Liquor Consumption 2018 = 12 Bottles

Food & Drink

A Year in Spirits: 2018 Review and 2019 Strategy

Reflecting on consumption habits, budget planning, and building a curated home bar.

12

Bottles

8

Liters

$404

Total Spent

Section I

2018 Retrospective

In 2018, I purchased about 12 bottles of liquor, totaling 8 liters for $404. This total includes an estimated $65 value for a gifted bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue. This averages out to roughly 1 bottle per month, which aligns perfectly with my expectations.

 

Bourbon Exploration

I decided to increase my bourbon consumption to 33% of my total liquor intake to broaden my horizons. Initially, I found bourbons to be a bit too sweet, which sometimes overpowered the tasting experience I prefer with Scotch whisky. However, after regularly sampling bourbon, I realized I wanted to keep a bottle on hand to enjoy a dram now and then, balancing it with my whisky pours.

House of Johnnie

It's no surprise that I lean heavily towards Johnnie Walker. About 25% of my total consumption this year came from Johnnie Walker Red and Black, my go-to favorites. I also discovered that Monkey Shoulder and Jameson are excellent alternatives worth considering.

Section II

2019 Goals

For the upcoming year, I plan to maintain my 1:2 ratio of bourbon to Scotch while continuing to explore different brands. I don’t anticipate drinking all my current stock in a single year, so I’ll be investing in larger bottles (like JW Red and Maker's Mark) to carry me into 2020.

 

I aim to maintain a selection of at least 6-8 varieties of liquor. Currently, I have just 4 bottles:

• →Johnnie Walker Red — A staple blend for consistent enjoyment.
• →Johnnie Walker Black — My go-to favorite for a slightly more complex profile.
• →Highland Park 12 — A quality single malt addition.
• →Wild Turkey — Represents the bourbon side of the rotation.

Tip: If you are looking to streamline your collection, plan your inventory based on a specific ratio of blends to single malts to maintain variety without overspending.

Budget Considerations

I will increase my budget by $100 to accommodate the addition of four single malts. With a total of 11 liters in mind, I might consider culling my collection slightly by reducing 2-4 bottles, possibly skipping one bourbon, one single malt, and one blend. This will help streamline my selection while still enjoying a diverse range of spirits.

Metric	2018 Status	2019 Goal
Collection Size	4 Bottles	6-8 Bottles
Volume Target	8 Liters	11 Liters
Budget Change	Baseline	+$100

Cheers to a refined collection and new tastings in the year ahead.