How to Start a Whisky Collection: Bottles Every Whisky Lover Should Consider
Starting a whisky collection can be incredibly exciting.
But with thousands of whiskies available from distilleries around the world, knowing where to begin can be a little overwhelming.
Should you focus on older whiskies? Limited editions? Famous distilleries? Or simply buy the bottles you enjoy?
The truth is, there is no single right way to build a whisky collection.
A great collection isn’t necessarily the one with the most expensive bottles. It is one that gives you the opportunity to explore different styles, regions and distilleries — while containing bottles that you genuinely enjoy.
Start With the Classics
Every collection needs a few bottles that provide a foundation.
A classic single malt from a respected distillery is a great place to start. It gives you an opportunity to understand a particular style before exploring more unusual expressions.
Speyside, Islay, Highland and Campbeltown all offer very different whisky experiences.
The GlenAllachie 12 Year Old, for example, is an excellent introduction to rich, fruity Speyside whisky, while a bottle such as Bunnahabhain 12 offers a very different interpretation of Islay.
Explore Different Regions
One of the great things about whisky is how dramatically its character can change from one region to another.
If you enjoy Speyside, try something from Islay. If you enjoy smoky whisky, explore the distinctive character of Campbeltown.
Kilkerran 12 Year Old and Springbank 10 Year Old are great examples of Campbeltown whiskies with their own distinctive personalities.
And if you want to explore the region further, Glen Scotia 12 Year Old offers another perspective on Campbeltown whisky.
Add Something Different
A collection becomes much more interesting when it isn’t simply a shelf full of similar bottles.
Look for unusual cask finishes, independent bottlings, single casks, high-strength releases or whiskies that simply have a great story behind them.
A bottle such as That Boutique-y Whisky Company’s North British 30 Year Old is a good example of something completely different — an older single grain whisky that can add variety to a collection.
Don’t Assume Older Means Better
One of the biggest misconceptions in whisky collecting is that older automatically means better.
It doesn’t.
Age is certainly an important part of a whisky’s story, but it is only one factor.
A younger whisky from a highly regarded distillery can be just as fascinating as an older expression from another producer.
Sometimes the most interesting bottle is the one that offers something different.
Buy Something You Love
Perhaps the most important rule of all is simple:
Buy whisky that you actually want to drink.
Not every bottle needs to be rare. Not every bottle needs to increase in value. And not every bottle needs to sit unopened forever.
Your collection should reflect your own taste.
Maybe there is a particular distillery you love. Maybe you enjoy heavily peated Islay whisky. Or perhaps you simply want to discover something you’ve never tasted before.
That’s what makes collecting whisky so enjoyable.
Build Your Collection Slowly
You don’t need to build your dream collection overnight.
Start with a few different styles and regions. Learn what you enjoy, discover new distilleries and gradually add bottles that catch your attention.
Over time, your collection becomes more than a collection of bottles.
It becomes a record of your journey through whisky.
And sometimes, the bottle you buy because you simply love it can end up becoming one of the most important bottles on your shelf.
The Whisky Twins
At The Whisky Twins, we love discovering whiskies that offer something a little different — from iconic distilleries and classic expressions to rare, limited and hard-to-find releases.
Explore. Discover. Collect. Enjoy.
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