Plastic vs. Glass - Is There A Difference?

[Sweetmeats]

I stopped by a liquor store a month or so ago and they had the smaller size ( looks like a flask ) of Ancient Age for $1.63. I had heard good things about Ancient Age but had never seen it before so I bought it. It was pretty good. So, the next day , I went back and got a larger size ( 1 size up ) for $2.63. Very good stuff and a steal. These were both in glass bottles. So, a few weeks later, I travel to my local Bevmo and see that they have the large plastic bottle size of it for $14.00 so I bought it. It still is good but doesn't seem as good as the other ones. Can a plastic bottle make a difference? Sorry if it may be a stupid question but I am new to Bourbon though I think about it constantly.

[mobourbon]

Back when I liked Jim Beam White, I bought the 750ml in the glass bottles. The plastic 750's were on sale, so I bought the plastic bottle. In my opinion, it didn't taste as good as the glass bottled Beam. I bought a glass bottle again, and it tasted good.

[gr8erdane]

I don't have the specifics but have you ever smelled an empty plastic water bottle vs an empty glass bottle? The plastic seems to have an odor where the glass doesn't. Doesn't that suggest that the plastic is giving off something that not only can you smell but might also taste? No scientist here but common sense says it could be so.

[mbanu]

In the short term, any difference there is is purely psychological. In the long term, it's hard to say, because plastic liquor bottles have only been in wide use for so long.