Kentucky Vintage Spirts Sales Start Slow.

Even outside of Kentucky, bourbon enthusiasts know that last year Kentucky passed House Bill 100, which was then signed into law by Governor Matt Bevin, permitting private sales of “vintage distilled spirits” to specially-licensed retailers.  This was a much-welcomed exception to the general rule in Kentucky and elsewhere that secondary market sales are illegal.

Despite the exemption for sales of vintage spirits, regulations have not been implemented yet to define vintage spirits.  The only definition in the new statute is that to qualify as a “vintage distilled spirit” the spirit must be in the original, unopened container, it cannot be owned by a distillery, and it cannot be “otherwise available for purchase from a licensed wholesaler within the Commonwealth.”  KRS 241.010(66).

Certainly bourbon like pre-Prohibition T.W. Samuels makes the cut, but what about last year’s highly-acclaimed Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch or other limited editions that sold out immediately?  And what about standard mid-shelf brands that lose age statements, like Elijah Craig 12-year, or that simply get a label redesign, like the former Four Roses “Yellow Label” this year?  Do those become “vintage” when the last Kentucky wholesaler sells the last bottle?  What’s it really take to be “vintage?”

Without regulations in place, but with a January 1, 2018 effective date for the statute on the horizon, Kentucky’s Alcoholic Beverage Control (“ABC”) Board issued informal guidance requiring reporting on vintage sales:

Vintage Spirits

Effective January 1, 2018, a retail licensee selling vintage distilled spirits purchased from a non-licensed person must give the Department prior written notice of the proposed retail drink or package sale, which includes the following information:  (1) name and address of seller; (2) the quantity and name of the alcohol product being sold; (3) the date of the sale; and (4) name and license number of retail licensee. 

This notice shall be provided via electronic mail to the following email address:  abc.info@ky.gov.

The results are now in for the first month of vintage spirits sales in Kentucky, and, disappointingly, there was no Very Very Old Fitzgerald from Stitzel-Weller, no pre-Prohibition Old Crow or Old Taylor, and not even any 16-year A.H. Hirsch.  Maybe sellers are waiting for the regulations, or maybe they’re being patient by testing the waters slowly.  Or maybe they’re testing the limits of what might be considered “vintage” by selling more recent bottles first.

The most legitimately-vintage sales were to Feast BBQ in Louisville, which landed bottles of Anderson Club 10-year and 15-year, a bottle of Kentucky Prince, and a bottle of Very Old St. Nick Ancient Cask 12-year.  Another Louisville restaurant with common management, bar Vetti, purchased far less exciting bottles, like three Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection editions (1838 Sweet Mash, Four Wood, and Maple Wood Finish), along with a Blanton’s bottled in 1992.

The only other reported proposed purchase was in northern Kentucky, by Braxton Brewing Co., which listed recent BTACs, Angel’s Envy Cask Strength, Elijah Craig 18-year and 12-year Barrel Proof, Four Roses Al Young 50^th Anniversary Limited Edition and the fall release 2017 Limited Edition Small Batch, Elliott’s Select, last year’s Parker’s Heritage Collection and Old Forester Birthday Bourbon, a few Van Winkle brands, Wild Turkey Master’s Keep, and many, many others.  Braxton Brewing also listed perfectly good but completely non-vintage bourbon like Elmer T. Lee and Rock Hill Farms, and never-in-a-million-years-should-it-be-considered-vintage bourbon like Weller Special Reserve.

Prices are not part of what the ABC requires in its email report, so we can’t compare these sales to the secondary market, but anyone interested in selling bottles might want to check with their favorite restaurants and retailers to see if we’re in a seller’s market.  Regardless, Kentucky’s new Vintage Spirits Law is bound to increase the availability of vintage and rare bourbon for thirsty Kentuckians and visitors to the Bourbon Trail.  And with Feast, bar Vetti, and Braxton Brewing on the leading edge, you might want to start there.