Why the price difference?

[wired1]

Hi all,

I am a bit of a newbie with a heck of a growing collection! My question to those of you with way more pedigree than I is this:

Why are independent bottlings so much less expensive? For example, a bottle of Macallan 25 is about $800 US, but 25 year old Macallan from say Signatory, is $200ish...

I notice this trend throughout the independent bottlings; that their pricing is lower.

Your knowledge is appreciated!

Thanks

[Carson]

A quick answer would be that the Macallan distillery bottling has been distilled, matured then bottled by Macallan. The Signatory was distilled by Macallan but may have been matured differently, perhaps a different type of barrel and matured in a different location therefore it will not get such a high price. Also you are paying tfor the 100% Macallan name and quality. Unless you are buying whisky as an investment the independent bottlers such as Signatory offer great value and diversity.

The independent bottling may be identical to the distillery bottling but this is not usual, indepenedent bottlers such as Signatory usually bottle whisky at different ages and/or strengths and as i said they may have matured the whisky differently than the original distillery bottlings that are available.

Carson

[Big Mac]

wired1 you may find the section on Independent Bottlers interesting:
www.scotchmaltwhisky.co.uk/independentbottlers.htm

[wired1]

Thank you so much for the great info! Just received two bottles today and I'm super excited; Bruichladdich Black Art and Golder Still!

[Keith]

[wired1]

Yeah, I have never tried them either... bought on a whim!

I think next up for me to open (I have 4 bottles open now and that seems to be my comfort zone for open bottles at any given time) is Glenmorangie Signet.