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Collect or Accumulate

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@RexAlban
RexAlban started a discussion

I've been accused of collecting whisky when in actual fact I have been accumulating whisky. The difference?

When I'm out and about and come accross an unusual whisky, for example the Glenlivet 21yo Archive in my collection, I snap it up. I will drink it, but not yet. Like most of my other "special" whiskies they will be enjoyed when the time is right. Stumbling upon an unusual, discontinued or rare whisky is what gets me excited these days. Mind you, I don't have that many. It was fun finding those I do have.

What whisky have you stumbled upon? and do you collect to sell at profit later, accumulate or drink immediately?

13 years ago

16 replies

@Andrew
Andrew replied

I accumulate, I really don't understand the collect for profit idea, though I've got a couple of things that I could theoretically sell for more than I paid I would not for a couple of reasons.

1) It is a PITA in most places 2) It is illegal in many jurisdictions 3) If it is good enough for someone to pay real money for it then I want it.. i wanted it when i bought it anyway.

In a couple cases my tastes have changed over time and I doubt I will go back to certain things, I've still got two bottles of the last of the Macallan 15 y/o Vintage bottles (1984) that I wont be drinking, but to get around reason 1 and 2 above would cost far more than I think anyone would pay.

More than likely they will get opened at my wake...

13 years ago 0

@Pudge72
Pudge72 replied

I am in 'slowly accumulating' mode, with a nod to cracking open bottles within a couple of weeks of getting one, as I build a wide ranging cabinet...see my wishlist for how large I would like that cabinet to be someday. :)

@Andrew, if the Mac 15 bottles are unopened, would you be able to trade them with someone instead, so that you are able to get some enjoyment from them before your wake? :) Either someone may have a bottle that they don't want, or if they're travelling somewhere, they may be willing to pick up a bottle that you can't otherwise get, in order to get the Mac 15 from you. Just an idea...

13 years ago 0

@Ridley
Ridley replied

I started off collecting, but am now more of a drinker as I have pretty much ran out of room. That said, I have a few bottles that were purchased to consume but due to increase in value, cannot afford to open them, and will have to be sold at some point.

I also purchased a few festival bottlings from 2007 & 2010 (the years both my kids were born) with the intention of giving them to them on their 18th Birthdays - to drink or sell will be their choice.

13 years ago 1Who liked this?

@Andrew
Andrew replied

@Pudge72 .. Trading isn't a bad idea, and I would be willing.. I thought about trading when I mentioned it actually but more along the sample bottle size I used to trade years ago, i even tried to start a trading thread in case others were interested in the concept. If you wanted to make a deal for one of the two I'm open to the idea..

13 years ago 1Who liked this?

UserRemoved replied

Being a "senior citizen," I haven't the time to collect. I want to enjoy all my whiskies and then some. I have countless open bottles for me and my whisky clubs to sample and trade. And when its my time, my children and grandchildren can enjoy tasting them without the worry about price and current market value. They're are all open bottles, so enjoy.

Also, there are other, far more lucrative and cost effective ways to invest one's money, than to "collect" whisky.

13 years ago 1Who liked this?

@lucadanna1985

@whiskyshiba well maybe it's a tad philosophical, but all in all none of us has the time to accumulate...or at least, none is sure to have...so enjoy!

13 years ago 1Who liked this?

@markjedi1
markjedi1 replied

I am a collector, but cannot help it. I have about 50 bottles that are unopened (the rest, thank goodness, is open indeed). And then, of course, there is my Auchentoshan collection that is growing rapidly. But I do plan to drink them all at a certain point. I plan to keep collecting until I'm 50 and then drink it all before moving on to the Eternal Warehouse.

13 years ago 4Who liked this?

@Lars
Lars replied

Not much of a collector myself, more an accumulator and drinker. I figure life is too short not to enjoy the finer things in life. If there is any whiskey left in my Bar when I leave this world than the family can drink it at my wake.

13 years ago 0

@britwhiskyfan

Can you imagine lying on your death bed, suddenly realizing you hadn't tasted your ............... Whisk(e)y isn't just about the drink it is about friends and their company, its about a moment in time. A moment that generations of distllers have been preparing for you to enjoy. Moments of time are precious. I accumulate whisk(e)y to, collect moments and memories

13 years ago 3Who liked this?

