Whisky connoisseurs are people who are well-versed in their spirit. From nose to undertones, they can smell and tell you about the brand or the kind of alcohol presented to them. However, many struggle to build their collection. If you want to be known as a bibulous among your peers, you need to have an exquisite collection.
This includes a separate storage space, variety of whiskies, knowing your alcohol more than its label, and tracking your collections. If you are in the process of creating your home bar with a collection of whiskies, below are a few tips that will come in handy for you.
Forget The Trend, Go With Your Taste Buds
Many people think that being a whisky connoisseur is about having the most expensive and trendy bottles in your collection. However, it is more about your knowledge and taste. If you are an amateur, you can refrain from investing in the most expensive whiskies. Instead, you can go with budget-friendly yet one-of-a-kind spirits that show off your taste.
Set A Budget
As mentioned before, you must set a budget. There are many whiskies under Rs 1000, and there is no upper limit to this. However, you must set an upper and below limit if you want to maintain a swoon-worthy collection of whiskies that can make other bibulous envy you. It will prevent you from going overboard with your expenditure and add a range of spirits to your collection.
Begin With Core Range
Since you are a beginner, you can start with smooth, blended scotch whiskies and single malts in the budget-friendly range. From Jack Daniels to The Glenlivet Caribbean Reserve, you can invest in a variety of imported ones. However, you must not forget that Indian whiskies like Yaksha, Cotombi Reserve, and Godwan are also in the race and many are even outshining globally renowned spirits.
Maintain A Balance
Many whisky enthusiasts often make the mistake of buying a different range from the same brand. You must keep a diverse collection. It should include the latest editions, limited stock, special releases, some classic and more renowned ones, and a few for experimenting with your palate. A true whisky connoisseur would be interested in exploring rather than showing off bottles.
Track Your Collection
Always keep a record of what you buy and which ones you like experimenting with. You can always restock them or explore a range of editions from the same brand. This will help you keep up with what is new in the industry and hone your skills as a bibulous. If you have purchased a limited edition bottle, you can also save it and wait for its value to be appreciated so that you can truly show off your knowledge about whiskies.
Research Thoroughly
The best way to maintain a diverse collection is to dive deeper into the kinds of whiskies produced in specific regions across the world. For example, whiskies from Scotland and Ireland have different ageing processes which adds a different flavour to each variety. The same is the case with India. A brand that makes whisky in Goa will produce a different spirit than the one which has access to ingredients from Himalayan regions.
Store Whiskies Separately
Being a whisky enthusiast also means you know how to store the bottles. Your home bar should have enough space to store the spirits in dark, dry, and cool spaces. You should also invest in decanters so that your alcohol does not get spoiled once the seal of the bottle is broken, and it has been poured a couple of times.