Kentucky Owl Files Bankruptcy: What Does This Mean? - BRT 288

[@bucshot8888]

It's funny you mention the change in the whiskey market. I haven't chased an allocated bottle in over a year. There too many available bottles I enjoy that aren't allocated. Thanks for all your content!

[@Username18981]

^this

[@lrbtechie]

I absolutely LOVE all the background and history you bring into context on these episodes Randy! I really appreciate the research and work you put into these type of episodes.

[@mdiggler]

Perhaps they could have just not priced their stuff 3-4x what it should be priced?

[@bigreb62]

Agree high prices have to come down

[@markpiersimoni1773]

I took a Bardstown bourbon tour and they had Kentucky Owl aging in their rickhouse. Was told that Bardstown was providing the juice for them.

[@BourbonRealTalk]

It is an open secret that they are one of the sources.

[@kane6106]

Wait. Charging 300+ for bottom shelf whiskey that preys on bourbon newbies ignorance wasn't profitable long term?!?

[@LoneWolf-qk9pl]

Lots of overpriced niche/ wannabe s going to go bust in 2025

[@BourbonRealTalk]

🤣

[@thomaspaine8886]

THIS

[@SleepyPaul]

Absolutely trash water.

[@lyodbraun]

Kentucky owl is Way over priced bottles that’s for sure.. plenty of good stuff for way less money..

[@OGbrick420]

hopefully that means the high priced market is starting to die off.

[@joedunlap6276]

I've only tried Kentucky Owl a few times, but never bought any of them due to the price point. The juice isn't bad, it's just not worth the asking price. I love these educational videos, it appeals to the whiskey nerd in me. Great content, keep up the good work.

[@brysontaylor1223]

The bourbon world is healing. Finally

[@Jarhead0093]

KO Confiscated was the first $100+ bottle I bought. It was for our lender when we were buying our house and I paid $130 for it. Well, he was busy during our signing so I ended up keeping the bottle. Extremely disappointed with that bottle and I wish I had the money back.

[@ScottWM54]

Love the commendable motivation...& im sorry for your loss.....

[@Topher1310]

These videos are great. I am always impressed with your knowledge and the depth of information.

[@BourbonRealTalk]

I am an accountant by trade, so I get into the nerdy financial stuff.

[@noddyninetythree4771]

thanks for the TED Talk... always a good thing to learn stuff

[@John-Martino]

Thank you for the continued whiskey info. Great shows.

[@BourbonRealTalk]

Our pleasure!

[@keg9850]

Price point is the reason I don't take a chance with it.

[@michaelpawlak4785]

Kentucky owl is a brand i would never take a chance on since the price of trying was so high. If there was a more budget friendly option, I would consider seeing if getting into the brand made sense

[@jeffmockaitis6494]

I love the “business of whiskey” episodes. Keep them coming.

[@WhiskyForBeginners]

Thanks for the explanation of how Kentucky Owl's problems have come about. I see it all the time, and I'm tired of it - people who think that the only reason a price is as high as it is, is "price gouging," and have no clue what the multifarious factors are that determine what the price is.

[@stereodreamer23]

Except in the case of Kentucky Owl, it literally WAS price gouging.

[@NewNomics]

Dixon Dedman was the heart of Kentucky Owl. The early blends he did really established the brand and made it secondary hypeable. But after he departed it all went way downhill. The stuff they put out now is best suited for the 30-50 price point... If that. Heck I'd argue blending a Benchmark and Rare Breed at home would give you a more compeling expericne than KO.

[@BillMcGirr]

Great… now I need to blend a Benchmark and a Rare breed just to find out. Thanks.🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣👍🥃

[@mikefrattini1604]

Randy, very interesting information! It amazes me how successful some businesses are in spite of bad decisions made by the owners!

[@ChuckyLarms]

Maybe charging $400 for $50 whiskey is not a sustainable business model…. Market hype only lasts so long. I always avoided the Owl and Pig whiskey. Never trusted the out of nowhere prices and hype

[@BillMcGirr]

I hear you. I bought a Pig whistle once it tasted like a mixture of a bale of hay and a horse barn floor.🙄🤣🤣🤣🤣👍🥃

[@jaldis1968]

Great explanation Randy.

[@TheNewRevolution]

Kentucky Owl went from a unicorn bottle to a bottle you wouldn't touch with a 10ft. pole. I remember those first releases. EVERYONE wanted them. After word got out on those first and second releases, you couldn't find one anywhere. Everyone loved them. They were almost universally praised. Then, this and that happens, the brand changes hands, they release a couple of sub-par bottles. And the brand is dead. Now I see them everywhere, and no one is willing to pay for them. I remember scoring one of the early releases for around $100. I can't tell you how many times I was offered anywhere from $200-$400 for it. That wasn't really that long ago. Things went sideways fast for this brand. Just goes to show that it doesn't take much to ruin a brand. When you get a reputation of being all hype and no substance or customers feel like you short-changed them or had a blatant money grab, it can destroy your brand. Something tells me we haven't seen the last of Kentucky Owl. Someone will take a chance on resurrecting the brand. That happens a lot in this industry. People loved this brand, and people wanted to like this brand. It just wasn't handled properly. It could be successful under the right leadership.

