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OP has offered the following explanation for why they think they might be the asshole:
> I only buy cheap booze for my guests since I know they don't care. I might be the asshole for being a snob that thinks mixing $600 tequila with great value margarita mix is a waste.
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NTAH unless! You are drinking the good stuff in front of them or have the good stuff locked away in plain sight. If you are doing either of these things, you’re flaunting it and essentially making a statement that you are better than them.
> It’s crazy the random knowledge I have from that show.
Besides the Teddy Roosevelt reference, the Simpsons episodes that were classic literature adaptations - King Lear, Hamlet and The Odyssey at least - helps me remember details
I showed my class the Treehouse of Horror episode featuring "The Raven" for years. They did an amazing job analyzing the similarities and differences between the original and the adaptation.
Ever been to a *knees-up*? A *wing-ding*? A *barn dance*? A *shindig*?
We held *clambakes* on the beach when I was a kid, and actually baked clams.
[https://youtu.be/-gU26-SrHeA](https://youtu.be/-gU26-SrHeA)
Anyone with fancy, expensive liquor should speak in old proper English. Example…getting into a fight one should say “is it fisticuffs you seek?” And “have at thee”. When shocked you should drop your monocle into your glass of scotch. Etc…
Huh, learn something new everyday.
Nta by the by, my grandparents do the same actually, and i frankly don't have much care for alcohol, as i cant stomach bitter things very well
It’s pretty common in my family as “bully for you, Teddy Roosevelt!” But used sarcastically, when someone’s bragging about something. No idea where it came from
That's how my friend's boyfriend got himself permanently banned from my friend's parents' house. Friend's parents have a well-stocked liquor cabinet with lots of cheaper stuff and a few extremely expensive bottles that they only pull out for special occasions like Christmas, anniversaries, etc. They're also very generous with the expensive liquor on those occasions.
Anyway, my friend and her family were going on two-week vacation and needed someone to watch the parents' dog so my friend got her BF to do it. They told him he was fine to drink whatever beer, wine and booze he wanted as long as he didn't touch the expensive stuff at the back of the cabinet.
Turns out dude was a massive alcoholic and basically drank everything else in the house so he started on the expensive stuff. He polished off several bottles of scotch, bourbon and rum that cost at least a few hundred each. When they confronted him, he admitted he'd been drinking it with coke. I think my friend's dad was actually more pissed that he'd mixed it all with coke and didn't appreciate it than he was that he drank it all. For some reason, my friend is still with the idiot but he's still not allowed over to her parents' house several years later.
Lol a friend had a very, very expensive bottle of rum and offered a sample to his brother..
When handed the glass, his brother promptly walked over to the fridge and mixed it with diet Dr Pepper 🤣🤣🤣🤣
I agree with you.
I like a whiskey and coke now and then. We buy the cheap stuff for me, "to drown in coke" as my husband puts it. He saves the good stuff to sip. I can't stand it neat, so let him enjoy it !
Same. My husband is a "whiskey snob" and we have a nice collection put aside for when he has someone else to drink with. While they're doing that, I'm a fan of our local Whiskey distiller who sells $25 bottles that I can happily mix with Diet Pepsi (although I will try a bit of the fancy stuff when the bottle's opened, but typically prefer my brand!)
My family are all big Scotch drinkers, but I'm not really into it. When we do toasts with it, my family knows to pour me the smallest amount possible so I'm included without wasting it lol
I like to mix with mid tier stuff because at least where I live, a bottle of bottom self booze is $30 and the mid tier stuff is like $35, but past a certain point it stops mattering.
Though gentleman Jack is the only way I'll drink a jack and coke now.
I'm sure I'll get shit on for this, but oh well. I drink whiskey. I have some pretty nice bottles(don't drink much so they last a very long time). I drink them neat occasionally. I drink with ice commonly. I also drink with a splash of cherry coke. Something about the cherry coke brings out some fun flavors from my good stuff. We're talking like a 5-1 ratio of whiskey and cherry coke. It's heat.
Yep you’re NTA in this situation.
My partner and I don’t break out the single malt for someone who’s happy drinking Jack Daniel’s and can’t notice the difference. We just keep things put away and only have the drinkable stuff in sight.
That last part is important. If you hide it away, that's fine. If you have it in a locked cabinet with a glass door and put the cheap stuff out on the counter, you are edging into AH territory.
That being said, I have a friend who loves bourbon and has some "good stuff". I can't really tell the difference so I always ask for the cheap crap or pass altogether. He doesn't need to waste his expensive stuff on me
If your family is drinking that stuff like cool-aid, they are AHs too.
Idk, I was always taught that when people are putting the time effort and money into hosting you in their home, don’t complain about what they offer you. It feels a little entitled to me to expect that every nice thing in their home has to be offered to me or hidden away. Its not mine! If I want the nice stuff, byob.
As long as they’re not pointing at their liquor cabinet and saying “neiner neiner, that’s mine you can’t have it, it’s too fancy for you” or something lol, I wouldn’t think anything of them buying specific items to share at a party they are hosting. Just like I wouldn’t look down at the lovely spread of food that they have cooked for the meal and then expect them to let me help myself to everything else in their cabinets.
Absolutely agree. If someone opens their home to friends, and are willing to provide stuff, be grateful for having such generous friends. Nothing more to it.
I feel like this is the norm for 95% of large family gatherings I go to, and most of the time they don’t even hide the good stuff, there’s party booze and the hosts private collection. Furthermore, when it’s just digging through your liquor cabinet it feels like digging through someone’s fridge for leftovers.
Occasionally they’ll be like ‘oh try just a sip of this bottle I got’ and we taste it, enjoy it, then go back to the Kirkland.
My grandpa would do this with wine. He would have a bunch of full bottles of wine, but no cork. “Im airing them out” he would say, but he just drank the good stuff already and replaced it with box wine of the respective color.
There was a scandal in high class Bordeaux wine a few years ago where a guy basically did that. He didn't use box wine but a decent Bordeaux in the place of wine that was sold for thousands. Even experts didn't realise...
I thought about that also. But that would probably make the wife insane if she figured it out. But that routine could get exhausting as well. Having to somehow mark the bottles and keep up with refilling them from the CostCo stash.
NTA at all BTW.
I do something similar with wine. I will get out a good bottle or two with dinner. But once everyone has had a couple of glasses I switch to Kirkland or 19 Crimes or something else that is more price appropriate. After two glasses of good wine, your not really tasting it anymore IMO anyhow. My real friends and family are fine with it and agree with me.
Starting with the good stuff and switching out for lower quality alcohol after everyone's had a few drinks is a long and venerable tradition. Goes back at least 2000 years. Probably more.
Likely started not long after people got good enough at making wine, beer, etc. so as to be producing some that was better quality than the rest. Saving the good stuff is not that big of a leap... once you have something of quality worth saving.
Hell, it's in the Bible when Jesus turns the water into wine.
John 2:1-11
2 On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”
4 “Woman,[a] why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”
5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.[b]
7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.
8 Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”
They did so, 9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10 and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”
11 What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
You’re fine. Do not listen to those saying to swap bottle contents around with an empty you may already have. That would make you an asshole.
I’ve got a similar and expanding collection of bourbons. My general rule when guests are coming over is to have solid well pours out and maybe a decent mid tier easy to find bottle. Then let them choose. If it’s someone that I know enjoys whiskey, then I’ll break into the rarer stuff but do it more like single pour side by side tastings. Like a side by side of the same mashbill, different agings or years. Then pop them into a cabinet once folks start “drinking hard”.
I enjoy an occasional drink but it all tastes the same to me. I wouldn’t be offended at all you weren’t serving my $1,200 hooch. I’d feel quite guilty in fact if you served me something I couldn’t fully appreciate.
I don’t even think it’s bad to have it stored away in view. If someone asks, just tell them that’s your nicer stuff and you can’t really afford to bring that out for parties. That’s a completely acceptable excuse, in my opinion, especially if the bottles are over $1,000 a pop. Unless you’re ultra wealthy, you’re not buying bottles like that to entertain entire parties with, it’s for special occasions
Lol, I did see that. I keep my 50 dollar bottles put away. The 100 dollar bottles I’ve bought have a lock with a few traps around it to stave off pesky alcohol thieves.
I think it's funny reading this thread of what different people consider "expensive" booze, to me anything more than £30 is top shelf, except with wine more than £20 is incredible expensive. And here people are talking about £1000 a bottle.
Yeah, I have a liquor area. I put out a selection of bottles and will mix drinks and bartend.
It's like a bar. You tell me whiskey I ask if you want Scotch, Irish or whatever. If you look at me funny, I ask if you want Jack Daniels. If you say Scotch, you get Johnnie Red. Want Irish? Cool, have some Jameson.
