Storage

[troyce]

I fought the collecting bug for awhile but now find myself buying some of the rarer issues,knowing that it will be sometime before they are consumed. Is there an ideal condition for bottle storage or does temperature and humidity make any difference with bourbon? I know this situation is completely different from wine, but was still curious.

thanks

[cowdery]

Not much to worry about, really. Store them upright, especially if they are cork-stoppered. That's about it.

[bluesbassdad]

Chuck,

But what if he takes your tag line more seriously than the body of your message?

Yours truly,

Dave Morefield

[cowdery]

It'd like to think most people discover the truth of that statement, to their benefit, over time. Whiskey is for drinking, not for looking at.

[troyce]

For the most part, I do agree with Chuck's "Whiskey don't keep" philosophy and I know I was setting myself up for some shots with the storage question, but the pickings can be slim in Ga for several great bourbons and out of state opportunities came up and the home equity line had some room.

thanks

[cowdery]

It's all in the terminology. I don't think in terms of a "collection," I consider it my "reserve."

[TNbourbon]

...and the home equity line had some room.

Heck -- the bourbon in residence here comprises my home equity.

[clayton]

I feel the same way that Chuck does: it's a reserve. I plan to drink everything I buy.

When I started buying whisk(e)y, especially things that are spendier than the average bottle, I promised myself that I'd never be afraid to drink it. Never say, "Oh, that's the good/expensive stuff and I should save for later."

Which is not to say that I'll pour the Stagg/Hirsch/Tribute every night. My budget can't manage that. But if I own it, I will drink it. Besides, there's only so much room on the shelf and I doubt I'll stop buying bottles anytime soon.

[TNbourbon]

Oh, I've opened both '03 and '04 Stagg, Hirsch 16, an old Van Winkle Old Time Rye 12yo, Wild Turkey 12, et al, in the past 6 months. I plan to drink what I have, too, so I understand you and Chuck perfectly.

That said, the more-or-less irreplaceable bottles -- e.g., Stagg '02, Weller 19, Old Commonwealth -- of which I have only a single example, are 'collectibles' in the sense that it will be a very special occasion that prompts me to open one. I'll know the occasion when it happens.

[dgonano]

Oh, I've opened both '03 and '04 Stagg, Hirsch 16, an old Van Winkle Old Time Rye 12yo, Wild Turkey 12, et al, in the past 6 months. I plan to drink what I have, too,

Tim, I know you have at least 2 to 5 bottles in reserve of each, You can't fool us. Unless that cruise has changed your thinking.

[TNbourbon]

Oh, I've opened both '03 and '04 Stagg, Hirsch 16, an old Van Winkle Old Time Rye 12yo, Wild Turkey 12, et al, in the past 6 months. I plan to drink what I have, too,

Tim, I know you have at least 2 to 5 bottles in reserve of each, You can't fool us. Unless that cruise has changed your thinking.

Well, yeah -- except for the VW Old Time Rye, of which I only have one sealed bunker bottle (though I DO have 3 Family Reserve 13yo ryes).

I gotta start somewhere, Dave -- you don't expect me to drink 'em ALL at the same time, do you?

[gr8erdane]

But Tim, you CAN drink them all at the same time (reference to Dr Bourbonstein)

[Gillman]

You know, I was trolling in the old posts, there are lots of jewels there. One is a short thread on blending from 2002 started by none other than our Jim Butler (hmmm, Dr. Butlerstein, doesn't sound as good as Dr. Bourbonstein ).

I joined the thread towards the end and for one post only, I must have just joined the board and been bashful. But I notice in that thread that a number of posters, most still with us including our "Dr." Cowdery, were proponents of intelligent blending. Actually, Chuck said he liked the idea but didn't know if he, "had the time"! You must have been deep in the genesis of the book, Chuck! Brenda said amongst other things - I think it was that thread - that she used to work at Talbott's Tavern behind the bar. (Why did you quit, Brenda?). Okay, since blending is still of intrigue, here is my latest "meisterwerk" heh heh:

half bottle "plus" of equal amounts ORVW LOT B + Maker's Mark

smaller amounts of Jack Daniel, Elmer Lee, WR (to fill up some space from the wheat)

a couple of ounces of ORVW Family Reserve rye to lend backbone

To borrow a phrase from Bettye Jo, "oh yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh"!

Gary