Whiskey Gift - To open in 20yrs... Does it mature?

Andy__C

Andy__C

Andy__C

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I need some Whiskey advice from some of the Whiskey aficionados amongst OCUK please! I am pretty un-knowledgeable in this subject, I've not really a Whisky drinker.

An old boss and career mentor/coach and myself are parting ways after a some very good years.... I owe him a lot in terms of my development in this time.

I'd like to get him a good Whiskey to keep and open when he retires.... Technically he could retire within 10yrs but realistically I see him hanging on for a longer than that.... even up to 20yrs time.

Anyway, what I want to know is - Is there such a thing as getting a really good bottle now that would mature over this time and would be a cracker to open on his retirement evening?


I know he enjoys a good whiskey - but much to his mockery, Whiskey isn't my taste so I am pretty clueless.


How does around £100 for a bottle fit the above? It'd be very appreciated if specific brands/ ages/blends could be pointed out.



Cheers!
 
Whiskey matures in the cask not the bottle.

It is possible to buy a cask but this would cost more than £100 but I'm not sure if there are places where you could by a share of a cask
 
I have a Glenmorangie that was bottled in 1989 when I started school, I pray it will be still drinkable when I open it.
 
I've just googled around and the new thinking seems to be that it is likely that some maturation does happen in the bottle, albeit much more slowly than in the cask. Which makes sense to me as it's hard to imagine that there would be absolutely zero change over the course of 20 years.
 
The whisky will start to change over decades in the bottle it's sometimes called 'the old bottle effect' but it might be more to do with oxidisation or UV light rather than maturation or it could be a combination of all three.
 
As others have pointed out, whiskey doesn't mature in bottle.

However, if you want to get him something that does mature over a period of twenty years or so, then go for a good bottle of vintage port. As long as it's looked after (left to rest at a reasonably even temperature) you'd be unlucky to get a dud (lower probability of dud than ordinary red wine, IME).
 
Thanks for the replies all.... that's something new I've learnt today.

I'll definitely stick to Whiskey as I don't think the port will mean as much. Its better off just going for a very decent whiskey instead and maybe just ask him to keep it until retirement.
 
Make sure you store it upright as they whisky will deteriorate the adhesive in the cork if in contact for a long time and will likely snap when opened.
 
jimmy321 said:
Make sure you store it upright as they whisky will deteriorate the adhesive in the cork if in contact for a long time and will likely snap when opened.
Click to expand...

Ah interesting. I bought a bottle of 18yr Chivas Regal from tesco where this happened. Must be the same thing.
 
It only matures when in the cask, makes no difference in the bottle. I.e. a 10 year old whiskey now will not be classed as a 30 yo in 20 years time.

Over time the alcohol evaporates...not sure what difference in makes in 20 years so but you may find a bit less in the bottle compared when you first bought it.

May be worth just putting a little away each month and buy a nicer bottle when he comes to retire.

Have you an idea on the whiskey he enjoys? Each region has vastly different tastes.
 
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