tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840930092789285091.post7167875358477576361..comments2024-03-19T20:31:23.141-05:00Comments on The Chuck Cowdery Blog: It's Suntory Time For Beam IncChuck Cowderyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12191121480961526039noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840930092789285091.post-14621793917305216172014-01-15T17:34:44.025-06:002014-01-15T17:34:44.025-06:00RE: the 80 proof threshold - many states use 40% a...RE: the 80 proof threshold - many states use 40% abv to set their excise tax on spirits. For instance, check out the info at http://alcoholpolicy.niaaa.nih.gov/Taxes_Spirits.html. Spirits with a higher ABV may get hit with a higher tax rate so the per unit of alcohol profit must be balanced against the jump in price due purely to tax, the jump possibly discouraging sales. In short, there may be business reasons for dropping proof - it keeps the final retail price down while making the alcohol go further. Of course, some of us might notice the difference; it's why I moved away from JD years ago and discovered a whole new world in brown, higher proof whiskies.<br />Regards.<br />Harry Harrynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840930092789285091.post-12116108434599528612014-01-14T22:59:52.613-06:002014-01-14T22:59:52.613-06:00Did you see where three different law firms are lo...Did you see where three different law firms are looking into the merger?JDLnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840930092789285091.post-14514571164574850452014-01-14T13:08:49.173-06:002014-01-14T13:08:49.173-06:00As the Japanese like older whiskies, perhaps we...As the Japanese like older whiskies, perhaps we'll get some aged limited edition Beams.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840930092789285091.post-50294288056758200732014-01-14T13:06:18.914-06:002014-01-14T13:06:18.914-06:00I haven't been drinking whisky long enough to ...I haven't been drinking whisky long enough to tell from old ownership so some of this is second-hand, but Suntory seems to have done a decent enough job with their Scotch holdings. Bowmore Legend is a drinkable entry-level, and Tempest is often well reviewed. Auchentoshan and Glen Garioch are also doing pretty well.<br /><br />Meanwhile, adding Laphroaig, Ardmore, and Teacher's to that array, it's starting to be a pretty respectable set of Scotch holdings.theBitterFignoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840930092789285091.post-29965989331472137932014-01-14T10:10:50.605-06:002014-01-14T10:10:50.605-06:00I somehow became a member of the Maker's Mark ...I somehow became a member of the Maker's Mark Ambassadors' page on Facebook. Never paid much attention before, but the level of xenophobic comments showing up on that page in relation to this sale is shocking. adnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840930092789285091.post-44655300727796871182014-01-14T08:04:22.121-06:002014-01-14T08:04:22.121-06:00Believe it or not, whiskey companies give the cons...Believe it or not, whiskey companies give the consumers what they want. Many drinkers prefer the lower proof but higher proof products will always be available, as long as the consumers want them. A big, robust market inevitably means more choices for all consumer preferences.Chuck Cowderyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12191121480961526039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840930092789285091.post-66414252338806595352014-01-14T07:31:35.809-06:002014-01-14T07:31:35.809-06:00Kirin is been good for Four Roses. I will reserve...Kirin is been good for Four Roses. I will reserve any judgement until beam products have a track record with Suntory to actually pass judgement upon. <br /><br />As to Josh's comments about lowering the proof on certain whiskies: I wonder if whisky companies find greater profits pandering to the lowest common denominator of the whisky market. Whiskies like Jack Daniels and Crown Royal have been 40% abv for quite sometime. (Though I am sure many can remember when Jack was bottled stronger). But no one can doubt the sales numbers those whiskies generate. In short, watered down whisky DOES sell. But the real casualties are the whisky enthusiasts like ourselves who like higher proofed spirits. Justinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840930092789285091.post-66274953136709984222014-01-13T22:40:28.763-06:002014-01-13T22:40:28.763-06:00I was about to post a laudatory defense of Suntory...I was about to post a laudatory defense of Suntory from Soonami's question whether they will water down or not. My perspective is that Suntory is a lion in defense of their superior quality. For example they ran short of Yamazaki 18 in 2013. There was a long pause in the availability of the 18 mid-year it just wasn't stocked in the US. When it came back the price had been raised. Sad to have to pay more but the bottling they brought back was plenty good. Bottom that, that's what matters. <br /><br />But then I recalled the example Hakushu Heavily Peated - a younger richly peated version of Hakushu, that tempers the peat's heat with all that floral sweetness. It's pretty great at 46% abv. I was excited to hear they will be begin importing it into the US for the first time this spring - but I was miffed they had lowered the proof to 43%. But if that's the cost of getting it in here, so be it. I think Suntory has their head and heart in the right place, but time will tell if that's what gets executed half the world away.Josh Feldmanhttp://cooperedtot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840930092789285091.post-84261397113987385612014-01-13T13:57:02.213-06:002014-01-13T13:57:02.213-06:00Will acquisition by a private company ultimately b...Will acquisition by a private company ultimately be beneficial to the brand from an enthusiast perspective? Will it be good for us like Kirin ownership of 4 Roses? Or will it be more like Campari, literally watering down Wild Turkey?Soonaminoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840930092789285091.post-1973716026157983172014-01-13T12:59:34.981-06:002014-01-13T12:59:34.981-06:00Well, Kirin was certainly good for Four Roses...Well, Kirin was certainly good for Four Roses...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840930092789285091.post-19657443939468059752014-01-13T12:54:31.034-06:002014-01-13T12:54:31.034-06:00Looking at the current Bowmore prices, you may wan...Looking at the current Bowmore prices, you may want to load up on Laphroaig while the going is good.Florinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14445344658258056628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-840930092789285091.post-56599026048541481242014-01-13T12:09:36.690-06:002014-01-13T12:09:36.690-06:00As long as the distilled spirits industry keeps th...As long as the distilled spirits industry keeps the bourbon drinkers happy, I have no problem.Lazernoreply@blogger.com