Agree with you the pricing on the Glenfarlcas 30 and 40 year age statements is fantastically priced, but on the counter to that I would suggest that it's also because the whisky isn't as good IMO
I received my Springbank 27 yesterday I must say yes it’s a lot of money but it felt special having 1 out of 500 bottles with my name on a certificate I didn’t get that feeling when I received my Macallan 25 sherry oak even though Macallan has a nicer presentation I’m starting to love Springbank more and more and yes I agree I’ve been buying Glenfarclas 30/35
Thank you for the video Mark. Not sure i agree with the logic of springbank "losing" this theoretical value you are referring to. Auctions' prices fluctuate and Springbank are rightfully thinking long term. It's absurd for distilleries to adjust their prices based on auctions. In my opinion what they should do is release their bottlings in 350ml bottles giving people more chances to get their hands on one and arguably making them less collectable. Nevertheless, thanks for the time and effort in making this video and thanks for sharing.
I'm inclined to agree with Lewis. Springbank have cultivated a reputation based on provenance, quality and not taking the piss out of their customers. Just because somebody can charge something for a product doesn't mean they should. Look at Macallan, look increasingly at Diageo. Jokes amongst the whisky drinking community. Mitchell's are not short of cash of that I am sure, I really hope they stay true to their values and not pump the prices across the range, that would be a sad day for Scotch whisky.
Hi Gaz. I think it's more that the market values SB whisky grossly different to what SB do. They can go on releasing their whisky below the market value, and it will no doubt just continue to push the market even higher. To be fair I think Macallan's pricing is not to bad. £70 for the 12 year old and £320 for the 18 year old. Oddly the SB 18 sells for more at auction than the Macallan equivalent. I'm not saying the juice warrants that price, but just at what the market values it at. I guess the issue with SB is that their production volume is so low and demand is just so high. I guess that is the free market for you! It's such a fine dynamic to balance isn't it.
@@MarkLittler you are right about the secondary prices, but I believe for Springbank it is about more than 'business' (naive perhaps). Yes they leave millions on the table, so what? How much have they saved on marketing over the years? Where are the shareholders demanding returns? I actually don't begrudge them the 2.5k countdown bottle, they have earnt the right to fill the coffers, however, I maintain that you should not mess with a tried and tested method of success. Yes its different to the normal business model but this is Springbank after all ;) As for your views on Macallan and the fairness of their pricing we will have to agree to disagree. The general consensus of the 12yo is not good amongst its many more affordable peers. I also consider the price of the 18 year old to be outrageous when most other distilleries charge in the region of £120. I'm not sure we would find many people who would consider a Macallan 18 three times better than an arran 18, Bunna 18, Springbank 18, etc etc (for drinking enjoyment)
@@gazw4957 Hey - no worries at all :) I agree, it's all about starting a conversation, and one where all things are considered. The whisky press has a tendancy to be very heavy on the 'aint we quaint' aspect of the industry (i.e. what the marketing teams want us to believe) and less of the 'distilleries are capitalist ethanol factories in pretty locations' 🤣
One release a year, by ballot, 500 bottles with ages and cask types changing but minimum 25 up to 30 years old. All proceeds used on distillery improvements starting with a new bottling hall and despatch area - the existing bottling hall will be returned to a dunnage warehouse. There's the option of malt flooring or drums at glengyle, and most interestingly they've purchased land north of the distillery for a new third distillery in the family....
It's amazing isn't it - imagine what else they could achieve if they priced all of their releases closer to market value!!! Instead they leave cruises, new kitchens, car deposits etc all for the flippers! It really baffles me.
@@MarkLittler they wont increase the prices on entry level whiskies - although the 10 has gone from £35 to £55; 15 £50 to £70; and 18 £80 to £110. What is funny is these core range bottles are ALL at auction - I guess because production is so low (was only 250,000 litres up until 2018) and its so damn difficult to get! The SB 21 rrp was £180 and regularly sold well below at around £140/150 - no longer!!
Springbank price their bottles in a way that works through the good times and the inevitable incoming bad times. But I also agree. I feel sad that Springbank does not see more of the 'short term' benefit. They have principles that include making the best whisky by using traditional (inefficient) techniques. They should put their oldest and WORST whisky in their 'collectible' bottles :-)
I know - I think that they really need to move with the times. Sure they WANT to make cheap whisky, but the reality is that the market thinks they make pretty damn good whisky and prices it accordignly. Assuiming the whole SB market is not maniptulated then we just have to accept that the volume of buyers is going to heavily outstrip their very limited supply for a good while...
