Plastic cap/cork

[bgast1]

This is probably a very dumb question to many of you, but my curiosity has been piqued. Does a plastic cap instead of a cork mean that the bourbon is lower quality than a bottle that comes with a cork?

I just bought a bottle of Old Weller Antique that came with a plastic cap and I thought that it was pretty good bourbon and have heard/read here that it may even be better than Maker's Mark.

[White Dog]

The purpose of a seal is to keep out the air, nothing more or less. If real cork is used, I hate it when it crumbles. Synthetic cork can be a pain when they're tough to remove or put back in. Haven't seen any Bourbons using glass stoppers(Vino-Lock), but I love 'em. Screw caps, while not sexy to most, are very reliable.

As for quality of the contents, it has no bearing, although natural cork is used more on the high-end.

And I agree that Weller spanks MM right off the table.

[BradleyC]

OWA is a whole lot better than MM. In my opinion, cap vs. cork is just a marketing ploy. Plastic caps work better, last longer, and are much more reliable. Corks look nicer. There are some really good whiskies with caps and some mediocre at best bottlings with corks.

[bgast1]

Thanks for the reply. Since this is my thread and I mentioned the Old Weller Antique I would like to also ask which would be considered better (general consensus since it is entirely subjective), the OWA or the Special Reserve. I had both in my hand last night and settled on the OWA.

[Parkersback]

Thanks for the reply. Since this is my thread and I mentioned the Old Weller Antique I would like to also ask which would be considered better (general consensus since it is entirely subjective), the OWA or the Special Reserve. I had both in my hand last night and settled on the OWA.

It's the exact same bourbon at different proofs.

I think Bradley C's comments on plastic vs. cork are spot on. I mean, these are sub-$25 bottles, but some of my favorite bottles in the world (RittBIB, OGDBIB and Weller 12) are plastic screw top.

[White Dog]

Thanks for the reply. Since this is my thread and I mentioned the Old Weller Antique I would like to also ask which would be considered better (general consensus since it is entirely subjective), the OWA or the Special Reserve. I had both in my hand last night and settled on the OWA.

If BT is telling the truth when they say Antique is still a 7yr, then the only real difference is proof. Sometimes I take my Antique neat, and sometimes I cut it a bit. I never cut SR, but I love both. If you can find Weller 12, buy it. Outstanding value, although I'm sure that every SB'r wishes it was 107, or at least 100 proof.

But the only way for you to really know is to buy every damn Bourbon, and Rye, and try them all. That's what I do.

[mrviognier]

The idea of stuffing a piece of tree bark in a bottle of anything is an idea that needs to go away. It's bad for wine and for spirits. Anyone who says otherwise doesn't know what they're talking about.

So There.

Okay...I'll climb down from my soap box.

[bgast1]

Very limited budget. After being out of work for a year, I just landed a part time seasonal job.

I generally drink Evan Williams Black -- it is cheap. After hearing a great deal about Weller I decided to celebrate the job and my 30th wedding anniversary with OWA last night. I would have loved to get that Pappy I saw sitting in locked glass shelf, but at $99.00 it was waaay to rich for my budget. Even Knob Creek, which I want to try is too rich for me right now.

Thanks for the tips on how to drink the Wellers. I started off drinking the OWG neat, but found I enjoyed it more with the addition of 3 ice cubes. I never mix my whisk(e)y's except with plain tap water. I am still a beginner.

[Parkersback]

I generally drink Evan Williams Black -- it is cheap.

It's also good. There's no shame in EWB.

[White Dog]

For budget drinking, try some OGD BIB or 114. And since you're in Illinois, you can also get VOB BIB. Give 'em a whirl.