Special bottle you can't bring yourself to open?

[CorvallisCracker]

There is nothing I have that I "can't bring [my]self to open." I do have bottles that I set aside for special occasions.

[Mardbrown]

Really nothing that I won't open. However, I won't really open many more bottles at the moment because I have nearly 30 bottles open as it stands right now. I don't want to have everything open. My problem is that I drink whisky at home at a glacial pace, so realistically, it could take months if not over a year before I open another bottle.

I have the same exact issue.

[suntour]

At home I certainly have a hierarchy for myself. The "last ten" or so of the stash to get opened-if I ever get that deep into the bunker. But in general nothing is off limits and, for example, I opened a couple of limiteds at Sampler. I get a much bigger kick out of sharing hard to source stuff with people who appreciate it rather than sitting on a pile of gold Smaug style and never tasting any of it. As I often say, my empty bottle tasted a hell of a lot better than your unopened one:grin:

That whole block is sig-worthy, but builds to a fantastic crescendo by the last sentence. Well done.

[JDSmith619]

I originally thought I was going to hold onto my 09 ER17 and 12 GTS for a while but as soon as I get through my current releases of both I'm opening them.

I had a 08 120th Anniversary FRSiB that I was saving but opened it at a bottle share last month and it was totally worth it. Enjoying that great pour with people that appreciated it was better than drinking it by myself 10 years from now

[Old Dusty]

That whole block is sig-worthy, but builds to a fantastic crescendo by the last sentence. Well done.

[whiskeyagonzo]

Thanks, the words are mine but the lessons are from TomH, bucky1 and Luv2Hunt (Tom,Jon and Dawn) and others who have generously opened their collections to me and countless others. If I can humbly model their examples then all the better for our community.

[Richnimrod]

We are so fortunate so be in such good company here in the Hoosier state.

DRIFT ALERT... (also, kidding alert)

I believe the Hoosier State is a beautiful place; but I have it good authority that it's loaded with 'Hoosiers'!

[whiskeyagonzo]

DRIFT ALERT... (also, kidding alert)

I believe the Hoosier State is a beautiful place; but I have it good authority that it's loaded with 'Hoosiers'!

I hear ya. My FIL is always telling me Hoosiers are just Kentuckians who got lost on their way to Michigan.

[jsrudd]

Mine's a little weird. I've got a single bottle of each of EWSB 2000 - 2003. I don't want to open any of them because then I won't be able to continue the set with 2004, 2005, etc.

[ramblinman]

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.

Same here, I just had probably the next to the last pour from my first bottle last night and took a long look at the second one wondering when I'd get the urge to crack it open. I think its going to be a while, as unique and delicious as it was I think I want to come back to it in a couple of years and see how my tastes and perceptions have changed.

[bourbonfoot]

Same here, I just had probably the next to the last pour from my first bottle last night and took a long look at the second one wondering when I'd get the urge to crack it open. I think its going to be a while, as unique and delicious as it was I think I want to come back to it in a couple of years and see how my tastes and perceptions have changed.

Agreed... I've finished off a few really expensive bottles, and a few really nice bottles recently. What I'm finding is I'd rather keep the nice ones for something special. Therefore the HHSS, PVW 20, and a few others will stay closed until I find either a group that will appreciate them as much as me, or an event that'll be worth opening them.

[camduncan]

I should probably add my cautionary tale here..... I hung onto my 1 bottle of SB.com Pappy 23 for years waiting for the right time to open it. I eventually did so a few years ago for my Dad's 75th birthday. It was as amazing as I'd hoped and we all enjoyed our pours immensely. There might have been a few random pours had from the bottle over the next year or so, and then I sort of forgot about it. Anyway, I pulled it out to enjoy a pour a couple of months ago only to find that the cork was loose and the contents ruined by oxidization. It's barely drinkable, and will probably have to be used as a mixer in cocktails at best, with coke at worst. The only other alternative is to top the bottle up with something cheap, put the cork back in and leave it on the shelf as a display. So, my point being, open them, drink them and move onto the next bottle.:cool:

[bicktrav]

Mines the FR 125th anniversary LE small batch. Keep waiting for the right occasion.