@@MarkLittler We do not want them to move with the times in terms of production. We do not want to lose the Springbank magic for drinking. Their collectibility is directly linked to their reputation on flavour and authenticity of traditional techniques. Now the secondary market price has temporarily overridden that. I am happy if they can cash in and build a war chest by selling 'limited releases' and even subsidize the 'normal' bottles. In reality these expensive limited releases must be a very small part of their annual business. I have no idea what they should do about the auction prices beyond selling their own bottles there and taking the profit. I know they do not want to be seen as 'cashing in' on a short term inflated trend. I am not beyond selling for profit at the auction when I have unexpectedly found myself with 'investor' bottles in the stash. All interesting stuff.
Where does undervalued become cheap for a reason? For example Aberfeldy 19 year old limited release is priced at just £130 (Macallan core range 18 year olds gor for £300) and is still available in retail so the flippers/collectors seem to be avoiding?
Im sure i read they're offering a special draw for those who are lucky enough to obtain all of the released bottles once collection is complete on the final release day at the distillery. Sounds to me like you're hoping it will be Glenfarclas because you're sat on numerous bottles of it! 🤣 say it often enough it may manifest into reality. Myself I would choose another distillery (Bladnoch) that is turning out plenty of superb single malts and still hasn't fully hit its stride yet! But imo the distillery is well on its way to becoming equally as highly sought after as the likes of Springbank and Macallan.
Yes - they did that with the Millennium bottles too so wouldn't surprise me. It also would surprise me if we saw Whisky and Wealth or another similar entity buying Bladnoch in the near future. I think the biggest issue they face is very limited high age statement stocks so they can't push any super premium releases. I love their releases and their design is on point - they are just missing the old juice!
They don't need money to upgrade their processes or build a larger distillery because everything is based around tradition. If they priced bottle RRPs up to meet auction prices, there would be no more auction prices for reference. If they raised their RRPs to meet current auction prices, they could no longer guarantee near-instant sale of their products. Bottles would sit on shelves. Demand would fall. They know what they're doing and it works for them. Their strategy keeps demand high because people get to drink the juice and spread the word on the quality. Unlike Macallan, they're not milking their customers with fancy packaging NASs every couple of months. It's about integrity and consistency as a long-term strategy, not rampant capitalism that abuses customers and then collapses.
I find your logic warped TBH. An increase in springbank prices is not a good thing by any stretch. For you and your customers it's just a commodity, which probably explains why you never understood what springbank have always tried to do by keeping the price down. Now a bunch of people will not be able to afford something which we love the taste of and it got there because of the taste, no other reason. Glenfarclas is fine I suppose. It's no springbank. That's from a drinkers point of view which you clearly aren't.
I'm not saying that an increase in price is a good thing, more that the price now represents the value of the open market. Under pricing bottles as they have done in the past has certainly not helped the drinkers - it has just made them more appealing to flippers and pushed the drinkers even further away. I do feel that the profits going back to the distillery is a good thing though as it means they can hopefully put it to good use. I just wish that people would open their eyes and see that the collectors/investors/flippers are only responding to the marketing being fed to them from the industry. It's not as one sided as 'the drinkers' think it is. If Springbank really wanted their whisky to *just* go to the drinkers then they would bottled everything like the cage bottles. Tell me how is making bottles 'limited edition' helping anyone else take interest other than the collectors? Glenfarclas don't publish that their 30YO etc are limited editions, even though they are. Why are Springbank making a 'series' of bottles if they don't intend for them to be collected? And when did I say that GF was superior to SB as a whisky? I said that the distilleries share many similar attributes (i.e. family owned) and is hugely overlooked by collectors 🤷♂️
@@MarkLittler I can't take your arguments completely seriously since you stand to gain personally. People understand the market better than you perhaps think. Drinkers flip bottles too you know :) Flippers even drink the occasional dram I've heard. The point is Macallan went up it's own self years ago and it's a dead 'luxury brand' now. People don't want to see springbank do the same. Your narrative that springbank was encouraging the flippers and pushing drinkers away before is just ingenuine and I don't think you even believe it. I do concede it's possible that springbank will invest this money to make the core range more accessible, but that's not normally how greed works. Time will tell I suppose.
They should not increase their prices. Ok, flippers jump on 865 pounds 30 years old and you say that drinkers don't get it. But some do. Put it at 3k, only ultra rich drinkers will get it. And they can already buy it at this price nowamdays if they want... from flippers
Shop our latest arrivals here: shop.marklittler.com/collections/latest-items
Agree with you the pricing on the Glenfarlcas 30 and 40 year age statements is fantastically priced, but on the counter to that I would suggest that it's also because the whisky isn't as good IMO
Hi Mark, would you say Dalmore 21 would be a good investment for a vertical collection? Thank you.
I received my Springbank 27 yesterday I must say yes it’s a lot of money but it felt special having 1 out of 500 bottles with my name on a certificate I didn’t get that feeling when I received my Macallan 25 sherry oak even though Macallan has a nicer presentation I’m starting to love Springbank more and more and yes I agree I’ve been buying Glenfarclas 30/35
Springbank is The Best distillery in the world 🥃👌👌👌
Great video!
