Whiskey Collection

[Aft3rmath]

Any whiskey/bourbon collectors here?  I've got a few friends that are avid collectors and I'm just getting into it.  Here are a few of my "uncommon" bottle purchases.  Please add your favorites and recommendations!

 

[Shoresy]

I don’t have the bottle anymore sadly, but my all time favorite is the coy hill edition jack Daniel’s it’s 148 proof too lol. I got it as a gift from my work for my 10year anniversary and few other stuff but it goes for about $500 or so. Very good stuff!

 

otherwise, my go to is Gentlemen’s Jack, just cracked a bottle open a few minutes ago actually  

 

that makers mark you got there is pretty good too. I like how they dip the cap in wax and the logo is also wax too lol 

[MosesIsComingLookBusy]

Nice! I love this!
I have no collection as I drink them when I get them....
But maybe I will start to collect some!

Edited November 9 by MosesIsComingLookBusy

[madjimmie]

I'm a wuss, but if you don't want something that  will not burn your eye brows off, I'm a fan of this guy, pretty mild intro into wiskey. 

 

[ELSO]

I don't have anything special but here's what I've managed to collect over last 3 years 😄 I swear I'm not alcoholic 😄 

 

 

P.S sorry for image quality

[Raziel]

I love special batches and cask strength stuff, but it's usually outside my budget. 

 

Japanese whiskeys are great - Nikka, Hibiki, Yamanazaki etc. are all solid options. 

 

Like most people, I started out with Speysides and slowly got into Islays.

 

I don't really collect, but rather try to finish a bottle within 3-4 months and get something else. I'm on the low budget with stuff like Ben Riach, Glenmorangie, Laphroaig, Ardbeg, and Caol Ila.

 

Recently got into Bourbon as a nice summer option on ice.

 

The two bottles I have rn, nothing special really:

 

[Aft3rmath]

To be honest, I have a hard time collecting them and not finishing the bottles lol.  My dad is a bigger scotch fan than I am, but I do enjoy them as well.  I like the aberlour, glenlivet, glenfiddich and macallan varieties I've tried.  I usually try to buy myself a nice bottle and a cheap bottle to make the expensive one last longer 🤣

[knw]

Bottles I pour whenever:






 

Bottles for rare occasions:

 

Mixers and cocktail supplies:

 

[Aft3rmath]

I need to get my hands on some of those japanese whiskeys.  I see a few Blantons and an Elijah Craig in your collection @knw.  Not sure which varieties, but I've tried the Blanton Gold and I've got a bottle of Elijah Craig Straight Rye. 

[knw]

@Aft3rmath

 

Super long rant below, I'll post some up close photos of the bottles later. For whatever reason, it is much easier to buy hard to find Bourbon in Louisiana (NOLA specifically).

 

The Elijah Craig is the barrel proof, I love it.  Great drink for a lower price point.

 

The Blantons are their standard offering and the gold. Gold is only released overseas (I bought it in Paris for like 100$).

 

EH Taylor is another good one.

 

Willett Bourbon and Rye are good (not the pot still).

 

I'm always excited when I drink 4R (Four roses) single barrel picks. They usually cost about 100$ and are one of the ten 4R recipes. To me, these are the best bang for the buck. Kind of hard to reproduce though. Essentially, a liquor store will physically sample barrels at the distillery and buy the one they like (each barrel has a different age and was placed in a different location in the rickhouse which dramatically influences flavor).

 

High west is great too. Their holiday rye (Midwinters nights dram) is usually fantastic. They also have a cheaper "double rye" which is great for sipping and cocktails (assuming you like the "dill" taste). I highly recommend visiting their distillery in Park City, Utah if you ever get a chance.

 

Rums can be really great. There are a few that taste more like bourbon than what you'd expect (specifically FourSquare 2009, 2010, and 2011). There is a lot more depth with rum. Lmk if you have any more questions about it.

 

For Japanese whisky, the Hakushu 12 and Yamazaki 12 have gone up a ton in price (I think it is because the distillery expanded their production capability and they want the consumer to pay for it). These are both great pours but the other years 18 & 25 are much better and almost impossible to find in the US. I'd start with Hibiki Harmony if I were you. You can typically find it at most major liquor stores. As mentioned before Hibiki 21 and 30 are much better but impossible to find and expensive.

[LarrY]

Mmhh , I don't have a real collection...mostly because i drink them i suppose 😂

anyway this the list: of bottles you can find from time to time at home:

 

- Usual bottles , some entry levels some not; I can easily find at the local store so i just rotate these bottles

Nikka : From the barrel / Days / Coffey still

Hibiki - the Yamazaki is looking me with those sweet eyes..i might just fell for it and spend those 220$ for xmas...who knows 😛

Talisker : 10 /12 /Storm / Sky / and the Dark something

Balvenie : 12yo doble wood

Auchentoshan : Three wood

Bunnahabhain 12yo - gonna buy this saturday if available

Tomatin 12yo - gonna buy this saturday if available

Monkey Shoulder - love this one even if it's a blended (balvenie and glenfiddich) so versatile

Glenfiddich : solera reserve / 15yo

Oban : 16yo if ever again happens i find it on the shelf

- Bottles i've tried here and there like pubs-friends-tour at the distillery-events and I kinda like these

Oban distiller edition : smooth, complex, sweet yet some earthy notes, had it during Dalwhinnie distillery tour , sad they don't ship this version to Italy
Aberlour 16 and 18 and A'Bunadh : I like the 18 more and is totally on the XMas list this year
Ardberg 10 and Laphroaig 10 : (and older aged) you really need to like smoked ones
Glenmorangie Sherry The Lasanta / Port De Quinta Ruban : liked them both, despite being Sherry and Port barrel aged they're not extremely sweet expecially the Lasanta
Tomatin 14 Old Tawny Port : a bit too sweet and cherry forward but ok..very much ok

 

- Distilleries on the TODO list

Arran 10 and Sherry Casks
Bunnahabhain 12 and 18 yo
AnCnoc 18 yo
Ledaig 10-18 yo : ohh if i could get the hands on the 18yo
Craigellachie  : waiting for the local shop to have one available
Oban 10 special release : heard good stuff about this one.. i'm curious
Talisker Port Ruighe 
Port Charlotte 10 : as i start developing more the taste for the smoked ones this will be on the list

 

Beside those i'm leaning into Gins lately because of my beloved cousin...she loves gin so made me go into that rabbit hole..damn her

About Bourbon... i keep around bottles like Maker's Mark and Bulleit (bourbon and rye) just for mixing pourposes like the Monkey Shoulder

 

[PHNTM]

I really only buy Arbelour 14 yo, so no collection. Don't like the nikkas I tried, too harsh I thought, ice would help but I like to drink it neat. But thanks for the info shared here, will try some of these other ones  

[LarrY]

Update, some shopping has been done

 

[Aft3rmath]

Nice!  I'm gonna try the monkey shoulder if I come across it. 

[PHNTM]

Monkey shoulder is quite good, but that Arbelour 16 is one of my faves!