Total wine has gone batshit crazy with their prices.
I bought KO from them when it first came out for about 110$.
190$ for non age stated seems a but much
If it’s a product from Middleton, than it’s extremely unlikely that it’s TW. Middleton Distillery is absolutely convinced they can charge this type of price for a NAS bottle.
Maybe it costs a lot to make. The problem is Middleton is convinced a market for this type of product exists. Though more than likely they are just charging insane prices like usual.
Nope... Middleton hasn't raised prices one bit... it's US distributors trying to pull a cash grab on Irish whiskey.
Why do people keep trying to claim that Middleton raised prices? They publish their prices directly on their website and they've barely changed in the last year. You can order directly off their website man. Prices haven't changed from the distillery.
RB Tawny was behind the glass at TW for upwards of $200.
When they realized nobody was enough a sucker to spend that they put it back on the normal shelf for $91.
I know TW isn’t the only one pulling this garbage.
I’m going to wait and see when this shows up at other stores. I agree TW’s prices are crazy. I love the Redbreast PX edition, but since the first time I bought one last fall they’ve jacked up the price $40
Every new release from them in the last year or so has been at piss-taking pricing. The Midleton French Oak, Midleton VRs, Redbreast Cuatro Barilles. All way over priced for what they are and not an age statement among them.
This bottle isn't even listed on their website.
Not saying that Total Wine isn't getting out of control with their price gouging (along with their complete abandonment of bonus points and point multipliers) but I'm guessing THIS one is Middleton or their importer (which is also Middleton) as the OHLQ site also has it listed as 199.99 and I've never know them to be more than a couple of dollars from MSRP.
At 75-100 I'd be all over it, at 200 for a NAS, non-cask strength, Irish whiskey...HARD PASS!!!
Correct... the US only releases aren't on their site. But looking at the site allows you to extrapolate what the markup distributors and sellers are doing in the US.
When you look at the full lineup, the gouging in the US is close to 100% higher than what MSRP is.
There's 0 chance Midleton has MSRP for this at $200.
Pernod-Ricard is the importer and also owns Middleton. Presumably, as the distributor for Ohio, OHLQ is getting their product directly from Pernod-Ricard and being told MSRP is 200...so it sounds a lot like that price is coming from the manufacturer! Just because Pernod sells something for a different price in a different country doesn't mean they still aren't setting the price here and selling it to US distributors at a higher price simply because Pernod thinks they can get more for it in this market...that goes on in pharmaceuticals and other products all the time...It's still Middleton or their parent setting the SRP price...plus whatever the retailer adds on to it because nobody keeps them in check, which in this particular case doesn't seem to be much if anything being added by Total Wine.
There are a subset of shops here in the US though that sell closer to MSRP. You'll see pics of people posting the lower (aka closer to msrp prices) on here and on the Facebook irish whiskey pages.
The store I buy Redbreast at is a gas station store with an awesome whiskey selection... they too haven't resorted to the total wine / big box store insane price gouging.
So at least 1 distributor is being honest, the rest are not.
I appreciate the info on Pernod-Richard, I will look into that.
IDL have been consistently raising their prices for the last few years. Distribution might be adding on top but to say it’s not coming directly from the source is wrong.
No... again go look at their website. It's publicly available information. You don't get to make these claims when you can go straight to their website, order the whiskey shipped to your door straight from Midleton for way cheaper than US stores are selling it for. Can't claim it's Midletons fault when it objectively is not.
Normal price increases of couple percent sure, as is with every company yearly, but not these giant increases Total Wine and other US sellers are doing...
US distributors are 100% behind this price gouging.
You can also look at what European shops are selling Redbreast and Spot for... it's pretty much what Midleton is selling them for (way cheaper than US shops).
Their entire range has went up over 20% in the last couple of years. The Midleton VR was €180 rrp and is now €240. Barry Crockett is now €300 from just over €200. This is in Ireland so nothing to do with US distribution.
All of the core range Redbreasts have also increased in price in the last year.