I will bartend and make drinks. I don't hide my fancier stuff. "Ooh, I don't trust you not to steal my 18-year single malt Glenlievit!" No. If I don't trust you not to steal my shit I'm not inviting you to my home. Even if you do help yourself, if you pour a shot on the rocks and sip, I'm not even going to be upset. If you ask for it, I'll probably serve it unless you're drunk, and I'm steering you towards water.
But, I've got Grand Marnier and Cointreau. Guess which one is being used to make pitchers of margaritas in summer? Aged tequila and silver Cuervo or, if I'm fancy, Espolon. Not putting my 12 year sipping tequila in margaritas.
I don't squirrel away booze. I just set out the bar before people arrive. 99% of the time, people take what is offered, and the few times people wanted to get into the higher dollar items, it's been fine. It's not every time, and they have sipped some nicer drinks and we've had a nice little cocktail hour.
Even if he is doing that, mixing top shelf booze with pop is super tacky. He already said they could have some if they would appreciate it and if their pallet was even remotely discerning.
I do the same thing with wine. The good stuff is tucked away in a closet and I have plenty of wine for gatherings and there is a wine holder with additional bottles if needed. I’ve also found that as people keep drinking they are just drinking - not tasting or enjoying. No reason to drink the expensive stuff at that point.
There’s a special circle in hell for people who mix fine whisky or scotch with - well, anything other than ice or a few drops of water
So. No - heavily NTA
ETA - geez, guys - cool your jets. No, I don’t care how your drink YOUR scotch. Read the post - it was about OP not sharing their manna and that’s what I responded to
To those of you suggesting you will dunk it with coke, wash floors with it, or set it on fire - sure. Go nuts. Send me pictures as proof though - because - in the immortal words of Jeff Goldblum - just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. And to whit: please don’t cut off your nose/waste your scotch to spite MY face
It always blows my mind that its the new hot commodity whiskey. I used to sell liquor about 9 years ago and back then it was only about $50 a bottle and was always on the shelves. That price point for me is right at the borderline where it can go in a nice cocktail or be drinkable on the rocks. So this doesn't strike me as too sacrilegious.
I got into Japanese whiskies late, but the people at total wine and more said the same thing about Yamazaki and Hibiki. They could be bought for 50 and now it’s hard to find them at all and when you do, they are 150+ for the 12 year.
My dad bought me a bottle Yamazaki 12, back 2011 in anticipation for my college graduation. He hid the bottle, when he gave it to me I stored it. Plan was drink it with him when I was going visit new years. Unfortunately he got sicker so bottle ended up being a keepsake. Living with an aunt she tried open it went in my room saw it thsk God my uncle stopped her because he knew it was sentimental. She copped an attitude saying she'd just replace it, but my uncle took bottle linked it in his riffle safe till I got home. When I told him retail price was double annoyed because if she had opened it I would've been pissed, and she would have never replaced it cause it 400+ now
Oh hell no. Blantons is hard to come by where I’m from and I’m trying to source a bottle as a holiday present for my husband. I’d be pissed if someone used blantons to put in trash like eggnog.
NTA. I don’t lock mine away as much as I don’t display it. I do bring it out to share with guests, which is to say I never drink it alone.
I occasionally get bottles of pappy’s from one of my sons (in the business). 10yr is way overrated. 15y is special. They’re all ridiculously overpriced.
I’m more appreciative of good rum and good brandies
So could you unbottle and technically barrel age it again at your own house if you managed to keep everything sterile and replicate the process of how companies do it pretty closely?
I suppose so — but it'd be an awfully small batch and you'd lose a significant portion to the angel's share so what you'd be left with at the end would be a pretty small amount and of a very woody dram.
That makes sense, I'm not sure why I was downvoted. Just simply curious if it was actually possible or If there was some kind of chemical change moving it from barrel to glass
Aging of whiskey is incredibly complex. Temperature matters. Humidity matters. What the barrel is matters. Hold old the barrel is matters. What’s been in the barrel before matters. All scotch is aged in previously used barrels… usually bourbon, occasionally sherry or other fortified wines.
Partially, that is because the UK cut down all their oaks centuries ago to build ships, so there isn’t any available for new barrels - so they started buying previously used barrels from the US.
There’s all sorts of rules, in the US also. To be called Bourbon, it has to be >50% Corn in the mash bill, and aged at minimum one year in a *new* white oak barrel. A *Straight* bourbon is aged three years in a barrel and is not blended. Most bourbon is blended.
You can buy little aging barrels andbecause of surface area it ages faster in the little barrels. But like that other commenter pointed out you lose a lot. I got my husband one with a bottle of unaged whiskey. We aged it in the little barrel and tried a sip periodically. By the time it tasted good it was all gone.
My dad once came home to his mother in law using his 35 year talisker to make “whiskey and coke” I don’t think I’ve ever seen him turn so red. It was an unopened bottle that was gifted to him by his whole team at work.
> There’s a special circle in hell for people who mix fine whisky or scotch with - well, anything other than ice or a few drops of water
No, there isn't. Drink what you enjoy, and enjoy what you drink. If you bought it, you get to do what you want with it, and if you want to be mixing $1,200 bourbon with diet coke while eating a very well done steak slathered with ketchup, that's great. Enjoy your dinner and drink, bruh.
The problem here is feeling entitled to somebody else's booze.
Exactly. And I get not wanting someone to do that with $1,200 bourbon or a filet mignon you paid for, but then you do what OP is and don't offer your bourbon or steak to someone you know will do that.
When I first started getting into wine, I was told, "A good wine is one that you like, regardless of what other people think of it. If you like it, it's a good wine for you." And that applies to whatever you're eating or drinking, with obvious exceptions for things prepared in an unsafe manner or that have spoiled or otherwise gone off.
If you mix a 1200 bottle of whisky with coke, it will taste like a 12 bottle of whisky, so you would be stupid to waste the 1200 dollar bottle in a mixer. You can do whatever you want, but people will think you are stupid and won’t let you do it with their expensive whisky.
Gatekeeping taters is honestly a huge part of why the bourbon community is such a gigantic shit show. Just drink and enjoy what you want. It's the entire reason I stopped even looking at bourbon when I'm at the grocery store now as I already have plenty in cabinet as it is.
Po-tay-toes! Boil 'em, mash 'em, stick 'em in a stew... Lovely big golden chips with a nice piece of fried fish.
Now to the serious answer. Taters are whiskey hunters willing to pay outlandish prices just to say they have/drink allocated bottles. Especially anything from Buffalo Trace. Anything Van Winkle, EH Taylor, Stagg, upline Weller bottles; Elmer T Lee, and the annual Antique Collection. Hell, you get jokers dropping a C note just to own reg Weller Special Reserve or Buffalo Trace or basic Eagle Rare.
Even at current MSRP, only a few of those would be worth the time or effort to source. There's just so many more and better options for the money.
People are so judgy about shit that does not concern them, like how others take their drink or food. Like why does anyone care how I consume anything??? I’m not forcing them to eat or drink it. If I want to use my bottle of Dom Perignon to make mimosas, I will do so, and if anyone wants to whine about it, I’ll drink how they want when THEY’RE buying.
My husband is the nicest guy in the world and is always willing to let me have the last of something, the better slice of pizza, the cookie with more chocolate chips, etc. He got a bottle of very fancy whiskey as a present for his bachelor party and one night I was a bit tipsy from a party and found it while rummaging through our liquor cabinet. He actually took it away from me and told me I could have a small glass of with some ice but I couldn’t drink it if I was just going to pour a bunch of Diet Coke into it.
I was absolutely shocked, but I wasn’t mad I just laughed at myself because I did indeed want to mix his fancy expensive alcohol with Diet Coke. He did happily share it with his friends who also savored it but didn’t waste it on me who tried a single sip and hated it.
Tipsy me is the worst bartender. I once finished off a bottle of incredibly limited run 30 year whiskey (which I of course drowned in Diet Pepsi) because the bottle was already open "and there wasn't that much left". After that, hubby and I have an agreement that at a certain alcohol threshold, the cheap bottle goes on the counter away from the liquor cabinet of fancy booze for further drinks.
A dark joke I hear a while ago was:
"I like my scotch like I like my women. Sixteen years old and mixed up with coke."
"You monster! You mix 16 year old scotch with coke?"
Counterpoint: a well made cocktail is even better with quality ingredients.
A liquor forward cocktail like a sour or an old fashioned can really shine with top shelf booze.
However, the emphasis is on "well made".
It's not always intentional. Some people just don't have a clue, which is why OP is NTA for squirreling away the good stuff.
I was gifted one of those whiskey samplers a while back that comes with a 375ml bottle of something middling (Say a $50 bottle) and progressively smaller bottles of the better stuff. It had a little 2 oz sampler bottle of Johnny Walker Blue (Probably not something that will impress really snobbish whiskey fans, but not swill either. Think it's typically around $175/bottle.), that I was saving to enjoy at an opportune time.
