What are the Stars in your Collection

[jsgorman]

For those that have a bunker or a small collection, what bottles are you most proud of or have the most sentimental value?

Bourbon:

Very Extra Old Fitzgerald (Not For Sale)

Scotch

Springbank 1966 Local Barley

[troyce]

Over the past couple of years I've added several "keepers' but I'm afraid I may keep sitting on them ,never taste.

Jos. Finch

Henry Clay

Pappy 23

BT Experimental Collection

Tribute

WT 12

ORVW 15

Stagg

[HighTower]

Pappy 23

Wild Turkey 17yo Japan

Wild Turkey Freedom signed by Jimmy

Makers Mark RWB signed by Bill

Crown Royal XR

These are bottles that I can't see being replaced, maybe another Pappy 23 one day......

Edit:

There seem to be a few honorable mentions I left out, like Makers Mark Gold Wax 101 (thanks Troy), Booker's 10th Anniversary;

Wild Turkey... 8yo 101, 12yo 101, Rare Breed (WT-01-97) (All signed by Jimmy)

...Kentucky Legend SB Barrel Proof

...Tribute US & Jpn

Jim Beam Gold Label

06 BTAC

my Jack Daniels "Family Of Fine Whiskey" cabinet signed by Jimmy Bedford

and more than a few other JD collectable bottles

Scott

[TNbourbon]

...what bottles are you most proud of or have the most sentimental value?..

Ah, there's the rub: if you mean "too proud of to open", then the answer is, I don't have any. As for sentimental value, I have a handful of birthyear bottles that I've 'collected' because they are of that year but, again, my intention is to open them at an SB.com gathering nearest my next milestone birthday.

All that said, I DO have a bottle or two that might cause a second glance when you spot it:

• Old Fitzgerald 5yo BIB (4/5-quart), S1947/F1952
  
• Very Old Fitzgerald 8yo BIB (4/5-quart), F1956/F1964
  
• Century Bonded BIB (half pint), S1950/S1955
  
• J.W. Dant BIB (quart), S1953/F1957
  
• Old Grand-Dad BIB (4/5-quart), S1957/F1961
  
• Old Fitzgerald 6yo BIB (4/5-quart), Fall 1959/Fall 1965
  

I have a couple of decent open bottles, too.

[BobA]

I guess the "stars" are the ones I can't get anymore, to be consumed wisely. Saz 18 2003 is probably at the top of that. ORVW 15 and (old) 10 yr/107. ER 101/10 yr. has a good suporting role. Fortunately, this board provided enough of a heads up that the WT RR 101 is well bunkered.

Bob

[Special Reserve]

ORVW 15 Lawrenceburg. I look at it and wonder how it may taste. Some day I'll know.

[SBOmarc]

It may pale in comparison to some, but.

WT Tribute

BTAC '06

[Jazzhead]

The stars? The best all around are my WT101RRs that I've made an effort to find and bunker. (I've got four in hiding, and one in a state of drinky-ness.)

I have two Glenmore Kentucky Taverns, which are good drinkin' and the last of their breed. I love cheap bourbon; I'd much rather find bottles of good cheap bourbon than the eighty dollar swill. The KTs were only eight bucks apiece! I've got about four bottles of dimpled Old Forrester BIBs, which are most excellent drinking.

I've got an Old Fitz BIB that's from the early eighties, that was a complete lone wolf on a lonely shelf, and it's gone the longest of anything in my bunker without being opened.

Three bottles of Maryland-distilled WT Rye from the mid-seventies. One is being consumed presently; it's very candy like, but the next bottle's going to be better since I busted a cork with this one.

I have one bottle left of Old Hickory, which is of sentimental value since it's the "Kentucky Bourbon" from Philly (distilled by Publicker) . The bourbon itself is drinkable, but undistinguished.

Of the recent bourbon-mimicking-Scotch-prices brands, the one that's most worth the premium price, that one that delivers the ultimate premium bourbon experience for my money, isn't a Van Winkle or a Hirsch, but Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit. That is drinking liquid velvet.

