pouringwhiskey Posted February 14, 2019 Share Posted February 14, 2019 As I'm sure all of you are aware, Weller Antique 107 has an impending price increase (going from $25/750ml to $50/750ml). With that in mind, do you think they will keep the screw top or replace it with a cork? Is there a certain price point you feel should justify a cork? I'm fairly new to the game, has anything similar happened in the past? It is my understanding that Henry McKenna BiB used to sport a screw top, but the 3 bottles I have purchased all have a cork. I am interested to hear some input on the subject. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Hippie Posted February 14, 2019 Share Posted February 14, 2019 I think corks are there to satisfy the perception that the whiskey is of a higher quality, so my guess would be that it will probably be a cork finish. In reality the screw cap is a better closure. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevinbrink Posted February 14, 2019 Share Posted February 14, 2019 7 minutes ago, Old Hippie said: I think corks are there to satisfy the perception that the whiskey is of a higher quality, so my guess would be that it will probably be a cork finish. In reality the screw cap is a better closure. There have been a few discussions on this over the years but my belief is Plastic Screw Top>Synthetic Cork>Natural Cork>Composite Cork>Metal Screw Top. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRich Posted February 14, 2019 Share Posted February 14, 2019 There have been a few discussions on this over the years but my belief is Plastic Screw Top>Synthetic Cork>Natural Cork>Composite Cork>Metal Screw Top.Perfect hierarchy! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokinjoe Posted February 14, 2019 Share Posted February 14, 2019 My hierarchy would be: Natural Cork >/= metal screw top (ala Beam)> Composite Cork>plastic screw top>synthetic cork. I’m still a sucker for the “thwump” sound of a natural cork being pulled from a bottle, though maybe less so than a couple of years ago. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SJ Shiner Posted February 14, 2019 Share Posted February 14, 2019 (edited) Weller CYPB was corked, which was a departure from their other standard offerings of late (SR, OWA, 12yr). It was actually a nice surprise IMO. The metal screw tops never really bothered me until I had one leak that I shipped to friend. Typically, they suffice, but are likely more subject to expansion/contraction issues if they get too cold. Edited February 14, 2019 by SJ Shiner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BDanner Posted February 14, 2019 Share Posted February 14, 2019 3 hours ago, kevinbrink said: There have been a few discussions on this over the years but my belief is Plastic Screw Top>Synthetic Cork>Natural Cork>Composite Cork>Metal Screw Top. I despise the composite cork. If they're going to have a cork and it's not natural, just use the synthetic. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevinbrink Posted February 14, 2019 Share Posted February 14, 2019 3 minutes ago, BDanner said: I despise the composite cork. If they're going to have a cork and it's not natural, just use the synthetic. I will say this in my experience some may actually be of higher quality than non composite WT corks. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fosmith Posted February 14, 2019 Share Posted February 14, 2019 22 minutes ago, kevinbrink said: I will say this in my experience some may actually be of higher quality than non composite WT corks. I just noticed my last bottle of WT 101 had a composite cork so the era of nervously opening a WT bottle seems to have come to an end... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokinjoe Posted February 14, 2019 Share Posted February 14, 2019 BTW, my last Buffalo Trace Bottle I purchased a week or so ago, had a synthetic cork, which is a departure from natural cork. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyD Posted February 14, 2019 Share Posted February 14, 2019 4 hours ago, kevinbrink said: There have been a few discussions on this over the years but my belief is Plastic Screw Top>Synthetic Cork>Natural Cork>Composite Cork>Metal Screw Top. Perfect order. i despise natural and composite corks. All bourbon should have the knob creek/bookers cork. but the Japanese get it right most of the time. Screw top ftw. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRich Posted February 14, 2019 Share Posted February 14, 2019 My hierarchy would be: Natural Cork >/= metal screw top (ala Beam)> Composite Cork>plastic screw top>synthetic cork. I’m still a sucker for the “thwump” sound of a natural cork being pulled from a bottle, though maybe less so than a couple of years ago. Well...you got the sucker part right. