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The Bourbon Brown Book – 2026 Edition

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The Bourbon Brown Book – 2026 Edition

2026 Price Guide for Rare & Allocated Bourbon and Rye Whiskey


Welcome to the 2026 Bourbon Brown Book, our annual price guide for rare, allocated bourbon and rye whiskey. We created this guide over five years ago to inform and educate bourbon enthusiasts on both retail and secondary market prices of today’s most in-demand bottles.

We do not condone the buying and selling of bottles on secondary markets because of the legal gray area they represent. However, we also recognize that the bourbon secondary market is firmly embedded in the culture.

If you choose to dabble in secondary buying or selling, proceed with caution:

  • Spend a week or two observing Facebook groups or other communities before making a purchase.
  • Start with a lower-value bottle that won’t devastate you if you get scammed.
  • Confirm sellers by:
    • Checking their transaction history
    • Asking for references
    • Requesting a picture of the bottle with your name written on paper in the frame

These basic checks help you verify that the seller actually has the bottle, and that others have successfully dealt with them before.

2025 Bourbon Secondary Market Trends

Overall Price Movement

In 2024–2025, secondary market prices fell sharply. There are a few major reasons for this:

  • Producers have over-saturated the market with more Limited Editions (LEs) than ever before.
  • Consumers’ spending power has dropped due to inflation.

In 2025, prices have stabilized somewhat, mainly because sellers are unwilling to go below a certain point—once they factor in time, taxes and effort, many would be selling at break-even or at a loss.

The New Glut: Age Statements & New Labels

We appear to be entering the next glut cycle:

  • An abundance of age-stated releases is hitting the market.
  • New labels and sub-lines continue to expand.
  • Ordinary “shelfer” bottles have plateaued in sales because rabid enthusiasts only want the new shiny bottle.

Bottles with double-digit age statements, once ultra-coveted, are now relatively commonplace.

Producers Driving the Trend

A few producers are setting the tone for the current market:

  • Sazerac / Buffalo Trace
    • New Eagle Rare Aged 12 Years
    • Two new Sazerac Rye labels
    • An upcoming Benchmark Rye
    • The hugely anticipated EH Taylor addition to the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection (BTAC)
  • Beam
    • A new triple-release of Hardin’s Creek (similar to 2023)
    • Novelty and “cash-grab” releases like the Bowling Pin bottle
  • Heaven Hill
    • Celebrating relatively mundane events/anniversaries with releases like 90th Anniversary and Unity, which have not impressed many enthusiasts
  • Diageo
    • Using a 30-year-old Blade & Bow release to shine a spotlight back on its often-forgotten lineup

And all of that just scratches the surface of what’s going on across the industry.

Secondary Buyers Are Catching On to Early Sellers’ Schemes

One of the big warnings from last year still applies:

Do not buy bottles on the secondary market if they are newly released.

More specifically:

  • Avoid buying within 14 days of release.
  • Be cautious even within the first 30 days.

Why?

  • Early sellers leverage FOMO: if you want the privilege of owning a hot new bottle before your friends, you’re going to pay up.
  • When there are no previous secondary sales to compare, the seller sets the market price.

If you’re patient, you’ll often see prices fall after the initial hype dies down.

Brands to Avoid on the Secondary Market

Every year we compile a list of brands to avoid paying secondary prices for. These are often:

  • Extremely niche labels where only insiders have access and can dictate whatever price they want
  • Brands that use restrictive distribution to create artificial scarcity in certain markets

To be clear, these producers are not necessarily making bad whiskey. Many make good or even great products. But they often operate like “boutique” sellers, cultivating a closed ecosystem and a loyal band of followers.

These brands can easily entrap enthusiasts with a “Completist” mindset, pushing them to chase every last release at inflated prices.

Be cautious paying more than secondary for brands like:

  • Rare Character
  • Any brand selling Buffalo Turkey distillate
  • Old Commonwealth / Colonel Randolph / Kentucky Nectar
  • Old Carter
  • Dettling
  • Kentucky Owl
  • Orphan Barrel
  • 2XO
  • Preservation Distillery (Rare Perfection and Olde St. Nick)
  • Blue Run
  • Down Home
  • Good Times
  • Barrell Bourbon (Gold and Gray Label releases)
  • World Whiskey Society
  • Binder’s Stash
  • NULU
  • Four Gate
  • Short Barrel
  • Willett
  • Mayor Pingree
  • J. Mattingly

If you’re looking for great value options that won’t break the bank, check out our guide to the Best Bourbons Under $35.

