Bottles in the trunk for a week in Dallas in early June. Will I be okay?

[BeeEss]

Hey all!

I was hoping maybe you could help me out. I'm in Oklahoma City, and due to our local laws the bourbon availability here is somewhat limited. I'm in Dallas quite often for work, so I usually just stock up on the things that I can't get here (namely Buffalo Trace, but also others) and bring it back with me.

So in a few weeks we're going on vacation. We're driving to Dallas for the weekend, then flying out to San Francisco for a week, back in to Dallas, then driving home. We arrive back in Dallas on a Sunday, so I can't stop by a package store on the way home (Dallas liquor stores are closed on Sunday, right?) If I bought several bottles on Saturday and kept them in the trunk of the car for a week while I was gone, would they change substantially from the heat? I'll be using covered parking, so the car shouldn't get much direct sunlight, but I feel sure it will be above room temperature.

I'm not so much concerned about the Buffalo Trace, because it tends to be reasonably inexpensive, but I would prefer not to buy some more expensive or specialty bottlings if they're going to go all wonky from sitting in a warm car.

Any thoughts you folks have are much appreciated!

--b

[ggilbertva]

I don't believe bourbon sitting in your trunk for a week will make it wonky. You should be fine. While it's true you don't want to expose bourbon to heat...that would be for long periods of time. I would think for a week, the bourbon would be fine. Besides, this is your chance to stock up on your whiskey collection you can't get in OK.

[boone]

Leaving bottles that are "corked" in your car...with heat...is not good. The heat will cause the liquid volume to expand and force the cork out of the bottle.

Big mess :bigeyes: The only good thing? Your car smells Soooooooooooo Good :grin: :grin: :grin: :grin: for quite awhile :grin:

Hey all!

I was hoping maybe you could help me out. I'm in Oklahoma City, and due to our local laws the bourbon availability here is somewhat limited. I'm in Dallas quite often for work, so I usually just stock up on the things that I can't get here (namely Buffalo Trace, but also others) and bring it back with me.

So in a few weeks we're going on vacation. We're driving to Dallas for the weekend, then flying out to San Francisco for a week, back in to Dallas, then driving home. We arrive back in Dallas on a Sunday, so I can't stop by a package store on the way home (Dallas liquor stores are closed on Sunday, right?) If I bought several bottles on Saturday and kept them in the trunk of the car for a week while I was gone, would they change substantially from the heat? I'll be using covered parking, so the car shouldn't get much direct sunlight, but I feel sure it will be above room temperature.

I'm not so much concerned about the Buffalo Trace, because it tends to be reasonably inexpensive, but I would prefer not to buy some more expensive or specialty bottlings if they're going to go all wonky from sitting in a warm car.

Any thoughts you folks have are much appreciated!

--b

[Phischy]

It'd have to get really hot for a long time for a non-carbed beverage to force the cork out.

[Vange]

DON'T DO IT!! I lost a Pappy 23 like that. The heat made the WAX top cork pop out! I seriously almost cried and my stomach was upset for days.

[ggilbertva]

But, if his car is in covered parking, no direct sunlight, the temperature should stay fairly consistent. Dallas is around 80 degrees or so and I would think that wouldn't cause the contents to expand and pop the cork. I would think at moderate temperatures the contents would be fine. I guess to err on the side of caution, do as you said....don't buy expensive bourbon.

[boone]

I've done the same thing except with a "rare" HH 21 It wasn't a real hot day...and it was parked in the shade ...

All was not completly lost...I took the "left over's" to a party and shared it with friends...

DON'T DO IT!! I lost a Pappy 23 like that. The heat made the WAX top cork pop out! I seriously almost cried and my stomach was upset for days.

[BeeEss]

Thanks for the tips, everyone! I was more concerned about the flavors changing, but I hadn't thought about the expansion bit.

I have one of those ice chests that purports to keep ice frozen for 5 days in 90-degree heat. I don't think I will need to put the bottles on ice, but I might be able to grab several of those frozen ice packs to put in there to keep the temperature reasonably cool for the duration, especially in the trunk of a shaded car.

