How Fucked-up is the LCBO?

I’m not sure if this is the appropriate place for this, but I’ve contacted HelloLCBO to ask them about bringing in some more reputable sipping rums. I doubt my suggestions will lead to anything, but you never know.

@OdysseusUnbound Would it be too much to ask them to bring in flambé rums too?

Bring back Smith and Cross!

@OdysseusUnbound If your request included some names they usually provide the distributor info and tell you to make your own deal (as long as there is something in it for them). I hound them constantly regarding their atrocious selection of Whisky. They are really not interested in what people want.

I am waiting to be blocked any day due to my scathing emails regarding their apathetic response to my demands they bring in batch 2 of Mister Sam.

@Astroke Oh, believe me I mentioned several names. I also posted in a Rum Enthusiasts of Canada Facebook group (I’m not sure what the actual group name is) wherein I encouraged Ontario members to email the LCBO and ask for more offerings from Foursquare, Hampden Estate, Kill Devil, Doorly’s, Rhum Trois-Rivières, etc. Gayle Seale (of Foursquare) liked the post so maybe there will be a push from that side. I also contacted Hampden Estate through Instagram and they said that they’re trying to get product carried by the LCBO but that Ontario is one of the most difficult markets to get into.

@Astroke Update

The LCBO answered my email and informed me that a shipment of Smith & Cross will be arriving (exclusively in the GTA, no doubt) in the next few weeks. And this fall there will be a shipment of Foursquare 12 Year Single Blended Rum. Well, there you go, in the meantime please buy some fraud in a bottle, er, I mean Zacapa.

@OdysseusUnbound They usually bring in Smith & Cross for the summer mixing season. Nice to the the single cask roll in but it will not be cheap considering the prices of the Kill Devil range.

I think the LCBO hasn't had Smith & Cross in some time, there was none last year, that's good news, @OdysseusUnbound I think you need to worry more about obtaining the Foursquare, Simth & Cross is made in pretty big volume.

@cricklewood If it is the Foursquare 2007 it is 59% and was selling last year for around $75 US. So about $200 at the LCBO no doubt.

Only at the LCBO:

In the current issue of “Food & Drink” (Early Summer issue), there’s a full page ad for THE Macallan 12 Year Sherry Oak cask with a Now Available At the LCBO “sticker” on the page. Of course, this particular expression is not currently listed at the LCBO, not on their app, not on their website.

• You can not buy it on a boat, you can not buy it with a goat. You can not buy it in a house, you can not buy it with a mouse. You can not buy Macallan 12 Sherry Oak, but if you tried to at the LCBO, you’d probably go broke.

@OdysseusUnbound I suspect that it will be available sooner than later. Alberta store have had stock of McConald 12 Sherry. It is the 40% version.

However, there are more interesting releases which seem more appealing.

@fiddich1980 Given that Mac 12 Sherry will likely be priced in the same neighbourhood as the other Mac 12 offerings ($95-$105) I’ll probably pass anyway. I just find it odd for a corporation to advertise a product they don’t sell.

@OdysseusUnbound I've seen it listed at KWM for $130.

@OdysseusUnbound There will be lots of "odd" LCBO things going on. There was a resent bleed of CEHTSB, Smith and Cross and straggling listing SKU 1966. They are scrambling to deal with the pandemic disruption, much like most business. I don't want to be apologist for the LCBO but, "odd" and " fat fingering" maybe the new normal for awhile.

@OdysseusUnbound, we'll be lucky to get away with a hundred-and-a-half for Mac 12 Sherry Oak

@paddockjudge I will let it sit on the shelves every time at that price. But I’m sure name recognition will sell enough bottles regardless.

@paddockjudge There was a time when you could get the fabled Mac 18 for less than that.

@BlueNote, I remember $199.95 for Mac 18 and I bought exactly zero bottles... it was just too expensive lol

@paddockjudge Ahhhhh the good old days. If only we knew then what we know now...

@talexander, @BlueNote.....I may not have bought at $199, but I did buy a at $249....I think we sipped some 9with your brother) @talexander...1993, one of the good batches.

@fiddich1980 The Tobermory Marsala Cask looks promising but may be hard to come by unless Vintages does the same with these Distell releases as they did with the Diageo special stuff. Way less bottles of these Distell releases though.

@Astroke Gulp ... cough...at $287 for a total production of 1134 bottles. I'd have to think about it. I'm more interested in chasing a 30 year old Caol Ila than a 19 year old Tobermory. Very much like the Tobermory Fino, it may not move and the monopoly will have to reduce the price to sub $200. However, the Bunnahabhain 2007 French Brandy cask finish, from my perspective and palate, interests me.

@Astroke There are also those Deanston releases of interest LCBO SKU:

15793 / 15794 / 15795

@fiddich1980 The Bunna 2007 will go quickly despite the price and is priced in line of what it sells for on whiskybase.

For context:

The discussion @Astroke and @fiddich1980 are having revolves around an upcoming LCBO release on these items:

scotchwhisky.com/magazine/latest-news/…

@paddockjudge I think that was the CS? Memory is a bit foggy...

@talexander, a bit foggy indeed, the faces have been blocked to protect the innocent....and the guilty...you are correct, there was Mac CS...we were bottom feeding too.

For those of you unfamiliar with Alberta Premium 25 YO 2006 release, fuhgeddaboudit! There hasn't been a unicorn sighting in at least four years.

@paddockjudge I'll have a pour of all 4 of those and a piece of that chunk of parm too

For those who may not be aware and who may be interested, a Blanton's Gold allocation is currently "available" through LCBO Vintage Shop Online. I can't wait to not win the chance to buy some. I "asked" for 2 bottles, but I'll be shocked if I get anything other than a response email with a bunch of laughing emojis.

Well it seems that @paddockjudge was right. This is an absolute joke. Of course, I rated it 82/100, so it’s no skin off my back-side, but I feel bad for people who genuinely enjoy Macallan. I’ll stick to Glendronach 12 at about half the price.

@OdysseusUnbound I saw an add for this in their magazine so I looked up the price yesterday. To say I was surprised would be dishonest.

It's not a bad whisky, bur to put things into perspective, I would be able to get many whiskies elsewhere that are as good for less than that:

• Amrut Naarangi

• Amrut Intermediate Sherry

• Ardbeg Coryvreckin

• Bruichladdich Octomore

Not to mention at least 3 OGD 114, 2 ECBP, and Wiser's 23...