Re: How many bottles do you bunker?
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I have 3 unopened bottles of the original RidgeWOOD Reserve 1792, which after seeing go for $80+ on eBay I'm afraid to open.
That's like the guy who buys a vintage Farrari or Porsche and puts it in his storage facility indefinetly. Cars were made to be driven, maybe not every day, but at least once a year. Likewise, bourbon was made to drink. You might save two of the bottles forever, but drink out of the third once or twice a year. Such a great item like that would make the whole evening.
I'm still pretty much in the "trying all the bourbons" camp, so I have just started thinking about "bunkering" After reading a few post around here, my opinion is this. Take three or four of the bourbons that I like now, Bulleit, Buffalo Trace, etc. and buy an extra bottle to bunker. Keep it for 25 years, then drink next to a "current" bourbon to see what has changed or stayed the same (equally as notable) in those 25 years.
If you had done this 25 years ago, the impression I get is that you would see quite a shift in bourbon to today for a host of reasons.
As for the super premium stuff, Stagg, Van Winkle, Sacerac, put it on the drinking shelf, but in the very back. Only bust it out for very special occasions, Weddings, Christmas, Valentine's day, friend you haven't seen in three years, etc. But I guess if you can afford to bunker an extra bottle of this stuff, hey, go ahead.
Re: How many bottles do you bunker?
I'm not much of a collector, and I see no purpose in stashing away, for display or otherwise, bourbons that are readily available. That said I have accumulated a collection of 40-50 unopened bottles of brands no longer in production. This includes several bottles of various Staggs, Birthday Bourbons, EWSBs, as well as a few decanters (Chessmen, White Bison, etc.) and hard-to-finds (WT Freedom). I'm consantly looking for bottles that are old and/or no longer produced.
Re: How many bottles do you bunker?
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That's like the guy who buys a vintage Farrari or Porsche and puts it in his storage facility indefinetly. Cars were made to be driven, maybe not every day, but at least once a year. Likewise, bourbon was made to drink.
I know several guys with perfectly restored 60's Corvettes that do the same thing. These same guys chastise me for driving the 'Z, saying that I'll eventually regret having done so. BS! The thing was made to be driven! I hate garage queens, with a passion. http://www.straightbourbon.com/forum...emlins/lol.gif
So perhaps we coin a new term: Bunker Queen. I like it.
All the above tirade aside, I don't care what anyone does with their bourbon. It is, after all, theirs.http://www.straightbourbon.com/forum...mlins/grin.gif I have about 85 bottles, probably 30 of which are unopened because they are either extremely difficult to replace, or cannot be.
Re: How many bottles do you bunker?
If there's a bunker queeen for those that keep'm and bunker king for those that drink'm, then I'm bunker crossdresser. I have some I will never open, some that I purchased to drink, but its the hard to get but really tasty ones that give me fits. I say I'm gonna save them, but find myself drinking them and mourning that last pour of something I may never get again. http://www.straightbourbon.com/forum...emlins/cry.gif http://www.straightbourbon.com/forum...emlins/cry.gif
Re: How many bottles do you bunker?
"Its better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all."
If you never open it because you rue the day it will be all gone, what's the point of having it?
Tim
Re: How many bottles do you bunker?
I am a new member to this board. Having been a JD drinker for a few years, i came accross Bookers Bourbon. After that, you can say i 'saw the light'. I was so blown away by it that I started researching bourbons and that led me here and to the great history and current high quality American Bourbon manufacturers. I never imagined that there were so many, and of such high quality.
I am looking forward to learning more about bourbon and finding great tasting bourbons to enjoy.
Right now my stash consists of:
Bookers Bourbon (x2)
A.H. Hirsch 16 y.o. Reserve (x1)
Distiller's Materpiece 20 y.o. Port Wine Cask (x1)
Pappy Van Winkle 20 y.o. Family Reserve (x2)
George T Stagg (x3)
Re: How many bottles do you bunker?
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Right now my stash consists of:
That would be a good place to stop, The slippery slope is just a few feet in front of you!
Whatever you decide, welcome. http://www.straightbourbon.com/forum...lins/toast.gif
Re: How many bottles do you bunker?
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Right now my stash consists of:
Bookers Bourbon (x2)
A.H. Hirsch 16 y.o. Reserve (x1)
Distiller's Materpiece 20 y.o. Port Wine Cask (x1)
Pappy Van Winkle 20 y.o. Family Reserve (x2)
George T Stagg (x3)
That's a crop of mighty fine bourbon, but one of the things you'll learn soon enough is that you don't have to spend for the 'premiums' to get enjoyable pours. You might also look out for the eponymous Buffalo Trace, W.L. Weller 12yo, Eagle Rare Single Barrel, Evan Williams Single Barrel, Wild Turkey 101, Old Forester 100 proof (or Bottled In Bond), et al -- all under $25, and most under $20.
Fine bourbon is a fine thing -- fine bourbon at an everyday price is an everyday thing. http://www.straightbourbon.com/forum...lins/toast.gif
Welcome.
Re: How many bottles do you bunker?
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That's like the guy who buys a vintage Farrari or Porsche and puts it in his storage facility indefinetly.
I definitely see your point about bourbon being meant to be enjoyed, but my dilemma with the Ridgewood is more about its taste vs. monetary value. I bought these for $24 each, and tastewise I think that's a fair price for what's inside. But at $80 or more, the contents aren't worth breaking the seal. So using your car analogy, I have three "minty fresh 1990 Toyota Tercels with 10 miles on the odometers." http://www.straightbourbon.com/forum...mlins/wink.gif
