Show off your whisky/whiskey collection!

[manskirtbrew]

Apologies if this thread has been done. I couldn't find one.

This is my current collection - complete with a whiskey pillow my wife knit :) I host a whiskey tasting party every year, and folks insist on leaving bottles with me, and I can only drink so much at a time

There's a little of everything here: a bottle from the first US imported cask of Laphroaig Cask Strength, several local NY Hudson Valley whiskies, Copper Fox that I aged myself in 2 liter oak barrels, the Japanese Yamazaki whiskey. Mmm, mmm, good.



-Joe

[Captain Pete]

Party at manskirt's house this weekend!

[Den]

Nice collection! That'll cheer up anyone having a bad day...literally!

[manskirtbrew]

Heh, well if any B&Bers are in the northwest NJ area, drop me a PM some time. I'm always happy to share the love!

I had to take an inventory tonight for this year's party. Here's the final tally - 41 different varieties.

Ballantine's
Balvenie Doublewood 12
Basil Hayden's 8 bourbon
Benriach 10
Black Bottle 10
Bruicladdich 10
Caol Ila 12
Carstairs White Seal
Danny Boy Irish
Dewars White Label
Edradour 10
Glenfiddich Special Reserve
Glenlivet 12
Glenlivet Nadurra 16 cask strength
Glenmorangie Astar
Glenmorangie Nectar D'or
Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban
Hudson Four Grain Bourbon
Hudson Manhattan Rye
Hudson New York Corn
Hudson Single Malt
Jameson
Kefferson's Bourbon
Knob Creeek 9
Lagavulin 16
Laphroaig 10 Cask Strength
Laphroaig 18
Laphroaig Quarter Cask
Macallan 18
Oban 14
Old Overholt rye
Red Breast 12
Ri rye whiskey
Singleton 12
Talisker 175 Anniversary
Talisker Distiller's edition
uu
Wasmunds Rye (home barrel aged)
Wasmunds Single Malt (home barrel aged)
Woodford Reserve
Yamazaki 12

-Joe

[Tkocloser]

Wow! That collection is so pretty it brings tears to my eyes...plus I gave up all alcohol for Lent. Your picture made me smile ear to ear! great idea to have that party! How fun!

[manskirtbrew]

great idea to have that party! How fun!

It's always a lot of fun. I started it because of how many of my friends said, "I don't like whiskey." Those same friends now show up every year, and most have collections of their own :) It's really a great way to introduce people to whisky - there's such a wide range of flavors, pretty much everyone finds something they like.

-Joe

[Prince]

Ok, so remind me, what's your address.

My measly "collection" is exactly two bottles.

[_MementoMori_]

You have great taste in booze, my man.

[cwnidog]

The next time my wife says something along the lines of "Another bottle of Scotch? You haven't finished the ones you've already got." I know what to show her.

[commanderkeen]

I would have a collection, but they are all empties and I recycled them already.

Impressive list, although you are missing 2 of my favorites; Ardbeg 10 and Maker's Mark. Might want to get on that

[Mark1966]

W-o-w!

[slugg77]

Jealousy is a lousy way to start the morning, thanks a lot

Local liquor store opens in 1 hour, and I shall see about adding to my collection. Great picture and thank you for sharing, that is awesome!

[TheVez2]

Jealousy is a lousy way to start the morning, thanks a lot

You don't even know, dude. I'm living the dry life right now. I miss scotch. This thread is torture!

[atison]

I am about to put on a whiskey tasting party in my neighborhood. Any pointers on setting it up? Especially for those that generally don't drink straight whiskey.

[manskirtbrew]

Any pointers on setting it up? Especially for those that generally don't drink straight whiskey.

Make it approachable. I find a lot of non-whiskey drinkers are intimidated by "fancy" whiskies. The way I got everyone involved last year was to lead a tasting at the start, then set everyone loose on the collection.

I chose 4 whiskies that displayed a variety of flavor profiles - I think I had The Macallan 12, Macallan 18, something, and Laphroaig 10. I started by making it clear that they can drink it how they like it. An ice cube or some water will not ruin or dilute your whiskey - quite the opposite in most cases. Whiskey is meant to be enjoyed, and enjoying it with friends is even better.

Then we all tried the Macallan 12 together. I explained nosing and tasting - take your taste deep on your tongue so you don't numb the front of it immediately - but kept it very light and informal. Then I passed around a pitcher of water so we could all add a bit to our Scotch to see how it opens up the flavor, sweetening it more and softening the edges.

I like to explain that you don't need to know what you're tasting to enjoy whiskey - you don't need a refined palate to enjoy good whiskey. In fact, I made a blog post about exactly that. Some people get caramel, saddle leather, heather, 10w30 motor oil...some people just like what they taste. Every palate is different, and that's fine.

Ask what people want to know. Ask if anyone knows the difference between bourbon and Scotch. Explain what blended vs. single malt means. Explain cask strength, and why adding water to their whisky is not a bad thing. Explain why an Islay malt tastes different from a Highland. Also, learn to pronounce "Islay" properly :)

Basically, be excited about the project and don't come off as snobby. Don't put down Dewars or Bushmillls.

Sorry for the ramble. Can you tell I'm passionate about my whisk(e)y? ;)

-Joe

[Kazeryu]

And here I thought that I was going overboard with 14 or so.

[FL shaver]

Wow! I came to the Speakeasy to find out how I'll like the newest edition to my modest collection. I finished a bottle of Knob Creek and replaced it with Bulleit. Passed on Blanton's (cool bottle, but steep price).Current collection:
Woodford Reserve
Gentleman Jack
Maker's Mark
Elijah Craig
Bulleit
No Willett Pot Still Select? Great bottle both inside and out, I hear.

[kg0mz]

A clerk once told me a particular single malt would be a nice addition to my collection. Collection? I, too, recycle the bottles once drained. I keep three or four on hand, but empty one before buying another.

[DogHair]

Here's mine. About a dozen of the bottles are whiskies.

[manskirtbrew]

I like the bar, DogHair! Very attractive. Got a wider pic?

-Joe