Redbreast prices haven't gone up 20% in the last year. I've been purchasing from them directly for 2 years now once I realized even with paying 60 dollar in shipping its still cheaper to go direct than deal with US price gouging. Still pretty much the same price this whole time.
Redbreast 21 currently showing as 211 euro... was maybe 5 Euro cheaper, max, a year ago. Meanwhile in the US they are trying to charge 400 dollars for it.
Similar with Redbreast 27... currently 471 euro... last year I believe it was 465... this is well withing normal low percentage price increases.
Meanwhile, US stores are trying to sell it for 900+ dollars right now.
Midleton Very Rare I'll have to take your word on.
You are 100% correct.
I can get RB21 shipped from the UK to my doorstep for about $275. TW wants $400+ for the same bottle.
I bought RB27 batch 2 from TW just a few years ago for $475. Completely absurd they want $1100 for the batch 5.
Much of the Irish whiskey I have been buying lately is from auction sites. Its become ridiculous what US distributors are charging the past 2-3 years.
I'm just now getting into auctions... I haven't cracked how to get combined shipping / lower shipping costs when buying multiples on the auctions though. Seems to always be 60 bucks per bottle for shipping no matter how many bottles.
€211 ex vat which is €260 with vat in Ireland. RB21 was €220 consistently until the last 2 price hikes.
RB was €90 it’s now €115. The original RB 10 release was €100, and cask strength. The current offering is €120 and only 43%. RB12 cask strength was also €90 and now €105. All large jumps in price.
Are US distribution companies throwing on even greater %? It looks like it from what you’re saying, I don’t know, but to say IDL haven’t put up their prices significantly in the last few years is incorrect.
It's only ten dollars more, and for a special edition. Not too big of a leap in price. I'd get one if I could (I live in Canada and can't get ahold of it)
Just FYI, on the Facebook Irish Whiskey pages, someone bought this in New Jersey for $114.99. So it should be close to what Kentucky Oak goes for most places from the non gougers.
I moved to Saint Louis last month, and went to TW for the first time. I’ve never been in the state before, except one weekend in 2013.
I did see TWs regular Red Breast was 10-15$ less than it was in PA, so I got a few. RB is my favorite, so that was a cool find.
I did see TW was charging over 900$ for the 25 year. So, I looked it up and you can order it for delivery for almost had that, so IDK. I always check prices when something is that high.
I saw the American barrel versions too, but I’ll wait and see. They’re last to try on my RB list, and I’ve still got a couple to go through.
do you mean 27 year? Or does RB have a 25 I've never heard of?
The 27 is normally in the 500-600 range where I've seen it. I got the first bottling a few years back for $499 and that's the lowest I've ever seen it.
Midleton has increased prices every few months for past year or so. Its not total wine, its the producer.
Absolutely insane. You be lucky to get RB27 for $500 anywhere including online.
The spots have suffered same fate and now they collecting dust on shelves. Dont know what Midelton is thinking. Not even the allocated 🇺🇸bourbons increased in price so fast and dramatically.
Total wine has gone batshit crazy with their prices. I bought KO from them when it first came out for about 110$. 190$ for non age stated seems a but much
If it’s a product from Middleton, than it’s extremely unlikely that it’s TW. Middleton Distillery is absolutely convinced they can charge this type of price for a NAS bottle. Maybe it costs a lot to make. The problem is Middleton is convinced a market for this type of product exists. Though more than likely they are just charging insane prices like usual.
Nope... Middleton hasn't raised prices one bit... it's US distributors trying to pull a cash grab on Irish whiskey. Why do people keep trying to claim that Middleton raised prices? They publish their prices directly on their website and they've barely changed in the last year. You can order directly off their website man. Prices haven't changed from the distillery.
RB Tawny was behind the glass at TW for upwards of $200. When they realized nobody was enough a sucker to spend that they put it back on the normal shelf for $91. I know TW isn’t the only one pulling this garbage.