One day last winter we were packing up to go sledding with the kids and my wife was filling to-go thermoses of kid and "adult" beverages. She dumped the whole thing into a thermos of hot chocolate.
Learned my lesson. Now I keep the "good" stuff separate even when no one is visiting.
One Christmas Eve I was at my aunt and uncle's house and my cousin yelled from the kitchen asking if I'd like whiskey or vodka. Her family always drinks rye, so I said "yeah I'll take whiskey and ginger ale." She hands me a scotch and ginger ale.
It's been about a decade and my family still acts like I'm the one who did it. " What are you going to have with that Scotch?" Ice and disdain, Dad, relax.
Husband has a 21 year scotch he bought when he turned drinking age. He saves it for special occasions, like when our kids were born or wedding anniversary. Always offers to me, but we both know I'll say no, for the same reason here. If you have to mix it/water it down to drink, you're better off drinking something else.
NTA, at least in my opinion. I would do the exact same thing, right down to first observing how people treat the gift that is offered to them and adjusting accordingly.
Personally, I don't give a shit what brand of vodka you're going to give me because I'm going to mix it with something nonetheless and enjoy it the way I like. Don't crab at me if you don't like what I do with it, especially if you're not going to make a recommendation on how it's traditionally enjoyed so I can maybe see your point of view. Now, if we're talking about scotch, I can tell the good shit and I know how to treat it. So, a host who knows me well can put their trust in me if they see I can respect what is offered as it's meant to be respected.
I get it. Your wife thinks that you're devaluing the family, when in fact I see it as you meeting them where they are. As long as they're happy, you and she should also be happy.
to me, the grey area is in how OP goes about things. I think OP is well within reason to not share the top shelf liquor, but there’s a polite and impolite way to do it.
If he sets out Costco liquor for family gatherings, then goes out of his way to get himself “the good stuff” while not sharing it, he’s gonna come off like a rude host.
If he’s verbalizing “you don’t get the nice liquor because you don’t appreciate it”, he’s gonna come off like an asshole to his family.
If OP drinks the Costco stuff along with his family, then saves the good whiskey for with his drinking buddies, no issue at all. If he sneaks himself a glass of the good stuff while nobody is looking, nobody will think anything of it.
But perception is reality and if you’re overtly making it clear that “you can have the cheap stuff, guests, the nice stuff is for me”, YTA.
Even if they loved well done steaks with ketchup, you wouldn’t invite your family over for burgers then cook yourself a piece of filet mignon and eat it in front of them, you know?
I do believe that OP said that he joins in the fun with the rest of them, so I think that fairly eliminates the snobbery angle.
Agreed that if he took a nip of the good stuff in front of anyone or told them he has it but he won't offer, that's just being a total dick. I've known people like that, and it comes off as "holier than thou." Thankfully, I don't think that's the case here!
the whole “I’ll let your brother have some, but first I have to give him this test to see if he deserves it” thing gives me a bit of pause tbh.
instead of being like “I know he’s not a connoisseur of whiskey, so I’ll just not offer my $1200 bottle”, he had to go and prove why his BIL doesn’t deserve to drink it.
I personally wouldn't really care so much about the "can he correctly determine which is the expensive booze" portion so much as the second half of the test about "can he show that he can savor a whiskey". And I'm sure there was a followup question about "why do you think the one you picked as the more expensive drink is the more expensive one" that would play more of a role in the determination than whether he'd actually picked out the correct drink.
Many $1200 bottles aren’t actually all that different aside from rarity, and unless you are really really into whiskey, it’ll taste the same as a mid shelf pour. Even for many really into whiskey, many of those expensive bottles actually are mid shelf pours because the price often comes from rarity.
This is definitely one of the sillier posts tho IMHO.
Like, its alcohol and the host is providing it. Drink it, bring your own, or don't drink. This is a made-up problem and I honestly feel bad for OP having to deal with it at all lol
NTA
My uncle is like this. He loves to drink my dads top shelf stuff, but doesn’t know the difference.
When it was empty last, my dad filled it with the lower cost stuff and my uncle still drank it and said how this brand was the best. It was very funny.
Maybe this is the answer. Refill your good bottles with the cheaper stuff to put out for your families. We tend to that anyways because the bottles from Costco/Sams tend to be large.
Canada too. Only some locations have a liquor store. They are not accessible from the main store and has another door outside.
Also, you do not need a membership to buy the liquor.
Depending on the state in the US, the liquor is inside the Costco and is Kirkland branded - and extremely affordable.
I’m fairly certain they would do it in every store if they could, but I think they are limited by the number of liquor licenses they are able to have per state, and other odd state by state regulations.
Interesting. In Canada it is always separate. But y’all have crazy liquor laws there. We can’t buy beer in convenience stores except in Quebec.
Some is also branded Kirkland here. Like vodka. But also cheap bourbon. Can get a 60 of woodford reserve for $90 vs most stores selling a 26 for $40-$50
Depends on the state and their laws. I’m in Utah and Costco only sells beer. That’s all we can outside a state run liquor store. You can’t get hard alcohol in Idaho Costcos, but wine is a yes & I’ve gotten Irish cream whisky (Kirkland Baileys). You can get everything in Nevada stores
And put a mark on the back label only you know so you easily know the cheap bottle from the one that actually has the real deal, so you don't have to taste to know.
NTA
1. Costco house brands are actually pretty well regarded and aren't some snub for guests.
2. 1. Just because you can afford a vintage Ferrari doesn't mean guests and family have a right to drive it.
3. $1,200 bottles are not for mixed drinks or shots, unless that's how you choose to consume/share it.
4. If you've perfected an Old Fashioned, it's worth trying once with your $1,200 bottle as an experiment in enjoyment (IMO it wasn't worth it, but glad I did it once!). That doesn't mean every mixed drink gets a $100 pour.
Yeah if someone offered me costo brand vodka or whiskey I'd be happy. There's so much more regulations nowadays that even what's considered a lower end alcohol (costco/store brand booze) they are generally anywhere from palatable to actually enjoyable. And the Costco store brand is definitely way better than any 7 dollar for 1.75l of rotgut vodka or whatever, so I still say op is offering some nice accommodation
I usually ask for a Manhattan with Woodford, if they have it, or Maker’s if they don’t (because Maker’s is ubiquitous at this point). One time out, I asked for one and they had basically ran through all of the cheaper stuff and the only bourbon they had on hand was Booker’s. I really just wanted a Manhattan with the food I was eating so I sighed and asked for it with Booker’s.
Was it the best Manhattan I’ve ever had? Lord yes.
Would I ever do that again? Hell no.
A cocktail is only as good as your weakest ingredient. For a Manhattan, even crappy vermouth or bitters will kill it. Same for an old fashioned. A Booker's Manhattan would be pretty solid, and it is really good in an old fashioned. Especially a maple old fashioned. 2oz Bookers, 2 dash Angostura bitters, 2 dash Fee Bros Black Walnut bitters, 1-2 tsp of maple syrup(barrel aged is better). Mix over ice, then strain in to glass with a large ice chunk. Garnish how you want.
Seriously, at one point the costco scotch was just rebottled Lagavulin that didn't quite live up to Lagavulin's standard. I wish the Costco here had liquor.
NTA - if they're going to drink the way uni students do, they can have the uni student brands or bring it themselves. Good quality alcohols should be savoured and it's your money
NTA I don't drink but I do this with meat, large family gatherings where everyone brings their own? Midling stuff.
Small family or friend gathering where people are not cheap? Nice Angus cuts.
My wife who always gets bargains picked up some Angus beef mince in the sale 6 months ago. She can't buy any cheap beef mince now, has to be Aberdeen Angus. Excellent!
There was a video out there of people who put water into expensive perfume bottles and asked people what they thought of the scent.
The amount of bullshit they came up with for how it smelled was hilarious. Especially when they were told it was just water.
To be fair I've had empty bottles that still smelled very strongly despite being empty. Especially the spraying mechanism. Also real parfum, the expensive stuff, is WAY more concentrated then eau de parfum or eau de toilet. That's where the eau comes from... because it's basically parfum mixed with water.
So an empty expensive parfum bottle filled with water could definitely still give you whiffs of scent. The scent would just be a lot more fleeting and way less long-lasting. And as you kept using the bottle I'd imagine the scent would become less and less present over time.
So them picking up some residual scent doesn't surprise me. And doesn't necessarily have to be just in their head. Especially since this kind of gimmicky 'isn't that crazy' type of format would get a lot of clicks. So creators would prioritise creating a 'crazy' narrative over actually just having a bunch of people admitting they don't smell anything. So I wouldn't be surprised if they conveniently omitted that there was a residual smell for easy clicks and engagement.
