Many of you already acknowledged your obsession. So, How many bottles of whisky do you have? You can tell us how many are opened and unopened if you want to.
There’s no wrong answers here, and we promise not to tell anybody (especially your spouses). So don’t be a chicken!
If I get 100 150 confessions, I’ll tell you how many I have. It’s all inventoried. (Yes, I upped the ante to 150. I underestimated you!)
A thought: maybe the one with the most whiskies can donate a bottle to the one with the fewest whiskies?
Sure not to tell anyone? My girlfriend and future spouse will hit me if she knows…
So the count:
Unopened: 22
Opened: 2
Total: 24
G Llaguno, one nice thing about commenting on blogs is that you can use a screen name. No one has to know who you are. You’re safe!
My confession is i have 300 bottles of assorted collectable whiskies from Irish, Bourbon, American,Blended and Single malt Scotch. My single malts are concentrated in old Ardbeg’s, Laphroaig’s, Macallan’s and Springbank’s.i also have a drinking collection that is a rotation of about a dozen different whiskies that consists of what i feel like drinking.
Seventeen. Three unopened.
That would be 61 bottles in my collection, about half of them are open.
Steven
42, 5 open
(fully expecting soon to feel rather moderate)
Ah, there you go, right when I posted!
I currently have 36 bottles in my ever-growing collection.
31 Single Malts
2 Scotch Blends
3 American Whiskeys
My wallet tends to consume more than my palate does. There’s always something cool out there that I NEED.
At last count, about 85 full-size bottles and several dozen minis/sample size bottles. Almost all opened…
I am not a collector, but I will answer anyway. We have 5 single malt Scotch, all open.
1 Scotch blend, open.
5 bourbons, all open.
Not entirely sure – they’re all boxed up from moving house and not unpacked. Perhaps 20-30 bottles. There’s a variety of samples and minis too.
One thing is for sure, I have less than I did this time last year as I have chosen to open a few bottlings instead of buying more.
At this time I have 36 open, and 27 in reserve–all islays.
I find shipping my scotch to work and never telling my other half exactly what I spend is the key to a successful relationship.
52 in total, with 7 unopened. (All full-sized, 5 duplicates, 95% Scotch malt.)
9. Strangely all from one place. Wonder why that is?
+ 2 spares (bottles only available in duty free of one included in the 9).
Of the 9 only 2 are unopened (the Bruichladdich Valinches) as I’m saving them for a still to be decided special occasion.
Approx
70 unopened bottles
26 opened
25-30 samples, minituatures and 20cl bottles
Macdeffe
I’m not at home, but if memory serves I have about 15 bottles of whisk(e)y at home. I noted last night that I’m running low on Scotch and seem to have at some point finished off my Irish supply without noticing. Plus I’m running low on Russel’s 6YO Rye.
Luckily I have 137 bottles of rum to keep me going in the meantime…
I have 33 un-opened and 4 opened.
I’m usually content to own one bottle at a time.
However, I have about 12 now, all open but one (a 30 yr old I got for my 30th birthday, which I’ll closed for a few years yet.)
I’m a drinker, not a collector.
5 bottles all open. Me being fairly new and young appreciator of whiskies. Would have many more if my wallet would allow it. Typicallly won’t spend more the $50 on a bottle.
2 single malts
1 blend
2 irish
About 120 single malts bottles, 30 opened
another dozen bourbons, and another dozen blends all opened. Trying to find independent bottlings that are similar to compare to official bottlings got delightfully out of hand. Oh, and every few hundred spent I had to take the girlfriend out to dinner to keep her happy.
Oh and im a drinker and collector. I collect the empty bottles.
I have 8 uncorked malts, and 2 opened. Emtpy bottles: 13
But is have started to buy single malts, only a year ago.
And i have about 30 empty blended and irish bottles, only onde from a kind. But we have drank more i suppose..:)
And two malts are on their way to me.
I believe I have eight full-sized bottles of bourbon and rye, all but one of which is open. I also have a six-bottle single-malt sampler. they are minis. Much more affordable to collect American whiskey. That said, the liquor cabinet as a whole is probably 50 bottles, including gin, vodka, rum and various liqueurs.
I told my wife that once I got to 6 open bottles remaining, I’d only buy a new bottle when one gets finished.
I got to six, and I bought 3 more. So I’m currently sitting at 9 bottles open.
Brian, I once made a New Year’s resolution that I wasn’t going to buy any whisky for the entire year (because I bought so many bottles the prior year). I even stuck it up on my fridge.
It didn’t last very long…
I have about 600 bottles, 85% are Bourbon and American Whiskies plus 30 Scotches. All are sealed.
Also have about 85 bottles of Tequila and Rhum.
Running out of space for the new 2010 releases.
85 in total, 20 opened. All Single Malt from Scotland and Japan.
I got to fill one of New Year’s Resolutions as I spent my gift card over the weekend..trying another IB..Cask Strength Highland Park from Gordon and Macphail 1994/2006 refill sherry cask. Only the second IB I have had.
2 Single Malts: Ardbeg 10 & Glenrothes 1985
5 Bourbons: Pappy’s 15, Four Roses Single Barrel, Buffalo Trace, Woodford Reserve, Knob Creek Small Batch 9yrs.
All opened. I’m relatively new to the whisky game. Definitely more of a single malt fan now. I don’t really have any interest in getting bourbon at the moment.
I’m not sure of my exact count.. but have been wanting to find out.
I’d like to have a software database that I can keep track of what I have and my tasting notes on it.
DOES ANYONE KNOW of any freeware software to do this? I can probably build one pretty fast in Access or Excel, but if one already existed I’d be very happy. I have not been able to find one. I tried the personal library at Balvenie’s sight, but it doesn’t have a high percentage of bottles I have in it’s database.
Thanks!
I know I have over 100 bottles of Scotch Whisky in greater than mini-size bottles.
I don’t have a count on my minis or Bourbon & Canadian yet. Trying to start with my arms around my scotch. Probably 75% are open.
I got about 80 bottles of single malt, ca. 40 of them is opened.
I also got something around 30 sample bottles ranging in sizes between 30cl and 3cl.
Around 200 now of which about 40 are open. And lots of samples… probably around 200 as well, maybe more.
I’m planning to sell some bottles though, they’re taking up too much space.
91 Closed
13 Open
I have one bottle Crown Royal, unopen, which was given to me in 1990. Special Anniversary Bottle!
30 confessions in one hour? I underestimated you! I upped the ante to 150. Then I’ll tell all.
7 American
3 Scotch single malt
1 Irish
all opened
81 total
54 opened
27 unopened
Plus assorted minis and samples, mostly open.
81 open
130.5 in reserve stock (+/- 2 or 3)
About half of the open stock are older bottles that really should be finished off. I drink almost only peated malts in the winter, and none in warmer weather, so I ‘need’ to have double open bottles.
The mix is 90% scotch and 10% bourbon/rye, but that is because I finish off the latter rather than let bottles pile up. Actual consumption is closer to 2-1.
The .5 bottle is 2×200 ml bottles.
Slante.