Allocated Bourbon Tiers Explained (T1, T2, T3)

Not all allocated bottles are created equal. That’s why every bottle listing in this guide is assigned one of three tiers.

T1 – Tier 1 Bottles (Top Tier)

  • The most highly coveted and hardest to find bottles
  • Typically command high prices immediately and tend to stay high or rise
  • Most likely to increase in value over the coming years

T2 – Tier 2 Bottles

  • Still highly coveted, but slightly easier to obtain than Tier 1
  • Good chance that values may rise over time, but also a realistic chance they’ll hold steady for the next 5 years

T3 – Tier 3 Bottles

  • Allocated, but findable on shelves if you look hard enough
  • Either:
    • Multiple releases throughout the year, or
    • A single, large release with high bottle counts and national distribution

How to Read Prices & Trends in This Guide

Each entry includes:

Retail Price

  • The average store price we’re seeing for that bottle.
  • Shelf prices will vary store to store.
  • If you see a price substantially higher than the retail number we list, that store is likely trying to capture secondary value, usually because they track secondary markets too.

Secondary Price

  • Based on current bottle valuations as of November 2025.
  • These prices may rise or fall over the next 12 months.
  • For most bottles, prices will likely remain relatively dormant for at least 6 months as new releases slow down.

Trending

Some new releases experience violent fluctuations in the first month or two after hitting secondary—those exceptions are noted where applicable.

Reflects year-over-year price movement on the secondary market.

For brand-new releases, there’s often no trend yet.

13th Colony

Double Oaked Bourbon (Single Barrel, 2025) – T2

  • Retail – $250
  • Secondary – $unknown
  • Trending: n/a

I’ll update this section when/if I find anyone selling a bottle of their Double Oaked Single Barrel Bourbon released this year. To my knowledge, there was not a fourth batch released of their popular Double Oaked Bourbon except in a single barrel form.

A Smith Bowman Distillery

A Smith Bowman Cask Strength Batch 4 (2025) – T2

  • Retail – $100
  • Secondary – $400
  • Trending: No movement

Bowman Hungarian Oak (2024) – T3

  • Retail – $100
  • Secondary – $750
  • Trending: No movement

With each new release of Bowman Cask Strength, their golden child loses a little bit of luster. That’s not to say they’re not a terrific value – they are – but enthusiasts seem to want them a little less each year. This is why we’re seeing the lowest secondary values for this particular label since its inception. The Bowman Hungarian Oak release is the third and final release in a series exploring different oak finishes and, frankly, is overvalued for what it is – especially considering it’s only a 375ml bottle.

Angel’s Envy

Angel’s Envy 10 Year Bourbon – T3 

  • Retail – $250 (but I’ve seen it as low as $200)
  • Secondary – $250
  • Trending: n/a

Angel’s Envy Cellar Collection Rye Whiskey Finished in French Oak Anejo Tequila Barrels – T3 

  • Retail – $250
  • Secondary – $240
  • Trending: down

Angel’s Envy Cask Strength Bottled-in-Bond – T3 

  • Retail – $55
  • Secondary – $75
  • Trending: n/a

Angel’s Envy adopted Whistlepig’s policy of pricing their bottles high in an attempt to deter flippers from cashing in on the secondary market. It worked for them and I’ve never really witnessed an AECS being sold for more than retail. I hate to do it, but I’ll let you in on a little secret by saying that you can make a profit off of these bottles ONLY if you hold onto a release for more than 5 years and try to resell it then. In the meantime, buying AECS is a buyers’ market because in most cases you can buy them on the secondary for less than retail (especially after you factor in fuel costs and taxes).

Bardstown Bourbon Company

Discovery 13 – T3

  • Retail – $150
  • Secondary – $150
  • Trending: n/a

Distillery Reserve – Cathedral Oak – T3

  • Retail – $100
  • Secondary – $570
  • Trending: down

Distillery Reserve – Hokkaido Mizunara Oak – T3

  • Retail – $100
  • Secondary – $175
  • Trending: down

Distillery Reserve – Normandie – T3

  • Retail – $100
  • Secondary – unknown
  • Trending: n/a

Collaboration Series – Ferrand II – T3

  • Retail – $140
  • Secondary – $150
  • Trending: Down

Bardstown Bourbon Company still has not come out with a truly spectacular allocated whiskey, so their secondary prices reflect that. The only release to have remotely caught fire has been their Distillery Reserve Cathedral Oak which seems to be a big hit with the Catholics – maybe? In my review I noted that while it’s using the word Cathedral (at Notre Dame), the association between the two is a stretch at best. People are really paying 6x retail for essentially a French Oak finished BBCo blend – in a 375ml bottle.

