State Commission Restricts Access to Rare Liquors

The new policies follow a controversy over Pappy Van Winkle bourbon.

Bottles of Pappy Van Winkle bourbons, top right, at 'Far Bar' in Los Angeles, March 4, 2023.
Bottles of Pappy Van Winkle bourbons, top right, at "Far Bar" in Los Angeles, March 4, 2023.
AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes

PORTLAND, Ore. – The Board of Commissioners of the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission has approved a policy restricting agency employee access to rare and hard-to-find liquor products.

In the wake of the disclosure over former OLCC employees gaining preferred access to manufacturer allocated distilled spirits — e.g. Pappy Van Winkle — the agency is creating a series of new policies that clearly spell out how rare and hard-to-find products will be distributed.

READ: As Bourbon Booms, Thirst for Rare Brands Breeds Skullduggery 

The first policy applies to OLCC employees and specifies that employees are not allowed to set aside liquor for their own purchase. Additional policies are being developed to address how manufacturer allocated products could be provided to non-profits and charities, and how rare and hard-to-find products should be sold to consumers once they reach retailers.

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