Louis
Around 50 750 ML bottles 3 blends, 2 american whisky and the rest SM, only 3 opened right now. (I have spent the last few months finishing off some opened favorites, it has been rough)
65 bottles
5 opened
I now have 17/18 bottles (after post-christmas shopping trip
) all open, unfortunately only two at home (had to leave the others at university over christmas). Mostly Single Malt Scottish Whisky, but 1 single grain and 1 vatted malt as well. Next purchase lined up is the Bowmore Tempest if they have it in Royal Mile Whiskies when I am in Edinburgh this weekend.
I am hoping to get some more American/possibly Japanese whisky this year, but the choice is rather limited this side of the Atlantic
Either way, I plan to level off at 20 bottles then only buy when I finish one (like that’s going to happen!)
John…we had a deal!!
I’ll count them up when I get home. I’m guessing about 30 sealed and 30+ opened.
John, your changing the rules after the game began. Who do you think you are, the government?
Somewhere between 70 and 80.
My policy is buy 2, drink 1 and keep 1 in reserve, so about 20 unopened.
I have my bottles in http://www.whiskybase.com
I know, Sam. Sorry. (Apologies to you too, Paul. And to everyone else.) I had to bump it up because, at this rate, we’ll hit 100 before I go to the bathroom
. I have complete confidence in everyone that we’ll hit 150.
I only started 1 year ago with the whisky passion.
13 single malt scottish
1 single malt irish
4 blends scottish
1 vatted scottish
1 belgian duvel distilled … don’t know if this is really a whisky ! Didn’t open it yet …
all open !
112 bottles total
49 opened
8 Signed bottles
The break down of types are:
64 Bourbons
16 Ryes
10 Scotches
7 Amercian
6 Whiskey liqueurs
4 Irish
2 Japanese
1 Canadian
1 Welsh
Keith did a count about 2 months ago…I think it was over 200 bottles and the collection was started May 2008. That’s about 10 bottles/month. I’ve bought more bottles since his count. I’m trying to slow down on the buying, but Marlon at Park Avenue and Pat from Bayway are enablers. I have collectoritus. It’s incurable!
Everyone should post pictures of their collections!
Kevin, great detail! What are the 7 Americans?
Ellie, at that rate, you’re going to need a bigger house. Soon!
I’ll work on that picture posting idea. That sounds like an idea for a future post.
42 total, 40 open.
37 American
5 Scotch
I’ve been visiting the site since October 09 and you’ve convinced me to drink more and better whisky in 2010.
So, right now I’ve got a whoppin’ two bottles. One is opened and the other I’ll put away for a bit.
The 7 American Whiskies are:
Charbay Series I
Gentlemen Jack
Jack Daniel’s
Michter’s Small Batch
Stranahan’s
Stranahan’s Cab Franc Finished
Stranahan’s Port Finished
I also have a few of the BTEC bottlings that I suppose aren’t true bourbons… so they might fall into that category.
Oh, I forgot to specify that all of my collection are single malts, from the most commercial in Mexico (glenlivet, fiddich, morangie) to those not so commercial (Balblair vintage, Cragganmore, etc).
Pheeeew! thank goodness I use a screen name so my girl doesn’t tell me anything
Oh, and if I may say so, this posting is definitely NOT a buzz kill at all.
2, both opened
Evan williams black label, and Evan williams honey reserve(If that even counts?).
No Picture, but details – some are multiple bottles.
Ardbeg 10
Ardbeg 25
Ardbeg Supernova Committee
Ardbeg Supernova Gen
Bowmore 12 y/o
Bowmore 17 y/o
Bowmore 1989 16 y/o
Brora 21
Bruichladdich 20 y/o 2nd
Bruichladdich 35
Bruichladdich Blacker Still
Bruichladdich Celtic Nation
Bruichladdich Golden Still
Bruichladdich Infiniti
Bruichladdich Octomore
Bruichladdich PC-5
Bruichladdich Redder Still
Bruichladdich Valanch
Bunnehaiben 25
Bunnehaiben 35
Convelmore
Glen Mohr
Glenfarclas 17 y/o
Glenfarclas 1968
Glenfarclas 1974
Glenfidich 10
Glengoyne 29
Glenmorangie 15
Glenmorangie Astar
Highland Park 12
Highland Park 18
Highland Park 21
Highland Park 25
Highland Park 33
Highland Park 34
Highland Park Bicenteniary
Imperial 28
Lagavulen 21
Laphroig 30
Longrow 18
Macallan 15 Sherry OB
Macallan 18 Madera
Macallan 18
Macallan 25
Macallan 30
Oban 18
Springbank 21
Strathisla 44
Talisker 10 y/o
Talisker 18 y/o
Talisker 25 y/o
Talisker DE
A.H. Reserve 16
Jefferson’s Presidential Reserve
Pappy Van Winkle 15
Pappy Van Winkle 20
Eagle Rare 17
George T Stagg
Sazarac 18
Four Roses Single Barrel
Glad to see so many people with most all of their bottles open. I’m incapable of keeping a bottle closed for more than a few days after purchasing it. I just have to know what’s inside!
Dear Paul M,
If you ever need a drinking buddy, let me know
Right now I’ve got 25 bottles (one unopened) and 3 on the way. At my height, I had about 35 – I had to cut it down a bit… the wife was getting suspicious
John Hansell says:
January 11, 2010 at 4:28 pm
“Oh, and if I may say so, this posting is definitely NOT a buzz kill at all.”
John, did I just see a shot fired across the bow?
^_^
Am I the only one that owns Old Whiskey River Bourbon..the one made by Heaven Hill, created for Willie Nelson?
8 opened; 18 unopened.
Brian, no shot across the bow. It’s just me saying that I listen to constructive criticism and try to do my best to improve.
Texas, I had one of those bottles (guitar pick and all…). Drank it with a bunch of buddies one weekend.
8 bottles, all open: 3 bourbon, 3 Scotch, 1 Irish, and 1 Canadian.
My new year’s resolution was to clear out those pesky non-whisky bottles taking up precious space in my pantry. I’ll be doubly glad when I’m through – no more dusty bottles of gin, and more room for whisky!
I should say that all are single malts. One open and one unopened are Japanese.
900+ bottles.Should hit 1000 at years end.
My goal is 1500, and yes I drink my whisky.
N.Y.,Florida,Texas and Maine have large
collections.California probably has the
largest personal collections.
jazz lover – Where are you located? 900+ bottles in the U.S. is quite impressive.
..well shoulda known I could not get one past you John.
before this weekend, I had 10 open but now I have 14 open and probably in mid 50′s closed. most are single malt scotch. The only cases I bought were 3 of george T stagg, one of bowmore 17, and one aberlour a’bunadh.
Now, if we included how many were finished…
LSD: I’ll make note of that for a future posting.
“A thought: maybe the one with the most whiskies can donate a bottle to the one with the fewest whiskies?”
John, I think you’re going to be a bottle lighter by the end of this. Can I change my previous post? I meant that I don’t have any bottles at the moment
butephoto, I might be one bottle lighter–and would be proud to be. But there are some heavy-hitters out there. Let’s see if they confess to their obsession.
583 total, 21 open, since two years I try to have only 10 bottles open, but “Mission impossible”….
6, all open.
