Whisky collection

[andrew.ziebell]

I am curious about what whisky bottles people have on their shelves or in their bar. Not necessarily the most expensive or rarest (though that’s cool too) but the most unique or ones with a story. Here are my two most unique.

 

[Ron Dan]

I am curious about what whisky bottles people have on their shelves or in their bar. Not necessarily the most expensive or rarest (though that’s cool too) but the most unique or ones with a story. Here are my two most unique.

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This is cool. @Christian Craighead check these out.

 

[YETI]

I can't keep them on the shelf long enough to have anything nice or unusual. The bottle that lasted the longest was a bottle of Horse Soldier Commanders Select VI that I won in a raffle. That lasted about 6 months and was only drunk with military friends

 

[andrew.ziebell]

I can't keep them on the shelf long enough to have anything nice or unusual. The bottle that lasted the longest was a bottle of Horse Soldier Commanders Select VI that I won in a raffle. That lasted about 6 months and was only drunk with military friends

I hear you. My daily pour is a Dewars. I only go for the single malts on special occasions.

 

[etwr2]

The one with the best story requires background. The state of Virginia controls alcohol distribution. They have lotteries for special bottles. I had entered a lottery for several bottles, but wanted extra chances. My wife hadn’t officially changed her home address yet, so I entered her in the raffle unbeknownst to her. She ended up winning the right to purchase a Thomas H. Handy Rye which retail was $99.00 but apparently is worth 7-10x that amount. We still haven’t opened it.

 

[Ron Dan]

I hear you. My daily pour is a Dewars. I only go for the single malts on special occasions.

Dewars white label is slept on

 

[andrew.ziebell]

The one with the best story requires background. The state of Virginia controls alcohol distribution. They have lotteries for special bottles. I had entered a lottery for several bottles, but wanted extra chances. My wife hadn’t officially changed her home address yet, so I entered her in the raffle unbeknownst to her. She ended up winning the right to purchase a Thomas H. Handy Rye which retail was $99.00 but apparently is worth 7-10x that amount. We still haven’t opened it.

Good instinct to increase your chances. Enjoy it when the time comes.

 

[Zach Smith]

I’ve got a lot of allocated stuff the pappy vertical etc my all time go to is makers 46 cask it’s $60 and always great.

My most unique and rare stuff is actually cognacs and armagnacs. I’ve got two small bottles left from larger bottles split with a friend that was a rare spirits dealer.
One is a 1893 barreled Duperyon bottled in 1961
The other is even older. A 1811 barrel cognac napoleon grande reserve that was 90 years in the barrel and bottled in 1901.
The depth and flavor profiles of either one of those is indescribable and I love giving friends that truly appreciate stuff like that a chance to experience it.

 

[srutzick]

I have a pretty large selection of whiskey at the house, and while I love a lot of the modern stuff it's hard to beat the dusties. Wild Turkey from the 90s and pre-fire Heaven Hill is where it's at, I just wish the prices to get them today were closer to their original retail.

 

[andrew.ziebell]

I have a pretty large selection of whiskey at the house, and while I love a lot of the modern stuff it's hard to beat the dusties. Wild Turkey from the 90s and pre-fire Heaven Hill is where it's at, I just wish the prices to get them today were closer to their original retail.

I’m not familiar with Heaven Hill. What’s the story of the fire?

 

[andrew.ziebell]

I’ve got a lot of allocated stuff the pappy vertical etc my all time go to is makers 46 cask it’s $60 and always great.

My most unique and rare stuff is actually cognacs and armagnacs. I’ve got two small bottles left from larger bottles split with a friend that was a rare spirits dealer.
One is a 1893 barreled Duperyon bottled in 1961
The other is even older. A 1811 barrel cognac napoleon grande reserve that was 90 years in the barrel and bottled in 1901.
The depth and flavor profiles of either one of those is indescribable and I love giving friends that truly appreciate stuff like that a chance to experience it.

Would love to see pictures of the old bottles. If I can’t taste it I can at least admire it.

 

[srutzick]

I’m not familiar with Heaven Hill. What’s the story of the fire?

Back in 1996, Heaven Hill (the distillery that puts out Elijah Craig, Old Fitzgerald, Larceny, Parker's Heritage, and many more brands) experienced a massive fire that burned a number of their warehouses and the distilling area of the campus to the ground. It was a pretty brutal incident and one of the worst distillery fires ever. They lost their yeast in the fire and had to get some from another distillery (Beam), so there is a marked difference in the flavor profile from pre- and post-fire whiskey from them. I love their modern stuff and Heaven Hill is one of my favorite distilleries, but it's a real treat having some pre-fire whiskey from them to see what it was all like before it burned to the ground.

 

[andrew.ziebell]

I never knew this. Thank you for sharing. I can only imagine how devastating that must have been.

 

[srutzick]

I never knew this. Thank you for sharing. I can only imagine how devastating that must have been.

Happy to share, it's a sad story but it also led to the distilling community in Kentucky coming together to help Heaven Hill get back on their feet and making incredible whiskey again. A great example of positivity coming out of devastation.