How many open bottles do you normally have?

[Ryguy]

Right now I have quite a bit more open bottles than usual. I'm up to 29. There's no real rhyme or reason for it, I just like a variety.

[Mr Fjeld]

Nowadays I try to keep no more than 8 bottles open at any time. Some of you guys have more open bottles than I have bottles in total

[Reggaeblues]

Usually between 18-30 depending on cash flow.

Short answer: "Not enough!"

[bobbyb]

would normally have between 8 & 10 open,at various levels

bobbyb

[sampaiocaleia]

Today 5!

[Doug1937]

I've only recently decided that SMSW is my favorite alcohol, and subsequently occupy the bulk of my purchases, so I have just six bottles of Scotch, all of them opened. I don't see the point in buying a bottle and not opening it, not at this early stage in my drinking career. If I'm going to buy another bottle, it's going to be a brand I haven't tried yet, or another bottle of a brand I just ran out of. In either case I'd open the newly-purchased bottle.

I have a few blended malts, but only in pint sizes. I never met a Scotch I didn't like, but I prefer single malts, so I don't plan to buy a 750ml bottle of blended ever again.

My inventory:
Laphroaig 10
Laphroaig 10 CS
Talisker 10
Speyburn 10
Glenlivet 12
Lagavulin 16

I will probably buy Ardbeg 10 and Highland Park 12 next, this weekend most likely, and I'll be opening both of them right away.

I do worry about deterioration though, so I aim to keep my open bottle total in the single digits. If possible.

[Reggaeblues]

Usually only one...as in, cork out, ready to pour.

I think I'll go and open one right now!

[Willie JJ]

Too many. Did a stock list a couple of weeks back and, including smaller bottles (apart from miniatures), I found out that I had 69 bottles open! ...

For a normal number I'd ideally like to get the figure down to 10-15 or so, but that's going to take a while methinks...

69 is a lot Stuart (but its an interesting position to be in (I don't believe I just said that)).,

Seriously though, 10-15 ... ? I reckon if you have had access to that kind of variety then 10 bottles will seem a bit boring. Probably better to stick to 20-30. More fun I think.

[Muskrat Portage]

I'm in a similar position to The Tross, with far too many open (60+)and I'd like to get it down to a reasonable amount, say around 20.

On top of it all, I've been so busy with the house renos (again) and my service organisations, that I've not had time to 1) drink whisky or
2) post that I'm unable to drink whisky on the WM website.

Musky

[Reggaeblues]

Musky, in the time it took you to turn on your computer and type this, you could have popped a cork and been sipping something fine!

Oh, I get it. It's not the popping and pouring, its the poring over which of your 60 open bottles to rummage. I quite understand. That must be very time-consuming!

[Muskrat Portage]

I have to admit that it is a tough choice sometimes. Luckily there is a variety of distilleries, each with their own nuances and pleasures to mull over. (Bad pun - Mull)
I've been leaning towards the smokey ones of late and away from the Sherry finishes.

I have been planning on gradually polishing off another 10 but it's getting harder, as the remaining bottles are now getting up to the 1/2 full mark.

And then there's the new one (a Glen Rothes) from the Portugal trip that keeps calling out to me. So yes, RB it can be a very tough decision some times.

Musky

[Glen Lovett]

I have a problem with not being able to finish off all the bottles I have as I'm a bit of a horder!! However I did have a friend over last night and decided to finish off 5, Dalwhinnie, Black Bush, an old Macallan, Glenlivet and a Balvenie. However I don't think I can bear to finish off a couple of older/rarer ones as I quite like having them in my collection!!! So I'm left with 23 opened bottles at the mo and after last night a bit of a hangover

[Muskrat Portage]

Sick East Anglian!

I would never deign to take pleasure in anothers' misfortune.

Well, okay maybe a bit of a snicker at your expense but then I would be very solicitous and sympathetic. Of course you know where to find "sympathy" in the dictionary. Eh?

Musky

[I_SPEY]

At this moment 7. Normally 8 - 10

[Willie JJ]

I seem to have got it down to about 30. Time to open a few maybe.

[Muskrat Portage]

I seem to have got it down to about 30. Time to open a few maybe.

DOWN to 30? My God man that's been a stalwart efort on your part!

I certainly think you deserve to open a new one in celebration. My collecting will be taking a decided downtown for the next few years. My buddy with the local bottle shop has elected to retire.

