Whisky Forum - Malt Whisky drinkers, collectors or both?

The pierced 1

I was first introduced to malt whisky at the age of 15 by my grandad with his 10 yr old Macallan, now 27 years later I am deeply addicted to trying new malts and I am most definately a drinker. I do have a nice collection of miniatures but when I buy a new full size bottle I have to try it.

So I am wondering how many members of this forum are drinkers, collectors or both?

Best regards,

Roy

Cuba · Master Of Malts Joined: 10 Aug 2010 Posts: 296

I would say i am a malt whisky drinker, i have tried collecting but always end up opening the bottle eventually.

Archer · Master Of Malts Joined: 06 Oct 2009 Posts: 1520

I am a drinker but do tuck some bottles away, if they are worth a fortune in years to come i may sell them if not all the bottles i have in my collection are all bottles i would drink so i cant lose.

JAB · Posted: Mon Dec 13, 2010 11:44 pm Post subject:

I am both!

Got a family member in the whisky industry and have strong connections with islay so was intoroduced to it at a young age!
At the age of 15 i done work experience with one of the big Islay distillerys, working mainly in there blending lab, but also done all the rest, bond, labeling, bottling etc.
Started out collecting at the age of 21 when my dad gave me a bottle for my birthday, Maybe a year or so later i started to get the taste for it and am now a big whisky drinker also!
Now at the age of 24, i have 200+ full bottles in my collection and some 20cls, 50cls and lots of miniatures and lots whisky related items.
I have 6 open bottles at the moment and a further 12 in the cabinet to be drank once one of the 6 is finnished (dont want to have to many open at once)

The last whisky related item i bought was a mini cask! (with hope of making it water tight again)

Keith · Posted: Tue Dec 14, 2010 12:16 am Post subject:

Started as a drinker and wondered into the collecting.

r900p · Posted: Tue Dec 14, 2010 12:50 am Post subject:

Both for me.

Collecting started at 18 (26 now) when i was given a cask of Bruichladdich by my Father and Uncle for my Birthday. First bottle I was given was a Bruichladdich Legacy 1, we used to stay at Duntrune Castle near Crinan and got to know Francis MacDonald who did the labels so bought for the memories. From there I fell in love with Bruichladdich and so far have collected 134 Laddies but have now given up due to there being so many to collect. From here I branched further into Islay and my collection when I last counted over a year ago was at 200 bottles, but don't have a clue where i'm up to now. The collection consists of mostly all distillery only bottlings but have a couple of the rarer indies.

As for drinking introduced straight into malts missing the blends at about 16, probably have 20 or so bottles open currently including Glen Keith, Rosebank, Aberlour, Ben Nevis, all the Islays, Springbank, Mac, HP too many to list and I forget anyway, which is good as I enjoy finding that lurker hiding at the back of the cupboard.

Collection is kept at my folks in the Lakes so I have no chance of opening many I have bought for drinking as I now live and work in Liverpool, I have bought new ones for drinking here, (Chester Whisky Shop is pretty good for whiskies) but can't drink them quick enough so my better half is getting rather annoyed now as i'm beginning to get a collection here - doesn't understand my problem/obsession.

Favourite for a while for drinking have been Ben Nevis, Laphroaig and Amrut.

Probably written an essay here!

Rob

Samson · Posted: Tue Dec 14, 2010 1:17 am Post subject:

Born in Canada to Scottish parents more years ago than i can remember. My father always had a bottle of Scotch in the house which he would bring out on special ocassions such as close friends or family visiting, new year but he never took it out at christmas, never figured that one out. He usually had blends such as Ballantines or Johnnie Walker but he always had a malt hidden away for very special ocassions. When i was old enough to drink i instinctively had to try Scotch whisky and have been trying it since.

I have a small collection of around 100 bottles give or take plus my drinking stock of around 40 bottles open which are constantly being replaced. On special ocassions i dip into my collection.

Braden · Posted: Tue Dec 14, 2010 1:38 pm Post subject:

Both for me although just a small collection but bottles that i think are special.

Acker · Triple Malt Member Joined: 10 Aug 2009 Posts: 212

Like many others probably, i didnt start as a collector but now have quite a few bottles which have increased in value. I have never actually tried to sell any, not sure if i ever will.

Tom W · Posted: Tue Dec 14, 2010 5:28 pm Post subject:

Drinker definitely - I like to always have 2/3 bottles open and dont really tend to buy the same thing twice unless forced to (good special offers or money constraints!)

However, I have started getting some independent bottlings from Laithwaites First Cask series. They are 50 quid a bottle so I think i will start to save some of them for the future and maintain a good collection of 20 + bottlings.

Can't see myself being a big time collector, seems like you really need to be on the look out. Plus if I did get my hands on a bottle I was trying to invest it would just get opened.....!

oh and im glad no one is just a collector! I feel that would defeat the whole objective!

The pierced 1 · Posted: Tue Dec 14, 2010 6:11 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the input so far guys,

I did try to collect some whiskies a few years ago but to no avail as with Tom I just couldn't resist opening them, I am however going to put my 2nd bottle of "Snow Phoenix" away and maybe start a small collection........... not going to hold my breath on that one though...... Laughing

Roy

soundmangt4 · Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 9:32 am Post subject:

I have a collection of around 16 bottles right now, but they are all open and slowly being consumed! Top Malt

I just really like to have a wide selection on the go and can't resist buying the new outturn's from the Society, which happen once a month! Very Happy

_________________
Rob Hughes
Scotch Malt Whisky Society member
www.smws.co.uk

Brummie · Master Of Malts Joined: 08 Feb 2010 Posts: 661

I started as a drinker and gradually have built up a collection.

The pierced 1 · Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2010 3:34 pm Post subject:

Well I did state that I was a drinker but as it happens I have now procured a couple of bottles to start a collection so it is both for me too Laughing

Roy

Smithie · Member Joined: 15 Apr 2010 Posts: 8

Not really sure if i am considered a collector but i have about 40 bottles opened at the moment and about 80 unopened which i do intend to drink in time although some my bottles have increased considerably in value since i bought them and i am not sure whether to sell them and buy a few more bottles with the money i get or hang on to them and see if they further increase in value or I may just drink them.