What is up with the Archive Samples anyway???

[mikeymad]

So, Just in case you were wondering what Ganga and I were going to do with 288 2oz. Boston Rounds anyway.....

Well, I am glad you asked....

For a little while now we have been saving off samples of full sized bottles that we have owned. That we have named 'archive' samples, for future 'use'... (flights, comparison, trades, just general dramming).





I just got done converting a couple.....






oooo... Look at all the pretty colors....

Cheers,

[les taylor]

Mikey that's a real labour of love. Some are more full than others though hope that's okay.

[killerwhale]

they look lovely!
I think it's a great idea and I'd like to own such a collection.....

[Di Blasi]

Yes, beautiful indeed mikeymad! Nice fotos.

[Deactivated Member]

I've been thinking of doing a similar thing--ordering a bunch of 20cl and 10cl bottles. When I open a bottle, I'll immediately fill one of each, and proceed to enjoy the 40 or 45cl left. (Hmm, maybe two 20cl bottles.) That way I can get around to more different whiskies, and keep a large variety in stock and available for comparison and to give visiting friends some variety.

I need to order up some friends, too....

[Jan]

That is one beautiful sight Mikeymad!

Must have been quite a job?

From time to time I do the same with a beloved dram - but far from consistently and not at all organized like this.

[kljostad]

Thanks for a great idea!

Where is it possible to order sample bottles?

[Deactivated Member]

LFW has 20's and 10's--look in glassware, I think. Boston rounds are widely available--do a google search.

[karlejnar]

Thanks for a great idea!

Where is it possible to order sample bottles?

You can order them at LFW as MrT said.
Another possibility is the danish site http://www.whiskynyt.dk -> Shop
http://shop.whiskynyt.dk/
(I appologise to all non-danish readers )

I recently started to stash a 26cl bottle of most of my open malts before they are emptied. Unfortunately some had gone very low so I had to stash a few 10cl's as well, a.o. the legendary 'Laddie' Vintage 1970.
The 65ml and 10cl's are also very good size for exchanging samples with fellow malsters.

[bamber]

Love it - you're like the mad professor of malts.

[vitara7]

thats a shed load of work, all the fidley labels and that... id loose the head after about 5....

well done though, very well done.

[Drrich1965]

Awsome Idea. I started today; if only I had been doing this for the last few years. No time like the present, however.

[Di Blasi]

Great link karlejnar!! Thanks for it!! What perfect sample bottles! I might have to put in an order with Mr Fjeld to save/split some shipping costs.

[karlejnar]

Great link karlejnar!! Thanks for it!! What perfect sample bottles! I might have to put in an order with Mr Fjeld to save/split some shipping costs.

Velbekomme (You're wellcome) - glad to help. A good idea to collectively order the bottles and save on postage.

BTW: The "shop keepers" are MacNiels and MacLars, the webmasters of http://www.whiskynyt.dk. Nice fellow malsters of mine too.
And before you ask: No - I'm not getting provision on the sales

[Matt2]

This something I have been looking into as well, and yes I wish I had started a few years ago

I've got some nice label designs to work with and was thinking of sealing caps with hot wax.

Does anybody know of any problems storing whisky in these bottles for a number of years (5-10 years?).

[mikeymad]

Hey Team.....

I didn't know that we were going to have a popular thread out here. I have been away for a little bit. I have not even gotten use to the new Emoticons:

Thanks for the interest and comments. It makes us feel that we are doing something constructive...

We do have some variation in fill level based on the sample bottle that we had avalible at the time to archive the dram. So the new ones are filled to the full 60ml, the others are from 50ml and 40ml samples.

We used a company here in California. We ordered 288 because that was the price break. http://www.sunburstbottle.com/glass-bottles/clear-glass-boston-round They came out to be about 0.55USD each, and we added the shrink wrap heat sealed cap covers as well. Didn't feel like doing the wax dip.

I am hoping that the long term storage is not that big of a deal. The cap is better than the standard 50ml sample bottle.

Start your collection today....

Cheers,

[Deactivated Member]

I don't think the shrink wrap will really make a difference in reducing evaporation; there shouldn't be a problem as long as the caps are tight. I think the shrink wrap is more of a consumer reassurance kind of thing. Then again, I haven't seen the actual caps.

[mikeymad]

FYI, they look like this

Sealed:



The inside



Cheers,

[les taylor]

FYI, they look like this

Sealed:



The inside



Cheers,

Mikey the pictures haven't copied for some reason perhaps you could re copy them.

[mikeymad]

Anyone else having a problem seeing the pics?

I have been able to see them from two locations

cheers,

[Lawrence]

I can see them very well.

[peergynt323]

Nice going MikeyMad. Make sure you save some of that Loch Dhu for a sunny day.

[mikeymad]

Nice going MikeyMad. Make sure you save some of that Loch Dhu for a sunny day.

Ouch I forgot about that one..... you gotta do what you gotta do...

Cheers,

[shoganai]

samples, for future 'use'... (flights...

You can get these onto a plane?

Anyway, very impressive.

[mikeymad]

You can get these onto a plane?
Anyway, very impressive.

Yep you should be able to becuase they are under the 3oz limit. So pile them into a 1 quart bag and off you go. Buy toothpaste when you get to your destination.

[Willie JJ]

I feel compelled to bring this thread back to the top because there are many of us newer folks who have not seen it and I think that it is simply a brilliant idea.

[Di Blasi]

Yes indeed it is! Like a cataloging system. And with hundreds, I'd guess you'd have to alphabetize them for easy reach. First, I need to get that many different whiskies, and drink most of them up!

[mikeymad]

Thanks for the free bump Willie....

The collection continues..... Presenting the large graduation class of 2007... in their cap and gowns...




We are about up to 120-130 samples right now. With about 120 empties to fill...

Sorry for the big picture, but I wanted impact....

Cheers,

[lohssanami]

Nice work!

[Willie JJ]

I love big pictures Mikey .

They just look better and better.

[Di Blasi]

Beautiful, nice work! It's a great idea maybe that whenever one opens a new bottle, to pour and save a small sample for the future, will also help note what you've tasted.

[Newbie]

Thats a awsome idea, plus they look really good all laid out like that!!

Might have to pinch your idea & save some stock for the future

Now where to find some empty bottles...

[Ryguy]

Mikeymad,

Great work on building up the collection! I love the idea of having samples from every bottle I've purchased. Now just to oder some 2 oz glass bottles myself......

[Ganga]

Geez, I need to figure out what needs to be added. You probably want about 20 from me now Mikey.

[mikeymad]

I will take whatever you can spare, it all goes to a good cause.....

Cheers,