Expensive but worth it?

George T Stagg BTAC - I would buy it if I could (never got one myself but shared with others.

Amrut Peated Cask Strength was worth $106,and I got more than 1, but I was happier to but more of it for $75.

WhistlePig The Boss Hog 13 YO Rye Single Barrel (#20) 61.6% abv. Absolutely stunning! Silky sweet arrival, mid-palate sensory explosion, and fiery exit with a clean, dry finish.

YES, I'd buy another, and another, and another...

FINALLY, @paddockjudge, you get to own a bottle of Canadian distilled whisky at above 60% ABV! While I am very happy for you, I am not yet ready to pony up $ 200 for a bottle of Boss Hog.

Interesting question - as a person who would rather pay more than to not have/experience, my list will be large (my approach to the question is if I have bought or would buy bottles a second time). Apologies for the lack of formatting - in no particular order, it would be boss hog barrel #48 (61.35%), glen fiddich 21 gran reserva, balvenie 21 aged in port wood, laphroaig 18, hart brothers clynelish 16, talisker 57 north, Yamazaki 18 and four roses 125 anniversary.

@Victor I resisted the temptation for a few years, but alas I have relented. This particular bottle of Boss Hog has traveled far and wide. From Alberta to Vermont to British Columbia and then to Ontario.

The two most expensive bottles in my cabinet are both 100% rye Canadian expressions. I have bottles which would fetch much higher prices in the secondary market, but Lock Stock &Barrel and WhistlePig The Boss Hog are clearly the dearest.

A Big thank you to @Jason Hambrey and @Nozinan for harvesting the above bottles.

I do not for a moment regret purchasing either bottle and hope to acquire more of the same....not many, ju$t $ome more.

Glenfarclas 25 year. It cost about $170 (still a bargain for a single malt that old imo). Definitely worth it and at that price I would definitely buy another.

@All So far not the usual suspects (HP20, HO25, GM Signet, Balvenie Tun). Nice to read about WhistlePig The Boss Hog 13 YO Rye Single Barrel, it's hard to get in Europe and much more expensive than in the US. On the other hand, Amrut Peated CS is only € 50,- (It's on my shortlist @nozinan). Personally I've had a few whisky's that are (normal pricing) priced over € 100,-. I'm sure I'll buy another Octomore 6.1 maybe not the 6.1 but the one I can get when this one runs empty. Absolutely something special, only 5 years old (transparency Bruichladdich!) but worth it. I'm not buying Laphraoig Brodir again, it's ok, but Ardbeg Uigeadail is much more enjoyable for 1/3 of the price. Both NAS bottles. So far my over € 100,- bottle to purchase again and again: Octomore 6.1 (5 yo).

I am lusting over a bottle of Highland Park 25. I find it very, very expensive so I haven't pulled the trigger yet but I tried it at an expo and found it utterly spectacular. One of few bottles I'd consider buying even though it's ridiculously priced.

@MFish85

Indeed, the Glenfarclas 25 Year Old is good value. If you consider what the other distilleries are charging for their regular 25 Year Old expression - this is a bargain.

Prices are set to increase though, they have already increased in Australia, pushing them well above the $200 mark from a modest $150 a bottle just a couple of years ago.

The Balvenie 21 Portwood will always be in my cabinet. Highland Park Odin and Balvenie Tun 1509. Nice to own them it however, not sure if I wouldn't buy it again.

I really enjoy the Glenfarclas 21 (relatively good value for a 21 year old), Glengoyne 18 and 21 and Highland Park 18 and 21. I would buy these again in a heartbeat.

Moving away from peaty scotches so Laphroiag and Ardbeg wouldn't be replaced when it runs out...

Bruichladdich Black Art 4, 23 years, was able to get it for $250 cdn before the LCBO jacked it to $350 so the hit was easier to take. Been awhile since I visited it, so tonight I will have a dram.

So many awesome whiskies that are over $100, but in Australia, that's a very easy thing to hit, so I think I'll focus on the whiskies that left me breathless, in no particular order.

Adelphi's Glover 22 Year old....something like $2500 AUS....I bought a bottle for a whisky tasting we were doing in Perth, mindblowing, special, stunning, life changing....whatever term you want to use. I wound up buying a second one for opening in the future....I've still got about 1/3 of the first bottle open....sooo good.

Laphroaig 32 Year old....just purchased this for a charity tasting next week....again absolutely stunning, but not very Laphroiagy. $1500 a bottle or so.

Laphroaig 25 year old, purchased for an event last year, and our charity tasting next week....such a beautiful whisky.

Laphroaig 24 Year Old Feis Ile 2014, another whisky for an event next week, and a bottle that as soon as I cracked it, blew me away. It'll be the drop of the mic whisky of the event, but too darn easy to drink for something that runs $800.

Talisker 20 year old sherry cask.....my dream whisky that I'm chasing....I so need a bottle of this in my life.

Anything higher end Talisker, but prior to Diageo dropping the abv down to 45.8% abv....the 45.8% are good, but meh....all the cask strengths I've had though....brilliant! Almost have the complete collection.

Thomas H Handy Sazerac....a special whiskey for me...a popped my cherry whiskey....one of the whiskies that I've used so many times to convince folks that some whiskies are worth the $400 mark...still makes me sad as I remember when a bottle of this would run me $250....current price in Perth $600.

The bottles listed are ones I'd happily purchase again and again, however my wallet would not. But I do lots of tastings and especially since Australia messes up so many of the scope on what is an expensive whisky vs what is an Australia has taken the piss price on whisky.

