4 ms·

With wine and spirits, you're often paying for rarity, rather than outright quality. I'm not a huge wine snob (most wines I buy are in the $10-$20 range), but

With wine and spirits, you're often paying for rarity, rather than outright quality. I'm not a huge wine snob (most wines I buy are in the $10-$20 range), but I have tasted some rather expensive wines. In a lot of cases, you're not really paying for "richness of flavor" (a lot of cheaper wines have plenty of richness and balance), you're paying for name and for rarity, especially when it comes to older wines. I'm actually more into whisky, and I can tell you in no uncertain terms, that the best whisky I have ever tasted in my life costs around $400. Now, that is still somewhat expensive compared to the <$100 whiskies I usually enjoy, but it's not outrageously expensive, especially considering how long a bottle of whisky lasts, when compared to a bottle of wine, once it's opened. And it was immeasurably better than any multi-thousand dollar whisky I've had the chance to taste. With Macallans, Dalmores, Pappy van Winkle and other high-priced spirits, you are absolutely paying for a name, not necessarily for the quality.

disgruntledphd2 9y ago
As another whiskey lover, can you tell me what that bottle is?
- KozmoNau7 9y ago
  Of course :-) It was a Bunnahabhain XXV, the greatest sherry cask dram I have ever had the pleasure of tasting. I am very close to rationalizing buying a bottle, but I know I can buy four $100 bottles of other whiskies that are 95% as good, and will give me a wider range of experiences, for that same price.
  - mi100hael 9y ago
    Or you could buy two bottles of the Bunnahabhain and two other $100 bottles instead of buying the new iPhone ;)
    - KozmoNau7 9y ago
      Buying an iPhoney was never on my radar ;-)
ghaff 9y ago
I'm not a huge wine drinker and what I buy is usually on the relatively inexpensive side--though not lowest end. Now and then I have splurged for a premium wine tasting (maybe $50-100 bottles at retail). I do appreciate the difference--slightly. I'd also rather spend that money on a nice bottle of whiskey and stick with ~$10-15/bottle wine:-)
jsjohnst 9y ago
For the most part, I agree with your post. Interestingly, most of my favorite whiskeys are around $400ish too. That said, my absolute favorite (35yr Hibiki) I can absolutely tell the difference with and it's much more expensive than that.

disgruntledphd2 9y ago

As another whiskey lover, can you tell me what that bottle is?

KozmoNau7 9y ago
Of course :-) It was a Bunnahabhain XXV, the greatest sherry cask dram I have ever had the pleasure of tasting. I am very close to rationalizing buying a bottle, but I know I can buy four $100 bottles of other whiskies that are 95% as good, and will give me a wider range of experiences, for that same price.
- mi100hael 9y ago
  Or you could buy two bottles of the Bunnahabhain and two other $100 bottles instead of buying the new iPhone ;)
  - KozmoNau7 9y ago
    Buying an iPhoney was never on my radar ;-)

ghaff 9y ago

I'm not a huge wine drinker and what I buy is usually on the relatively inexpensive side--though not lowest end. Now and then I have splurged for a premium wine tasting (maybe $50-100 bottles at retail). I do appreciate the difference--slightly. I'd also rather spend that money on a nice bottle of whiskey and stick with ~$10-15/bottle wine:-)

jsjohnst 9y ago

For the most part, I agree with your post. Interestingly, most of my favorite whiskeys are around $400ish too. That said, my absolute favorite (35yr Hibiki) I can absolutely tell the difference with and it's much more expensive than that.