Unicorn versus Available

[Radsman13]

OK, here is my question...

How many of you are sitting on bunkers of single "rare to find bourbons" that are still sealed and you have no plan of opening in the near future?

How many of you have a couple of special bottles that you have not opened because you have not run across that special occasion (even though it has been 3-5 years or more)?

How many of you are tired of searching for that next unicorn (even though you have a couple in your bunker)?

This is why I ask...I was "lucky" enough to be in the right place at the right time and purchase (at a premium price somtimes) a couple of bottles of George T Stagg, 4RSmB barrel strength, EC23, Micthers Toasted barrel, Jefferson 18yo (Batch 13) etc, etc...  I have opened none of these as I continue to buy and consume "common" bottles (more readily available ER10, SAOS10 and 7yr, Woodford Reserve double oak) while hoarding these "unicorns".

Would you do the same if you might never come across these again? Or worse yet, anticipate that you may open them and not enjoy them as much as they are hyped up to be? Or enjoy them as much as people hype them up to be only to never want to drain the bottle of the last dram or never be able to get another?

I know that it is up to individual taste and teasing out the right bottle that you enjoy most, which is why i frequent this site for the insight...

Just wondering what you would do?

[bigmzungu]

I don't have anything overly rare but do have a few "hard to find" bottles I'm sitting on for a special occasion. I have a couple open as well. I always get nervous when I open a special bottle because I hope it lives up to the anticipation.  I always have to get myself prepared to enjoy it for what it is and not for what it is supposed to be!

[jaxn slim]

I've been fortunate to come across a lot of unicorns during my years of pretty intense hunting, and I make a conscious effort to drink them.  There are a bunch that I haven't opened yet, but that's mostly because I am allowed to drink only so much in a day.

[Radsman13]

Please know that I am not calling anything in my collection a true "unicorn"...

Just using these as my examples

 

[jaxn slim]

11 minutes ago, Radsman13 said:

Please know that I am not calling anything in my collection a true "unicorn"...

Just using these as my examples

 

"Unicorn" is kind of a personal designation, anyway though, right?  Eye of the beholder and all that.  For example, I used to see the Van Winkles, BTAC, Weller 12, etc. on the shelf all the time.  They're not really unicorns to me, since I used to see them with some regularity, but they are to a lot of people.  OTOH, there are others that have always been harder for me to get, like BT Experimental Collection or MWND.

[petrel800]

Drink them, don't stare at them and wonder.  Nothing in those bottles is life changing and I hate to break it to you, at first, many won't live up to the hype because most everything is completely over hyped at this point.  There will always be more bourbon and you'll likely learn to appreciate how good some of the stuff you can buy daily really is compared to these "unicorns."  

 

We all take life and health for granted, but either could be gone tomorrow.  Share the experience with those closest to you.  Sure, save one here or there for a special occasion, but waking up to a new day is always a special occasion in my book.  Find a good balance, being afraid to open these for whatever reason is not balance . . . 

 

 

 

[The Black Tot]

I've got backups of my favorites. Some might say it's out of proportion, but I do plan to get to them all.

I won't buy a backup of something if I haven't opened one and tasted it and decided it's worth backing up, so there's always ONE of my best bottles open.

Most of the reason I've got good bottles unopened in the bunker is that I've got to pay attention to cleaning house this year - I've got to face the bottles I didn't like, and drink them, as well as reduce the number of open bottles at a time, for freshness. It's a ridiculously good problem to have, of course - "god dammit, I'm going to have to have a few glasses of 3-star bourbon tonight, or learn to make a cool new cocktail!"

NONE of my bottles are ornaments or trophies. But I also don't plan on opening any new 5-star bottles "in the near future", because I've got more than a near future's worth of finishing bottles that are already opened.

I can say this - I don't have anything bunkered that I don't already know what it tastes like, and the first one ALWAYS gets opened.

If you don't open them, then you don't know anything about the bourbon inside other than how to purchase a bottle - is that what you want the hobby to be about for you?

It's a fine line, because I have good bottles in a bunker, too. But you make it sound like you're never going to drink them. If you don't drink them, someone will buy them after you're dead and drink them - who will have won?

I think the special occasion argument is usually a bad one. Most of us who use that argument sit on bottles hmming and hawing over "is this night worthy? Hmmm...", and we end up going through our lives only to realize later that even that plain old Tuesday night in October was plenty special, and would have been even more special if we had opened that Stagg and savored it. Learn this lesson sooner than later.

