Do the math
I made it into a local pub in North Carolina last night, and after my colleague ordered a PBR, I ordered a dram of Macallan 12, which I spotted on the shelf. Suffice it to say I was astounded at the difference in bills. These were their regular prices – no specials or anything:
Can (12oz) of Pabst Blue Ribbon beer:
Liquor store: $1.00
Pub: $1.50
= Markup of 50%
Ounce of Macallan 12:
Liquor store: $43 /bottle = $1.60
Pub: $10.75
= Markup of 572%
OK, I’ll agree the math isn’t perfect, but regardless it’s completely ridiculous. How do pubs get off with drastically overcharging for scotch and premium spirits? Is the type of drink we enjoy indicative of what we’re willing to pay? Are scotch drinkers richer than beer drinkers? Or more accurately, are scotch drinkers less intelligent and more gullible than our beer drinking peers? Pour me a beer, please, bartender.
I am appalled by this practice as well. I argue with my friends as to why do you go to a bar to drink when it’s cheaper and more relaxing to buy your own single malt and drink it at home with invited friends?
Tip: (while you should be smelling your single malt from a tulip-shaped glass, and not from a tumbler, and especially not with ice,) I request that the bartender pour my single malt into a brandy snifter- not only do I get to enjoy the olefactory sense, but also the bartender is used to approximating the pour based on a tumbler and I find that they overpour when pouring into a brandy snifter becasue they are not used to it.
It’s not just with scotch but with any type of hard liquor. Whenever I order a double bourbon at a bar it costs me about as much as a bottle would. RIDICULOUS!!! The only time I get around this sort of highway robbery is when I go to a dinner that features a specific distillery (Heaven Hills comes to mind – Elijah Craig was the brand).
Sure, I’m going to shell out $100, including tip, but I’m getting as much drink as I want, a couple of cigars and fine French cuisine for that money. And the liquor is usually amazing. I’m talking about $150 to $300 a bottle stuff that you get with these dinners. If I were to order that kind of stuff at a bar normally I would probably be paying more than if I had gone to the special dinner!
So go out and find a fancy restaurant that has the occasional special dinner. It’s worth the effort.
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