Most Irritating Packaging!

[tachyonshuggy]

El Tesoro (tequila) seems to have moved to synthetic corks. I've already lost a good bottle of another brand's reposado to cork that had dried and flaked in the liquid, so I was eager to see how this one performed.

Essentially, it does the job. No "PHWONK" sound but it creates a tight seal that's easy to remove. I like knowing that it won't/can't flake in the bottle.

Regarding screw caps, I had just opened a Weller Antique 107 for the first time about six weeks ago. I replaced the cap and somehow managed to screw it on so tight that I ruined the cap completely. Not by stripping, but by screwing the top so hard that the top part separated from the sides. Never had that happen before or since.

[CrispyCritter]

The only time I ever came across a questionable cork was with a bottle of Port Ellen (an Islay Scotch from a long-defunct distillery). It was a Cadenheads 150th Anniversary bottle, that had been on a store shelf in (of all places!) Michigan. At 64.1% or thereabouts, it was the strongest whisky I had until I came across Stagg. The cork had a "crumbly" quality to it, and it would leave little bits in the neck of the bottle when opened. A bit of paper towel took care of those.

Very fortunately, the whisky inside the bottle was untainted - and it was magnificent. This was one bottling that absolutely needed a bit of water, though.

[Nebraska]

Dave,

Man what a scary looking bottle of RHF!

As for the second matter, upon further examination I have found the aforementioned perforations. This will make the next time much easier!

[Big Chipper]

What's with the waxed screw top on the Pure Kentucky XO bottles? I brought one home the other day and it didn't have the release stringy thing sticking out. I had to hack at it with a knife all the way around and once done I tried pulling on it to no avail. That's when I realized it was a screw top. I just don't understand the logic either. The cheapest in the KBD small batch lineup has a cork (Kentucky Vintage), so why does the next step up have a screw top...with wax?