Whisky 2016 -- Rebalancing to 50/50 Ratio to add more Single-Malts

Wine Review

Building My Whisky Collection in 2016

A journey toward refining my palate and curating the perfect home bar.

~175

mL Weekly Consumption

12

Bottles Annual Volume

50/50

Target Ratio

Table of Contents

• ①Consumption Rates
• ②Recent Purchases
• ③2017 Plan

Section I

Consumption Rates

My overall whisky consumption has been consistent, averaging around 175 mL per week. This is roughly equivalent to a six-pack of lite beer, which is relatively modest. Over the course of a month, this amounts to about 750 mL (or one bottle), and annually translates to approximately 9 liters, equating to 12 bottles.

Consumption Ratios (Blends vs. Single Malts)

Period	Blends Ratio	Single Malt Ratio	Inventory
First Half 2016	80%	20%	5 Blends / 1 Single Malt
Second Half 2016	50%	50%	3 Blends / 3 Single Malts

The 80/20 ratio turned out to be somewhat dull, allowing me to enjoy only a single bottle of Single Malt. While Johnnie Walker Black was pleasant and Johnnie Walker Red acceptable, drinking the same whiskies for several months became uninteresting. I'm optimistic that the 50/50 ratio will be more enjoyable without significantly increasing costs.

 

Section II

Recent Purchases

To move towards my 50/50 goal, I've recently picked up three bottles:

• →Johnnie Walker Black — Recent addition for the blend rotation.
• →Macallan 12 Year Old — A core single malt addition.
• →Laphroaig 10 Year Old — Expanding the profile of my single malt selection.

These additions bring me closer to my desired ratio, and I still have some Glenfiddich 12 on hand. In a month or so, I plan to add two more bottles: Lagavulin 16 Year Old and Johnnie Walker Green. This will help balance my collection and provide additional options for tasting.

 

Section III

2017 Plan

Looking ahead to next year, I’m excited about the opportunity to expand my collection to a full twelve bottles while maintaining a year’s supply on hand. Some bottles will be mainstays, and I'll replace them as needed, but I also plan to leave slots open for exploring new brands and finding potential mainstays.

Planned Collection

• →Johnnie Walker Red — (x2) — Mainstay blend.
• →Johnnie Walker Black — (x2) — Mainstay blend.
• →Johnnie Walker Green — Upcoming blend purchase.
• →Monkey Shoulder — Selected blend for the collection.
• →Macallan 12 — Mainstay single malt.
• →Highland Park 12 — Mainstay single malt.
• →Laphroaig 10 — Mainstay single malt.
• →Oban 14 — Single malt selection.
• →Lagavulin 16 — Single malt selection.
• →Glenmorangie 10 — Single malt selection.

I'm particularly excited about the Johnnie Walker Green, which is said to be a mix of Caol Ila and Talisker, among other blends. It sounds phenomenal. Additionally, I will reserve some space for special occasion bottles, starting with Macallan 18 Year Old and Johnnie Walker Blue Label.

Stay tuned as I continue to curate my collection and explore these new expressions.