Which bottle did you just buy and why?

@paddockjudge @nooch ...I suppose me getting pushback from people preferring high alco-taxation wasn't very likely on a whisky forum, so it seems we're all in resounding agreement.

@RianC, less young people are drinking because their lifestyle differs from the generation before.... alternatives to alcohol. Alcohol was at one time a form of entertainment in itself... the times they are a changing. Taxation has always existed for alcohol, in one form or another.

@paddockjudge I don't think fewer young people are drinking.

@Nozinan, water doesn't count.

@Nozinan @paddockjudge "Young adults in the UK are more likely to be teetotallers than their older counterparts, according to figures released this week. More than a quarter of 16- to 24-year-olds do not drink, compared with just over a fifth of the broader adult population.

Last year, just under 21% of people surveyed in England, Scotland and Wales said they did not drink alcohol, equivalent to around 10.6 million adults aged 16 or over. That’s two percentage points higher than in 2005, when the ONS first collected data on alcohol consumption.

But the proportion of 16- to 24-year-olds who say they do not drink has accelerated at almost four times that pace. Ten years ago, 19% of young adults said they did not drink alcohol, compared with 27% last year.

Conversely, teetotalism among those aged 65 and over is falling: in 2005, almost 30% of people in that age category said they did not drink; last year, it was 25%." / Source: The Guardian

@RikS interesting stats. I think more young people experiment with other substances to be honest.

@nooch - yes and no I think. There seems to be a buck of the trend with late teens/young adults in the UK where going out and getting 'leathered' at every available opportunity isn't as 'cool' as it once was. I'd say that expands to illicit substances as well.

I'd fancy gym memberships and alternative interests have taken a rise. The smoking ban possibly has a lot to do with it over here? Or maybe the youth are just dull?

@RikS I'm very libertarian and generally speaking regulations against liquor are a pointless way for the government to make money by telling grown adults that they're too stupid to make their own decisions. Strong statement but government regulations annoy me. I'm trying to say that I agree with you.

@paddockjudge - Completely agree about taxes - What's the line? " . . If you try to walk I'll tax your feet . . ."

edit - and you as well @casualtorture. Mind you, as said above, not many on this board will argue!

@Hewie I think it's something like 79US$ here.

@RikS 118 for the Talisker 18 is a bargain here.

@RikS I know that in Singapore they charge a 100% tax on all alcohol, and you still see drunks drinking what is basically moonshine, which can be purchased for next to nothing.

@RianC, different world for kids. New technology has them on the clock 24/7. Religion and ethnicity might be a factor...gaming...weed...alternative lifestyles. It is a different world.

Macallan 12 (because I realize that good sherry casks are expensive), Corryvreckan (becuase no shop in the area has the Oogie), Black Bush, Eilijah Craig Small Batch, Laphroaig QC (on sale, and I adore this malt). I'm not one to only drink peaty stuff in the winter. I like it any time. I paid more than usual for the Loch Gorm (previous post), but it's really great, especially as, year by year, it gets older. Unfortunately, I'm not seeing any Machir Bay around....

A survey in the UK is a very small sampling of younger adults that drink alcohol. It wouldn’t be my observation that alcohol consumption is going down for younger people worldwide.

Question - unrelated - how long after you buy a bottle do you wait to open it? What are the determining factors? Cost? Rarity? I’m assuming everyone here has sizeable cabinets based on what I’ve seen, so I’m curious as to what leads you to decide what to open and what to stash.

@nooch I think there are a lot of possible answers to that question.

If I want to know if I like it enough to buy more before it runs out, I tend to try to open it soon after buying. If it's something proven that I'm stocking up on, it may be years before I get to it.

If it's something I've tried and know I Iike, and not always available, I have bought it and opened it whenever I was inspired to do so.

Back when I first got into scotch, I was overenthusiastic and bought many things I wanted to try. 3-4 years later I have not got around to them and many have since been traded away or donated... without opening.

