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Quaich1
Master Of Malts
Joined: 21 Apr 2012
Posts: 5749
Location: Ontario, Canada
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 Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2012 2:02 am Post subject: Buying whisky at the LCBO - the trials and tribulations |
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Found a great article about single malts, the LCBO, availability issues and progress:
http://www.connosr.com/distilled/issue-4/buying-whisky-at-the-lcbo-the-trials-and-tribula/
After the article there are some very interesting comments by Canadian readers/customers.
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"Always carry a large flagon of whisky in case of snakebite and furthermore always carry a small snake."
W.C. Fields (1880-1946) |
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albo
Master Of Malts
Joined: 22 Mar 2011
Posts: 1888
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| Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2012 8:26 am Post subject: |
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A very interesting article, it does give a little deeper info on what you have been saying.
I can only imagine it's a pain only having one outlet (though many stores) for whisky, they get full and complete control over prices (not a good thing) and over what they stock (unless they really know or like thier whisky again not a good thing).
Still you seem to do ok for yourself in what you pick up, and your tasting events seem to turn up some star drams, so not all bad.
There is always the option of moving out to Scotland, we have a fair range of places you can pick up a bottle  |
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Kenny M
Master Of Malts
Joined: 21 Apr 2007
Posts: 860
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| Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2012 12:52 pm Post subject: |
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| I can see the the Canadian government has a tight control over whisky and other alcohol sales. Sounds like you have plenty of stores but not every store has every whisky so you seem to have to do a bit of travelling around to pick up certain whiskies. If the government doesnt let you order whisky online from overseas surely there must be a way to let you order online from a LCBO store to save you all the travelling around trying to locate certain whiskies. |
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Quaich1
Master Of Malts
Joined: 21 Apr 2012
Posts: 5749
Location: Ontario, Canada
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| Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2012 1:24 pm Post subject: |
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| Kenny M wrote: | | I can see the the Canadian government has a tight control over whisky and other alcohol sales. Sounds like you have plenty of stores but not every store has every whisky so you seem to have to do a bit of travelling around to pick up certain whiskies. If the government doesnt let you order whisky online from overseas surely there must be a way to let you order online from a LCBO store to save you all the travelling around trying to locate certain whiskies. |
Hi Kenny. Yes there is a lot of variation across LCBO stores particularly in terms of whether a particular location carries the really good stuff, usually equated here as the higher priced single malts. There is a fairly good one 5 minutes from here but the two big ones in Burlington, Ontario, for example carry the more unique malts and Independent Bottlings. That's about a 45 minute drive. There are LCBO stores everywhere. Yes to your question about ordering from one location for delivery to another by phone. There is also a subdivision of LCBO called Vintages which promotes and sells premium wines and spirits with new arrivals on a regular basis and you can order from them online and delivery is made to a LCBO store location. Single malts are sometimes included here too and I missed the brief window for the Glenfiddich 30 year old. They can be involved in some special importing but the taxes are still very very high. I've never explored that route because of cost. However, considering the issues involved with buying single malts here, particularly price and availability, I do not too bad at all. My single malt club and my travels to single malt pubs in Toronto open up my horizons as well.
_________________
"Always carry a large flagon of whisky in case of snakebite and furthermore always carry a small snake."
W.C. Fields (1880-1946) |
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bifter
Master Of Malts
Joined: 10 Apr 2012
Posts: 1403
Location: East Lothian
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| Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2012 1:45 pm Post subject: |
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Interesting read. It's hardly ideal for there to be no competition. Most of the comments are fairly reserved and some of these people obviously travel so it's not just a case of living in a walled garden. I think I would have more bucolic opinions if I were them!
Given the history of illicit stills in Scotland and other examples such as Finland, is there not a big black market for bootleg booze in Ontario?
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"Whisky is liquid sunshine."
[George Bernard Shaw] |
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Fergie
Master Of Malts
Joined: 02 Dec 2006
Posts: 1750
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| Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2012 1:58 pm Post subject: |
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| Whats the malt whisky availability and prices like for you just over the border in America and would you get hit with taxes coming back into Canada. |
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Quaich1
Master Of Malts
Joined: 21 Apr 2012
Posts: 5749
Location: Ontario, Canada
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| Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2012 4:34 pm Post subject: |
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| bifter wrote: | Interesting read. It's hardly ideal for there to be no competition. Most of the comments are fairly reserved and some of these people obviously travel so it's not just a case of living in a walled garden. I think I would have more bucolic opinions if I were them!
Given the history of illicit stills in Scotland and other examples such as Finland, is there not a big black market for bootleg booze in Ontario? |
Frankly, I have never heard of black market liquor here at all, not even rumors. We Canadians today tend to be pretty straight-laced, probably considered over-reserved by others. It's interesting that the Leader of the Ontario's Progressive Conservative Party (not in power) has in his newly announced platform, the selling off of the government's LCBO mega-structure and allow privatization which would open everything up. Very interesting......... 
See more on this:
http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/2012/12/04/scrapping-lcbo-wont-carry-hudak-to-power
_________________
"Always carry a large flagon of whisky in case of snakebite and furthermore always carry a small snake."
W.C. Fields (1880-1946) |
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Quaich1
Master Of Malts
Joined: 21 Apr 2012
Posts: 5749
Location: Ontario, Canada
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| Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2012 4:39 pm Post subject: |
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| Fergie wrote: | | Whats the malt whisky availability and prices like for you just over the border in America and would you get hit with taxes coming back into Canada. |
The prices in the USA are much better but unless you stay for certain periods as a Canadian visitor , you cannot bring back any liquor without a 60% markup fee plus 13% sells tax......so 73% tax on bottles is disastrous. However, even if you stay for the appropriate longer period, you can only bring back basically 1 bottle per person. Not very exciting for the single malt enthusiast. 
