Edward Hamilton
05-12-2007, 01:06 PM
All too often it is frustrating to taste a great spirit that you've found in another state or country and then not be able to find more of it when you run out or return home.
In the US, there is a three tier system of liquor distribution which dictates that distillers and importers only sell to distributors which are licensed in each state who can only sell to retail shops, bars and restaurants in that state. In some states the distribution tier, and in some, even the retail store tier, are owned by the state.
In some countries, distribution is controlled completely by the government who administer distribution and collect all of the taxes. In others, liquor distribution is more of a free market where importers sell to bars and restaurants but in every instance there are regulations which dictate bottle size, labeling and contents.
So how does this relate to the consumer who's looking for a good bottle of rum? Retail stores have to buy from their established suppliers. I don't know of any market where a retail store can buy directly from the distillery. And no distillery is going to bother shipping a couple of cases of rum to a retail shop, even if they could. The shipping and handling costs are just too high to be worth while for a couple of reasons. Customs regulations require that every shipment be accompanied by a small stack of paperwork.
Retailers generally want to improve their selection of spirits, but they have to rely on their distributors who may or may not want to improve their product line. So what's a consumer to do? The best thing a consumer can do to improve the selection in their local store is to ask for new products. Only after a retailer identifies a demand will they ask their distributor who may or may not feel it is worth their time to find, warehouse and sell a new product.
Specialty stores are generally the best places to shop because they are deal with the small importers and distributors who have an interest in boutique and small production products. Only a few of the larger stores deal with the smaller distributors who handle the smaller volume brands, which are often the best products.
Once a spirit is approved for sale in your country, you should be able to buy it if you are persistent enough at your local level. But until you ask your local store for something you want they aren't going to put it on their shelf on the hope that someone is just going to walk into their store, find it and buy it.
In the US, there is a three tier system of liquor distribution which dictates that distillers and importers only sell to distributors which are licensed in each state who can only sell to retail shops, bars and restaurants in that state. In some states the distribution tier, and in some, even the retail store tier, are owned by the state.
In some countries, distribution is controlled completely by the government who administer distribution and collect all of the taxes. In others, liquor distribution is more of a free market where importers sell to bars and restaurants but in every instance there are regulations which dictate bottle size, labeling and contents.
So how does this relate to the consumer who's looking for a good bottle of rum? Retail stores have to buy from their established suppliers. I don't know of any market where a retail store can buy directly from the distillery. And no distillery is going to bother shipping a couple of cases of rum to a retail shop, even if they could. The shipping and handling costs are just too high to be worth while for a couple of reasons. Customs regulations require that every shipment be accompanied by a small stack of paperwork.
Retailers generally want to improve their selection of spirits, but they have to rely on their distributors who may or may not want to improve their product line. So what's a consumer to do? The best thing a consumer can do to improve the selection in their local store is to ask for new products. Only after a retailer identifies a demand will they ask their distributor who may or may not feel it is worth their time to find, warehouse and sell a new product.
Specialty stores are generally the best places to shop because they are deal with the small importers and distributors who have an interest in boutique and small production products. Only a few of the larger stores deal with the smaller distributors who handle the smaller volume brands, which are often the best products.
Once a spirit is approved for sale in your country, you should be able to buy it if you are persistent enough at your local level. But until you ask your local store for something you want they aren't going to put it on their shelf on the hope that someone is just going to walk into their store, find it and buy it.