Nowadays I am a lot more discriminating in what I will buy for myself, and with a lot of open bottles I'm not eager to open too many more, but I've noticed that I've opened a number of bottles I have recently acquired, like a Mac 12 (which I wanted for a long time), ECBP, a Stagg Jr and 2 Wiser's expressions.

I've began to prep for a whisky tasting of a certain distillery. A relative who wanted to be helpful drop these two bottles off. A Japanese whisky fanboy dream come true.

@fiddich1980 Very impressive. I got a taste (just a tiny one) of the Yamazaki 18 a few years ago. It was impressive.

@fiddich1980 those two are on my shortlist of drams to try. I’ve never come across them in either a bar or store.

@hooch the story regarding the Yamazaki is that the relative went to Japan for a vacation at the distillery. He was told "only in England or Europe". About 6 months later, while vacationing in England he found the Yamazaki 18 Sherry. I do not know the story on the Hibiki 21 but, my guess is Hanida Airport in Japan. A year and 6 months ago, I had a lay over there and saw bottles on sale at the smaller travel retail. Regardless, I think that for the average drinker these are an "unobtainable" whisky today. The pleasure I get out of this, is in the fact that he opened them and enjoyed them and did not hoard them. That is after all what whisky should be about - the experience and memory (as fleeting as it maybe). When he dropped them off his comment was "let everyone else try them at your tasting".

@fiddich1980 And what time is this tasting?.....

@fiddich1980 so...I live in the niagara region. Am I too late to attend?

@hooch and @Nozinan guest list was already set - relations whom I've unwitting turned into "MaltHeads". Karma can be a bitch.

@fiddich1980 It's OK, but if it's an EPIC TASTING we expect a report!

@nooch Did I buy it out of curiosity - open and drink. Did I buy it cause it was a staple dram at a great discount - put it in the cupboard for when needed. Is it a 'special' - await the special moment (I only have one 'special' that I'm holding off on which is a Ballantines 17 distilled some 40-50yrs ago that I'll have with my brother).

@nooch - Well first off, I'd say my 'cabinet' is modest in comparison to many on here but would keep me in whisky for a good couple of years at least I reckon.

I plan to drink all I buy and sometimes I'll pop one as soon as I buy it; it feels good doing that. Instant gratification! Other bottles I'll know I'll be keeping for special occasions.

Otherwise, I'd say season dictates what I'm drinking; I'll plan to drink more lighter, fruity malts and bourbon/Irish in the summer but tend to go more for big peaters or sherry in the winter.

I do ask myself if I get a bit too anal about it at times?

Kilchoman's Machir Bay---because I couldn't find it anywhere, and it just showed up at the local shop. Price was about 9$ more than I like to pay for whisky of that age, but it's delicious and a rare case of farm to whisky production, with almost everything grown, prepared and distilled on site. Did I mention that it's wonderful whisky?

I was actually going to take a gamble on Lag 16 (which can be hit or miss). The DE is no longer easily available,and when it is, it's priced around 120$ these days.

Tomorrow, (when i get paid) I'll pick up a Whistlepig CS. The store has six barrel picks...I took the advice of the whisky expert there and had him hold the one that has only two bottles left. Christmas in July for sure.

Tullamore D.E.W. Phoenix Limited Edition, bottled in 2013. Why? 1) I love this stuff from a prior bottle of it, 2) they have no plans to make any more of it, and, especially 3) blended Irish whiskey at 55% ABV!!! Wonderful!

It was the Tullamore D.E.W. rep at The Tales of the Cocktail, telling me that there would be no future releases of the Phoenix Limited Editon which decided it for me. She was a charming young lady actually from the town of Tullamore.

I bought three bottles today. Kilchoman Machir Bay, I couldn’t a bottle I had stashed so I replaced it. Arran 18, because I wanted to try out this distillery. And finally Balblair 03, because Ralfy recently gave such glowing reviews to this distillery. All of these were in my price range as well.