Philosophy of Nice Bottles

[vogel.r.john]

Now that I’ve almost recovered from the Christmas to New Years Marathon, I’m taking stock of my suddenly nice collection of bourbon. Santa was definitely getting at something this year as it seemed people only wanted to gift me rather nice bottles ($50-$200 range), which I can’t complain about.

It leads me to ponder the future of these bottles. The question isn’t if they will be consumed, but when they should be consumed? Would you put these in the regular rotation or would you save some for more special occasions?

I am always stocked up on what I call “working bourbon” which is stuff like Wild Turkey, Jim Beam or Rebel Yell, and it is not often that I have so many bottles of nicer quality bourbon. So what is a man to do with an embarrassment of riches?

 

[grahamloff]

I got a bottle of Blantons through our state allocation, while not special in a lot of places its a pain to get here in NH.

I opened my last bottle when my sister and BIL visited from across the country and will open this one when they visit again.

I took a bottle of the FE small batch Chicken Cock with me to ZA on my safari this year.

Crack'em open when you have a special event or have special people visit.

 

[bgrolmus]

I generally look at the $25-40 range as my daily pour options. Buffalo Trace, Elijah Craig, Woodford, Heaven Hill BIB, etc.
$50-100 and/or allocated mid-range bottles are my “today was a good day” pours when there’s something small to celebrate. Eagle Rare, Woodford Double-Oaked, Chicken Cock, and similar.
$100+ bottles and hard to get allocateds are my special occasion options. Blanton’s, Weller Antique, Booker’s, George T Stagg, and on.

 

[Ron Dan]

Now that I’ve almost recovered from the Christmas to New Years Marathon, I’m taking stock of my suddenly nice collection of bourbon. Santa was definitely getting at something this year as it seemed people only wanted to gift me rather nice bottles ($50-$200 range), which I can’t complain about.

It leads me to ponder the future of these bottles. The question isn’t if they will be consumed, but when they should be consumed? Would you put these in the regular rotation or would you save some for more special occasions?

I am always stocked up on what I call “working bourbon” which is stuff like Wild Turkey, Jim Beam or Rebel Yell, and it is not often that I have so many bottles of nicer quality bourbon. So what is a man to do with an embarrassment of riches?

If I were you, I would use it as an excuse to spend time with your buddies as often as you can. Every single one of those bottles can be replaced but you’ll never get more and more time with the homies when it’s all said and done. You won’t regret it. I’m not saying to go crazy and run through the bottles. More so enjoying the memories that come with them being more than a safe queen.

 

[fast510]

Are these allocations a state thing? I usually just drive to the nearest place that carries whiskey/bourbon and buy how ever many I'm in the mood for. I've purchased $1k bottles of Pappy Van from the corner store a couple blocks over.

 

[fast510]

If I were you, I would use it as an excuse to spend time with your buddies as often as you can. Every single one of those bottles can be replaced but you’ll never get more and more time with the homies when it’s all said and done. You won’t regret it. I’m not saying to go crazy and run through the bottles. More so enjoying the memories that come with them being more than a safe queen.

So much this.

I stock bottles in my office at work and encourage all the guys to come by after they clock out and BS and drink whatever is up there, cheap or expensive. Some of the best evenings have been in that room or out back watching the sun set with those guys. So gay, so awesome.

 

[Godfather]

@bgrolmus - that’s a great architecture.

My regular guy pour is Michters, or if I can find it cheap Weller Reserve, and then my mid-range to special is Chicken Cock, Hemingway Rye, in that level. If I go higher end, Weller 107 is one of my favorite, and anything up the range from there.

I generally look at the $25-40 range as my daily pour options. Buffalo Trace, Elijah Craig, Woodford, Heaven Hill BIB, etc.
$50-100 and/or allocated mid-range bottles are my “today was a good day” pours when there’s something small to celebrate. Eagle Rare, Woodford Double-Oaked, Chicken Cock, and similar.
$100+ bottles and hard to get allocateds are my special occasion options. Blanton’s, Weller Antique, Booker’s, George T Stagg, and on.

 

[Ron Dan]

So much this.

I stock bottles in my office at work and encourage all the guys to come by after they clock out and BS and drink whatever is up there, cheap or expensive. Some of the best evenings have been in that room or out back watching the sun set with those guys. So gay, so awesome.

I miss the days of having a bar in my desk while working in a big office. Be sure to tag us when you’re sipping some office happy hours.

 

[grahamloff]

Are these allocations a state thing? I usually just drive to the nearest place that carries whiskey/bourbon and buy how ever many I'm in the mood for. I've purchased $1k bottles of Pappy Van from the corner store a couple blocks over.

New Hampshire has state liquor stores for wine and spirits where each employee is a state employee.

The state has a allocation lottery for everything from Buffalo Trace to some very expensive bottles once or twice a year. Not sure why, but I think its to make it so speculators don't just grab and flip stuff.

Like all state blue laws doesn't seem to make sense anymore.

 

[bgrolmus]

New Hampshire has state liquor stores for wine and spirits where each employee is a state employee.

The state has a allocation lottery for everything from Buffalo Trace to some very expensive bottles once or twice a year. Not sure why, but I think its to make it so speculators don't just grab and flip stuff.

Like all state blue laws doesn't seem to make sense anymore.

Iowa is similar. The state controls all distribution of spirits, though we do have privately-owned retailers rather than state-owned. So when the state gets high-demand or small quantity inventory, they hold a drawing to determine which stores will receive bottles. For most of the lower-cost bottles like Buffalo Trace or Eagle Rare, stores might get a case or two at a time. The true rarities, like Pappy and limited releases are usually limited to a single bottle for each of the stores that are drawn.

 

[csmcclain]

Mid-range allocations/semi-nice bottles are for three occasions for me: generic gifts, having people over, and hunting trips.

Nice bottles are for exceptional events (a toast at the end of a successful hunt, a wedding when I’m a groomsman, etc.).

The nicer the bottle that comes out, the more I like you and/or the more special the event.