Barrell Craft Spirits

Barrell Craft Spirits “Decade” 20 Year Whiskey – T3

  • Retail – $200
  • Secondary – $200
  • Trending – Down

Barrell Craft Spirits 33 Year Old Canadian Whiskey  – T3

  • Retail – $200
  • Secondary – $200
  • Trending – Down

Barton Distillery

1792 Full Proof (Store Pick) – T3

  • Retail – $55  
  • Secondary – None
  • Trending: n/a

1792 Aged Twelve Years – T3

  • Retail – $60  
  • Secondary – $80
  • Trending: n/a

1792 Sweet Wheat – T3

  • Retail– $40  
  • Secondary – $75
  • Trending: n/a

1792 Extended Cask Finish (various finishes) – T3

  • Retail – $60  
  • Secondary – $85
  • Trending: n/a

Enthusiasts quickly caught on that the quality of these Barton releases isn’t exactly up to Buffalo Trace snuff, so secondary prices are fairly flat. That should help you get your hands on some pretty good juice for not a lot of money.

Buffalo Trace / Age International

Buffalo Trace (Store Pick) – T3

  • Retail – $30
  • Secondary – $40+
  • Trending: no movement

Buffalo Trace Kosher (Straight Rye, Rye Recipe or Wheat Recipe) – T3

  • Retail – $40
  • Secondary – $75
  • Trending: Up

Last year, you couldn’t give Buffalo Trace Kosher away, but this year, I’ve seen movement on the secondary for these bottles at around $75 with the Wheat Bourbon version selling most (obviously). If you truly must get these, don’t pay any more than this.

Buffalo Trace Prohibition Set (Volume 2) – T1

  • Retail – $1000
  • Secondary – $1350
  • Trending – Down

When Volume 1 came out, people went apeshit over this release, but it was out of the price range for 99% of buyers. This year, the secondary market automatically started at $400 less than what Volume 1 ended at – and keeps going down. Many sellers post theirs for $1500, but I’ve only witnessed a set move at $1350 which should be its new value.

Eagle Rare Single Barrel (Store Pick) – T3

  • Retail – $35
  • Secondary – $75+ (store dependent)
  • Trending – No movement

Eagle Rare Aged 12 Years – T3

  • Retail – $60
  • Secondary – $200
  • Trending – About the same

EH Taylor Small Batch – T3

  • Retail – $40  
  • Secondary – $70
  • Trending – Down

EH Taylor Single Barrel Bourbon – T3

  • Retail – $60 
  • Secondary – $130
  • Trending – Down

EH Taylor Single Barrel (Store Pick) – T3

  • Retail – $80
  • Secondary – $140 
  • Trending: Down

EH Taylor Straight Rye  – T3

  • Retail – $80
  • Secondary – $130
  • Trending: No movement

EH Taylor Barrel Proof 2025 – T2

  • Retail – $80
  • Secondary – $235
  • Trending: Way Down

Blanton’s Single Barrel (93 Proof US version) – T3

  • Retail – $55 
  • Secondary – $90 (local deal) or $110 (shipped)
  • Trending: slightly down

Blanton’s Single Barrel (Store Pick) – T3

  • Retail – $55
  • Secondary – $110
  • Trending: Down

Blanton’s Gold (700ml and 750ml) – T3

  • Retail – Depending on country, retail could be as low as $80 and as high as $120 
  • Secondary – $200 (700ml), $215 (750ml)
  • Trending: No movement

Blanton’s Gold (Store Pick) – T3

  • Retail – $125
  • Secondary – $200 (A pair went for $380 in October)
  • Trending: Down

Blanton’s Black or Green Label (700ml, 80 proof) – T3

  • Retail – Depending on Country, retail could be as low as $60 and as high as $100 
  • Secondary – $150 for Green, $160 for Black
  • Trending: No Movement

Blanton’s Straight From The Barrel (700ml and 750ml) – T2

  • Retail – 700ml Export could be as low as $80 and as high as $150. 750ml US bottle is $150 
  • Secondary – 700ml are $210 and 750ml are $250 – Bottles with a proof over 130 can fetch as high as $350.
  • Trending: Slightly down

Hancock’s Reserve – T3

  • Retail– $90 
  • Secondary – $100
  • Trending: Slightly down

Rock Hills Farm – T2

  • Retail – $60
  • Secondary – $260
  • Trending: Down

Elmer T. Lee – T3

  • Retail – $50
  • Secondary – $140
  • Trending: Down

Old Charter Finest Oak – T3

  • Retail – $80
  • Secondary – $190
  • Trending: n/a

Sazerac Full Proof – T3

  • Retail – $40
  • Secondary – $125
  • Trending: Down

Just wait for nationwide distribution before buying this on secondary. Trust me, you’ll see it within 6 months at your local retailer.

