Of Which Whiskies Most Bottles Consumed?

The following are members of my Three-Timer's Club:

•Laphroaig 10 CS

•Ardbeg Ten

•Ardbeg Oogie

•Springbank 10

•Springbank 12 CS

•Knappogue Castle 12

Hmmm, not sure if I can contribute much in the way of 3 bottles or more.

My all time most consumed would have to be A'Bunadh. In 7 years I've managed to empty 7 bottles (each a different batch) with 2 more teetering on the brink. I have used them extensively in tastings.

Other frequent flyers would be:

1. Springbank 12 YO CS - 2 finished and one opened

2. Booker's bourbon - 2 different batch bottles finished, a couple nearly gone

3. Amrut Cask Strength - 2 bottles consumed, one mini consumed

4. Springbank 12 YO claret wood CS - 2 bottles finished

I can't currently recall any others where I've finished 2 bottles in my short career. I suspect there may be a few this year: Amrut Peated CS and single bourbon cask, Ardbeg Uigeadail, Ben 10, Laphroaig QC. But it won't be all of those.

After thinking about it, I would say:

Elijah Craig 12-6 bottles

1. Wiser's Legacy- 6 bottles 1 open 1 stashed

2. Weller 12- 6 bottles- 1 open 1 stashed

3. Ninety 20 year- 5 bottles and 1 open 1 stashed

4. Four Roses Single Barrel-4 bottles

5. Makers 46- 4 bottles 1 open

6. Glendronach 15 Revival-3 bottles-1 open-1 stashed

@Astroke, of yours listed the one which impresses me most is the 7 bottles purchased of Ninety 20 yo. I love that one and have only owned one unopened bottle of it. I can understand why you have chosen to drink 5 bottles of that one.

You might be amused to hear that I have never even seen 8 bottles of Weller 12 yo. I have owned one bottle of it. It is almost never available in my area.

I guess that I have one more 3-bottles-consumed whiskey to add to my own list: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof. We finished 2 bottles of Batch # 3, 66.6% ABV and 1 bottle of Batch # 6, 70.1% ABV.

My formative whisky drinking years were spent drinking it mostly with water. Every bottle had to be tested, regardless of its pedigree; therefore, many pours were had straight. When I eventually achieved the age of majority, I purchased a case of whisky; 12 assorted bottles comprised of Ballantine's, Chivas Regal, Seagram's V.O., Crown Royal, Park and Tilford 8 & 18, Park Lane, Schenley's O.F.C., Wiser's Oldest...My favourite of the bunch was P and T Royal Command 8 &18.

Early Years

Park & Tilford Royal Command 8 & 18....too many to count

Maker's Mark....too many to recall

Crown Royal Limited Edition (15 YO) excise stamps 1974 - 1976 ....dozens of bottles

Crown Royal De Luxe (10 - 30 year blend)....a shit load

Ballantine's and Chivas Regal....dozens of bottles

Recent Enjoyment...and sharing during the past ten years...Top Twenty Movers

Alberta Premium 30 YO 2010....more than twenty bottles

Forty Creek Port Wood Reserve 2012....thirteen bottles, yep, I counted 'em.

John's Private Cask No. 1....at least a dozen

W L Weller 12 YO....at least a dozen

Elmer T Lee....at least a dozen

Highwood Ninety 20 YO....double digits

Macallan Cask Strength....double digits

Gibson's 18 YO....double digits

Baker's 7 YO........double digits

Danfield's 21 YO....at least a dozen

Masterson's 10 YO Rye....seven bottles

Booker's 2015 - 01....at least six bottles

Glenlivet Nadurra 16 YO....five bottles

Alberta Premium 25 YO 2006....five bottles

Wiser's Red Letter....more than five bottles

Nikka Taketsuru 17 YO Pure Malt....four bottles

WhistlePig Rye.... four bottles

Bruichladdich Octomore Comus 4.2...three bottles

Corby's Lot No 40 Cask Strength 12 YO Rye...three bottles

Wiser's Legacy 2010 - 2017....heh,heh,heh...my favourite blend of all-time...sadly, not enough, now discontinued

@paddockjudge, Wow! What can one say about a list like that? Extremely impressive.

@paddockjudge I forgot about Masterson's 10, at least 5 bottles including the mediocre batch 015. Danfields 21, I have had at least 4 I guess and now debate on opening the last bottle I may ever own.

