The top 3 treasures in your bunker

[Whiskeythink.com]

I'm curious as to what treasures some SB'ers have in their bunker. What do you consider your top 3 bottles you have right now? Unavailable, rare, dusty, valuable, sentimental, hyped, or just tasty - whatever. Wadaya ranking?

 

[beasled]

2 x signed wax top bottles of ETL from pre-2007 

Wild Turkey 12 CGF

ETL Commemorative, which I had in my wedding day flask, so I've kept a spare to open in the future with the best man

[ratcheer]

All of my treasures are probably more than 10 years old (since I got them, not the whiskey ages): Blanton's, Kentucky Spirit, and Old Forester Birthday Bourbon 2002 (barreled 1989),

 

Tim

[jbutler]

I suppose the definition of "treasure" is fairly subjective, but for me it's more about sentimental value than the price a bottle might bring on the secondary market. With that in mind, I say: a 2002 GTS, a bottle of Wild Turkey 101 Jimmy Russell signed for me when we had lunch together in 1999, and a Hirsch 13YO rye. It's getting to the point where the preponderance of the bottles I have are irreplaceable, and there's a story tied to most of them.

 

"Damn, another bottle I can't open!"

[DCFan]

One each of:

Blantons

CEHT 4g

BT Handle

[bourbon4all]

A Sazerac 18 that will be opened at the birth of my next child in/around January. Jefferson's 10 rye (because it's delicious).  Some older Wild Turkey Rare Breed. Really hard to choose three. 

Edited September 29, 2017 by bourbon4all

[elmossle]

Geez, this like someone asking me which of my kids do I like best. I'm sure this list would change week to week, but here it is:

 

1. Four Roses 125th- Signed by JR after a lengthy discussion at a liquor store where there was no one and he was just trying to pass the time. Best 50 minutes I've ever had with a MD.

2. Saz 18 2014- This was the first time I had seen one and because it is one of the last releases with the original tanked juice. Plus it completes my BTAC collection.

3. VWFRR 2016- Mainly because it is the last of the old tanked juice. Lots of other options that could go in this slot.

[Kane]

Well, I have many LEs and stuff in my cabinet, but looks like I still have no treasured bourbons in my possession atm, but still:

 

THH 2013 -- My favorite vintage, and I found it sitting on the shelf the day after the store held a raffle, which I missed. I guess nobody wanted it?!

Caol Ila 15yr Unpeated, Diageo Special Release 2014 -- For some reason I am in love with this whisky, I had a pour at a bar in 2017, and literally spent the rest of the week tracking down a bottle.

Balcones True Blue -- My bottle is from the Chip Tate era to boot. This is an absolute stunner of a whiskey. I came across only this one bottle in my entire search.

Edited September 29, 2017 by Kane

[fishnbowljoe]

Hmmmmmmm............... I reckon mine would probably be;

#1. Weller

#2. Weller

#3. Weller

 

   Seriously though, like Jim, my top three are sentimental ones. A bottle of Old Charter Classic 12 that I got from  Paul ( p_elliot), an older OWA 10/107 that was a gift from a fellow member here, and my Maker's Mark Colts Super Bowl bottle signed by Bill Samuels, and Dave Pickerell.  

 

Cheers! Joe

[kevinbrink]

I don't have any particular sentimental attachment to any of my bottles, I kicked a SAOS Rye on my Birthday that was bottled on my Birthday a few years back, that was the closest thing, or WT MK17 which was a gift from my parents. But the bottles I will miss the most when they are gone, since they would be tough to replace, are probably:

 

1. Ballechin 10 Yr Sauternes Cask Stregnth

2. Hamilton St. Lucia 8 Yr Cask Strength Rum

3. Jefferson's 10 yr Rye (Masterson's is close in profile but Jefferson's has noticeably more Oak)

 

If It's just Bourbon's:

1. WT 101 Old No 8 (fortunately I have 6 375's so it will be a while before they are gone)

2. Barrell Batch 004 

3. I don't know probably one of the older Booker's batches I have???

 

All of this is subject to change, there are definitely bottles others would pick out of my bunker first 

[jvd99]

For me it's a (1) FR single barrel which was my Ah-Ha! Bottle six years ago; (2) tax strip OWA from the 60's or 70's I found dusty hunting; and (3) a WFE 25 year Rye from the gift shop on my first trip to KY with Mrs. jvd99.

