What Bottles Do You Have Open Right Now?
As I sit here tonight, enjoying a dram or two of Michter’s US-1 (which has been in bunker for a while), I got to thinking … “What bottles do you have open right now?”
Don’t misunderstand … This bottle wasn’t opened because nothing else was available, rather my daughter was looking to review a whiskey I’ve already enjoyed (she likes to do this under the pretence she’s catching up) and Michter’s was on deck. I could have brought down another for myself, but as I hadn’t sipped Michter’s in a while, I thought why not?
Now I know many folks buy a bottle or two and enjoy each until they’re gone, then pick up a replacement down the line – and that’s fine. However, I like options. You see, for me at least, bourbon is more than a drink to close an evening. I don’t have a pour every night, but when I do look in the cabinet, the juice speaks to me, and I’ll reach for the bottle that talks to my mood. (Last week Weller Antique had quite a lot to say.)
When Hannah and I began our whiskey blogging adventure, we decided it was going to be fun. If it ever became a job, or the process was forced, we’d stop. We still try to review one new whiskey together each week, and Hannah does try to play catch-up (like tonight), but on occasion I’ll enjoy a dram with no pressure to share my thoughts. Because of our process, more than a few bottles are open from which we can draw. So with the above in mind, here’s our open bottle list (please don’t judge/we’ll leave the closed bottle options up to your imagination):
– 1792 Small Batch
– Angel’s Envy
– Booker’s 2019-01
– Booker’s 2019-03
– Colonel Taylor Small Batch
– Dry Fly 101
– Dry Fly Straight Triticale Whiskey
– Eagle Rare
– Elijah Craig Small Batch
– Elijah Craig Barrel Proof A118
– Elijah Craig Barrel Proof A119
– George Dickel #12
– Larceny
– Maker’s Mark Private Select Idaho Batch #3
– Maker’s Mark Private Select Idaho Batch #7
– Michter’s US-1
– Rebel Yell Single Barrel
– Weller Antique 107
For those of you who are counting, that’s nine ryed, six wheated, an alternate grain, one port barrel finished, and a Tennessee whiskey. Seven are of the high proof variety and of the group, nine are there because of recent reviews. Do I have a favorite? You bet! Two of the top five bourbons I’ve ever enjoyed are on the list. A couple bottles have just a single pour remaining and I’ll be sad when they’re gone. A few more won’t or can’t be replaced when gone due to limited release status, or they were just plain bad, in which case, we’ll see if those get finished at all.
The roster changes, ebbing as a bottle is emptied and growing over time as a new evaluation subject is opened. I consider some to be “daily drinkers”, or regulars in the rotation (Colonel Taylor, Dry Fly 101, Eagle Rare, Elijah Craig, Weller, and there is always a Booker’s ready to go). Seasoned veterans like these are my benchmarks and have a home in the bunker. Each can hit the spot for any particular mood I may be feeling.
But the real story here is about memories. Each bottle means something to me. I first enjoyed expressions of Elijah Craig, Eagle Rare and Colonel Taylor years ago, and I love Booker’s – I hold the Backyard BBQ batch in high esteem. The Elijah Craig Barrel Proof’s pack the heat and the A118 is my favorite bourbon to date. The Maker’s Private Selects are special Idaho releases. And the others I’ve reviewed with my daughter and had with friends while enjoying their company.
With the above in mind, I’ll make this recommendation … Have more than a few bottles open in your bunker. You’ll be rewarded each time the cabinet is opened … Memories from the past will blend into those you’re making now.
Do you have any daily sippers or constants in your bunker that I’m missing? What bottles do you have open right now? Click “Leave a Reply” below to comment!
Cheers!
written by Brian Dawson,
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