@Astroke, Danfield's 21 YO, you never know when one might turn up;)

@Victor Weller 12 has been a lottery bottle here lately, but then 400 or so show up at the stores and the rush is on. To be honest I have used many W12's in the OWA/W12 60/40 blend and could have listed that blend in my most bottles consumed. I have filled that empty Rip 10 bottle with the blend at least 4 times. I am perilously low on OWA 107.

Some years ago I went to an LCBO by my office that had the old maroon label Ninety 20 for 30% off clearance at the old price of $48, so it was around $32 CDN and change so I bought the last 4 bottles they had.

@Astroke, I got one of those $32 bottles by proxy. I also managed to obtain the last three bottles of Danfield's 21 YO, possibly from that store. Two of the bottles made it back to me and one remained in Hamilton with my friend Rick, as a thank you for harvesting Df 21.

Well,

I had to stop myself at 5 bottles consumed. If I dipped down to 4 bottles . . . that would be a long list indeed! Keep in mind (if you fear for my liver) that I have been drinking scotch (in moderation) for over 18 years, and I like to share with friends. And I am anal retentive enough to have kept track since 2006.

Bottles consumed:

Virgin 101 Proof 7yo Bourbon = 20 bottles

Ardbeg TEN = 18 bottles

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 12yo = 15 bottles

Laphroaig 10yo Cask Strength = 14 bottles

Ardbeg Uigeadail = 14 bottles

Laphroaig 10yo = I have tracked 10 bottles. Certainly more.

Knob Creek SBR 9yo (120 Proof) = 8 bottles

Ardbeg Corryvreckan = 7 bottles

Bulleit Rye = 7 bottles

Stagg Jr. = 7 bottles

Thomas H. Handy Rye = 6 bottles

Lagavulin 16yo = 6 bottles

Talisker 10yo = 5 bottles

Aberlour A’Bunadh = 5 bottles

George T. Stagg = 5 bottles

Redbreast 12yo Cask Strength = 5 bottles

Old Granddad 114 = ? Not one I keep track of. It is always around. Over a dozen easily.

Grant’s Family Reserve = ? I have always had a bottle open since 2005. I now buy it by the handle. North of 20 bottles easily.

I’m guessing on some of these and probably underestimating.

Laphroaig 10 +/- 20

Laphroaig QC +/- 10

Laphroaig 18 < 6

Ardbeg 10 +/- 12

Ardbeg Uigeadail 7

Lagavulin 16 +/- 10

Spring bank 10 +/- 8

Macallan 12 +/- 12

Balvenie 12 DW +/- 10

Talisker 10 +/- 12

There are many others that have been returned as empties at least 3 or 4 times.

I think I might possibly drink too much. Right now I am in Mexico enjoying the local beverages as well as my duty free Ardbeg 10 and Craigallechie 13.

@BlueNote - how's the Craigallechie? I would love to visit Mexico one day - hope a good time is being had!? Could you (anyone) recommend a decent but relatively affordable and available tequila? thanks

Back on point: Johnnie Walker Black label, Ardbeg 10, Benromach 10, Old Pulteney 12 and Highland Park 12. Lost count on the JWBL and probably 3 - 4 of the others. Laphroaig 10 is most likely on that list too.

edit - I've not thought this through! Buffalo Trace, JD Master Distiller series bottlings, Bulleit and Wild Turkey 101. About three each of those.

Nothing too fancy or impressive like some of the lists above and mostly due to them being decent, available and affordable.

@RianC Buenos Dias Amigo. Sorry for slow reply, it’s Mexico, it’s all slow. The Craigellachie is very nice. This is my second bottle and I am liking this one more than the first. It’s 46%, NCF and has very little if any added colour. It is not stated on the label, but my guess is that it is matured solely in Sherry casks.

I can’t help you with the tequila as we only ever buy standard issue stuff for making the odd margarita. I have been told that there are very high end tequilas that are excellent for sipping neat much the same as good single malt. @Victor might know something about good tequila.

Cheers.

@RianC, PM already sent re tequila.

@Victor Perhaps you could enlighten us all on the fine points of tequila.

@BlueNote Why don't you? you're at the source...

@BlueNote, it is true that I love tequila and mezcal second only to whisky. I do not have the same level of experience in tequila as I do in whisky. I've sampled maybe 40-50 different tequilas, maybe just 5-8 mezcals, and also a few sotols, raicillas, etc.

