A case of whiskey usually contains 6 bottles (about 700 ml each). This is the standard packaging method that is commonly used in the whiskey industry. However, there are special versions that use 3 or 12 bottles in a case. In other words, although there are rumors that “a case of 12 whiskey bottles“, the mainstream in the whiskey field is a case of 6 bottles. The following content will answer this question in detail and introduce the details that merchants and consumers should know when purchasing a whole case of whiskey.
What is a case of whiskey?
From the perspective of the wine industry, a case of whiskey is to store multiple bottles of the same packaging of whiskey in a carton or wooden case for uniform sales. Generally speaking, a case of whiskey is equivalent to a bulk unit. For example, a case of 6 bottles of 700ml whiskey has a total capacity of 4.2 liters. This concept is very common when dealers purchase goods and retailers prepare goods, which is equivalent to the smallest unit purchased in bulk. Overall, a case of whiskey is convenient for transportation, storage and management, similar to the carton or case (case) defined in other liquor industries. In most cases, a case will be the same or the same series of whiskeys, making it easier to plan and count inventory.
Why is it usually said that a case of 12 bottles?
In fact, for whiskey, the standard of 12 bottles per case is not common. The wine industry sometimes uses “12” as a traditional unit (such as wine or beer is often packed in one dozen), which may lead consumers to think that “one case = 12 bottles”. But the reality is that for the formal bottle of whiskey (700ml/750ml), most brands and merchants still use 6 bottles as standard configuration. What’s more, the 12-bottle wooden case in large bottles is very heavy and difficult to carry and store, which is one of the reasons why merchants are gradually inclined to 6-bottle packs. As industry insiders said, the wooden case of 12 bottles is too heavy and is not convenient for storage and consumer, so the 6 bottles are more popular. To sum up, “12 bottles per case” is more of a customary statement from other alcoholic beverages, while the mainstream packaging of whiskey is generally 6 bottles per case.
Can I buy mixed whiskey?
Usually a case of whiskey means the same style and the same bottle, but it does not mean that it cannot be mixed. Some brands or retailers allow consumers to customize hybrid casees. For example, Scottish Highlands Distillery Pràban na Linne (The Gaelic Whiskies) has launched a “mixed case” where customers can freely choose 6 bottles of different whiskeys from their range to combine. The purpose of this practice is to give consumers more choices and to taste a variety of different flavors. Overall, if you want to buy mixed packages, you generally need to find channels to provide such services, such as special online stores or direct sales points for wineries. However, it should be noted that this type of mixed packaging is usually within the retail scope, and wholesalers generally require a case pack of uniform specifications.
What are the different specifications?
The packaging specifications of whiskey can be classified from the bottle capacity and the number of bottles in the case.
- Bottle capacity: The standard bottle capacity of most whiskeys is 750ml (commonly used in the United States) or 700ml (commonly used in Europe). These two capacity bottles are common in the global market. In addition to standard bottles, there are smaller capacity and special specifications: such as the common half-bottle (about 350ml/375ml), medium-bottle (500ml), and smaller mini gift bottles (30ml, 50ml). For example, some brands will offer 500ml packages (common in Eastern Europe and Russia), or 100ml/200ml travel packages to attract different consumption scenarios. In addition, there are also super large capacity, such as 1500ml large bottles of whiskey. This large bottle usually only contains two bottles in one case, because the volume is too large, and 2 bottles have reached the capacity of the standard case (about 3 liters).
- Number of bottles in the case: As mentioned earlier, 6 bottles per case is the industry standard. Other common specifications include 12 bottles per case (equivalent to 1 large case, occasionally used in some merchants and gift casees), and 3 bottles per case for limited quantities or gift casees. Large bottles (1.5L) are usually 2 bottles per case. In rare cases, some wine chambers launch large sets or gift casees with “12 bottles mixed” (for example, some foreign wine chambers bring together small bottles of different brands), but this practice is not common. In short, the specifications of a case of whiskey depend on the specific product, but the standard configuration is 6 bottles per case, mainly 700ml/750ml. Here are some comparisons of typical specifications:
- Standard capacity: 700ml × 6 bottles = 4.2L (common European standard packaging)
- Standard capacity: 750ml × 6 bottles = 4.5L (common American standard packaging)
- Large bottle: 1500ml × 2 bottles = 3.0L (Two bottles in one case for super large bottles)
- Other capacity: 500ml, 350ml/375ml, etc. (quantity is adjusted according to capacity)
- Mixed pack: 6 bottles of self-selected (some merchants can customize the mixing case)
What is the difference between wholesale and retail?
The biggest difference between wholesale and retail channels is the purchase volume and price. Wholesale usually means purchasing in large quantities in the form of a whole case, and the dealer or supplier will give relatively more preferential unit prices. Retail channels are often purchased in single bottles or small quantities, and retailers will sell at a higher price based on wholesale prices. Generally speaking, the price increase ratio of retailers is significantly higher than the wholesale price. For example, it was reported that the retail price of 12-year whiskey in Yamazaki Japan once reached $380, while the purchase price of dealers would be much lower than this. In other words, buying the same product through retail is much more expensive than buying it wholesale. In addition, wholesalers usually need to meet certain qualifications, and the purchase volume must meet the order quantity specified by the manufacturer, while retail consumers can freely purchase a smaller quantity. From an operational perspective, wholesalers will supply goods in batches to hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, etc. after purchasing goods, and then these retail terminals will be sold to the final consumers at a higher price. The pricing difference (wholesale to retail, retail to consumer) in this process jointly determines the terminal purchase price. In short, if you need to buy whiskey in large quantities, the price and shipping costs of wholesale channels will be more cost-effective, while retail is convenient to buy and get as you like.
