What's Your Bunker Strategy?

[Grain Belt]

My buying is pretty simple. Buy chit I like. Drink it. Buy more.

[tigerlam92]

Check out his title...'nuff said

[MauiSon]

One that's hasn't been mentioned is that your taste preference may change over time. Something you like today may not be as good to you later on or vice versa. So have some caution.

[Special Reserve]

After years of happy hunting, I'm in the post procurement phase, I don't buy much, and consume less than in the past.

[GaryT]

I'm all over the map. I have over 110 bottles (750s or bigger, the others don't count, right?), and over 85 unique labels - so not a lot of true "bunker" bottles. Primarily, I buy one of things I like or am interested, and buy multiples of things that I REALLY like if they are hard to come by (like HHSS, or private barrel picks that I got to participate in). This is the first year I ever acquired multiple bottles of any BTAC, but there have been years I did't get any.

I bunker multiples if it is something I intend to enjoy over the next several years. But I've learned that there seems to always be new/exciting stuff coming out - so my tendency to want to have multiple bottles of something because "I'll never get anything like it again" is being pushed down because, well hell - I don't have room! I try to remind myself that while THAT dram may not be had, it isn't like there won't be some other stellar pour that I discover in the next year or two.

[Lepisto]

I have three categories for the bunker.

1. Cheap stuff I am afraid will disappear.

2. Expensive stuff that would be wasted on me at this point in my tasting career.

3. Dusties

Category 1 is cheaper stuff that I am fearful will disappear, become effectively unavailable or lose age statements (HH6, W12, OGD114 and so on). But usually "bunkering" only means one spare bottle, though I have made an exception for HH6 since it can't be obtained in CA.

Category 2 is good stuff, more expensive, that would be wasted on my newbie palete now but that I plan on drinking when I get better at appreciating good bourbon by drinking the cheaper, normal stuff now. This is the category for 4R LEs, BTAC, PHC and so on. Again, bunkering in this category usually means one spare bottle, or maybe two.

Category 3 is dusty bourbon on the theory that the supply is fixed and availability is diminishing all the time and also because I enjoy the intangibles of having bourbon that was bottled long ago. I am also a big fan of ND-era bourbons in terms of taste. Hoarding mostly occurs in this category since there is no chance of more being available later.

However, I am also reaching the conclusion that at my present rate of consumption, I have 40 years worth of bourbon bunkered already. The "eventually you realize you have a whole liquor store in your house" phrase that someone posted has stuck with me a bit. Logic and personal economics would dictate that I stop acquiring. But obsessive thinking is powerful and so far is winning in the struggle with logic.

Further complicating things, now people know I am "into" bourbon and are giving it to me as gifts. First world problems, I know.

I found my Bunker Strategy Doppleganger.

[nd2005]

However, I am also reaching the conclusion that at my present rate of consumption, I have 40 years worth of bourbon bunkered already. The "eventually you realize you have a whole liquor store in your house" phrase that someone posted has stuck with me a bit. Logic and personal economics would dictate that I stop acquiring. But obsessive thinking is powerful and so far is winning in the struggle with logic.

Great point. I recently had to move my stash as we were rearranging the storage room. It was quite ridiculous and my wife who usually ignores my habit to the best of her ability was shocked at how many bottles are there.

The good news is the amount I have stocked up makes it really easy to be laissez-faire about the fall limited releases.

Further complicating things, now people know I am "into" bourbon and are giving it to me as gifts. First world problems, I know.

Also true. Not an issue in most cases, but sometimes I find these gifters are steered towards stuff like Hudson and other overly expensive craft releases that aren't really my thing.

[mbroo5880i]

I'm all over the map. I have over 110 bottles (750s or bigger, the others don't count, right?), and over 85 unique labels - so not a lot of true "bunker" bottles. Primarily, I buy one of things I like or am interested, and buy multiples of things that I REALLY like if they are hard to come by (like HHSS, or private barrel picks that I got to participate in). This is the first year I ever acquired multiple bottles of any BTAC, but there have been years I did't get any.

I bunker multiples if it is something I intend to enjoy over the next several years. But I've learned that there seems to always be new/exciting stuff coming out - so my tendency to want to have multiple bottles of something because "I'll never get anything like it again" is being pushed down because, well hell - I don't have room! I try to remind myself that while THAT dram may not be had, it isn't like there won't be some other stellar pour that I discover in the next year or two.

I don't have the same number of bottles but it sounds like we share the same approach. I have a couple of "back ups" but many of my bottles are singles in the bunker. I consider my bunker to be both open and unopened bottles.

[AaronWF]

However, I am also reaching the conclusion that at my present rate of consumption, I have 40 years worth of bourbon bunkered already.

I hope the solution is as clear to you as it is to me. Quit swinging around the ball and aim for the fences. Drink more.

