Importance of Bottle

So as I mentioned above, I love the Lagavulin bottles—everything about them: shape, color, distinctive labeling, the "1816" and "ISLA" stamped in the glass. I recently got the 12 for a birthday gift and a bought a 16 for comparison purposes, so at some point I'll have two Lagavulin bottles to use or dispose of. I plan to use them.

With one, I'll soak off the labels—which will of course leave the "ISLA" stamped in the glass—and make that a new all-Islay solera blend bottle. I'll probably seed it with the Lagavulin remnants and then top it off with whatever Islays I have open at the time. I already do a general solera bottle for all the good whiskies that pass my bar, but I think it'd be great to do one that's 100% Islay.

And the other? I think I'll transfer my current all-inclusive solera bottle into it. I'll remove the big rectangular Lagavulin label and replace the oval label with one I make myself.

And as long as I'm playing around with all this stuff, I think I'll start an all-Campbeltown solera too, using my next near-empty Springbank bottle for starters. Springbank bottles are pretty classy too—plus, they too have the stamped-glass business going on so I can soak off the label and still know what it is. It's just too bad the stamped wording is "SPRINGBANK DISTILLERY" instead of "CAMPBELTOWN." Oh well—they're practically synonymous anyway. (Just look away when I pour in some Kilkerran and Glen Scotia.)

I don't buy a Whisky because of the appearance of a bottle but I do appreciate good design and style. I think the contents are by far the most important factor but I do like distilleries to take pride in presentation.

The only whisky that I have been tempted by mainly because if the bottle is Willet Bourbon. What a crazy design! It always catches my eye but 2 years on since I first spotted one I still haven't bought one so it can't influence me that much.

@tjb, I agree about the Willets. I never buy bourbon but that coat-of-arms labels always comes THIS close to swaying me before I redirect my gaze over to the Islays.

@markjedi1 - funny, for me it's the opposite, I loathe the cognac and Bourbon style bottles - Laga/Talisker, Oban, Balvenie, and OP have the most asthetic bottles imo...

@ Nock - great insight vis-a-vis the oxidation surface area/bottle shape. Aberlour always seems to go bad quickly, possibly due to their bottle shape...

@ Whiskybee - AAHrg!! Dalmore's gaudy, loud bottles are a real pet peeve of mine - I cannot STAND them :-D

I've never bought a bottle based on what it looks like.In fact the extravagance of certain types of packaging, with magnets,metal bits,leather and faux velvet crush,is a pet peeve of mine.It does nothing to save the planet's resources but that being said it's nice to have an attractive glass bottle which can only add to the overall experience. For example the Edradour decanters are simply stunning. A good point was made though,about different bottle shapes affecting the oxygenation rate of the whisky.

As I mentioned on another discussion, I'm now drinking the Copper fox Rye...and its wine like bottle seems a bit awkward. That said this whiskey is delicious! As for nice bottles yes I do fancy them! As mentioned by others the Balvenie, HP, Jura, Macallan and across the ocean Woodford, Knob Creek and the cute 375ml Hudson Manhattan.