I'm very pleased for him but am aware that it will be a bit more difficult to find those "gems" I once had easy access to. There's a lot to be said for having another lover of whisky working in your favorite provincial distribution centre.

Muskrat Portage

[Ganga]

I think I'm back down to 35. For awhile there it was pushin' 40. Four more are on the ropes though.

[Lawrence]

20 or so currently, time to open a Bladnoch Sheep and a few others....

[Willie JJ]

I certainly think you deserve to open a new one in celebration. My collecting will be taking a decided downtown for the next few years. My buddy with the local bottle shop has elected to retire.

That sounds like a disaster Peter. Are there no alternatives within reasonable access? Maybe someone else will see the gap in the market and open up a new shop.

[Muskrat Portage]

I certainly think you deserve to open a new one in celebration. My collecting will be taking a decided downtown for the next few years. My buddy with the local bottle shop has elected to retire.

That sounds like a disaster Peter. Are there no alternatives within reasonable access? Maybe someone else will see the gap in the market and open up a new shop.

The local LCBO will still be there, they're just parachuting in a new manager from Northeastern Ontario.

My buddy, being a true lover of SMs, has always kept an eye open for me for unique products. And then when he gets one, he springs it on lil' ol' unsuspecting me, usually around payday. So, I cough up and buy it and then wonder how to slip it into the collection without being noticed.

[Reggaeblues]

It's a hard life eh. MP?

There's an economic downturn in the air I can feel it. Last week alone I finished a Lasanta, a Lagavulin 16, the new Ardmore OB, a Glenmo' rum and a Laphroaig QC, and my compass box Asyla is down to its last dram(one of the BEST aperitif drams ever)...ditto the Glenmo Portwood(oldie...)and the Talisker 18.

thankfully i have a new T18, but otherwise...no replacements.

Help! I'm down to 15 bottles and many o'them are near the bottom!!

Hey Mr. clapton, d'you need a backup guitar player??? My bottles are getting lower. My wishlist is getting longer...and THAT's the blues!

Meantime it's a fullmoon over here, i'm in songwriting mode, and I replenish myself from a bottle that IS half full rather than half empty...the Ardbeg almost there!

[laddie teun]

all my bottles are open (currently 387)

[lohssanami]

all my bottles are open (currently 387)

Wow...do you own a bar?

[Willie JJ]

all my bottles are open (currently 387)

Are you not finding that there are problems with oxidisation?

[laddie teun]

well no not really
althuogh there's a bar in my SM basement (SM = Single Malt of course)
see for yourself: http://www.teuneneline.nl/whisky/kast.htm
and the list of currently open bottles: http://www.teuneneline.nl/collectie.htm
(hmmm, needs updating i see)

And no i so far i haven't encounterd problems with oxidation. Although some of the bottles are open for about ten years now. Sometimes it seems like becomming a problem, but just give teh whisky some time in your glass and usually it's oke

[Willie JJ]

Laddie teun your bar is stunning. I have to say the last photo is a bit worrying though. It looks like you were robbed.

Very interesting that you don't find oxidisation to be an issue. Can't help but feel that there must be some significant change in the condition of the whisky in the bottle, but you would need to compare with a fresh one to be sure.

Thanks for the photos

Cheers

[laddie teun]

you're more than welcome to drop by
just bring a closed bottle and we'll put it to the test.

[Willie JJ]

I'm not expecting to be in Nijmegen any time soon, but when I am I'll take you up on that.

Cheers

[laddie teun]

[irishwhiskeychaser]

J H C

That is so cool laddie teun

and I am so jealous ....

by the way I think I know why you have not been on hte forums that much in hte last 6 years .......


.... in all fairness you have enough to keep yourself occupied with that amazing bar

[lohssanami]

That basement is amazing!!!!

Very nice work!

[UUNetBill]

I know - makes you want to buy a one-way ticket to the Netherlands, doesn't it?!?

[laddie teun]

everybody is more tahn welcome to drop by

and reason i have'n't been that active on this forum is mainly because of a very active dutch forum where i spent quit a lot of time

[Sherried Malt]

Laddie Tuen, that is one gorgeous bar! I especially like what you did with the lights along the side. Doubly gorgeous!!

[Ryguy]

Laddie Tuen, WOW, very nice setup there!