The Bourbon Brown Book – 2022 Edition

2022 Price Guide for Rare & Allocated Bourbon

For our third annual Brown Book (a spoof on Kelley Blue Book, except for bourbon, not cars), I’d like to point out a few trends I’ve been noticing in the secondary market. 2022 saw a lot of fluctuation in prices after the first couple months of the year.

What had once been a steady climb in prices since before the pandemic began, now started to see prices tumble across the board.

I’d like to point out one definitive reason as to why that is, but the truth is that there are multiple issues at play.

Bourbon Secondary Market Trends of 2022

This year, I’ve drawn attention to many bottles listed below that should see a drop in their secondary prices throughout 2023.

The ongoing trend seems to be that as soon as a particular bottle is released, flippers will try and set their own price; and it’s always way too high.

Unfortunately, the first few flippers will find buyers either in people who have “Fear Of Missing Out” (FOMO) syndrome or the superfans who will do whatever it takes to own a bottle.

After those people have bought their bottles and moved on, prices tend to come down. For instance, 2022 has seen the first George T. Stagg release in two years and flippers are already trying to ask $1200 for a bottle.

Do Not Overspend

I expect this price to eventually settle down to the tune of $800 (which is still an absurd price) because the golden rule of the secondary market is that most bottle values are based off other similar bottles.

In the past, George T. Stagg typically went for the same price as 10-year-old bottles of Old Rip Van Winkle (which are still at $800). So please heed my warning; do not overspend and contribute to price inflation when a new release first comes out. Let prices cool off.

We’re also seeing a lot of producers capitalize on the fact that consumers are more willing to buy a shiny new label because they don’t have it in their collection yet.

The downside to this trend (aside from frivolous consumerism) is that everyone who finds a new label thinks that it has a secondary value. This often leads to smashed dreams when your “For Sale/For Trade” post on the secondary gets no hits.

A good example of this are bottles like Dixon Deadman’s new “2XO” release which is a pure cash grab. Barrell has also churned out a ridiculous amount of Gray and Gold Label whiskies which are intended to be sold to people with more money than brains.

They will find their buyers, but those buyers won’t be drinking anything better than a bottle of their standard batches.

Brands to Avoid on the Secondary Market

Finally, I’d like to point out a couple of brands to stay away from if you’re looking at strictly buying them on the secondary market.

These are brands that have limited amounts of bottles per batch (or barrel) but are from undisclosed sources and are usually not age stated.

The people that buy up these bottles regularly and try to flip them are usually part of a tight-knit community.

The problem with really tight-knit brand communities are twofold:

1.) They tend to become an echo chamber where valuations for bottles are thrown out and then stick, increasing the problem of over-pricing.
2.) The community gives constant reassurance that bottles from that particular brand are really worth that much to new or unsuspecting bourbon drinkers.

It’s hard to be new to the game and ask if a bourbon is really worth the price when you have 25-50 people who all have stake in those bottles (because they own so many and are trying to flip them) telling you “yes, absolutely!” The brands to stay away from are:

Old Carter
Preservation Distillery (Rare Perfection and Olde St. Nick)
Kentucky Owl
Blue Run
Down Home
Good Times
NULU
Four Gate
Short Barrel

With that being said, enjoy this year’s updated price guide to allocated bottles released in 2022! And remember to buy responsibly and within your budget.

The bourbon experience is rarely worth the price you’ll find some of these at and sometimes it’s better to just enjoy what’s in your glass. Cheers!

2022 Bourbon Brown Book Terms

After the bottle name, we have assigned a corresponding tier to each bottle. This is what they mean:

T1 = Tier 1 bottles

The most highly coveted and hardest to find bottles. Expect these bottles to gain in value in the years to come

T2 = Tier 2 bottles

These bottles are also highly coveted, but slightly easier to obtain. There is still a good chance their value will raise in the years to come

T3 = Tier 3 bottles

Although allocated, they can be found if you’re looking hard enough. Typically, there are multiple releases throughout the year or if there is just one release, it has a very high bottle count and is released nationwide.

The Retail Price is the price that stores, on average, are pricing their bottles at. Prices will vary shelf by shelf, but if you see a price that is substantially higher than the price we’ve listed as the retail price, that means that the store is trying to gain more profit from you, usually because they keep track of the secondary market too.

The Secondary Price was based on current bottle valuations as of December 2022. These prices may rise or fall over the next 12 months, but remain somewhat dormant for at least the next 6 months as releases begin to slow down.