Stagg Jr. (Batch 25A, B, C) – T3

  • Retail – $60 
  • Secondary – $135
  • Trending: Down

Stagg Jr Single Barrel – T3

  • Retail – $90
  • Secondary – $220 (depends on the store that picked it)
  • Trending: Down

EH Taylors have taken a dive across the board with prices anywhere from $20 to $40 less than last year. Blanton’s has seen prices drop down to $90 for local deals which goes to show just how much is being produced. I’ve seen regular Blanton’s for sale in Kentucky for $99.99 and nobody was buying it. Similarly, ETL, RHF and Stagg have all lost $10 to $15 in value compared to last year.

Buffalo Trace Antique Collection

George T. Stagg BTAC 2025 – T1

  • Retail – $120  
  • Secondary – $800
  • Trending: Up

GTS is Hazmat this year, which has excited many enthusiasts. This is why it’s the only BTAC offering that’s trending up. Only time will tell if it has the taste profile of previous Hazmat editions from a decade ago.

William Larue Weller BTAC 2025 – T1

  • Retail – $120 
  • Secondary – $1275 (expect price to drop maybe $25 to $50 more by February 2026)
  • Trending: Down

Thomas H. Handy BTAC 2025 – T2

  • Retail – $120 
  • Secondary – $425
  • Trending: Way Down

I’m officially moving THH to Tier 2 this year due to the abundance of bottles I’m seeing. Simply put, Buffalo Trace has so much rye whiskey stocks available at the 6 year age that they have had to expand their regular Sazerac line because they couldn’t sell it all. I predict this will keep falling the years to come unless Buffalo Trace decides to raise the age statement from a measly 6 years old to something like 9 years old.

Sazerac 18 Year BTAC 2025 – T1

  • Retail – $120 
  • Secondary – $1250 (expect price to settle to $1100 around February 2025)
  • Trending: Down

Eagle Rare 17 Year BTAC 2025 – T1

  • Retail – $120  
  • Secondary – $1350
  • Trending: Down

Eagle Rare uses some of its luster due to another bottle with similar specs coming on board to the BTAC lineup: EH Taylor BiB. It was automatically valued at $50 less than the previous year.

EH Taylor Bottled in Bond BTAC 2025 – T1

  • Retail – $120  
  • Secondary – $1500
  • Trending: Down

Of course people were going to be stupid when it came to this release. I hear it’s only about 13 years old so when you put it into context with Eagle Rare 17 – which is older and has 1 more proof point, it doesn’t make sense that this was valued higher than Eagle Rare. Have $1500 and want a better bottle? Go with the ER17 and pocket the rest.

Weller

Weller Special Reserve – T3

  • Retail – $23  
  • Secondary – $40
  • Trending: Same

Old Weller Antique 107 – T3

  • Retail – $50  
  • Secondary – $110 shipped or $100 for local pickup
  • Trending: Down

These used to be $125 last year (shipped)

Old Weller Antique 107 (Single Barrel) – T3

  • Retail – $50
  • Secondary – $150 (may depend on store that did the pick)
  • Trending: Down

Weller 12 Year – T3

  • Retail – $45
  • Secondary – $140 ($160 for 1L bottles)
  • Trending: Down

Weller Single Barrel (Orange Label) – T2

  • Retail – $50
  • Secondary – $420
  • Trending: Down

Weller CYPB – T2

  • Retail – $60 
  • Secondary – $350
  • Trending: Way Down

Weller Full Proof – T2

  • Retail – $55
  • Secondary – $150
  • Trending: Down

Weller Full Proof (Single Barrel) – T2

  • Retail – $60
  • Secondary – $175 (depends on the store that picked it)
  • Trending: Down

Weller 18 – T3

  • Retail – $500
  • Secondary – Will be updated when it releases
  • Trending: n/a

Van Winkles

Old Rip Van Winkle 10 year 2025 – T1

  • Retail –  $150
  • Secondary – $600
  • Trending: Down

Van Winkle Lot B 12 year 2025 – T1

  • Retail – $160
  • Secondary – $650
  • Trending: Down

Pappy Van Winkle 15 year 2025 – T1

  • Retail – $240
  • Secondary – $1450
  • Trending: Down

Pappy Van Winkle 20 year 2025 – T1

  • Retail – $360
  • Secondary – $2050
  • Trending: Stayed the Same

Pappy Van Winkle 23 year 2024 – T1

  • Retail – $500
  • Secondary – $3000
  • Trending: Down

Van Winkle Family Rye Reserve 2025 – T1

  • Retail – $230
  • Secondary – $1050
  • Trending: Down

All Van Winkles became a slightly worse value this year. Not only did all of their prices rise (again), but their secondary prices took a hit. However, don’t let that stop you for snagging one for retail – they consistently remain the most in-demand and easiest bottles to sell on the secondary. You’ll never have to wait more than a few days to sell one if you post it up for a reasonable price. And you can always find one to buy on the same pages.