14 unopened
8 opened
some samples
and about 200 miniatures and counting
39 750 ml bottles of whisky ranging from young to very old, cask strength to not, whatever…
40+ assorted 50 ml weird different single malts (octomore, john barr excellence, balvenie portwood 21, onld g&m stuff, etc.)…
Man I need to pick up my game!
9 Single malt whisky bottles open (750ml)
1 Bourbon bottle open (1 pint)
4 Blended whisky bottles closed (200ml)
Something like 16-20 open bottles, 200 samples, 100 miniatures and more than 1 full sized bottle (3 Iris, 2 American, a few blends, some Japanese and others: Scotch single malts). How about you John?
103 – 15 open. Binnys and the ability to find incredible bargains in run-down liquor stores – where the “old dusties” are just waiting to be scooped up. Its primarily single malt, half distillery bottling and half from the independents, 10 bottles of various Compass Box bottlings, some ryes and bourbons, an odd bottle of a Canadian (Bush Pilot??), and the three most recent BTEC.
This started as a working i.e. for ready consumption that grew into a bit of collecting. Found Glendronach 1968 on a store shelf at sub-$160 price point – bought the case – last remaining bottles. I wonder how posters went from a few bottles to have and enjoy to a collection/collecting.
Patrick, I’m going to spill my guts when we get to confession #150.
20 unopened
3 open
200 empty
All Scotch.
Eric.
John, are we getting details or just a number?
~25 single malt scotch at any given time
5 compass box blends
2 rye
6 bourbon
and a couple less interesting blends for mixing
6 Single Malt Scotches, 5 open
2 Bourbons, 1 open
Hello john! Good question! About 100 bottles including single malt, bourbon, japanese whisky, and rye. Coincidently i have 4 bottles open all japanese from my latest whisky tasting. C’mon people we are halfway there let’s see what John has
Approx. 80 single malts unopened, and 6 or 7 opened. Also a few high-end tequilas such as the Herradura Seleccion Suprema, etc.
Paul M.: If we get to 150, I will provide some details. That’s a promise.
I’ll count tonight, but i believe I have about 35 with all opened aside from 7 that I’m saving for special occasions.
It’s actually sad to see that I think I spend so much money on whisky and only have ~35 bottles.
I guess the next thing we should ask, too is where everyone is located and how often I can come over to have a dram
Just two (Don’t laugh… I’m a grad student!)
I have bottles of George T. Stagg 2009 and Bruichladdich Rocks. Both are opened, and both are the products of Christmas money. My 30th birthday is at the end of the month, so maybe I’ll have a third by then. At least, I think the Bruichladdich will hold out that long. It’s my go to bottle when friends come over. (The Stag demands friends who won’t tear up after a sip; I guess it’s not for everyone.)
Well, here’s my confession.
70 total. 32 unopened, 38 opened.
Now for my sub-obsession. Most of the unopened (22) are Michter’s decanters, jugs, and bottles squirreled away over 20 years or so. I try to keep a minimum of 20 unopened, just to be ready for the Armageddon. I’ve easily drunk that many in those last couple of decades, too. They are getting harder to find by the hour, though.
A lot of the opened ones represent historical American whiskeys, bottled more than 25 years ago, and some as much as 100 years ago. I continue to downsize them as need be into smaller glass flasks to keep them as fresh as I can, and have only ever totally finished one of the really old timers, A Sam Thompson rye distilled at Michter’s back in the late 70s. Delish!
The rest, about 12, are for everyday or semi-special occasion drinking. I will now move on to the post about why we obsess. Gotta have confession there, too, I guess.
Great thread, John. Maybe the best yet, and a lot of fun (and soul-baring)!
(Lightweight)
18 total
4 unopened
3 opened
3 coming from binnys later in the week.
my deal with myself is to never have more than 10 total…
59 single malt Scotch whiskies from 38 distilleries – open
3 blended Scotch whiskies – 1 open
4 bourbons – open
2 Canadians – open
2 single malt Irish whiskies – closed
a 1776 Seagram’s American blend in a Tiffany decanter – closed
Something like 45, maybe half of which are opened. I definitely don’t need all those (either opened or not), but writing those 40 whiskies under $40 posts certainly keeps my bar filled with opened bottles of cheap scotch.
13, with two more on the way from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society…Mostly single malts, couple blends, two Tennessee whiskies, two ryes, and two bourbons. I try to keep at least 10 in my bar at all times, much to my wife’s eternal chagrin!
Just 1 bottle of Benromach 10yr at the moment, though normally I have 3-5. Don’t have the room to keep a large collection at this point, though I’m sure if anyone wanted to send a bottle this way I could make some space…
I’ve had some good turnover recently as I acquired a number of new bottles for Christmas and made a concerted effort to kill off old bottles that were running low, but I’d say I have about 20 bottles
9 unopened
10 opened
1 miniature
The opened bottles are:
Laphroaig 18
Laphroaig 15
Laphroaig Quartercask
Ardbeg 10
Tullibardine 1993
Glenkinchie 12
Talisker 10
Macallan 18
Tuthilltown Single Malt (private barrel)
McCarthy’s Oregon Peated Single Malt
Unopened:
Port Ellen 7th Release
1967 Longmorn Glenlivet (Scott’s Selection)
Laphraoig Cairdeas 12
Ardbeg Airigh Nam Beist
Laphroaig 15
Glen Elgin 12
Kilkerran Work in Progress
Tuthilltown Single Malt (Private Barrel)
Finlaggen Old Reserve
Miniature
Glenfarclas 12
Additionally, I also finished a bunch of bottles since Christmas that were running low including:
Mortlach 17 (Malt Trust)
Springbank 10
Black Bottle (NAS)
Lagavulin 12 (2009 Islay Gift Pack 200 cL)
Lagavulin 16 (2009 Islay Gift Pack 200 cL)
Glenlivet 12
I am a collector of Bourbon and American Whiskey. I have been collecting over the last 5 years and have almost 100 unique bottles. The total collection is larger than 100 due to some extras that will become more expensive to purchase as the supply dwindles. All but a small handful are opened and to be enjoyed.
At this point, I buy the yearly releases and special bottlings when available in NY, Binny’s, or eBay.
What some call an obsession other (like myself) call a passion!!!
Since I am originally from Alabama, I love the Foxworthy saying “You might be a redneck if you think AAA is for super alcoholics!”
Ray
I have a rather unimpressive collection of about 8 bottles right now, 5 Scotch and 3 Bourbon.. all opened. My thoughts are, if you are not going to open them, why buy them? I don’t want my good whiskey to be sitting on a shelf not being appreciated.
[...] Continuing an amazing run at curating some incredibly interesting conversations about whisky, John Hansell asks – what’s on your whisky shelf? [...]
14 open (1 Irish, 1 bourbon, 2 Canadian, 1 Scotch blend, the rest single malt Scotch)
22 closed (1 Japanese, 1 Canadian, 1 Scotch blend, the rest sms)
This tells me I need to start buying more bourbon and finally try a straight rye!
I’ve got 8 bottles with one unopened. With 4 small kids, money “usually” goes elsewhere.
