***Timestamps below description***
This is not a you-show-me-yours kinda thing. While there's nothing wrong with that, it isn't intended to be about numbers or scale, although there is an inevitability that'll come into it, probably. Also, and I know this goes without saying, there's no dogma here. Just as you can't tell someone how to drink their whisky or what whisky to drink, you can't tell them how to buy, collect, manage and view the inevitable cookie-trail of bottles that a whisky journey is likely to accumulate.
What we can do, however, is listen and learn from each other; hear how we each view our own collections (selections?) and how we manage them. Some of us have strict rules, either forced or voluntary, on things like cost, storage and volumes. Perhaps we dictate a maximum amount of open bottles at any one time. Most of us have a strict budget, which will dictate how these things pan out.
Some of us prefer open bottles and no packaging, others like to display the original boxes and many even hang on to the empty tubes, tins, bottles or corks as mementoes. There are various ideas of how long a whisky can last in an open bottle and also what to do when that bottle drops to the last few drams in the bottom; decant, gas or polish off and perhaps even film yourself throwing them into the bin while the neighbours look on in astonishment.
This is an expensive hobby, and it becomes more expensive every year. So this week we'll reach out to a few of our community collectors - who you'll certainly recognise - and ask how they view their collection and habits, how they manage them, and what they might advise their former selves as they learn lessons from where they sit today.
We can look at the casual easy come easy go drinker/sharer. Those who rage a valiant battle against an intrinsic FOMO trait. Those who have only recently discovered how compelling it is and perhaps play a game of fast-track catch-up. Also there are those who have over-accumulated to the point where they now have to consider making decisions about paring things back, or viewing their bottles as an incidental investment. As a community, we are all of these and more.
The number of bottles are merely incidental, but how we view them and how we maximise their enjoyment is where the real value may be shared. Let's see if we can inspire each other to relax with our whisky as much as possible while keeping contented enjoyment first and foremost. Wherever that lies for us and individuals.
Come share your own insight. I look forward to welcoming you there!
Another long pub session last night - hopefully these will help you fast-track through:
Brief topic intro 1:14
Thoughts on buying selections/collections : 14:04
Community poll results : 20:05
How much does whisky change in the open bottle? : 32:28
Guests -
KiltedMoose - the canny selector / pragmatist : 49:44
Seems to hang the knack of never making a bad choice and laughs in the face of FOMO
Gregor Time for a Dram) McWee FOMO sufferer in recovery : 1:14:07
A frantic scatter gun approach had him building two collections of whisky in two continents, in parallel. What he did to find his Zen.
Seve TheAlchemist (our WhiskySanta) Fast-tracker, Catcher-upper & Enabler : 1:49:11
High-energy enthusiast and soft "collector" with a love of chasing his next epiphany. Has had to deal with horrific culling exercises to define where his true enjoyment lies.
Challenges : 2:22:43
Is it a Speyside (with a twist) 2:24:31
Menno's (mildly brutal) Quiz at the End : 2:41:23