What is the shipping method and weight?
Due to its weight and regulatory attributes, there are some precautions when transporting. First, in terms of weight, a bottle of 750ml of whiskey weighs about 1.4 kg. Therefore, the net weight of a case of 6 bottles (750ml) is about 8.4 kg, and it is about 9-10 kg after adding the packaging case. If calculated based on 12 bottles, the total weight is close to 17–18 kg. The whole case is about 3 liters in large bottles (1.5L×2 bottles) and the weight is about 3 kilograms. Also note that the packaging materials will also increase the weight slightly. In terms of transportation mode, road freight or sea containers are usually used for bulk procurement because the transportation cost is proportional to weight and volume. Whiskey is an alcoholic commodity, and international transportation also needs to comply with alcohol transportation regulations (such as customs declaration, tax payment, alcohol ingredient declaration, etc.). For retail e-commerce, small amounts of shipments can generally be delivered by express delivery, but some express delivery companies require the recipient to have an adult identity certificate and have strict restrictions on alcohol express delivery (some regions can only choose specific channels). In general, logistics costs will be calculated based on weight (mentioned above, about 10kg per case) and the distance of the destination. Understanding shipping weights and policies will help merchants better plan purchases and pricing.
On which occasions are suitable for buying a whole case?
Buying a whole case of whiskey is suitable for a variety of scenarios that require a lot of consumption or distribution, including:
*Gate and Party: When large-scale family gatherings, friends parties or company events, you often choose to buy a whole case to ensure adequate drinks and cost-effectiveness. One case can meet the drinking needs of multiple people and is also convenient for unified storage and distribution.
- Catering and commercial use: Bars, restaurants, KTVs, hotels and other commercial places require a large amount of inventory. In order to reduce procurement costs and transportation frequency, full casees will be purchased frequently. Generally speaking, merchants holding wholesale licenses can enjoy lower wholesale prices, and supply chain procurement is often used in casees.
- Collection and personal storage: For alcohol lovers or collectors, a case of 6 bottles is convenient for storage and management. Collectors can leave the bottles in the open for aging or drinking, while the remaining bottles remain sealed. In addition, some special or limited edition casees have higher collection value (such as limited 3 bottles, single barrels, etc.).
- Gifts: It is rare to use a whole case as a gift (usually prefer a single bottle or a small set), but when giving gifts in business or sharing with relatives and friends, some people directly give it in the form of a whole case (especially products with not too high prices), which makes it more “substitute” and saves the hassle of multiple purchases.
In short, it is appropriate to buy a whole case as long as you foresee the large consumption of whiskey or need to share it with multiple people. It not only saves costs, but also facilitates centralized storage and post-management.
Can I buy it directly from the winery?
Some wineries allow tourists to purchase commemorative or regular products when visiting the factory, but they usually follow the retail process. Taking the American Buffalo Trace winery as an example, the official clearly stated that Buffalo Trace, its own Eagle Rare, E.H. Taylor Jr., Blanton’s and other products can be purchased in the winery’s gift shop. However, it should be noted that these winery gift shops also operate as retail stores, and they also need to buy goods through distributor channels, not directly from their own inventory without intermediaries. In short, some internationally renowned wineries provide direct purchase services in the factory, but the purchase method is similar to that in retail stores and is not necessarily cheaper than ordinary channels. In the domestic market, due to the relationship between import and distribution systems, it is more difficult for consumers to buy directly from distillery, and most of them still need to obtain the required whiskey through domestic distributors, online platforms or overseas purchasing agents.
Written at the end
In general, the number and price of a case of whiskey is not fixed. By standard, most whiskeys are packed in 6 bottles per case (700ml or 750ml per bottle). If you see a merchant saying “12 bottles per case”, it is likely to refer to the habits of other alcoholic beverages, or it is aimed at a promotional set (such as combining two casees of 6 bottles into one case). When buying a whole case, you should pay attention to the specifications (whether the standard bottle is standard, whether it is mixed) and weight (for example, 6 bottles × 750ml about 9 kg), while considering the price advantage. Buying a whole case is most suitable for scenarios that require a lot of drinking, such as parties, catering industry stocking, and consumers who need to collect.
Wholesale channels can bring lower single bottle costs, but require a larger order volume; retail channels are flexible and convenient but have higher unit prices. If you are a dealer or bar owner, bulk purchases can not only reduce costs, but also facilitate replenishment and management; if you are an ordinary consumer, you can calculate the storage space and drinking speed at home before buying the whole case at one time to ensure that there is no waste.
In short, whether you are a merchant or a buyer, understanding the actual number of bottles, specifications and price range of a case of whiskey can help you make more rational decisions about purchasing or purchasing. When you need to buy in large quantities, wholesale whole casees are obviously more cost-effective; if you buy in small quantities on a daily basis, you can choose a single bottle or a small set. I hope these introductions will give you a clearer understanding of the concept and application scenarios of “one case of whiskey”.
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