now with the current inflation will not be priced out of the bourbon market.
We already have been as concerns allocated stuff. But there's good standbys on the shelf all the time, fortunately. But stuff like Wild Turkey 101, the price just keeps creeping up, seemingly.
God Bless you boys. Keep preachin' !
Happy New Year everyone !
An excellent start to 2024 for SLB.
Well Said, once again. Can't wait for what you guys have planned for 2024
a C-note is a $100 bill. The C in C-note stands for Century (100 years)
Happy New Year.
Been enjoying what you two have been doing since I started my bourbon journey about a little more than a year ago. Keep up the good work. I appreciate all of your hard work and effort that you put into your videos, you have helped guided me through an overwhelming selection of bourbons and have made many recommendations that I really love. Because of you (and many other bourbon review channels) you have made me more excited about trying the more available stuff than the allocated bottles. I hope that some of the distilleries start to listen to what the customers think about all of this, because $300 - $500 for a bottle of bourbon is crazy! I can't justify drinking that kind of money no matter how good it tastes. Can't say if the quality of the available stuff has gone down b/c I'm new to the game, but I like what I've had and I'm good with that (ignorance is bliss, I guess, huh?). Taken aback that Trent gave a shout out to Appleton Estate rum. Trent, if you like that try Ron Zacapa! I would be very excited if you branch out into rum and agave spirits as well. You keep makin' 'em and I'll keep watching. Cheers!
It's wild that so many people have normalized drinking $300-$500 just because it's a hard to find bottle. It's a ridiculous amount of money for something you're just going to drink. People burning their kid's college funds on freakin bottles to show off on social media.
Great start to 2024 guys.
One thing that concerns me is reports about how barrel demand is outpacing tree growth rates and we are in danger of oak shortages in the not too distant future
That’s not true at all. The newest GMO trees they are planting are growing so much faster than the older gmo and natural trees that most timber companies/investors are selling off land that they don’t need anymore. Also, since more and more distilleries are starting to buy their own timber property. Because of this, there is less and less of the oak timber making it to the open market. It’s not that there is less oak being produced, it’s just that more of it is going straight to distilleries without hitting the market. I honestly think this is just being hyped as an excuse to raise the prices more in the future. The distilleries do t like seeing the secondary market making big bucks on their products, so they are manufacturing a way to close the gap. I leased timber property for hunting since the 90’s, and have been buying pieces for the last decade. I’ve maintained a relationship with the owner of the timber company and he is where I get my info from.
Agree prices are out of hand. If folks would refrain from buying bourbons marked up greatly by the distillery, the liquor stores, and the crazy prices on the secondary market, then these bottles would sit on shelves until they drop the prices. There is the fear of missing out though and folks will pay these high prices. I admit I have too.
I saw Redwood Empire has a single malt whiskey called Foggy Burl. I may be giving it a try. Happy New Year!
The good ol C note. (Roman numeral for 100) - a phrase I heard a lot as a kid from my dad. Happy new Year gents
Great video telling it like it is. I personally have never paid over a C Note 🤣🤣 for any bourbon. I juat hit the 2yr mark on this rabbit hole journey. I guess i can wait a few more in hopes that the secondary crashes a bit. No FOMO here. Too many awesome and smaller distilleries putting out great product in the 50 to 60 range. Cheers 🍻 and heres to a great 2024
Next time you guys come to bardstown bourbon company come say hi. I work in the warehouse department. Glad you guys enjoyed the origins series. Look forward to the content in 2024
I can't wait for the ASM episodes, and picks! I have had a few samples, and I really enjoyed them! Excited to learn more about them
Love the conversation. With inflation and the price increase of whiskey, I've lost a lot of my love for bourbon. It's also frustrating, having a lot of interesting bottles that are over seas released only.
Happy New Year 🥃
I was late to the bourbon train hopping on about a year ago. I’ve tried so many bourbons and whiskeys in a short amount of time. Last week I went to a local whiskey restaurant and sampled a lot of bottles that were ranked in everyone’s top 5 of 2023. Were they good? Sure. Was I let down by all the hype? Also sure. I was expecting these pours to be leaps and bounds above what I can normally get on the shelf. They really aren’t. Not for the prices they go for anyway. Distilleries are capitalizing on the boom. They are losing me though. I’ve noticed that no bottle of bourbon is worth more than a $100 for me. The price to my enjoyment ratio is just not there. As a matter of fact I’ve already bought a premium bottle of tequila to move in that direction, and it only cost me $55.
Same here $85 is about my top out for a bottle, although I’m almost willing to splurge for the Makers Cellar if I could find it since Makers is my distillery of choice.
@@kevincameron8437 good luck finding one. I’m coming around to Makers. I like Makers 46 cask strength. Finished bourbons have my heart right now. Plus I love anything from Barrel. Seagrass being my favorite pour ever so far. For my pallet, It’s hard to find anything better than Jack Daniels SBBP. Especially for price and availability.
@kevincameron8437 my brother just found a Maker's Cellar 23 yesterday. Wondering if I'll ever get to try it or not lol
Great video guys. I feel most of feel this way. You should bring on guests.
Good video. Im in Ohio and since I’m not willing to “camp out” to get some of the rarer allocated, I never see them. However, there are so many good bourbons on the shelf that I’m content. One thing you might try, if you haven’t already is getting some small barrels to age or change your spirits.
Great convo! I am a big newbe for the burden market, and I surely can't afford those $$$ price tags! I think the distilleries could do very well with selling to the everyday folks out here and make a killing! besides, you build your core base who will come back time and again for your product. I love the idea of branching out with other spirits! I am someone who mixes it up, I like my. gins, vodkas, scotch, and tequila's as much as burdens. Sometimes you are in a mood for something different, or mixed drinks with other things :) Happy New Year! I am very happy I found this channel!!
Happy new year fellas. I do hope they start releasing affordable great products. Also C is the Roman numeral for 100 Trent 😊
Great content as usual. One question I often wonder about some UA-camrs with hundreds of bottles is, can you even drink all of it in your lifetime? At what point do you just stop buying? The most I’ve had open at one time was 32 during my first year getting into bourbon. It was fun blinding different ones to figure out what suited my palate best. But now that I know what I like, I keep around 15 bottles open. One wish I have is there to be more pints or half pints available so I could try more bottles and not worry about having to finish an entire 750ml if I didn’t care for it, or didn’t want to drop $200 on a LE of something.
Great video, and observations. So what part in these "shortages" and the secondary market do you guys feel that UA-cam influencers play?
As always great video 👍
Trenton "C" is the roman numeral for 100...thus the "C Note" is a hundred dollars. I really enjoy watching your shows.
So true about Tequila. I can’t find Fortaleza here in Chicago area for awhile.