Speaking of cork tops

[AnotherCigarGuy]

Didn't want to mess up the poll, but I guess this newby never thought of this.

Do you lay your cork-topped bottle down when in your bunker? I know we are

suppose to do this with wine, to keep the cork moist. But bourbon?

[hn4bourbon]

No. You're not supposed to with bourbon.

[dcbt]

That's why I wish BT would lower the height of their BTAC bottles. Can't fit them in my bunker, gotta keep em out.

[callmeox]

The higher alcohol content of distilled spirits will do evil things to the cork closure (and vice versa) so the common practice with wine is not recommended with whiskey.

[Josh]

No, never. Like Ox said, bad stuff happens. Wine is a completely different animal.

[AnotherCigarGuy]

After hearing the deterioration stories in the other thread, it got me thinking.

But the high(er) alcohol explanation makes sense. Oh, I hadn't done it, although

nothing stays around too long.

[TunnelTiger]

That's why I wish BT would lower the height of their BTAC bottles. Can't fit them in my bunker, gotta keep em out.

Also CETH and SAOS bottles are quite high but my bunker has adjustable shelves.

[squire]

Ingrained habits notwithstanding no, we don't store any cork stoppered whisky on it's side. That falls into the category of stuff you will only do once.

[393foureyedfox]

just curious if anyone has stored anything long term on its side that has the synthetic cork? Not that I plan to do so, but I just wonder how long term submersion affects the synthetics. Both Dickel 9 year and MM46 I have here are synthetics, Larceny and Booker's are real cork (though the Booker's cork is starting to tear and imagine it'll break before i finish the bottle), and HH6BIB and KCSB are screw tops.

Edited March 13, 2014 by 393foureyedfox

[upStomp]

just curious if anyone has stored anything long term on its side that has the synthetic cork? Not that I plan to do so, but I just wonder how long term submersion affects the synthetics. Both Dickel 9 year and MM46 I have here are synthetics, Larceny and Booker's are real cork (though the Booker's cork is starting to tear and imagine it'll break before i finish the bottle), and HH6BIB and KCSB are screw tops.

Those Booker's corks are awful, aren't they? Might as well have stopped up the bottle with a wet Q-Tip.

[393foureyedfox]

Those Booker's corks are awful, aren't they? Might as well have stopped up the bottle with a wet Q-Tip.

this is my first home-bottle of Booker's. I take it this is a common issue with their bottles?

[upStomp]

this is my first home-bottle of Booker's. I take it this is a common issue with their bottles?

I've only ever bought 2. But, in my experience, yes.

[smokinjoe]

Those Booker's corks are awful, aren't they? Might as well have stopped up the bottle with a wet Q-Tip.

I don't doubt that there are problems with Booker's cork. Because they are in the box, I consistently see them lying on their side in stores. Everywhere Particularly, in small stores, where space is at a premium.

[horn1602]

I just had to lay 2 bottles on their side for shipping purposes. They will be that way for 3 days. I'm hoping there are no issues, although I'm thinking I've had a few bottles on their side for several weeks at a time and no problem with the corks.

[tigerlam92]

I just had to lay 2 bottles on their side for shipping purposes. They will be that way for 3 days. I'm hoping there are no issues, although I'm thinking I've had a few bottles on their side for several weeks at a time and no problem with the corks.

Days definitely no problem. Long term (years) is a huge no no.

Just also be aware some cork isn't that tight so be a little careful when shipping up side down. I found JPS cork are not very tight.

[theglobalguy]

I don't doubt that there are problems with Booker's cork. Because they are in the box, I consistently see them lying on their side in stores. Everywhere Particularly, in small stores, where space is at a premium.

^^^^ This, between scotch and the few bourbons that are boxed/tubed...can't remember how many times i've seen "overflow" stacked sideways. CEHT when it first came out was the one that made me wince.

[gblick]

I understand about not storing a bottle on its side to preserve the cork.

But I once had a thought that if you store a bottle upright for an extended period (never letting the cork get wet), the cork might dry out and shrink up enough to compromise the seal. So then I thought it might be a good idea to occasionally tip the bottle (just for a second) to wet the cork to keep it from drying out and shrinking. What do y'all think....is it better to let it sit and never wet the cork at all, or momentarily tip it on occasion just to keep the cork moist (presumably to prevent it from drying out and shrinking)?

[Quantum]

A couple years ago I remember hearing the guy that did the Scott's Selection scotch tastings at Specs say he flips his bottles upside down for a couple seconds once or twice a year.

[squire]

I just let them sit undisturbed though I understand the instinct to tip them once or twice a year. Frankly I don't expect to keep any bottle open long enough to have a problem.

[gblick]

I was talking about unopened bottles.

[squire]

I was talking about unopened bottles.

Yes, I was carrying the thought a bit forward. Also I wonder what would cause the cork in an unopened bottle to dry out in the first place. I mean, the space between the fill level and the base of the cork isn't vapor free, is it?

[AaronWF]

Days definitely no problem. Long term (years) is a huge no no.

All it took was about 13 hours on its side for WLW to creep through the cork, completely warp the wooden top and start dripping into my cabinet. Luckily, I found it quickly and nothing was damaged too much, but it taught me a lesson. I don't even let corked bottles sit on their side on the drive home from the liquor store.

The quality of corks used for whiskey is variable, but it's a much, much cheaper grade than a wine cork. Corks are a recipe for worry, IMO.

[gblick]

Yes, I was carrying the thought a bit forward. Also I wonder what would cause the cork in an unopened bottle to dry out in the first place. I mean, the space between the fill level and the base of the cork isn't vapor free, is it?

Yeah, I'm probably overthinking the whole thing. As for my opened bottles, I usually tip the bottle and wet the cork a little before pulling out the cork to pour some, just to make sure the cork slips out easily. If it's a bottle with a really tight cork, I might even tip the bottle and spin the cork a little to lube it up some before pulling the cork.

[B.B. Babington]

I don't doubt that there are problems with Booker's cork. Because they are in the box, I consistently see them lying on their side in stores. Everywhere Particularly, in small stores, where space is at a premium.

I've seen them on the side on shelves also. The ONLY whisky/whiskey on the side. Is this a sales technique promoted by the sales personnel?

[gblick]

At some of the 'Village Liquors' stores here in Houston, when they run out of shelf space, they will stand bottles on the floor (which I don't have a problem with), but then they will also put whiskey bottles onto the wine racks which puts them on their side.

Buyers beware!