Allocated Bourbon & Whiskey Price Guide

Angel’s Envy

Angel’s Envy Cask Strength Bourbon

Retail – $200
Secondary – $250

Bardstown Bourbon Company

Collaboration Series – Chateau De Laubade Release #2

Retail – $150
Secondary – No Secondary Value

Collaboration Series – Rum Finished

Retail – $150
Secondary – No Secondary Value

Barrell Craft Spirits

Barrell Craft Spirits Gray Label Bourbon – T3

Retail – $200 (although Barrell suggests $250)
Secondary – No Secondary

Barrell Craft Spirits Gray Label Seagrass – T3

Retail – $200 (although Barrell suggests $250)
Secondary – No Secondary

Barrell Craft Spirits Gray Label Dovetail – T3

Retail – $200 (although Barrell suggests $250)
Secondary – No Secondary

Barrell Craft Spirits Gray Label 24 Year Whiskey – T3

Retail – $200 (although Barrell suggests $250)
Secondary – No Secondary

Barrell Craft Spirits Gold Label Bourbon – T3

Retail – $450 (although Barrell suggests $500)
Secondary – No Secondary

Barrell Craft Spirits Gold Label Seagrass – T3

Retail – $450 (although Barrell suggests $500)
Secondary – No Secondary

Barrell Craft Spirits Gold Label Dovetail – T3

Retail – $450 (although Barrell suggests $500)
Secondary – No Secondary

Barton Distillery

1792 Full Proof (Store Pick) – T3

Retail – $55
Secondary – $75+

1792 Aged Twelve Years – T3

Retail – $60
Secondary – $100+

1792 Sweet Wheat – T3

Retail– $40
Secondary – $90+

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 Bourbon Single Barrel (Store Pick)

Retail – $35
Secondary – $50+

EH Taylor Small Batch – T3

Retail – $40
Secondary – $100

EH Taylor Single Barrel – T3

Retail – $60
Secondary – $200

EH Taylor Single Barrel (Store Pick) – T2

Retail – $80
Secondary – $250

EH Taylor Straight Rye 2020 – T3

Retail – $80
Secondary – $225

EH Taylor Barrel Proof (129.0 proof) 2022 – T2

Retail – $80
Secondary – $475

EH Taylor Warehouse C – T1

Retail – $100
Secondary – $1000+

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

Retail – $55
Secondary – $110

Blanton’s Single Barrel (Store Pick) – T3

Retail – $55
Secondary – $130+

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 Bourbon 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

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 – $325

Elmer T. Lee – T2

Retail – $40
Secondary – $280

Stagg Jr. (Batch 16 or 17) – T3

Retail – $55
Secondary – $250+

Stagg Jr Single Barrel – T3

Retail – $90
Secondary – $350+ (depends on the store that picked it)

George T. Stagg BTAC 2022 – T1

Retail – $120
Secondary – $800 (expect price spike of $1100 until around February 2023, then come down to $800)

William Larue Weller BTAC 2022 – T1

Retail – $120
Secondary – $1600

Thomas H. Handy BTAC 2022 – T1

Retail – $120
Secondary – $600+

Sazerac 18 Year BTAC 2022 – T1

Retail – $100
Secondary – $1500+

Eagle Rare 17 Year BTAC 2022 – T1

Retail – $120
Secondary – $1700+

Weller Bourbon Special Reserve – T3

Retail – $23
Secondary – $40

Old Weller Antique 107 – T3

Retail – $50
Secondary – $100

Old Weller Antique 107 (Single Barrel) – T3

Retail – $50
Secondary – $150+

Weller 12 Year – T2

Retail – $45
Secondary – $250

Weller Single Barrel (Orange Label) – T2

Retail – $40
Secondary – $600+

Weller CYPB – T2

Retail – $50
Secondary – $500+

Weller Full Proof – T2

Retail – $55
Secondary – $225

Weller Full Proof (Single Barrel) – T2

Retail – $55
Secondary – $250 (depends on the store that picked it)

