Plastic cap/cork

[mrviognier]

One significant difference between whiskey and wine corks is; whiskey should allways be stored upright, wine on its side.

I don't know about that...if the whiskey is cork-finished AND you plan to store it unopened for more than a year, I'd suggest storing it on its side.

[AaronWF]

I don't know about that...if the whiskey is cork-finished AND you plan to store it unopened for more than a year, I'd suggest storing it on its side.

I learned the hard way never to store whiskey on its side; not even overnight. A bottle of WLW '10 was on its side for maybe 10 hours in my cabinet before I noticed the cork had badly warped and began leaking the whiskey. I think it was laid side by side with an ER17, and that had no problem. My research has indicated that the higher proof whiskeys can eat right through even a good cork.

I don't know if it was Cowdery's blog or some other blog that referenced alcohol content, but I'll never store another bottle of whiskey on its side again. Not even on the ride home from the liquor store.

[callmeox]

I don't know about that...if the whiskey is cork-finished AND you plan to store it unopened for more than a year, I'd suggest storing it on its side.

That is very bad advice.

[mrviognier]

Hmmm. Never had a problem with long-term storage...but, of course, I'm not setting it @ 90 degrees...just tilt it over enough to keep the cork wet. And this is for long-term storage only.

[sailor22]

I don't know about that...if the whiskey is cork-finished AND you plan to store it unopened for more than a year, I'd suggest storing it on its side.

Maybe if you open it in a few months that will be OK but for any period of time much longer than that I would say you greatly increase your chances of producing a cork tainted bottle.

I have had problems with a few corks and run across numerous dusties that were cork tainted. Never had a problem with a screw top no matter how old the juice. Never had a problem with a synthetic cork.

[bgageus]

I had heard somwhere, maybe it was on a distillery tour somewhere, that the high alcohol content will break down synthetic corks, and they should be only used for wine. That was the rationalle given for using real cork by whoever told me that. I took it with a grain of salt and have not been able to confim the statement, but I have had high alcohol spirits with a synthetic cork no problem.

I wish I could remember who told me that.

[mrviognier]

Never had a problem with a screw top no matter how old the juice. Never had a problem with a synthetic cork.

Hence the industry term, "Screwed for GOOD" :grin:

[White Dog]

Hmmm. Never had a problem with long-term storage...but, of course, I'm not setting it @ 90 degrees...just tilt it over enough to keep the cork wet. And this is for long-term storage only.

[callmeox]

I doubt that the combination of spirits and dissolved glue and cork is tasty.

[bgast1]

So then, if corks tend to fail, why don't they all go for plastic caps instead or is it an 'image' sort of thing?

[mrviognier]

???? The corks that are being discussed in regards to Whiskey are T-corks, which should never be stored on their sides, not even those sometimes used on Sherry or Port. Any bottle sealed with a regular wine cork may be placed on it's side, but never a T-cork. They will fail.

Sorry, guys...I was talking about CORKED bottles, not T-Corks. My bad.

[craigthom]

So then, if corks tend to fail, why don't they all go for plastic caps instead or is it an 'image' sort of thing?

Absolutely an image thing, especially with wine. Producers don't think anyone is going to pay over $20 for wine with a screw cap, and I think they are right.

Corks are more expensive and make poorer seals.

[ebo]

Absolutely an image thing, especially with wine. Producers don't think anyone is going to pay over $20 for wine with a screw cap, and I think they are right.

Corks are more expensive and make poorer seals.

Yep... but it makes superior fishing rod grips. :grin:

[mrviognier]

Absolutely an image thing, especially with wine. Producers don't think anyone is going to pay over $20 for wine with a screw cap, and I think they are right.

Corks are more expensive and make poorer seals.

Nobody will pay for a BAD +$20 screwcap wine. There are PLENTY of wines over $20 that are screwcapped and sell just fine, thank you.

Today the hesitation for screwcaps is more an issue for producers of wines below $8. For them, it's an image thing...they don't want their cheap wines looking, um, cheap.