I also think it's easy to fall into the "daily drinker" trap. Speaking for myself, I was very bad at assessing how much I actually consume. I figured I needed backups even of the daily drinkers...etc.

It turns out that, working offshore and being unable to drink at all for half the year, I only really go through about 9-10 bottles a year, TOTAL. Which means if I buy a 6-case of a daily drinker, I've pushed back the consumption of my nicer bottles by nearly a year! That's stupid of me.

How many bottles did I buy last year? I'm not sure, but it's probably more than 100. Again, that's 10yrs+ of drinking.

Now, some of this makes a little sense - We're in a nasty whiskey boom, prices are going up, age statements are falling all around us, and availability is going down. ~50 of last year's bottles are stuff that is straight up extinct, and will never return. So there is that.

But even if it's tough to get for a few years, they're not going to stop making George T Stagg or WLW. Or 4 Roses LTD SmB. If you miss it for a year or two, who cares? You'll find something else. Those bottles will get made for the rest of our lives, and sooner or later people will take an interest in something else and we'll get our chance to see 'em on shelves again.

What I've learned is this - I can find 10 limited/exceptional bottles a year. At the rate I actually drink, I could drink nothing but limiteds, and still not run out. Even in THIS market.

Think about the above, and don't spend your life drinking daily drinkers purely out of fear that you'll never replace your limiteds. Drink your daily drinkers because they're special in their own right, or because they're great in this one cocktail, or your friend loves it, or whatever else.

Lastly, don't buy any whiskey that doesn't blow your mind. I don't mean satisfy you. I mean blow your mind. That does NOT mean it has to be expensive or a bugger to get. You can find a $50 SAOS or a $30 Knob Creek barrel pick that totally drives you nuts. I found a Hancock's pick last year and I bought 14 of 'em, because they rock my world - 30 bucks each. In this market. If they don't blow your mind, leave them on the shelf. Blow your mind whiskeys are out there - you'll only find yours by experiencing the widest range of whiskeys you can, training your palate. Part of that is tasting your limiteds. You'll probably find some of them aren't any big deal to you. I bought a 4R 125th SmB - I swear I have no idea what the fuss is about - everyone's taste buds are different. Imagine what a headache you'll save yourself if you find out you don't care for GTS!!! That would make for a much easier life.

I say read this post and go straight to your collection and open one that you've been precious about, and you can come right back here and tell us if you regret it.

Then you'll be one of those guys who actually knows what GTS is about, which is way better than having one on the mantle.

[flahute]

I open all of mine at some point fairly soon after purchasing for the simple reason that "I must know how it tastes" - especially if it's one I've been seeking for a while. I don't worry about the "too many bottle open" factor. Limiteds have a special shelf they live on that are stashed away though accessible. I can easily open one, try it, and stash it without taking up space on the "regulars" shelf. I can then revisit at my leisure. I have waited for the "special occasion" a time or two, but the wait was only a month or two. I'm with the guys who say that life is short, you should enjoy it. 

[Fort Knox]

If all you want is to collect something rare and collectible, then there are better options than a consumable like bourbon.  Try stamps or coins or art.  I don't buy any bottles that I don't intend to drink.  Sure, I try to drink my '14 GTS slower than, say a 4RSB, but The Black Tot's post is dead on:  Are you in this just to see if you can find and buy limited edition bottles, or do you wanna know what that bourbon tastes like?  I don't get enjoyment by looking at a bottle of ECBP.  I've just gotta smell it and taste it, because it's just soooo good.  If I run out?  I'll try to find another bottle.  If I can't for a while, I'll drink something else until I do.

[b1gcountry]

I like what flahute and black tot said. At least in theory. With the kids under 5yo, and me starting a family later in life, I am mostly packed from 6am until 8pm. If I need to get something done after 8pm,I don't have much time to enjoy a drink. I like to keep my nicer bottles for nights I can enjoy them and spend at least 30 minutes enjoying a glass.

A lot of times I might not like new stuff immediately, but do in time. So I like to give a bottle at least half a fifth before I really give up on liking it.

so because I like trying new things, but I'm not very familiar with all the offerings out there, it does tale me a while to get through some of my new bottles, and I also spend a decent amount of time drinking things I might not have loved the first few times.

