Special occassion bottle.

@Chookster. In case you get run over by a bus tomorrow, could you put me in your will for the Brora and the Farclas? Drink it now brother, you never know when that bus might come around the corner. Saving the best things you've got for later is a mugs game.

@BlueNote - should anything happen it can be shared between you, my family, and friends. I really dont approach life that way I guess. If I dont get to enjoy it someone I know will and thats enough.

Chookster I definitely do! I'm possibly weird in that I actually have 3 different categories in the whisky bottles I own and purchase. Everyday drinking, Higher end and special occasion bottles. Talisker 10, Ardbeg 10, Abunadh, Buffalo Trace, etc are bottles for every day drinking.

Higher end bottles would encompass Balvenie Portwood 21, Glenmorangie Sonnalta PX, Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, etc. These are bottles that generally run me $200 or more a bottle. I tend to have one of these open at all times when I feel like a little extra treat for myself.

Special Occasion bottles are bottles that I've hunted down, such as Rosebank, Brora, Port Ellen, Glenfarclas Family Cask (picking up my birth year in Scotland) Glenfiddich Snow Phoenix, Talisker 25+yr old, Abbey Whiskies 40 yr old Secret Speyside, etc. These bottles are generally ones that once gone I'll never be able to find again and I generally reserve these bottles for when me and my brothers are able to get together (every 3 or 4 years).

But yes I totally believe in special occasion bottles!

@Chookster I have the same system as SquidgyAsh. Everyday drinkers something I can easily find in the province. Higher end bottlings, again something I drink only every once in a while Auchentoshan 21 yr, Talisker 18, Ardbegs Corryvreckan and Uigeadail. As of right now the only bottles I have in my special occasion category is Ardbeg Galileo(not that expensive when I bought it), Auchentoshan Valinch 2011, just because I cannot replace them so they will be drunk at a future event. I am currently lusting after a Talisker 25 yr.

Absolutely, not just you!

You are indeed correct for suggesting that these bottles go beyond currency. When I find a "stunner" I try to buy at least three - one for now - one for later - and one for "after I'm gone". I have on occasion, when the price is right, purchased cases; these become the special occasion bottles which acknowledge milestones and acts of kindness. Enjoying a vintage offering with friends and family, years after the release, is special indeed.

In order to share enjoyment there first must be consensus on the enjoyability of that special dram. There are many who cannot appreciate the 'holy grail' type offerings that connosr members would seek out. I have collected, over the years, some main stream gems that are more readily appreciated by the "unknowing".

Geographical location limits my access to world class offerings; however, I have collected some 'Canadian crackers' over the years - CR Ltd Ed 1970's, 2011 Forty Creek John's Private Cask, and my all-time favorite for non-connosr circles, is the Alberta Premium Ltd. Editions 25 and 30 yr old - same make for different releases. Sometimes it might be that bottle which helps to create the special occasion.

I definitely have a couple 'special occasion' bottles. PVW23, Willet 21, Dalmore 21 and some aren't even that expensive, like the Evan Williams Single Barrel. I bought EWSB bottled from barrel #7 and it was excellent. I picked up another from barrel #159 and while still very good it just doesn't have the near perfect balance of the #7.

I totally understand holding on to special bottles for certain occasions. And sometimes those 'special occasions' are nothing more than a nice evening mid week after a long day.

I try to have on hand at all times, a bottle of Highland Park 18yo. Not only is it special, it reminds me of all the things that i treasure in a well made delicious Whisky - It has everything! Everything in just the right amounts and in all the right places. Superb!

Now, if only they would increase the ABV. to 46% or better.

It seems SquidgyAsh's system is popular, because that's what I use as well. The difference is I don't really have a special occasion bottle just yet... I did recently grab a Caol Ila 28 year, but I think I'll probably crack into it as soon as I empty a few open bottles first rather than wait for a special occasion.

I do plan to pick up a Glenfarclas 40 year at some point, though -- I think drinking a whisky that's older than I am would automatically make it a special occasion.

