Done well, I guess it's possible to do both collect and enjoy. My brother-in-law used to buy first-growth wines at auction and have them stored in the UK (he was based in Asia). It was almost like buying stocks, everything was done for you and they were essentially paper transactions. He kept them for many years and sold most of them but regularly had some shipped to his home to enjoy. I don't think it was a huge profit maker for him, but he regularly had amazing wine essentially for free.
I'm looking into buying my sons(4 years & 8 months) a couple bottles of the "good stuff" each year for their birthdays. I'm thinking this can/will be 1 heck of a awesome gift and in at ent for them. Considering they'd they have a nice stash of 20, 30... Year old gifts to drink and or sell as they get older. Hell they could have it when their in their 50s if they don't drink it like a drunken sailor. What would you start with? I'm thinking several bottles a year to cover some spirits and wine.
Also wanted to add. This is a gift to them when they turn 21. Also maybe throw in a couple bottles of some really really good stuff to give to them when they turn 25, 30 other other major life events. How awesome it would be to get ~100 bottles of good drink?
I'l stick to spirits, specifically single malts, as my contribution to your legacy collection efforts. You have two ways to go (or a mix thereof); you can either try to get bottles of specific ages (e.g., 21 year old) to match their ages when you give it to them, or you can buy bottles released each year between now and then (and skip years as you wish), which would mean you'd look for the best bottles released in 2013, 2014, etc. My thought would be it is less expensive by far to go with the "year released" approach, which also lets you buy a much broader range of spirits. I'd vary the bottles by region (Islay, Island, Highland, Lowland and Speyside; plus a few foreign brands) and look for special or limited releases when possible. For starters, I'd select: Macallan 18 Laphroaig 18 Lagavulin 16 Highland Park 18 or 21 Yamazaki 18 (Japanese) Amrut Portonova (Indian) If you have any money left over, get a couple bottles that are expensive now, but keep rocketing up in price, like: Macallan 25 Old Pulteney 21 Talisker 27 Highland Park 28 (Director's Cut) Glen Garioch 30 For the Special Releases, the Islay malts all usually have Feis Ile releases, some of which are excellent. For 2013, the best are Laphroaig's Cairdeas, Lagavulin's 18 yo Feis Ile, and Bunnahabhain's Feis Ile 13. These bottles are tough to find once they sell out, so their value would rise more quickly than general releases. Other whisky regions also have their years and dates that prompt a special release, so you want to keep your eyes open for those. For the general release malts, you can look for any age statement (or no age statement, which is becoming more common). You can also look in Travel Retail, as it is becoming more common for some of the distillers to have lines only available in duty-free, or where there are great bargains not generally available elsewhere. Jim Murray's Whiskey Bible (released once a year) is a good research source, and you could also subscribe to Whisky Advocate if you get real passionate about things (some might call it obsessed, but those timid souls neither drink fine whisky or drive great cars lol). To buy and hold, you'll want to consider that: 1. Scotch does not age further once it is bottled, and stays good much longer than you or your sons will care about. As long as you don't hurt it too much, it is as good 100 years from now as today. 2. Store bottles upright (not on their side like wine - the cork is a stopper, and is to prevent evaporation. It has a hard top, so there is no drying as there is with wine corks) 3. Store bottles in a cool (cellar temp same as wine) dry place out of direct sunlight. Floor level in a pantry is fine as long as it isn't too humid (which would destroy the label and box, but not hurt the whisky) 4. Buy what you like, or think you'll like, and not just for perceived value or appreciation. Whisky is a good investment in the sense that its prices tend to keep rising, but unless you're spending significant $$$$ and really know your stuff, consider it a family tradition more than a portfolio. There are folks who know a lot more than me, but feel free to post from time to time if you want opinions (everyone's got one) about what's coming out and what might suit your project. You might also want to keep a journal or make notes with each purchase so your sons can read who you were and what you were like when you bought the Scotch. I can imagine each bottle having a handwritten note tied to the neck for them to read when they get to it. They will probably treasure the note more than just the bottle, and have something to toast annually with you, and in your memory in the distant future.
Traveled to Japan this week to see my son (which was great) and saw some wonderful sights. The last sight I saw, though, is coming home with me. At Narita Airport, they sell Hibiki 17 for a stunningly reasonable 8,000 yen (about $79). The 12 is sold in the US, and is very good. The 17 is not exported to the USA (nor to Canada, I believe) and is about $95-115 through a broker minimum (plus shipping). The 17 is considered by many one of the best blends in the world, and it was a 2012 Gold Medal winner at the Int'l Wine and Spirits Festival (plus other awards). Suntory owns Hibiki, and draws the blend from their three distilleries for the 17, then ages it in plum wine barrels long enough to give a distinct fruit on the nose and palate. I'll toast the trip, and my successful booze hunting, in about 16 hours...
Finally got around to purchasing a bottle of Old Pulteney 21. It was named the World Whisky of the year for 2014, and also was noted as a Gold Medal winner by the Whisky Bible for 2014. I tend to like Islay malts, but the reputation of this one made it too much to pass up. I bought it for about $140 at Total Wine & More in CA, which is the going price in most places. The whisky is a muted gold in hue. It was casked primarily in American oak, which tends to impart a spiciness to the taste in most whiskies. Unlike many of their other caskings, it also spends far less time in Sherry casks while maturing. This leaves it less fruity & a little less floral than some of their 12 and 17 bottlings. On the nose, I could smell fruit (apple), toffee (or vanilla) and a light hint of phenol (that astringent smell) along with a little cereal note. Tasting it, the whisky was very light, a little sweet (not too much, like subtle honey & raisins). It seemed to morph to barley malt, becoming drier on the tongue, and also spicier with a hint of ginger. The finish was the greatest surprise. It was long, peppery, with menthol, salt and spice. Like any good whisky, I'll do a couple more tastings in the interest of science & see if I want to keep it in stock. If you like Highland malts, it is a little more coastal than others of its region IMHO, a little more astringent (like Oban 14) less sherry influenced and a little spicier. I can see why so many people like it, especially those who are put off by the heavy peat in some other brands. Not sure if it's the greatest whisky I have drank, but it's pretty good.
