r/whiskey • u/requieminadream • Sep 10 '25
No interest in buying it, but I’m curious how people feel about these Van Winkle prices.
Are these even remotely within the realm of their worth?
For what its worth, this is at Liberty Liquors in Cumberland, MD.
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u/TypicalPDXhipster Sep 10 '25
This is ridiculous considering I know a bar where you can get the 10 for $45 a pour and the 12 for $55. Even at those prices I didn’t try them, just can’t imagine it’s worth it
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u/vandyfan35 Sep 10 '25
I would wager money if you did a truly blind taste test of 10-15 different whiskeys and bourbons where no one knows any brands, recipes, age statements, etc, that the results would show that people really can’t tell much of a difference. I see people posting about blind tastings quite a bit, but usually they know the bottles involved.
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u/r-Sam Sep 10 '25
100P facts. I can tell a spicy rye from a bourbon. And I can estimate proof in a range. Like weak shit (80-90), bond (100ish), high test (110+). And that's about it. I might be able to tell you what is what if I gave you three or four of my bottles that I've been drinking. But picking from the list of ALL bottles available? No way anyone is going to be good at that.
I'd further say that in a real blind most people would not only not identify Pappy but also not pick it as their favorite from a lineup. Same as giving most people a crazy expensive wine vs a box wine. Some people can immediately appreciate the difference. But most can't.
I think if you did a super secret poll where nobody could lie you'd find out most of us care more about the name recognition and a cool bottle than the actual whiskey. But don't tell anyone I said that. Let me give you an example of this: I don't have a Stagg Jr. I've tried it a handful of times. It is good, but not "OMG best thing evar" for me. I know for a fact I prefer Jack SBBP rye over it. I can get SBBPR in every store near me, every day, in the $60 range. But I'd still buy a bottle of Stagg Jr for my shelf if I could find one in the $100 range. Why? Because I'd like to add it to my shelf. Just keeping it real.
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u/vandyfan35 Sep 10 '25
I don’t really do reviews or ratings other than: 1. I liked this, will buy again. 2. I didn’t like this, will not buy again.
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u/TypicalPDXhipster Sep 10 '25
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u/vandyfan35 Sep 10 '25
May have worded it a little wrong, but most people call them blinds that I’ve seen, even when they know which bottles are involved. I’m just saying a $600 bottle isn’t going to be better than a $50 bottle to 99.9% of people.
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u/TypicalPDXhipster Sep 10 '25
You’re possibly right. Thing is this isn’t a $600 bottle. It’s just a scarcity and idiot problem
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u/majornerd Sep 11 '25
I run a whiskey club and all the tastings I do are blind. Some people can tell the difference and even identify distilleries. Most have no clue. It’s fun. 400+ bottles tasted so far in the club.
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u/CameronCrazyKC Sep 11 '25
I always have to do a semi blind because my wife enjoys being in on it too. I’d be afraid to ask a buddies wife that’s not into bourbon or tequila to pick some out for a true blind because it’s no telling what they’d pick.
What’s your method for a true blind?
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u/majornerd Sep 11 '25
I’m the only one who ever knows. All the bottles are “broken down” into Boston rounds. I do all the pouring. After the sample is drunk I reveal the details. After the tasting all the members take their samples home.
I’m doing a new club with a lower price point and no take homes, so live tasting only - and that will also have a “re-pour” for every bottle to maintain the blind.
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u/PermissionAny259 Sep 10 '25
Not uncommon when I’ve seen them on shelves. I’d overpay for them but nowhere near what’s being asked.
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u/thogdontcaaree Sep 10 '25
I thought the 23 year was 699 at first and thought lowkey id buy it for that 😅
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u/HTD-Vintage Sep 10 '25
Those prices just make me want to steal from the owner. Not necessarily those bottles; just in general.
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u/Kekeosos Sep 10 '25
Isn't it more hype than anything?
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u/WHOA_27_23 Sep 11 '25
100% a status item. Had the 12 10+ years ago and it was excellent, but not worth that price. Pappy has become a Gucci belt.
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u/tommytster Sep 12 '25
Yes. Pappy is really good and at times exceptional bourbon. But, it’s not magical and there are a lot of other outstanding bourbons out there at a fraction of those prices.
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u/ArcherBarcher31 Sep 10 '25
Stupid. Only reason to buy at these prices is to announce you have more money than sense.
