Whisky Forum - Biggest limited release flops?

whisky_rob · Posted: Sun Jan 19, 2014 3:59 pm Post subject: Biggest limited release flops?

As a keen collector and liking stuff thats very limited and special over the past few years I have noticed several releases that I would have thought would have been well received and flown off the shelves but remain in shops.

The biggest example I think is the Diageo Managers Choice from a few years ago that retailers can't seem to give away with heavy discounts although still arguably overpriced which was the problem in the 1st place. Certain Diageo special releases from 2011/2 still seem on the shelf as well such as the Talisker 35 year old from 2012 which seems to tick lots of boxes but is widely available.

Another one that still surprises me is the Glenfarclas 175th Anniversary Chairmans Reserve from 2011. It was limited 1200 bottles, old with the youngest cask at 42 years old and the remaining 3 casks 43/44 years old, had a decent story/history but is still widely available with the equivalent Glenfarclas Family Cask (although a single cask rather than a vatting) at around Â£600. It is also the best whisky I have ever had the privilege of tasting! I got one of these recently for Â£255 as the retailer said he had it at around Â£350 for the last 2 1/2 years with not a sniff.

Anybody else have any releases that seem unjustifiably unloved?

agoldf · Single Malt Member Joined: 19 Jan 2012 Posts: 66

I can think of a no more justifiable flop than the ardbeg double barrel. still around and can be had for 40% off retail.

drPete · Posted: Sun Jan 19, 2014 11:07 pm Post subject:

Not sure about unjustifiably unloved but Glenmorangie Pride, and Bwomore's attempt to put an artificially inflated price on their 50 by failing sell it at auction "for chariddeeee" spring to mind. The talker boat and sea chaest are laughable and as you rightly say the Tali 35 massively over-priced.
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Talisker 18 - the rest are just details

whisky_rob · Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2014 12:06 am Post subject:

5-12-1908 · Master Of Malts Joined: 22 Dec 2010 Posts: 307

Snow phoenix from Glenfiddich was a bit of a flop for me.
It was billed as a limited release, and was hard to find....then easy, difficult again then a whole new batch available again.
It tastes fine, so no problems in that regard, but as a limited release it was a disaster sales wise (by that I mean a real screw up, as it seems to have sold well enough)
Seemed a very strange way to release a limited edition.

Brummie · Master Of Malts Joined: 08 Feb 2010 Posts: 661

The biggest I can recall is the Diageo Managers Choice series

opelfruit · Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2014 7:59 pm Post subject:

John · Moderator Joined: 21 Apr 2006 Posts: 876 Location: UK

bifter · **5-12-1908 wrote:**

Cuba · Master Of Malts Joined: 10 Aug 2010 Posts: 296

I have tasted a few of the Diageo Managers Choice series at tastings in the past and they were as i expected, brilliant but Diageo did get too greedy with this range, such a pity as Diageo must have some amazing stuff maturing in warehouses given the number of distilleries they have.

drPete · **5-12-1908 wrote:**

5-12-1908 · Master Of Malts Joined: 22 Dec 2010 Posts: 307

When I said a flop......I meant from the marketing side.

I have 4 "Tins" of it. But I bought 2 at I think Â£50 quid, and 2 at Â£55.
The whole sale was on....off...on.....find it if you can. Nothing wrong with the product, just the actual sale was all over the place.

It was on ebay for Â£150 when I was buying it (think it was Booths found a lot to sell) at Â£55 quid!

Not an over priced sale, just a cocked up sale.

Although......its a smashing dram. price wise? who knows...just a terrible cock up of a sales....in my opinion.

albo · Master Of Malts Joined: 22 Mar 2011 Posts: 1888