[ThomasH]

I consider my star bottles the ones that are not only no longer being made but also ones that you just happen onto. It doesn't really matter how cheap or expensive they are or how good or bad they are perceived to be, they are the ones that spark the excitement of finding them and enjoying a drink in general. One that immediately comes to mind is WT RR101. Its amazing how many years I saw these bottles and never even thought about them unitil I finally tried some and then almost immediately the proof was dropped. A few others are the Colonel Lee 100 and and 80 proof. Even though they are not exactly held in high regard on this forum, I still remember seeing tons of the 100 in Ohio and almost overnight it disappeared. I have only found the 80 proof once in all the places I have been. Another is a bottle of Ancient Age blended whiskey I recently got. I only knew these ever existed about a year ago. I recently bought one that I think is from 1995. Again, it is just the novelty of having one regardless if it turns out good or not so good. Finding bottles of inexpensive brands is most fun for me as it isn't nearly the disappointment and let down of say a 50.00 bottle that isn't what you expected or hoped for. I also like finding some of the duty free only bottles. They are a nice treat over something you can get every day. 2 brands I miss because they were some of the 1st bourbon I drank are Bonded Beam and the Original 90 proof Beam Black label that was aged 101 months. Those bring back fond memories. Don't get me wrong, there is a place in my bunker for every bottle I own, all 100+ of them!

Thomas

[ratcheer]

Old Forester Birthday Bourbon - 2002

Rock Hill Farms

WT Kentucky Spirit

The Balvenie 15-yr old single barrel

Remy Martin XO

Grand Marnier 150th Anniversary

Tim

[Vange]

off the top of my head

Hirsch 20

Hirsch 19

BTEC

BRNIR

Crown Royal XR

Mac 25

Michters cermaic jug (750 ml)

Pappy 23

DM 18 and 20

HSS (tequila)

JCRF 2004

KC 1951 (IW)

Delamain Family Reserve (cognac)

tesseron Lot 29 (cognac)

[doubleblank]

Here are mine

Several VOF's from the '50's. Seem to be on everyone's "Holy Grail" list.

Van Winkle Family Reserve 17yo from Julian's personal collection purchased at auction at the Getz Museum in Bardstown and signed by Julian. This is the same whiskey that eventually became the first Pappy 20. Dripping red wax top.

Van Blankle 12yo Lot B signed by Julian. It will be the last one drunk.

1957 Old Forrester BIB 5yo in the Raymond Loewy designed decanter. Roger also likes this bottle design. One of my faves to look at. Plastic and glass.

Waterfill Frazier distilled in the distillery a Beam (Betty Jo's relations) moved down to Juarez, Mexico during prohibition. From my grandfather.

Old Fitz BIB's from 1982....leftover from my first mariage's rehersal dinner.

Randy

[OscarV]

Stars of my collection,....

Society Of Bourbon Connoisseurs Batch No. 80-045

A. H. Hirsch 20 Year Old

Pappy Van Winkle 23 Year Old

Old Rip Van Winkle 15 Year Old 107pf Lawrenceburg

Old Fitz 101 10yo 1978 release from S-W Louisville

Joseph Finch

Henry Clay

Buffalo Trace Experimental Collection,...

...French Oak Aged

...Twice Barreled

...Fire Pot Barrel Aged

Four Roses,...

...Single Barrel from when Seagrams owned FR

...Single Barrel European Export

...Super Premium Japanese Export

Wild Turkey,...

...Tribute 50th Anniversary of Jimmy Russell

...Rare Breed signed by Jimmy Russell

...Gold Foil 12 Year Old

Booker's True Barrel 10th Anniversary

Very Old Barton 8yo 1970 release in a "cool" decanter

Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye No. G3675

These are my stars, which reminds me of that old saying,...

I may be laying in the gutter, but I am looking up at the stars.

[MikeK]

These are some of my "gems". All are fair game and will be opened some day (or already are...)

• Henry Clay
  
• J.W. Corn 100 proof 8yo (1960's?)
  
• Old Fitz BIB 8yo S1957-S1965 (open and magnificent)
  
• Bookers Commemorative signed by Fred Noe
  
• David Nicholson 1843 (S/W) 7yo 100 proof S1960 - F1967
  
• Stonewood BIB 60's / 70's ??
  