[garbanzobean]

One that's hasn't been mentioned is that your taste preference may change over time. Something you like today may not be as good to you later on or vice versa. So have some caution.

This is a great point. My tastes vary radically from day to day, let alone what will likely happen over the course of a lifetime. Keeping that in mind, I rarely put away more than a single bottle of anything. In fact, I believe I only have two bottles of ECBP, GTS, and a FR OESQ pick my local store did that I really enjoyed. The only bottles of non bourbon I have two each of are the older version of Balvenie 15 and Laphroaig 18 since it is cheap here. Otherwise it is mostly stuff I know won't stay on the shelves for very long. Or weird bottles of scotch I want to try. Or stuff that I get on sale for super cheap that I know I'll want to drink later.

Unlike some of our more steadfast SBers (Doug), I can never predict what will sound good. Last year it was a lot of Buffalo Trace stuff. This year, it is mostly Four Roses and rye mashbill HH. All of a sudden, larceny and Bernheim are starting to taste great. But stuff like that is easy to come by, so I buy it as I drink it, and dip into my bunker for more rare bottlings that I like to drink occasionally.

I'll get to it all eventually . . .

[jvd99]

I hope the solution is as clear to you as it is to me. Quit swinging around the ball and aim for the fences. Drink more.

My strategy is to be the coolest & most popular guy in the retirement home.

[BFerguson]

Buy less and drink it down more.

There comes a point where some have realized the size is approaching a breaking point. There is only so much room one can stuff product.

I think some of this comes for me comes from the size, I know it's more than 300, and likely closer to 400, and also the fact that just seems less to bunker. The market is getting so tight, it's tough to get product. And finding dusty's in the wild is becoming a rare thing.

There's a time in life to switch gears, and it's the time for me.

Plus, I figure buy the time it's drunk down a bit, the market will turn for the better with availability.

B

[boneuphtoner]

only two quantifiers:

stuff I know I like, and am afraid of future supply issues

stuff I know I like, and is priced low enough that it's stupid not to load up

I dont waste any time looking for LE stuff. Even if I did like it, I likely wouldnt be able to find another anyway, so why bother? plus, the prices and the lines.....

My strategy exactly. I started this hobby in earnest in 2012, and using these criteria, I emassed a bunch of bottles. Most are still plentiful (I.e., Dant BIB) and others have become increAsingly scarce (ie, ETL and Weller 12). Which has served me well until I decide that I don't like the profile of something that I have over a case of...only hAppened once fortunately and I'm still dealing with what to do with it.

[Vadertime]

My strategy exactly. I started this hobby in earnest in 2012, and using these criteria, I emassed a bunch of bottles. Most are still plentiful (I.e., Dant BIB) and others have become increAsingly scarce (ie, ETL and Weller 12). Which has served me well until I decide that I don't like the profile of something that I have over a case of...only hAppened once fortunately and I'm still dealing with what to do with it.

What did you lose a taste of? Some folks might still be huge fans.

[KyleCBreese]

Plus, I figure buy the time it's drunk down a bit, the market will turn for the better with availability.

B

I like that. Having a bunker allows you to wait out the craziness, and then come back in a few years when things have settled down.

[Mardbrown]

Limited Edition wise my strategy has been to buy two bottles of everything and worry about the rest later. Just to keep it from being outrageous. For example I was able to get two bottles of Pappy 15 this year. Next year if it's offered to me I will not buy it unless its to gift it or to be reimbursed by a friend. After getting 5 bottles of HH6BIB in KY. I tried and loved it (thought to myself) I can just drink this everyday, use it to cook, and use it to make bitters. Therefore I bought a case. Im currently slowly acquiring one of each Four Roses recipe. After that I'm pretty much set for awhile. With that being said there is enough stuff that I like that I can just go pickup at the store (Larceny, OGD114, Four Roses SB, VOBBIB, Bookers) without having to have compile 300+ bottles. Now I can slowly work on getting a stable of 7 or 8 great scotches.

[nd2005]

Limited Edition wise my strategy has been to buy two bottles of everything and worry about the rest later. Just to keep it from being outrageous. For example I was able to get two bottles of Pappy 15 this year. Next year if it's offered to me I will not buy it unless its to gift it or to be reimbursed by a friend. After getting 5 bottles of HH6BIB in KY. I tried and loved it (thought to myself) I can just drink this everyday, use it to cook, and use it to make bitters. Therefore I bought a case. Im currently slowly acquiring one of each Four Roses recipe. After that I'm pretty much set for awhile. With that being said there is enough stuff that I like that I can just go pickup at the store (Larceny, OGD114, Four Roses SB, VOBBIB, Bookers) without having to have compile 300+ bottles. Now I can slowly work on getting a stable of 7 or 8 great scotches.

My policy with the LEs is that I don't turn them down if I find them at MSRP (or thereabouts - I'm not gonna turn down an ORVW10 because it is 60 instead of 50, for example).