 

 

[jvd99]

Can't forget about the other half of the bunker.  These dusty finds are self explanatory 

 

 

[BottledInBond]

Currently Saz18, GTS 2014 and FRLEsmb 2015. Not the most expensive or rarest bottles I've had but the ones I enjoy drinking a lot that appreciate having more of. 

[Mako254]

Al Young is my only real LE or highly sought after. 

 

6 or 7 four roses private barrels

 

3 rock hill farms

 

nothin' fancy compared to others on here. 

[km1589]

Al Young

EC21

assortment of store picks (OWA, ER, BT, FR) just can't seem to get enough

[miller542]

Ok, my three:

Russell's Reserve from 2006 - with personalized label, gift to all my groomsmen and made one for myself

HHSS SB.com group buy #1 - privileged to be included in the purchase and appreciate all involved getting it to us.

ER 10yr 101.  - just because its are irreplaceable and really good!

 

Honorable Mention:  RR101, EWSB '94-'04

 

However, nothing is really that "treasured" as they're all intended to be consumed, just a matter of how much deliberation will go into opening each.

Edited September 29, 2017 by miller542
had to add a pic!

[kevinbrink]

1 minute ago, miller542 said:

Ok, my three:

Russell's Reserve from 2006 - with personalized label, gift to all my groomsmen and made one for myself

HHSS SB group buy #1 - privileged to included in the purchase and appreciate all involved getting it to us.

ER 10yr 101.  - just because its are irreplaceable and really good!

 

Honorable Mention:  RR101, EWSB '94-'04

 

However, nothing is really that "treasured" as they're all intended to be consumed, just a matter of how much deliberation will go into opening each.

Man I would love to have a pour of RR101 again, glad to have the 110pf single barrels now though. 

[JoeTerp]

Well if I had to pick them I think these would be my top 3 most meaningful bottles I have:

 

1. Macallan 18 - Distilled in 1986 - This one the wife and I purchased as one of two bottles to have at our wedding (both behind the bar and at the afterparty we had in our room).  It turns out the one bottle is long gone as it was killed back on that fateful night in August 2006, but this one was never opened.  I'm sure I'll open it up some time, but I was saving it for the longest time.  Nowadays I don't really drink scotch very often and I'm much more often reaching for a bourbon or rye.  Either way I'll enjoy this one in the future and hopefully a pour in the distant future with my wife who can't stand scotch after a miserable college experience (she does happen to enjoy bourbon and bourbon based cocktails though).

 

2. Blanton's Straight From the Barrel - After hearing so many positive reviews of this bourbon I had been wanting to try / purchase for a long time.  Well one day when I found out that Master of Malt had a few different barrels in stock (I can't quite remember, but there's a pretty good chance this intel came from this site) I went to check it out.  It turns out that one of the four barrels they had was bottled on March 31, 2016.  That happens to be the day my son was born.  I ended up purchasing two bottles.  I haven't cracked them open yet, but I'd imagine that one of them will be opened over the next couple of years.  The other just happens to coincidentally been bottle #21 from the barrel.  It will be a test of my patience and my children's ability to stay away from my liquor in their teen years, but that one is earmarked to be opened and share a few pours with my son for his 21st. 

 

3.  Macallan 21 - Well this is the only one of the bunch that has been actually opened and enjoyed.  I purchased this one back in 2011 for what seemed like a ridiculous amount of money at the time (and it was, but the prices I've seen this for recently are over double what I paid 6 years ago).  I didn't drink bourbon back in those days, but I enjoyed a good scotch and Macallan was my favorite.  The 12 was ok, I liked the 18, but the ones I enjoyed the most were the cask strength and the Fine Oak series.  I know that since I've gotten further into whiskey it seems the aficionados really look down on the whole Fine Oak line.  That's fine, but I preferred the 15 to the 18 (I also didn't mind that the 15 was ~$70 while the 18 was ~$125, but those days are long gone).  Well one day back when I used to work in DC, I went to a Macallan event with a friend and his wife.  He had always been a scotch fan, but Oban 14 was his preferred scotch of choice (and the Macallan 15 was mine).  Well I remember that they had a tasting of 5 for us at the event.  They had the classic Sherry line of the 12 and the 18 and the Fine Oak series 10, 15, and 17.  Well the Fine Oak 10 was really bad, but we all enjoyed the other 4.  And the real highlight of our night was the Fine Oak 17 which we both thought was the superior whisky of the night (and to which we were told by the brand ambassador was really an 18 year old scotch that was just named a 17 to avoid confusion with their core brand).  I looked around for the 17 afterwards but it was tricky to find.  One day while visiting my mom back home I asked the liquor store if they carried it, but they proclaimed that they didn't because the 21 was almost the same price.  Well I bit the bullet and purchased the 21 year old Fine Oak.  I've had this and enjoyed it quite a bit over the years (although it's probably been about 3 and a half years since I've tasted it).  These days I don't drink scotch much anymore, but I'm sure that I'll go back and enjoy this one at some point.  Psychologically this one has been a tough one for me to finish off as I really doubt that I would ever replace this given it's current price.