Mexicans typically prefer the unaged tequila blanco over the wood-aged versions. They love the taste of agave. For many, including me, loving the taste of agave without wood influence is an acquired taste. I have acquired a love for the taste of agave without wood influence, but it has taken me a few years of familiarity and adjustment to do so. For this reason I think that many whisky lovers, like me, will have an easier time at first appreciating the Anejo and Extra-Anejo tequilas which have pronounced wood mellowing and wood influence. After one has grown to like Anejos and Extra-Anejos, it is a short step to appreciating the Reposados, which have very light but discernible wood influence. It is a slightly bigger step to move to the completely unaged blancos. All of those which I am discussing are 100% de agave tequilas. Certainly tequilas mixtos, which contain 49% neutral spirits, are to be avoided completely. I would not use a 'mixto' even in "mixed" drinks.

There are many tequilas produced now, somewhat over about 1,500, to the best of my knowledge. I have liked the vast majority of the 100% agave tequilas I have tried. Most of those which don't work lean toward the spirity side. For example, while I completely respect Cazadores Extra-Anejo tequila, all of their younger versions seem spirity to me. Cazadores is quite popular, so I leave open the possibility that other batches than those I have tasted are better.

Here is the short list of @Victor's go-to tequilas:

Extra-Anejo: Jose Cuervo Reserva de La Familia (VERY woody, fabulous)

Anejo: Casa Noble (light and beautiful), Don Julio 1942 (rightfully very famous and NOT woody), Don Julio, Chinaco (extremely succulently spicy), El Jimador (an amazing amount of wood and flavour at half the (US) price of the others)

Reposado: Corralejo (maybe the best and easiest Reposado of them all), El Jimador, 1800 (Cuervo), Don Julio

Blanco: Don Julio, El Jimador, Casa Noble, Patron

There are many others which I like. Hands down El Jimador is the best value for money in the tequila world, giving solid quality at very inexpensive prices. 1800 Reposado is almost as woody as an Anejo, and I find their Anejo to be too tannic-woody for my taste. Everything Don Julio makes is solid, and for blanco tequilas theirs and Patron blanco are the closest things to what I would consider to be the archetype of blanco tequila.

It is a very big tequila world to explore, and tastes in tequila will of course be as individual as are tastes in whisky.

@Nozinan I know, but I just don’t know where to start. Besides, @Victor can do it so much quicker. I don’t even know if the clear stuff or the amber stuff is better. Help me out hear @victor.

@Nozinan I rest my case. And he beat me to the punch.

@Victor I wonder if the taste of Lambanog is also acquired, and that had it been aged a few years it may have been to your liking.

It will continue to age in my basement, albeit not in wood, should you ever care to try it again.

@Nozinan, I think that a taste for your Lambanog would be almost as easy to acquire as would be a taste for Lambertus 10 yo Single Grain whisky.

@RianC I obviously understated it when I said “@Victor might know something about good tequila.” A good tutorial for us all. Thanks for asking the question and thanks to @Victor for so thoroughly and helpfully answering it. Now we know.

@BlueNote, thank you very much for the acknowledgement.

@Victor My pleasure. You are a great resource.

@Victor Very informative post. Thank you. I’m not knowledgeable at all about tequila, but I may have to get some in the spring/summertime. A friend I haven’t seen in awhile, who enjoys tequila as much as whisky, will be visiting and I’d like to have a few tequilas to offer him.

I took @Victor's advice and grabbed a bottle of Cazadores Extra Anejo, it helped that it was 20% off so it came to $61CAD, it's pretty tasty. I've recently delved into the realm of fine Mezcal and Tequilla, I'm pretty new to it but there are some wonderfully complex and interesting flavours to be discovered. Del Maguey Chipicapa is a knockout and my favorite so far.

@Mancub, makes me want to drink some tequila right now, but I'll wait until after playing my Tues night basketball game. Liquor consumption does not help my game. I still have a sample of Cazadores Extra-Anejo which @Benancio gave me at the tasting we did at his house in Albuquerque in Sept 2016. I think I'll have some of that late tonight. You got an excellent price on your bottle, about equal to the lowest price available anywhere in the world,...and that on what is maybe the least expensive average price Extra-Anejo on the market.

Following @Victor 's advice I got a bottle of El Jimador Reposado (for £20 in a local supermarket - so a decent price point). Tried a little pour earlier and was very impressed.; nothing like the usual wretch inducing stuff I've thrown down my neck in days gone by . . . A big thumbs up from me and, clearly, (not that there was any doubt!) the man knows his onions!

@Victor - how did you get on in the game?

@RianC, @Mancub, I am having some of that sample of Cazadores Extra-Anejo Tequila given to me by @Benancio. This is quite woody, but pretty nice. Not a stand-out, but very drinkable.

Tonight was not one of my better nights at BBall. Too many turnovers, which is unusual for me. I only took one shot, which I missed.