How do you buy whisky?

I am coming from a low number of distillerys/whisky. So in general reading a positive review is enough for me to go out and try a whisky. I always buy 700ml bottles though. Ihave no preference for age unless under 10 years where I will be slow without a very good review.

I think it's all of the above. I'd add region and general curiosity of a distillery as well. I bought Springbank 10yr because I wanted to try a Campbeltown. Sometimes I get budget conscious and I might buy a $45 bottle (Ardbeg 10)

Last week I bought Glenfarclas 21yr because ....well, because I've never head Glenfarclas and I figured I would try the something that I've never had before. Label that one 'general curiosity' and 'the age statement'.

I have Michael Jackson's guide to scotch and luckily we share the same tastes so I use that as well.

D: All of the above.

As my journey has evolved, I have basically tried to do as much research as possible to form a lengthy (and still growing) wishlist...I think only 'jdcook' has a longer list!! :)

As I am still in the early stages of developing my cabinet, I will likely be adopting an order of purchases based largely on price...the cheaper bottles will be added first, partly so that I can add a greater quantity of bottles sooner. Also, this will allow me to continue to develop my palate in order to better appreciate the pricier (usually more complex?) offerings later.

A couple of variables will affect this: 1) Travels to specific destinations that offer otherwise difficult/impossible to get bottles (hello Illinois for American whiskey purchases). 2) Bottles that are marked as discontinued in Ontario...(i.e. Bowmore Tempest will likely be one of my next LCBO purchases, whenever that may occur).

I was going to say at local retailers and over the internet, but it would seem - from the answers below - that the real question is 'How do you choose what to buy?'. When I started my big liquid adventure in 2009 (I had only occasionally been tasting whisky before that and only had three or four bottles in my cabinet), I dived in and got me about 50 bottles in the first 2 months - I considered it a research project that has expanded into becoming a real whisky affection. My cabinet now has about 250 whiskies (but not all are full bottles, in fact only about 80 are 700ml bottles, the rest is half bottles, minis and samples). I try to cover all areas in my cabinet (Scotland, Ireland, USA, Japan and world), but limit myself now to buying only a new bottle if a) I can afford it, b) it has special significance, c) gets rave reviews or d) has a personal meaning (e.g. Auchentoshan).

markjedi1 I agree that the discussion should have been 'How do you choose what to buy?' I should have emphasised the YOU lol. With that said, How I purchase my whisky is through trying a 12 or 15yo and reviewing it to see if I would purchase another bottle from that distillary. Then I read the reviews on that particular distillarys range, ie 18, 21, 25, 30,40.......cant afford, but still review 50yo. After reviewing each of the range I then want to purchase the most complex of the range without spending too much money. If that particular bottle wows me then I proceed on looking into the expensive and collectable bottles that that distillary has. I have been tasting whisky for only 2 years now, but I find that the more complex the whisky the more attention I give to that particular brand. Is that true for anyone else?

I have gone thru stages. At first I went off reviews, in my search for what I considered the nicest heavily peated malt. After I had tried a couple of Ardbegs, my emphasis changed to trying to collect as many Ardbeg expressions as I could within my fairly limited budget. Then I changed country, divesting myself of my collection as I did so (they were all open bottles...) Now apart from re-buying a couple of favourites, I mostly buy according to impressions from tastings, and recomendations from my liquor guy. Budget has, for me, always been of over-riding concern, and I only buy what I am going to open and drink, having no interest in collecting. Age statment has never been a factor for me.

I tend to go two ways, the most common way now is simply buy outright new expressions (mostly indie) of whiskies I'm already familliar with. Other than that I'm pretty much a try before you buy type, I visit the whisky events, the two really good whisky bars within walking distance of my home and the local Government monopoly which has a main outlet that offers tastings for a small fee.

I'm always happy to try something new but when I have to make a choice I generally go by region first, then I look at the colour since I'm not a huge fan of heavy sherry, then age statement .. not really looking for OLD but many of the NAS whiskies are smaller amounts of older stock filled out with much younger whisky (5-8y/o) they may well be good but they are often not indicitive of other whiskies of the same brand.

Mood.

Augmented by a little research and what I already know of the distillery.

Great Question. A lot depends on how I am buying. I tend to like more mature whiskies, and so frequent auctions to stock my cabinet. I do regularly get strange looks from folks when they learn that I actually drink the whisky, rather than contemplate it on some shelf whilst awaiting its financial returns.

There are actually a number of immensely drinkable whiskies on offer in an auction salesroom, and many at bargain prices, since the ones that I am interested in often are not the trophy bottles. I acquired a great 28 Year Old Highland Park and an excellent 1993 Springbank at auction for well-below retail.

And, the auction catalogs are like shopping lists...I spend a lazy afternoon in a coffee shop, reading through the lots, researching the bottles online, etc. -- and then setting my limits and placing my bids. Overall a great way to buy whisky and a lot of fun on the day.

The other way I tend to buy whisky is at the distillery itself. There is something to be said for 'terroir', and while this most directly relates to the whisky itself -- its water, grain, etc. -- I believe it also relates to its sense of place, the people, and the traditions that underpin its history.

Bruichladdich is a great example. Yes, it has many expressions -- and many undergo extensive ACEing -- but the underlying spirit is drawn from its sense of place; from the farmers who grow the barley, to the water that feeds the stills, to the peats that imparts its tell-tale character. But that is only part of the story, one of only two remaining independent distilleries on the island, Bruichladdich is powered by people who care deeply for their craft (be it the coopers, the bottlers, the sales reps, or Jim McEwan himself) and their island.

This passion is infectious -- and when you visit a place like Bruichladdich, it places the spirit in context -- it makes sense of the sometimes seeming reckless abandon -- and all at once you realise that these folks are innovators who take the 'progressive' moniker to heart while embracing the innovative traditions of distillers since the first dram was nursed from a coil centuries ago. And then, you want to experience Bruichladdich. Because you understand the madness and want to be a part of it. It also helps if you have someone who can explain the three hundred bottles of whisky on the store shelf and tell you which to buy!

In any case, the story is true of most distilleries I find -- if you can visit, you should -- and when you do, you should buy your whisky then and there...or, if not, at least when you next buy a whisky from that distillery, you will know where your dram began.

When I first ventured away from blends and into the realm of single-malts my mission was, and in some ways still is, to try at least one bottle of whisky from every region of Scotland. So at first my buying was based on region to explore the characteristics of what each had to offer. And I would choose the whiskies in these regions that were well renowned and generally favoured amongst critics/reviewers, but readily available and affordable (

@Crys ...well that sucks. The site discarded 3/4 of my post after I submitted. sigh