CNN REPORTS MASSIVE SINGLE-MALT SCOTCH SHORTAGE

The world is running out of hooch. At least the good stuff.

CNN reports that quantities of single malt scotch are dwindling.

"The shortage of old and rare single malt ... has already started, and it's going to get worse," Rickesh Kishnani told CNN.

Why the shortage? For starters, single malt has always been rare by nature and when distiller ramp out production during any given year, there's no telling what the demand will will be when the bottles mature.

In the 80s, CNN reports, many distilleries were going out of business and as little as 10 years ago, scotch exports were fledgling. Add to that a massive bourbon boom and scotch lovers are in trouble.

DIG HOOCH? READ BOURBON & BLONDES

Noticing the shortage, some distilleries are ramping up production but scotch enthusiasts won't see returns on that for perhaps 10-15 years.

"We are currently working at full capacity -- seven days a week, 24 hours a day," Charlie Whitfield, a brand manager for Macallan told CNN. "We just need to be patient and allow those casks to work their magic."

That's not stopping the world, however, for clamoring for the good stuff.

A Black Bowmore whisky aged for 30 years before its 1994 release went for roughly $110 a bottle. Now? Expect to fetch $7,000 at auction, said Stephen Notman of the Whisky Corporation, a whisky investment firm.

So what's a scotch fan to do? Perhaps explore some premium blends in the Johnnie Walker line or dive into the robust land of bourbon, which is experiencing a healthy renaissance.

Subscribe to my newsletter for upcoming book news, pop culture goodies, noir delights and all things gin-soaked. Never spam - just utter coolness from time to time.

Tweet

Read More