The Stages of this Hobby

[Quantum]

jvd99 makes a good point about not bunkering too deep too early, it's almost guaranteed your preferences will change.

And be careful about diving too deep into one particular area. It can be easy to find one aged rye you enjoy, spend the next 8 months tracking down every label and expression available in the last decade, and then realize you really just liked that particular aged rye you tried first.

I would recommend keeping an extra bottle or two of your favorites in stock. If one of them gets discontinued, at least you have a couple bottles worth of time to find a new favorite.

[ThirstyinOhio]

I went from the stage of "Hey Bourbon is pretty darn good and isn't just for doing shots!" to "I wonder how much it would cost to put on an addition on my home to store more bottles?" over a 2 month period. I have been drinking Bourbon for years and I am still on the hunt for everything new. I just feel like I must try it all or I might miss out (the exact opposite of Bourbon Zen). I've been very fortunate in life to have a wife who actively encourages this hobby and allows me to spend stupid amounts on it.

[zillah]

And be careful about diving too deep into one particular area. It can be easy to find one aged rye you enjoy, spend the next 8 months tracking down every label and expression available in the last decade, and then realize you really just liked that particular aged rye you tried first.

I would recommend keeping an extra bottle or two of your favorites in stock. If one of them gets discontinued, at least you have a couple bottles worth of time to find a new favorite.

They say the true mark of an addict are those who try and chase that first high...

[Low West]

I love where this thread is going. Lots of great ideas. For me, as i gained more knowledge, I found that I wanted to share it with others. Afterall, sharing is caring, right? There is something to be said about sharing a glass of whiskey that you personally enjoy, and having that someone you are sharing it with, have the same enjoyable experience. Good Luck!

[Tony Santana]

I went from the stage of "Hey Bourbon is pretty darn good and isn't just for doing shots!" to "I wonder how much it would cost to put on an addition on my home to store more bottles?" over a 2 month period. I have been drinking Bourbon for years and I am still on the hunt for everything new. I just feel like I must try it all or I might miss out (the exact opposite of Bourbon Zen). I've been very fortunate in life to have a wife who actively encourages this hobby and allows me to spend stupid amounts on it.

I don't know how much I could say my wife "actively encourages" the hobby or whether Thirsty's version of "stupid amounts" is anywhere close to mine, but I'll give credit where it's due - my better half at least graciously tolerates/mildly encourages me and for that I am thankful.

As for still being "on the hunt for everything new", it's only fairly recently that I would consider myself as having passed into my listed "Stage 5" above. While I did make efforts to get a Booker's 25th (i.e., I didn't just stumble onto one in a store), I've passed on a Jeff's Ocean, a Barterhouse and a few others in the last couple of weeks. I'm not saying I'll never buy either (from reviews the latter seems more likely than the former), but in my greedily acquisitive Stage 4 I'd probably have at least two more bottles sitting on my shelf right now.

[Restaurant man]

Stage 3 is learning not to ask for advice from a bunch of drunks, or whiskey aficionados. You're having fun so we know that you are doing it right.

[jvd99]

To clarify my first bunkering comment, if you find something that blows your mind and your research shows it may not be a permanent release, by all means save a few. For example, no need to bunker OGD BIB, it will surely be on the shelf when you want it. I just finished my last bottle of Big Bottom Port Finish and it is now fairly hard to come by. I will probably order several online for the bunker because it appears to be a one-off that wont be around too much longer.

[smokinjoe]

Stage 3 is learning not to ask for advice from...whiskey aficionados. You're having fun so we know that you are doing it right.

^

As usual, Kevin's got it right. When you're having fun, you've got it nailed.

But since yer askin', you're one small step from Whiskirexia Nervosa...

[fishnbowljoe]

^

As usual, Kevin's got it right. When you're having fun, you've got it nailed.

But since yer askin', you're one small step from Whiskirexia Nervosa...

OMG!!!!! No, not Whiskirexia Nervosa...:bigeyes:

[Restaurant man]

OMG!!!!! No, not Whiskirexia Nervosa...:bigeyes:

Been there done that. And still a little bit doing that :eek:

[smokinjoe]

Been there done that. And still a little bit doing that :eek:

That 's right bro...there is no done!!!