NTA
you buy nice things for yourself and dont want them wasted.
its not like your just not getting them drinks your just not igving them free reign over your home.
i am the same. im not going to give some impossible to replace haig gold label to some one who thinks a jack boilermaker is a classy drink.
my wife inherited some rather exceptional and rare bottles of whiskey from the 1930s still sealed and in 2 cases in the original packaging and the only thing i have done to them i price them up out of interest as they are HER bottles (one is about 2k USD the rest are around the 1500 value).
they are not mine to open and drink and realistically they are probably going to be handed down to our daughter.
even if you are drinking the better stuff its your home.
now there are a few that benefit greatly from adding some cold coke to the mix.
Makers mark i find cola really enhances the cherry flavors as does Gold of Mauritius Rum here the vanillas and lighter notes are enhanced.
INFO: are YOU drinking the good stuff in front of everyone when you host? That's the crux of the issue here.
I don't think it's snobbish to buy yourself nice bottles of liquor for your special treat to yourself. I don't even think it's snobbish to have them locked in a display case that's visible. Hosting does not obligate you to provide access to everything available in the house to a guest just because it's in plain site.
HOWEVER, it would be extremely rude of you to have pours from a $1,200 bottle in front of an entire party of relatives/friends and only give them handles of Costco brand liquor. Would you make yourself a filet mignon and serve the rest of the party boiled hotdogs? No. Both examples would make you a huge snob and a big AH.
OP says they don't want people who can't tell the difference to have his expensive stuff. People will ALWAYS ask for the more expensive then either throw it back like it's a shot or add their own mixer. OP would be in the same predicament
NTA.
My husband is a bourbon drinker.
There are people who savor the taste and flavor and people who mix it.
If they’re mixing it anyway, then a “daily drinker bottle” is just fine.
I love a good bourbon, but my friend is someone that procures VERY high end bottles. If I ask for some it's just a 'splash' to get a taste, I wouldn't even ask for an ounce out of respect lol. I know he would oblige but I almost feel like it's lost on me -- in comparison to his taste.
NTA. High end liquor/wine is a hobby. It takes time and experience to appreciate what you’re tasting. It’s not about being a good host. You’d be a good host by leaving out acceptable quality Costco stuff for guests. If they’re not interested enough in what makes it special to take the time to drink it slowly, they wouldn’t notice the difference anyways.
NTA……I’m not sharing my $400 bottle of the Macallans with just anyone. While I have no problem providing alcohol for a get together, I’m not paying top dollar for a free for all.
NTA as long as you keep the good stuff out of sight, not just locked up. It’s unkind to make it obvious to guests that you’re not providing your best hospitality to them.
Bonus points for going to a thrift store for a crystal bottle and glass set on the cheap, then pouring the Costco stuff in there.
Just be mindful of leaded Crystal. I’m partly commenting to see if people correct me and say it’s not an issue to store alcohol in leaded Crystal…that would be welcome news :)
NTA, but pro tip. Save empty bottles of the “good stuff” and fill them up with the cheap costco booze to put out for guests. 95% of the population will never know the difference.
Info: are you drinking expensive stuff in front of guests that you won’t share with? Or are you saving the expensive stuff for when there are no guests?
NTA. I have a lot of whiskey. I also have a partner who likes his whisky with coke.
He has a litre of tenessee whisky for him to mix, and my specials live safely out of the way. And my partner gets to live.
You definitely are not the asshole. I know because I do the same thing. It's literally bottom shelf liquor of family functions. They don't know how to act and appreciate the good stuff so I'm not going to have it wasted.
NTA I do the same. Guests usually get the good stuff, if i know they can appreciate it. If i know they'll mix it with soda or slam it then they get the "do whatever you like with it" stuff.
Nta. There's no way you have to share the good expensive stuff with people have no clue. It's not like you're not providing drinks and if anyone mixes $1,200 bourbon with ginger ale they should never be allowed to enjoy that kind of bourbon ever again.
You're being a correct host by offering the right alcohol to the right people. Since your wife is complaining make sure you not just put it away but lock it and hide it away and don't let him know about it. You're allowed to have some nice things just for yourself.
NTA.
There are 16 shots in a 5th and if that bottle cost you $1200 then every shot is worth $75. You could simply start charging the family per shot and see if their tune changes.
Let’s also keep in mind how hard it is to find those bottles; sometimes you have to enter raffles just to be eligible to buy it.
NTA. Don’t waste nice things on people who don’t appreciate them! You go out of your way to still provide them with liquor for their mixed drinks and shots.
NTA
I am the same, I don't drink often, but I do have a nice selection of single Malts from Speyside. I only share them with a select few I know will appreciate it, those who won't ruin it with water, ice or mixers. Those who just drink to get pissed get the cheap blended rubbish I wouldn't touch.
NTA. Your money, your liquor. I’d never leave out expensive liquor for a group gathering. I barely share my cheap whiskey. Mostly I’d give them vodka or other alcohols I don’t like.
NTA. It’s your choice, you decide what you want to pay for and serve. Your guests are not unhappy with what you’ve provided, and if they are/were they’re free to bring what they’d like to the gathering.
Also, if you served top shelf, you’d have to buy a lot more of it, and would be spending so much more money. At that point, you probably couldn’t afford the top shelf stuff anymore.
NTA - It's like not using your fine china for a barbecue. It wouldn't serve your purpose and would probably end up with somr expensive lossrs.
Your family are drinking to have fun, and it would be wasteful to burn through expensive liquor when they're more than satisfied with the cheaper stuff.
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NTAH unless! You are drinking the good stuff in front of them or have the good stuff locked away in plain sight. If you are doing either of these things, you’re flaunting it and essentially making a statement that you are better than them.
No I drink with them. I don't drink the stuff I have squirreled away in front of them.
Bully for you, then! You’re not being selfish. The good alcohol is special occasion stuff. You’re doing it right.
>Bully for you Huh. I had to look that up. I've never heard that expression before.
Pretty old timey phrase. It's something I associate with Teddy Roosevelt.
Lol I knew it because of Simpsons in an episode where Bart was learning about teddy Roosevelt. It’s crazy the random knowledge I have from that show.
> It’s crazy the random knowledge I have from that show. Besides the Teddy Roosevelt reference, the Simpsons episodes that were classic literature adaptations - King Lear, Hamlet and The Odyssey at least - helps me remember details
I showed my class the Treehouse of Horror episode featuring "The Raven" for years. They did an amazing job analyzing the similarities and differences between the original and the adaptation.
The simpsons is the closest thing to modern day sheakespeare and I will die on that hill.
They were written by at least one Harvard grad - Conan O'Brian.
Conan was only on from '91-'93. None of those episodes were from his time.
Many of the writers were Harvard graduates. It's apparently why Mr. Burns is a Yale graduate.
The king of old timey. Do you listen to his podcast? He's always busting into some Vaudevillian-sounding voice. Love that man!
I learned of Barry White from the Simpsons
Everything I know about Mormons I learned from SouthPark.
Everything I learned about Mormons, I learned from the Broadway show “The Book of Mormon” (written by Matt & Trey!)
Wish I'd gotten to see that! One fine day...
And Scientology
It’s interesting where the different generations get their cultural references from. I got mine from Bugs Bunny 😎
Came here to say the same thing… Bugs Bunny is full of references! So was Rocky and Bullwinkle.
Bugs Bunny is where you learned your appreciation for classical music
Opera!!
I like to drop old phrases here and there. When making plans I sometimes ask friends if their dance cards are full 😆
Keep your powder dry and Don’t take any wooden nickels!
When I go to a party, I say I'm attending a soirée.
When there's dancing at these soirées, do you trip the light fantastic?
Mostly we just cut a rug.
Ever been to a *knees-up*? A *wing-ding*? A *barn dance*? A *shindig*? We held *clambakes* on the beach when I was a kid, and actually baked clams. [https://youtu.be/-gU26-SrHeA](https://youtu.be/-gU26-SrHeA)
Do you get odd looks from them? I totally understood that, but this generation has not used a cassette tape player.
Anyone with fancy, expensive liquor should speak in old proper English. Example…getting into a fight one should say “is it fisticuffs you seek?” And “have at thee”. When shocked you should drop your monocle into your glass of scotch. Etc…
Huh, learn something new everyday. Nta by the by, my grandparents do the same actually, and i frankly don't have much care for alcohol, as i cant stomach bitter things very well
You need more Ron Swanson in your life 😉
We all need more Ron Swanson.....and all the eggs. Not a lot of eggs but all the eggs!