I would agree highly on Bob's post regarding buying special releases or limited editions. In 20 years from today for example you may have no problem buying a general Glenlivet 15 or something along those lines vs the limited/special release is a one time deal. I will be doing this with my children whenever that occurs.
Just had some laphroaig (sp) sorry on smartphone, 18! What a powerful scent it gives off. Real smooth with some nice smoke and certainly warms you up. Next is a neat glass of talisker 10. Cheers
Talisker is certainly not a top contender, could be the mix of the previous taste lingering. Caol ila is next. That should wrap things up for the mid range tasting.
The Laphoaig 18 is amazing. Simply an excellent drink. I like the Talisker 10 as well. It's not in the same league, but I lik it as an everyday sipping scotch. Mark
Another vote for Laphroaig 18. Even for people who are put off by the power of their other bottles, this is an excellent (4 1/2 to 5 stars) whisky. I tend to prefer Lagavulin or Ardbeg for a cold and wintry night, but the Laphroaig blew me away with its combination of strength and smoothness. Perhaps because I anticipated the peat it would have, I was surprised at its smoothness and balance. The price is rising due to its popularity, and now is around $139 US in most places. Still a good bargain at that price, and I'd anticipate seeing it continue to go up (to my chagrin).
Okay I lied...I could not resist having a pair of Green Label JW since I've been trying to hard to find it. The party got a little out of hand and we ended up going back to a friends penthouse. Have not had such a bad hangover in a very long time... Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
My wife got me a surprise bottle of whisky for Father's Day, along with a really good Port we'll try the next time company is over. The bottle is Yamazaki 12, the younger sibling of what has become one of the hottest whiskies in the world in the past year, the Yamazaki 18. The 12 has a great nose, with floral and fruit. On the palate, it is spicy, honey, vanilla. As it goes back, you get a little citrus. The finish is quite smooth, with a fruit/rum feel as it goes down. The 18 has risen dramatically in the past year (anywhere from $175-225 a bottle) but the 12 is still a good bargain if you can find it ($60-65 a bottle US). I have a bottle of the 18 on order, but may finish this one off before I get to that.
Ardbeg does a special release each year around the time of Feis Ile; they call their release date "Ardbeg Day". This year's release (of only 1110 cases) is the Auriverdes. it is a Latin play on gold (auri) and green (verdes) to connote the gold whisky in the green bottle. The dram is pretty interesting, and more like Lagavulin than what one usually expects from Ardbeg. It is 99.8 proof, but much smoother than you might think. The nose is lighter, still peat and sea air present, plus the phenol. On the palate, it has hints of mocha (they char the barrel caps to help give it that flavor) plus toffee/ vanilla. As it moves back to the finish, I get a herbal taste, possibly juniper. There is also a taste of smoked meat (bacon/salmon or similar- not unpleasant, though). The finish is moderate for me, warming you on the way down with smoke and light vanilla. Not as strong a finish as for other Ardbeg bottles, although a good change from the routine. The bottle is hard to find; it was released May 31st worldwide, but will be available as late as June 20th for many suppliers. The price will be about $100-130 US. I bought two bottles; one to drink, the other to hold for awhile. If it sounds interesting, you should be able to get a bottle through the end of July; after that, find a friend who has some... Image Unavailable, Please Login
On the right in the photo. Drammed this at Dundee Dell Omaha last week, twice. Should have picked up a bottle when it was 300 bux. Image Unavailable, Please Login
My dad is quite the old fashioned guy...the kind that has the money but doesn't spend it frivolously. Since he would've killed me if I went overboard, I decided to send this to him this past Father's Day. He was touched by the engraving. Image Unavailable, Please Login
The last ten days..... Dram of Dalwhinnie 15 year old, nice and smooth, a little salty. Nice on the rocks. very good. Enjoyed again Glenmorangie Signet, excellent , nose of chocolate and honey. One to try before you die. Glenlivet 21 Archive series. Sweet, toffee and spice . Great value for a 21 year old.
In a shock to the system of every Scotsman, Jim Murray's World Whisky Bible just named Yamazaki's Single Malt Sherry Cask 2013 (no age statement) as the world's best for 2015. Sadly, no Scottish label even made his top five whiskies. The Yamazaki costs about $160 US a bottle (just a little more than their 18, which is quite good), but they only released 16,000 bottles worldwide, and are already pretty much sold out in retail outlets. As wholesale and distributors learn of this, it likely means they will hold it and let the price appreciate to $250-300 and up (boo, hiss...). My son lives in Japan, so I've asked him to try to source a bottle locally and bring it with him over the holidays. He only lives an hour from the Yamazaki distillery, so I'm hoping... Bob H Scotland loses out as Japanese whisky named best in the world - Telegraph
Interesting link, thanks for posting, Bob. I saw this quote on that URL... "It beat two American rivals, the bourbon William Larue Weller and Sazerac Rye 18 Year Old, which took second and third place respectively." Anyone here try one of these two American whiskies?...T
