We’re about to let you in on a little secret. It’s not found on a distillery tour, it’s not printed on a bottle label, and it’s certainly not something you’ll hear from a brand rep – unless they’ve had a few pours and are feeling generous with industry lore.
It’s called the Infinity Bottle, and if you don’t have one yet, you’re missing out on one of the most fascinating, ever-evolving whiskey experiments of all time. Think of it as the ultimate home blend—crafted by you, refined over time, and destined to be completely, unapologetically unique.
The Legend of the Infinity Bottle
The concept? Simple. The possibilities? Endless. Take an empty bottle (bonus points if it looks fabulous on your bar cart) and start adding whiskey. A splash from this bottle, a pour from that one. Over time, your Infinity Bottle becomes a living, breathing testament to your whiskey-drinking journey.
Some call this a “living blend.” Others call it a glorified clean-out-the-cabinet-and-get-rid-of-floor-bourbon strategy. Either way, you get something utterly original—an ever-changing whiskey that tells the story of your palate, one sip at a time.
But where did this blending tradition begin? It has deeper roots than you might expect.
Similar to the Solera Blending Process
While whiskey lovers have likely been blending leftovers for as long as whiskey has been poured, the formal idea of an Infinity Bottle borrows inspiration from an aging process known as the solera system.
The solera method dates back centuries, originally developed by Spanish and Portuguese winemakers to age sherry, port, and Madeira. The process works like this: Instead of bottling an entire barrel at once, producers only draw a portion of the liquid out for bottling. The remaining wine is then topped off with younger wine, allowing flavors to build over time while maintaining a continuous, evolving blend.
Rum and brandy producers later adopted the solera technique, and even some modern whiskey distilleries use a similar method to craft richer, more layered expressions. For example, distilleries like Glenfiddich and Hillrock Estate use solera vats to create consistently deep, complex flavors in their spirits.
Your Infinity Bottle follows the same principle—except you get to be the master blender. Each addition to the bottle becomes a part of its history, mingling with the old, creating something new, and evolving over time into a whiskey that’s yours and yours alone.
How to Start Your Own Infinity Bottle
1️⃣ Start with a Beautiful Bottle. Your Infinity Bottle deserves a proper home. A gorgeous decanter? A repurposed, beloved bottle? Something with a fancy label you design yourself? Yes, yes, and yes.
2️⃣ Add Wisely (Or Don’t). Want to keep it classic? Stick to bourbon with bourbon, rye with rye. Feeling bold? Throw in a little bit of everything and embrace the chaos.
3️⃣ Decide to Document (or Not). Some people add a list of all the pours added to their bottles, others like to just pour and taste. You can use a sticker label on the decanter, or a separate list/notebook, however fancy you like to be.
4️⃣ Sip, Enjoy, Repeat. The more you add, the more your Infinity Bottle evolves. It’s an ever-changing, never-ending whiskey story—one only you can tell.
For our Bourbon Women at SIPosium, remember: any leftover whiskey from a tasting doesn’t have to be wasted. It can live on in your Infinity Bottle, carrying the flavors (and memories) of every pour in the bottle from each year.
Now, go forth and blend like the whiskey-loving rebels you are.