@Victor
Victor replied

For me it is accumulate, and drink. Not collect.

13 years ago 1Who liked this?

Gary replied

Most of the time I buy it and then drink it so don't tend to accumulate very much.

But I recently bought the Mackinlay Shackleton and though I'd love to try it, I am curious to see how the price / value of it rises once the shop stock has run out.

Maybe it won't but if that's the case then I'll drink it!

But for now I think I'll hold back and see what happens to my 'drinkable investment'!

13 years ago 0

@Andrea
Andrea replied

In my opinion there is something special and spiritual that bring you to buy whisky.... drink or not drink??? Some bottle want to be drink.... and some other bottle want to be collect (for the history, memories...). Collect whisky is too slowly for the idea to be rich.

13 years ago 0

@CharlieDavis
CharlieDavis replied

I have found myself in the fortunate position of being both collector and accumulator.

I'm an apostle of Stranahan's Colorado Whiskey. Being close to that fine distillery--both physically and friendship-wise--I have managed to collect two bottles of every single batch from batch #24 on through #69, the current batch. I also have some early batches, like #20, #9 and a few bottles of #6. In each case, one bottle is open for nosing and tasting; the other is safe and collected. As far as I know, my collection of SCW is the only one like it in the world. Jim Murray has every single batch--but they're all open. Half of mine mine aren't.

It is an interesting delimma; a buddy sent me a bottle of WhistlePig rye for Christmas. I would have popped it open right there under the tree at 7:30 in the morning and had myself a little dram while the kids ripped into their pile, but alas: it was signed by Dave Pickerel, the genius behind WhistlePig and former Master Distiller of Maker's Mark.

Now what? It was a delightful thought, but should I open it, or..? Sometimes I take it out and stare at it. More than once I've said out loud "Screw this! I'm crackin' that baby open!" But then my hands won't do it. I've held it up to the sky and gotten lost in the glorious color. I can almost smell the wonderful spicy aroma; but since I can't, not really, I'm dying to. Ah..but how much will this first expression from a fledgling distillery signed by an icon of whiskey be worth in 25 years? Sigh...it's not open yet.

Who knows? You just follow your heart, I guess. Certainly if I were to follow my nose, I would be pickled all the time and have very little whiskey. : )

Ch

13 years ago 2Who liked this?

@AboutChoice
AboutChoice replied

I'm not exactly sure what "collecting" means: whisky either gets drunk ... even a little at a time, or sometimes deterioates; does anyone collect apples, hamburgers or chocolate ? But I suppose collecting in fact means accumulating unopened bottles, that will be saved for special occasions, trading or for retirement. This may be a bit similar to wine collecting. But collecting alcoholic beverages is problematic, because unlike art or 45 rpm LPs, their sensory value, other than their rarety, lies in the taste; they can be appreciated only a few times. But I suppose collecting whisky is a tad better than collecting fireworks, which can be enjoyed only once :)

I suppose I have primarily been an "accumulator" ... just for the varied taste experiences, and for the abundant "choice" at any moment. I have, however, picked up several relatively rare bottles, such as a few of Talisker 18, A'Bunadh 13 and 23 and E & J 20 year discontinued brandy. You tend to accumulate these because you know they are great, and that they tend to become unavailable. I would not hesitate to open any of these for a special occasion or for an appreciative guest ... otherwise they just take up valuable space. Selling seems hardly worth the effort, but trading could be useful.

So in summary, I would suggest "accumulating", for trading and for a choice in drinking, until you run out of real estate and money. But it is better to "collect" items that appreciate in value, are less perishable, and that you can more fully enjoy ... such as musical instruments !

So now who wants to trade ??

13 years ago 1Who liked this?

@Alanjp
Alanjp replied

I am certainly an accumulator, i buy bottles quicker that i drink them so my range increases regularly. However none of my bottles will remain unopened forever, i'm not collecting to leave them on display or sell them later on in life. When i buy a bottle, i am going to drink it eventually!

13 years ago 0

@RexAlban
RexAlban replied

@Alanjp exactly. A job I had took me all over Scotland, including the Islands. I was buying 2 or 3 bottles a week. They soon mount up......lol

13 years ago 0