doubleblank Posted December 4, 2003 Share Posted December 4, 2003 I have enjoyed bourbon for a long time but really caught the fever this year. So I decided to list the different bottles I've purchased and consumed over the last four months. I had no idea of the answer until I made the list as follows:Kentucky SpiritER 17yo 2002ER 10yo SBEWSB 92EWSB 93EW 7yoEzra Brooks 15yo EC 18yoWeller CentenialORVW 10/107RVW Special Reserve 12yoRVW Rye 13yoPappy 20yoBTGT Stagg 2003 (half consumed)ER 17yo 2003 (half consumed)RRWheh!!! I didn't realize the breadth (and volume) I had consumed over four months. What a journey! Several observations 1) there are only two of them I wouldn't purchase again and even they weren't bad, just not to my liking and 2) the quality/price ratio for bourbons in general is very high. We are indeed very lucky.My question is this....do most of you stick with a couple of favorites for your go-to bourbon....or do you keep a dozen bottles open like me and choose your drink each day based on the "moment" (ie outdoors/indoors, weather, having a cigar, company or solo, etc.) Just curious.DoubleBlank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B_Dub___Cigar_Ambassador Posted December 4, 2003 Share Posted December 4, 2003 I only have five bottles of bourbon going at the moment. I'm sure that will increase. To answer your question, I like to switch it up. Variety is the spice of life, and my bottles don't seem to get consumed very fast that way. My favorite at the moment is the Wild Turkey Russell's Reserve 10yo. I pour it over a couple rocks to dillute and chill it just a tad. Maybe someday I'll get up the gumption to drink it neat. I like to drink bourbon with my cigars, but lately I've been smoking a pipe too. I try to select a drink that I think will match the tobacco. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeff Posted December 4, 2003 Share Posted December 4, 2003 I like to keep a nice variety on hand at all times so I can choose something to fit my mood. Without counting I would guess I have about 30-35 bottles going at the moment, plus the unopened bottles that I have bunkered away for a rainy day. I built my bunker mostly one bottle at a time, usually a new bottle to reward a hard week's toils. I'll consume about half of it then start backing off a bit to conserve, then I'll move on to something else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OneCubeOnly Posted December 4, 2003 Share Posted December 4, 2003 These are the bottles I've drawn from within the last 4 months:Buffalo TracePappy 20Woodford ReserveOld Charter Proprietor's Reserve 13yoEagle Rare Single Barrel 10yoAncient Ancient Age 10yoOld Forester 86Elijah Craig 12yoBooker'sA.H. Hirsch Reserve 16yoBlanton'sOld Forester Birthday Bourbon '02 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave_in_Canada Posted December 4, 2003 Share Posted December 4, 2003 I open a new bottle and try it as soon as I can. Pours are free and generous to anyone willing to try, but when it gets down to about 1/3 then I HOARD it. Here's a list of my open bottles, in no particular order of course. AH Hirsch 16 Van Winkle Reserve 12 ORVW 10yr 90 ORVW 10yr 107 ORVW 15 yr WT 4yr WT 101 WT Ky Spirit WT RR WT Rye (woops, not a bourbon) ER 17 ER 10 single barrel Blanton's BT Weller Antique Weller Centennial Wathens SB EWSB '90 Elijah Craig 12 Bookers JB Black Knob Creek OF 86 Maker's not bad for a Canadian, eh? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ratcheer Posted December 5, 2003 Share Posted December 5, 2003 I currently have a bunch of different ones, but I've been thinking of paring down to a favorite 4 or 5 and sticking with them. Maybe a couple of those would change on an ongoing basis.Tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TNbourbon Posted December 5, 2003 Share Posted December 5, 2003 I currently have over 30 different bottlings in the house (not counting about 45 different full, tax-stamped collectible minis), but I only have five plus a rye open at the moment. And, many of the ones I have I also consider collectible, and won't open until I'm too poor to buy replacements (which might be any day!).My 'bunker' includes:All Van Winkles except the 23yoA.H. Hirsch 16yoStagg '03ER 17ER SBSazerac rye 18yoAAA 10yoOFBB '02OFBB Spring '03Old Charter 7yo (old collectible)Maker's MarkJim Beam Black 7yo 90-proofOld Forester 86Prichard's (a local TN product)Weller SR 7 yoWoodford's ReserveOld Fitz BIBWild Turkey ryeOriginal Michter's Whiskey (an unopened pint ceramic jug and several 50 ml minis, both plastic and ceramic)Four Roses blended whiskeyOld Fitz 12yoWild Turkey 12yoWeller 12yoIn addition, I have about a 140-bottle wine assortment which includes an '83 Lafite Rothschild and '83 Chateau d'Yquem and some other goodies.Whew, making that list made me thirsty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteelerFan Posted December 5, 2003 Share Posted December 5, 2003 I currently have 18 different bottles of Bourbon/Rye