How do you choose to choose?

I go through phases of being led by a particular flavour, style or region, but mostly I gravitate to new whiskies I haven't tried before. I like to have a broad range of open bottles to satisfy any mood.

The cellar links looks fun, I'll have a play.

I also try to have a wide range of bottles to choose the right dram for my shifting mood, but due to my little experience I usually read lots of reviews before buying...up to now I never dared to buy a bottle without advice...

For me it tends to be fairly random with most of the bottles i buy. I want to try as many different malts, blends and bourbons as i can, so generally i aim for one that is within my price range and that i've not tried before. That can lead to me struggling through bottles i'm not too keen on, but i will continue to buy bottles this way as in a way it can give me a nice surprise upon sampling it for the first time.

Both...Like Alanjp I enjoy the variety in all whiskys. I tend to keep a wide variety on hand. I do this so when I have non-whisky (or wine) friends over I can let them experience the world of whisky and all the variety it has to offer. I have created many converts which makes the local experience much better. Its really nice when you find a very reasonable priced, well-balanced whisky to share. Its much less intimidating for new comers...

@LeFrog "I like to have a broad range of open bottles to satisfy any mood". Same here, but my wife is always asking me to finish a bottle first before buying a new one. Thats no fun, I like my cabinet ful with bottles, ready whe I am.

I have quite a range of bottles in my cabinet, so much so that choosing is becoming rather difficult. Having said that, I try to swap samples with friends all the time ('try before you buy'). @Alanjp, you should try this too, that way you only have to struggle through a 3cl sample and end up buying only the bottles that you really care for.

I do also a read an infinity of reviews before buying my next whisky. I think it is a choice of head. But, when I find a deal I do not think twice to fetch the bottle...

In the case of Scotch, I used to take a note of bottles within my budget and then check the reviews on whiskymag.com before making a purchase. My main interest lies in Japanese blends. I've found nonjatta.com to be a very good place to read reviews on some of the lesser known blends. It's nice to have growing cabinet. Whisky 'moods' change from day to day.

Sorry that was www.nonjatta.blogspot.com

I seem to be all about choice :-) ... it is great to have a good number of malts, whiskies, brandies, rums and vodkas to choose from depending on mood ... taverns and pubs cannot compete ... I suppose they are more sensible. Often after tasting one bottle, I'll try others in the same category for comparison. In most cases, cost is limited to around 70 USD, but the limit may rise as I acquire fewer bottles with a narower focus. What is acquired is chosen via reviews, prior tastings, price and sometimes a whimsical lark. I wish more samples were avaialble in the US.

Personally, as a general rule I only purchase bottles that I have previously sampled and found to be exceptional. As such I tend to buy/trade etc as many samples as possible and pic up full bottles only on occasion. Rarely I will pic up a bottle on a recommendation from a friend or reviewer that I tend to agree with. These bottles tend to range in style greatly and some will be old single casks that I put aside for future drinking or younger less expensive bottles that I open (as soon as there’s no more than 10 open bottles kicking around...well ok 12....or 15) right away and enjoy.

Reviews seem to play a major part when it comes to picking the perfect malt. I guess that is why our Tasting Panel works so well. All the single casks we bottle have to be passed by our panel of whisky experts - some picky noses. If something isn't good enough we don't bottle it@drinix

Reviews are definitely important. Like everyone else in this discussion, for me it's mostly about trying something new and different. I usually go by some sort of recommendation, whether it's reading about it on a site like this or in malt advocate. I have a list of potential whiskies that I want to try.

Price is an important factor for me. Even if I can afford a $150+ bottle, I think it would be wasted on me at this point. There are so many good ones left to try in the $60 range.

Though I did read about Glenmorangie's Missouri Oak Reserve. Being a Missouri native this is something I'd love to try, if I ever have $600 burning a hole in my pocket.

The choosing process is almost as pleasurable as the tasting itself(but not quite). When you do not have a great deal of experience as I do not currently have it is a work in progress. Therefore the reviews and recommendations take on more meaning. As i learn what I like and dislike and my confidence in my choice grows it gets a little easier.

Does not always work out particularly when you are out and try something you have wanted to for a while and truly enjoy it only to find it is not readily available in your area or in general. This was the case last week when I tried the Talisker 18 at a bar. Thats when the choosing turns into searching!!

@RoganFox, Talisker 18 has currently run dry, but you are lucky to have tasted it.

@AboutChoice For sure. It was like a refined/upgraded version of the Talisker 10 which I already thoroughly enjoy so glad to have had the chance to get taste for now.

Depending on the price of the whiskey , sometimes I'll buy on impulse , other times I'll research the hell out of a particular whiskey that's caught my attention. (i.e. Uigeadail ) Now that I've tried out all the regions in Scotland, I have a better idea of what to expect... but there's always surprises to be found. I've been disappointed by some of the single malts I've bought , but I've never come across one that I hated.

@LeBudfrumHull Ah unless it's a single cask, they break the rules of convention

Similar to what lots of others have said I tend to buy with the head and drink with heart. When purchasing I try to take into account price, reviews, providing variety, etc. When grabbing a dram it's all about using that variety to find what fits my mood. A lot of times its experimenting with something new.