The Bourbon Brown Book – 2020 Edition

In 2019, we branched out from our whiskey reviews and bourbon reviews to launch our version of a secondary valuation guide for bottles of bourbon and rye whiskey.  People loved it and we had a lot of feedback. 

This year, we’re still only listing prices for bottles that came out throughout the current year although we may consider expanding the pricing guide to include previous year’s bottlings sometime in the future.

HUGE price fluctuations

2020 saw HUGE price fluctuations.  The secondary market prices stayed relatively steady throughout 2018 and 2019, but with all of the events surrounding COVID-19, the markets were bound to change. 

And change they did.  In fact, bottles that previously carried no secondary value now had it. 

Distilleries also took advantage of the boom in bourbon drinkers and set about releasing more new labels than ever before. 

This all culminated with a year that saw total allocations per store drop significantly around the US. 

It was a sad day for many customers when their local stores had to tell them that they did not have enough allocations to go around this year.  Lotteries were also sparse.  Prices went up accordingly.

Secondary Market Fads

One of the newest fads that the secondary market saw was the trend of all bottles being sold at a price that was double the price of retail. 

It is in our opinion that consumers wanted to drink the bottles as much as they wanted to sell them, so they would buy two of them and recoup the costs with the sale of the second bottle. 

This has led to the chain reaction of not only being unable to find relatively low-tier allocated bottles like Elijah Craig Barrel Proof and Blanton’s, but that you’d be able to tell the exact date of when the drops occurred because local secondary markets were full of those bottles for sale on the same day. 

The prices reflected below are a snapshot in time of the secondary market in December 2020. 

Prices for BTAC and Pappy are still settling and may go a tiny bit lower, but for the most part, the reality is that BTAC bottles are no longer anywhere near the $400 realm and any bottle carrying the Van Winkle name may never go below $550 again.

As a final note for this year’s Bourbon Brown Book, we have decided to get rid of the “average store price” data point because it confused too many people. 

This year, we will only be telling you what the typical retail price is (before tax) and what the secondary price’s commonly go for (before shipping).  

And as always, if you have any questions or comments, please send us an email for clarification!  Happy Hunting!

The Bourbon Brown Book – 2020 Edition

Allocated Bottle Price Guide

For Reference:

• T1 = Tier 1 bottles, the most highly coveted and hardest to find bottles
• T2 = Tier 2 bottles, these bottles are also highly coveted, but slightly easier to obtain
• T3 = Tier 3 bottles, although allocated, they can be found if you’re looking hard enough and typically many of them are bottled throughout the year.

The Bourbon Brown Book – 2022 Edition

Check out our most current version of our secondary valuation guide for bottles of bourbon and rye whiskey.

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The Bourbon Brown Book – 2021 Edition

2021's version of our secondary valuation guide for bottles of bourbon and rye whiskey.

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The Bourbon Brown Book – 2019 Edition

2019's version of our secondary valuation guide for bottles of bourbon and rye whiskey.

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Angel’s Envy

Angel’s Envy Mizunara Finished Bourbon

• Retail – $250
• Secondary – $650+

Angel’s Envy Cask Strength Bourbon

• Retail – $200
• Secondary – $250

Barton Distillery

1792 Full Proof (Store Pick) – T3

• Retail – $45  
• Secondary – $60+

1792 Aged Twelve Years – T3

• Retail – $50  
• Secondary – $100+

1792 Sweet Wheat – T3

• Retail– $40  
• Secondary – $90+

1792 High Rye – T3

• Retail – $50
• Secondary – $120+

Heaven Hill

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof (A120, B520, C920)– T3

• Retail – $55 
• Secondary – $80+

Elijah Craig Beer Barrel Finished (200ml) –T3

• Retail – $50
• Secondary – $80+

Elijah Craig 18 Year Old Single Barrel 2020 – T3

• Retail – $130  
• Secondary – $200+

Larceny Barrel Proof (A120, B520, C920) – T3

• Retail – $55
• Secondary – $90+

Evan Williams 23 Year Old Bourbon – T2

• Retail – $250
• Secondary – $500+

Old Fitzgerald 9 Year (Spring 2020) – T2

• Retail – $110  
• Secondary – $240+

Old Fitzgerald 16 Year (Red Label 2020) – T2

• Retail – $150 
• Secondary – $400+

Old Fitzgerald 14 Year (Fall 2020) – T2

• Retail – $140 
• Secondary – $350+

Henry McKenna Bottled in Bond Single Barrel – T3

• Retail – $40 
• Secondary – $55+

Parker’s Heritage 10 Year Old Heavy Char Bourbon (2020) – T2

• Retail – $130 
• Secondary – $300+

William Heaven Hill 13 Year Old Bottled In Bond (Orange Label) – T2

• Retail – $175  
• Secondary – $260

Bourbon Hunting 101

What to look for when your store has no allocated, limited edition or store pick bottles.