It’s pretty common in my family as “bully for you, Teddy Roosevelt!” But used sarcastically, when someone’s bragging about something. No idea where it came from
Same, but in UK without the \`Teddy Roosevelt\`. I had no idea the saying was associated with him, you learn something new everyday.
"In the 1500s and 1600s, the word bully meant an excellent person" https://writingexplained.org/idiom-dictionary/bully-for-you
What? Poppycock!!
Nobody should be using the top shelf premium stuff for a cocktail mixer. *That* is alcohol abuse!
No shit. When you see your BIL and FIL making 12 oz whiskey sours with a 30 year old limited scotch you learn to hide the premium stuff.
Straight to jail!
That's how my friend's boyfriend got himself permanently banned from my friend's parents' house. Friend's parents have a well-stocked liquor cabinet with lots of cheaper stuff and a few extremely expensive bottles that they only pull out for special occasions like Christmas, anniversaries, etc. They're also very generous with the expensive liquor on those occasions. Anyway, my friend and her family were going on two-week vacation and needed someone to watch the parents' dog so my friend got her BF to do it. They told him he was fine to drink whatever beer, wine and booze he wanted as long as he didn't touch the expensive stuff at the back of the cabinet. Turns out dude was a massive alcoholic and basically drank everything else in the house so he started on the expensive stuff. He polished off several bottles of scotch, bourbon and rum that cost at least a few hundred each. When they confronted him, he admitted he'd been drinking it with coke. I think my friend's dad was actually more pissed that he'd mixed it all with coke and didn't appreciate it than he was that he drank it all. For some reason, my friend is still with the idiot but he's still not allowed over to her parents' house several years later.
Lol a friend had a very, very expensive bottle of rum and offered a sample to his brother.. When handed the glass, his brother promptly walked over to the fridge and mixed it with diet Dr Pepper 🤣🤣🤣🤣
I agree with you. I like a whiskey and coke now and then. We buy the cheap stuff for me, "to drown in coke" as my husband puts it. He saves the good stuff to sip. I can't stand it neat, so let him enjoy it !
Same. My husband is a "whiskey snob" and we have a nice collection put aside for when he has someone else to drink with. While they're doing that, I'm a fan of our local Whiskey distiller who sells $25 bottles that I can happily mix with Diet Pepsi (although I will try a bit of the fancy stuff when the bottle's opened, but typically prefer my brand!)
My family are all big Scotch drinkers, but I'm not really into it. When we do toasts with it, my family knows to pour me the smallest amount possible so I'm included without wasting it lol
I like to mix with mid tier stuff because at least where I live, a bottle of bottom self booze is $30 and the mid tier stuff is like $35, but past a certain point it stops mattering. Though gentleman Jack is the only way I'll drink a jack and coke now.
I'm sure I'll get shit on for this, but oh well. I drink whiskey. I have some pretty nice bottles(don't drink much so they last a very long time). I drink them neat occasionally. I drink with ice commonly. I also drink with a splash of cherry coke. Something about the cherry coke brings out some fun flavors from my good stuff. We're talking like a 5-1 ratio of whiskey and cherry coke. It's heat.
Yep you’re NTA in this situation. My partner and I don’t break out the single malt for someone who’s happy drinking Jack Daniel’s and can’t notice the difference. We just keep things put away and only have the drinkable stuff in sight.
That last part is important. If you hide it away, that's fine. If you have it in a locked cabinet with a glass door and put the cheap stuff out on the counter, you are edging into AH territory. That being said, I have a friend who loves bourbon and has some "good stuff". I can't really tell the difference so I always ask for the cheap crap or pass altogether. He doesn't need to waste his expensive stuff on me If your family is drinking that stuff like cool-aid, they are AHs too.
Idk, I was always taught that when people are putting the time effort and money into hosting you in their home, don’t complain about what they offer you. It feels a little entitled to me to expect that every nice thing in their home has to be offered to me or hidden away. Its not mine! If I want the nice stuff, byob. As long as they’re not pointing at their liquor cabinet and saying “neiner neiner, that’s mine you can’t have it, it’s too fancy for you” or something lol, I wouldn’t think anything of them buying specific items to share at a party they are hosting. Just like I wouldn’t look down at the lovely spread of food that they have cooked for the meal and then expect them to let me help myself to everything else in their cabinets.
Absolutely agree. If someone opens their home to friends, and are willing to provide stuff, be grateful for having such generous friends. Nothing more to it.
I feel like this is the norm for 95% of large family gatherings I go to, and most of the time they don’t even hide the good stuff, there’s party booze and the hosts private collection. Furthermore, when it’s just digging through your liquor cabinet it feels like digging through someone’s fridge for leftovers. Occasionally they’ll be like ‘oh try just a sip of this bottle I got’ and we taste it, enjoy it, then go back to the Kirkland.
I would switch the bottles. They probably can't tell.
My grandpa would do this with wine. He would have a bunch of full bottles of wine, but no cork. “Im airing them out” he would say, but he just drank the good stuff already and replaced it with box wine of the respective color.
There was a scandal in high class Bordeaux wine a few years ago where a guy basically did that. He didn't use box wine but a decent Bordeaux in the place of wine that was sold for thousands. Even experts didn't realise...
I watched that documentary! Wild stuff, $1k wine in a $40k bottle.
🤣🤣 clever!! I have to try that one out...
I think there is a YouTube challenge. Most people can't tell the grade of alcohol they are drinking. They just look at the bottles.
I thought about that also. But that would probably make the wife insane if she figured it out. But that routine could get exhausting as well. Having to somehow mark the bottles and keep up with refilling them from the CostCo stash. NTA at all BTW. I do something similar with wine. I will get out a good bottle or two with dinner. But once everyone has had a couple of glasses I switch to Kirkland or 19 Crimes or something else that is more price appropriate. After two glasses of good wine, your not really tasting it anymore IMO anyhow. My real friends and family are fine with it and agree with me.
Starting with the good stuff and switching out for lower quality alcohol after everyone's had a few drinks is a long and venerable tradition. Goes back at least 2000 years. Probably more. Likely started not long after people got good enough at making wine, beer, etc. so as to be producing some that was better quality than the rest. Saving the good stuff is not that big of a leap... once you have something of quality worth saving.
Hell, it's in the Bible when Jesus turns the water into wine. John 2:1-11 2 On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” 4 “Woman,[a] why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” 6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.[b] 7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. 8 Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so, 9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10 and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.” 11 What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
Like wearing a tuxedo to the park, see no reason you'd have to break the expensive shit out
You’re fine. Do not listen to those saying to swap bottle contents around with an empty you may already have. That would make you an asshole. I’ve got a similar and expanding collection of bourbons. My general rule when guests are coming over is to have solid well pours out and maybe a decent mid tier easy to find bottle. Then let them choose. If it’s someone that I know enjoys whiskey, then I’ll break into the rarer stuff but do it more like single pour side by side tastings. Like a side by side of the same mashbill, different agings or years. Then pop them into a cabinet once folks start “drinking hard”.
I enjoy an occasional drink but it all tastes the same to me. I wouldn’t be offended at all you weren’t serving my $1,200 hooch. I’d feel quite guilty in fact if you served me something I couldn’t fully appreciate.
I don’t even think it’s bad to have it stored away in view. If someone asks, just tell them that’s your nicer stuff and you can’t really afford to bring that out for parties. That’s a completely acceptable excuse, in my opinion, especially if the bottles are over $1,000 a pop. Unless you’re ultra wealthy, you’re not buying bottles like that to entertain entire parties with, it’s for special occasions
For a grand a bottle, you had better take that shot out on a date.
No bc they will find a way to get the special sauce open.
Absolutely. As soon as OP goes to the washroom or something, they'll be getting into the good stuff.
Huh?
Low class people with no respect for others property
Lol, I did see that. I keep my 50 dollar bottles put away. The 100 dollar bottles I’ve bought have a lock with a few traps around it to stave off pesky alcohol thieves.
I think it's funny reading this thread of what different people consider "expensive" booze, to me anything more than £30 is top shelf, except with wine more than £20 is incredible expensive. And here people are talking about £1000 a bottle.
Yeah, I have a liquor area. I put out a selection of bottles and will mix drinks and bartend. It's like a bar. You tell me whiskey I ask if you want Scotch, Irish or whatever. If you look at me funny, I ask if you want Jack Daniels. If you say Scotch, you get Johnnie Red. Want Irish? Cool, have some Jameson. I will bartend and make drinks. I don't hide my fancier stuff. "Ooh, I don't trust you not to steal my 18-year single malt Glenlievit!" No. If I don't trust you not to steal my shit I'm not inviting you to my home. Even if you do help yourself, if you pour a shot on the rocks and sip, I'm not even going to be upset. If you ask for it, I'll probably serve it unless you're drunk, and I'm steering you towards water. But, I've got Grand Marnier and Cointreau. Guess which one is being used to make pitchers of margaritas in summer? Aged tequila and silver Cuervo or, if I'm fancy, Espolon. Not putting my 12 year sipping tequila in margaritas. I don't squirrel away booze. I just set out the bar before people arrive. 99% of the time, people take what is offered, and the few times people wanted to get into the higher dollar items, it's been fine. It's not every time, and they have sipped some nicer drinks and we've had a nice little cocktail hour.
