Paper or Plastic?

[sotnsipper]

Seems to be a common question at the local grocery store. I am asking, glass or plastic? Does anyone ever find a good bourbon in a plastic bottle? I was shopping yesterday and was considering picking up some Ancient Age 80 (not the AAA I am really wanting to try) and it was in a plastic bottle. That got me thinking. I started looking around for other plastic bottles. Only found a couple more, Old Heaven Hill BIB, Ezra Brooks, and a couple more I cannot remember. I do remember a year or so ago I picked up some EW BIB in a 1.75 plastic bottle. I had picked up a little glass bottle previously and really liked it. I cracked open the plastic bottle and was very disappointed. Maybe it was just a bad bottle but it has forever turned me against buying another plastic bottle. I had to pass on the AA and I picked up a bottle (glass) of EC12 that I have never tried and a bottle (also glass) of FC that I have not had in a while. Looking forward to the EC12!!

[p_elliott]

I have never ran across a bourbon in plastic bottle but pop has never tasted the same since they went from glass to plastic bottles.

[kickert]

I enjoy Benchmark and it often comes from a plastic container. It isn't going to win any awards, but it is not swill and I would be glad to find it in my glass.

[sotnsipper]

I enjoy Benchmark and it often comes from a plastic container. It isn't going to win any awards, but it is not swill and I would be glad to find it in my glass.

I cannot recall ever seeing Benchmark in my area. Have you tried it from a glass bottle? If so, can you tell a difference? I have noticed that the plastic bottles I run across are the 1.75 size. They usually offer the 5th or liter in glass. This is what I experienced with the EW BIB anyway. Loved the glass, wish I never bought the plastic.

[sotnsipper]

I have never ran across a bourbon in plastic bottle but pop has never tasted the same since they went from glass to plastic bottles.

They are usually on the bottom shelf around here (TN). I know what you are saying about the "pop" (we call everything coke around here:grin:). There is nothing like an old glass bottle. I think Coke still puts out the glass bottles from time to time, usually around Christmas time here.

[shannichols]

I would offer up that the reason why Coke tastes different from the plastic versus the glass is that the glass ones coontain Coke that is made with good old fashioned sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup.

To the original question I have not had any bourbon from a pastic bottle though I have had whiskey in plastic. I wouldn't say I was a fan but it was also bottom of the barrell stuff that was more of a complaint agaiinst the whiskey itself and not the bottle it came in.

[barturtle]

I would offer up that the reason why Coke tastes different from the plastic versus the glass is that the glass ones coontain Coke that is made with good old fashioned sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup.

To the original question I have not had any bourbon from a pastic bottle though I have had whiskey in plastic. I wouldn't say I was a fan but it was also bottom of the barrell stuff that was more of a complaint agaiinst the whiskey itself and not the bottle it came in.

Going off topic a bit, but: In many areas (the South for sure) during the holidays Coke puts out little 7-9oz glass bottles, these are the same HFCS crap as the stuff in cans and plastic bottles. For real sugar, look to stuff made outside the USA; Mexico, Europe for sure still use sugar.

As far as bourbon goes, plastic is a problem. Part of it is that most distillers only put the lowest end stuff in it, the other part is that some types of plastic allow light to pass even better than glass, thus letting more light in to help alter the contents of the bottle.

[sotnsipper]

Benchmark isn't going to win any awards.

You spoke too soon, check out the link....:slappin:

http://www.whiskymerchants.co.uk/#/btlimited/4522112792

And now I want some......

[kickert]

You spoke too soon, check out the link....:slappin:

http://www.whiskymerchants.co.uk/#/btlimited/4522112792

And now I want some......

I believe that is a bit misleading. IIRC that award came when Benchmark was still 8 years old before it went NAS.

[sotnsipper]

I believe that is a bit misleading.

It was a joke......

[sotnsipper]

As far as bourbon goes, plastic is a problem. Part of it is that most distillers only put the lowest end stuff in it, the other part is that some types of plastic allow light to pass even better than glass, thus letting more light in to help alter the contents of the bottle.

That was another thought I had, the plastic bottles were left for the bottom of the barrel stuff(no pun intended). This is not to say that bad bourbon can not be put in a glass bottle either, but that is a whole other thread.....Like I said, the EW BIB I tried from the glass bottle was wonderful. It is hard to find around here so the next time I saw it, I got the big bottle, plastic. Never again.

[kickert]

It was a joke......

I am a bit slow on the uptake...

I will unashamedly endorse Benchmark. For me, it is the best under $15 80 proof bourbon.

[sotnsipper]

I will unashamedly endorse Benchmark. For me, it is the best under $15 80 proof bourbon.

I will definitely have to find some in my area, if it is available. EW black label is usually my inexpensive pour. I am always looking for new stuff to try! Thanks for the suggestion.

[craigthom]

I've seen WT101 in plastic bottles. I think they call it a the "Traveler" bottle or something like that.

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) isn't likely to affect the flavor on the contained liquid. It differs from glass in three ways that are likely to affect the contents: as barturtle mentioned, it isn't as good a UV filter; it isn't as good an insulator; and it is more gas-permeable. It would probably take a good bit of time for any of these to affect the whiskey inside.

As far as Coke with sugar goes, we are approaching Passover, when kosher Coke is available. It's made with cane sugar. Look for the little K-in-a-circle mark.

My brother says he prefers Coke with HFCS, but he works on the corner of North and Luckie, so I don't take him too seriously.

[kickert]

We go to the hispanic district of Bowling Green just to get the Mexican produced CocaCola with real sugar.

