Letting the bottle open up

[KyleCBreese]

I wanted to hear your stories about bottles that you may not have liked at first, but have opened up over time and have become better and better as they were open.

For me, I hated OFBB13 when I first opened it. I had a pour the first two nights it was open and I thought it was terrible. There was almost something rotten about it. Recently though, after it has been open about 9 months, I have gone back to it and it has become one of my favorite pours. There is a rich, creamy nuttiness that has developed. I really enjoy it now and wish I had more than the one bottle.

[DEelfinn]

Here's an outlier for you: Arkansas Rock Town young bourbon. At first, it just tasted like overpriced white dog. After I let it sit for several months, I found that in addition to its youth, there was more bourbon character than at first. Still overpriced and didn't live up reviews I read before buying, but it DID get better.

[393foureyedfox]

ogd114, i never like it when first opened, but let it sit open a while....

[altadoc]

ogd114, i never like it when first opened, but let it sit open a while....

+1

the first time i tried it i hated it, but after being open for a few weeks i really love the stuff

[Thig]

This is probably a dumb question but when you say opened up do you mean to leave the cork completely off or just that the bottle has been opened? Leaving the cork completely off for weeks seems like a lot of air time.

[KyleCBreese]

This is probably a dumb question but when you say opened up do you mean to leave the cork completely off or just that the bottle has been opened? Leaving the cork completely off for weeks seems like a lot of air time.

Just that the bottle has been opened.

[Thig]

Just that the bottle has been opened.

Ok thanks, I didn't know for sure.

[ramblinman]

Mckenna BiB, its a little high on the alcohol and overly bitter but for me opens up nicely, but usually takes a while.

[boneuphtoner]

MMCS, first pour after opening always seems a little hot. Next day and thereafter....MUCH better.

[Paddy]

For me, most things improve over time. It seems that a little air rounds out some of the rough edges, providing a better balance and smoother finish. Some more than others... but, most all of them are this way for me.

The last bottle I readily recall opening that didn't need anything done to it (but drink it:grin:), was a OBSQ from summer of '13.

Obviously, it didn't hang around long enough for me to find out what a little air would have done to it!

Edit: I will add to what a few others were noting recently about VSOF. 12 years in the wood for this one is dominant when opened. I always let them air out 2-4 weeks after the first pour. The good one's always smooth out and turn to caramel and buttercream, but they never start off that way. P

Edited January 20, 2015 by Paddy

[Richnimrod]

My personal experience with bottles improving after opening is anecdotal for sure; but here it is:

No 4-R offerings I've had have seemed to change much. Some-to-'many' other products over ten years old have done so; but no consistency by age, brand or mashbill seems to apply. In fact soem brands have varied wildly from bottle to bottle! I'd have to guess that about 15 or 20 percent have improved at least enough to notice in flavor, nose or both. The one brand I'd point to that seemed to gain the most was Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve, 23-year-old. Interestingly, a few diminished after air in the bottle. Notably a 4-R, SB, LE.

[BonVivant84]

Had this happen last night with a bottle of HWMWND. Was good when i first got it, hit off it for a few days and then kind of forgot about in the back for a bit. Last night though it just had more POP then previously, the finish settled down a bit and became more rye forward. I've also noticed a change for the better with some younger ryes that have an astringent note to them, usually happens as the bottle gets around half full and has been open for at least 2 months.

[B.B. Babington]

to me, they just get flatter.

[El Vino]

Most recently, Elijah Craig 12 YO. After 6 months or so, the wood receded sufficiently to allow the other components to be in better balance. Not bourbon, but I have found that Balcone's Texas Single Malt really benefits from some air time.

[Mardbrown]

Most recently, Elijah Craig 12 YO. After 6 months or so, the wood receded sufficiently to allow the other components to be in better balance. Not bourbon, but I have found that Balcone's Texas Single Malt really benefits from some air time.

Completely agree. My first bottle of this was all wood and I didn't really care for it. After a couple of months the wood leveled out and the bottle ended up in the recycle bin.

[BigBoldBully]

in my experience, four roses seems to go downhill sharply, but most other bottles tend to improve (or become different but not necessarily worse) for up to several months after opening and then essentially retain their new state for around a year.

[fusion210]

How quickly are you guys drinking your first pour? My routine is to try a tiny sip from the first glass of a new bottle, just because. It is usually a little harsh. My habit is letting the glass sit 10-15 minutes, straight. Then enjoying. I really have noticed a difference in (nonblind) side by side tasting for almost everything. The occasional bottle over lower proof stuff seems not to improve.

[JDSmith619]

Bookers 2013-6. It was a good pour from the very beginning but WOW it has opened up. Its not a overly boozy and almost has creamy finish, I love it!

[zillah]

Everything gets better over time, especially Weller and Heaven Hill whiskies.

The most dramatic from bad to outstanding are Brown Forman whiskies. Old Forester just becomes magical after some significant air time.

Jim Beam and Buffalo Trace #1 and #2 interestingly maintains its character throughout, from start to finish.

Four Roses I find, especially the Small Batch, goes downhill and goes downhill fast. When I was drinking the small batch recently it was about halfway through and it tasted like cleaner. I couldn't drink it straight; had to mix it.

[The Advantage]

Willet 2 Yr Rye. Overwhelming nail polish, young sauce at first taste, then it just smoothes out into something great.

[petrel800]

For me it's about every wheated bourbon I've ever had. I find them very hot at first, as they take on a little air their flavors tend to come out in my experience. Your mileage may vary.

[Mr. Bourbon]

I find once the bottle gets below 1/2 full it becomes a bit thin tasting. But a higher strength Bourbon doesn't fade away as fast.

I find BT still pretty good when it gets low in the bottle. KC wasn't too bad either!

[suntour]

Interested in the consensus on FR products going downhill. A couple of my open SB bottles have gotten better, one tastes a little thin. Guess I'm lucky.

[flahute]

Interested in the consensus on FR products going downhill. A couple of my open SB bottles have gotten better, one tastes a little thin. Guess I'm lucky.

[Tony Santana]

I've never particularly noticed the 4R SB or SmB going downhill after opening. I have a private barrel OESV that I thought was fantastic, it sat for awhile and the last time I had some it was good, but not nearly as stellar as I remembered it. I just chalked it up to my taste buds being off that day. Now I'll have to revisit again. The bottle is about half empty (or half full, depending on your perspective).