[@farmersgrip]

Price point was rediculous

[@kevinkotrla8786]

Always learn something new. Lot's of uncertainty there, something else might have been cooking there. Great interim add for the aroma kit

[@BourbonRealTalk]

Thanks for being here!

[@stagecoachrobbery]

I had a pour of the Confiscated at a bar and was super thankful I tried it before buying a bottle. It was a decent bourbon, but nothing close to what a $100 should be. It would be a buy at $50. Terrible business model and Im not surprised they are going away.

[@waltersobchak2973]

Kentucky owl Wiseman is the only bottle I've ever drain poured. If i wanted to drink acetone I'd buy cheap nail polish remover

[@thomaspaine8886]

Ha! Same.

[@beccachannel1083]

It was a business based on selling bourbon at absurd prices to people who didn't know, or, maybe because they were on a expense accounts, didn't care, what they were buying and drinking.

[@NTXMarcusS]

Great analysis!

[@hunterstinson6649]

Thanks for the info!

[@jayminter9175]

Those numbers are standard bankruptcy filing boxes to check for the public disclosure portion.

[@mrfuriouser]

TBF, the first 3 batches of the 114pf rye were exceptional. They were declining in quality even before DD sold it off, though.

[@michaelhogan7866]

I bought a bottle of KO’s The Last Rye. It was pricey but is great! Not unhappy at all.

[@jeffp8073]

The "whiskey trolls" skit makes me laugh every time. Love it.

[@LoneWolf-qk9pl]

Very excellent information Dude.... p.s. ....No DeucheBags welcome here !

[@triaxe-mmb]

Before I watch, it's probably a correction...over due somewhat as is being sent in related spaces (wineries and craft breweries)

[@raysmetzer3153]

I like Kentucky owl. Lean more towards the bourbon. It’s hard to say if it’s worth the price. But I truly enjoyed Kentucky owl 9, it’s delicious.

[@gstillings5140]

I only ever owned the Confiscated but I thought it was way overrated for the cost.

[@decknightontherocksbourbon]

I wonder how much it cost to buy a bankrupt distillery

[@frankmastromauro5630]

Good video

[@tightcutz624]

I do really enjoy there earlier juice but the price was to much to always purchase .

[@nickentros]

Kentucky Owl was always a little questionable but Dixon Dedman seemed to have clout and some of the early bottles were well received. Not surprised it’s fizzled out though. Confiscated was the first nail

[@eddiec4547]

So what youre sayin is the name of the owner of Kentucky Owl is 'Shelfer'? now that really is appropriate for that product line

[@BourbonRealTalk]

Shefler, but funny

[@Bourbonlovin]

Stoli owns Bayou Rum which isn't too far from where I live. They actually bottle some Kentucky Owl there as well. I wonder wht affect will this have on that location.

[@GamerNxUSN]

Thought something was going on, all their stuff dropped to less than a hundred dollars in Oklahoma recently and then the distributor dropping them

[@jbbourbon178]

Means the company rode the coattails of Dedman and they weren’t smart enough to realize that the whiskey community is full of educated and savvy consumers. There are a lot of producers creating mediocre whiskey and hoping to capitalize on the boom.

[@MrRockingRilo]

Did you mean 12 year KO, or batch 12?

[@BourbonRealTalk]

12 year

[@YoJimBo851610]

Secondary markets have caused this!!! Kentucky Owl was much cheaper in the beginning.

[@williamsedlock3903]

Looks to me on that Kentucky owl confiscated you have the one without any flames on the rickhouse they changed it not long after they released it when they figured it didn't look as good and they added color to the Flames make it look more like fire I have the original bottles that were released when it first opened up but wasn't interested in paying them kind of prices for some sneaky bottles especially after tasting some of them

[@TheNutzandBoltz]

Now wait a second. You want me to spend how much money to buy a kit to teach me to buy how expensive whisky? All while buying an expensive cigar and not even lighting t it. lol Love the attitude, keep on keeping on.

[@Hoss23_22]

The quality of the product nosedived after Dedman left. This made the value of the juice not match the price tag. Consumers are smart and the ones with deep pockets started buying other products.

[@WadeinWhiskey]

My local store has batch 12 for $99 now

[@smokinmecrazysteakteam6608]

Go get it. It’s really good

[@BourbonRealTalk]

If it is the 12 year I would buy it. I had it and it was good.

[@jasonkappel2630]

Confiscated was/is a rip off. So was the St Patrick's release a few years ago. I don't even look at Kentucky Owl offerings on the shelves these days. I do buy 2XO.....