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Buffalo Trace / Age International

Buffalo Trace (Store Pick)

• Retail – $30
• Secondary – $50+

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

• Retail – $40
• Secondary – $80

Eagle Rare Single Barrel (Store Pick)

• Retail – $35
• Secondary – $50+

EH Taylor Small Batch – T3

• Retail – $40  
• Secondary – $80+

EH Taylor Single Barrel – T3

• Retail – $60 
• Secondary – $150

EH Taylor Single Barrel (Store Pick) – T2

• Retail – $80
• Secondary – $235+ 

EH Taylor Straight Rye 2020 – T3

• Retail – $80
• Secondary – $130

EH Taylor Barrel Proof 2020 (130.3 proof) – T2

• Retail – $80  
• Secondary – $385+

EH Taylor 18 Year Marriage 2020 – T1

• Retail – $100 
• Secondary – $1800+

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

• Retail – $55 
• Secondary – $100+

Blanton’s Single Barrel (Store Pick) – T3

• Retail – $55
• Secondary – $120+

Blanton’s Gold (700ml) – T2

• Retail – Depending on country, retail could be as low as $80 and as high as $120 
• Secondary – $225+

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 – $140+

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

• Retail – Depending on Country, retail could be as low as $80 and as high as $150 
• Secondary – $275+

Hancock’s Reserve – T3

• Retail– $50 
• Secondary – $90+

Rock Hills Farm – T2

• Retail – $55
• Secondary – $250

Elmer T. Lee – T2

• Retail – $40
• Secondary – $225

Elmer T. Lee 100 year Tribute – T1

• Retail – $100 
• Secondary – $400+

Stagg Jr. (Batch 14 or 15)– T3

• Retail – $55 
• Secondary – $150+

George T. Stagg BTAC 2020 – T1

• Retail – $100  
• Secondary – $600+

William Larue Weller BTAC 2020

• Retail – $100 
• Secondary – $1150+

Thomas H. Handy BTAC 2020 – T1

• Retail – $100 
• Secondary – $550+

Sazerac 18 Year BTAC 2020 – T1

• Retail – $100 
• Secondary – $1500+

Eagle Rare 17 Year BTAC 2020 – T1

• Retail – $100  
• Secondary – $1300+

Weller Special Reserve – T3

• Retail – $23  
• Secondary – $40

Old Weller Antique 107 – T3

• Retail – $50  
• Secondary – $85+

Old Weller Antique 107 (Single Barrel) – T3

• Retail – $50
• Secondary – $150+

Weller 12 Year – T2

• Retail – $45
• Secondary – $180+

Weller Single Barrel (Orange Label) – T2

• Retail – $40
• Secondary – $500+

Weller CYPB – T2

• Retail – $50 
• Secondary – $500+

Weller Full Proof – T2

• Retail – $55
• Secondary – $250

Weller Full Proof (Single Barrel) – T2

• Retail – $55
• Secondary – $260+

Old Rip Van Winkle 10 year 2020 – T1

• Retail –  $70
• Secondary – $550+

Van Winkle Lot B 12 year 2020 – T1

• Retail – $80
• Secondary – $625+

Pappy Van Winkle 15 year 2020 – T1

• Retail – $120
• Secondary – $1600+

Pappy Van Winkle 20 year 2020 – T1

• Retail – $200
• Secondary – $2000+

Pappy Van Winkle 23 year 2019 – T1

• Retail – $300
• Secondary – $2700+

Van Winkle Family Rye Reserve – T1

• Retail – $120
• Secondary – $1300+

Why Expensive Bourbon’s Are Not Worth The Money

Perhaps some bottles will always retain a high value, but will other bottles carry that value if and when the trend dies down?

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Kentucky Owl

Kentucky Owl Confiscated – T3

• Retail – $90 
• Secondary – $120+

Kentucky Owl Rye Batch 4 – T3

• Retail – $250 
• Secondary – $270+

Kentucky Owl Dry State – T2

• Retail – $1000
• Secondary – $1100

High West 

Midwinter’s Night Dram Act 8 – T3

• Retail – $80 
• Secondary – $140+

Rocky Mountain Rye Whiskey (2020 release) – T3

• Retail – $150
• Secondary – $450+

Yippie Ki Yay (2020 is the last year for this release) – T3 

• Retail – $65
• Secondary – $140 (2017), $130 (2018), $120 (2019)

Michter's Distillery: Past, Present and Future

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Michter’s Distillery

Michter’s Toasted Barrel Rye 2020 – T2

• Retail – $85 
• Secondary – $225+

Michter’s Barrel Strength Rye 2020 – T2

• Retail – $80
• Secondary – $150

Michter’s Barrel Strength Bourbon 2020 – T2

• Retail – $100 
• Secondary – $250+

Michter’s 10 Year Bourbon – T2

• Retail – $120 
• Secondary – $220+

Michter’s 10 Year Rye – T2

• Retail – $130  
• Secondary – $220+

Michter’s 25 Year Bourbon – T1

• Retail – $1000
• Secondary – $4000+

Bombergers – T2

• Retail – $80 
• Secondary  – $140+

Shenks – T2

• Retail – $60 
• Secondary – $120+

Why Expensive Bourbon’s Are Worth The Money

With people stopping at nothing to get that last bottle for their verticals, the landscape has changed dramatically for finding rare and high end bourbon.

