Leaching of Lead into Whiskey from Ceramic Decanter Glazing

[Special Reserve]

12 hours ago, TuronTuffy said:

March 26/2020... Just received results from testing a sample of a 1970 Old Fitzgerald BIB 'Blarney Bottle'.  Performed by the Chemistry Department of Texas A&M Commerce, directed by Dr. Laurence Angel, Professor of Chemistry, who states the analysis determined a lead concentration of 4.4 ppm (parts per million) which is about 300 times higher than the 15 ppb (parts per billion) EPA standard for drinking water.  So the lead value is high and indicates paint from the porcelain decanter has contaminated the bourbon. 

TuronTuffy - Great first post.  Welcome.

[B.B. Babington]

I'd have to take sip or 3 to see what that Fitzgerald was like.  Pretty bottle!

 

Maybe lead overrated, I ate lead paint chips as little kid (not kidding), and doing okay.  I had an old mug that gave coffee an extra creamy taste, could even see glisteny metallic film on coffee surface.  Only had 4 or 5 drinks from that mug.

 

Though I'm making light, lead is best avoided.  But I would sample the Fitz.  Like the guy at the wrong end of Dirty Harry's .44 wondering if it was 5 or 6.  "I just gots to know."