[steeltownbbq]

Next steps....

needing a drink in the morning as an "eye opener"

sneaking drinks during the day

blackouts

12 step meetings

liver transplant

but that could just be me ... your mileage may vary

[Restaurant man]

Next steps....

needing a drink in the morning as an "eye opener"

sneaking drinks during the day

blackouts

12 step meetings

liver transplant

but that's just me ... your mileage may vary

Fixed it for ya. :grin:

[FlounderinDC]

I've only been at this as a hobby for about a year and a half. I'm still in the stage of "Taste as many different bourbons as I can" but I've also started reading more about the business, distillation process, history and everything else about American whiskey in general. I've found several bourbons I love, some I like and some I won't buy again. I have to be disciplined about it though. I go to a couple of stores once a month to make purchases and stock up on beers for the beer fridge. I usually come away with 2-4 bottles. I do go and check my go-to store if I see them post something new or on sale on Facebook or Twitter.

[ThirstyinOhio]

I don't know how much I could say my wife "actively encourages" the hobby or whether Thirsty's version of "stupid amounts" is anywhere close to mine, but I'll give credit where it's due - my better half at least graciously tolerates/mildly encourages me and for that I am thankful.

As for still being "on the hunt for everything new", it's only fairly recently that I would consider myself as having passed into my listed "Stage 5" above. While I did make efforts to get a Booker's 25th (i.e., I didn't just stumble onto one in a store), I've passed on a Jeff's Ocean, a Barterhouse and a few others in the last couple of weeks. I'm not saying I'll never buy either (from reviews the latter seems more likely than the former), but in my greedily acquisitive Stage 4 I'd probably have at least two more bottles sitting on my shelf right now.

My wife will actually send me articles and press releases about new bourbons coming out and took it upon herself to plan another trip down to Bourbon Country for next week, she is definitely a keeper. As for the "stupid amounts", I was shocked when I added up all of my liquor purchases last year and the amount was just over $6,000. I doubt that I will spend as much this year since I got pretty lucky with getting my hands on BTAC and Pappy and I doubt that will happen again, but it was a bit of a surprise how fast it added up.

[Vadertime]

6k on bourbon? I'd say you are already sitting on a lifetime supply.

Congrats! It ain't getting any cheaper!

[Harry in WashDC]

Like my chips when playing poker, I'm afraid to count bottles on hand or money spent on whiskey while the game's still being played. That would inhibit my shopping for new stuff. Just thinking about what I might miss makes me shudder.

Upon reflection, I feel the same way while playing poker.

[Tony Santana]

I have a pretty good sense of how many bottles I have. I have purposely not calculated how much money I've spent.

[TunnelTiger]

I don't want to know how many bottles I have or how much I've spent. I'm just enjoying every sip.

By Tony's list I guess I'm at stage 4.

[dcbt]

I recently started a spreadsheet to keep track of my expenses, inventory, etc. It only goes back to last September or so but it's a good way for me to stay organized.

[kjbeggs]

I recently started a spreadsheet to keep track of my expenses, inventory, etc. It only goes back to last September or so but it's a good way for me to stay organized.

I created a similar spreadsheet a couple weeks ago. Lists everything I've got on hand, or recently emptied, with designations for those I want to replenish, and those not to buy again.

I've got an A-F grading column, and $-$$$$ pricing column.

No actual expense numbers, because I kinda' don't want to know, and I definitely don't want the wife to know!

[Dannabis]

I do a similar thing in a text editor, but I keep it in this format:

Date Purchased

Store Purchased from

Price before tax rounded up

Whiskey Name

Bottle Size

[Dannabis]

I was shocked when I added up all of my liquor purchases last year and the amount was just over $6,000.

Time to buy your own barrel at that level of investment!!

[WAINWRIGHT]

Step 1-buying every limited release and oddity there is because you are a poser

Step 2-Actually taking time to begin to understand the hobby and realizing you made a lot of ignorant purchases off of what you'd read and what others had told you.

Step 3-Becoming comfortable in your own skin and buying things only in the profile that you truly enjoy and will drink in the future.

Step 4-Finally coming to terms with yourself and begin putting an effect bunker together that you will actually drink and not just stare at.:grin:

[whiskeyagonzo]

Step 1-buying every limited release and oddity there is because you are a poser

Step 2-Actually taking time to begin to understand the hobby and realizing you made a lot of ignorant purchases off of what you'd read and what others had told you.

Step 3-Becoming comfortable in your own skin and buying things only in the profile that you truly enjoy and will drink in the future.

Step 4-Finally coming to terms with yourself and begin putting an effect bunker together that you will actually drink and not just stare at.:grin:

Damn. That hits the nail on the head. At least for me. :-)