Old Rip Van Winkle 10 year 2022 – T1

Retail – $130
Secondary – $800

Van Winkle Lot B 12 year 2022 – T1

Retail – $150
Secondary – $900

Pappy Van Winkle 15 year 2022 – T1

Retail – $140
Secondary – $1800+

Pappy Van Winkle 20 year 2022 – T1

Retail – $200
Secondary – $2800+

Pappy Van Winkle 23 year 2022 – T1

Retail – $350
Secondary – $4000+

Van Winkle Family Rye Reserve – T1

Retail – $120
Secondary – $1700

Mister Sam 2021 Release

Retail – $250
Secondary – $2200

Four Roses

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

Retail – $75
Secondary – $125+

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

Retail – $75
Secondary – $200+

Four Roses Gift Shop Opening Exclusive 20 Year old OESV – T3

Retail – $150
Secondary – $1100

Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch 2022 – T1

Retail – $150
Secondary – $400

Kentucky Owl

No 2022 Releases of Kentucky Owl have any Secondary Value

Heaven Hill

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof (A122, B522, C922)– T3

Retail – $65
Secondary – $90

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

Retail – $35
Secondary – $70

Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel Bourbon – T3

Retail – $55
Secondary – $80

Elijah Craig 18 Year Old Single Barrel 2020 – T3

Retail – $130
Secondary – $200+

Larceny Barrel Proof (A122, B522, C922) – T3

Retail – $65
Secondary – $90

Evan Williams 23 Year Old Bourbon – T2

Retail – $250
Secondary – $600+

Old Fitzgerald 17 Year (Spring 2022) – T2

Retail – $200
Secondary – $700

Old Fitzgerald 19 Year (Fall 2022) – T2

Retail – $240
Secondary – $900

Henry McKenna Bottled in Bond Single Barrel – T3

Retail – $40
Secondary – $80

Parker’s Heritage 11 Year Old Heavy Char Wheat Whiskey (2021) – T2

Retail – $150
Secondary – $650

Parker’s Heritage Double Barreled Blend (2022) – T2

Retail – $150
Secondary – $650

William Heaven Hill 15 Year Old Bourbon (109 Proof) (Green Label) – T2

Retail – $250
Secondary – $580+

Heaven Hill Select Stock You Do You Bourbon Experience – T2

Retail – $250
Secondary – $ 400

Heaven Hill 17 Year Old Bourbon (2022) – T2

Retail – $250
Secondary – $950

High West

Midwinter’s Night Dram Act 10 – T3

Retail – $150 ($120 prices have been found in select areas)
Secondary – $200

Midwinter’s Night Dram Encore (White Port Finish) – T3

Retail – $120
Secondary – $325

High West + The Prisoner Collaboration (T3)

Retail – $120
Secondary – $300 (expect to come down)

Jim Beam

Knob Creek Limited Edition 18 Year Old Bourbon – T3

Retail – $180
Secondary – $250

Little Book Chapter 6 “To The Finish” – T3

Retail – $110
Secondary – No secondary value

Jack Daniel’s

Jack Daniel’s Coy Hill Batched Tennessee Whiskey (375ml) – T2

Retail – $75
Secondary – $600+

Jack Daniel’s Double Barreled Malt Whiskey – T3

Retail – $80
Secondary – $300 (expect to come down)

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

Retail – $75
Secondary – $100

Jack Daniel’s Distiller’s Select High Toast Maple Wood or Oak Wood Finish (2022 release) – T3

Retail – $45
Secondary – $90

Luxco / Lux Row

Rebel Gift Shop Single Barrel 12 Year Wheated Bourbon Barrel Proof

Retail – $200
Secondary – $500

Lux Row Double Barreled – T3

Retail – $150
Secondary – $200+

Blood Oath Pact 8 (Calvados Finished) 2022 – T3

Retail – $110
Secondary – $180+

Maker’s Mark

Maker’s Mark DNA Series (all 4) – T3

Retail – $400
Secondary – $600

Maker’s Mark BRT-01 or BRT-02 – T3

Retail – $65
Secondary – $100

Michter’s Distillery

Michter’s Toasted Barrel Sour Mash Whiskey 2022– T2

Retail – $85
Secondary – $220

Michter’s Barrel Strength Rye 2022 – T2

Retail – $90
Secondary – $200+

Michter’s Barrel Strength Bourbon 2022 – T2

Retail – $100
Secondary – $275+

Michter’s 10 Year Bourbon – T2

Retail – $130
Secondary – $275+

Michter’s 10 Year Rye – T2

Retail – $150
Secondary – $275+

Michter’s 20 Year Bourbon (2021 or 2022)– T1

Retail – $750
Secondary – $3,500+

Bombergers – T2

Retail – $90
Secondary – $175+

Shenks – T2

Retail – $75
Secondary – $150+

MGP / Ross & Squibb

Remus Repeal Reserve V

Retail – $90
Secondary – $150

Remus Repeal Reserve VI

Retail – $90
Secondary – $110

Remus Gatsby 15 Year Cask Strength

Retail – $250
Secondary – $280+

Old Forester

Old Forester Birthday Bourbon 2022 – T1

Retail – $150
Secondary – $800

Old Forester Single Barrel (Barrel Proof) Bourbon – T3

Retail – $70
Secondary – $120+

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

Retail – $90
Secondary – $225

Old Forester Single Barrel (Barrel Proof) “MTS: The Last O Warehoues” – T3

Retail – $90
Secondary – $325

Old Forester King Ranch Bourbon (Texas only release) – T3

Retail – $75
Secondary – $130

Old Forester President’s Choice – T1

Retail – $150
Secondary – $800+

King of Kentucky Single Barrels 2022 – T1

Retail – $250
Secondary – $1600+ (Short Barrels may go for more)