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Wild Turkey

Wild Turkey Master’s Keep 17 Year Old Bottled In Bond – T3

• Retail – $150  
• Average – $240+

Russell’s Reserve 2003 Barrel Proof – T1

• Retail – $250
• Secondary – $550

Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon – T3

• Retail – $55 (price increase to $70 nationwide as of October 2020)
• Secondary – $80+ depending on specific barrel and pick

Old Forester

Old Forester Birthday Bourbon 2020 – T1

• Retail – $130 
• Secondary – $600

Old Forester Single Barrel (Barrel Proof) – T3

• Retail – $70
• Secondary – $120

Old Forester 150th Anniversary Bourbon (Batch 1, 2 or 3) – T2

• Retail – $150
• Secondary – $350

Old Forester President’s Choice 2020 – T2

• Retail – $150
• Secondary – $400+

King of Kentucky Single Barrels 2020 – T1

• Retail – $250 
• Secondary – $900+ (Short Barrels go for over $1050)

Four Roses

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

• Retail – $70
• Secondary – $100+

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

• Retail – $70
• Secondary – $200+

Four Roses Private Selection (Pick 2: Tier 6, over 125 proof, OESO or OBSK, extra sticker on the side) – T2

• Retail – $70 
• Secondary – $350+

Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch 2020 – T1

• Retail – $150 
• Secondary – $350+

The State of Allocated Bottles in Indiana

How can we make obtaining allocated bottles more fair?

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Whistlepig

Whistlepig Boss Hog VII – T3

• Retail – $450 
• Secondary – Anything over $500

Whistlepig Single Barrel Store Picks – T3

• Retail – $80  
• Secondary – $100+ (usually above $190 if the bottle is claimed to be older than 15 years old)

Whistlepig 18 Year Double Malt – T3

• Retail – $370
• Secondary – $400

Woodford Reserve

Woodford Very Fine Rare Bourbon

• Retail – $130
• Secondary – $225+

The Mystery of the 78.5% / 13% / 8.5% Kentucky Straight Bourbon Mash Bill

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Jim Beam

Baker’s 13 Year Old Single Barrel – T3

• Retail – $100 
• Secondary – $235+

Knob Creek Single Barrel Store Pick (under 14 years old) – T3

• Retail – $50
• Secondary – $60+

Knob Creek Single Barrel Store Pick (14+ years old) – T3

• Retail – $50 
• Secondary – $80+

Little Book Chapter 4 “Lessons Honored” – T3

• Retail – $90  
• Secondary – $140+

Old Overholt Rye Whiskey 11 Years Old – T3

• Retail – $75
• Secondary – $130

Maker’s Mark

Maker’s Mark SE4 PR5 – T3

• Retail – $50  
• Secondary – $75+

Jack Daniel’s

Eric Church Single Barrels – T3

• Retail – $60
• Secondary – $95+

Single Barrel Barrel Proof Rye Whiskey – T3

• Retail – $60
• Secondary – $150

Luxco / Lux Row

Lux Row Double Barreled – T3

• Retail – $150  
• Secondary – $200+

Blood Oath Pact 6 (Finished) 2020 – T3

• Retail – $90  
• Secondary – $160+

Barrell Craft Spirits:

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Barrell Craft Spirits

Barrell Craft Spirits 2020 15 Year Old Bourbon – T3

• Retail – $200 (although Barrell suggests $250) 
• Secondary – $250+

Barrell Armida – T3

• Retail – $85
• Secondary – $130

Willett / Kentucky Bourbon Distillers

Willett Rye Whiskey or Bourbon from their own distillery – T2

• Retail: Usually $20 per year aged
• Secondary: Usually $40 to $50 per year aged

Smoke Wagon

Single Barrel (Red Wax)

• Retail – $100 (8 year) / $130 (12 or 13 year)
• Secondary – $250+ (8 year) / $375+ (12 to 13 year)

Uncut and Unfiltered – T3

• Retail – $55
• Secondary – $90

Straight Bourbon Small Batch – T3

• Retail – $40
• Secondary – $60

Rare and Limited (Batch #1) – T2

• Retail – $150
• Secondary – $600

Bardstown Bourbon Company

Collaboration Series – Chateau De Laubade

• Retail – $130
• Secondary – $350+

Kentucky-Sourced Bourbon

Cream of Kentucky 13 Year Bourbon (Barton)

• Retail – $130
• Secondary – $170

Yellowstone Limited Edition (2020) – T3

• Retail – $80
• Secondary – $120+

Blue Run (2020)

• Retail – $150
• Secondary – $250

Three Chord Whiskey Drummer (15 year Batch 1) – T3

• Retail – $180
• Secondary – $250+

Old Kirk (rumored to be 6 year old Willett)

• Retail – $55
• Secondary – $250

MGP Indiana

Past, Present and Future: From Seagram’s Glory Years to MGPI’s Future.

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MGP-Sourced Bourbon

Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend (all 2020 releases)

• Retail – $140
• Secondary – $250+

Belle Meade Honey Cask Finish (2020 release – 4 Barrels) T1

• Retail – $150
• Secondary – $800+