• I.W. Harper BIB 5.5yo F1951-S1957
  
• Weller Centennial 14yo 100 SB (S/W barrel picked by local store)
  
• Wild Turkey 12yo Gold Foil
  
• Hirsch 16yo blue wax and gold wax

[mozilla]

My collection is very small but here goes:

J.W. Dant BiB DSP-2 /Bottled 1990 DSP-16 1.75ml

Old Charter 10 & 12 Bottled 1989 1.75ml

Pappy 23 x 2 L'burg

White Bison 10yr 101pf

Eagle Rare 10yr 101pf bottled 1992

Yellowstone 86pf 1.75ml from Yellowstone

[TBoner]

I'm new to collecting, but I'd say so far, Old Forester BIB S1965-S1971 and OGD S1971-F1976 are pretty much my best finds and would be tough to replace. I also have a bunch of OGD BIB and 114 from the latter part of the ND era, but I know where there's more...

Oh, and I'll say the gold foil WT12 I found last weekend is a star...jeez, how did I almost forget it.

[ggilbertva]

Well, taking into consideration my most recent additions:

WT Tribute

Four Roses Single Barrel

Blantons Silver/Gold/SFTB

[kbuzbee]

I don't buy anything to collect it. With Bourbon, I buy it to drink. But, that said, of course I have several I prefer.... GTS 04, 05 & 06 & WT Tribute top the list.

Ken

[Joeluka]

I consider quite a few my strs, but back in Jan 2006, I found the greatest of bottles in my wife's Grandfather's wine cellar. Actually I found a couple of real treasures but this one took my breath away. The best part is, IT WAS FREE!!!!!!

[Special Reserve]

I consider quite a few my strs, but back in Jan 2006, I found the greatest of bottles in my wife's Grandfather's wine cellar. Actually I found a couple of real treasures but this one took my breath away. The best part is, IT WAS FREE!!!!!!

Now that is a great find. You need to be kind to your wife tonight.

[aarkwilde]

I don't have a lot, and what I've got is open. I buy to drink, and looking at a bottle on the shelf that I can't taste would drive me crazy. I'm halfway through my Hirsch 16 gold foil (I've never tried the wax, and at this point figure I never will) and almost done with my pappy 20. They're the best bourbons in my cabinet and I'm worried about what I'm to do when they're gone.

That said, after opening my bottle of Anchor Hotaling's I bought two more bottles and packed them away for my kids. It's not bourbon, but I enjoyed it and saw them as limited enough to have novelty appeal when they're old enough to care.

On a budget it's hard enough to get enough for sipping. Collecting at this point in my life is impossible. I enjoy reading about people's finds though.

[bigtoys]

Pappy 23 bottle signed by Julian

Lagavulin Distiller's Edition brought back from England by a friend; it's not available here.

Highland Park and Bowmore 30 yr olds; still waiting to open.

Don Julio 1942 Tequila; the bottle looks like an agave leaf.

[Frodo]

Don Julio 1942 Tequila; the bottle looks like an agave leaf.

That's a great tequila. Very easy to enjoy, but also doesn't swamp the agave with wood relative to other uber-anjeos...

[Ambernecter]

All of them are of course stars but these babies are ones I really have a special place for...

GTS 2003 (Holy S*^t only 1 bottle left!)

RHF (Always a star)

Pappy 23

Pappy 20

Hirsch 16YO Gold Wax

WT 12YO

GD 12 (Just for it's sheer love it or hate it impudence!)

[chouffe62]

Well, all my bottles are there to be consumed eventually (and/or if I live that long). By the way, anyone who lives in upstate NY drop me a PM and perhaps you can help me work my way through a couple of them.

I suppose the stars are the ones I have put aside for special occasions. I have a Springbank 1966 Local Barley that gets opened on June 1st to celebrate our last mortgage payment; hallelujah! A Springbank 25 (dumpy bottle) will be popped open for the occasion of my nephew's retirement from the Navy after 25 years of service. That event occurs at the end of June. I have a Balvenie vintage cask (1966) that I am saving for my mother's 90th b'day (she is of a fine vintage and one terrific lady to boot), but that's still three years away.

There are other little gems that sit patiently until the ideal occasion just happens upon us (like the Hirsch 16 for my daughter's first steps at 16 months. Maybe a bit corny, but well worth celebration).

One of my brightest stars is my Pappy 15. A little dab on the finger is the perfect cure for my daughter's teething pains. Nothing on any drugstore shelf has the curative powers of the Pappy. Don't be surprised if you see her name as a SB.com member on this forum in another twenty years.