What is a typical markup on spirits at liquor store?

The standard markup on spirits at a liquor store ranges from 35% to 45%, with the average retail markup falling somewhere in the range of 37%. This means that if the bottle costs $30 for the store to purchase wholesale from the distributor or distiller, the typical retail price will be around $40 - $45.

High End Markup

For top-shelf, premium brands, the markup ratio can be as high as 100% or more, though it normally won't go higher than 150%. This implies that the retailer could be paying just $50 for a bottle that they retail at $100.

Luxury Markup

Extremely rare or vintage spirits could have markups of 300% or even 500%, though these are more common through auction. For instance, a collector may purchase an extremely rare bottle of whisky for $1,000 from an auction and then turn around and sell it to a museum or private collector for $5,000 or even $10,000.