Condensation Inside Bottle?

[ramblinman]

I've noticed something odd and hoping one of you can fill me in on why.

I've probably got 2 dozen or so bottles of bourbon and rye open on my shelf, and only one of them, an Old Ezra 12 year, develops condensation inside the bottle. I've thought that I might could chalk it up to proof, mashbill, cork top, bottle shape and lots of other things, but with nothing else on the shelf having it I'm wondering if its just a weird mix of things that makes it an outlier.

Especially confusing with the McKenna 10yr BiB right next to it, should be pretty much the same juice, similar shapes, only difference there is screw top and 2 years in the barrel. Its not especially old (bottled 2010-10) and hasn't been opened especially long, maybe 6 months or so.

Picture of it, and its nearest "kin" on the shelf, yall have any thoughts?

Edited October 16, 2014 by ramblinman
added age of juice and time bottle open

[T Comp]

Very interesting Ramblin. I have remains of a dusty 1985 Ezra Brooks from Medley which I had moved out of a handle into a smaller clear glass wine bottle with a secure plastic cork and it too is the only bottle I have that sweats inside. My thoughts were that my decanting bottle had thinner glass and more sensitive to temperature changes creating the condensation but with yours happening in the original bottle it makes me wonder.

[Richnimrod]

I think the pic you posted is 'Ezra B Single Barrel, Aged 12 Years"....Just to describe the Brand correctly.

I have one open, and several in the bunker. I've never seen this phenomenon in this brand... or any other that I can recall.

[ramblinman]

I think the pic you posted is 'Ezra B Single Barrel, Aged 12 Years"....Just to describe the Brand correctly.

Thats right and 49.5%abv (I don't think there was ever another proof of that particular label/age combo, but just to narrow it down the rest of the way)

[Vadertime]

I have had the same thing when I tranfer booze to Ikea bottle with the clamp stoppers. It is kinda worrying and bizarre.

Cheers

[jp_stargazer]

I have multiple bottles that develop condensation. I'm not sure there is a correlation to the type of whiskey, too many variables with proof, volume in the bottle, and position on my bar. It makes sense though that if the bottle is opened and poured when the air in my house is more humid, the air then trapped inside has humidity, and will form condensate on the inside of the bottle. Science?

I remedy the issue by swishing the whiskey around before I pour. Or I could extract it to increase the proof of my bottles several drops of water at a time.

Jason

[zillah]

Always wondered about this but never thought to ask.

[bin31z]

It happens. I'm guessing its due to changes in temperature or weather. Maybe the seal of the cork? Nothing to worry about.

[tanstaafl2]

It happens. I'm guessing its due to changes in temperature or weather. Maybe the seal of the cork? Nothing to worry about.

I would think a change in temperature is the culprit changing the saturation point for water in the air in the bottle. Probably indicates a good seal by the cork but I don't think you want to subject whiskey to frequent temperature fluctuations. It doesn't have the potential effect it might have on wine I suppose but still frequent temperature swings is probably not doing anything positive for it.

And of course as noted above it is useful to slosh the whiskey around a bit to reintegrate it before drink I should think.

[ramblinman]

So after some more observation and experimentation I am going to chalk this up to the interior of this particular bottle being rougher glass and giving it more points to condensate on. I've moved the bottle around and place it different places and it only seems to haven on the front half or so of the bottle around the shoulder.

Maybe somebody will give me a better answer someday, but for right now my curiosity is sated.

[jvd99]

could it just be an unexplained mystery of life?

[ethangsmith]

I have a bottle of the current production Michter's Sour Mash that does it. I remember having a bottle of something else a few years ago that did it too, but I don't remember anymore what it was. Seems to be a rare occurrence.