Whiskey Junction

“My collection is definitely not just for show,” says Yosi Yahoudai, a PI plaintiff’s attorney at J&Y Law in Century City. “Those bottles are meant to be enjoyed.”

Yahoudai is talking about whiskey—with a preference toward bourbon—and he’s got quite the curated collection: about 100 different bottles to share with guests. “Every single one means something to me,” he says. “I collect more for the history, the craft, and the stories behind each bottle. No two whiskeys are exactly alike, which makes every bottle a true one-of-one.”

Yahoudai’s journey began shortly after law school. “My brother-in-law poured me a dram of a small batch bourbon, and I’ll admit, the first sip hit like a deep punch, sharp and overwhelming,” he says. “But over time, sharing drinks with friends and colleagues, I learned to savor the complexity: from the burn to the subtle notes of vanilla and leather.”

One bottle became his holy grail: Pappy Van Winkle 23. “It’s the oldest in the Pappy line, aged for 23 years, and it’s legendary for being rich and unbelievably smooth. There’s nothing else quite like it. It took me nearly a decade to track one down. I built relationships, stayed in touch with store owners and collectors. Then one day, I got the call from a store owner—someone I once helped with a business dispute. He’d set aside a bottle from their allocation as a thank-you, which felt like winning a case and a trophy all at once.”

As for the obvious bartender question? “I realize I will get criticism for this, and it may be well-deserved, but I’m a huge rocks guy—specifically one massive square block of ice. … That single, slow melting block chills the drink perfectly without diluting the taste, letting every note of a fine bourbon shine through from first sip to last.”