Special bottle you can't bring yourself to open?

[IowaJeff]

What's that bottle or bottles you have tucked back that you pull out occasionally to admire, but can't bring yourself to open? Is there a special occasion you are saving it for? This question is for the drinkers, not the collectors. So nothing you're saving because you are going to sell it or be buried with it so you and your many virgins can enjoy it in the afterlife.

I have 3.

-A PVW 15 I got when my son was born in 2009. Saving it for 2030.

-A George T Stagg I got back when you could just go in a liquor store and buy such things. No occasion, just don't know if I'll be able to get one again.

-AH Hirsch 16 gold foil. No occasion planned for this one either.

I intend to drink all three, but I just can't pull the trigger on opening the Stagg and Hirsch . . . yet.

[Ravensfire]

My Dad has a crystal bottle of Jack Daniel's from the early 70's (I think it's the Gold Medal commemorative from 71), complete with tax strip and a brass strip around the top with his initials (and mine!). My grandfather got it for him when my Dad started working for him with the promise not to touch it until a certain milestone was reached. A couple of years after he was given the bottle, my Dad switched to Scotch (didn't give him a hangover!) so the bottle just sits on his bar. My grandfather is quite old (96) and his health is noticeable declining so my Dad, brother, brother-in-law and I have all decided we'll open the bottle when my grandfather does pass and drink in his memory.

Special bottles are one thing, but special memories and celebrating them will make this taste even better.

[portwood]

My grandfather is quite old (96) and his health is noticeable declining so my Dad, brother, brother-in-law and I have all decided we'll open the bottle when my grandfather does pass and drink in his memory

Sounds to me the more appropriate thing to do would be to open it while he's still alive (unless, of course he has instructed you to open it after he dies)

[IowaJeff]

My Dad has a crystal bottle of Jack Daniel's from the early 70's (I think it's the Gold Medal commemorative from 71), complete with tax strip and a brass strip around the top with his initials (and mine!). My grandfather got it for him when my Dad started working for him with the promise not to touch it until a certain milestone was reached. A couple of years after he was given the bottle, my Dad switched to Scotch (didn't give him a hangover!) so the bottle just sits on his bar. My grandfather is quite old (96) and his health is noticeable declining so my Dad, brother, brother-in-law and I have all decided we'll open the bottle when my grandfather does pass and drink in his memory.

Special bottles are one thing, but special memories and celebrating them will make this taste even better.

Great one. I can't think of any bottle that would be better than one with a personal story connecting three generations.

[Ravensfire]

Sounds to me the more appropriate thing to do would be to open it while he's still alive (unless, of course he has instructed you to open it after he dies)

We'd talked about that and decided against it. My grandfather is also a scotch only guy (evidently my Dad was a JD person until his mid 20's then scotch only) and can't drink anymore for medical reasons. If we did have a drink with him, we'd probably be pouring his favorite (Johnnie Walker Blue).

Which would be an enjoyable evening for everyone as well, thanks for the idea!

[dcbt]

I bought two JD Holiday Selects 2014, one of which I did open. The other I plan on giving to my daughter who was born in December (holiday season 2014, get it?) when she turns 21. So it's not exactly saving to drink for myself, but I'm still saving it and presume it will be consumed at some point. Maybe she'll let me have a pour with her hah.

[IowaJeff]

I bought two JD Holiday Selects 2014, one of which I did open. The other I plan on giving to my daughter who was born in December (holiday season 2014, get it?) when she turns 21. So it's not exactly saving to drink for myself, but I'm still saving it and presume it will be consumed at some point. Maybe she'll let me have a pour with her hah.

Buying two was smart. Good on you.

I have the PVW15 set aside for my son, but I still need to set something aside for my daughter. I've been keeping my eye out for something bottled in 2012. Or I could wait and get something distilled in 2012 a few years, or more, down the road.

[kjbeggs]

Not an expensive or hard-to-find pour, but when the Dallas Mavericks won their title in 2011, I purchased a bottle of Gentleman Jack (selected because of it's smooth flat bottle and ability to get a custom label), and had a Mavs logo engraved on it.

I intend to open it when they win another NBA title.

[dcbt]

I intend to open it when they win another NBA title.

I admire your optimism... You may end up amending your rule to "when another local team wins a title." Go FC Dallas!

[kjbeggs]

I admire your optimism... You may end up amending your rule to "when another local team wins a title." Go FC Dallas!