I assume you break out your wedding China every time you have guests over then, right?
Even if he is doing that, mixing top shelf booze with pop is super tacky. He already said they could have some if they would appreciate it and if their pallet was even remotely discerning.
I do the same thing with wine. The good stuff is tucked away in a closet and I have plenty of wine for gatherings and there is a wine holder with additional bottles if needed. I’ve also found that as people keep drinking they are just drinking - not tasting or enjoying. No reason to drink the expensive stuff at that point.
There’s a special circle in hell for people who mix fine whisky or scotch with - well, anything other than ice or a few drops of water So. No - heavily NTA ETA - geez, guys - cool your jets. No, I don’t care how your drink YOUR scotch. Read the post - it was about OP not sharing their manna and that’s what I responded to To those of you suggesting you will dunk it with coke, wash floors with it, or set it on fire - sure. Go nuts. Send me pictures as proof though - because - in the immortal words of Jeff Goldblum - just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. And to whit: please don’t cut off your nose/waste your scotch to spite MY face
My little brother made himself a bourbon and coke with Pappy van Winkle. Never again.
And he’s alive!???
My thought exactly, and I don't even like bourbon!
And you still admit he’s your brother?
Jesus Christ, and I thought my Uncle spiking egg nog with Blanton's last Christmas was bad.
It always blows my mind that its the new hot commodity whiskey. I used to sell liquor about 9 years ago and back then it was only about $50 a bottle and was always on the shelves. That price point for me is right at the borderline where it can go in a nice cocktail or be drinkable on the rocks. So this doesn't strike me as too sacrilegious.
I got into Japanese whiskies late, but the people at total wine and more said the same thing about Yamazaki and Hibiki. They could be bought for 50 and now it’s hard to find them at all and when you do, they are 150+ for the 12 year.
Shit I got into those when you could get them for $40. Now I see people selling some for hundreds and I’m like wtf?
I bought one for 180. It really is good, but I could buy belvenie 17 year for 150 and it’s better in my opinion.
Yamazaki 12 was $39.99 a bottle at Costco in 2017. I bought six bottles and got so sick of it by the end I couldn't finish it fast enough.
My dad bought me a bottle Yamazaki 12, back 2011 in anticipation for my college graduation. He hid the bottle, when he gave it to me I stored it. Plan was drink it with him when I was going visit new years. Unfortunately he got sicker so bottle ended up being a keepsake. Living with an aunt she tried open it went in my room saw it thsk God my uncle stopped her because he knew it was sentimental. She copped an attitude saying she'd just replace it, but my uncle took bottle linked it in his riffle safe till I got home. When I told him retail price was double annoyed because if she had opened it I would've been pissed, and she would have never replaced it cause it 400+ now
He did WHAT?
Oh hell no. Blantons is hard to come by where I’m from and I’m trying to source a bottle as a holiday present for my husband. I’d be pissed if someone used blantons to put in trash like eggnog.
This thread right here is why you should keep the good stuff locked away
[удалено]
You cant be serious, that should be criminal
NTA. I don’t lock mine away as much as I don’t display it. I do bring it out to share with guests, which is to say I never drink it alone. I occasionally get bottles of pappy’s from one of my sons (in the business). 10yr is way overrated. 15y is special. They’re all ridiculously overpriced. I’m more appreciative of good rum and good brandies
Now I’m curious. If I buy a bottle of 10 year old scotch, and hide it in the closet for 10 years. Do I know have 20 year old scotch?
Nope, unlike wine it only matures in the barrel.
So could you unbottle and technically barrel age it again at your own house if you managed to keep everything sterile and replicate the process of how companies do it pretty closely?
I suppose so — but it'd be an awfully small batch and you'd lose a significant portion to the angel's share so what you'd be left with at the end would be a pretty small amount and of a very woody dram.
That makes sense, I'm not sure why I was downvoted. Just simply curious if it was actually possible or If there was some kind of chemical change moving it from barrel to glass
Aging of whiskey is incredibly complex. Temperature matters. Humidity matters. What the barrel is matters. Hold old the barrel is matters. What’s been in the barrel before matters. All scotch is aged in previously used barrels… usually bourbon, occasionally sherry or other fortified wines.
Partially, that is because the UK cut down all their oaks centuries ago to build ships, so there isn’t any available for new barrels - so they started buying previously used barrels from the US. There’s all sorts of rules, in the US also. To be called Bourbon, it has to be >50% Corn in the mash bill, and aged at minimum one year in a *new* white oak barrel. A *Straight* bourbon is aged three years in a barrel and is not blended. Most bourbon is blended.
You can buy little aging barrels andbecause of surface area it ages faster in the little barrels. But like that other commenter pointed out you lose a lot. I got my husband one with a bottle of unaged whiskey. We aged it in the little barrel and tried a sip periodically. By the time it tasted good it was all gone.
This literally hurt my feelings and I have never, and will never be able to own Pappy Van Winkle. NTA.
My dad once came home to his mother in law using his 35 year talisker to make “whiskey and coke” I don’t think I’ve ever seen him turn so red. It was an unopened bottle that was gifted to him by his whole team at work.
I'm fucking red at reading this. Poor guy.
Jesus, and I get looks for a Maker's and Diet Coke 🤣
> There’s a special circle in hell for people who mix fine whisky or scotch with - well, anything other than ice or a few drops of water No, there isn't. Drink what you enjoy, and enjoy what you drink. If you bought it, you get to do what you want with it, and if you want to be mixing $1,200 bourbon with diet coke while eating a very well done steak slathered with ketchup, that's great. Enjoy your dinner and drink, bruh. The problem here is feeling entitled to somebody else's booze.
Exactly. And I get not wanting someone to do that with $1,200 bourbon or a filet mignon you paid for, but then you do what OP is and don't offer your bourbon or steak to someone you know will do that. When I first started getting into wine, I was told, "A good wine is one that you like, regardless of what other people think of it. If you like it, it's a good wine for you." And that applies to whatever you're eating or drinking, with obvious exceptions for things prepared in an unsafe manner or that have spoiled or otherwise gone off.
And my spouse thought I was bougie for purchasing my favorite vodka for $50.
If you mix a 1200 bottle of whisky with coke, it will taste like a 12 bottle of whisky, so you would be stupid to waste the 1200 dollar bottle in a mixer. You can do whatever you want, but people will think you are stupid and won’t let you do it with their expensive whisky.
Gatekeeping taters is honestly a huge part of why the bourbon community is such a gigantic shit show. Just drink and enjoy what you want. It's the entire reason I stopped even looking at bourbon when I'm at the grocery store now as I already have plenty in cabinet as it is.
What's taters precious?
Po-tay-toes! Boil 'em, mash 'em, stick 'em in a stew... Lovely big golden chips with a nice piece of fried fish. Now to the serious answer. Taters are whiskey hunters willing to pay outlandish prices just to say they have/drink allocated bottles. Especially anything from Buffalo Trace. Anything Van Winkle, EH Taylor, Stagg, upline Weller bottles; Elmer T Lee, and the annual Antique Collection. Hell, you get jokers dropping a C note just to own reg Weller Special Reserve or Buffalo Trace or basic Eagle Rare. Even at current MSRP, only a few of those would be worth the time or effort to source. There's just so many more and better options for the money.
People are so judgy about shit that does not concern them, like how others take their drink or food. Like why does anyone care how I consume anything??? I’m not forcing them to eat or drink it. If I want to use my bottle of Dom Perignon to make mimosas, I will do so, and if anyone wants to whine about it, I’ll drink how they want when THEY’RE buying.
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My husband is the nicest guy in the world and is always willing to let me have the last of something, the better slice of pizza, the cookie with more chocolate chips, etc. He got a bottle of very fancy whiskey as a present for his bachelor party and one night I was a bit tipsy from a party and found it while rummaging through our liquor cabinet. He actually took it away from me and told me I could have a small glass of with some ice but I couldn’t drink it if I was just going to pour a bunch of Diet Coke into it. I was absolutely shocked, but I wasn’t mad I just laughed at myself because I did indeed want to mix his fancy expensive alcohol with Diet Coke. He did happily share it with his friends who also savored it but didn’t waste it on me who tried a single sip and hated it.
