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# I Have A Problem – But It’s Not What You Think
- URL: https://www.bourbonbanter.com/i-have-a-problem/
- Published: 2016-06-21T05:01:36.000Z
- Updated: 2023-04-14T17:58:10.000Z
- Description: I have a problem. I know what you’re thinking, but no, it isn’t a drinking problem. In fact, it might be just the opposite. I have “invested” a lot of effort over the years building my whiskey library. As of this writing, I have 57 Bourbons to enjoy.
- Author: Jeffrey Schwartz
- Tags: Banter, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2023-03-13 09:32, #updated

I have a problem. I know what you’re thinking, but no, it isn’t a drinking problem. In fact, it might be just the opposite.

I have “invested” a lot of effort over the years building my whiskey library. As of this writing, I have 57 Bourbons to enjoy. That doesn’t count my American Ryes, Scotch, Irish and miscellaneous American whiskeys. I know that number because, like any good librarian, I keep an inventory. Some of these bottles have been around for several years, some are fresh faces.

I have bottom-shelf gems, mid-tier, premium, allocated and limited edition Bourbons… My collection hits the whole spectrum. I love it all.

You may think the problem is I’m a hoarder, but that’s not it, either. Most of my bottles make my sipping rotation quite regularly. I don’t have a “bunker” like many hoarders do.

> **In my opinion, whiskey is meant to be enjoyed, with friends when possible, not stored and hidden away.**

In my opinion, whiskey is meant to be enjoyed, with friends when possible, not stored and hidden away. When I’m able to get my hands on something allocated, it is because I want to drink it, not because I’m looking to flip it on the secondary market. I’ve often convinced myself when buying these that I’d save them for a special occasion.

Last year, I acquired a bottle of George T Stagg. I waited and opened that bottle as a toast to my father-in-law earlier this year. When my grandson was born, I opened a Four Roses Private Barrel found at their Coxs Creek gift shop. A few years ago, I visited Willett Distillery and picked up a bottle of nine-year-old Family Estate Bourbon from their gift shop. I opened that to toast becoming a contributor at Bourbon & Banter.

When I cracked open that bottle of Willett, though, I realized I have more special occasion bottles than likely special occasions to open them.

I have several other bottles that remain yet unopened. They’re all slated as drinkers. And, therein lies my problem. Whiskey is meant to be enjoyed, right? So, why do I have those unopened bottles of liquid sunshine? I was excited when I bought them, and I’m still excited when I see them on my shelf.

Life is short. I don’t want to be that person who never got around to opening bottles he longed to get his hands on. This silly wait-for-a-special-occasion attitude changes immediately… I’m opening one of these bad boys right now. Cheers!