Determining Bourbon Values

[Deadman's Point]

What resources do you bourbon collector's use to determine price values? I look online and see such a wide variation of prices, it is hard to navigate the secondary market.

Specifically, I'm looking to get a better idea of what the 2011 BTAC Handy, the 2012 Sazerac 18, and the EH Taylor Warehouse C Tornado Survivor would cost... but general guidance would be helpful seeing as now the shops by me auction off their HTF stock now. As an example, I saw the EH Taylor Warehouse C Tornado Survivor going for $800 and the Sazerac 18 going for $700 online. I nearly passed out.

 

[whodeeni]

What resources do you bourbon collector's use to determine price values? I look online and see such a wide variation of prices, it is hard to navigate the secondary market.

Specifically, I'm looking to get a better idea of what the 2011 BTAC Handy, the 2012 Sazerac 18, and the EH Taylor Warehouse C Tornado Survivor would cost... but general guidance would be helpful seeing as now the shops by me auction off their HTF stock now. As an example, I saw the EH Taylor Warehouse C Tornado Survivor going for $800 and the Sazerac 18 going for $700 online. I nearly passed out.

If that was on Ebay, somebody's trying to catch a sucker for Christmas!

 

[cvm4]

No way those are even worth the price they're asking. I don't know a good online resource to gauge the prices by. But, more often times than not if a rare bourbon is offered up online then the person is already gouging. There are exceptions to some retailers though.

 

[javajunkie]

don't shop the secondary market, that way lies madness.

seriously, unless you have more disposable cash than sense, 80% seem out to kill their mark up, and 18% are not even pretending to spit on it first. 1.5% of the remainder are fakes. ask around on a forum you can trust (like us!) about specific values of specific releases. or, even better, stay in the loop and try to be on top of current releases moving forward. but again, unless you HAVE to have a specific release, the secondary market is rarely worth it.

 

[KcJason1]

Hahah.. On the secondary..

Saz18@220
Er17, Stagg and WLW@200
Handy@150ish...

Ps those are FB swap page prices

Heck your prices are higher than most Pappy secondary prices!

 

[Cigary43]

Any involvement with wines, spirits etc. is like anything else...even cigars. One has to do some research in order to get a true cost or worth and being able to sample the goods is important. Sometimes all it takes is to sample bourbons at your local watering hole unless it's about trying some ridiculously priced drink...unless you are a millionaire anything over $100 a bottle isn't as good as you think...been there done that.

 

[jeffturneraz]

Any involvement with wines, spirits etc. is like anything else...even cigars. One has to do some research in order to get a true cost or worth and being able to sample the goods is important. Sometimes all it takes is to sample bourbons at your local watering hole unless it's about trying some ridiculously priced drink...unless you are a millionaire anything over $100 a bottle isn't as good as you think...been there done that.

This is the truth Gary.

I try not to let the label get me too excited because if you were to peel that off, it's still just a bottle of whiskey in there.

Maybe it's my own personal financial situation but for me, I would spend up to 100 dollars to have some really good stuff, but nothing past that.

We live in America, bourbon is not aged in some ancient village in Scotland then shipped on boats, no...bourbon is from right down the street so-to-speak.

You spend even 60 dollars on a bottle and you should have some pretty amazing whiskey. Just my 2 cents.

I know this is starting to kind of veer off topic of O.P. on pricing sources, which I would just say use google, but seeing those prices you mentioned in the original post, that almost got my blood boiling.

...and I'm a free market guy too, but those guys selling those bottles of Taylor for $800 and what not can shove it way up their ass, because that is insane, lol.

 

[ENV]

Thank goodness my palette absolutely loves Basil Haydens and that is my go-to.

 

[Kantucky]

I enjoy a good bourbon as much as the next guy, and live an expensive one on occasion. But I'm a mixed drink guy for the most part, and VOB for $12/handle at SAMs gives me more delicious pleasure than any htf bourbon.

Exception being NCAA tournament time when Kentucky is playing.... I empty my wallet, drink it neat, and lose my mind.

 

[jeffturneraz]

I enjoy a good bourbon as much as the next guy, and live an expensive one on occasion. But I'm a mixed drink guy for the most part, and VOB for $12/handle at SAMs gives me more delicious pleasure than any htf bourbon.

Exception being NCAA tournament time when Kentucky is playing.... I empty my wallet, drink it neat, and lose my mind.

You guys should get a free barrel of bourbon every year as your god given birth right there in Kentucky, lol.

 

[whodeeni]

I enjoy a good bourbon as much as the next guy, and live an expensive one on occasion. But I'm a mixed drink guy for the most part, and VOB for $12/handle at SAMs gives me more delicious pleasure than any htf bourbon.

Exception being NCAA tournament time when Kentucky is playing.... I empty my wallet, drink it neat, and lose my mind.

You guys should get a free barrel of bourbon every year as your god given birth right there in Kentucky, lol.

Haha! IKR!

 

[txaggie9307]

I actually think that the BTAC warrants some high prices (to a point). For example, George T Stagg sells for $100 plus here in Fort Worth; I think it is a fair price for the product that you get. What scotch can you buy that is 15-16+ years old and cask strength for only a $100? None!