Particles in Dusty Finds Bottle

[Sweetmeats]

This weekend, I found a tax stamp bottle of Ancient Age 86. I was really excited. When I got it home, I held it up to the light and noticed there were particles floating in it. I shook the bottle a few times and now the particles are all gone. It seems to taste fine, but I’m a little freaked out by what the particles could have been. Is this normal? Am I worried for no reason?

[etohchem]

Most likely what you saw were fatty acids and proteins. Some distillers chill filter their products to remove these, as they pose an unwelcome appearance. They are not harmful but, some contend, actually add some flavor to the spirit. When you shook/stirred your bottle the proteins broke their weak connections and went back into solution. On uncut/unfiltered products such as Stagg or Booker’s adding ice or refrigerating your bottle will cause this haze to show up. Older bottles, even those that have been chill filtered, that are left undisturbed will get this “particulate” look as the fatty acids find each other and form loosely bonded chains. It should be of no concern.

[gr8erdane]

I wonder if this would give the bourbon a more "chewy" mouthfeel as well? I always figured bourbon would constitute many of the essential food groups.......

[jeff]

I wonder if this would give the bourbon a more "chewy" mouthfeel as well? I always figured bourbon would constitute many of the essential food groups.......

They should market such bourbons as "Chunky-Style" and "The bourbon that drinks like a meal."

[gr8erdane]

Nuff Sed

[boone]

Ya know...those "open" cypress fermenters?...

Ya know ...how the windows were open sometimes and the doors? Ya know?...

I bethcha...that birds (and flies) fly in from time to time...I betcha...

I betcha...sometimes they might get a little too close...I betcha...

I betcha they havta '"POOP" sometime too...Hmmmmmmmm...

I betcha at one time it mighta be just a tad bit chunky

Bettye Jo

[pepcycle]

In the words of Austin Powers (or something close)
"Taste Kind of Nutty"
Ed

[CrispyCritter]

With Stagg at least, you also have the char particles. I've noticed that the pours get darker as I approach the bottom of the bottle.

"Charcoal-grilled" bourbon, anyone?

[Sweetmeats]

Thanks for the help. It has actually turned out to be quite good. It still feels a little weird drinking bourbon that was probably made before I was born though.