Mister Sam Batch 4 Release (2025) –  T2

  • Retail – $250
  • Secondary – $1100
  • Trending: Down

The legend continues for one of the most misunderstood bottles in American Whiskey. I’ll even admit that I purchased one at full secondary this year.

Double Eagle, Very Rare – T1

  • Retail – $2000
  • Secondary – $3100-3400
  • Trending: Way Down

Double Eagle, Very Rare has lost a ton of value from when it first came out. You’re a fool to buy one at retail but an even bigger fool to buy one on secondary.

Eagle Rare 25 Year – T1

  • Retail – $10,000
  • Secondary – $15,000
  • Trending: n/a

Diageo

Blade and Bow 30 Year Bourbon – T2

  • Retail – $1200
  • Secondary – $1750
  • Trending: Down

Orphan Barrel Fanged Pursuit– T3

  • Retail – $200
  • Secondary – none
  • Trending: no change

Four Roses 

Four Roses Private Selection (Father’s Day 2025 Release) – T2

  • Retail – $120
  • Secondary – $320
  • Trending: Down

When compared to last year’s Father’s Day release, this one has fell far on the secondary valuation. I bet it has everything to do with the controversial mash bill and lower overall proofs.

Four Roses Private Selection (non-tier 6) – T3

  • Retail – $75
  • Secondary – $125
  • Trending: No Movement

Four Roses Private Selection (Tier 6, O, K or V yeast strains OR proof above 125) – T3

  • Retail – $75
  • Secondary – $130
  • Trending: Down

Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch 2025 – T1

  • Retail – $250 
  • Secondary – $325
  • Trending: Down

Heaven Hill

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof – T3

  • Retail – $65
  • Secondary – $90
  • Trending: Down

Elijah Craig Ryder Cup – T3

  • Retail – $70
  • Secondary – $100
  • Trending: steady

Elijah Craig Single Barrel “Grenade” (200ml) -T3

  • Retail – $55
  • Secondary – $75
  • Trending: Slightly Up

The Grenade has been around forever, but I do see it trickling upwards in secondary ask. Most sellers start out at 85 because they’re trying to get a little bit of profit (I believe the retail price jumped from $35 to $50). Most buyers won’t buy above $60.

Elijah Craig 18 Year Old Single Barrel – T3

  • Retail – $130  
  • Secondary – $200
  • Trending: No Change

Believe it or not, there are still sightings of EC18 sold at Costco’s in California that still have the old pricing. Everyone else has adopted the retail price of $180 or $200 or this.

Evan Williams 23 Year Old Bourbon – T2

  • Retail – $250
  • Secondary – $650
  • Trending: No Change

Henry McKenna Bottled in Bond Single Barrel – T3

  • Retail – $60 
  • Secondary – $60
  • Trend: No Change

Larceny Barrel Proof (A123, B523, C923) – T3

  • Retail – $65
  • Secondary – $65
  • Trend: Down

Old Fitzgerald 9 Year (Spring 2025) – T2

  • Retail – $130  
  • Secondary – $225
  • Trending: Down

Old Fitzgerald 11 Year (VVS 2025 Gift Shop) – T2

  • Retail – $170 
  • Secondary – $550
  • Trending: Down

Old Fitzgerald 11 Year (Fall 2025) – T2

  • Retail – $170 
  • Secondary – unknown
  • Trending: n/a

Parker’s Heritage 11 Year Old American Whiskey (2025) – T2

  • Retail – $180
  • Secondary – $275
  • Trending: n/a

William Heaven Hill 19 Year Old Bourbon (Gray Label 2025) – T1

  • Retail – $300 
  • Secondary – $1500
  • Trending: No Trends

Heaven Hill Heritage Collection 19 Year Old Wheat Whiskey (2025) – T2

  • Retail – $300
  • Secondary – $400
  • Trending: Down

Heaven Hill 90th Anniversary Bourbon – T3

  • Retail – $125
  • Secondary – $400
  • Trending: Down

Heaven Hill Unity Bourbon – T3

  • Retail – $125
  • Secondary – $225
  • Trending: Down

High West 

Midwinter’s Night Dram Act 13 – T3

  • Retail – $125
  • Secondary – $150
  • Trending: Down

High West Bourye – T3

  • Retail – $120
  • Secondary – $85-115
  • Trending: Down

There was a High West Bourye that’s still for sale on one of the most popular secondary pages for $85 and still has no bites. MWND isn’t faring much better with most sellers barely making a $20 profit after taxes. High West has lost most of its popularity and now people only look to sell them at cost… if they can.