[garbanzobean]

Mines the FR 125th anniversary LE small batch. Keep waiting for the right occasion.

[TheVilleWRX]

My 6 bottles of 2010 4RSB-LE. I think i'm saving them for retirement (And I'm only 30)

[yountvillewjs]

Fun thread, lots of fun stories in here.

1.) Bottles I save for special occasions, those times when you want to nail it and know the bottle is a winner (800 series Willett, 4RLE's, etc)

2.) Bottles that I'm doing something dumb with - like building verticals (4RLE's)

3.) Bottles that will eventually be sold but not yet ready to move (older BTAC, age stated BMH, etc)

The one lone bottle I struggle most with is my last VWFRR. Easily my favorite rye, arguably my favorite pour. No backup.

[jsrudd]

The one lone bottle I struggle most with is my last VWFRR. Easily my favorite rye, arguably my favorite pour. No backup.

I have a bottle of VWFRR that I also can't bring myself to open. Making matters worse (or better) its the original (no letters) 13y old version only released in Japan and there is no way I'll be able to find a replacement.

[MarkEdwards]

Mine is the the only bottle of Pappy Rye I have found, after tasting it. I thoroughly enjoyed my first taste, but can't bring myself to open that bottle.

[kb2285]

I've got an old Willett 17 bourbon bottled for Bonili; barrel 3706 with the block letters. Not sure what is going to motivate me to open it. Probably either something really good or really bad :skep:

[kyrocklover]

For me it is a 16 year old Four Roses Jim Rutledge selected OBSV (Barrel 2) that I purchased at the gift shop. I have finished off two, but this one will stay on the shelf for quite a while. I think this is the best bourbon that I have ever tasted.

[Travis D]

4R SmB 125. Only one... I've had a few pours of it from others/bars and love it, will be a lot of fun and hard to say goodbye!

Also going to find it hard to open a Rye Royal once it arrives, a 20 yr old 101 proof PA rye. A Japanese export from Frank-Lin, looks like it was bottled around 2002. Feel like it is either going to be gold or trash but sure am enjoying thinking about the potential while it's making its journey back to the US.

Edited July 16, 2015 by Travis D

[WhiskyRI]

I have special bottles but several factors keep many of them closed. One special occasions don't happen that often, two the number of special occasions populated with people who appreciate special bourbons (rather than folks who appreciate expensive bourbon if you know what I mean) is even smaller and I already have a lot of open special bottles which I need to empty before opening new special bottles. Aside from the obvious crowd/cult favs like PV or BTAC - for me it a Willett 12 year private barrel from a retailer. I bought 3 bottles, opened 1, liked them so much I went back and got three more that night. Turns out the barrel they came from only had 60 bottles - and boy are they tasty. I've gone through 2 of them but am finding it very hard to justify opening the remaining bottles. So they are boxed up, out sight, but most definitely not out of mind.

[FlounderinDC]

My wife knows nothing about bourbon but knows of my affinity and passion for it. I turned 40 at the end of June and she surprised me with a bottle of ORVW. I was shocked! I want to open it but I might save it for my 50th birthday. I also have been holding onto my 125th FR LE...I had one and it was fantastic...saving this one.

[DonutsNBourbon]

My wife knows nothing about bourbon but knows of my affinity and passion for it. I turned 40 at the end of June and she surprised me with a bottle of ORVW. I was shocked! I want to open it but I might save it for my 50th birthday. I also have been holding onto my 125th FR LE...I had one and it was fantastic...saving this one.

what a great wife! enjoy the gift! hopefully sooner rather than later.

[TunnelTiger]

I just can't bring myself to open my WT Tradition. Not only is the bottle nice but the MrsTT likes the wood box it's in to stay where it's at.

Maybe when she gets into a re-decorating mood......