Evan Williams Single Barrel 1986

[Enoch]

I stopped in a liquor store that I check about once a month today. The owner knows what I want and he recently bought another store that was nearly a trash dump. When I went in he showed me a bottle of EWSB 1986 he had found at the other store so I bought it. My question. Is this as rare as my 1987 and should I save it or is it just Ok and I should go ahead and drink it? I have 86, 87, 88, 90 and 94-current so I am thinking about trying to collect them all (to my wife's joy I'm sure).

Also, What year was the decanter bottle and did they only release the decanter or did they also release that year in bottles.

Thanks,

[Beer&Bourbon]

I'm fairly certain someone here mentioned that 1986 was the first year. If I'm right about that they also said that the whiskey wasn't very good and it was more of a collector's item than anything else. You've got almost every year; it'd be a shame to pop them open now when you're so close to a complete set... do you think this stuff is for drinking? Your inner collector certainly overpowers your reasonable nature on this issue.

[Jono]

Well, if you intend on keeping it and not trying to otherwise move the bottle I would drink it. The well worn phrase whiskey is for drinking still holds.

Looking at a full set is nice from a collector view point, but to what end?

If you had duplicates of each year it would be an easy decision.

[HHBOURBONMAN]

1986 was the first vintage, it was released in 1994. I assume the decanter you are referring to was the "Millenium Globe" decanter that was released in 1999. There was also a vintage released in bottles that year...

[PaulO]

I don't buy anything that I don't intend to open one day. In this case I would make an exception. You probably won't find another, and with it being the first year and all. I bet there are EWSB fans that would love to offer trades (if you want something to open).

[deathevocation]

I saw a bottle of the 88 today for around $100.

[Enoch]

I saw a bottle of the 88 today for around $100.

Wow, My 86 was $15. He charged the same as the EW1783 bottles.