Busy holiday buying season, supply chain battles take bite out of bourbon aisle

BOURBON BUST: The bourbon aisle at the New Hampshire Liquor and Wine Outlet Rochester store over the weekend. (Rochester Voice photo)

ROCHESTER - A New Hampshire Liquor and Wine Outlets spokesman said on Monday that a perfect storm of heavy Holiday buying amid Omicron-driven supply chain issues has caused shortages that are just now beginning to show up in its 67 statewide stores.

"Supply chain issues are very real and will impact every liquor and wine retailer throughout the country," New Hampshire Liquor Commission spokesman EJ Powers said. "This was especially true during the busy holiday season."

Powers said the products most affected included premium and ultra premium bourbon, single malt and age-statement scotch, specialty tequila and select champagnes.

Powers said when the supply chain issues end is unclear, but that New Hampshire is in a better position than most other states, thanks to their "ordering practices, inventory requirements and capacity in our million-plus case warehouse."

Driving much of the dilemma are strict five-day quarantines that keep workers at home even as White House COVID adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci says "everyone" is going to get the Omicron variant due to its high level of contagion.