Musty Beam, 100 months old

[emr454]

Hi all. I just found an old Jim Beam decanter from 1970 that has 100 month old bourbon in it. It seems the cork didnt seal very well and it got some air in it. It smells and kinda tastes musty. I poured the bourbon into a clean quart size mason jar. Will this smell and taste go away after a while? Does it just need to breathe some more? Thanks in advance.

Eric

[Dr. François]

Sounds like too much breathing caused the problem to begin with. I think it's a bust.

Sorry...

[emr454]

Then Im guessing it isnt suitable for consumption at all. Not even cooking with?

Eric

[Stu]

Then Im guessing it isnt suitable for consumption at all. Not even cooking with?

Eric

Bad guess. When my Dad died several years ago he had a collection of Beam bottles (full). That's when my interest in bourbon started. I've always loved that non domestic stuff. Several of his bottles were only part full and there was a bell music bottle decanter that was 150 months old and full. I thought it was terrific. The 100 month old bottles that were full were good as well. Some of the tainted bottles were drinkable, but apparently yours is not one of those. They still went well for mixing. I have friends who like to flavor cola or 7 up with whiskey, and they enjoyed it. My wife and I used some of it for "Kentucky coffee" (Irish coffee substituting bourbon for Irish whiskey) and "Kentucky tea" (bourbon with fresh chocolate mint leaves soaked into it and served over ice) and it was good for that. I would definitely not have hesitated to use it for cooking or in a B-B-Q sauce. But I never use Small batch, single barrel, or any other premium whiskey (or wine) for cooking anyway. If you're going to throw it away, throw it my way.

[emr454]

Stu,

Do you have any good BBQ sauce recipes you'd be willing to share?

Eric