Cowdery on "collecting" whiskey

[Tucker]

Chuck is posting excerpts from his wonderful book Bourbon, Strange: Surprising Stories of American Whiskey on his blog this week. This portion of the chapter titled "How to Collect American Whiskey" hit a little too close to home...

"So, if your collection is neatly arrayed on shelves in one room, organized by distillery or in some other fashion, you're okay no matter how many bottles you own. But if they are hidden in cases, stuck into every nook and cranny, you’re not quite sure what you have, nor how many, and your kids can’t find their bikes, you may have issues. If all or part of your collection is in a rented storage locker that your spouse doesn’t know about, seek immediate professional attention."

Ouch. Well, at least I have a regularly updated spreadsheet...or is that itself an indication that I have a problem (?!?).

[Madhatter]

" hidden in cases, stuck into every nook and cranny" ..... One of the classic signs of alcohol addiction is stashing bottles in a variety of locations (your office, car, golf bag, lunch box, backpack, water bottle) so that you can always be within reach of a drink.

[AnotherCigarGuy]

Whew! I'm good. No rented storage locker for me! Does it matter if I have multiple bottles

in a file cabinet at work?

[GaryT]

I have it all in one room, and on a spreadsheet. Granted, to get to certain bottles I have to plan ahead so I can move a dozen out of the way, slide some boxes to the other side of the room, etc - but still ALL in ONE room! And it all fits on ONE spreadsheet!

[BigBoldBully]

Sounds like all I have to do is sell some bikes and add more shelves.

[rcs86]

I do have a rented storage unit... But It's ok! My wife doesn't care.. because she is non-existent... haha

[squire]

I can think of more places than are on that list.

[Richnimrod]

I can think of more places than are on that list.

[Harry in WashDC]

Yeah, well, there may be more places than are on that list, but the only reason I'm getting no complaints is she doesn't know where and what they are. Correction - I think she knows where some are but I think she thinks they are the only other stashes, and unless I start taking over HER spaces, I'm OK. I think. Like boxes marked "Old glasses."

[flahute]

Yeah, well, there may be more places than are on that list, but the only reason I'm getting no complaints is she doesn't know where and what they are. Correction - I think she knows where some are but I think she thinks they are the only other stashes, and unless I start taking over HER spaces, I'm OK. I think. Like boxes marked "Old glasses."

[Guest]

I used to keep a bottle of WT101 8 year on my bedside table, then one day they stopped relasing it, never have filled that void.

[dboland]

" hidden in cases, stuck into every nook and cranny" ..... One of the classic signs of alcohol addiction is stashing bottles in a variety of locations (your office, car, golf bag, lunch box, backpack, water bottle) so that you can always be within reach of a drink.

[Flyfish]

I assume there is a distinction between "collecting" and "bunkering." Bourbon isn't like stamps or coins. You don't lick a rare stamp and use it to send a postcard. Bourbon, on the other hand, is meant to be used. I stock up on bottles that are not available in the Buckeye state or cost way more here. Right now, for example, I have three bottles of Booker's because it costs $20 more in OH than in AZ. Likewise, handles of KC at the same price as 750s in OH. Any of that stuff with Weller in its name is not available at any price. My stash of bourbon isn't hidden anywhere. Mainly because Mrs. F. gets upset when she doesn't get her fair share.

[smokinjoe]

I thought that was a classic sign of preparedness.

[bin31z]

My problem with collecting or stocking up on bourbon is that the corks go bad. I've opened numerous bottles of old scotch or bourbon to find the cork crumbling and letting in air leaving the bourbon very bland in flavor. I've found that even like less than 5 or 6 years, even a small leak in the cork (or just the natural grain of the cork) can deprive a great bourbon (blaton's SFTB) of all its flavor. Now, if more whiskeys had synthetic corks, it might be worth it to stock up a ton but as it is, I don't really see the point. While it may be true that they don't make it like they used to, bourbon is constantly aging in warehouses so I think bourbon is meant to be drunk within a couple of years.

[tanstaafl2]

My problem with collecting or stocking up on bourbon is that the corks go bad. I've opened numerous bottles of old scotch or bourbon to find the cork crumbling and letting in air leaving the bourbon very bland in flavor. I've found that even like less than 5 or 6 years, even a small leak in the cork (or just the natural grain of the cork) can deprive a great bourbon (blaton's SFTB) of all its flavor. Now, if more whiskeys had synthetic corks, it might be worth it to stock up a ton but as it is, I don't really see the point. While it may be true that they don't make it like they used to, bourbon is constantly aging in warehouses so I think bourbon is meant to be drunk within a couple of years.

Parafilm is your friend!

[meadeweber]

Parafilm is your friend!

Thanks for the tip!

Anyone else have experience with Parafilm?

[tsangster]

Thanks for the tip!

Anyone else have experience with Parafilm?

I use it regularly at work. Not really sure why but we're about to throw away two rolls because shelf life has expired. Stretchy plastic stuff with an expiration date, who knew? Think I'll make it a goal to ensure those rolls get to the dumpster.

[TunnelTiger]

A basement covered in spider webs is the perfect camouflage for me stash.

There is no how, no way she will go down there anymore.

[HOF44]

I have a Bourbon Cellar downstairs with all my unopened bottles. I have a bar upstairs with all my opens.

[Harry in WashDC]

A basement covered in spider webs is the perfect camouflage for me stash.

There is no how, no way she will go down there anymore.

Where do you get them? The spiders, I mean. I'm down there so much they don't have a chance to build doodly squat.

[flahute]

I have a Bourbon Cellar downstairs with all my unopened bottles. I have a bar upstairs with all my opens.

If someone were to sneak in to the cellar and open all of your unopens, would you have two bars?

[HOF44]

If someone were to sneak in to the cellar and open all of your unopens, would you have two bars?

[GaryT]

Thanks for the tip!

Anyone else have experience with Parafilm?

Yep - doesn't take a lot to wrap around the top of any bottles you expect to not open for extended periods of time. I use the 2", and it only takes a short clip (6" maybe?) to seal a bottle.

[smokinjoe]

Chuck's writings on this and several posts have a very Jeff Foxworthy You Might Be a Redneck if...sorta feel to them...