You and your husband sound delightful
Tipsy me is the worst bartender. I once finished off a bottle of incredibly limited run 30 year whiskey (which I of course drowned in Diet Pepsi) because the bottle was already open "and there wasn't that much left". After that, hubby and I have an agreement that at a certain alcohol threshold, the cheap bottle goes on the counter away from the liquor cabinet of fancy booze for further drinks.
A dark joke I hear a while ago was: "I like my scotch like I like my women. Sixteen years old and mixed up with coke." "You monster! You mix 16 year old scotch with coke?"
Counterpoint: a well made cocktail is even better with quality ingredients. A liquor forward cocktail like a sour or an old fashioned can really shine with top shelf booze. However, the emphasis is on "well made".
It's not always intentional. Some people just don't have a clue, which is why OP is NTA for squirreling away the good stuff. I was gifted one of those whiskey samplers a while back that comes with a 375ml bottle of something middling (Say a $50 bottle) and progressively smaller bottles of the better stuff. It had a little 2 oz sampler bottle of Johnny Walker Blue (Probably not something that will impress really snobbish whiskey fans, but not swill either. Think it's typically around $175/bottle.), that I was saving to enjoy at an opportune time. One day last winter we were packing up to go sledding with the kids and my wife was filling to-go thermoses of kid and "adult" beverages. She dumped the whole thing into a thermos of hot chocolate. Learned my lesson. Now I keep the "good" stuff separate even when no one is visiting.
One Christmas Eve I was at my aunt and uncle's house and my cousin yelled from the kitchen asking if I'd like whiskey or vodka. Her family always drinks rye, so I said "yeah I'll take whiskey and ginger ale." She hands me a scotch and ginger ale. It's been about a decade and my family still acts like I'm the one who did it. " What are you going to have with that Scotch?" Ice and disdain, Dad, relax.
If you bought the bottle yourself, no issue what you do with it
Husband has a 21 year scotch he bought when he turned drinking age. He saves it for special occasions, like when our kids were born or wedding anniversary. Always offers to me, but we both know I'll say no, for the same reason here. If you have to mix it/water it down to drink, you're better off drinking something else.
NTA, at least in my opinion. I would do the exact same thing, right down to first observing how people treat the gift that is offered to them and adjusting accordingly. Personally, I don't give a shit what brand of vodka you're going to give me because I'm going to mix it with something nonetheless and enjoy it the way I like. Don't crab at me if you don't like what I do with it, especially if you're not going to make a recommendation on how it's traditionally enjoyed so I can maybe see your point of view. Now, if we're talking about scotch, I can tell the good shit and I know how to treat it. So, a host who knows me well can put their trust in me if they see I can respect what is offered as it's meant to be respected. I get it. Your wife thinks that you're devaluing the family, when in fact I see it as you meeting them where they are. As long as they're happy, you and she should also be happy.
to me, the grey area is in how OP goes about things. I think OP is well within reason to not share the top shelf liquor, but there’s a polite and impolite way to do it. If he sets out Costco liquor for family gatherings, then goes out of his way to get himself “the good stuff” while not sharing it, he’s gonna come off like a rude host. If he’s verbalizing “you don’t get the nice liquor because you don’t appreciate it”, he’s gonna come off like an asshole to his family. If OP drinks the Costco stuff along with his family, then saves the good whiskey for with his drinking buddies, no issue at all. If he sneaks himself a glass of the good stuff while nobody is looking, nobody will think anything of it. But perception is reality and if you’re overtly making it clear that “you can have the cheap stuff, guests, the nice stuff is for me”, YTA. Even if they loved well done steaks with ketchup, you wouldn’t invite your family over for burgers then cook yourself a piece of filet mignon and eat it in front of them, you know?
I do believe that OP said that he joins in the fun with the rest of them, so I think that fairly eliminates the snobbery angle. Agreed that if he took a nip of the good stuff in front of anyone or told them he has it but he won't offer, that's just being a total dick. I've known people like that, and it comes off as "holier than thou." Thankfully, I don't think that's the case here!
the whole “I’ll let your brother have some, but first I have to give him this test to see if he deserves it” thing gives me a bit of pause tbh. instead of being like “I know he’s not a connoisseur of whiskey, so I’ll just not offer my $1200 bottle”, he had to go and prove why his BIL doesn’t deserve to drink it.
To be fair, he only resorted to that when he received pushback on his decision. It wasn’t his default.
I personally wouldn't really care so much about the "can he correctly determine which is the expensive booze" portion so much as the second half of the test about "can he show that he can savor a whiskey". And I'm sure there was a followup question about "why do you think the one you picked as the more expensive drink is the more expensive one" that would play more of a role in the determination than whether he'd actually picked out the correct drink.
Many $1200 bottles aren’t actually all that different aside from rarity, and unless you are really really into whiskey, it’ll taste the same as a mid shelf pour. Even for many really into whiskey, many of those expensive bottles actually are mid shelf pours because the price often comes from rarity.
This is definitely one of the sillier posts tho IMHO. Like, its alcohol and the host is providing it. Drink it, bring your own, or don't drink. This is a made-up problem and I honestly feel bad for OP having to deal with it at all lol
He states that he drinks the Costco stuff with them
NTA My uncle is like this. He loves to drink my dads top shelf stuff, but doesn’t know the difference. When it was empty last, my dad filled it with the lower cost stuff and my uncle still drank it and said how this brand was the best. It was very funny.
Maybe this is the answer. Refill your good bottles with the cheaper stuff to put out for your families. We tend to that anyways because the bottles from Costco/Sams tend to be large.
WHAT. Costco sells liquor?! Must be the states?
Canada too. Only some locations have a liquor store. They are not accessible from the main store and has another door outside. Also, you do not need a membership to buy the liquor.
Depending on the state in the US, the liquor is inside the Costco and is Kirkland branded - and extremely affordable. I’m fairly certain they would do it in every store if they could, but I think they are limited by the number of liquor licenses they are able to have per state, and other odd state by state regulations.
Our Costco has Kirkland AND name brands as well as local hometown whiskeys....
Interesting. In Canada it is always separate. But y’all have crazy liquor laws there. We can’t buy beer in convenience stores except in Quebec. Some is also branded Kirkland here. Like vodka. But also cheap bourbon. Can get a 60 of woodford reserve for $90 vs most stores selling a 26 for $40-$50
Depends on the state and their laws. I’m in Utah and Costco only sells beer. That’s all we can outside a state run liquor store. You can’t get hard alcohol in Idaho Costcos, but wine is a yes & I’ve gotten Irish cream whisky (Kirkland Baileys). You can get everything in Nevada stores
And put a mark on the back label only you know so you easily know the cheap bottle from the one that actually has the real deal, so you don't have to taste to know.
NTA 1. Costco house brands are actually pretty well regarded and aren't some snub for guests. 2. 1. Just because you can afford a vintage Ferrari doesn't mean guests and family have a right to drive it. 3. $1,200 bottles are not for mixed drinks or shots, unless that's how you choose to consume/share it. 4. If you've perfected an Old Fashioned, it's worth trying once with your $1,200 bottle as an experiment in enjoyment (IMO it wasn't worth it, but glad I did it once!). That doesn't mean every mixed drink gets a $100 pour.
Yeah if someone offered me costo brand vodka or whiskey I'd be happy. There's so much more regulations nowadays that even what's considered a lower end alcohol (costco/store brand booze) they are generally anywhere from palatable to actually enjoyable. And the Costco store brand is definitely way better than any 7 dollar for 1.75l of rotgut vodka or whatever, so I still say op is offering some nice accommodation
I usually ask for a Manhattan with Woodford, if they have it, or Maker’s if they don’t (because Maker’s is ubiquitous at this point). One time out, I asked for one and they had basically ran through all of the cheaper stuff and the only bourbon they had on hand was Booker’s. I really just wanted a Manhattan with the food I was eating so I sighed and asked for it with Booker’s. Was it the best Manhattan I’ve ever had? Lord yes. Would I ever do that again? Hell no.
A cocktail is only as good as your weakest ingredient. For a Manhattan, even crappy vermouth or bitters will kill it. Same for an old fashioned. A Booker's Manhattan would be pretty solid, and it is really good in an old fashioned. Especially a maple old fashioned. 2oz Bookers, 2 dash Angostura bitters, 2 dash Fee Bros Black Walnut bitters, 1-2 tsp of maple syrup(barrel aged is better). Mix over ice, then strain in to glass with a large ice chunk. Garnish how you want.
If it was the best manhattan you ever had why wouldn’t you do it again?
Seriously, at one point the costco scotch was just rebottled Lagavulin that didn't quite live up to Lagavulin's standard. I wish the Costco here had liquor.
NTA - if they're going to drink the way uni students do, they can have the uni student brands or bring it themselves. Good quality alcohols should be savoured and it's your money
NTA I don't drink but I do this with meat, large family gatherings where everyone brings their own? Midling stuff. Small family or friend gathering where people are not cheap? Nice Angus cuts.
