How Fucked-up is the LCBO?

@paddockjudge Well according to HelloLCBO the ETL is allocated (err, bullshit lottery), online June 6th. Won't be long now until WT 101 is a lottery bottle. Well maybe we can score one of those Blood Oath #4's coming to a Kenora store and Summerhill soon at $150.

@Astroke the day WT101 is a lottery item it might be time to stop buying bourbon

I scored a Blanton’s Gold, but I’m “selling” it (at cost) to a friend who’s done me far more whisky favours than I deserve. Gotta put some of that good karma back out into the WhiskyVerse.

WTF, I scored an EHT small batch on a "Wait List Notification"

@fiddich1980 I have scored 2..... I found a home for one but no one wants the other one.

@Nozinan I'l always take an EHT off of anyone's hands if they want....

@fiddich1980 What is a "Wait List Notification" at the LCBO?

@Astroke Happened to me too. Some people who won bottles let them go and then they offer them to the people who didn't win.

@Nozinan you mean the ETL allocation has come and gone?

@Nozinan Apparently I need to get my acronyms right :)

To clarify, it was EH Taylor.

Just for fun, here are some varying levels of "the LCBO really sucks" for perspective.

• Laphroaig Quarter Cask: Ontario 750ml, 48% abv, $90 CAD, The Whisky Exchange (UK) 700ml, 48% abv £36.75 ($64.35 CAD, or $68.72 CAD when adjusted for difference in bottle size)
• Lagavulin 16: Ontario 750 ml, 43% abv, $130 CAD, The Whisky Exchange 700ml, 43% abv, £60.95 ($106.73 CAD, or $113.98 CAD when adjusted for difference in bottle size)
• Highland Park 18: Ontario 750 ml, 43% abv, $200 CAD, Master of Malt 700ml, 43% abv, £83.32, ($145.90, or $155.82 CAD when adjusted for difference in bottle size)
• Springbank 15: Ontario 750ml, 46% abv, $149.99 CAD, Master of Malt 700ml, 46% abv, £49.92 ($87.41 CAD or $93.35 CAD when adjusted for difference in bottle size)
• Ardbeg Corryvreckan: Ontario 750ml, 57.1% abv, $200 CAD, Master of Malt 700ml, 57.1% abv, £52.42 ($91.79 CAD, or $98.03 CAD when adjusted for difference in bottle size)

Now the UK may have cheaper prices through Amazon, and some places in the US of A may have cheaper prices too, but this is just some perspective for Nontarians

@OdysseusUnbound Thanks for this. There are many times the LCBO is cheaper than retail prices in other countries, though unfortunately most of the time they are not.

@talexander I think Weller Antique may be the only example I can think of...

@talexander, I concur, over the years some of the bourbon prices at the LCBO have raised my eyebrows and not because they too high. The 2013 Ltd Edition Four Roses Small Batch Barrel Proof hit the shelves the week before Easter at $80 CDN. Not a drop was sold below that price in its country of origin.

@paddockjudge Also, the cost of most Irish Whiskey at the LCBO is cheaper than in the US. Bushmills 21 is in the $250-$300 US range and 160 pounds in the UK vs $240 Cad , Yellow Spot is over $100 US and Tyrconnell 16 is over $100 US, both are the same at the LCBO.

Four Roses and Buffalo Trace seem to be fairly priced at the LCBO. Cannot say the same for Heaven Hill stuff which is in the Ardbeg/Balvenie/Springbank range of disparity.

@OdysseusUnbound , I would add ZYN from Alberta, their pricing pretty much matches the UK comparison prices. One to add, Balvenie 15 SiB LCBO $280 vs $168 + 5% at ZYN. Of course we in Ontario must ship it, but there are ways to keep that cost down.

Don’t know if it falls under “fucked up” but Elmer T Lee and Michter’s Toasted are both in Vintages allocation right now....

@OdysseusUnbound I see that Master of Malt has a special price of $51.76 US for Lagavulin 16 compared to $85 here in Pennsylvania.

@OdysseusUnbound I put my name in for those two and the O.F.C. 1993. I've been pretty lucky before, let's see how this one turns out (kinda hope the O.F.C. doesn't work out - that's a lot of money........)

@talexander I have a friend in New York who paid $3k US without a second thought. Too rich for my blood and at $1,300.00 Cad more than an over priced Brora 35 year is a little much.

@talexander I look forward to trying it with you...

@OdysseusUnbound - Those are some steep prices - my sympathies! And, yes, some of them could be cheaper on Amazon or perhaps elsewhere online. You pay double what we do for Oogy!? That surprised me the most, but I have always felt £50 is a great price and I should buy more whilst the goings good. . .

@DaveM - I picked up a Laga 16 for £39 last December! Granted, that price lasted about a day but still. It's usually around £50 which is pretty good for any 16 year old . . .

As @talexander points out above, I'm sure you guys get better deals on other bottles, especially the home grown stuff - and Irish, which we get royally bummed for!

Ok perhaps this isn't exactly the correct thread for this but here goes anyway.

Has anyone heard of any special father's days Canadian whisky releases? I was expecting Wiser's would put out something in partnership with the LCBO like they have the past 3 years (Last Barrels, Dissertation, Seasoned Oak) but I haven't heard anything? I know there is a Wiser's 23 yr old Cask Strength that was in the SOT tasting but that doesn't fit into the NBC collection per se.

I know not all of these releases have been met with unanimous acclaim but it's always nice to have access to more interesting Canadian whisky.

FOPR (Fear Of Price Rise) It looks like the LCBO has stock of Wiser's 35 for father's day. The new going price is $200 Canadian. It was $165 a few months ago.

@fiddich1980 not surprising. The price for the second release was supposed to be $200 in September, but the LCBO screwed it up, and people jumped on it.

@Nozinan @fiddich1980 Yup. I got mine for $160 or so back in December.

@cricklewood would settle for some of their stashed Dissertation as I could use an another bottle or 2.

@Astroke I'm always down for more dissertation, I've got a few stashed away but may decided that's not enough. The little amount that went online sold out in a few hours. I know of a couple of stores near Ottawa that still have some on shelves.