_________________
"Always carry a large flagon of whisky in case of snakebite and furthermore always carry a small snake."
W.C. Fields (1880-1946) |
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albo
Master Of Malts
Joined: 22 Mar 2011
Posts: 1888
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| Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2012 5:18 pm Post subject: |
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| Quaich1 wrote: | | bifter wrote: | Interesting read. It's hardly ideal for there to be no competition. Most of the comments are fairly reserved and some of these people obviously travel so it's not just a case of living in a walled garden. I think I would have more bucolic opinions if I were them!
Given the history of illicit stills in Scotland and other examples such as Finland, is there not a big black market for bootleg booze in Ontario? |
Frankly, I have never heard of black market liquor here at all, not even rumors. We Canadians today tend to be pretty straight-laced, probably considered over-reserved by others. It's interesting that the Leader of the Ontario's Progressive Conservative Party (not in power) has in his newly announced platform, the selling off of the government's LCBO mega-structure and allow privatization which would open everything up. Very interesting.........
See more on this:
http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/2012/12/04/scrapping-lcbo-wont-carry-hudak-to-power |
An interesting proposition indeed, but is it just spin and vote winning flannel? |
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Quaich1
Master Of Malts
Joined: 21 Apr 2012
Posts: 5749
Location: Ontario, Canada
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| Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2012 5:32 pm Post subject: |
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| albo wrote: | | Quaich1 wrote: | | bifter wrote: | Interesting read. It's hardly ideal for there to be no competition. Most of the comments are fairly reserved and some of these people obviously travel so it's not just a case of living in a walled garden. I think I would have more bucolic opinions if I were them!
Given the history of illicit stills in Scotland and other examples such as Finland, is there not a big black market for bootleg booze in Ontario? |
Frankly, I have never heard of black market liquor here at all, not even rumors. We Canadians today tend to be pretty straight-laced, probably considered over-reserved by others. It's interesting that the Leader of the Ontario's Progressive Conservative Party (not in power) has in his newly announced platform, the selling off of the government's LCBO mega-structure and allow privatization which would open everything up. Very interesting.........
See more on this:
http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/2012/12/04/scrapping-lcbo-wont-carry-hudak-to-power |
An interesting proposition indeed, but is it just spin and vote winning flannel? |
It's the first time in a long while that anyone in major politics has got on the bandwagon to privatize the LCBO and give specific intention. I don't see it as spin but whether the majority of the general Ontario population would vote based on this issue is questionnable. However, if all Ontarians were single malt drinkers, then guess who the next Premier of Ontario would be.
_________________
"Always carry a large flagon of whisky in case of snakebite and furthermore always carry a small snake."
W.C. Fields (1880-1946) |
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Fergie
Master Of Malts
Joined: 02 Dec 2006
Posts: 1750
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| Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2012 5:53 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: | | as a Canadian visitor , you cannot bring back any liquor without a 60% markup fee plus 13% sells tax......so 73% tax on bottles is disastrous. |
wow  that is some markup fee. I am sure some would be tempted not to declare what they are bringing back into Canada but i would guess that would carry a hefty penalty. |
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Quaich1
Master Of Malts
Joined: 21 Apr 2012
Posts: 5749
Location: Ontario, Canada
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| Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2012 6:09 pm Post subject: |
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| Fergie wrote: | | Quote: | | as a Canadian visitor , you cannot bring back any liquor without a 60% markup fee plus 13% sells tax......so 73% tax on bottles is disastrous. |
wow that is some markup fee. I am sure some would be tempted not to declare what they are bringing back into Canada but i would guess that would carry a hefty penalty. |
...including impounding one's car, being barred from crossing borders, commission of a criminal offense, among other things. Not worth it whatsoever! Fools gold....
_________________
"Always carry a large flagon of whisky in case of snakebite and furthermore always carry a small snake."
W.C. Fields (1880-1946) |
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TheWM
Master Of Malts
Joined: 26 Nov 2012
Posts: 2037
Location: Cheshire
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| Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2012 7:32 pm Post subject: |
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Boy, this seems like bad news as I am going to Vancouver next year for a few weeks and was hoping to bring a few bottles back with me.
Seems like I'd be better of sticking to Duty Free? |
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Quaich1
Master Of Malts
Joined: 21 Apr 2012
Posts: 5749
Location: Ontario, Canada
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| Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2012 7:39 pm Post subject: |
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| TheWM wrote: | Boy, this seems like bad news as I am going to Vancouver next year for a few weeks and was hoping to bring a few bottles back with me.
Seems like I'd be better of sticking to Duty Free? |
I guess it also depends on the import/custom laws in England. Duty free may still be the best option for you.
_________________
"Always carry a large flagon of whisky in case of snakebite and furthermore always carry a small snake."
W.C. Fields (1880-1946) |
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TheWM
Master Of Malts
Joined: 26 Nov 2012
Posts: 2037
Location: Cheshire
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| Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2012 7:57 pm Post subject: |
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| Quaich1 wrote: |
I guess it also depends on the import/custom laws in England. Duty free may still be the best option for you. |
Not bothered about allowances, there will be 4 adults and if I need to bring more through then I'm not worried.
Can't bring too much back as we only get 20kgs on the plane! |
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