open. About 1/2 will be a one time only purchase. My current favorites, in no particular order: Stagg VWFRRye/13y Ezra B/15Y OGD/ 114 A.H. Hirsch/16y OFBB Weller Cent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesbassdad Posted December 5, 2003 Share Posted December 5, 2003 I'll estimate that I have 30-40 bottles open right now, a few more than that, counting rye and barley products. I select from them based on my mood, influenced slightly by the cost/rarity of a particular bottle and how much is left. (It takes a lot to get me to uncork the Hirsch 20 y/o or the Sam's or Park Ave. special bottlings from Van Winkle.) I have most of the ones on your list, except for the ER 17 and the Pappy 20, neither of which I've had the pleasure of trying, plus a few more. Lately I've been on a Turkey streak. Over the least week-plus it's been WT101, RR, or RB almost every day. (One night recently I started thinking maybe I was drinking too much. I poured an Islay malt -- got through the whole evening on only one pour. ) Before that, it was mainly Jim Beam -- black lable, KC and Booker's -- with an occasional ER SB, Hirsch (VW) 13 y/o rye and Buffalo Trace. On a side note, I did some arithmetic based on your consumption and arrived at about three drinks/day as the average. That's what I'd guess I average, and yet it seems like I hardly ever empty a bottle (although I can recall a few times when I've emptied two or three in a sort span). Counting unopened bottles, and adding in the non-bourbon bottlings, I have about 60 bottles in various states of fullness. I had thought that was several years' supply for me. I'm mildly shocked to realize that it's only about a year's worth. Yours truly, Dave Morefield Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SSBourbon1 Posted December 5, 2003 Share Posted December 5, 2003 The only bottles I have not yet openned in my collection are Pappy 23yr AH Hirsch 20 yr Distiller's Master Piece 20 year (I know there is some debate on this one) ER 17 yr I have about 35 other bottles open. I just go with with what the mood is for the night and pour a drink. I have not yet decided on a favorite because the ones I really like are the very expensive ones that I know I'll likely never get again caus I like to get the bottles. I hope that this doesn't sound like heresy but I have some bottle that I won't take a drink from for several months, not because I don't like them, just cause I don't get around to it. Some bottles I have had for several years cause I keep finding new ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ratcheer Posted December 5, 2003 Share Posted December 5, 2003 I don't have many open, right now. Let's see: Blanton's, Kentucky Spirit, Old Forester Birthday, Old Grand Dad 114, OGD 86, and Rare Breed. I think that's all. Unopened in the "bunker", I have several bottles of OFBB, one Kentucky Spirit, one Rare Breed, one WT101, and one OGD 86. If I actually dug in, I might find one or two other goodies. Not near as much as most of y'all, but a lot more than my wife would like to see. Tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black85L98 Posted December 5, 2003 Share Posted December 5, 2003 I keep six to ten bottles on hand. I change it up as I buy when I'm out of state. I try to make sure I have EC 12YO, Ancient Age, WT and OF the others go slower and cost more. Stag, OFBB, EWSB, ERSB, OGD 114, BT. I started to collect once and decided it would be a shame if I got hit by a truck and my wifes new friend would drink all my bourbon. All my replacement is going to get is a bunch of open bottles and I hope most of them are damn near empty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobbyc Posted December 5, 2003 Share Posted December 5, 2003 All my replacement is going to get is a bunch of open bottles and I hope most of them are damn near empty What about the 'Vette? Do you have a collection of Craftsman tools? Lets hope you both make it to a ripe old age, Rick! <font color="red"> Good God Give Peter Frampton Some </font> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buckky Posted December 5, 2003 Share Posted December 5, 2003 In no particular order since Jan '03:StaggWeller CentennialVanWinkle Rye 13Elmer T. LeeBlanton'sOld Forester 86Old Forester 100Ancient Ancient Age 10 YearAncient Ancient Age 10 StarBuffalo Trace McAfee's BenchmarkSazarac Rye 18WT 80WT 101Rare BreedMaker's MarkJim Beam BlackEvan Williams 7Evan Williams SB 90Elijah CraigBooker'sBasil Hayden'sBaker'sKnob CreekJim Beam RyeKentucky TavernJack Daniels 7Gentleman JackGeorge Dickel 12BulleitWoodford ReserveOld Fitzgerald 1849Old Grand DadSome of these have been pints or even half pints...I frequently buy small the first time if the reviews here on SB have been mixed. Only one I would never buy again...the Ky Tavern, and it was a "gift"...several others were "thin", and while not frequent purchases I would gladly take in a pinch....but of all of these, I could buy only the Buffalo Trace whiskeys and be a happy man. (well, add Woodford and Old Forester)....the ones I have not tried and can't wait to taste are any Birthday Bourbon, ER17, Weller 12, VOB, 1792,Kentucky Spirit and any additional VanWinkle...a mighty strong list in itself.