[MM-MALTS-L] Re: What drives price?

[djrussobik at aol.com]

At some point in the past Cadenhead's subscribed to the "let the buyer/market decide" as far as cask quality and attributes: That is, they did not pre-screen and accept-or-reject casks on the basis of their opinion/assessment of the quality or desirability of the contents.? They basically bottled everything they acquired or held.? On the plus side, this doesn't preclude the buyer from whiskies that would have been rejected when the bottlers' tastes differ, but the consumer likes the result.? But it also resulted in occasional and spectacular "clunkers".? I remember an 18yo Cadenhead's Talisker (I think it was a 1979 distillation) that still sets the bar for putrid/undrinkable whisky -- and at the time I could not understand how such a travesty had been bottled.? Now I know!?



I fear that with the scarcity of casks available to Independent Bottlers, this same type of philosophy will be espoused out of sheer desperation.? If the only other choice is to fold up the business, what do you think IB's will do?



Slainte!

?? Dave in Boston


-----Original Message-----
From: Mike Davis <mldavis2 at sbcglobal.net>
To: 'MaltManiacs operated former 'MALT-L' Whisky List' <mm-malts-l at grsnet.net>
Sent: Sun, 11 Nov 2007 9:39 am
Subject: RE: [MM-MALTS-L] Re: What drives price?




I am always a bit skeptical of some independent bottlings.  There was a time
when distilleries were hurting for cash and sold some casks.  Today, that is
not so much the case.  I have purchased a couple of older (1995) bottlings
from Cadenhead that were NOT worth the price paid.  On the other hand, some
were, and certainly some independent bottlings are quite unique and very
interesting.  But why, other than cash flow, would a distiller sell a good
cask rather than keep it in stock for blending?  Presumably they know what
blending character they want to produce, so it doesn't make much sense that
they would deviate from their standard character and then sell the excess to
an independent.  I also understand that, with the current resurgence in SM
that independent casks are getting harder to buy.

Mike Davis
mldavis2 AT sbcglobal DOT net
http://www.pbase.com/mldavis2/ 



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