arsbadmojo Posted February 25, 2006 Share Posted February 25, 2006 I've been pondering this for a long time, and this looks like the perfect place to ask.....Bourbon, as it ages in the barrel - some volume is lost. The portion that remains - becomes higher in proof. I have read this over and over, but it doesn't make sense to me.Seems it should be opposite.Doesn't alcohol have a higher vapor pressure than water? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BourbonJoe Posted February 25, 2006 Share Posted February 25, 2006 Also has a larger molecule, hence the water leaves first thru the barrel.Joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arsbadmojo Posted February 25, 2006 Author Share Posted February 25, 2006 Also has a larger molecule, hence the water leaves first thru the barrel.JoeI did think of that, like helium balloon deflating faster than a plain air filled, but I didn't think either molecule would have too much trouble. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesbassdad Posted February 25, 2006 Share Posted February 25, 2006 There have been threads on this before, including posts by at least one chemist among us. I tried a search, but I couldn't come up with the right parameters.The "larger molecule" theory could only be true if the molecules somehow shrink in Scotland, where, as I understand it, proofs go down with age.Yours truly,Dave Morefield Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barturtle Posted February 25, 2006 Share Posted February 25, 2006 Interesting that I had just put up a link to this last night in another thread, so here's the link again.http://www.straightbourbon.com/ubbthreads-6.5/showthread.php?t=4446&page=3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arsbadmojo Posted February 25, 2006 Author Share Posted February 25, 2006 Interesting that I had just put up a link to this last night in another thread, so here's the link again.http://www.straightbourbon.com/ubbthreads-6.5/showthread.php?t=4446&page=3Oh wow, thanks hadn't seen that - and didn't know it had been discussed before. Lots of info in that thread. So Scotch actually decreases proof with age? Man, I love learning something new....Off topic, but I take it you're a Bengals fan? :grin: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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