What NOT to Do With Your First Bottle

Don’t Rush the Ritual

You’ve got your Deer Jimmy’s® bottle. You’ve picked your spirit. You’re ready to roll. The temptation? To fill it, forget it, and crack it open two days later expecting liquid gold. But aging takes time — even on chips. If you go in too fast, you’re only scratching the surface. Patience isn’t just a suggestion here. It’s the secret ingredient.

Don’t Hide It in the Wrong Spot

Storage matters. If you leave your bottle in direct sunlight, next to the oven, or on top of the fridge, you’re not aging — you’re cooking. Too much heat messes with the balance and may even distort the flavor. Too much light can dull the spirit. Pick a spot that’s cool, dark, and consistent. A kitchen cabinet is good. A quiet basement is better. A windowsill is not.

Don’t Shake It

We get it — those chips look exciting, and you want to “help” the process. But this isn’t juice concentrate. Shaking the bottle adds nothing. The alcohol is already doing the work, pulling flavor from the oak day by day. Stirring it up just makes things cloudy. Let the wood and time do what they do best — without your intervention.

Don’t Overdo It

More time isn’t always better. Especially with strong woods like Islay or brandy oak, leaving your spirit on the chips for too long can lead to bitterness or harsh tannins. Keep checking in. Use your nose, your eyes, and your taste. When it feels balanced, round and full — that’s your moment. Trust it.

Don’t Be Too Precious

Yes, you made it. Yes, it’s personal. But don’t be afraid to pour it, mix it, share it. Your first batch is part experiment, part experience. If it turns out amazing — pour with pride. If it’s just okay — learn and go again. The real mistake? Treating your bottle like it’s too sacred to open. That’s not the Deer Jimmy’s® way. You made a legend. Now drink it.