[@WTCrawford]

Whole heartedly disagree with a whiskey theme park being too risky. I cannot think of a single better idea than getting people drunk and putting them on a roller coaster. Think of all the merch opportunities (I.e. clean shirt and pants) after people empty their stomachs in the middle of a triple upside down helix spin.

[@Manydaysmore]

I like their Confiscated but it’s way to expensive and that makes me pass on it. If it was around 50-60 I would probably buy it more but over $100 is nuts…

[@southernfriedkiwi7726]

The prices for all of this shit are high, because stupid guys are willing to pay too much to "show off" bottles to their friends. It's really that simple. If you stop prioritizing having shiny shit, the prices will come down to what they should be and all of these overpriced/sourced whiskey companies will die by the wayside. The amount of videos that I have watched, where men say they bought a $100-300 bottle and it drank like a $40 bottle, is mind boggling. It's just alcohol. Stop overthinking it and making it more impressive and relevant than it actually is.

[@scottfleckner9658]

Agree with those who have said too much money for self bourbon

[@scottfleckner9658]

*shelf

[@dominiccampos7297]

I got 2 Bottles of Batch 12 at $100 each

[@afkafk129]

You can’t look up how to say it on google… lol

[@stereodreamer23]

The US bourbon market has been artificially supported for years by consumers who have way more dollars than sense. It’s good to see that people are starting to wake up to the grift and aren’t buying these shit-tier spirits at their ridiculously inflated prices any more.

[@Janoy_Cresva]

Think we'll be seeing a lot more of this with major consolidation in 2025

[@BourbonRealTalk]

I think you are correct.

[@robertharper2158]

❤

[@thomaspaine8886]

Whistle Pig comes to mind as well. Usually overpriced for what you get.

[@stevepietroske9204]

They could be next. I thought I just saw they parted ways with their master blender/distiller.

[@dejure9178]

Never the same after Dixon sold the brand.

[@TJMAYB8]

The Carters sold their interest in KO in 2017...not 2007

[@BourbonRealTalk]

I know, I realized I misspoke when I reviewed the video, but didn't want to re-record the episode and delay release since time was of the essence.

[@hardmember]

Dedman's old brand is deadnow

[@canoeshoe]

they dont have anything under $80-90

[@tonylopez6213]

Honestly, I don't feel bad about it. KY Owl had become a very overpriced brand for the juice they in the bottles.

[@jeromeschmidt7805]

Too many other great bottles at a fraction of the price.

[@dramandrive]

Distributor in my area blasted out the takumi edition that was previously $130 down to $70 and it is still sitting on shelves. To me that shows you have really ruined your audience, if i see it at $50 id probably take a chance.

[@TLS2005]

they charge too much for their product that's why they are bankrupt

[@loveandlight8286]

Wow

[@dannabass]

It means no one was buying their over priced basic bourbon. It was a scam.

[@loveandlight8286]

Yea its unreal way to high

[@darrendavis4731]

Maybe Russions should stick with vodka, and movie stars should stick with play acting.

[@bigchungus7254]

Kentucky Owl charging like they have Willet juice.

[@b1gsteve251]

Willet is another brand charging inflated prices for unicorns tears. But obviously, there’s still enough suckers out here buying 11-12 year whiskey with purple foil on the tops.

[@cascaderetriever7618]

They are a rip off. I see their bottles sit on shelves for months until someone is dumb enough to buy them.

[@scottbott8525]

It was over priced and under delivered

[@DrPhuse]

I'm not surprised. Their whiskey isn't very good

[@MitchellKing-df1gu]

Recently went to a tasting of their entire inventory. Mediocre at best and overpriced by at least 3x. Dozens of better bourbons on the shelf at affordable prices.

[@YoJimBo851610]

322👍

[@BigTarchetype-4u]

2:02 dude the camera is to your right

[@BourbonRealTalk]

This is what is known as a 2 camera shoot. When you see the side angle, it usually means that the producer made a hard cut and switched to the side camera to prevent the viewer from seeing a jaring shift from the front camera.

[@BigTarchetype-4u]

@ whatever you want to call it 🙄face the camera when addressing your audience.

[@joeg4589]

Americans are drinking less??? Speak for yourself

[@anonymousmc7727]

Alcohol ain’t selling like it used too…..probably because it’s poison and kills you😂

[@BourbonRealTalk]

It is poison, but for most it does not kill you.

[@steveg12121]

You talk way too much

[@BourbonRealTalk]

You are correct. I am long winded. I try, but when I am writing the episodes I think leaving anything out was going to short change the viewer. Then I watch it and think, this was too long and too slow. Sorry.

[@PatrickS0057]

​@@BourbonRealTalkYou do you, keep being Randy. If someone thinks it's too long, they can stop watching. The rest of us are good with it.

[@mcafee1971]

love it