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokinjoe Posted February 14, 2019 Share Posted February 14, 2019 31 minutes ago, BigRich said: Well...you got the sucker part right. HA..Ha...ha....Where’s that Finger emoji when you need it??? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ondarocks Posted February 15, 2019 Share Posted February 15, 2019 Screw caps allow easier disguise (vs popping a cork) when you're sneaking into the kitchen for another dram and you don't want your wife to think your a lush. How's that? 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StarSurfer55 Posted February 16, 2019 Share Posted February 16, 2019 Got caught between an Aussie and a Frenchman at work a few years ago on this same topic in regards to wine. The Australians moved to screw caps for their wine years ago as a superior closure as well as cost/ environmental reasons ( as stated by my Aussie friend). Of course, the Frenchman insisted that real wine came corked. I’ll admit to being a bit ambivalent on the issue. The screw cap scratches my technical itch for a better closure but nothing matches the sound of a cork being pulled. As long as both types do their job in keeping the contents intact, I could go with either one. BTW, my two friends at work agreed to disagree and moved on. No blood was spilled. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vosgar Posted February 16, 2019 Share Posted February 16, 2019 On 2/14/2019 at 11:38 AM, smokinjoe said: I’m still a sucker for the “thwump” sound of a natural cork being pulled from a bottle On 2/14/2019 at 2:17 PM, BigRich said: Well...you got the sucker part right. Well Rich, add me to the sucker list . Love a real cork top regardless of whether or not it's better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoustonNit Posted February 16, 2019 Share Posted February 16, 2019 Well Rich, add me to the sucker list [emoji3]. Love a real cork top regardless of whether or not it's better. +1 to this I guess if there’s a zombie apocalypse I want plastic screw top but natural corks are way to much fun. I might actually enjoy the synthetic ones like on KC more as they have more of that “pop” when opening. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kepler Posted February 16, 2019 Share Posted February 16, 2019 (edited) I don't understand the intolerance for natural corks. I suppose on some really old bottles there might be some "cork taint" (is this even a thing?). But I've had many, many Wild Turkey and Booker's dusties break their natural corks upon opening but after simple straining (or filtering with a coffee filter) I'e never detected any untoward flavor. On the contrary, I've really enjoyed some fantastic dusty Turkey, even after I dealt with the the disintegrated natural cork from the bottle. Edited February 16, 2019 by Kepler "filter" has one 'L' not two Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRich Posted February 16, 2019 Share Posted February 16, 2019 I don't understand the intolerance for natural corks. I suppose on some really old bottles there might be some "cork taint" (is this even a thing?). But I've had many, many Wild Turkey and Booker's dusties break their natural corks upon opening but after simple straining (or filtering with a coffee filter) I'e never detected any untoward flavor. On the contrary, I've really enjoyed some fantastic dusty Turkey, even after I dealt with the the disintegrated natural cork from the bottle.If it is something that was bottled in the last couple of years and I am opening and enjoying the bottle over 2-3 months then no issue with natural corks. But if it’s a bottle that’s been around for a while I open it and spread enjoyment over several years then no. I’m 19 years in the fanatical whiskey journey and the dozens of cork incidents have numbered too many to count at this point. I won’t avoid a natural cork bottle but I find no value in it. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meadeweber Posted February 19, 2019 Share Posted February 19, 2019 On 2/14/2019 at 10:29 AM, Old Hippie said: I think corks are there to satisfy the perception that the whiskey is of a higher quality, so my guess would be that it will probably be a cork finish. In reality the screw cap is a better closure. The first reply nailed it! Hippie is exactly right. No one can honestly argue that cork is a better closure in protecting the whiskey inside. It is just for appearance. There is more of an argument to be made for using cork for wine bottles but it is a bad option for whiskey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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