Jim Beam

Baker’s 13 Year Old Single Barrel – T3

  • Retail – $150
  • Secondary – $150
  • Trending: Down

Booker’s The Reserves II (Tequila Barrel Finish)– T3

  • Retail – $130
  • Secondary – $200
  • Trending: Down

Hardin’s Creek Warehouse Series – T3

  • Retail – $150
  • Secondary – $150
  • Trending: Down

I’ve seen first floor version sell for less than the 9th floor version (maybe around $180)

Knob Creek Limited Edition 21 Year Old Bourbon – T3

  • Retail – $250
  • Secondary – $275
  • Trending: Down

Little Book Chapter 9 “None for Granted” – T3

  • Retail – $160
  • Secondary – $165
  • Trending: Down

Little Book The Infinite: Edition 2 – T3

  • Retail – $200
  • Secondary – $215
  • Trending: Down

Beam Pin Bottle (Bowling Pin) – T3

  • Retail – $80
  • Secondary – $120
  • Trending: Down

Old Overholt 12 Year Old Cask Strength Rye Whiskey – T3

  • Retail – $100
  • Secondary – $120
  • Trending: Down

Jack Daniel’s

Jack Daniel’s Special Release Tanyard Hill Rye Whiskey (2025) – T2

  • Retail – $80
  • Secondary – $550 and up for HAZMAT barrels
  • Trending: Increasing

Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Barrel Proof Tennessee Whiskey (Store Pick) – T3

  • Retail – $75
  • Secondary – $100
  • Trending: The Same

Jack Daniel’s Distiller’s Select Sweet Mash (2025 release) – T3

  • Retail – $50
  • Secondary – unknown
  • Trending: n/a

Jack Daniel’s Heritage Toasted Barrel Tennessee Whiskey (2025 release) – T3

  • Retail – $70
  • Secondary – $85
  • Trending: steady

Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Barrel Proof Rye Whiskey – T3

  • Retail: $75
  • Secondary – $100 
  • Trending: steady

Jack Daniel’s 10 Year (2025 Batch 4) – T3

  • Retail – $75
  • Secondary – $120
  • Trending: About the same

Jack Daniel’s 12 Year (2025 Batch 3) – T3

  • Retail – $85
  • Secondary – $200
  • Trending: About the same

Jack Daniel’s 14 Year (2025 Batch 1) – T2

  • Retail – $150
  • Secondary – $400
  • Trending: About the same

Joseph Magnus

Cigar Batch (2025 releases) – T3

  • Retail – $175
  • Secondary – $180
  • Trending: Down

Joseph Magnus 10-Year Old Private Cask – T3

  • Retail – $125
  • Secondary – $unknown
  • Trending: n/a

Luxco / Lux Row

Blood Oath Pact 11 (Finished in Tequila casks) 2025 – T3

  • Retail – $125 
  • Secondary – $160
  • Trending: Down

Yellowstone Limited Edition (2025) – T3

  • Retail – $120 
  • Secondary – $140
  • Trending: Down

People keep posting their BO11 on the secondary for $160, but I haven’t seen anyone pay that price yet.

Maker’s Mark

Maker’s Mark Cellar Aged 2025 – T3

  • Retail – $175  
  • Secondary – $250
  • Trending: Down

Maker’s Mark Star Hill Farm – T3

  • Retail – $100
  • Secondary – $175
  • Trending: Down

Maker’s Mark Wood Finished Series The Keeper’s Release – T3

  • Retail – $75
  • Secondary – $80
  • Trending: No Trends

Michter’s Distillery

Michter’s Toasted Sour Mash Whiskey 2025– T3

  • Retail – $100 
  • Secondary – $150
  • Trending: Down

Michter’s Barrel Strength Rye Whiskey 2025– T3

  • Retail – $100 
  • Secondary – $150
  • Trending: Down

Michter’s Barrel Strength Bourbon (only available as a Distillery Tour fill-your-own-bottle) – T3