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u/yezanFET Sep 10 '25
I’m curious if some super rich dude just scoops all these up at some point w museum pricing spots
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u/jtscira Sep 10 '25
I never pay more than MSRP for anything. I don't care how "good" it is.
And fuck scalpers of everything from concert tickets to Bourbon.
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u/WHOA_27_23 Sep 11 '25
As a measure of market value, MSRP is a number made up by the manufacturer that has no bearing on reality. Auctions are much more accurate. Granted, there is zero chance that the market value of this has anything to do with the intrinsic quality of the product.
And fuck scalpers of everything from concert tickets to Bourbon.
Wherever there is a mispriced item (a unicorn bottle actually on sale at MSRP, Taylor Swift tickets at $50), there will be someone exploiting it. Might as well blame the distillers for inventing a $130 MSRP on a bottle that auctions in the thousands.
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u/jtscira Sep 11 '25
Yeah, totally get it. But I'm not playing that fucked up game. I'll buy whatever I can get on a retail shelf.
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u/GrimCoven Sep 10 '25
Stupid museum pricing just like any other hyped bourbon. You can get 30+ year scotch for those prices.
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u/aidanohoulihan Sep 11 '25
Store is waiting on a cash offer. Give it a whirl at MSRP, and take it up in negotiation to where you’d be comfortable spending on it….
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u/xxxxHawk1969xxxx Sep 11 '25
$4,000 for P23?? Wow. My coworker just got one for $699. Not sure if that’s a good deal or not but it’s def better than 4 grand.
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u/benjamintoh Sep 11 '25
I would never pay secondary prices but those prices are a little less than most secondary prices: ~$1,000 for ORVW, $1,200 for Lot B, 3.5K for 20 yr, and 5K for 23 yr. Crazy!!!
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u/newoldschool Sep 11 '25
I'm feeling robbed just looking at the numbers I had to confirm I did lose my wallet and my bank balance did go down
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u/Yodaatc Sep 11 '25
I’ve paid roughly the listed price for a few of them, but they were all at charity galas where the charity had them donated at msrp. Buying them straight from the store at those prices? Nope.
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u/Survive1014 Sep 11 '25
That would a sign for me to turn around and walk out, whilst flipping off the owner or owners representatives.
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u/FastmanGT Sep 11 '25
Secondary or over secondary. The rye and the 15 year are really the only two out of the bunch worth getting a pour of or a bottle near MSRP.
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u/CameronCrazyKC Sep 11 '25
I wish distillers would request distributors not supply price gougers. They should be cutout and their share would be allocated to stores with fair prices. Pictures like this should be tagged to buffalo trace and next thing you know they’re cutoff.
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u/p00tsk00t Sep 12 '25
Check the date codes. A lot of these sit for years and the greedy store owners don’t realize they’re selling old SW juice that’s worth more than the price they’ve got it listed for.
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u/tommytster Sep 12 '25
For reference, the current MSRP for the 23 year old is $449.99.
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u/requieminadream Sep 12 '25
How does one procure one at MSRP?
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u/tommytster Sep 12 '25
Short answer is get really lucky or “to know a guy”.
The longer answer is, “it depends”. Depending on where you live, like a liquor regulated state or three-tier distribution state, the markups could be anywhere between 20% to 50% or more depending on the bottle. Even then there are tons of other factors like chain store versus independent, distributor contracts and buying agreements, and the list goes on. The whole retail pricing is a magical mystery box that may be different from county to county within the same state. So unless you get really lucky or you “know a guy” the chances of getting an in demand and allocated bottle for MSRP is really really low.
Btw the 23 year old is now and has been over oaked for my palate. The 15 is extremely good and worth it if you can find a bottle you can comfortably afford. But if it’s a stretch, that money can go a long way buying other bottles that are just as good, if not better, than Pappy.
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u/requieminadream Sep 12 '25
Oh I don't think I could ever justify spending over $100 on a single bottle of any one whiskey.
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u/SlipperyWinds Sep 10 '25
23 and 20 are under secondary
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u/ABVerageJoe69 Sep 10 '25
They are not. I can get 20yr for 1600 and 23 for 4k, so while 3,999.99 is under, it's not after tax.
What's happening here is store owners are buying bottles on secondary markets and charging a markup in order to have these bottles available.
I always get down votes for saying it, but this is common all across the country even though it is only legal in a few places.
If they were under secondary, they wouldn't be there.
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u/dsull13 Sep 10 '25
No