For the day I turn the big 40 -my Highland Park 40! Thought that seemed appropriate

@HeartlessNinny - Glenfarclas 40 is on my wishlist. @SquidgyAsh - a Glenfarclas family cask is also on my to-buy list, from my birth year would be nice but I wouldnt say no to any reasonably priced one. @Lars - the talisker 18 is amazing, cant think how good a 25 would be. @paddockjudge - im yet to try a legit canadian whisky, but I intend to eventually! @Eli - youre absolutely right, sometimes the right dram makes the occassion, and it doesnt have to be expensive @A'bunadhman - I went through a bottle of 18 and wasnt blown away, though it is bloody well balanced in hind sight. Yet now I find myself lusting after another bottle... @Blinkadelic - what an occassion that will be. I love the highland park brand and the 40 is one of those holy grail bottles I dream of thats way outside my grasp in terms of price.

For me a special occasion bottle would be a good bottle of glendronach single cask, a bottle from the buffalo trace antique collection or one of the old bottles of the highland park range.

@Chookster: I've found with H/P 18yo. you really have to let the Whisky come to you - Don't dive in looking for 'stuff'! Take it nice and easy and the Whisky will talk to you! Sound advise for any fine 'drop' but for H/P, especially so; or so it seems to me. When the lovely soft, sophisticated peat and herbs climb out of the glass, you will know!

Slainte!

@Chookster Great discussion, this is right in my wheelhouse I'm guilty of saving / setting aside special bottles. My admiral (wife) blessed me with the Shackleton whisky for christmas, and then her son brought from MN two bottles one an Octomore and the other Springbank 18yr. We opened and enjoyed the Shackleton, but I told her son we would not open the Springbank until he's there to share it with us. So there it is, oh and as for the Octomore I'm torn between opening and saving it. I wonder if Ft. Knox has room to rent. LOL. :)

@PMessinger - whether to open the octomore is especially hard a decison since the power of the mighty spirit may be affected through oxidation between opening and finishing the bottle.

I should also mention I have 2 smws ardbegs stocked away. A 10yo bourbon cask and 7yo sherry cask. Id imagine I will save at least 1 for when my friends and I travel up the coast in winter to a beach house. It just seems right given the name of the 10yo - a barbecue bonfire on the beach. One to open and share on a dark stormy night in the house or to take down to the beach in the dark of night with a fold up chair and glencairn to contemplate it on the dunes.

@Chookster Drooling over those SMWS Ardbegs just so you know! You made me have to clean my keyboard up!!

Got a Balvenie Tun 1401 batch6 waiting for a moment.

I have just recently acquired a white whale of sorts. 1983 Glenfarclas Family Cask. That is in fact my birth year and many of my friends so I will be breaking that out. Just haven't decided what occasion that is most likely when I get engaged or finally get to launch my career. Either way it will be great. After that I suppose you can consider Springbank 18 and Macallan 18 special bottles but I will just get around to those.

I have a bottle of Chivas 'Royal salute' 21 yr old that the guys from work pitched in and got me for my bucks night! I think i'm going to crack it open on the wedding day with my groomsmen. The other great part is it comes in the porcelain bottle which will look great on display even when it is empty!

@mosis522 Omg, thanks for reminding me. I've had that one sitting in the back of the cabinet for about 5 years. Definitely waiting to open that up.

I have a bottle of Ardbeg Supernova 2010 that I have been waiting for...it will be opened for my Sister's wedding in a few months...I can't wait!

@whiskyjourney Will you do a review of the Ardbeg Supernova??. I've not had this expression yet and would love to hear your notes on it. Thanks :)

I don't have any 'special occasion' bottles per se as I open as many as possible as I want to enjoy them. The special occasion is usually a get together with others to open and try the bottle for the first time! After being open, there are some bottles that simply don't get opened as often as others (usually harder/impossible to replace bottles). Those in that category in my cabinet would include:

• George T Stagg 2011
• Old Potrero 18th Century Style Rye
• Jefferson's Presidential Select 18 yo (batch 16)
• Sullivan's Cove Double Cask
• Glenfiddich Snow Phoenix
• Glenmorangie Sonnalta PX
• Talisker 18
• Parker's Heritage Collection 4th & 5th ed.
• Yamazaki 18
• Auchentoshan Valinch
• and, for today and a couple specific days of the year, Grand Old Parr 12.

The Caol Ila 18 was for special moments, but it's already finished :( I noticed that I was making special moments just to drink this again :p

In my budding single-malt collection, I am saving the following for a special occasion: Glenfarclas 21 and Yamazaki 18 as both are near impossible to find in my neck of the woods. Also, I want to develop my palate more before popping those two open to fully appreciate them. My Laphroiag Cairdeas 'Origin', due to its apparently very limited distribution stateside, is my lone 'collectible' for now. Until I drink it of course!