Bourbon storage

[amusinglisa]

I am in the process of doing some remodeling which will include liquor storage as well as a wine cellar of sorts. I understand that I should not store bourbon on its side, but should rather store upright with the occasional wetting of the cork to keep from having it dry out and disintegrate.

should I be looking for cool dry space or cool damp space for whatever I decide to start exploring? (I am guessing dark jsut as a matter of principle with kids in the house)

[cowdery]

Whiskey really isn't too particular. Even the cork wetting seems an extravagance. Likewise dry versus damp and, for that matter, cool. Pretty much if you would be comfortable there, the whiskey will be too. For example, if you're going for a coolish temperature for the wine, the whiskey will do just fine in there as well.

If you want to moisten a cork now and then, that's okay, but don't open a sealed bottle just to moisten the cork. Better to maintain the original seal.

[TNbourbon]

Oxidation is the only real danger with high-proof spirits -- and even that is a VERY long-term process. Personally, I have opened bourbon bottles more than 60 years old that are a fresh as the day they were bottled. Parafilm-M is a wonderful sealant.

[BourbonJoe]

Tim,

What is parafilm-M??

Joe

[jsgorman]

Dry is a relative term. If you have enough moisture in the air, you won't need to worry about 'wetting' the cork. If you have not enough, it will dry out from the top down and you'll get oxidation.

If I had to choose, I'd go damp over dry - optimal would be 50-70% humidity.

Parafilm is waterproof, moisture-proof film which prevents evaporation and contamination.

https://www1.fishersci.com/Coupon;jsessionid=FLDuXTHTG5Mz2tPW7bWy3FfKhSa9qy6dU2SXIROeN6BZu1ML2E8N!-697172597?gid=105273&cid=1328

[cowdery]

Dry is a relative term. If you have enough moisture in the air, you won't need to worry about 'wetting' the cork. If you have not enough, it will dry out from the top down and you'll get oxidation.

If I had to choose, I'd go damp over dry - optimal would be 50-70% humidity.

Parafilm is waterproof, moisture-proof film which prevents evaporation and contamination.

https://www1.fishersci.com/Coupon;jsessionid=FLDuXTHTG5Mz2tPW7bWy3FfKhSa9qy6dU2SXIROeN6BZu1ML2E8N!-697172597?gid=105273&cid=1328

I don't disagree.

[EvanB]

I live in Arizona where a cork could dry out due to lack of humidity. I just had one fall apart on a Glenlivet 12. When you say "wet the cork" do I do this with fresh water or just tilt the bottle when closed after a I make pour?

[luv2hunt]

The tilt the bottle option would work best

Dawn

[Gillman]

I shake the bottles once in a while which seems to "season" the cork. There isn't enough contact to make the cork go bad and I don't keep the bottles long enough anyway. But a loose cork can affect the spirit I think so I try to ensure a tight seal. Keeping bottles on their side for any length of time though, in my own experience, is not a good idea, the cork just goes after a while and the taste of the liquor is affected.

Gary