 

[jvd99]

I'm sitting on a significant bunker split pretty evenly between bourbon/rye and single malts, all limited editions, single barrels, store picks, unicorns etc. and loving it.  The fruits of serious hunting and good relationships.  Sometimes I drink them, sometimes it's a regular bottle I like from the store, however, I feel no obligation to drink or open anything in the bunker, even though they may have been sitting in there fore a few years.  It will get drunk when it gets drunk.  I have decades to work through it.  Right now, I have opened a GTS, THH, HWDR, ECBP, EHTBP, MMCS 375, OWA and FR store pick.  That's a typical lineup for me pulled primarily from the bunker.  No need to rush and open anything else. 

[kjbeggs]

I've got a few bottles that I have deemed "Very special occasion" bottles that I have not opened yet, but done with the knowledge that I have two step-children who will be both be getting married soon (one this year, one next), so those bottles will get opened then. I've also got most of the PVW/BTAC collections opened, along with 4RLE's, Balcones special releases, etc. Once more of those get drank down, I'll open up some of the other rare bottles, and compare. I've never worried too much about having too many open bottles before, but now that my stock has grown to it's current size, I feel like I need to empty some before I raid the bunker. Bottom line is, I bought them all to drink them, and I've only got so many years left to do so...

I get how difficult it can be to pop open a $100 bottle of PVW, when you see them being "Sold" for 10-15 times retail on the secondary market, but imagine how hard it must be for the guy who actually paid $1500 for that bottle to open it.

I promise you it tastes a lot better, knowing you got it at retail...

 

[jfarmer]

I only open "unicorns" on special occasions when friends are over.  Any of the new allocated bottles I am lucky enough to get I open them right away and share a sample with the store owner.  Most of the time I only drink what I can replace, but Eagle Rare and Four Roses Private barrels to me are right up there with the BTAC's and Van Winkles.  Well maybe not the BTAC's.

 

[tanstaafl2]

I too typically open the new "limited" bottles most often when I have friends around who I know will appreciate them. Admittedly I could have friends over a lot and open a new one every time. It is a nice problem to have!

Otherwise Paul/Black Tot and others pretty much covered it all for me. Which saves me a lot of typing! 

It is perhaps important to recognize that people who tend to congregate here I suspect tend to be the exception in terms of pretty freely drinking the more limited bottles AND tending to keep additional ones that they can scrounge up in reserve. But that vast majority of SBers I have met could not be more generous with their whiskey or the best advice on making the most of it!

Edited February 23, 2016 by tanstaafl2

[BonVivant84]

Ya I cant say I have anything that I wont open in the bunker.  For the most part its been piling up  because i have so many bottles open and i want to finish them ( i prob have just over 20 bottles open and maybe half would be thought of as really hard to get.)

Nothing is sacred, and to echo others, every day you wake up is a special one.  One of my favorite things to do especially if im out and see stuff crazy marked up at a bar, is to go home grab from from the top shelf and swig from the bottle like a pirate.......It's just booze  

[dSculptor]

When I first started the hunt for the Le's I was all about the "investment" part of it. Which.. lets face it, some of these bottles can make you more money than putting it in a bank or wherever. I still look at it this way, but for my wife in case something ever happened to me she could sell these and get some money back, providing there are some left, I will open as many as I can.. but in due time.

I do like looking at full bottles of these LE's, they look much better full than empty. But that wont stop me from popping them whenever I get the urge. I also have plenty of these opened or have tasted them already, every single one, except for ...... CEHT Tornado - I have not tasted this one ever, and wonder about ever opening this one. Who knows maybe one day I'll just grab it and say what the hell.

If I ever get to the point that I need to sell things because I need the money, I have plenty of other things that will go before my whisky collection.

Hell, I just popped me another  CEHT CO the other day, 'cause that stuff is sooo damn delicious!

So I say ...pop 'em if you want...look at 'em if you want .....sell 'em if you want.....they're yours ...do with them as you please.

[Quantum]

On 2/22/2016, 9:51:02, The Black Tot said:

That does NOT mean it has to be expensive or a bugger to get. You can find a $50 SAOS or a $30 Knob Creek barrel pick that totally drives you nuts. I found a Hancock's pick last year and I bought 14 of 'em, because they rock my world - 30 bucks each. In this market. If they don't blow your mind, leave them on the shelf. Blow your mind whiskeys are out there - you'll only find yours by experiencing the widest range of whiskeys you can, training your palate. Part of that is tasting your limiteds. You'll probably find some of them aren't any big deal to you.