  • Retail – $160
  • Secondary – $250
  • Trending: Down

Michter’s 10 Year Bourbon – T3

  • Retail – $180 
  • Secondary – $300
  • Trending: Slightly Up

Michter’s 10 Year Rye – T3

  • Retail – $190  
  • Secondary – $205
  • Trending – Down

Michter’s 20 Year Bourbon (2025)– T1

  • Retail – $750
  • Secondary – unknown, but expect around $3300 to start
  • Trending: Down

Bomberger’s Declaration Bourbon 2025 – T3

  • Retail – $110
  • Secondary  – $150
  • Trending: Down

Bomberger’s Precision Fine Grain (PFG) Bourbon 2025 – T3

  • Retail – $140
  • Secondary  – $425
  • Trending: holding steady

Shenk’s Homestead Sour Mash Whiskey 2025 – T3

  • Retail – $75
  • Secondary – $140
  • Trending: Slightly Down

MGP / Ross & Squibb

Remus Repeal Reserve IX – T3

  • Retail – $90
  • Secondary – $100
  • Trending: No Change

Remus Babe Ruth Reserve – T3

  • Retail – $140
  • Secondary – none
  • Trending: No Change

Remus Gatsby 15 Year Cask Strength (2025) – T3

  • Retail – $200
  • Secondary – unknown
  • Trending: n/a

This year’s Remus Gatsby is just coming out at the time of writing, so it’s unknown what the secondary value will be, but if previous year’s hold true, it will be less than the retail cost after a couple months.

Old Forester

Old Forester Birthday Bourbon 2025 – T1

  • Retail – $200 
  • Secondary – $500
  • Trending: Down

Old Forester Single Barrel (Barrel Proof) Bourbon – T3

  • Retail – $70
  • Secondary – $120+ (Depending on pick)
  • Trending: Down

Old Forester The 117 Series (Rye BiB) 375ml – T3

  • Retail – $60
  • Secondary – $90
  • Trending: Down

Old Forester The 117 Series (Extra Extra Old 2025 – Batch 2) 375ml – T3

  • Retail – $60 
  • Secondary – $100
  • Trending: steady

Old Forester Single Barrel (Barrel Proof) Rye Whiskey – T3

  • Retail – $90
  • Secondary – $110
  • Trending: Down

Old Forester President’s Choice Bourbon 2025 releases – T2

  • Retail – $200
  • Secondary – $420 or more depending on age
  • Trending: Down

Old Forester President’s Choice Rye Whiskey 2025 releases – T2

  • Retail – $200
  • Secondary – $375
  • Trending: Down

King of Kentucky Single Barrels (17years old) 2024 – T1

  • Retail – $400
  • Secondary – $1750
  • Trending: Down

Old Forester has begun to expand distribution and availability of their President’s Choice brand as well as add a rye whiskey to it. These are all great things for the enthusiast who loves Old Forester as these are truly great bottles, but it is destroying their secondary appeal. Not too long ago these were trending at $800 to $1000 per bottle and have now fallen to half that on the secondary market.

Starlight Distillery

Starlight 10 Year Anniversary Bourbon – T3

  • Retail – $250
  • Secondary – none
  • Trending: Down

I’ve seen sellers asking for up to $430 for this bottle but the bottom line is nobody is biting. Beware of anyone who sells one for more than retail at this point, because they’re probably using shill buyers. This has no secondary value.

Whistlepig

Whistlepig Boss Hog XII “Feather and Flame – T3

  • Retail – $600
  • Secondary – none
  • Trending: n/a

Is it just me or did last year’s Boss Hog have an MSRP of $620?

Whistlepig Piggybank 10 Year Old Rye Whiskey 2025 Release (Batch #4) – T3

  • Retail – $200
  • Secondary – $230
  • Trending: Way down

Whistlepig 30 Year Malt Whiskey “The BigShǝBàng” – T3

  • Retail – $5000
  • Secondary – none
  • Trending: n/a

Wild Turkey

Wild Turkey Master’s Keep Beacon – T2

  • Retail – $275  
  • Secondary – $450 (but I’ve seen one instance of $425)
  • Trending: Down

Wild Turkey 101 (8 Year Age Stated Domestic Release) – T3

  • Retail – $45
  • Secondary – none
  • Trending: Down

Russell’s Reserve 13 Year (Batch 6, Spring 2025) – T3

  • Retail – $200
  • Secondary – $225
  • Trending: Down

After almost every reviewer commented how average this bottle is, secondary prices continued to fall. They were $240 a few weeks before this was published but it has fallen even more.

