cork rot question

[FasterHorses]

About how soon have you seen "cork rot" appear? I wasnt aware of this phenomenon until reading about it on here. I  had a couple bottles stored on their sides for just under a year that are in my bunker. Wondering if they are more than likely toast at this point. Thanks

[jvd99]

Distilled spirits should never be stored on their sides as the alcohol will degrade the cork.  I'll defer to others as to the technicalities of how and why that happens or how quickly damage occurs.  Wonky climates (too dry or too humid) can affect the cork but I think that takes longer. I've found the failure rate on bottles sitting in a liquor store for around 7-10 years to be pretty high, although that's just anecdotal. 

[Richnimrod]

No experience with "side-stored" distilled spirits at all; but my gut feeling is that actual rot  isn't necessarily caused by storing spirits on their side. 

I think cork deterioration is certainly likely from side storage; but "rot" is not necessarily caused by it. 

I'm certain others here will have experience and expertise along these lines; but my impression is that "rot" can happen from you doing 'nothing at all'.     In other words it can be inherent in a sample of cork that has been poorly selected, or mishandled way before you buy the bottle.

All that said; I'd decant the spirits in question immediately into something completely safe (screw-top, or other) and see how it is after a week or so in the new bottle.

[Harry in WashDC]

2 hours ago, FasterHorses said:

About how soon have you seen "cork rot" appear? I wasnt aware of this phenomenon until reading about it on here. I  had a couple bottles stored on their sides for just under a year that are in my bunker. Wondering if they are more than likely toast at this point. Thanks

Per jvd99's comments and Rich's observations, here are three older SB threads discussing cork (as distinguished from synthetic cork or screwtop) closures.  FWIW, I do NOT store distilled spirits on their side, having learned from some old bottles found in the family house after my Dad died that doing so is a BAD idea.  Nevertheless, I've had the cork in a bottle or two dry out from being stored upright (a) too near a furnace or (b) too near an attic roof.  It took years, though.

https://www.straightbourbon.com/community/topic/25327-preventing-cork-breakage/?tab=comments#comment-546877

https://www.straightbourbon.com/community/topic/23867-cork-problems/?tab=comments#comment-482133

https://www.straightbourbon.com/community/topic/22468-cork-vs-synthetic-cord-vs-screw-tops/?tab=comments#comment-451040

[Nm0369]

You won't know if the bottles in question are tainted until you pop them open.  As Jvd mentioned, I've taken a few bottles home from the store and the corks broke upon opening.  A coffee filter and some patience will remedy most broken corks.

[FasterHorses]

Thank you.. i searched the first page of search results and didnt find anything, probably will spend a bit more time looking next time.. but thanks for the links to the old threads!

[kevinbrink]

Get yourself an Ah So wine opener, they are great for pulling broken corks.  The composite corks are the worst and most prone to disintegration, like the ones in EC12.

[Harry in WashDC]

14 hours ago, Nm0369 said:

You won't know if the bottles in question are tainted until you pop them open.  As Jvd mentioned, I've taken a few bottles home from the store and the corks broke upon opening.  A coffee filter and some patience will remedy most broken corks.

I use a basic ($15-20) port wine funnel which comes with a fine screen (usually removable for easy cleaning).  Since it is designed to remove the dregs when decanting wine and port bottles, it works well with cork bits regardless of the liquid.

[jvd99]

I keep a few empty de-labeled Weller screw top bottles on hand for broken corkage issues.  Just decant into the clean bottle and use a sharpie to label.  You can erase the sharpie when done and reuse the bottle.  

[Clueby]

I've read about "cork taint" from some ETL runs a couple years ago and how saran wrap was used to remove the offending molecules. 

I don't know how long it would take for a cork to deteriorate from contact with bourbon though. I would think there would be many variables at play.

[Kane]

For what it's worth, a while ago I rescued and adopted a poor Glenlivet Nadurra 16yo at 55% abv stored on its side for almost a year. The cork was intact.