This is terrific advice. It may take a little time and effort, but it is possible to find some affordable store picks to stock up on every once in a while.

When I first got into bourbon, I focused on limited stuff like Pappy and BTAC. I never actually bought that many, but I made an effort to grab a few bottles a year. I knew I liked them, and I would be highly satisfied if I cracked one open.

Over the years I've had more chances to try private selections and store picks. Whenever I find one I really enjoy, I make an effort to pick up few extra bottles. Sometimes that meant tracking down a friend of a friend of a coworker in another city to mule bottles for me, and I have spent a fair amount on shipping. But, now I have a solid supply of bottles that I know I can reach for and be very satisfied. I would much rather meet someone in another city and spend a little on shipping that fight the unwashed masses clamoring for pappy. My collection of the highly sought after limited releases has dwindled to practically nothing, and I am perfectly happy with that. Sure I would enjoy a PVW15 or GTS at retail, but I don't feel like I am missing anything when I can't find one.

[ken_mays]

I don't have much of a bunker, but what I do have is mostly on hand to replace when I run out on a Sunday afternoon, and there is already a bottle of everything I have open on the bar.  I'm not one for hoarding rare and expensive stuff.  I drank almost all of that already and I refuse to replace it at current rates.

[O'DubhGhaill]

On ‎2‎/‎22‎/‎2016‎ ‎22‎:‎27‎:‎28, petrel800 said:

Drink them, don't stare at them and wonder.  Nothing in those bottles is life changing and I hate to break it to you, at first, many won't live up to the hype because most everything is completely over hyped at this point.  There will always be more bourbon and you'll likely learn to appreciate how good some of the stuff you can buy daily really is compared to these "unicorns."  

 

We all take life and health for granted, but either could be gone tomorrow.  Share the experience with those closest to you.  Sure, save one here or there for a special occasion, but waking up to a new day is always a special occasion in my book.  Find a good balance, being afraid to open these for whatever reason is not balance . . . 

 

 

 

This post nails it for me on many levels. 

FWIW, back in the 90s, living in Philly, I tried a newly released bottle of top shelf bourbon for the exorbitant price of ~$60 and found it to be incredibly yummy.  I went back and bought two more, one of which I drank with my wife over the course of a month or three, who never liked bourbon, but loved this stuff.  The other bottle was opened a few years later.  A.H. Hirsch 16 year blue wax.  Do I regret not hoarding?  Nah, it was great stuff, but nothing I would pay more than $100 for now or $60 then.  Too many other great affordable bourbons out there, even now, to regret enjoying something rather than looking at it in a box in the basement.  Life is indeed short and every new day is a gift - ENJOY IT NOW!!!

[amg]

Almost all of the "special" bottles I have are open. It might take me a while to get through them, but nothing is too legendary to open.

[harrbo]

I really need to take some of this advice....................I often feel like I'm a collector

I'll drink VOB or McKenna 10 year, and the other bottles sit on the shelf like trophy's

[Jacket]

well enjoy your VOB; it's MIA around here.

 

[flahute]

2 hours ago, harrbo said:

I really need to take some of this advice....................I often feel like I'm a collector

I'll drink VOB or McKenna 10 year, and the other bottles sit on the shelf like trophy's

Those are great daily drinkers and hold their own nicely. Open the trophies and enjoy them sparingly. The likes of McKenna on a regular basis won't make you think you're compromising.

[Tony Santana]

I pretty much drink whatever strikes my fancy.  That might be an ER10, or a Parkers Heritage or whatever.  My bunker is big enough I can hit up the rarer bottles without fear.  Like dsculptor, that CEHT Tornado is still unopened, but it will be someday.  Black Tot is a wise man.  Drink it up.

[Swoboda]

We have one bottle of ETL 93 Proof Commemorative that hasn't been opened.  In the meantime, we've popped PVW15, GTS and others to drink and share with neighbors, family and friends.  There's just something about that ETLC that has us keeping it in reserve.  Since ETL comes available from time to time at MSRP, we drink that instead.  No immediate plans to open it . . .  we'll open it one fine day.