Russell’s Reserve Single Rickhouse (Camp Nelson E) – T2

  • Retail – $300
  • Secondary – $450
  • Trending: Up

Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon – T3

  • Retail – $70 
  • Secondary – $100+ depending on specific barrel and pick
  • Trending: Same

Willett / Kentucky Bourbon Distillers

Willett Rye Whiskey or Bourbon from their own distillery – T3

  • Retail – Usually $20 per year aged
  • Secondary – Usually $50 to $70 per year aged

Willett 8-year-old wheated bourbon (in the black bottle) – T3

  • Retail – $230 
  • Secondary – $190
  • Trending: down

Woodford Reserve

Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection Batch Proof (2025, 119.5 proof) – T3

  • Retail – $150
  • Secondary – $130
  • Trending: Down

Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection Sweet Oak – T3

  • Retail – $130
  • Secondary – $220 (Expect to drop to $200 by February 2025)
  • Trending: Down

Woodford Reserve Distillery Reserve Chocolate Whisper Redux – T3

  • Retail – $100
  • Secondary – $175
  • Trending: Down

Woodford Reserve Double Double Oaked (700ml national release) – T3

  • Retail – $180
  • Secondary – none
  • Trending: Down

MGP-Sourced Bourbon

Mayor Pingree Various Age Stated Bourbon (7 to 15 years old) – T3

  • Retail – Varies
  • Secondary $25 per year aged
  • Trending: Same

Frequently Asked Questions: Allocated Bourbon, Secondary Prices & the 2026 Brown Book

1. What is “allocated bourbon” or “allocated whiskey”?

Allocated bourbon or rye is whiskey produced in limited quantities and rationed by distributors. Not every store can get it, which makes these bottles harder to find at retail and more likely to appear on the secondary market at higher prices.

2. How should I use this 2026 price guide?

Use the guide as a reality check. Compare our listed retail price to what your local store is charging, and compare our secondary price to what sellers are asking online. Then look at the trend direction (up, down, or steady) before deciding whether a bottle is worth it. If a store is far above our retail number, they’re probably pricing off secondary.

3. Should I ever pay secondary prices for allocated bourbon?

Sometimes, yes. For very hard-to-find Tier 1 bottles, paying a fair secondary price might be the only realistic way to try them. For many Tier 2 and Tier 3 bottles that are trending down or flat, it usually makes more sense to wait for more distribution, wait for prices to settle, or skip them in favor of better value pours.

4. Is buying or selling whiskey on the secondary market legal?

Laws vary by country, state, and platform. In many places, unlicensed alcohol sales are restricted or prohibited. This guide does not condone secondary buying or selling; it only reports prices and trends for information and education. Always research your local laws and understand the risks.

5. How can I avoid getting scammed on the secondary market?

There is always risk, but you can lower it by watching groups for a week or two before buying, starting with a cheaper bottle, checking a seller’s transaction history, asking for references, and requesting a photo of the bottle with your name written on paper in the frame. Even then, there are no guarantees.

6. What do the tiers T1, T2, and T3 mean?

Tier 1 bottles are the most coveted and hardest to find, with the strongest long-term value potential. Tier 2 bottles are still highly desirable but slightly easier to obtain, and may hold or grow in value over the next few years. Tier 3 bottles are allocated but still realistically findable on shelves, and their secondary prices tend to be flatter or softer, especially as production increases.

7. How often do these secondary prices change?

The prices in this guide reflect the market as of November 2025. New releases can move rapidly in the first 30 to 60 days as hype builds or fades. Established bottles tend to move more slowly and follow broader trends like overproduction or changes in the economy.

8. Why are so many allocated bottles trending down right now?

There are more limited editions than ever, brands are raising retail prices to capture secondary value themselves, and many enthusiasts have less disposable income. At the same time, buyers are becoming more selective and less willing to chase every new limited label. All of that puts pressure on secondary prices.

9. Are Van Winkle and Pappy bottles still worth chasing?

From a value perspective, retail prices are up and secondary prices are down, so the gap is smaller than it used to be. From a liquidity perspective, Van Winkle bottles are still some of the easiest to sell, and if you price them reasonably, they move quickly. From a drinking perspective, they’re excellent whiskeys, but whether they’re worth secondary prices depends entirely on your budget and priorities. At true retail, they are almost always worth grabbing.

10. What’s a smart strategy if I’m just getting into allocated bourbon?

Start by focusing on a few brands or lines you genuinely like instead of trying to collect everything. Avoid buying brand-new releases in the first 14 to 30 days on secondary. Use this guide to sanity-check both store prices and secondary asks. Spend your money on bottles you actually want to drink, not just labels, and remember that great daily drinkers often provide more enjoyment per dollar than hype bottles.