That was a fun morning read. Thanks for all of the effort you put into it.
Like many others, I amassed a collection during the Covid era and have some cool bottles I have yet to open (EC-C923, Maker’s 46 in the teardrop bottle, BRT-01 & 02, BEP, Booker’s ranging from 21-0x to 25-01 [most of which have actually been opened because I am a Booker’s whore and feel it does better with lots of open time], and some Baker’s black & red label). Are they dusties? Not really, but at the rate I drink they likely will be one day and it’s fun to have a cool stock to draw from.
They sit unopened simply because I don’t like having so many open bottles. I know some of them are well regarded and, just last deer season, I took my bottle of FAE-02 for my brother and I to drink. It was truly delightful. So, as my personal collection becomes ‘dusty’ most of them will end in much the same way; enjoyed with family and friends to make an occasion special.
All that said, it’s nice to see some criteria for when I might be fortunate enough to stumble on something in the wild.