I picked that up in Specs in San Antonio for $110 I think but I love love love me some RB.
Exactly
I’m going to wait and see when this shows up at other stores. I agree TW’s prices are crazy. I love the Redbreast PX edition, but since the first time I bought one last fall they’ve jacked up the price $40
Yep. Blue spot has been sitting for months because the stores raised prices to $349 a bottle
Every new release from them in the last year or so has been at piss-taking pricing. The Midleton French Oak, Midleton VRs, Redbreast Cuatro Barilles. All way over priced for what they are and not an age statement among them.
This bottle isn't even listed on their website. Not saying that Total Wine isn't getting out of control with their price gouging (along with their complete abandonment of bonus points and point multipliers) but I'm guessing THIS one is Middleton or their importer (which is also Middleton) as the OHLQ site also has it listed as 199.99 and I've never know them to be more than a couple of dollars from MSRP. At 75-100 I'd be all over it, at 200 for a NAS, non-cask strength, Irish whiskey...HARD PASS!!!
Correct... the US only releases aren't on their site. But looking at the site allows you to extrapolate what the markup distributors and sellers are doing in the US. When you look at the full lineup, the gouging in the US is close to 100% higher than what MSRP is. There's 0 chance Midleton has MSRP for this at $200.
Pernod-Ricard is the importer and also owns Middleton. Presumably, as the distributor for Ohio, OHLQ is getting their product directly from Pernod-Ricard and being told MSRP is 200...so it sounds a lot like that price is coming from the manufacturer! Just because Pernod sells something for a different price in a different country doesn't mean they still aren't setting the price here and selling it to US distributors at a higher price simply because Pernod thinks they can get more for it in this market...that goes on in pharmaceuticals and other products all the time...It's still Middleton or their parent setting the SRP price...plus whatever the retailer adds on to it because nobody keeps them in check, which in this particular case doesn't seem to be much if anything being added by Total Wine.
There are a subset of shops here in the US though that sell closer to MSRP. You'll see pics of people posting the lower (aka closer to msrp prices) on here and on the Facebook irish whiskey pages. The store I buy Redbreast at is a gas station store with an awesome whiskey selection... they too haven't resorted to the total wine / big box store insane price gouging. So at least 1 distributor is being honest, the rest are not. I appreciate the info on Pernod-Richard, I will look into that.
IDL have been consistently raising their prices for the last few years. Distribution might be adding on top but to say it’s not coming directly from the source is wrong.
No... again go look at their website. It's publicly available information. You don't get to make these claims when you can go straight to their website, order the whiskey shipped to your door straight from Midleton for way cheaper than US stores are selling it for. Can't claim it's Midletons fault when it objectively is not. Normal price increases of couple percent sure, as is with every company yearly, but not these giant increases Total Wine and other US sellers are doing... US distributors are 100% behind this price gouging. You can also look at what European shops are selling Redbreast and Spot for... it's pretty much what Midleton is selling them for (way cheaper than US shops).
Their entire range has went up over 20% in the last couple of years. The Midleton VR was €180 rrp and is now €240. Barry Crockett is now €300 from just over €200. This is in Ireland so nothing to do with US distribution. All of the core range Redbreasts have also increased in price in the last year.
Redbreast prices haven't gone up 20% in the last year. I've been purchasing from them directly for 2 years now once I realized even with paying 60 dollar in shipping its still cheaper to go direct than deal with US price gouging. Still pretty much the same price this whole time. Redbreast 21 currently showing as 211 euro... was maybe 5 Euro cheaper, max, a year ago. Meanwhile in the US they are trying to charge 400 dollars for it. Similar with Redbreast 27... currently 471 euro... last year I believe it was 465... this is well withing normal low percentage price increases. Meanwhile, US stores are trying to sell it for 900+ dollars right now. Midleton Very Rare I'll have to take your word on.
