To Breathe or not to Breathe ?

[dSculptor]

Hey guys, What do you think? My buddy & I were just sitting here doing a EC run up to 21, (which I'll post our notes soon)WE were wondering if you put a premium bottle , (or guess it doesn't have to be premium),on the table for the night, do you think that leaving it open for the night is better than corking it every time? So many pours improve so much when you let 'em breathe, I would think that leaving the bottle open would provide a better pour immediately, but would it effect the remainder of the contents?

What say ye?

[393foureyedfox]

Hey guys, What do you think? My buddy & I were just sitting here doing a EC run up to 21, (which I'll post our notes soon)WE were wondering if you put a premium bottle , (or guess it doesn't have to be premium),on the table for the night, do you think that leaving it open for the night is better than corking it every time? So many pours improve so much when you let 'em breathe, I would think that leaving the bottle open would provide a better pour immediately, but would it effect the remainder of the contents?

What say ye?

[Paddy]

My preference is to let the drink rest in the glass rather than take a chance on the whole bottle.

[MauiSon]

I've never left a bottle open and, yes, often a bottle only starts tasting really fine after it's more than 1/2 empty and that's a darn shame. Playing it safe sometimes causes the 'loss' of half a bottle's pleasure.

[Guest]

I have a few crystal decanters kicking about so if I find a bottle particularly tight after opening I will decant half the bottle, usually I give it a few days before I go back to it.

[squire]

Leaving a bottle sitting around open is a violation of Murphy's Law.

[GaryT]

I cap after every pour, unless the bottle is being actively passed around. If it falls over, don't want to lose it just for the chance of giving it air.

[T Comp]

I just woke up but now I am exhausted...been discussed already so many times.

[Restaurant man]

It's not the "breathing science" that cracks me up. It's the rituals :(laugh) (smile) ROFL

'First I open the bottle. 30 seconds pass. Then I pour my glass and quickly dump it back in. Then I simply rest the bottle for a month and what previously tasted like banana flavored motor oil is transformed to a blissful bourbony delight'

No offense intended unless this describes you ::grin:

[T Comp]

It's not the "breathing science" that cracks me up. It's the rituals :(laugh) (smile) ROFL

'First I open the bottle. 30 seconds pass. Then I pour my glass and quickly dump it back in. Then I simply rest the bottle for a month and what previously tasted like banana flavored motor oil is transformed to a blissful bourbony delight'

No offense intended unless this describes you ::grin:

Now I'm amused :cool:.

[smknjoe]

My preference is to let the drink rest in the glass rather than take a chance on the whole bottle.

Yep.

It's not the "breathing science" that cracks me up. It's the rituals :(laugh) (smile) ROFL

'First I open the bottle. 30 seconds pass. Then I pour my glass and quickly dump it back in. Then I simply rest the bottle for a month and what previously tasted like banana flavored motor oil is transformed to a blissful bourbony delight'

No offense intended unless this describes you ::grin:

:slappin:

[squire]

Don't forget to extend the pinky while noising, protocol and all that.

[smokinjoe]

It's not the "breathing science" that cracks me up. It's the rituals :(laugh) (smile) ROFL

'First I open the bottle. 30 seconds pass. Then I pour my glass and quickly dump it back in. Then I simply rest the bottle for a month and what previously tasted like banana flavored motor oil is transformed to a blissful bourbony delight'

No offense intended unless this describes you ::grin:

But remember, that 30 seconds only works for BT and S-W wheaters. I'ts a 1 to 1min 30sec pass for Bernheim, S-W and other wheaters. Board consensus seems to point to the upper limit on the S-W wheater pass time. Probably 1min 20 to 1min 25 minimally...as well as a longer bottle sitting time. BT opens beautifully at 1 month sitting time. But, a Bernheim needs a good solid 3 months sitting. Unless, you're opening in the Southern hemisphere, where the counterclockwise pouring motion seems to really accelerate the process...

Then, there is "bottle stretching", where you decant bourbon from shorter squatty bottles, into tall wine-style bottles. This allows the whiskey to "stretch" and "exercise" with each pour, limbering it up and opening up rye bourbons particularly. Night and day difference between pours from the same whiskey from a short bottle and a tall one...