38 bottles, 5 unopened.
currently, mostly bourbon (scotch – single malt and blended was finished off early last year): 42 unopened, 3 opened (and running low so that 42 number will be going down).
scotch: just 6 unopened but the number of scotch bottles will be going up this year (and most will be opened). focusing on bourbon (and port) messed with my palate.
9 open, 5 unopened.
I have around 285 bottles. Half are opened. 200 plus or minus are from Islay.
Looks like the race to 150 is slowing. So in the interests of getting John to own up:
85 70cl or 75cl bottles of single malt. Maybe five are unopened.
Laphroaig (9 bottles) and Ardbeg (6) are the most well represented distilleries.
Jason @WHISKYhost
Scott, there are no unimpressive collections! We are joined by our passion, and a two-bottle collection is no more impressive than a 500 bottle collection to their respective owner.
I’m particularly impressed by the honesty and candor in this thread on everyone’s part, and we’ve GOT to get John to own up, so let’s keep it rolling!
John,I promise this is my last post here! Not trying to fluff it up too much.
27 bottles, 9 open (2 blends, 5 single malts, 3 bourbons).
I’ve got eleven bottles open: two bourbon, one rye, and eight Scotches. All open!
Oh, and I have a few miniatures, but those don’t really count.
Rolling 30+ and the wife only knows about the 6-8 that are imbibed at any one time…
Sometimes it pays to not have everything in common with your wife(supervisor)!!!
Im primarily a bourbon geek due to my very close proximity to the KY border, but I do plan to open my palate to a few malts in the near future, so my collection is due to take on a new direction…
Josh
Full (750ml/700ml)
Unopened: 84 Scotch, 15 American/Canadian
Open: 47 Scotch, 3 Bourbon
Plus a bunch of sealed 50ml, 100ml, and 200ml bottles I’ve accumulated and samples from trades that I haven’t gotten to tasting yet.
10-12 open at any given time (all single malts). Half dozen unopened at any given time. Half of those plan to not open for very long time.
shoot, wait. i bought three more tonight.
I remember when I thought something over $30 was expensive…
36 bottles
26 opened
12 Bourbons
10 American
7 Irish
4 Scotch
3 Canadians
And to think, until I read this comment string, I thought I was over-doing it.
11 Opened
9 Unopened
Some of this is from my experimentation with re-aging in small oak barrels.
Hmmm, a lot of Dave G’s posting here.
A little over 1,000…about 70% Bourbon,20% Scotch,10% Rye.
Never have more than 10 to 12 bottles open at any time.
This is the snowball effect of collecting and then purchasing your own barrels.
this blog makes me feel good – the next time my wife calls me a nut or tells me i have a problem, i can tell her that relatively speaking, i’m a light weight. LOL
Appx 12 opened and 20 unopened. It’s hard not to open too many at a time. Sooo many to try and so little time.
To keep costs down I drink the less $$$ on weeknights and the higher $$$ on weekends…..trouble is the weekends seem to get longer and come around more often!
At this point I have 113 bottles. around 21 open. Most of them are Islay. Ardbeg (15 bottles), Bowmore (17 bottles), Lagavullin (14 bottles) and Port Ellen (13 bottles) and then some HP (9 bottles) and Karuizawa single casks (13 bottles). The rest is a bit mixed, some balvenie, yamazaki, macallan and the likes.
6 Opened + 97 Unopened Single Malts.
Actually there are
86 bottles unopened
42 bottles opened (0,7 l or 0,5 valinches from Bruichladdich)
216 samples (5cl, 10 cl, 20 cl)
How many bottles do I have now… unopened 58 bottles (55 single malt, 3 American (there used to be more)), and around 200 or so minis and samples, open bottles – I have 9 single malt whiskies, So 67 bottles and 200+ minis/samples.
“Too much of anything is bad, but too much of good whiskey is barely enough.”
(Mark Twain)
Well i have around 30…
one on the way from LFW (bowmore Tempest). couple of samples on the way…
only one unopened : Laphraoig Cairdeas 12 (2009 feis ile)
almost all scotch (3 irish, 1 Bourbon)
i am running out of room. need to build a new bar (i also got like 50 other spirits which are not whisky)
yossi, u should keep some at work, so the wife dont bother you
52 unopened
10 opened
I want to whittle my open bottles to 5 at a time or less.
Hi,
21 total, 12 opened.
6 opened single malts, 2 unopened single malts, 4 unopened single malt minis
1 open scotch blend, 2 sealed blends
2 open american whiskies
I have promised myself to have open up to 6 single malts and still able to keep this promise. but it’s hard…
2 Opened Bourbon
2 Single Malt Scotch, 1 open, 1 not
But after seeing this thread, I think I’m going to hit up the liquor store soon….
My current inventory is:
Open – 25
Closed – 25
Hard to say exactly, but almost 300 in an unopened collection and around 40 open.
99% are Scottish single malts, the rest are world-wide.
I am surprised that a number of people have a dozen or so bottles open at a time, which I suspect means certain bottles stay open for a while. Do any of you notice a change due to oxidation?
I had a bottle of Van Winkle 12yr that lasted a good seven weeks or so and I thought it was noticeably less complex towards the end.
18 opened
7 closed
More than 60 unopened and at least 10 open
I have 50+ Bottles at present, about half of these are duplications so that I can open one and keep one for the “archive”.
Here’s the list:
Irish Pure Pot Still Blends:
Single Cask Midleton Blend 2008 (46%) NCF
Writers Tears
Irish Pure Pot Still:
Single Cask Midleton PPS 2009 (46%) NCF
Dungourney 1964 30YO PPS
Redbreast 15 YO PPS (46%) NCF
Green Spot PPS
Irish Single Grain:
Greenore 6 YO
Irish Single Malt:
Bushmills 25 YO Malt
Bushmills 21 YO Malt
Bushmills Bourbon Single Cask CASK STRENGTH Malt
Bushmills Rum Single Cask CASK STRENGTH Malt
Bushmills Sherry Single Cask CASK STRENGTH Malt
Locks 9 YO “Grand Crew” Single Cask Cask Strength Cask 696
Connemara 17YO Sherry Finished Single Cask (46%) NCF
Connemara 13YO Sherry Finished Single Cask (46%) NCF
The Tyrconnell 15 YO Single Cask Malt (46%) NCF
The Tyrconnell 10 YO Madeira Single Malt (46%) NCF
Scottish Single Malt:
Springbank 11YO Madeira
Springbank 18YO
Glen Garoich 21 YO
Bunnahabhain 18 YO
Highland Park 25 YO
Signatory Bowmore 25 YO
Bowmore Tempest 10 YO CS
Bowmore 25 YO
Duncan Taylor Bunnahabhain 1970 38YO
Caol Ila 25 YO
Laphroaig 18YO
Laphroaig 10YO CS
Signatory Laphroaig 17YO
Signatory Port Ellen 26YO
Auchentoshen 21 YO
Bladnoch 10 YO Flora and Fauna
SMWS Longmorn 23 YO CS
Mortlach 16 YO Flora and Fauna
Glendronach 18 YO (46%) NCF
Bourbon:
Blanton’s Single Barrel Bourbon
Jefferson’s Reserve
Jefferson’s Presidential Selection 17 YO
Feel free to ask questions re bottlings/editions/etc (but not my sanity!)
I am out of town right now and will be able to contribute my numbers next weekend. Just to keep the ball rolling…
Closed: 247
Irish: 212
Scotch SM: 30
Open: 79
Irish: 29
Scotch: 42
US: 4
Japanese: 3
Canadian: 1
SO I reckon that’s about 25% of my stash open
and this is after virtually getting rid of 40% of my Irish in the last 18months
Since I’ve stopped collecting and stopped buying en-mass I’m finding it easier to open an expensive whiskey. I can now say that the bottle that is currently retailing at €500Euro was a bargain at €180Euro.
I am not exactly sure, but I’d say around 150, with about 30 to 40 open. A mix of Scotch and Irish with a few Americans too, although we don’t have a great range over here.
John
Probably north of 100. I haven’t counted in a while.
There are about 30 bottles on display in my cabinet, mostly rare collectibles or just nice bottles to show off.
Then currently a dozen open, and the rest are in storage.
There are three or four American whiskies in there, and at least one Japanese, not to mention around a dozen fave Scotches, but everything else is Irish.
I’ve been trying to finish off some of my open bottles because there were too many, and have succeeded with four or five bottles over the holiday period.
I’ve a few bottles remaining with a few cl left, and I’m determined that nothing else is being opened until those orphan drams are finished off before they oxidise.
According to my wife, too many. I’m a lightweight compared to some of these other guys. I’ve only got around 30 (it’s hard to count because we are in the process of moving). They are all opened. I’ve also got a small box of samples and minis.
48 Bottle single malt. 39 closed. 9 opened.
19 Bottles Bourbon. 10 closed. 6 opend.
2 Bottles Rye. Both opened.
All delicious.
255 but most are opened – may 10 to 15 are not – I am not a collector, I am a drinker
35 at the momemt I believe. All of them are opened. It’s all to be drank. I am not collector.
I think it’s great to see the diversity of whiskies–both in quantity and variety. I also appreciate that those of you with only a handful of bottles stepped up to the plate here.
I want all of you to know that it doesn’t matter if you have just two bottles of whisky and are new to whisky, or if you have 300 bottles of whisky and have been drinking for 20 years. You’re all welcome here!
When you think about it, it’s not about having the most whiskies (or even a lot of whiskies). What matters most that, when you want a whisky, you have one handy that will make you content. For some people, that might be your trusty old bottle of Glenlivet 12 year old. For others, it’s much more of a mood thing (and maybe you’re a very moody person so you need a variety of whiskies to chose from).
I have a funny feeling that we’re going to hit 150 confessions sometime soon, so I better start thinking about MY confession.
I’m fairly new to the game, as it were, so I don’t have very many. Currently have 3 single malts and 1 blended whisky – all Scotch whiskies, aside from my bottle of Penderyn, which is Welsh.
Currently 199 bottles, but some are multiples of my favorites like Ardbeg 10yo(13), Laphroaig 15yo(11), Glenmorangie 15yo(8), Pappy Van Winkle 15yo(16), George T Stagg(7).
The breakdown:
64 Single Malts
22 Bourbon’s
7 Irish
Only 15-20 open at one time. The duplicates are secured in a gun safe.
Now if we’re talking different expressions tried it would be:
176 Single Malts
9 Scotch Blends
52 Bourbons, including 3 Ryes
16 Irish
To me that is a more pertinent number, saying more about our stage in the journey.
I know you had asked how many bottles, but I also own 1/10th of a cask of Glengoyne which won’t be bottled for another nine years.
I would like to confess for the other nine people in my group that, in addition to the cask, have another 15-20 bottles. We tend to go through them quickly.
Thanks John – I actually had some Glenlivet 12 last night. It’s perfect for those nights when I’m too tired to enjoy something more complex.
After seeing all these great collections, I only wish some were in South Florida.
If there was only a way to find local scotch enthusiasts in any respective area.
It would be an excellent way to meet like minded people and learn a few things along the way.
Brian, did you scroll down through my “Where are you?” post on 12/20/09? The link is here.
I have a modest collection of around 10 bottles at any time, my cabinet is listed here: http://connosr.com/members/jean-luc/
140 Single malt Scotch, 41 open.
My collection/obsession has gotten a bit out of hand lately. (Although from some of these posts, perhaps not) I am up to 80 bottles, about 30 of those open. My biggest pickups recently are Laga 21, Laddie 1970 Vintage, Port Ellen 8th, and Laphroaig 30…. but I find myself struggling opening them because I know it will be tough to find more if I really like them
Paul M–wait can you do that? Can you just list your collection? Well how about it. Here’s mine:
CLOSED
ardbeg airigh nam beist 1990
black bottle 10
bladnoch 13 gordon and machphail
brora 30 ob
brora 22 c/s lombard
compass box eleuthera x2
glen garioch 8 ob x2
glenfarclas 17 ob
glenfarclas 42 lonach
laphroaig 15 ob
laphroaig 30 ob x2
laphroaig 14 c/s old malt cask
longmorn 15 ob
longmorn 14 murray mcdavid
longmorn 16 c/s, blackadder
rosebank 15 gordon & macphail
OPEN
talisker 175th anniversary ed.
auchentoshen 10 ob
bladnoch 15 c/s james mcdougal
black bottle 10
bowmore dusk ob
brora 26 c/s duncan taylor
bruichladdich 21 3rd ed.
clan magreggor blended (c. late 70′s/ early 80′s)
cragganmore distiller’s ed. ob
compass box peat monster reserve magnum
four roses mariage ’08
glenfarclas 1965 ob
glen garioch 8 ob
highland park c/s (old man of hoy) blackadder
inverhouse blended
lagavulin 21 classic of islay
laphroaig 15 ob
laphroaig 30 ob
longmorn 15 c/s old masters
macallan 17 fine oak ob
passport blended (c. late 70′s/ early 80′s)
rosebank 15 gordon & macphail
springbank 11 c/s madeira ob
324 unopened (appx. 90% Islay Single Malts)
& 41 opened
& more than 300 Samples
Actually, going over it on a piece of paper, I’ve about 200 – and I haven’t quite got to the stuff at the back of the presses…
70+ Scotch
120+ Irish
5 Japanese
5 American
I probably have the most diverse bunch of single malts that I have ever had at any one time..and I like it. Each are good for a different mood:
Dalmore 12
Talisker 10
Springbank 10 (my wife likes this one as well)
Glen Ord 1998 Signatory
Gordon and Macphail CS Highland Park 1994/2006
Not at home at the moment but did a count fairly recently and I’d say I have around 45 bottles with a 50/50 mix of scotch and bourbon.at least three quarters of my scotch are Islay–predominantly Ardbeg, Laphroig and Port Ellen and the same percentage of bourbons are BTAC or a “standard” Trace release. I’d guess that about half of entire collection is open.
@79.
John, we reached the threshold. Spit out
I just counted them last night.
87 In the Bunker
4 open
The Bunker is comprised mostly of multiples of Bourbon and Rye that I find appealing. It’s mostly: All types Weller, BTAC, Van Winkles with a few Turkeys and Red Breasts thrown in.
Open is:
GTS, Nadurra, Hudson Rye, 4RSB OESQ
Hmmm, Richard Paterson, Mark Gillespie, and the like: where are your posts on this thread???
Just over 100 full-size bourbons and Tennessee whiskeys (25 open) and another 120 minis; 8 ryes (4 open); 2 SMSW (both open).
The guy with the Michter’s decanters should transfer them to glass if he plans on drinking ‘em.
And to the “redneck”: when I saw AAA, the first thing I thought of was Ancient Ancient Age!
Around 50, 6 of which are currently open.
Being a minimalist, I usually buy one and drink it and then replace it. I know that sounds rather dull compared to some of the collections above, but it makes sense to me, unless Armageddon comes and I cant buy any, so a good collection would be a prudent option. I really only drink islay.
Open: 1
Unopened: 0
I have about 80 open bottles currently, which is a bit high for me, but not so high for some!
Moslty Scottish single malts although I have about 6 blends and even a few American & Canadian on the shelf
Closed bottles is another story altogether……
Okay John… time to fess up.
Wow! You should have made it 200, John, but we’ll be there before nightfall anyway!
Jimmy @ 130:
My bottles average being open less than a year. I noticed oxidation in one Edradour 10 yo OB (don’t know if it was a bad cork or …). As John suggests, I started using Private Preserve and don’t notice a problem anymore.
We’re stalling, here, John. Toes on the floor … tap, tap, tap.
John, we are waiting…..
Currently I have about 3000 bottles of Single Malt and more then 275 open bottles.
Here’s my count.
185 closed
32 open
Ok John, time to fess up. I’m guessing you have about 1300 unopened and someone near 200 opened, plus the multitude of samples that are waiting for your attention.
50 open
231 closed
= 281
Tim P – are they all Ardbeg?
80 bottles
70 open
10 closed
KSBW, I have had no problem with long-term decanter storage as long as the corks are solid. I seal each one in a plastic bag in its original box, and keep them all in picnic coolers in my basement.
Any with suspect corks get opened immediately upon purchase and either drunk or transferred. Out of probably thirty I’ve opened, the quality will vary depending on how they were stored by the previous owner, but I only ever had to dump two.
I constantly have around 20 to 25 bottles. Single malt, American, blends and rest of world in fluctuating proportions. All are opened. I never stock up and I don’t ihink I will ever start to collect closed bottles.
26 closed bottles
24 open bottles
numerous samples and minis
David S. – I have known Tim P to drink American whiskey, so no.
Tim, it is good to see you post. I have wondered how many bottles you had stocked away.
Brian47126
#3 ShlomoB…are you from New York..I once met someone called Shlomo at Peter Silvers place after Whisky Fest..think it would have been 2003
Cheers,
Livvy
@John:
Still busy typing your inventory list?
“An appreciation of prose is learned, not instinctive.
“It is an acquired taste, like Scotch whisky.”
Abigail Padgett
We’re ahead of that cantankerous, record-setting thread, John. Was that your real goal?
Sorry guys. Malt Advocate magazine stuff getting in the way. I’ll fess up shortly. Stay tuned…
48 unopened; Scotch, Rye, Bourbon; working on more
2 opened
24 – Sealed
6 – Open
30 – Total
Now the fun part, sharing a few highlights of what I have
Macallan 1841 Replica (3)
Macallan 1861 replica (4)
Balvenie 21yo Portwood (5)
Balvenie 17yo Madeira (4)
Glenmoraqngie 12yo Madeira (no longer made)
Oban Distiller’s Edition (1)
Talisker Distiller’s Edition (1)
George T. Stagg (1)
Elmer T. Lee 90th Birthday Edition (1)
And now for bottles that I may never open:
Booker’s Commerative Bottle #2060 of 3000
Glenfiddich 21 Cuban Rum Finish (stored at a buddy’s house in another country because it’s illegal here in the USA, ha ha ha)
Just checked my Excel file. 29 opened. 228 total bottles
Opps! I just checked my Scotch whisky. If I include other countries I have 304 total bottles.
30 Single malts (8 open are open)
Including:
Port Ellen
Rosebank (multiple bottles)
Convalmore
Caperdonich
Craig Duff (peated Glen Keith)
Linkwood
Glen Ablyn
North Port (multiple bottles)
Glen Mhor
Milburn
My favorite that is opened – A legends of Scotland Tamdhu (14yr)
If it is single malts: 112, all opened
Rhum agricole: 84, all open
Total collection: 323 at last count, all open
Yes, I am single with no wife to complain!
Paul G. I don’t think it’s illegal to own – just to purchase or sell, so you should be ok keeping it at your place!
Jim…if I was your wife I would definetly not complain
Roughly around 100 bottles – 15 open at this point in time. Almost exclusively single malts.
Apart from that a few bottles of Brandy de Jerez and quality rums.
34 Single Malt Scotch
3 Single Malt Whiskey (USA, NZ, Wales)
2 Rye Whiskey
3 vatted malts (or is it blended malt now?!)
All are open!
10 are limited releases
12 different wood finishes
12 are cask strenght
Only one have I purchased before. There are so many I have not tried, I can hardly justify buying one I’ve had before.
I have about 20 bottles – primarily Islay.
First, let me say that I put up this post just about 24 hours ago and to get close to 200 comments in that time period is fantastic. Thanks to everyone who posted up what they have.
I am going to do a seperate blog post on my collection this afternoon. Stay tuned.
Fatman @185, you sure go after those rare ones from the dead distilleries. But, where’s your Brora.
Jim N @186, I love rhum agricole too. Great stuff!
Two-bit @179: yes, we actually beat the comments from the infamous “Managers’ Choice” posting, which topped out at 175.
Lavinia @ 177: yes, that’s the same Shlomo.
Luc @168: Thank you for posting. I didn’t want to be the one with the most whiskies. You have me beat by a mile!
Sam @ 165: We won’t even make it to nightfall to hit 200. Maybe in the next few minutes.
coleman@ 162: nothing wrong with being a minimalist.
LSD@159: Yes, there are lot of heavy hitters out there who aren’t ‘fessing up. Todd, you’re on of them…
All 70 bottles are open, except a Macallan.. yrs old, 2 new Redbreasts 15yo and an Ardbeg ANB. Oh yes, sorry, a couple of Glenmorangie Signets!
Oh, and for all of you who have, say, 20 or 30 bottles and your spouse is giving you a hard time, you can just show them this thread.
Anyone got a wife who complains they don’t have ENOUGH whiskey?
If so, wanna swap?
Only kidding.
My other half doesn’t mind what I spend my disposable income on. She’s more irked at my spending so many nights out sampling drams with pals or the Irish Whiskey Society!
Total: 335
Closed: 298
Open: 38
Empty: 3
Ssshh! My wife is coming! bbl!
Okay, a small request: try to resist the temptation to post up your entire whisky list. Categories are fine. Thanks!
Looks like I have around 35 opened single malts, plus around 150 tequilas, mezcals, Armagnacs, brandies, rums, grappas, etc.
95 bottles, mostly open: http://www.closerafield.blogspot.com to see pics of my newly installed whiskey cave!
I have 367 bottles of single malt, with lots in the 30+ age range, 136 bottles of American whiskey and 30ish bottles from other places including Ireland and Canada. I have many old bottles from the 20s through the 50s, and several special bottlings including Black Bowmore and Laphroaig 1960 and 40YO (same spirits, different label). Rule of the house is that every bottle is there for the opening, even the rare ones. The Laphroaig 1960 is phenomenal. Best bottle is an old crow quart bottled in 1941, but the Edradour 30YO is a miracle in itself. There’s but a sip left, but it is otherworldly.
I forgot to mention my 10 or so bottles of eau de vie, grappa or brandy.
Matt…lovin the cave…I’m thinking that with that ‘laddie bottle you don’t need lights
Decided to do a count from memory, being out of town right now.
61 closed, 12 open. All Scotch single malts. All cask-strength, non-chillfiltered except one (Glen Grant 1958).
165 at the moment. Some 20 doubles, in total some 40 unopened, so many open bottles…
1 Irish
3 American
1 Swedish
3 French
About 20 Japanese
The rest is Scotch.
I almost never finish a bottle, for some reason. I am kind of an explorer, I guess.
Also, for some reason I always consider an empty bottle of a good whisky as something sad. I contradicts my notion of expanding my collection… But my collection is worth nothing if everything is opened… Choices
Oo, forgot some Indians by Amrut. One from Wales…
Amrut sure makes good stuff.
I have 51 bottles, all bourbons except 3 ryes and 4 single malts. I have 17 bottles open
I have 28 unopened 750 ml bottles along with about 40 opened – nearly all single malt scotch with a bourbon or two, some blended scotch (love Black Bottle) and no Irish.
Don’t know exactly how many bottle I have.
+- 120 bottles.
12 are open(too many already as I want to keep it at 6/7)
It’s not a lot but it’s only a little bit more than one year I am buying whisky.
And the open bottles definitively change with oxydation(for the better I find).
Wow, I’ve read the entire thread and have seen some impressive stuff!! I upped mine last night by one, Eagle Rare 10 yr. =)
Lets see . . .
23 Single Malts (all opened)
5 Blends (all open)
1 Japanese (open)
2 Irish (all open)
2 Bourbon (all open)
As you can see I am all about opening – if I want to look at a bottle I can go to the store, if I want to drink it and enjoy, I buy it (and yes that includes some rare ones)
Crap… I have to add 12 more bottles since yesterday. Local store got me two cases of Ardbeg 10 for 30 bucks each. I was too weak to say no.
264, mostly single malt. I have at least one closed 750 or 700 ml bottle from 114 different Scottish distilleries. The only ones I lack are extremely rare and VERY expensive. Unfortunately the bottle of Ladyburn I have is empty. I bought it in 1990 for $13 and drank it.
[...] promised in my post yesterday that, if I got 150 people to confess how many whiskies they have, I would do the same. In actuality, [...]
I’m very poor at keeping track, but I believe I have 400+ closed and after a big effort over the last few months I am down to about 15 open. That’s about to change though
We have about 250 bottles 90% of which are Islay special bottles.Which you have to go to Islay to buy.Which we do at least once a year from SanFrancisco AND IT IS WORTH IT!!! a magnificent Island.about 5% of other Island & Campbeltown almost like an island whisky ey & a few speysides,Irish & am now though I hate to admit it getting into some of the Japanese whisky’s they will never beat a great Ardbeg, Bruichladdich,Bunnahabhain.But they are GOOD!! Andrew
16. 15 Bourbons, 1 Scotch. 11 open.
I currently have 67 bottles of whisky (mostly bourbons) in my collection. About half have been opened.
Last count about 170 single malts, approx 40 blends, 50-60 American whiskies and about 30 rhums worth drinking. Also about 45-50 premium tequilas. Oh, wait. You meant in my personal collection, not what’s in my store. Sorry! 6 bottles of original 17 yr Ardbeg from the distillery, a Douglas Laing 22 yo Port Ellen, Signatory 1967 Ardbeg butt #1142, and about 20 other everday drinkers. Never really thought about it till now. All I know is it’s never enough…
Now my freind Bill Meyers on the other hand…
The list contains 250 different entries, including malts from Scotland, Japan, Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand,Ireland, USA
Tequila, Brandy and Bourbons
@David S. – About half of them (lots of doubles) are Ardbeg.
@Brian Bradley – Haha…I’ll give you my bottle spreadsheet on Thursday. Bottle code on the new TENs?
I was pretty close with my original guess.
I’m feeling like a piker here.
I’ve got 62 bottles of Single Malts (heavy on Islay stuff). Probably half or more have been opened. Included on the shelf are a few bottles of blends.
There’s also a dozen and a half bourbons (Pappy Van Winkle is pretty swell) and some misc. rums too.
Slainte
Hats off to Coleman @152. seriously. I respect that very much.
Oops. @162.
John, another technology recommendation: edit button!
Yep my turn.
Open 22
Closed 98
Empty 22
Only 17 Ardbegs
I am not sure how I feel about it (I think it is too many) but I have 54 bottles in the collection. (Not counting ‘mixer whiskies’). I also have a pile of 13 bottles that are for sale or gifting and 250 liters of spirit in a cask in Scotland.
29 are open.
6 are American.
6 were Distilled at Ben Nevis.
6 are duplicates (multiple of the same expression currently in the collection.
16 are single cask, IB, or other limited release.
Riaan, I wish 17 were Ardbegs.
Wow! After reading this blog I feel redeemed! Actually, I feel like an amateur. Despite my wife’s protests, I now realize that I am not even in the same league as most serious whisky afficianados.
My inventory consists of 2 Bourbons, 3 Ryes, 4 Irish, 1 Japanese Single Malt, 1 American single malt, 1 Blended Scotch, and 5 Single Malt Scotch whiskies.
All are open, which leads me to ask if John or any readers think that open whiskies change significantly in taste. Should I open only a few at a time, or is it OK to leave them all open to sip as the whim strikes? Thanks for your input.
Wayne, I have never let a bottle remain unfinished for more than 8 months (don’t keep that many on hand), but on all my SMS I have ever had got better after being open for a month or so.
I have a modest but, I believe, very respectable collection.
Opened:
Highland Park 12 OB
Glenmorangie Original OB
Laphroaig 10 CS OB
Lagavulin 16 OB
Glenlivet Nadurra 16 CS OB
Mortlach 15 G&M 40%
M’Orkney 11 (Highland Park) 40% Master of Malt for Movember bottle 144 of 984 “The Walrus”
SMWS 93.36 17 (Glen Scotia) 57.5%
Ardbeg Corryvreckan NAS 57.1% OB
Edradour 10 1997 46% Signatory UCF Collection
SMWS 10.69 11 (Bunnahabhain) 55.5%
Redbreast 12 Irish OB
Blanton’s Single Barrel Bourbon 46.5
Buffalo Trace Bourbon OB
Stroh (Austrian Rum – some off you know what this rocket fuel is…)
Unopened:
Rosebank 15 G&M Conn. Choice 1991 40%
Dallas Dhu 27 Signatory 1975 45.9%
Wilson’s New Zealand Whisky 74(prob proof)(a gift to my parents at their wedding)
SMWS 1.139 14 (Glenfarclas) 55.4%
SMWS 43.15 26 (Port Ellen) 56.1%
Springbank 12 Hart Brothers for Park Ave Liq 46%
Ardbeg Supernova Advance Committee Release 58.9%
Compass Box Canto Cask 46 vatted/blended malt 53.2%
Glenmorangie Signet OB
M’Orkney 11 (Highland Park) 40% Master of Malt for Movember bottle 143 of 984 “The Handlebar”
Caol Ila 25 OB Bottle 4149 58.4%
Lochside 12 G&M Conn. Choice 1991 43%
Coilltean 1998-2007 Caol Ila 45%
So, in total, 15 unop + 13 op = 28
26 – mostly bourbon (GT Stagg, WLW, PVW, etc.), a couple Irish, Rye – My self made promise is that I can only have 2 open at a time – so I currently have a Eagle Rare 17/2008 and a Tom Handy open – trying to get through them to get to the 2009 WLW…
I have trouble storing what I have – where do those that have so many bottles store them and what are they in?
