The Dreadful Whiskey Shortage Predicted By Experts Might Not Happen At All

BlutarskyTFM10 years ago

A while back, I reported on an impending shortage of whiskey. It was terrifying. People didn’t know what to do, there was panic, and some folks just completely lost it. Hell, some cowards out there probably switched to clear liquor. Savages, man. Many people–those with good heads on their shoulders–started stocking up on their favorite bottles. After all, nobody knew how severe the shortage would be, or how long it would last.

Well, there’s good news. Apparently, there isn’t a whiskey shortage now, nor will there be one in the near future, according to experts.

“Do I think there’s an overall huge whiskey shortage? No,” said Kentucky Distiller’s Association spokesman Adam Johnson. “Yes, consumption is up, demand is high, but there’s still plenty of great brands on the shelf.”

That’s good. Like all of you, I love my whiskey. While consumption and demand are up, and some rarer brands are harder to find, for the most part, there’s still plenty of whiskey to go around. In fact, there may actually be a surplus on hand.

Thanks to changing tastes and increased interest in small-batch bourbons and ryes, distilleries have been doing everything they can to boost production.

According to whiskey expert Charles K. Cowdery, the future isn’t very predictable when it comes to our favorite spirit.

“There may actually be too much whiskey,” says Cowdery. “It’s hard to predict what you’re going to sell in five years. The big growth markets are predicted to be China and India. If those markets develop the way they’re predicted to, enough whiskey can’t be made.”

On the other hand, if things don’t go as predicted, “everyone will have made too much,” Cowdery says. “We’ll be swimming in the stuff.”

Either way, you don’t want to be caught with your pants down. I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again: failing to prepare is preparing to fail. It never hurts to have a rainy day fund of whiskey tucked away somewhere safe. You never know when it can come in handy.

[via NBC]