[kpendle]

Handles of AAA 10yo come in plastic. I certainly would not call them bottom shelf and would not hesitate to buy them. Cost wise they are certainly more expensive than many things that are in glass. Last time I was in Ky. visiting I picked up some on sale at Rite-Aid. But that 1.75 liter bottle is a little large for regular use so I decant it into another smaller bottle.

Basically I don't have a problem with plastic. I don't think I am fond of it for long term storage but I think it should be ok with some extra care. I have seen some plastic bottles containing vodka that were in storage for around 15-20 years from a liquor store that closed and were used to stock a new store the owner opened later. It appeared the heat cycles from the storage locker did a number on them. The bottles were distinctly mishaped. Those heat cycles did not appear to do any damage to the vintage OGD114 and WT 8yo's I got there and shared with my East Bay Study Group buddies. They tasted mighty fine when we tried them in our WT and OGD sessions.

Ken

[gothbat]

Years ago I bought a 1.75 litre bottle of Old Crow in a plastic but that was just because it was so cheap. It's the only time I bought something in plastic and also the only time I bought Old Crow so I don't know if it tasted different but I don't really intend to buy anything else in plastic that I can get in glass. It's just unappealing to see liquor in a plastic bottle, probably because I associate the plastic bottle with all the cheap handles of vodka we drank back in college.

I'm pretty sure that you can get Old Forrester and, possibly, Jim Beam in plastic; thats all I've ever seen or heard of aside from those already mentioned.

[sotnsipper]

It's just unappealing to see liquor in a plastic bottle, probably because I associate the plastic bottle with all the cheap handles of vodka we drank back in college.

Reason #2 why I stay away from plastics. Plastic = cheap(usually)

[bvscfanatic]

I am NOT a top shelf drinker. There are prices that I simply will not pay for bourbon, remarkable as some of it might be, and much as it may be worth the higher price. I have other priorities. Bulleit or EC 12 or Weller Antique or OGD 114 are my idea of splurging on good bourbon, as opposed to buying Old Forester or Fighting Cock or Very Old Barton BIB, which I also enjoy when I'm feeling cheap.

That said, I have made it a rule never to buy bourbon in a plastic bottle. Period. I won't do it.

[onmytrack]

As far as Coke with sugar goes, we are approaching Passover, when kosher Coke is available. It's made with cane sugar. Look for the little K-in-a-circle mark.

Off Topic, but thanks for the tip, I'll look for it. I've always enjoyed the taste of a real coke (sugar not HFCS) when in Mexico, however the last time I was there the can said HFCS.

Jim

[fishnbowljoe]

Just for s**ts and giggles, I bought a plastic 1.75 liter of Gran Legacy at a CVS a few months ago. IIRC it was on sale for $16 or $18. I think that it is a somewhat generic, rather young, bulk bourbon, probably made by HH. It does pass as bourbon, but barely. It will do in a pinch. Like say, if the rest of my bourbon disappears.:skep: Joe

[craigthom]

We learned in another thread that Jim Beam white is also bottle in plastic in both 750ml and 1.75l sized.

[Stu]

I bought some plastic jugs just to get the empty jugs for traveling. I don't keep whiskey in them for more that a week or two while traveling. I've never noticed them tainting the whiskey. I even bought a 200ml and 375 plastics to keep in the tool box of my 4 wheeler when on cross country trips. My hang up is I don't like to drink from plastic, consequently I carry a couple of old heavy glass jelly jars to drink from. I admit it's just a hang up, but I noticed some of you admit to having hang ups about plastic jugs. I can see that if the whisky was in the plastic too long it could affect the flavor, but it really doesn't seem to bother it for short periods. Actually I notice more of a change from my metal flasks and they are harder to fill.

[trx450]

I bought some plastic jugs just to get the empty jugs for traveling. I don't keep whiskey in them for more that a week or two while traveling. I've never noticed them tainting the whiskey. I even bought a 200ml and 375 plastics to keep in the tool box of my 4 wheeler when on cross country trips. My hang up is I don't like to drink from plastic, consequently I carry a couple of old heavy glass jelly jars to drink from. I admit it's just a hang up, but I noticed some of you admit to having hang ups about plastic jugs. I can see that if the whisky was in the plastic too long it could affect the flavor, but it really doesn't seem to bother it for short periods. Actually I notice more of a change from my metal flasks and they are harder to fill.

You'e made some very good points about plastic.There are a bunch of reasons as to why distilleries use plastic instead of glass.

1. the cost of plastic is much cheaper than glass.
   
2. weight.I work in shipping for Jim Beam and i can tell you 1st hand that a case of 1.75 liter plastic is much lighter than a case of glass 750's.This also goes back to #1 less weight equals less freight charge.
   
3. Most liquor that is bottled in plastic is considered quick movers and will be used quickly as Stu mentioned a few weeks or so.
   
4. Stu also mentioned travel,which is why the traveler bottle was created.Plastic is much easier to travel with than packing away a glass bottle.Great for quick trips and vacations!

[Buffalo Bill]

I have never ran across a bourbon in plastic bottle but pop has never tasted the same since they went from glass to plastic bottles.

Great thread. I agree completely... pop in plastic doesn't cut it, neither does beer. It may be cheaper to manufacture and ship, but isn't the same animal thereafter. And I get a real kick out of beer companies stating that beer stays colder/longer in plastic - who's the marketing genius that came up with that line? Let's see how gullible the consumer is... or perhaps they have scientific proof to back it up? Ah... I don't think so.

***By the way - have I seen Knob Creek 50ml's going to plastic recently, or was it a hallucination? If so, I have to get some more of the glass because they're great to re-use for travel, and the labels peel off easily under hot water. BB