Edited September 30, 2017 by JoeTerp

[smokinjoe]

8 hours ago, JoeTerp said:

 

1. Macallan 18 - Distilled in 1986 - This one the wife and I purchased as one of two bottles to have at our wedding (both behind the bar and at the afterparty we had in our room). 

After party we had in our room, Joe???  Please, tell us more!!  

[Clueby]

Probably a 2016 GTS and a 2016 WLW and then a sealed 1974 Seagrams Seven for sentimental reasons.

[JoeTerp]

2 hours ago, smokinjoe said:

After party we had in our room, Joe???  Please, tell us more!!  

No Eyes Wide Shut type stuff here. Just a chance to keep the night going with the younger crowd. We both grew up in different areas and went to different schools so we figured this was probably the only time all our closest friends would be gathered in the same place. So when midnight hit and the reception  was over we kept going for a few more hours. 

[Kepler]

I guess my top 3 coveted bottles would probably be these (sorry I cheated; could not decide so had to invoke a tie!)

 

-   Booker's Rye.  I haven't opened my bottle yet but what I tried in bars was simply fantastic. Feel fortunate to have scored a bottle.

 

-  Wild Turkey 12 Year. Can't replace it. Perhaps my perfect tasting bourbon, if there is such a thing.  This would be my favorite daily drinker if I had a couple of cases.  Sadly I only have a couple of bottles.

 

- (tie) 4R SmB LE 2015:  Rutledge's final LE. It was also a gift so that makes it more important to me.

         PVW15:  I may have other whiskies I like a little better, but damned if I know when I could get lucky enough to replace this one. This is supremely balanced and refined whiskey.

 

[GaryT]

Top 3 in the bunker is tough, as usually the only way something gets into the bunker is if I really really like it.  Like I hear parents lament not having a favorite child, I feel like I can't pick "just three" - but these would be my top five (in no particular order):

 

 - Heaven Hill Select Stock; SB.com # 1 (one of the best whiskies I've tasted and owned - period)

 - Heaven Hill Select Stock; SB.com # 2 (Like #1 . . . but maybe better!)

 - Four Roses Single Barrel OBSK (GBS pick - one of my favorite GBS picks)

 - Russell's Reserve Single Barrel (GBS pick - also one of my favorite GBS picks, possibly THE favorite)

 - Elmer T Lee (GBS pick - the first barrel I had the privilege to participate in the selection; oh - and a damn fine ETL too!)

 

I define the "bunker" as full/sealed bottles, although I don't know that I have any open that would knock these out.  I've kept several empty bottles with personalized autographs (a 2013 FRSmBLE, or CB The General), but I'll never for get Jim Rutledge reminding me when he signed the bottle that after the whiskey is poured out - the bottle will still be signed (except I'll have had the enjoyment of tasting and sharing that - which is where the real magic is).

[Gorzo]

These  are my  3 favorites (today anyway) out of my collection.  I have never had a sip of the 16yr Van Winkle, but have tried the other two. The 12yr WT is the best bourbon I have ever had the pleasure of tasting. ..... Great idea for a thread. Have enjoyed reading the post. 

[lrochau]

Not my most "valuable" but three I'm glad to have in my bunker:.

ER101 black label - two year search to find some in houston

NASA Liquors Old Scout 8 year old barrel proof selection - amazing juice, was at right place at right time to score a couple bottles

Secritariat Four Roses single barrel signed by Master Distiler - I love playing the horses and this is a cool bottle.