Cheap Whiskey Switcheroo
February 4, 2010 5:56 PM Subscribe
What's the deal with Highland Stag / Highland Crest whiskey?
The grocery store near my house in Highland Park, CA used to sell Highland Stag blended scotch whiskey for 9.00 a 750 ml bottle. It wasn't bad, and the price was right! But then there wasn't any more. And then they got Highland Crest blended scotch whiskey.
Similar label design
Same clipart drawing of a stag's head
Same price
Different bottle (classier, heavier)
Different whiskey inside.
What's the deal? They are both apparently produced (bottled? distributed? by Levecke Corporation...
The grocery store near my house in Highland Park, CA used to sell Highland Stag blended scotch whiskey for 9.00 a 750 ml bottle. It wasn't bad, and the price was right! But then there wasn't any more. And then they got Highland Crest blended scotch whiskey.
Similar label design
Same clipart drawing of a stag's head
Same price
Different bottle (classier, heavier)
Different whiskey inside.
What's the deal? They are both apparently produced (bottled? distributed? by Levecke Corporation...
Market segmentation. Some companies are just better at this than others.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 6:01 PM on February 4, 2010
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 6:01 PM on February 4, 2010
Response by poster: Sorry, I'm trying to determine what the relationship is: The bottle and whiskey changed — does Levecke buy surplus branded whiskey and relabel it? It's a pretty dramatic difference, but also pretty insignificant...
posted by gilgamix at 6:02 PM on February 4, 2010
posted by gilgamix at 6:02 PM on February 4, 2010
The growing distribution and demand of special whiskies and scotches is taxing companies that used to be awfully small-market competitive and wonderful. One of my favorite, favorite, scotch manufacturers recently discontinued two bottlings to offer a vague and quite inferior halfway mark - significantly poorer flavor than either, an artificially aged acrid gunk. I was appalled! But that's the way of the market now; there are enough people out there with a lack of discernment who will buy the cheap stuff in an expensive bottle anyway. The companies have to survive and to do that they have to do: make compromises. Consider stocking up on your favorites; I'm guessing truly deserving whiskey and scotch prices are going to rise significantly in the next few years.
posted by carlh at 6:03 PM on February 4, 2010
posted by carlh at 6:03 PM on February 4, 2010
Maybe they just changed the name/style? I can find references to Highland Stag on Google, but your post is the only mention of Highland Crest.
As for the taste, low-end blends aren't terribly consistent. They probably buy vats of whatever's cheap and mix them up.
Do yourself a favor, though - if you're going to live in a place called Highland Park, get yourself a real bottle of Highland Park...
posted by mmoncur at 1:39 AM on February 5, 2010 [1 favorite]
As for the taste, low-end blends aren't terribly consistent. They probably buy vats of whatever's cheap and mix them up.
Do yourself a favor, though - if you're going to live in a place called Highland Park, get yourself a real bottle of Highland Park...
posted by mmoncur at 1:39 AM on February 5, 2010 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by fixedgear at 5:59 PM on February 4, 2010