[Special Reserve]

My policy with the LEs is that I don't turn them down if I find them at MSRP (or thereabouts - I'm not gonna turn down an ORVW10 because it is 60 instead of 50, for example).

I generally agree with this sentiment. Today LE bourbon is hard to find unless you're a good customer of a high volume state.

[B.B. Babington]

My strategy is to be the coolest & most popular guy in the retirement home.

[Scotch Neat]

My bunker strategy is simple, If you want it buy it as you may not be able to find it again.

That did create some problems last winter, ran out of room so I bunkered in the trunk of the vette only to pull the car out in the spring thinking that getting pulled over with 40 bottles in the trunk would not go well. Plus it was noisy.

I purchased a large cabinet to stash the hootch only to fill it up, this is getting stupid.

[bmajazz]

This is a really interesting question.

As a guy who has gained a little infamy in the "Dusty hunting" thread, (something which I secretly enjoy more than I should), I can tell you that my bunker is mostly older, discontinued stuff. I buy to drink and enjoy, not to hold forever, but I look at my selection and always find reasons not to open some particular bottle. Also, I am finding that if someone wants to pay me some ridiculous amount for a bottle, i.e. I can get 15-20x what I paid for it, I would probably not be able to enjoy drinking it if I knew the cash I left on the table.

All that said, my collection is in several categories, much like my friend Paul W:

1) dusties. This is an extension of my extreme frugality, i.e. cheapness. I find stuff (less these days) from bygone eras for $20 and less that are transcendent. I buy bottles from bygone eras that are probably not transcendent, but are old. I like being able to look at a history of distilleries and vintages. I also enjoy drinking them. I hate paying much for them, even though I know what the secondary market will bear.

2) A few limited editions. 2014 OFBB is the bulk of it, all 3-4 bottles. 2 ECBP... I'd rather explore seedy, nasty stores for old dusties than try to call around for some limited Pappy. It's more fun, more subversive, etc. But I won't turn them down.

3) Random crap. Lot 40. Wiser's Legacy. Bakers and Bookers at decent prices, sort of.

4) Cheap things that are better than their price. OGD114, $20.99 in Virginia where I am now. A few bottles of ETL. I need to bunker some Evan Williams BIB, Mellow Corn BIB, etc. I need to invest in some Evan Williams Single Barrel, McKenna BIB, etc. given the price/quality ratio.

Of course, I have a storage unit with a bunch of stuff including dusties. I have a closet full of boxes. I have no idea how to tastefully display them without looking like a raging alcoholic. I need doors that shut without glass fronts. I need discretion. Both are in short supply.

[El Vino]

I buy to drink and enjoy, not to hold forever, but I look at my selection and always find reasons not to open some particular bottle.

I find myself in this position on a regular basis and it drives me crazy. If I only have one or two bottles of something special (limited or discontinued) I tend to want to save it for a special occasion or to share with my whiskey loving friends. As a result, I have accumulated a few of these - some of which I haven't even tried - where I talk myself out of opening them. An earlier post suggested purchasing 3 (if possible) in order to avoid this dilemma. I like that. Won't work with dusties and some limited releases where you are lucky to get one, but for the others I think it will.

There will be a time when supply gets closer to demand and it won't be so necessary to bunker things in order avoid getting shut out. But like the saying there are no great wines, just great bottles: I think there are GREAT barrels, and when one finds one, I can easily justify putting some away for future consumption. It will be cool when we are on the hunt for great barrels, rather than the hunt for a bottle.

Edited December 28, 2014 by El Vino

[ThirstyinOhio]

I try to buy 2 of everything, one to drink now and one for backup just in case I really like it. If I don't like it, well maybe one of my friends that I am always trying to convert to whiskey drinkers will like it. I have never purchased a case of a particular item and doubt I ever will, unless its a 3 pack of George T. Stagg. The problem is that I now have well over 300 bottles of whiskey and even if I stop buying today I know I have at least 10 years worth of great whiskey but I still chase after every bloody new release because I want to try it all.

Edited December 30, 2014 by ThirstyinOhio

[altadoc]

getting into the hobby over the last few years my take is similar to many here

1. buying everyday drinkers when they are on sale (or available at all - looking at you etl!)

2. tend to grab 2 LEs if given the chance. hell i'd love a third to be able to trade

3. great store select barrels - once i crack one and love it i'll go back and grab a few more. always fun to open them years later with good friends.

as others have said, we constantly talk ourselves OUT of reasons to open bottles. screw that! bourbon was made for sharing with friends and making memories. just open the damn bottle!

[Paddy]

My strategy is simply to...

1. Never regret having decided to stay in for the evening, as there are very few dining and/or drinking establishments that offer the selection available in my own home.

2. See above (when feeling guilty about purchasing another bottle of fine drinking whiskey).