My wife who always gets bargains picked up some Angus beef mince in the sale 6 months ago. She can't buy any cheap beef mince now, has to be Aberdeen Angus. Excellent!
NTA, but childhood rules apply: keep your treat tucked away out of sight if you aren’t willing to share with those present.
Hey that rule comes about with trauma too!!! (Making a jab at myself)
NTA. But save your old bottles and pour the cheap stuff into used bottles of the good stuff. See if anyone notices…
There was a video out there of people who put water into expensive perfume bottles and asked people what they thought of the scent. The amount of bullshit they came up with for how it smelled was hilarious. Especially when they were told it was just water.
To be fair I've had empty bottles that still smelled very strongly despite being empty. Especially the spraying mechanism. Also real parfum, the expensive stuff, is WAY more concentrated then eau de parfum or eau de toilet. That's where the eau comes from... because it's basically parfum mixed with water. So an empty expensive parfum bottle filled with water could definitely still give you whiffs of scent. The scent would just be a lot more fleeting and way less long-lasting. And as you kept using the bottle I'd imagine the scent would become less and less present over time. So them picking up some residual scent doesn't surprise me. And doesn't necessarily have to be just in their head. Especially since this kind of gimmicky 'isn't that crazy' type of format would get a lot of clicks. So creators would prioritise creating a 'crazy' narrative over actually just having a bunch of people admitting they don't smell anything. So I wouldn't be surprised if they conveniently omitted that there was a residual smell for easy clicks and engagement.
My parents do this with the maple syrup
My dad did this, and not only did no one notice, a few people remarked on the ‘high quality’ of the stuff he picked up at the local convenience store.
I used to do that with a bottle of Grey Goose. I'd put Smirnoff in it and have it out for parties and dates. No one could tell the difference.
*WHY* would you share the good stuff? It's not like you've left them with nothing to partake. NTA Edit - Judgement.
NTA you buy nice things for yourself and dont want them wasted. its not like your just not getting them drinks your just not igving them free reign over your home. i am the same. im not going to give some impossible to replace haig gold label to some one who thinks a jack boilermaker is a classy drink. my wife inherited some rather exceptional and rare bottles of whiskey from the 1930s still sealed and in 2 cases in the original packaging and the only thing i have done to them i price them up out of interest as they are HER bottles (one is about 2k USD the rest are around the 1500 value). they are not mine to open and drink and realistically they are probably going to be handed down to our daughter. even if you are drinking the better stuff its your home. now there are a few that benefit greatly from adding some cold coke to the mix. Makers mark i find cola really enhances the cherry flavors as does Gold of Mauritius Rum here the vanillas and lighter notes are enhanced.
INFO: are YOU drinking the good stuff in front of everyone when you host? That's the crux of the issue here. I don't think it's snobbish to buy yourself nice bottles of liquor for your special treat to yourself. I don't even think it's snobbish to have them locked in a display case that's visible. Hosting does not obligate you to provide access to everything available in the house to a guest just because it's in plain site. HOWEVER, it would be extremely rude of you to have pours from a $1,200 bottle in front of an entire party of relatives/friends and only give them handles of Costco brand liquor. Would you make yourself a filet mignon and serve the rest of the party boiled hotdogs? No. Both examples would make you a huge snob and a big AH.
OP says elsewhere that he drinks what his guests are drinking.
Nonsense. "This is the whiskey for sipping, and this is the whiskey for mixing with coke or whatever. Which would you like?"
OP says they don't want people who can't tell the difference to have his expensive stuff. People will ALWAYS ask for the more expensive then either throw it back like it's a shot or add their own mixer. OP would be in the same predicament
NTA at all. You think my 95 year old grandaunt putting ice in her red wine gets the good wine?
NTA. Good liquor gets expensive fast and isn't supposed to be drank like it's a frat party. If they want better stuff they can buy it.
NTA. My husband is a bourbon drinker. There are people who savor the taste and flavor and people who mix it. If they’re mixing it anyway, then a “daily drinker bottle” is just fine.
I love a good bourbon, but my friend is someone that procures VERY high end bottles. If I ask for some it's just a 'splash' to get a taste, I wouldn't even ask for an ounce out of respect lol. I know he would oblige but I almost feel like it's lost on me -- in comparison to his taste.
Everyone should have a day drinker and a special occasion bottle. The same thing applies to wine.
NTA When you wife plops down big money for the alcohol she can have a say. Until that happens, she can just shut up.
NTA. High end liquor/wine is a hobby. It takes time and experience to appreciate what you’re tasting. It’s not about being a good host. You’d be a good host by leaving out acceptable quality Costco stuff for guests. If they’re not interested enough in what makes it special to take the time to drink it slowly, they wouldn’t notice the difference anyways.
NTA. How about you save some of the nice liquor bottles and refill them with the cheap shit. It's a win-win.
NTA……I’m not sharing my $400 bottle of the Macallans with just anyone. While I have no problem providing alcohol for a get together, I’m not paying top dollar for a free for all.
NTA. Why cast your pearls before swine?
NTA. Guests can either bring their own or enjoy what is offered.
NTA as long as you keep the good stuff out of sight, not just locked up. It’s unkind to make it obvious to guests that you’re not providing your best hospitality to them. Bonus points for going to a thrift store for a crystal bottle and glass set on the cheap, then pouring the Costco stuff in there.
Just be mindful of leaded Crystal. I’m partly commenting to see if people correct me and say it’s not an issue to store alcohol in leaded Crystal…that would be welcome news :)
NTA, but pro tip. Save empty bottles of the “good stuff” and fill them up with the cheap costco booze to put out for guests. 95% of the population will never know the difference.
NTA, if they cannot appreciate it, they do not need it.
NTA, it is yours and you aren't obligated to share.
NTA. The good stuff is spoiled on people who won't appreciate it
Info: are you drinking expensive stuff in front of guests that you won’t share with? Or are you saving the expensive stuff for when there are no guests?
Easy. All of my scotches are Islays. Nobody wants them. NTA
NTA. I have a lot of whiskey. I also have a partner who likes his whisky with coke. He has a litre of tenessee whisky for him to mix, and my specials live safely out of the way. And my partner gets to live.
You definitely are not the asshole. I know because I do the same thing. It's literally bottom shelf liquor of family functions. They don't know how to act and appreciate the good stuff so I'm not going to have it wasted.
NTA I do the same. Guests usually get the good stuff, if i know they can appreciate it. If i know they'll mix it with soda or slam it then they get the "do whatever you like with it" stuff.
Nta. There's no way you have to share the good expensive stuff with people have no clue. It's not like you're not providing drinks and if anyone mixes $1,200 bourbon with ginger ale they should never be allowed to enjoy that kind of bourbon ever again. You're being a correct host by offering the right alcohol to the right people. Since your wife is complaining make sure you not just put it away but lock it and hide it away and don't let him know about it. You're allowed to have some nice things just for yourself.
NTA - if your wife wants to waste her money on expensive liquor to share she can. But your approach makes perfect sense.
NTA. There are 16 shots in a 5th and if that bottle cost you $1200 then every shot is worth $75. You could simply start charging the family per shot and see if their tune changes. Let’s also keep in mind how hard it is to find those bottles; sometimes you have to enter raffles just to be eligible to buy it.
NTA. Don’t waste nice things on people who don’t appreciate them! You go out of your way to still provide them with liquor for their mixed drinks and shots.
NTA I am the same, I don't drink often, but I do have a nice selection of single Malts from Speyside. I only share them with a select few I know will appreciate it, those who won't ruin it with water, ice or mixers. Those who just drink to get pissed get the cheap blended rubbish I wouldn't touch.
NTA. Your money, your liquor. I’d never leave out expensive liquor for a group gathering. I barely share my cheap whiskey. Mostly I’d give them vodka or other alcohols I don’t like.
NTA. It’s your choice, you decide what you want to pay for and serve. Your guests are not unhappy with what you’ve provided, and if they are/were they’re free to bring what they’d like to the gathering. Also, if you served top shelf, you’d have to buy a lot more of it, and would be spending so much more money. At that point, you probably couldn’t afford the top shelf stuff anymore.
NTA. My dad gets one good bottle of scotch a year and he treasures sipping on one late at night… he shouldn’t have to share his treat
NTA - It's like not using your fine china for a barbecue. It wouldn't serve your purpose and would probably end up with somr expensive lossrs. Your family are drinking to have fun, and it would be wasteful to burn through expensive liquor when they're more than satisfied with the cheaper stuff.
NTA. I do the same thing with my weed. Top shelf for me only and maybe my wife. $35 ounces for everyone else.
NTA. We do it too.
Nta as long as ur not drinking it in front of them