To open, or not to open...

So, new to collecting and I went, shall we say...overboard?

LOL!

Bought about 20 bottles in the last few weeks. a Celtic Heartlands 34 year old Bunnahaiban, Bruichladdich Golder Still and Black Art, North of Scotland 1964, Johnnie Walker King George V, etc...

Now, I don't want to open any of them I find myself wanting to buy "lesser" bottles to drink. In my heart of hearts this feels stupid, yet I can't seem to shake the silliness out of my head

Soooo... anyone else have this dilemma???

Oh, and for my anniversary, the wifey got me a bottle of cognac; Louis XIII!!!! I fear I may never have the heart to open something I am so fortunate to own

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[Gwhacker]

Sounds like you need an occasion- or a bunch of occasions to open some of that goodness!

Personally, I have yet to find the bottle that didn't eventually convince me to open and enjoy it!

[Theus]

I open all my bottles as soon as I get them!
Just to taste.

And then, according to situation, I serve it to my guests!

Theus

[powderhound]

Originally Posted by wired1

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I think some of us are just jealous and wish we had the same "problem"

[Jojo]

Originally Posted by powderhound

I think some of us are just jealous and wish we had the same "problem"

Ha! Count me in with regard to "some of us"

[Arctic Wolf]

As someone else with an extensive collection, I am going to let you know how I do things. First off I always have one "special" bottle open, but only one. I will usually have about three or four other bottles open of various styles such that I can enjoy whichever particular style I want on any particular evening. When I want to treat myself, or when I want to treat a guest, The special bottle is open.

I find I will finish one of these special bottles in about four to six months so I buy two to three a year.

Now I noticed that you have Bruichladdich Black Art amongst your "specials". My advice: Grab another if you can find it. I reviewed this bottling a few months ago and it is perhaps the finest whisky I have tasted from Bruichladdich. Jim McEwan did a fantastic job blending that one.

[Glenlochy]

Pat and Mike had been drinking buddies and friends for years. After having a few drinks in a bar, Mike said to Pat "We have been friends for years and years and if I should die before you do would you do me a favor? Get the best bottle of Irish whiskey you can find and pour it over my grave." Pat replied, "I would be glad to do that for you my old friend. But would you mind if I filtered it through my kidneys first?"

[Son-o'-the-Sod(?)]

Originally Posted by Glenlochy

Pat and Mike had been drinking buddies and friends for years. After having a few drinks in a bar, Mike said to Pat "We have been friends for years and years and if I should die before you do would you do me a favor? Get the best bottle of Irish whiskey you can find and pour it over my grave." Pat replied, "I would be glad to do that for you my old friend. But would you mind if I filtered it through my kidneys first?"

--Good one!!

Personally, I open all of my bottles when I get home, and smell them from the bottle. I may wait a few days, or even weeks to try it, but opening the bottles does not hurt.

Originally Posted by Jwoodard

Personally, I open all of my bottles when I get home, and smell them from the bottle. I may wait a few days, or even weeks to try it, but opening the bottles does not hurt.

I am new to the forum and new to tasting and trying out new whisky's (and needless to say hooked on this new hobby ;-) but are you really serious that opening a bottle doesn't hurt the value? I believe you have a contamination issue - you don't know if some guy took a slug and refilled with water or other blend unless this is for your own use. Leaving a bottle unopened, I would think, should yield greater value than one that had a cork was sniffed.
Plus opening the bottle and exposing it to "new air" I would think might also impart a slight difference as with wines and like bottles of scotch sitting on a pub shelf.

I'll admit I'm a newbie (somewhat) so please do correct and enlighten me further so that I too might learn from the those more experienced.
cheers
Bill

[Jojo]

Originally Posted by Glenlochy

Pat and Mike had been drinking buddies and friends for years. After having a few drinks in a bar, Mike said to Pat "We have been friends for years and years and if I should die before you do would you do me a favor? Get the best bottle of Irish whiskey you can find and pour it over my grave." Pat replied, "I would be glad to do that for you my old friend. But would you mind if I filtered it through my kidneys first?"

Ha! Love it

[Jojo]

wired1 - regarding: "Now, I don't want to open any of them I find myself wanting to buy "lesser" bottles to drink. In my heart of hearts this feels stupid, yet I can't seem to shake the silliness out of my head." - Shake it OUT of your head Buy lesser value bottles for more often occasions and drink your special ones, well, for those 'special' occasions. And BTW, great wife you have

[Glenlochy]

Originally Posted by Jojo

Ha! Love it

Perhaps you should start a whisky joke section on this forum....
I have some more....
Best regards
Louis

[Soundmangt4]

Whisky of all ages and prices were distilled for one reason - for drinking. I personally open each bottle the moment it arrives, and even if I only try a drop, it gives me an insight as to what the whisky tastes like, and what mood it would suit. If you have never tried them, you may not recognise the moment a particular malt would suit a particular moment.
Bear in mind, the Scotch isn't going to go off once opened, so dive in and start enjoying.

[Beist]

I don't quite have 20 bottles I'm saving, but I do have my share that are waiting for a special occasion. I can say I do exactly what you speak of (save the good, rare bottles and drink more readily, less expensive ones) and I don't feel bad at all. I do believe your Golder Still is a limited release, so in a few years if you were to crack it out and pour some at a whisky club meeting or what have you, I imagine you'd be pretty popular for sharing a bottle no one else can find except maybe at an auction... All I'm saying is you shouldn't feel bad about saving them for something, sometime, even if you don't know for what and when.

On another note, I keep my collection out on display at home. My Scotch is my art work. I love looking at the bottles (and some of their containers, such as the one in my Avatar & also on my shelf, a 25yr Laphroaig CS 2009 Edition, or Arran's Robbie Burns' 250th Anniversary Edition). I save on decorating this way And while I wait to open the 25yr, I sip on my 1/4 Cask