Concerning the Weller 12 and other BT bourbon allocations, below is the email BT sent out two years ago. This is also posted in the news forum on the opening page of this site. Also and FWIW, I too have visited BT since August of 2014. More than once. I even happen to know a couple of people that work there.
Although restrictions may have loosened some, their bourbons are still basically on allocation. Many of us know that Texas, Illinois and a few other states have always received a higher allotment of Weller offerings. On the other hand, what the distributors do with it when the receive it is another story. Up north here, the distributors have seen fit to do two things. One: They're trying to spread the wealth so to speak. Liquor store allotments have been cut and the distributor has given bars and restaurants more of a "piece of the pie". Two: Again In our area, the distributor appears to be holding some items back. They seemingly dole things out a few bottles at a time here and there with no rhyme nor reason. We used to be able to pretty much be assured of at least a couple of times a year when Wellers, ETL, etc…., would arrive in abundance, and be readily available for quite a while. No more. Like I said before, the stores now receive only two or three bottles here and there if they're lucky.
Joe
BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY PUTS RUMORS TO REST
Company Dispels Rumors about Popular Brands Going Away, Price Increases, and More
Source: Buffalo Trace Distillery
August 17, 2014
After providing a recent update to its fans about the bourbon shortage the Distillery currently faces, the rumor mill spun into overdrive as a few folks speculated on why it was difficult to find their favorite Buffalo Trace bourbons on liquor store shelves.
"Many people dismissed the warning about our bourbon shortage, speculating that this was a publicity stunt we conceived to sell more bourbon. That's simply not true. We only provided the update to consumers, retailers, and bartenders in an honest and forthright attempt to explain why bottles seem so scarce these days. Many liquor stores across the country may have empty shelves, and we felt an obligation to explain why," said Kris Comstock, bourbon marketing director. "While we cannot speak for the bourbon industry as a whole, our bourbon shortages are a very real problem, driven by increased demand for the brands. Every single one of our bourbon brands is currently on strict allocation. While we are, and have been, making more over the last several years, bourbon takes a long time to age in oak barrels. As we wait for barrels to mature, there will be temporary periods in which bottles are hard to find."
Once people started to see empty shelves at the local store, rumors started flying. Here are some of the most popular rumors:
Rumor #1: Weller 12 Year-Old-Bourbon will be being discontinued. False. There are no plans to discontinue Weller 12 Year. In fact, we have increased production by a considerable amount for future sales.
Rumor #2: All of the Weller Bourbon is now being shipped to Japan. False. None of the Weller Bourbons (Special Reserve, Old Weller Antique, 12 Year-Old, and William Larue Weller) are shipped to Japan.
Rumor #3: Buffalo Trace is shipping most of its bourbon to China and Japan. False. While a modest amount of bourbon is sent to those markets, the quantity is very small as we ensure the overwhelming majority is made available here in the United States.
Rumor #4: Eagle Rare Bourbon is now aged only six or seven years. False. Eagle Rare Bourbon is still aged for 10 years and there are no plans to change this. The age statement remains on the back of the bottle.
Rumor #5: Elmer T. Lee is being discontinued. False. We have been making Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel for nearly three decades and have no plans to stop.
Rumor #6: Elmer took the recipe for his bourbon to his grave, so it will never be made again. False. Fortunately and thankfully, we have the recipe for Elmer T. Lee Bourbon and are continuing to make more. Additionally, we have a very full archive library of samples of his favorite picks to ensure consistency for the future.
Rumor #7: Elmer T. Lee is becoming part of the Antique Collection. False. We are very happy with our current lineup of the Antique Collection (George T. Stagg, Sazerac 18 Year, Eagle Rare 17 Year, William Larue Weller and Thomas H. Handy Sazerac) and have no plans to change this lineup or discontinue any of the offerings. Furthermore, our Antique Collection whiskies are only released once annually and we want to offer Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel more regularly throughout the year.
Rumor #8: Buffalo Trace is taking advantage of this bourbon shortage to raise prices. False. Our prices to our customers have and will remain relatively unchanged. We strive to offer consumers award-winning whiskey at a great value. Although a minority of stores may now be charging a premium for these limited brands, we are not asking them to do so. Our commitment to quality and pricing will remain consistent now and in the future.