Pa. liquor stores to ration some products because of supply issues

If you had your heart set on serving exclusively Dom Perignon at your champagne party this weekend, you might want to consider mixing in some other brands.

As of Friday, Pennsylvania’s state-run liquor stores are starting to ration sales of some products. It’s a response to what is being described as a supply shortage.

The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board alerted its license holders Thursday that two-bottle-per-day limits for some products at state stores will remain in place indefinitely.

The PLCB cited “sustained supply chain disruptions and product shortages” as the primary cause of restrictions on about 43 items.

PLCB spokesman Shawn Kelly said bars, restaurants and other customers were informed of the purchase restrictions, which he blamed on the pandemic.

“If you take a look at stories that have come out from around the country because of covid-19, supply chains have been disrupted, production had been disrupted,” Kelly said. “In some cases, there have been shortages of cans and bottles.”

The list of items to be rationed includes specific brands of bourbon, champagne, cognac, tequila and whiskey. Among them: Dom Perignon Champagne, several varieties of Moet & Chandon and Veuve Clicquot Champagne, Hennessy Cognac, Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Black Label Tennessee Whiskey and Sazerac Straight Rye Whiskey.

In a statement, the Pennsylvania Licensed Beverage and Tavern Association said supply and labor issues are not helping with recovery from the pandemic and are making it more difficult for members to run their businesses.

“We hope the Legislature will take all of this into consideration when they return to Harrisburg. The industry still needs help moving forward,” it said.

As products become more widely available, the PLCB said it will rescind the purchase limits.

Here is the full list of impacted products:

1792 Chocolate Bourbon Ball Cream Liqueur 34 Proof

Baker’s Straight Bourbon Small Batch 107 Proof

Blanton’s Single Barrel Straight Bourbon

Blood Oath Bourbon Trilogy 3 Pack Second Edition 99 Proof

Bond and Lillard Straight Bourbon 100 Proof

Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 90 Proof

Buffalo Trace Straight Bourbon 90 Proof

Colonel E.H. Taylor Jr. Straight Bourbon Small Batch Bottle in Bond 100 Proof

Dom Perignon Champagne Brut

Don Julio 1942 Tequila Anejo 80 Proof

Don Julio Tequila Blanco 80 Proof

Eagle Rare Single Barrel Straight Bourbon 10 Year Old

Elijah Craig Single Barrel Straight Bourbon 18 Year Old 90 Proof

Hennessy Cognac VS 80 Proof

Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Black Label Tennessee Whiskey 80 Proof

Moet & Chandon Ice Imperial Champagne

Moet & Chandon Ice Imperial Champagne Rose

Moet & Chandon Imperial Champagne Brut

Moet & Chandon Nectar Imperial Champagne

Moet & Chandon Nectar Imperial Champagne Rose

Patron Tequila Silver 80 Proof

Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Old Straight Bourbon Barrel 114 Proof

Sazerac Straight Rye Whiskey 90 Proof

Veuve Clicquot Champagne Rose

Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Champagne Brut

WB Saffell Straight Bourbon 107 Proof

Weller Special Reserve Straight Bourbon 90 Proof