Special Occasion Whiskies

I couldn't think of a finer Whisky to have at hand for a special occasion than Highland Park 18. There are many more expensive 'drops' around but I'm not convinced they do more. It has special occasion written all over it!

I have several: The first and my favorite is my always go to Glenfiddich Snow Phoenix. The next one is a bottle of Glenmorangie Sonallta PX and the last would have to be a bottle of Macallan 12 year old Fine Oak.

Right now it is definitely Ardbeg Uigeadail. I have a couple that are as/more expensive, but their profiles aren't quite as "special"… so when I need a special occasion dram, I go for the Uigeadail.

For me, Parker's Heritage Collection 4th edition (10 yo wheated bourbon), Old Potrero 18th Century Style Rye Whiskey, George T. Stagg (2011 ed. - yet to be opened) and Grand Old Parr 12 yo blended whisky would top the list. The common thread for all of them is that they are very difficult for me (living in Canada...and Ontario, specifically) to obtain, they have also been obtained as a gift or, due to their scarcity, in a very circuitous manner, through the hard work of others.

I have 'Victor' to thank for the OP and the Stagg, while the other two were birthday gifts. The GOP 12 has a specific emotional attachment for me.

Lagavulin 16 also gets an honourable mention for this thread, though I drink it more often than the others since it can be purchased locally. In a slight variation to the thread, I have a soft spot for my Auchentoshan 12 bottle as it is the first full sized bottle that my wife purchased for me (though it is now 2/3 empty).

As OCeallaigh said right now my special whisky is Ardbeg Uigeadail just because in my mind it's not a daily drinker, it needs time to be enjoyed properly on a cold night with music playing..

If I'm in a bourbon mood when I want that "special" pour, I grab Old Rip Van WInkle 15/107. If I'm more in the mood for scotch, it's Laphroaig 30.

Tom

My special occasion whiskies are those that I have trouble getting or which are no longer available to me. At the moment that's Ardbeg oogy and Corry

Like @cpstecroix said, one's that I have brought back with me from Scotland that I can't get here in the states are saved for very special occasions. Also, one's that were gifts from my wife for holidays or birthdays.

Some examples in my cabinet right now include 18 year Bruichladdich Valich, 25 year Ben Nevis, 40 year Longmorn from the Whisky Society, 16 year Bowmore Bordeaux finish and a 15 year Glenmorangie sauternes finish purchased at the distillery and later signed by Dr. Bill Lumsden.

All but one of those remain un-opened. One of the things that makes them so special will be the memories that I will re-live when I do open and enjoy them. Can't wait!

The only one I've really saved for a special occasion was my Yamazaki 18. I opened for my birthday last year and the last time I really got into it was my brothers bachelor party.

Like some have already mentioned, special occation whiskies for me are often whiskies that I have a certain memory linked to. Like my Aberlour that I bottled myself on site last summer (best tour ever!), or the Glenfiddich 21 yrs I got from my parents as a gift for guiding them on thier first visit to Scotland. I still keep the empty bottle of the first single malt I bought, that's also special to me (even when empty).

Special occation whiskies for me, are thus not always rare or expensive.