Thank you! Glad you liked it :)
Thank you for the video Mark. Not sure i agree with the logic of springbank "losing" this theoretical value you are referring to. Auctions' prices fluctuate and Springbank are rightfully thinking long term. It's absurd for distilleries to adjust their prices based on auctions. In my opinion what they should do is release their bottlings in 350ml bottles giving people more chances to get their hands on one and arguably making them less collectable. Nevertheless, thanks for the time and effort in making this video and thanks for sharing.
I'm inclined to agree with Lewis. Springbank have cultivated a reputation based on provenance, quality and not taking the piss out of their customers. Just because somebody can charge something for a product doesn't mean they should. Look at Macallan, look increasingly at Diageo. Jokes amongst the whisky drinking community. Mitchell's are not short of cash of that I am sure, I really hope they stay true to their values and not pump the prices across the range, that would be a sad day for Scotch whisky.
Hi Gaz. I think it's more that the market values SB whisky grossly different to what SB do. They can go on releasing their whisky below the market value, and it will no doubt just continue to push the market even higher.
To be fair I think Macallan's pricing is not to bad. £70 for the 12 year old and £320 for the 18 year old. Oddly the SB 18 sells for more at auction than the Macallan equivalent. I'm not saying the juice warrants that price, but just at what the market values it at.
I guess the issue with SB is that their production volume is so low and demand is just so high.
I guess that is the free market for you!
It's such a fine dynamic to balance isn't it.
@@MarkLittler you are right about the secondary prices, but I believe for Springbank it is about more than 'business' (naive perhaps). Yes they leave millions on the table, so what? How much have they saved on marketing over the years? Where are the shareholders demanding returns? I actually don't begrudge them the 2.5k countdown bottle, they have earnt the right to fill the coffers, however, I maintain that you should not mess with a tried and tested method of success. Yes its different to the normal business model but this is Springbank after all ;)
As for your views on Macallan and the fairness of their pricing we will have to agree to disagree. The general consensus of the 12yo is not good amongst its many more affordable peers. I also consider the price of the 18 year old to be outrageous when most other distilleries charge in the region of £120. I'm not sure we would find many people who would consider a Macallan 18 three times better than an arran 18, Bunna 18, Springbank 18, etc etc (for drinking enjoyment)
Appreciate the content and response, always good to understand different perspectives
@@gazw4957 Hey - no worries at all :) I agree, it's all about starting a conversation, and one where all things are considered. The whisky press has a tendancy to be very heavy on the 'aint we quaint' aspect of the industry (i.e. what the marketing teams want us to believe) and less of the 'distilleries are capitalist ethanol factories in pretty locations' 🤣
One release a year, by ballot, 500 bottles with ages and cask types changing but minimum 25 up to 30 years old. All proceeds used on distillery improvements starting with a new bottling hall and despatch area - the existing bottling hall will be returned to a dunnage warehouse. There's the option of malt flooring or drums at glengyle, and most interestingly they've purchased land north of the distillery for a new third distillery in the family....
It's amazing isn't it - imagine what else they could achieve if they priced all of their releases closer to market value!!! Instead they leave cruises, new kitchens, car deposits etc all for the flippers! It really baffles me.
@@MarkLittler they wont increase the prices on entry level whiskies - although the 10 has gone from £35 to £55; 15 £50 to £70; and 18 £80 to £110. What is funny is these core range bottles are ALL at auction - I guess because production is so low (was only 250,000 litres up until 2018) and its so damn difficult to get! The SB 21 rrp was £180 and regularly sold well below at around £140/150 - no longer!!
the countdown collection is only limited to 500 bottles and is a once in a lifetime edition instead of the yearly 30 year release.
Springbank price their bottles in a way that works through the good times and the inevitable incoming bad times. But I also agree. I feel sad that Springbank does not see more of the 'short term' benefit. They have principles that include making the best whisky by using traditional (inefficient) techniques. They should put their oldest and WORST whisky in their 'collectible' bottles :-)
I know - I think that they really need to move with the times. Sure they WANT to make cheap whisky, but the reality is that the market thinks they make pretty damn good whisky and prices it accordignly. Assuiming the whole SB market is not maniptulated then we just have to accept that the volume of buyers is going to heavily outstrip their very limited supply for a good while...
@@MarkLittler We do not want them to move with the times in terms of production. We do not want to lose the Springbank magic for drinking. Their collectibility is directly linked to their reputation on flavour and authenticity of traditional techniques. Now the secondary market price has temporarily overridden that. I am happy if they can cash in and build a war chest by selling 'limited releases' and even subsidize the 'normal' bottles. In reality these expensive limited releases must be a very small part of their annual business. I have no idea what they should do about the auction prices beyond selling their own bottles there and taking the profit. I know they do not want to be seen as 'cashing in' on a short term inflated trend. I am not beyond selling for profit at the auction when I have unexpectedly found myself with 'investor' bottles in the stash. All interesting stuff.
