Crouching Husband, Hidden Bourbon- Becoming a Whiskey Ninja

[OldJack]

Hey heavy collectors, when you started out, did you sneak a few bottles past the Mrs until she got used to your habit?

I've got a few bottles hiding various locations waiting to come slowly into the fold unnoticed. As I drink one thing down, a new bottle magically appears. Thus far, she doesn't seem to notice.

On the one hand, I feel bad for sneaking bourbon around. On the other, I've turned up some gems like OC12 and some older (90s-bottled) Er and I can't pass them up. I drink a bottle or two a week, but I'm buying three or four.

Is this how the madness starts?

[barturtle]

I hate to point this out, but any hobby which you have to hide things from the spousal unit probably aren't hobbies you should be participating in...

[SBOmarc]

Show them , show them all. Then go about telling her all about each bottle. The uniqueness of a mashbill, wheaters v rye. Different distilleries, the charcteristics and flavor profiles.

She may see the point, and yet she may not. If it is the money involved, good luck. If it is just bourbon, show her your interest, and hope for the best.

[OldJack]

I hate to point this out, but any hobby which you have to hide things from the spousal unit probably aren't hobbies you should be participating in...

You are right, of course, and at some point I will come clean. I've just outspent my allowance this month. If I don't buy in July, I will be even-steven.

[bromike666]

I hate to point this out, but any hobby which you have to hide things from the spousal unit probably aren't hobbies you should be participating in...

+1.... You think hiding bourbon is bad? One of the guys I ride with has a Ducati, a Victory and all new riding gear hidden at his factory. He kisses his wife goodbye, hops on the Victory she knows of, rides to the factory and gets on his Ducati to come meet us.

I do understand the need to be sneaky though. My wife told me "sure you can get that Ducati Desmocedici RR, I'm sure you'll both be happy together in your new apartment.":bigeyes:

[fishnbowljoe]

My wife was with me when I started getting into this. She's the one that found the Kentucky Bourbon Festival as a mini vacation for us last fall. She's okay with it for the most part. She knows how I am. I'm not the kind of person that gets into something gradually. I usually jump in with both feet. After 26 years of marriage, she's used to it by now. I do get the "wife look" every once in a while when she thinks I'm going a little overboard, but for the most part she's pretty understanding. Her main concern is that I don't turn into an alcoholic. :drinking: I try to reassure her by letting her know that I don't drink to just be drinking. I just have a passion for bourbon and the many different tastes of bourbon. She's even helped me out some. When I was looking for a bar or something else to put all my stuff in, she suggested stopping by a place where we/she finally found a sideboard with deck for all my bourbon. Even though she doesn't like the taste of any whiskey, she'll taste one once in a while just to keep me happy. She's also got a better nose than I do. She can pick out the different things in the aroma of a bourbon that I can smell, but just can't put my finger on. Maybe you should try involving your wife more in your interest in bourbon. Might be easier than you think. Either way, good luck and keep on keepin' on. Joe

[jburlowski]

Honesty is the best policy. And it is better to beg for forgiveness than to ask for permission.

Make sure you are as accepting of her hobbies and interests as you would like her to be of yours (That ol' golden rule thing...)

[RWBadley]

I hate to point this out, but any hobby which you have to hide things from the spousal unit probably aren't hobbies you should be participating in...

I thought the definition of 'Hobby' was an interest which required keeping the true expense from the spousal unit ;-)

[ThomasH]

My wife used to whine when I would bring new bottles home regularly but she quit after trying some different ones and really liking them!

Thomas

[OldJack]

Honesty is the best policy. And it is better to beg for forgiveness than to ask for permission.

After many years of marriage I've learned that the first statement is true only about 98% of the time. The second statement works about the same percentage.

Make sure you are as accepting of her hobbies and interests as you would like her to be of yours (That ol' golden rule thing...)

I think if I didn't do this well, we'd have folded long ago. I love her hobbies.

The trouble w/ my hobbies is that I get a new one every year. That's why she hates it when I start in on something new. She knows that a few hundred dollars later, my short attention span sets and BOOM, its something else.

"I thought the definition of 'Hobby' was an interest which required keeping the true expense from the spousal unit"- RWBadley

:slappin:

[goldscalpel]

Just show some of your purchases. Not all. She will lose track of what you have.

Nana

[callmeox]

I don't sneak bottles in to the house since I just spend my "mad money" on the growing collection.

With that in mind, I do keep a couple of empties in the back of the cabinet to maintain the look of fullness. If a new bottle happens to follow me home unexpectedly, I pitch an empty bottle and the new one takes its place.

[Stu]

As long as there is a good supply of single malt in the house, I have no problem.

[PhilsFan]

After almost 22 years of marriage, Penny knows how obsessive I am, and so I tell her everything. She's very observant and would find out anyway.

So when I buy a new bottle I tell her about it, and when I search every liquor store in Louisville and the surrounding area for certain hard-to-find bottles (that'll be a story for another thread) she wouldn't expect anything less from me. The fact that I'd also go to the ends of the earth to find something or do something for her works in my favor.

-Joe

[NeoTexan]

As long as there is a good supply of single malt in the house, I have no problem.

It also helps to have a wife like yours. Lady sure knows her whisky!

[BourbonJoe]

Honesty is the best policy. And it is better to beg for forgiveness than to ask for permission.

I ran out of storage room and the wife ran out of patience. I think my buying days are just about over. (except for special stuff :rolleyes: )

Joe :usflag:

[jburlowski]

I ran out of storage room and the wife ran out of patience. I think my buying days are just about over. (except for special stuff :rolleyes: )

Joe :usflag:

Have you explained to her yet that it's all "special stuff"?

[ggilbertva]

I have an extremely understanding wife. She knows full well of my bourbon collection and doesn't complain.....except to call me "bourbon dork". I have 300+ bottles in full view so there's no hiding my bourbon fetish.

[spun_cookie]

My wife is also understanding... only restriction is it must all go in my cellar.... though I do not usually tell her when i am adding to it... why poke at a potetniaol problem

[felthove]

I just got "caught" yesterday for buying 3 Pappy 15's (wife found the receipt in my clothes when doing laundry and called me at work to state that it was a lot to spend on booze). I don't intentionally hide things but I do not ask permission or offer up details on what I've bought.

[birdman1099]

I just got "caught" yesterday for buying 3 Pappy 15's (wife found the receipt in my clothes when doing laundry and called me at work to state that it was a lot to spend on booze). I don't intentionally hide things but I do not ask permission or offer up details on what I've bought.

My wife and I do something similar. Don't ask, Don't tell. She does not want to give me permission to buy whatever I want, however she also does not want to say no. So, we tend to hover in the "neutral" zone. I try not to push my luck.

[shelly]

Well, my husband is my enabler. I'm not actually a bourbon collector, though I do have a few open at any given time. I do however, tend to acquire liqueurs, brandies and spirits fairly regularly. Hubby just smiles and drinks none of it, which means he gets all the tools and spendy German beer he wants. Hey, wait a minute......!