Empty Bourbon Bottles

[DrinkyBanjo]

Is there any value in empty Bourbon bottles? I have been keeping a few of them, Antique Collection etc, and I realized that as nice as they are they take up a lot of space.

Is it worth it or should I toss them?

[gr8erdane]

Value is subjective. Most bottle collectors I know of at this point in time look for old bottles from obscure sources. Maybe if you took your collection and stored them in the attic until you're in your 80's they might prove to be worth something, but outside of personal sentiment I'd have to say they aren't worth much at the present as they are pretty common at this point and time.

[bluesbassdad]

Dane,

I tend to agree with you in the main.

However, I now wish I'd saved at least one empty Kentucky Spirit bottle back when they had the pewter stopper.

Who knows, maybe someday I'll regret not saving the Old Whiskey River bottle, or at least the guitar pick.

Yours truly,
Dave Morefield

[dougdog]

Plenty of WT KY Spirit bottles with pewter tops on the shelves out here in Cal....

[TNbourbon]

I keep unique bottles -- e.g., some Michter's decanters, a Ridge"wood" Reserve 1792 -- or ones for rarer bourbons I might not own again, such as the green-bottle Lawrenceburg Pappy 23.
I'll probably only keep the label from the Frankfort Pappy 23, as is the case from the first bottle of most brands I open.

[cowdery]

If you are keeping them solely in the hope of making money off of them someday, give it up. Recycle them tomorrow. If, however, you keep them because they give you pleasure, allow me to validate your impulse.

[musher]

I recycle the bottles (ok, so I've been keeping the Rock Hill Farms bottles, and one OFBB due to its uniqueness) but I have a little box where I keep the cork stoppers. That way, I have a visual reminder of just how much bourbon I'm going through, http://www.straightbourbon.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif and I have a ready supply of various sized stoppers, in case I get a bad on in a bottle.

[NorCalBoozer]

Tim, do you remove the labels off the bottles, not sure if i was reading that right??

It would be a great idea to be able to save the labels that could possibly put in an album as a 'history' of what you have tasted without the bulk of the bottle.

how do you get the labels off?? steam them or heat?

Greg

[NeoTexan]

Tim,
Have you seen this product for removing and keeping labels? I've never tried but it looks interesting.

Wine Enthusiast (http://www.wineenthusiast.com/E/details.asp?Ep=An/0//A/283&uid=AD414BCE%2DC575%2D43D0%2D9B8F%2DA24279ACD425)

[TNbourbon]

Tim, do you remove the labels off the bottles, not sure if i was reading that right??

It would be a great idea to be able to save the labels that could possibly put in an album as a 'history' of what you have tasted without the bulk of the bottle.

how do you get the labels off?? steam them or heat?

Greg



Yes, in most cases a few minutes submerged in the water in the sink will either spontaneously remove the label intact, or leave you with only careful peeling. (Only the EWSB labels have stumped me so far. http://www.straightbourbon.com/forums/images/graemlins/skep.gif Must be the hand-application.)
Then just air-dry.


Tim,
Have you seen this product for removing and keeping labels? I've never tried but it looks interesting.

Wine Enthusiast (http://www.wineenthusiast.com/E/details.asp?Ep=An/0//A/283&uid=AD414BCE%2DC575%2D43D0%2D9B8F%2DA24279ACD425)


I've seen it Dale, but -- except for the EWSB bottles noted above -- haven't needed it. Temptation will probably get the better of me eventually, though.

[NorCalBoozer]

thanks for the great idea! this is something i am going to do so I can save my labels.

[gr8erdane]

Something else to think about is what I am currently doing with my empty bottle's labels. I'm mounting them in picture fremes to display around my home bar. Will post a pic when the project is done. I'm using triple picture frames so it takes me three labels per. I want to try to do a triple mounting for each distillery if I can.

[boone]

Only the EWSB labels have stumped me so far. Must be the hand-application.)




The EWSB labels are (PS) Pressure Sensitive. Not a white glue application. They look like a regular paper label but it's the peel and stick type http://www.straightbourbon.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Bettye Jo

[TNbourbon]

The EWSB labels are (PS) Pressure Sensitive. Not a white glue application. They look like a regular paper label but it's the peel and stick type http://www.straightbourbon.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Bettye Jo



Well, Bettye Jo, my experience so far is that they stick real good! http://www.straightbourbon.com/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif

[chasking]

Have you seen this product for removing and keeping labels? I've never tried but it looks interesting.



I've used that or something very similar. Sam's sells packets of them. Sometimes getting the label to delaminate without tearing can be tricky, but I've had reasonable success removing labels, which can then just be stuck to a sheet of paper and saved in a binder.

I tried soaking in water and heat, and neither worked very well. Although not perfect, the adhesive sheets are the best solution I've seen so far.

[camduncan]

I'm mounting them in picture fremes to display around my home bar.



Now Dane, that is a mighty fine idea that I might have to adopt, and a great way to showcase some of the rarer (not available Downunder), now empty bottles http://www.straightbourbon.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif

[DrinkyBanjo]

For now I keep because I like. Now I have realized that I can put full bottles where the empty bottle currently reside.

I'm sure you all understand my dilema!

[kbuzbee]

The EWSB labels are (PS) Pressure Sensitive. Not a white glue application. They look like a regular paper label but it's the peel and stick type http://www.straightbourbon.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Bettye Jo



Well, Bettye Jo, my experience so far is that they stick real good! http://www.straightbourbon.com/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif



Tim, have you tried hitting them with a hair dryer or a heat gun???

Ken

[TNbourbon]

Tim, have you tried hitting them with a hair dryer or a heat gun???
Ken



Guess I'll try that next. I HAVE thought about hitting them with a hammer http://www.straightbourbon.com/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif-- and trying to peel the glass off the paper.

[kbuzbee]

Tim, have you tried hitting them with a hair dryer or a heat gun???
Ken



Guess I'll try that next. I HAVE thought about hitting them with a hammer http://www.straightbourbon.com/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif-- and trying to peel the glass off the paper.



Actually that's probably a workable idea if you could do it in a VERY controlled way (ie - shatter the glass without tearing the label) Maybe something like a tuning fork (or an opera singer if you have one handy http://www.straightbourbon.com/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif). If you only left glass dust attached to the adhesive, you should be fine.

Or..... how about using a dremel to grind the glass off the back?? I know, freaky ideas.

Ken

[barturtle]

Not only a good way to showcase the whiskey, but also you could have the people who help you drink it sign the label (along with opening/emptying dates). I just realized how cool this would be when someone mentioned how much more important the memories were than the full bottle sitting on your shelf.

[JamesH007]

I used to have a liquor bottle collection in college, as any bottle of liquor was quite special (although most were Beam Bourbon 4&7). I still have some of the Bourbon bottles, but everything else has gone to make way more special bottless. They make great decorations for the tops of your kitchen cabinits (especially if your not married) :)

[plaidford]

I keep a few of the larger, 1.75L bottles around for egg nog each Thanksgiving/Christmas.

I make a batch (about 6 liters) and store it in the bourbon bottles in the fridge. Then it's ready to take to holiday parties that way and look kinda neat. The Maker's bottles with Red wax look good/festive with the egg nog.

[wku88]

Actually, I keep a 1792 bottle around just for a decanter for the lower priced stuff that come in the pedestrian bottles. It's neat looking, and heavy. I also think it is an attractive bottle, even if the stuff inside originally is overshadowed by it's lower priced siblings.