Where does undervalued become cheap for a reason? For example Aberfeldy 19 year old limited release is priced at just £130 (Macallan core range 18 year olds gor for £300) and is still available in retail so the flippers/collectors seem to be avoiding?
lol im literally contemplating trading in a bunch of old bottles toward a glenfarclas 40
I WANT A VIDEO OUT ON THE BOWMORE 27 TIMELESS NOW!
Brilliant.....would love a chat and get you to look at my collections
Im sure i read they're offering a special draw for those who are lucky enough to obtain all of the released bottles once collection is complete on the final release day at the distillery.
Sounds to me like you're hoping it will be Glenfarclas because you're sat on numerous bottles of it! 🤣 say it often enough it may manifest into reality.
Myself I would choose another distillery (Bladnoch) that is turning out plenty of superb single malts and still hasn't fully hit its stride yet!
But imo the distillery is well on its way to becoming equally as highly sought after as the likes of Springbank and Macallan.
Yes - they did that with the Millennium bottles too so wouldn't surprise me.
It also would surprise me if we saw Whisky and Wealth or another similar entity buying Bladnoch in the near future.
I think the biggest issue they face is very limited high age statement stocks so they can't push any super premium releases. I love their releases and their design is on point - they are just missing the old juice!
They don't need money to upgrade their processes or build a larger distillery because everything is based around tradition. If they priced bottle RRPs up to meet auction prices, there would be no more auction prices for reference. If they raised their RRPs to meet current auction prices, they could no longer guarantee near-instant sale of their products. Bottles would sit on shelves. Demand would fall. They know what they're doing and it works for them. Their strategy keeps demand high because people get to drink the juice and spread the word on the quality. Unlike Macallan, they're not milking their customers with fancy packaging NASs every couple of months. It's about integrity and consistency as a long-term strategy, not rampant capitalism that abuses customers and then collapses.
I find your logic warped TBH. An increase in springbank prices is not a good thing by any stretch. For you and your customers it's just a commodity, which probably explains why you never understood what springbank have always tried to do by keeping the price down. Now a bunch of people will not be able to afford something which we love the taste of and it got there because of the taste, no other reason. Glenfarclas is fine I suppose. It's no springbank. That's from a drinkers point of view which you clearly aren't.
They should put their oldest and WORST whisky in their 'collectible' bottles :-)
I'm not saying that an increase in price is a good thing, more that the price now represents the value of the open market. Under pricing bottles as they have done in the past has certainly not helped the drinkers - it has just made them more appealing to flippers and pushed the drinkers even further away. I do feel that the profits going back to the distillery is a good thing though as it means they can hopefully put it to good use.
I just wish that people would open their eyes and see that the collectors/investors/flippers are only responding to the marketing being fed to them from the industry. It's not as one sided as 'the drinkers' think it is.
If Springbank really wanted their whisky to *just* go to the drinkers then they would bottled everything like the cage bottles. Tell me how is making bottles 'limited edition' helping anyone else take interest other than the collectors? Glenfarclas don't publish that their 30YO etc are limited editions, even though they are. Why are Springbank making a 'series' of bottles if they don't intend for them to be collected?
And when did I say that GF was superior to SB as a whisky? I said that the distilleries share many similar attributes (i.e. family owned) and is hugely overlooked by collectors 🤷♂️
@@MarkLittler I can't take your arguments completely seriously since you stand to gain personally. People understand the market better than you perhaps think. Drinkers flip bottles too you know :) Flippers even drink the occasional dram I've heard.
The point is Macallan went up it's own self years ago and it's a dead 'luxury brand' now. People don't want to see springbank do the same. Your narrative that springbank was encouraging the flippers and pushing drinkers away before is just ingenuine and I don't think you even believe it.
I do concede it's possible that springbank will invest this money to make the core range more accessible, but that's not normally how greed works.
Time will tell I suppose.
It’s a countdown, so I’m assuming they may price the actual 200 year celebration bottle at $200.
They should not increase their prices. Ok, flippers jump on 865 pounds 30 years old and you say that drinkers don't get it. But some do. Put it at 3k, only ultra rich drinkers will get it. And they can already buy it at this price nowamdays if they want... from flippers
I was invited to ballot but didn't have £2500 so didn't enter for the 27yo jobbie
Why don’t every distillery just ramp up their prices whatever and shoot their own foot! Try it! Or just leave it to let it run it’s own course!! BS!
i am amazed that there are so little likes for this channel ;;; it must mean that people do not want to be educated ;;;
37👍
Stick to macallan and dalmore. Leave Sprinbank to the people that love whisky not money.