Smoke Wagon

Uncut and Unfiltered – T3

Retail – $65
Secondary – $90

Rare and Limited (Any Batch) – T2

Retail – $150
Secondary – $500+

Experimental Malted Rye Whiskey 9 Years Old – T3

Retail – $150
Secondary – $400+

Whistlepig

Whistlepig Boss Hog IX – T3

Retail – $550
Secondary – No Secondary Value

Whistlepig Piggybank 10 Year Old Rye Whiskey – T3

Retail – $120
Secondary – $275+ (expect to come down in 2023)

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

Wild Turkey

Wild Turkey Master’s Keep Unforgotten – T2

Retail – $175
Secondary – $375

Wild Turkey 101 12 Year Old Export – T3

Retail – $70 or $120 depending on country
Secondary – $225

Russell’s Reserve 13 Year – T2

Retail – $100
Secondary – $300

Russell’s Reserve Single Rickhouse – T2

Retail – $250
Secondary – $325

Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon – T3

Retail – $70
Secondary – $100+ depending on specific barrel and pick

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 Wheated Bourbon – T3

Retail -$250
Secondary – $400 (expect this to trend downwards throughout 2023)

Woodford Reserve

Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection Batch Proof (2022, 118.4 proof) – T3

Retail – $120
Secondary – $175

Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection Five Malt – T3

Retail – $130
Secondary – $150

Woodford Reserve Distiller Select Honey Finish – T3

Retail – $40
Secondary – $110

Kentucky-Sourced Bourbon (from Undisclosed Distilleries)

Cream of Kentucky Bottled In Bond Rye Whiskey (Sourced from Kentucky Artisan Distillery)

Retail – $70
Secondary – $100

Yellowstone Limited Edition Marsala Cask Finished (2022) – T3

Retail – $100
Secondary – $150

Lucky 7 – 14 Year Old “The Proprieter” (proof above 130) – T3

Retail – $150
Secondary – $275

Blue Run (All 2022 bottlings)

Retail – Varies
Secondary – No 2022 Blue Run Bottles have any secondary value

Hirsch Single Barrels (Willett sourced bourbon) – T3

Retail – $100
Secondary – $150

MGP-Sourced Bourbon

Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend (all 2022 releases, Batch 85 and up) – T3

Retail – $150
Secondary – $300+

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

Retail – Varies
Secondary $25 per year aged

Nelson Bros Honey Finish (2022 Release – 1500 bottles) – T3

Retail – $200
Secondary – $350+

Redwood Empire 15 Year Unfinished Bourbon – T3

Retail – $200
Secondary – $350

Other Sourced Bourbon

Starlight Cigar Batch Bourbon or Rye Whiskey

Retail – $80
Secondary – $150

Wolves Rye Whiskey Batch 2 (Blend of Willett Rye Whiskey and MGP Rye Whiskey)

Retail – $225
Secondary – $250

Michael Smith

Sunday 23rd of July 2023

Boy, this is a great read......thank you. I'd love to see an app for mobile devices.

Corey

Friday 21st of April 2023

Curious why they didn't mention previous Jack Daniel's special releases. For instance, the 2020 JD special release barrel proof rye which people really liked.

Mike & Mike

Sunday 14th of May 2023

Our Brown Book only concentrates on bottles released during that calendar year. The 2020 Jack Daniel's Barrel Proof Rye can be found in the 2020 edition of the Bourbon Brown Book though!

Kathy Eisenhour

Wednesday 12th of April 2023

Where can you purchase the Bourbon Brown Book (either the 2022 or preferably the 2023 Edition)?

Paul Graham

Wednesday 8th of February 2023

Retail? I think the small Mom and Pop liquor store owners are on to the game now....Nobody , and I mean NOBODY will see most of these bottles on anybody's shelf. I don't think "retail" prices are realistic to advertise if the bottles are NEVER available at retail. We all did this to ourselves.....but it was worth it.

David

Thursday 5th of January 2023

Thank you, this is a very good resource. Is the "retail" value the same as the msrp? If so I think the msrp of the Midwinter Night's Dram Act 10 should be $150 and the msrp of the Russell's Sigle Rickhouse is about twice what you have listed.

Tuesday 28th of March 2023

Thank you for the tips. At the time I was researching these, I did see many people claiming their stores had MWND for $120. Whether or not that was an incorrect price on the stores end or not is unknown, but I made note of it. As for the Russell's Reserve Single Rickhouse, I must have also gotten some bad intel when it came out. Perhaps I saw a scammer site's price listing. At the time of this reply, there is a store online showing the price is $79.99 for it. We all know that's not true, haha. Thanks again for your help!