If you’ve ever wondered why some bottles of whiskey are harder to come by than others, you’re in good company. Allocated whiskey is a whole world of its own, unlike any other spirit. That’s why sometimes you’ll drive by your local ABC store and see a line of people wrapped around the building in the wee hours of the morning, or you’ll see bottles of whiskey going for five times the retail price at privately-run liquor stores. Welcome to the world of allocated whiskey.
For this article, I sat down with a couple of industry experts who happen to hold two distinctly different perspectives. Chris Morris is the Master Distiller Emeritus for Woodford Reserve Distillery and Brown-Forman Corporation. He is credited with developing the Old Forester Whiskey Row Series and developing the highly popular Old Forester Birthday Bourbon. He is a member of the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame and currently resides in Louisville, Kentucky.
Fred Minnick is a wine and spirits expert, best-selling author, and one of the most trusted voices in whiskey. He began his career at Whiskey Advocate, and today writes books, hosts a podcast, and participates in events, including everything from privately-led tastings and music festivals to book tours and judging spirits competitions.
What Is Allocated Whiskey?
Chris Morris: “Allocation means you have a finite supply for an infinite demand.”…