Booze bargains: when to acquire your alcohol for much less
New research reveals the cheapest weeks of the year to buy wine, beer, champagne and spirits 
Champagne can be bought at its cheapest during December thanks to oversupply in the market
Photo: ALAMY
Christmas parties may not be uppermost in shoppers’ minds right now but if bargains are a priority – and you don’t mind buying in bulk – then timing your alcohol shopping can mean big savings.
According to new research compiled by price comparison site bringabottle.co.uk, purchasing wines, beers, champagne and spirits during certain weeks of the year could save you up to 52pc compared to other points in the calendar. The research was based on an analysis of seven million alcohol prices from all of the major supermarkets and online retailers in Britain over the past two years.
A 70cl bottle of Bell’s Whisky, for example, is 26pc cheaper if bought during the fourth week of November, at a cost of £13, than at its most expensive point in the year. A 70cl bottle of Barcardi Rum is 37pc cheaper if bought during the third week of October than at any other time of the year, costing £11.
According to the analysis (full table below), of the 30 best-selling alcoholic beverages in Britain, including five popular champagne brands, several – but by no means all – are at their cheapest in the weeks leading up to December. As a result, shoppers who want to get the cheapest possible deal on alcoholic beverages should plan ahead, starting now.
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Wine
In the first week of November, a 75cl bottle of Hardys Sémillon Chardonnay is cheaper than at any other time, and 33pc less than its peak price. Bottles of Echo Falls White Zinfandel (75cl) and Gallo White Grenache Rose (75cl) are 35pc less if bought during the last week of November.
But you don’t have to wait that long. Shoppers heading to the supermarket in the last week of August could pick up a bottle of Lindemans Bin 65 Chardonnay at its cheapest price this year, at £5.
Spirits
Jack Daniels Whiskey (70cl) drops to its lowest price in the first week of April, costing £15, while Smirnoff Red Label Vodka 70cl is 19pc cheaper than at its peak price if bought during the first week of May, compared to any other time of the year. Gordon’s Gin costs £11 during the third week of October, and this, according to the research, is its cheapest price all year.
Champagne
Bottles of champagne are typically at their cheapest from mid to late December because of discounting as supermarkets rush to attract customers. Those hosting parties at the beginning of the month would miss out on the cheaper deals. New Year parties will be in good time for the best bargains.
A bottle of Lanson Black Label Champagne is at its cheapest in the third week of December. At this time of year shoppers would make a saving of £17.51. This is because buying the bottle during this week would cost £16.49, substantially cheaper than at its highest price so far this year.
A 75cl bottle of Piper Heidsieck Brut is 52pc cheaper during the fourth week of December than at its summer peak. A bottle of Moet & Chandon Brut (75cl) is 38pc cheaper if bought a week earlier, at £22.99.
Taittinger Brut Champagne was at its cheapest during the third week of April, at £20, as illustrated on the bringabottle website
So why do the prices vary week by week?
One reason, which AgenciesMoney has previously reported, is because supermarkets manipulate the prices of popular drinks frequently to create a sense of greater “discounts”. This makes watching the prices – using sites like Bringabottle or mysupermarket.co.uk – very handy.
Hugo Fairey of Bringabottle said: “Seasonal consumption means lower prices and more of the supermarkets battling it out for loyalty, with the end result being ever decreasing prices,”
Back in 2007, Alan Cheesman, who ran the Sainsbury’s wine department for more than 20 years, told Victoria Moore, the Telegraph’s wine correspondent, that many of the wine deals on offer are created artificially. “They aren’t what you’d call genuine promotions at all. But unfortunately, there are an awful lot of special-offer junkies out there and it’s slowly strangling the wine industry.”
The best time to buy your booze
Source: bringabottle.co.uk
When to buy Britain’s bestselling champagne
Source: bringabottle.co.uk
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