When Amrut peated CS came out in Ontario it was $106, and worth every penny. When the price was lowered to $75 it was worth it that much more.

Interestingly, the single cask bottlings were excellent when I tried them at Spirit of Toronto... but I balked at paying $125 or so. When the prices were dropped to $75 (BOURBON) and $66 (Sherry), I grabbed a few. Haven't opened the sherry cask yet, but I did open one of the bourbon cask and in retrospect I could have paid the original price and felt good about it. But I probably would not have bought as many.

Redbreast 12 YO CS is worth it at $110.

I would say Bowmore Laimrig is borderline. The IV release is good. Is it $120 good? Maybe, but lat time at the KGBO it was $99, only couple of years ago.

@Nozinan Bowmore Laimrig's normal pricing here is € 89,-. A price tag I wasn't willing to pay, still thinking about it, but not right there yet...... But then I visited Luxembourg, a small country nearby with a gentle tax law. On the higher strength whisky bottles the prices drop enormously, Bowmore Laimrig for € 60,- !!! The bottle was in my basked before I blinked once :) Glad I got it, it's a nice expression, by far the best Bowmore I've had so far. Don't mind paying € 89,- next time, it's worth it!

@maverickdrinker Thank you for mentioning Glengoyne 18 & 21. I gave them a good tasting and bought 3 bottles of Glengoyne 18, € 68,- a bottle (3 different batches). One of the best sherry wood whiskies I've had.

I long ago broke the $100 barrier. It was with the Octomore 5.1. I haven't looked back since. Let's just say, I'm delighted when I can pay less than $100 for a scotch whisky, but it's not a barrier for me anymore. My new barrier is $299 for a scotch. I've bought a couple $400 whiskies and did not think they were worth it.

I can't fathom paying more than $80 for an American or Canadian whisky.

@McTeague I would balk at paying more than $100 for a US bourbon...except in the case of a BTAC. Tried, proven, and worth it.

@Nozinan There are a few Willett Family Estate bottling's that I would drop the money on. Would have no problem spending $100+ on Blanton's Straight from the Barrel, EC BP or E H Taylor Barrel Proof.

For the past five years I've made the 900 km round trip to Forty Creek distillery. The total spend, including travel, accommodation, and autumnal harvest has varied between $1, 000 and $1,500. Travel is not cheap, nor is good whisky. Today I have a nice cache of FC special releases, some more special than others. Expensive? Yes! Worth it? Yes!

In recent years FC special releases have not offered the same excitement, enjoyment, and value that I have become accustomed to. While the distillery continues to offer unique limited releases, the two most recent offerings have not exhibited the creative brilliance of John Hall. They seem to have been forced, an attempt at creating greatness.

Encore presentations of Confederation Oak and Port Wood Reserve proved that the sequel could equal or outperform the original. Perhaps not all masterpieces can be duplicated; therefore we have not seen the release of John's Private Cask No. 2. I doubt that we will again see a special release from the "Hold For John" hand selected barrels that were scattered throughout the barrel cellar (warehouse).

This year I will be spending my money on things other than Whisky Weekend at Forty Creek. I will be participating in the Whisky Summit being hosted in New Mexico by @Benancio. Joining us will be @Victor, @newreverie and his father and perhaps some late additions to the roster. I look forward to the sharing of whisky and trading of bottles, things that can't be done on-line or in a book. Expensive? Yes! Worth it? Too early to tell, but with bottles like G&W 1998 release, EHTBP, WhistlePig single barrel, and Gibson's 18 YO changing hands it is sure to be a worthwhile gathering.

@Astroke

Interesting, as I've paid less than $100 CAD for both my bottles of ECBP, but I agree, in terms of quality, it would likely cost more if it came to Canada and I'd probably pay it.

@Paddockjudge I would have really like it to be with all of you at the first North American Connos'r Whiskey Summit. Unfortunately, with my new job I have less vacation and I am also coaching curling in falls and winter so my schedule is kind of jam.

But which whisky over $100 should I pour myself to honor this summit and help me to pass over the deception of not being with you? I was able to get an Octomore 6.3 for $127 CAN that should do it. The same Octomore 6.3 is $ 300 in Quebec, that is too expensive for me. But at $127, it is certainly worth every penny!

Any BTAC, Van Winkles, Pappys. WP Boss Hog.

Stuff I've overpaid for:: Whistlepig 15.

$ 100+ whiskies? There are quite a few I would buy at $ 100, but not many for which I would currently pay more than $ 150. How much and how often you pay the bigger bucks depends a lot upon what you already have in your cabinet. At the rate I drink, my/our cabinet can keep me going for 30 years with most of the whiskies I have liked best, so I don't buy much anymore. I want to try (almost) everything, but I don't need to buy a bottle of everything.

That said, my list of $ 100+ and 'worth it' includes all BTAC whiskeys, all Van Winkles, all Ardbeg Supernovae, Ardbeg Dark Cove Committee Release, most Bruichladdich Octomores, Amrut Intermediate Sherry and Portonova, Abraham Bowman 69% and 73.75% ABV 17 and 18 yos, Highland Park 18, the best batches of Aberlour A'bunadh (not yet $ 100, happily), Balvenie 21 yo Portwood, Bushmills 21. All of these I would buy again if I didn't already have some, for $ 100, and probably up to $ 150.

@Robert99, Where did you purchase the Octomore 6.3 for $127 CAD?

@DevD I got it from Zyn.ca. I would buy another bottle but unfortunately, I don't have anybody to bring it back from Calgary, Alberta. It is illegal to mail alcohol in Canada so I hope you have a contact in Calgary. Good luck!