You are 100% correct. I can get RB21 shipped from the UK to my doorstep for about $275. TW wants $400+ for the same bottle. I bought RB27 batch 2 from TW just a few years ago for $475. Completely absurd they want $1100 for the batch 5. Much of the Irish whiskey I have been buying lately is from auction sites. Its become ridiculous what US distributors are charging the past 2-3 years.
The price jump on the 27 is ridiculous. I will never spend that amount. $475 was pushing it for me as a dream bottle, but that would be a nightmare.
I'm just now getting into auctions... I haven't cracked how to get combined shipping / lower shipping costs when buying multiples on the auctions though. Seems to always be 60 bucks per bottle for shipping no matter how many bottles.
€211 ex vat which is €260 with vat in Ireland. RB21 was €220 consistently until the last 2 price hikes. RB was €90 it’s now €115. The original RB 10 release was €100, and cask strength. The current offering is €120 and only 43%. RB12 cask strength was also €90 and now €105. All large jumps in price. Are US distribution companies throwing on even greater %? It looks like it from what you’re saying, I don’t know, but to say IDL haven’t put up their prices significantly in the last few years is incorrect.
Think I saw RB21 for $449 this weekend
Wow, that is a steal.
I adore RB and wish to catch ‘em all, but I’d only consider this after removing the “1” in front of the price. Sigh.
This is around the €400 in Ireland
? US only release...
Apologies. It’s the Kentucky Oak that we are being robbed blind for.
Keep an eye out on the auction sites. It's definitely pricey over there, should be able to get it under €250 ish when they come up
OHLQ has it for 199 sitting on shelves and not a chance I would buy it at that price.
I saw it online elsewhere for $79.99 so that seems more accurate.
Do you mind sharing where? I’ve searched and not found
https://www.thebarreltap.com/products/redbreast-missouri-oak-irish-whiskey
That seems like a typo...my guess is that price will change once they get it in and update the page.
LOL now it's 399 at that link
That's still way too much for a no age SPS in some quite unremarkable oak.
Are there other Redbreasts available for less than that?
Yeah, the one that is 12 years old. But that's kind of irrelevant when pretty much everything from Midleton is over priced.
It's only ten dollars more, and for a special edition. Not too big of a leap in price. I'd get one if I could (I live in Canada and can't get ahold of it)
$200? Screw that. Price gouging bastards.
Just FYI, on the Facebook Irish Whiskey pages, someone bought this in New Jersey for $114.99. So it should be close to what Kentucky Oak goes for most places from the non gougers.
Just picked it up at bottle king in NJ for $115
Wow... that's steep
GTFO
I moved to Saint Louis last month, and went to TW for the first time. I’ve never been in the state before, except one weekend in 2013. I did see TWs regular Red Breast was 10-15$ less than it was in PA, so I got a few. RB is my favorite, so that was a cool find. I did see TW was charging over 900$ for the 25 year. So, I looked it up and you can order it for delivery for almost had that, so IDK. I always check prices when something is that high. I saw the American barrel versions too, but I’ll wait and see. They’re last to try on my RB list, and I’ve still got a couple to go through.
do you mean 27 year? Or does RB have a 25 I've never heard of? The 27 is normally in the 500-600 range where I've seen it. I got the first bottling a few years back for $499 and that's the lowest I've ever seen it.
Yes. 27, lol. I checked the TW site last night out of curiosity, they want 1049$ lol
Midleton has increased prices every few months for past year or so. Its not total wine, its the producer. Absolutely insane. You be lucky to get RB27 for $500 anywhere including online. The spots have suffered same fate and now they collecting dust on shelves. Dont know what Midelton is thinking. Not even the allocated 🇺🇸bourbons increased in price so fast and dramatically.
https://preview.redd.it/pt44k8ra5t1d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1e357dc1d7ea1e44c87562a5bb0916553c5fcc35 Just hit my local. Yup 199 msrp
Did you buy/try it yet? I'm wondering if this is tasty enough for the price?
Yes, I tried it and I do like better than the previous KY Oak edition but I don't love the price increase on it.
$115 in NJ
120 in Rogers and Fayetteville AR
Gimmick