Flaviar Review 2025: Is This Whiskey Subscription Worth It?Flaviar Review 2025: Is This Whiskey Subscription Worth It?
My Go-To Whisky Glass: TsukiGlass Storm Crystal
The pictures in this article feature the TsukiGlass Storm Crystal Whisky Glass. It is my go-to and favorite glass in my collection.
With its balanced weight, solid build quality, and eye-catching functional design, it's perfect for enjoying fine whiskies.
Check it out on TsukiGlass.comOverview of Flaviar
Founded in 2012, Flaviar is an online spirits club aimed at helping members discover new liquors. The company is known for its tasting boxes, which allow customers to sample a variety of spirits, including Scotch, Bourbon, Rye, Whisky, Rum, Gin, Tequila, Mezcal, Cognac, Brandy, Vodka, and more.
Flaviar offers an exclusive membership model, where members receive several benefits including free shipping, member pricing, and access to rare and original spirits. "Access" and "rare" are two keywords that I will cover later in this review. The company also curates special events and tastings, giving members a deeper dive into the world of spirits.
Demystifying the 'Rare' Whisky Myth
Let's address a common criticism right off the bat: Flaviar's marketing of 'rare' whiskies. You might have seen ads touting bottles of Wild Turkey or Angels Envy as rare finds, which is misleading to say the least. Especially when these bottles are readily available at places like Fine Wine and Good Spirits in Pennsylvania.
This marketing tactic has certainly led to some skepticism, especially among those who know about whisky. A better marketing strategy could focus on speed, price, and convenience—something like "Get your favorites fast, for a good price and with free shipping for members."
The Whisky Rarity Scale
Flaviar's sweet spot is around the 75% mark on our imaginary rarity scale. This includes sought-after but not impossible-to-find bottles like Buffalo Trace (allocated in PA) and Angels Envy. However, for truly rare bottles in their Vault, expect significant price markups.
Vault Pricing Warning
- Eagle Rare 10 Year: $96 (vs. retail ~$35)
- Blanton's Single Barrel: $187 (vs. retail ~$65)
- W.L. Weller 12 Year: $315 (vs. retail ~$40)
Pricing Analysis & Value Proposition
I am in Pennsylvania, a regulated state. There are positives and negatives to this. First, pricing is regulated, so when you find a bottle of Blanton's, it's actually at a reasonable set price instead of 3-4x what privately run liquor stores might charge. The downside: allocations are few and far between, and hard-to-find bottles sell out in minutes.
Everyday & Premium Whisky Price Comparison
| Whisky Brand | Flaviar Price | In-Store Price | $ Savings | % Savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Angels Envy | $43.99 | $54.09 | $10.10 | 18.67% |
| Basil Hayden's Bourbon | $46.99 | $46.99 | $0.00 | 0.00% |
| Basil Hayden's Toast | $47.99 | $57.19 | $9.20 | 16.10% |
| Barrel Vantage | $81.99 | $89.99 | $8.00 | 8.89% |
| Blackened | $43.99 | $49.99 | $6.00 | 12.00% |
| Buffalo Trace | $30.99 | $30.00 | -$0.99 | -3.30% |
The Real Value of Flaviar
Flaviar excels with everyday-to-excellent bottles, functioning best as a reliable source for your "daily drivers" with free shipping and consistent availability. The vault, with its premium pricing, doesn't live up to the hype. Flaviar markets itself as a gateway to exclusive spirits, but it's better described as a "good spirits at a fair price" service.
Membership Options & Value
One-Year Membership
$315 (Best Value)
- 4 full-sized bottles
- 4 tasting boxes (3 samples each)
- Jefferson's Ocean bottle (current promo)
- Free shipping on orders over $60
- Access to Vault and Limited Releases
Quarterly Membership
$109
- 1 full-sized bottle
- 1 tasting box (3 samples)
- Free shipping on orders over $60
- Limited access to Vault
Monthly Membership
$45
- Access to member pricing
- Free shipping on orders over $60
- No included bottles or samples
- Best for trying the service
Customer Service Experience
What would a comprehensive Flaviar review be without diving into customer service? After months of research, I finally subscribed to Flaviar's 1-year whisky membership and had a few opportunities to interact with their support team.
Initial Issue: Damaged Label
My enthusiasm for unboxing hit a snag when I noticed two noticeable gashes on one bottle label. I documented the issue with photos and reached out to Flaviar's customer support.
Resolution & Followup
Flaviar eventually shipped a replacement bottle, though there were some shipping errors. Customer service was proactive and even offered a $10 credit for the inconvenience. All subsequent orders arrived in perfect condition.
Overall assessment: Flaviar's customer service is responsive and effective, with occasional minor issues that are resolved appropriately.
Areas for Improvement
Price Markups on Rare Bottles
The price markup on rare bottles like Eagle Rare may cause some eyebrows to rise. For example, Eagle Rare 10 Year is listed at $96, which is significantly above retail.
Limited Whiskey Tasting Selections
Flaviar promotes itself as a platform to discover new whiskies, which holds true to an extent. However, the limited number of tasting combinations—only 19 at the time of writing—leaves room for improvement.
Misleading Marketing About Rarity
Their marketing often touts everyday bottles as 'rare', which causes skepticism among knowledgeable whiskey enthusiasts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Flaviar Worth It in 2025?
Yes, particularly if you opt for the one-year membership. The value proposition from the included bottles and tasting boxes essentially pays for itself. With free shipping and consistently available inventory of everyday to premium whiskeys, Flaviar delivers solid value for casual to enthusiastic whiskey drinkers.
What's the 'Rare' Whiskey Myth?
Flaviar sometimes markets everyday bottles like Wild Turkey or Angels Envy as 'rare finds', which is misleading. Their sweet spot is actually around the 75% mark on the rarity scale - more sought-after brands that are allocated but not impossibly scarce. For truly rare bottles in their Vault, expect significant markups.
How's the Customer Service?
Overall, Flaviar's customer service is responsive and helpful. While there may be occasional packaging issues, they generally resolve problems quickly. Most orders arrive in perfect condition, and when there are issues, they're typically addressed with appropriate compensation.
What Are Flaviar's Areas for Improvement?
Flaviar's pricing on rare bottles can be excessive, their tasting box selection is limited (only 19 options currently), and their marketing around 'rare' whiskeys is misleading. Given the growing U.S. whiskey market (13.7% growth 2022-2023), they have an opportunity to expand their offerings and provide more value to customers.
Final Verdict: Is Flaviar Worth It?
Would I renew my 1-year Flaviar membership? The answer is a resounding Yes, absolutely. From a pure cost perspective, Flaviar pays for itself. Add to that the availability of my favorite whisky at good to fair prices, plus free fast shipping, and the value becomes unmistakable.
Pros
- ✓Great value for everyday and premium bottles
- ✓Free shipping and consistent availability
- ✓Excellent customer service
- ✓Quarterly tasting boxes expand your palate
- ✓Member events and exclusive opportunities
Cons
- ✗Overpriced rare bottles in the Vault
- ✗Limited tasting box selections
- ✗Misleading marketing about "rare" whiskies
- ✗Occasional shipping/packaging issues
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