Hell, I've got bottles of MM and MM46 with Blue & Silver wax that may be "valuable dusties" before that next SuperBowl win I'm saving them for...

[dcbt]

Hell, I've got bottles of MM and MM46 with Blue & Silver wax that may be "valuable dusties" before that next SuperBowl win I'm saving them for...

Well, it took Jerry 25+ years but he's finally showing some signs of knowing how to build an NFL team. Here's hoping Stephen is taking notes.

[kjbeggs]

Well, it took Jerry 25+ years but he's finally showing some signs of knowing how to build an NFL team. Here's hoping Stephen is taking notes.

I think Stephen is the one showing those signs now...

[dcbt]

I think Stephen is the one showing those signs now...

Yea, you're probably right. If it were up to Jerry we'd be stuck with Manziel right now...

[PaulO]

I have two that would be really hard to open. I was lucky enough to find a couple of the ETL 90th birthday bottles when they came out. I drank one right away, saved the other. It was as good as a store selected bottle, still pretty close to regular ETL. The thing is, these were selected by the man himself. Also, I have an embossed wheat bottle of W12 store selected by Binny's. I grabbed several of these in Chicago. This was several years before the brief period W12 was sold in Indiana. This was a store selection that just blew me away. It's like a piece of pecan pie, way different then all the other bottles of W12 I've tried.

[BonVivant84]

Been saving one GTS every fall for the last few years (12, 13, 14) and plan on adding the next couple years as well. Then just waiting for some sort of special event as an excuse for an epic vertical.

[OutlawSW]

HHSS 2 I was so excited and appreciative to get some. I drank the 1st bottle pretty quick as I liked so it so much, but want to save the 2nd as a tangible reminder of the exceptional and unique community I am honored to b a part of.

[bourbonfoot]

I got a bottle of PVW 20 last year that I haven't opened yet. My reasons aren't that I think it will be exceptional (here's hoping), but the opposite. In my head I'm thinking that I won't find it discernibly better than bottle X or bottle y (though it was at MSRP), but I know that if it gets popped with a large group of friends who will enjoy it as much as me that it will make for a better occasion.

[suntour]

Only one and it kind of bugs me that I haven't opened it yet:

A bottle of OGD from 1988 that my dad bought in Ohio while on the GOBA bicycle tour, left at a friends house and forgotten about until last year. He gave it to me to drink, and I intend on drinking it with him, but just can't get myself to do it. I can't explain it.

[camduncan]

I've got 2 main bottles.... A bottle of Heaven Hill Bourbon that has a personalized label on it commemorating my wife's and my first trip to Kentucky in 2008. The second is a bottle of Fred Noe Select that he signed for my 40th birthday a few years ago. I don't plan on opening either of these. I'll be chasing down a few 2009 Evan Williams Single Barrels when they come out as that was the year my daughter was born. One will (eventually) be for her, one for me and one to drink

[camduncan]

I left out the couple of bottles I've dipped myself at Makers Mark. Nothing special about what's inside them - it's more the sentimental value as a reminder of my trip(s).

[fishnbowljoe]

I don't have just one. I have 26 of them. :bigeyes: All put away in storage. I'll start opening 'em up when my bunker finally starts to dwindle a bit more. Hey, I'm working on it. Okay??? :grin:

Cheers! Joe

[Kartofel]

I have a bottle of Wild Turkey Diamond Anniversary sitting unopened on my desk. I'll open it eventually, but until then it's a constant reminder to be careful when shopping for whiskey and to be more responsible with my money in general.

[garbanzobean]

I have some fairly old bottles of scotch that I am trying to only open and drink one of a year. I figure my wife will kill me if she sees anymore 30+ year old bottles of scotch sneaking into the collection. I have a bottle of Balcones Brimstone I've been putting off opening for about two years now. But that's mostly because I'm afraid it's going to be a $60 bloody mary mixer.

One thing I just did to help alleviate what small the guilt I do feel about opening special bottles (not that I've had much of it so far) is order some sample bottles. So if I particularly like a bottle, I can save some of it off to the side for later. Those should be here soon. We'll see if they help.

[Frodo]

ER 17. No replacements in sight!

[mark fleetwood]

Easy, 2 PVW 20yr and 1 PVW15yr as presents for our three daughters weddings (first ones only, likely in next 10yrs). On second thought, should probably flip them to pay for the weddings and my subsequent admission to a good-enough mental health facility.