Limited Availability FAQs

How does Virginia ABC distribute limited availability products?
Virginia ABC collaborates with distilleries and suppliers to maximize the quantity of allocated spirits sent to Virginia for our customers. However, demand for these products often exceeds supply. To provide all customers with the greatest opportunity to purchase these highly sought-after products, limited availability products will be put on the shelf for sale on a store-by-store basis. These sales will occur at random locations, dates and times.

What prompted Virginia ABC to change how limited availability products are distributed?
The goal of these changes is to shorten the time between products arriving in Virginia ABC’s distribution center and making a sale to customers, while still providing equitable access to these products through a mix of locations, dates and times. We are constantly listening to customer feedback and adjusting our practices to benefit the majority of customers. We know that customers in all regions of the commonwealth want an equal opportunity to get these highly sought-after spirits. By selling products at random locations, dates and times, we limit possibilities for individuals or groups to abuse the system.

Will Virginia ABC continue to distribute products via lottery?
Yes. We will continue to distribute the rare and higher-demand products (e.g., Pappy Van Winkle) via online lottery. It is possible to see an unclaimed lottery product offered for sale with a store’s limited availability products. For more information, please refer to the lottery terms and conditions.

How is Virginia ABC notifying customers that limited availability products are available for purchase?
Customers can visit their local stores to search for limited availability products. Virginia ABC will no longer notify customers when limited availability products are made available for sale. However, notifications for online lotteries, barrel picks and other sales methods will continue. Customers are encouraged to sign up for the Spirited Virginia e-newsletter, "like" the Spirited Virginia Facebook page and/or follow Spirited Virginia on Instagram.  

Will Virginia ABC continue with text notifications? 
We will continue to utilize text notifications for limited availability product releases as appropriate (e.g., Weller Millennium distribution announcement text). Current subscribers will remain subscribed. Should Virginia ABC explore additional text notifications for promotional announcements, etc. notices will be made on our website and Spirited Virginia social media and email channels.

Can I find out ahead of time when and where these products will be available for purchase?
No. Stores will receive limited availability products as part of their normal shipment, but the inventory will not show on ABC’s website and store associates will be unable to sell the products until they are notified to make the products available for in-store purchase.

How do I view store inventory for limited availability products on Virginia ABC’s website?
Inventory of limited availability products will not be visible on Virginia ABC’s website. Store personnel may not give information over the phone.

Can I call the store and ask them to hold a bottle for me?
No. Store associates will sell these products to in-store customers only in the order that they arrive. Under no circumstance will they be permitted to hold product for any customer at any time.

Is there a limit to the number of bottles I can purchase?
Yes. To make these highly sought spirits available to as many customers as possible, store purchases will be restricted to one bottle per customer per day from all the limited availability products offered in any location. Virginia ABC will randomly authorize specified stores to sell the products they have available. ABC cannot guarantee that there will be enough of these products for all customers. 

Is there a limit to how long a store will have the product(s) available for purchase?
This depends on how quickly customers purchase the products. Items available for purchase in a store will continue to be on the shelf until all inventory is exhausted at that location. 

Will all stores receive limited availability products?
​Every store receives an allotment of limited availability products from our distribution center.

Do I have to be a Virginia resident to purchase limited availability products?
No.

Wouldn’t it be better to distribute these products in stores on a specified day of the week or month?
Our goal with random locations, dates and times is to discourage individuals from lining up outside stores for extended periods. Providing a pre-determined day of the week or month that customers could purchase these products in stores would encourage that behavior, which also creates an unfair advantage for customers who are able to “camp” outside of stores hours before the distribution time.

Why doesn’t Virginia ABC place these products unannounced on the shelves as soon as they are delivered to the stores?
Unfortunately, in the past, customers who knew the delivery truck days for stores would wait for the items to be placed on the shelves, then make their purchase ahead of other customers. Sometimes customers would follow the delivery trucks to each store and purchase bottles along the truck’s route. Random locations, dates and times for sales reduces this unfair behavior.

What about limiting how often someone can buy these products by scanning the customer’s ID and denying the purchase if they reach the limit?
Store associates scan a customer’s ID only to verify that they are 21 or older. Virginia ABC does not collect customer information when an ID is scanned. Customers purchase products from ABC stores without having their identity and purchase habits captured in a database.

How does Virginia ABC determine the distribution method for products?
We make decisions about the distribution method used for products on a case-by-case basis. Factors that will be considered in this decision include prior sales history of the product (if it’s a product that’s been sold previously), expected demand for the product and the volume the supplier can provide to Virginia ABC.

Updated August 6, 2024