If I told you there was a way for you to have an ever-lasting supply of blended whisky, you’d no doubt think it was too good to be true. Well, it turns out that you absolutely can! Well, sort of at least.

No, we here at Great Drams aren’t giving away an endless supply of whisky, (though we do have plenty of special offers so keep an eye on the site) so what gives? Well, today I want to talk to you about a growing trend in the world of whisky – the infinity bottle.

Now, an infinity bottle may sound like something from one of the endless Marvel superhero movies out there, but in reality it’s far more exciting (to me at least) and doesn’t feature a single piece of CGI or greenscreen.

So, what the heck are whisky infinity bottles, can you make one yourself, and most importantly, are they any good? Keep reading and all will become clear.

What are Whisky Infinity Bottles?

Master Blenders such as Stephanie Macleod meticulously blend different whiskies with one another in different ratios, using different casks and different techniques to create true masterpieces. Some of the best whiskies ever created have been produced by Master Blenders. They are real artists in the spirits biz, and I cannot express just how important they are. With an infinity bottle, you get your chance to become your very own Master Blender.

Now, before I go any further, please don’t take what I’m saying here too literally. Becoming a Master Blender takes decades and requires skill, experience, patience, expertise, and natural ability that few possess. Making your own whisky infinity bottle at home certainly doesn’t put you on that level. But it does give an insight into what you can do when you blend your own whisky.

Doing the work I do, I’m constantly surrounded by whisky. This means I’ve plenty of bottles in the house, and no, they aren’t all our own produce either. As you may know, I love all whisky, be it bourbon, Irish, Japanese, single-malt Scotch, or anything else. Because of this, I’ve often got a few bottles open at the same time.

You’re probably wondering why I’m waffling on about Master Blenders and how much whisky I’ve got at home in my drinks cabinet, but don’t worry, I’m getting to that, and there is a connection. In the past, when I was coming to the end of a whisky bottle, I’d either make my final drink a little too strong, or it would end up too weak if there wasn’t quite enough. Either way, I would never enjoy that last drink. That’s when I started reading up on infinity bottles.

A whisky infinity bottle is basically an empty decanter or bottle, that you top up with the last few dregs of your whisky bottles. Gradually you’ll add small amounts of different whiskies, and watch the collection grow right before your eyes.

Instead of wasting the last few dregs in the bottle, you instead put them to good use and use them to make a basic form of your very own blended whisky.

How to Make Your Own Whisky Infinity Bottle

Making a whisky infinity bottle isn’t just a case of simply dunking whichever whisky dregs you can lay your hands on into a bottle or decanter, and hoping for the best. I mean, you could do that, and it may turn out great, but at the same time it could turn out absolutely revolting.

Creating a whisky infinity bottle is not hard, but it does require some skill and know-how. This is where we enter the picture.

Here are a few simple tips to help you make your very own whisky infinity bottle.

Start With a Base Whisky

Even though the idea of an infinity bottle is to use small amounts of whatever whisky you have left, it’s important to begin your project with a base whisky. This is the whisky that will give your infinity bottle its main characteristics.

If for example, you enjoy a strong and smoky Islay whisky, you’d use a decent amount of a peaty, smoky whisky as your base. Lagavulin or Laphroaig for example. If you’re a bourbon drinker, the base of your infinity bottle would be a bourbon like Buffalo Trace or Maker’s Mark.

How much base you begin with is down to you, but just remember that your base whisky is going to play a huge role in influencing how your infinity bottle whisky tastes, so choose wisely.

Careful with the Smoke

Like I just mentioned, if you enjoy a smoky whisky with strong peaty notes, an Islay expression would be a great base. If, however, you don’t enjoy a huge amount of smoke in your whisky, be very careful when adding smoky, peaty whiskies.

A little smoke can go a long way, so if you just want a very subtle smokiness, only add a very small amount of whichever peated whisky you’re coming to the end of. You can always add another peaty whisky at a later date, but diluting down a smoky, peaty flavour is going to be much harder.

Don’t Add Too Many Flavours at Once

I must admit, when I started my first infinity bottle, I got a little too eager and carried away, and added way too many whiskies. I wanted to get creative, and in my mind, I thought I’d create a masterpiece would give The Macallan a run for its money. Needless to say, that wasn’t the case.

Now, this was before I got into the whisky business, and what I quickly learned was that less is more. My first infinity bottle project had splashes of different bourbons, it had Irish whiskey, it had single-malts, blended malts, Speyside whiskies, Smoky Islay whiskies, and probably more than that. It was a mess. There were so many flavours going on that my palate didn’t know where to begin. Don’t get me wrong, I still drank it, but I didn’t enjoy it.

When making an infinity whisky bottle, don’t add too many different flavours. Try to add whiskies with similar notes and characteristics that compliment each other.

Never Let Your Bottle Run Empty

The entire premise behind a whisky infinity bottle is that it never runs empty. That means you constantly need to be topping it up and adding to it.

If your bottle runs empty, you’re essentially starting off a brand-new project. I’ve a few infinity bottles on the go at the moment, some of which I started several years ago. Just as you constantly need to feed a sourdough started in baking, you constantly need to keep topping up a whisky infinity bottle.

Remember the Flavour will Change

What I love about infinity bottles, is one month you can have one which tastes perfectly acceptable, you can then add a couple of shots of different whisky to it, and the following month you’ll have one that tastes incredible.

Not only does the whisky change its taste, flavour, colour, and aroma as it ages, it also tastes different each time you add a different whisky to it. There will be times when your infinity whisky tastes amazing, and there will also be times when you’re not sold on the flavour. Just remember, the flavour and tasting notes will constantly change.

Have Fun

Finally, the thing to remember here is that this is your whisky, and you’re here to have fun.

You aren’t a Master Blender working at a prestigious spirts company, with your reputation on the line as you try to come up with a best-selling blended Scotch, you’re just looking to use the last few dregs of your old whisky and create something you enjoy.

Experiment with different flavours and combinations, add different amounts, and always remember to taste as you go. If you feel your infinity whisky bottle could use some fruity notes, add a splash of a fruity Speyside expression. You’re the Master Blender here, so have fun.

So, Are Whisky Infinity Bottles Any Good?

If done right, whisky infinity bottles are ABSOLUTELY worth the time and effort.

Not only are they an inventive way of using up the last few dregs of whisky in your bottles, they’re also ways of getting into blended whisky and seeing what you can come up with at home.

So, yes, when your Great Drams bottles are running low, I strongly recommend you have a go at producing your very own whisky infinity bottle. In my opinion, they’re well worth it.

If you’d like to learn more about your favourite whiskies, or simply treat yourself to a dram or two in the process, head on over to GreatDrams.com and take a look at the diverse selection of unique whiskies we currently have in stock.

With an impressive selection of limited-edition, rare, and award-winning whisky, as well as heaps of whisky info on our blog, it’s the perfect spot for any whisky lovers out there.