Late piling on here, but I’ve been away for a week. At the moment there are 17 open bottles of whisky, and 99 closed. Most are SMS. 8 or 10 American whiskeys, and a handful of oddballs: Forty Creek, Glen Breton, Penderyn, Eddu, Armorik, Amrut. In addition, there is a handful of calvadoses…calvades…whatever…a couple other apple brandies from various sources, an armagnac, a grappa, and a few other brandies and eaux-de-vie. I’ve scaled back my buying, too, both in terms of numbers and the price per bottle I’m willing to pay. I have a very few bottles I paid more than $200 for, and right now I just don’t believe any whisky is worth that much to me. To put it another way, I can get whisky I’m crazy about for far less, so why pay more? I try hard not to get hyped up on this or that “must-have”. No such thing. I also think now is the time for me to get into that back stock and start cutting it down. So yeah, Coleman @162 is my hero, too, the ascetic (comparatively) of this lot. Send him a bottle, John–something nice.
Opened: 84
Unopened: 18
Keith Barnes @200: yes, that 1960 Laphroaig is wonderful stuff (what’s left in my bottle, that is).
brian @211: wow, that’s a great price for Ardbeg 10
Roadrunner @212: I had that Ladyburn 12 yr old too. I think I paid $18 for mine. I sold it to a collector overseas for a lot more. I got lucky with that one.
Nice to see this many confessions, but I know some heavy hitters out there lurking who have still not fessed up. Bill M., John N., Peter S., Serge…?
Neil @230: Awesome ratio! Good work.
Approx 150 unopened and 7 open. Recently (one week ago) moved to Singapore for work so my collecting will be seriously slowed as it is quite expensive to purchase here due to heavy taxes on spirits. All of my bottles reside in Texas and I miss each and every one of them…
250 open
800 unopened
400 different samples
mostly single malt but a full shelving unit of bourbon & rye too (all in the last year)
and we just got home from Whisky Wednesday w/4 more unopened bottles of single malt…
it’s a highly contagious disease
Not that many. 26 bottles, most are opened. I have 5 unopened.
98 bottles of single malt unopened and 6 open at home.
I am spoiled that i have them all open at work, the Dell’s is at about 760 open and another 45+ waiting for the next Mega Tasting.
Have you all written your wills yet? I know a nice Nebraska girl who’d love to be named for the whisky collection. I promise to make sure they’re well looked after!
Monique at the Dell @ 237: your post would be a wonderful segue to a thread on “How many have you tasted?”
MrTH @ 229: With Coleman @ 162 being your hero and you wanting to cut down your collection, perhaps you could send him something nice, but only after his current bottle is empty mind you.
Monique @237: Great to see you on the thread! I do miss the Dell and its community of good folks.
At home (I’m deployed) maybe 25 bottles, five or so open, a little bit of things that interest me and one or two I can’t get myself to open yet (when do I open that one final bottle of Hirsch?). But oh I shall.
Since the military moves us, won’t move open bottles and often won’t move the booze sealed, collecting is problematic. One solution that worked was to donate some interesting ones to a charity auction–and I got to have some fun when doing it, and the person that bought it had something nice you couldn’t find in that state.
I want this one to hit 250!
I have about 50 open and somewhere around 350 in the bunker with some of those being repeat bottles.
sam k @ 240: me too, Sam, tell us about your favorite in your collection
Thanks for another excuse to post, two-bit. One favorite was the only historical bottle I ever completely finished, a Sam Thompson rye distilled at Michter’s in the late 70s. I have a Schenley-distilled Thompson from the 50s that isn’t nearly as good.
When I started drinking legally in the late 70s, I still had my choice of Old Overholt and Sam Thompson back in western PA, and the Sam was always my go-to.
I also have what’s left of a half-gallon of B-P-R Maryland rye from Baltimore, a four year old bottled in 1940 that is exceptional. Not much of that one remaining.
My fave of all, however, is the few ml I have left from a pint of Dillinger rye distilled in my hometown and bottled at ten summers old during the early years of Prohibition. True Monongahela rye contained no corn, only rye and malt in a ratio of about 85%-15%, and this is an excellent example. Much more spice and much less sweet. The closest thing I’ve found in modern whiskey is High West Rendezvous, which John found very appealing, as well.
How about your favorite, Cowboy?
Unintentionally, another post. That B-P-R stated on the back label that it was 98% rye, which means that some of the rye had to be malted, as 2% malt wouldn’t provide enough fermentables for the mash. Probably why I like it so much!
sam k @ 243: we’re getting there, Sam.
I’ve only been experimenting with whisky (single malt Scotch) for about two years. For the 28 years I bounced from base to base and country to country in the Air Force, I savored the local beers and enjoyed my old standard, Chivas 12, at the military bars. Occasionally I would bump into a Glen… single malt, which I always enjoyed. I never found bourbon appealing on the nose and was never exposed to rye. I plan to change that this year.
I’ve sampled more than a hundred single malts as I’ve expanded my horizons. While the peaty ones have become my go-to drams (especially Laphroaig Quarter Cask, Ardbeg Uigeadail, and The BenRiach Curiositas), three not-heavily-peateds are nearly tied as my current favorite: Bunnahabhain 18, Springbank 18 (2009), and The Glenrothes 1985. To qualify my favorites and highlight how much I like them, a few of the hundred or so I’ve tried include Highland Park 30, Laphroaig 25, The Glenrothes 1975, The Glenlivet XXV, and Talisker 25.
I must add that last night a certain Ledaig 1973 16 year old Gordon and MacPhail “Connoisseurs Choice” joined my three current favorites. That post is on another thread. I look forward to seeing your thoughts on that one, Sam.
I received a couple of emails from people with sizeable whisky collections telling me that they didn’t want to tell how many they had because they were worried about being robbed.
Coleman @162, you are definitely the one with the least amount of whisky here. Given that you only have one bottle open at a time, when you finish your current bottle of Islay, send me a PM (john@maltadvocate.com). I would be honored to send you an Islay replacement.
John, I can’t for the life of me figure out how I could rob an anonymous poster!
Coleman @162, you are by far the most practical one here, and are probably just as happy as the rest of us, if not more so!
I have 55 bottles
I have a signed bottle from every master distiller in KY.
Plus alot of experimental whiskeys