I personally don't believe in collections that just gather dust, unless that is their explicit purpose (i.e. ornamentation and decoration). I had someone bawk at the fact that I regularly use my antique straight razor, and more than my modern ones, at that. If it has a use, I use it!

Same thing here. What's the point of having all that lovely Scotch if you're not going to enjoy it? The bottles aren't that pretty, and if they were, they'd be just as pretty empty.

I keep my whisky collection modest and practical. I have a bottle of cheap bourbon on hand when I want to mix it (Jim Bean)... I have a bottle of smokier whisky for when I want something bold (Auchentoshan Three Wood), a fruity whiskey for when I want something bright (Jameson 18 yr), and my old standbies for everything in between (MacAllan 12 and Glenmorangie Nectar d'Or). Every once in a while I'll pick up something else if it tickles me, but only after having sampled it elsewhere, such as at one of the innumerable tastings we have in the area.