Uh, no....I wasn't able to pick out the Maker's Mark in the blind tasting with George T. Stagg and ECBP...

[dSculptor]

I just woke up but now I am exhausted...been discussed already so many times.

I doubt that there is anything about whisky that you guys have not discussed out here at one point or another.Personally I cant wait that long for it to "open up" once it's in my glass.

I also heard that if you put the bottle in the closet with the top off it tends to allow the more shy ones to come out faster, they're not as afraid... as opposed to watching them.

[Restaurant man]

I prefer to let it breathe in my belly :yum:

[squire]

I also heard that if you put the bottle in the closet with the top off it tends to allow the more shy ones to come out faster

That it does while absorbing additional flavor from the household cleaners.

[393foureyedfox]

That it does while absorbing additional flavor from the household cleaners.

with some bourbons ive tried, i dont think youd notice if it picked up any additional household cleaner tastes

[ebo]

I just let the glass sit for a bit. Honestly, I think the whole "let it breath" thing is over blown. Yea, it does change a little but, I really don't think the change is all that significant or game changing. Just my opinion.

[black mamba]

It's much safer to let it breath in the glass only . . . . especially if someone in the room has a straw in their pocket.

[Grain Belt]

I don't know much about this breathing stuff, but I do know if I tried it at the hunting shack I would get kicked square in the nuts, and probably deserve it.

[Restaurant man]

I don't know much about this breathing stuff, but I do know if I tried it at the hunting shack I would get kicked square in the nuts, and probably deserve it.

This is classic! Well said

[dSculptor]

Hey guys,

Thought I would give this thread a bump… (and yes, I know this may have been talked about in the past already, and the search feature is my friend, but just thought I would get some fresh perspectives.)

I recently bought me some Parafilm tape for my 50ml.collection that I bottle and am going to leave behind for my kids some day. I thought I would use some for some of my higher end bottles that I try not to go to so much. But after I sealed them, I got to thinking, is this really better?

I know that the best way would be to decant it to a smaller vessel, but this is not an option I wish to pursue, I’m either going to wrap ‘em up or leave ‘em alone.

My concern is once you reach a point in the bottle,( let’s say half way) where it really opened up and tastes great, do you think that sealing it up with that stale air in there would actually be more detrimental to the spirit then actually preserving it? I know that some people will actually go a bit overboard and put in some heavy gas (argon,nitrogen?) that will settle down on top of the spirit, then seal it.

I wonder if just leaving it alone and letting it do its thing would be better than trying to seal it up?

What do you guys think?

[Flyfish]

I buy all my bourbon with MasterCard so this whole discussion is just priceless.

[The Black Tot]

Hey guys,

Thought I would give this thread a bump… (and yes, I know this may have been talked about in the past already, and the search feature is my friend, but just thought I would get some fresh perspectives.)

I recently bought me some Parafilm tape for my 50ml.collection that I bottle and am going to leave behind for my kids some day. I thought I would use some for some of my higher end bottles that I try not to go to so much. But after I sealed them, I got to thinking, is this really better?

I know that the best way would be to decant it to a smaller vessel, but this is not an option I wish to pursue, I’m either going to wrap ‘em up or leave ‘em alone.

My concern is once you reach a point in the bottle,( let’s say half way) where it really opened up and tastes great, do you think that sealing it up with that stale air in there would actually be more detrimental to the spirit then actually preserving it? I know that some people will actually go a bit overboard and put in some heavy gas (argon,nitrogen?) that will settle down on top of the spirit, then seal it.

I wonder if just leaving it alone and letting it do its thing would be better than trying to seal it up?

What do you guys think?

Yes, I'd decant (and I do and have), but if you don't want to, then use that wine keeper stuff and displace the air in the bottle.

I'm leaning toward wax sealing some of mine (full bottles for long term storage). It looks nicer than parafilm, and is probably cheaper once you have the gear.

http://www.amazon.com/Enthusiast-Private-Preserve-Preservation-Spray/dp/B0000DCS18

There are cheaper versions of this, I believe, and they can be bought in bulk for some savings for nuts like us.

[dSculptor]

I buy all my bourbon with MasterCard so this whole discussion is just priceless.

Sorry Fly, but I don't take Mastercard.....:cool: