Broken cap?

[wave_jay]

I have an sealed bottle where the plastic cap has separated from the cork. The original foil seal is still intact, but can be spun with the cap portion. If smelled closely, there is an aroma of the bourbon.

- Do I keep as is until I plan on drinking?

- Do I open and try and remove cork and then reseal?

[kickert]

No worries at all. As long as you are planning on drinking it in the next 5 years, I think you will be okay.

[p_elliott]

Ben is smarter than me and worked in the business but if it were me I'd pull the cork and put in a new one.

[squire]

I agree with Paul, recork or decant it into another container.

[SFS]

You guys have taught me something else. When I kill a bottle, save the top. It may come in handy later.

Should have thought of that as soon as I moved the OGD114 to a different bottle (the huge cork was driving me nuts). Plus, I can see that other bottles are going to present storage issues (Willetts, OFBB to name a couple), thereby requiring rebottling.

[kickert]

The cap itself doesn't really provide any protection. I would worry much more about the booze smell than the cap. If you are smelling alcohol then the cork isn't sealing well. It is possible the cork was bad and alcohol got out and broke down the glue on the cap.

One of the major producers of caps/corks (Tapi) had a significant issue with their products about 3 years ago. It is possible, you got some from that batch.

[fishnbowljoe]

You guys have taught me something else. When I kill a bottle, save the top. It may come in handy later./QUOTE]

I save almost all the tops from the bottles I finish. I have one bag for cork tops, and another for screw on caps. This has come in handy more than once. I've had a couple of corks disintegrate, plus I've been able to help a couple of other members in need. Another good idea would be to keep at least a couple of empty bottles on hand in case you need to decant something. I like the ETL bottles. They're short and compact. They make finding a spot on the shelf or in the cabinet much easier.

[wave_jay]

Yeah my problem is that it's an old sealed AH Hirsch 16yo that I was hoping to save. I know it was stored on it's side (not by me, but that's how I found it) because the previous owner assumed that if on it's side is good for wine, then he should do the same with the Hirsch.

My guess is that the bourbon broke down the cork.

I can see about a 1/4" volume loss when I compare it to another bottle. In order to keep the foil seal intact I actually thought of placing a balloon ober the entire top of the bottle. This I think may stop any vapor from escaping and wouldn't damage the foil seal.

Thoughts?

[ChainWhip]

I like the ETL bottles. They're short and compact. They make finding a spot on the shelf or in the cabinet much easier.

I've been saving Aha Toro bottles for this same reason (Corzo as well) - the 375ml bottles are great.

[MauiSon]

I only save screw-on bottles for rebottling - why re-introduce potentially problematical cork? Also, screw-ons usually pour without a dribble. If you have a lot of opens, I guess it's easier to stick with the original bottle.

Edited January 24, 2013 by MauiSon

[SFS]

This is a nice point about the bottles with screw-on lids, I prefer them simply for ease of use (can't comment on the dribble issue, but I'll watch from now on). As a chemist, I've had a lifetime of never pouring something back into a bottle, but I'll have to get over that, because some of these bottles are just a pain (but worth it of course)!

[squire]

They sure are Ray, a friend once gifted me a 1.75 of Elijah Craig which had perhaps the largest cork I've ever wrestled with. Decanted that thing into smaller containers and used that big A bottle at the office to hold change.