(apparently I have missed my chance for Weller 18) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobbyc Posted December 5, 2003 Share Posted December 5, 2003 A trip to Ky might yield a Weller Antique Collection. No idea where to look , High rent side of some town. It's nice, others here like it more than I do. When I had the chance I only bunkered 1 bottle , so I have 1-1/2, if I never get any more of that. I wouldn't leave Stagg or Birthday Bourbon in the store for it. For what it's worth $0.02. <font color="brown"> Good God Give Ray Price Some </font> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gr8erdane Posted December 5, 2003 Share Posted December 5, 2003 I just can't imagine bunkering bottles myself. I'm like a kid coming home from the toy store in that once the door shuts in the house, I just have to open it up. Currently I have on my bar's shelves:Pappy Van Winkle 20 yrHirsch 16 yrBookersWoodford ReserveJefferson ReserveRock Hill FarmsBlantonsWathensElmer T LeeKnob CreekWT101ORVW 10/90Buffalo TraceOld Whiskey RiverPeter JakesWT RBEach has a place and time, and only a couple are less than half full. As far as I'm concerned, when they put me in the ground, I'm leaving all my stock to three friends. Two of them get to split the bourbon, the third gets everything else (mainly because he ran over my dog). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buckky Posted December 5, 2003 Share Posted December 5, 2003 How could I forget that Hirsch 16 was one I have had!! and Wathen's is one I want to definately try. Ezra 15 also interests me as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doubleblank Posted December 5, 2003 Author Share Posted December 5, 2003 Your arthmetic is dead on.....I probably average two drinks a day....some of the consumption was with my bourbon lovin friends. One other note....when I have two pours in an evening, I usually have two different bourbons. I'm not sure why, but I seem to enjoy comparing the two bourbons to each other. Last night it was EB15yo followed by the 2003 ER17yo (which is my current, if expensive, favorite).Regarding bunkering, I have set back some EWSB 93 for comaring to the 94 when released, same for the 2002 ER17yo. I have a Black Maple Hills 14yo I haven't opened...guess I'm waiting for the Texans to get to the Super Bowl LOL. Anyway....it seems most of us like to drink a variety of bourbons and we don't focus on a couple of favorites.DoubleBlank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeff Posted December 5, 2003 Share Posted December 5, 2003 and yet it seems like I hardly ever empty a bottle Dave, there was a while when I was thinking the exact same thing, almost like my bottles were bottomless. But then the time came when I looked out across my collection only to discover I had about 15 bottles with only 1 or 2 drinks left in them. That was a bad day for my wallet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackkeno Posted December 7, 2003 Share Posted December 7, 2003 Is "Prichards" a Tennessee whisky, a blend (based on Tennessee whisky?), or a bourbon? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TNbourbon Posted December 8, 2003 Share Posted December 8, 2003 I've had a little trouble coming by info about the Prichards' bourbon -- the producer only distills rum (from Louisiana sugar cane molasses) and went into business on that basis. My understanding is he buys bourbon stock already in barrels. He calls his bourbon (NOT Tennessee whiskey) 'double barreled' because he rebarrels it after dilution from barrel proof for a time before bottling. It is bottled at 90 proof at nine years old.The distillery is located in Kelso, Tennessee, a little 'wide-spot-in-the-road' community in rural mid-southern Tennessee, not many miles north of Huntsville, Ala.Its website looks like it hasn't been updated for a while, and only discusses his rum, but is mildly interesting. Prichards' Distillery Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black85L98 Posted December 8, 2003 Share Posted December 8, 2003 All my replacement is going to get is a bunch of open bottles and I hope most of them are damn near empty What about the 'Vette? Do you have a collection of Craftsman tools? Lets hope you both make it to a ripe old age, Rick! <font color="red"> Good God Give Peter Frampton Some </font> Crap, never thought of that stuff. Pool table, Guns, Bass Boat and lots of books too, think he would wear my suits? Hope I'm here for a few more good years. Please do give Frampton some. Put me back in my 73 Pontiac Sprint with my 8 track and Jensen Triax speakers. I'm in ............ Click, Click .............. you you're in me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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