How many different bottles do you have and HOW MANY ARE OPEN

[Joeluka]

Hello to all,
I tend to think an un-opened bottle of spirit is a true crime. I open and taste every single bottle I have. Thats just me. Please let me know what you all (ya'll) do with your collections and why you do it that way.

[bunghole]

All of 'em! Sealed bottles are a crime.

ima thinks he has 32,000 bottles open as of today.

But ima will polish off two or three today, so something like 31K+

ima

[kbuzbee]

If it's a regular (like, for me, Kentucky Spirit) I'll have one open and 4-5 tucked away (in case I break my legs or something and can't get to the store!) I also always have a bottle of regular 101, for mixing or whatever.

Other than that I'll usually buy two of anything (not cats and dogs, but nicer stuff) and open one. When it's gone, I'll wait for the mood for that one to hit me and open the second one. It goes back on the shopping list then. Examples of things like that are 1792, Jefferson's Reserve, EC 18yo, ETL, Rare Breed. Any of those may be open at any time but I usually only have 5-6 Bourbons, 2 Scotchs, 2 Irish, 1 rye, 2 rums, 3 tequilas and one gin open at any given time. (sure, it sounds like a lot when you say it like THAT!). There have been a few inital 2 bottle purchases which were not replaced either because they just weren't enough of what I wanted them to be or (more likely) because they aren't available here.

I also have that special Bourbon, tucked away for special occasions. Right now, thanks to a good friend here, that happens to be Wild Turkey Tribute. To me, the perfect Bourbon. I will open a bottle in Sept for our anniversary, have some on her birthday in Oct and finish it on my birthday in Nov. Don't know what I'll use for that when the Tribute runs out.

I don't have anything I classify as 'Will never open' Not really a collector. I enjoy Bourbon for drinking. Some now, some later, some whenever, but all for consumption.

Ken

[Bourbon Joe]

I collect and I consume. Right now I have over 100 Bourbons. About 25 % are open. I usually have two of everything I like and open one. Eventually, I think, they'll all be open (plus one in the bunker).
Joe

[angelshare]

I don't have anything I classify as 'Will never open' Not really a collector. I enjoy Bourbon for drinking. Some now, some later, some whenever, but all for consumption.

An excellent summation of our philosophy as well!

Right now, bottles that are "later" (IE, waiting for the right mood or moment):

Tribute
Benchmark SB
Pappy 15
Stitzel-Weller Cabin Still
Sazerac 2001 Rye
Stagg Fall 2005 (I expect this will be open in a few days - we just bought it)

Otherwise, our bar - about 100 bottles - is open. AND, if a bourbon enthusiast drops by and has a hankering, the "later" bourbons become "now" bourbons!

[Joeluka]

I'm happy to see that an open bottle of whisk(e)y is the best bottle for most of us. I would like to know when the NYer's on this site get together and be there for it. I will be more than happy to share my stash with the right Enthusiasts. There is nothing worse than pouring a great bourbon for a person who doesn't know or care about the dram your giving them.

Joe

[Mark]

We'll be sure to let ya know Joe. I know next spring I'll definitely try and get another bbq set up out here on SI. In the meantime, maybe something small will go down at Bobs house or LeNell will have another bash at the store where we can all meet up.

[Brewer]

All of my current and future bottles are destined to be opened and enjoyed. Right now, I've got quite a few open...WT Tribute, Kentucky Spirit, Rare Breed & Rye; Buffalo Trace (our SB, the SB from the Thoroughbred Shop), Old Rip 10 YO & 15 YO, VW Rye; Ezra Brooks; Old Charter Proprietor's Reserve, the 12 YO Classic, & the 10 YO; Rebel Yell; Fighting Cock; Old Overholt.

The list of unopened bottles is quite long, but they're not for collecting...they're for drinkin'!

Happy Thanksgiving to everybody.

[White Lightning]

From what I count in my head 27 open bourbons although that number will drop as several are getting into the contents area that I concentrate on polishing em' off... I'd say well over 70 open containers in total.

No idea how many un-opened bottles.

[Chaz7]

Although bourbon is a pretty color, and so nice to look at, and the weight of a full bottle is perfectly balanced, ALL of mine are open! Ok, I bought a bottle of Noah's Mill that I haven't gotten around to, but all 39 bottles of mine are open. Except for duplicates, of course.

[Mark]

Many of you already know this but I only keep 6-8 bottles open at a time... As I finish one I open another one. Right now I think I have about 8-9 opened. In total I have somewhere near 450 bottles, give or take 50, I dont even know anymore.

My collecting days are gone now so now I buy one or two bottles when something new comes out that I really want and when I need to open a bottle its a short trip under my basement steps and a reach into one of the many many boxes stored under there... Everything that I used to have on display is now stored under there with everything that used to be stored away in my old place.

[Whiskme]

2 Irish, open
18 single barrel, all open but 1
3 rye, open
27 single malt, all open but 2
1 "melting pot" bourbon mixed, way open
4 sherry
The only unpened bottles I have are duplicates. I'm 59, what would I save anything for!

[jburlowski]

Currently open:
Pappy Van Winkle 15 yr
Woodford Reserve
Hirsch 16 yr
Old Fiorester Birthday
Buffalo Trace
Stagg (Fall '05)
Blanton's
Beam Black Label (for the bourbon & Coke'rs)
Usually have an Elmer T Lee but that was finsished off last weekend and needs to be replaced.

Also have Jack and Jack Single Barrel open.

All I have in "reseve" are three bottles of Stagg, two of Eagle Rare 17, and one of William Larue Weller. The latter two will be likely open before the end of the holidays.

[OneCubeOnly]

Just about every bourbon I own is going to be open, unless it's a backup.

Right now, here's my list of open bourbons:

OFBB '02
OFBB S'03
OFBB F'03
AAA 10yo
BT
Elmer T. Lee (opened this backup today to give a 2nd chance)
Four Roses SB
Pappy 15yo
Pappy 20yo
ORVW 15yo
Ridgewood Reserve 1792 (the pre-lawsuit bottle...it's open so I'm finishing it!)
Knob Creek--VA single-barrel version
BT Private 2004 bottling
Booker's
Stagg S'05 KY-only
Stagg S'05 other-states release
EC12
Maker's Mark single-barrel (not a commercial product)
A. H. Hirsch 16yo
Distiller's Masterpiece 18yo Cognac Finish
W.L. Weller 12yo
Blanton's


Really the only bourbons I own that aren't open are ones I can't replace. Those are:

Jacob's Well
Stagg '03
OFBB '04
Van Blankle 12yo
EWSB '94

and finally

OFBB '05 (unopened only because I'm in no hurry to resample)

[OscarV]

Hi All,.... I have 68 bottles. 36 unopened. 28 emrty. 4 that are open and am "using".
I am always looking for something I don't have.
I intend to drink them all, but I save some of the best for last.
I have a 20 year old A. H. Hirsh that was bottled in 1994.
I just found it, I think it was on that store's shelf for 11 years.
And I have 3 of the 4 "Antique Collection" from Buffaloe Trace.
The 4th, William Larue Weller, I just bought it over ebay and will get it soon.
My 4 open ones are a mix of good to very good. (no such thing as a bad bourbon). for drinking neat, on the rocks and mixing.
They are Black Maple Hill 16 year old, Old Poque, Maker's Mark, and an Old Crow. Yeah I like Old Crow to.