Thanks again for the help! I'll let everyone know how I fare after I get back.

--b

[heatmiser]

Look for underground parking if available since it is usually much cooler...

[aarkwilde]

Lost a bottle of knob creek in the trunk once. I live near San Francisco and it wasn't that hot out, but the direct sunlight heated the trunk to a higher temperature then the outside ambient.

Only took a couple of hours, as well. I'm still pining.

[HighTower]

I also lost a Knob Creek this way, it forced the cork out, broke the wax and all. That was about 5 years ago and I still can't get over it. Although like Bettye Jo said, it does make your car smell great.....sure beats the hell outta those scented things you hang from your mirror

Put a smile on my face every time I got in the car for about a month!

Scott

[ggilbertva]

I also lost a Knob Creek this way, it forced the cork out, broke the wax and all. That was about 5 years ago and I still can't get over it. Although like Bettye Jo said, it does make your car smell great.....sure beats the hell outta those scented things you hang from your mirror

Put a smile on my face every time I got in the car for about a month!

Scott

Scott,

I think you're on to something.....Bourbon scented car fresheners. They come in two varieties....Rye and Wheat.

[cowdery]

All I can say is, believe Bettye Jo. She speaks from experience from the land of experience with that sort of thing. If someone from Bardstown, Kentucky tells you whiskey left in a car trunk on a hot day will release itself from the bottle, you doubt her at your peril.

[BeeEss]

All I can say is, believe Bettye Jo. She speaks from experience from the land of experience with that sort of thing. If someone from Bardstown, Kentucky tells you whiskey left in a car trunk on a hot day will release itself from the bottle, you doubt her at your peril.

Duly noted I may have a buddy in Dallas that can house a couple of bottles for me until I return. You would think we are still under prohibition, what with the buying and stashing and running across state lines and all.

Thanks again for the help - you folks probably saved me some heartache. Still, I must admit - the bourbon-scented car does sound intriguing. I would hate to try to explain that one to the local constable during a routine traffic stop, though

[smokinjoe]

Look for underground parking if available since it is usually much cooler...

I'll take this as fact, simply based on your name!

Cheers!

JOE

[CrispyCritter]

Bourbon scented car fresheners. They come in two varieties....Rye and Wheat.

You better hope a cop doesn't pull you over, though. :slappin:

[bigtoys]

I would think the insulated cooler with a few cold bars would prevent disaster. Guess the only way to know would be to check it out for a few days without the precious cargo if you have time. Could also use dry ice if you could get it.

[Pharaoh]

What these guys neglected to tell you is how erratic their driving was before their whiskey became so frightened and frenzied it blew the cork and exited.

Is there no member in the Dallas area that might help this guy out by holding his purchases for him til the following Sunday?

Other suggestions might be to find public storage for a week? Does DFW have lockers? If so, maybe you could get a couple of lockers for the week. Good luck!

Are you planning to pick up / look for whiskey in the San Francisco area as well?

[texascarl]

Since you'll be at the airport anyway, put 'em in a bag and pop the bag in a rental locker at the airport. They'll stay 72 degrees the whole time. Texans believe in really cold air conditioning.

[ILLfarmboy]

I think the "airport locker" is the best idea.

72 degrees. Man, I'd be sweatin'. I keep my thermostat at 67. I don't mind sweating for a living but I'll be damned If I'll sweat when I come home in the evening.

[robbyvirus]

Do they really still have rental lockers at airports? I haven't seen them. I think those things went away post-9/11. Too easy to store suspicious packages.

If you do keep the bottles in your trunk, make sure they're vertical with the cork up!

[Grain Brain]

Don't know about airports, but I stashed some goodies (particularly, Stranahan's Colorado Whiskey) in a coin-op locker at the Denver Convention Center during last year's Great American Beer Festival, so they're still out there in some places.

And yes, I was surprised (but thankful) that they were still being utilized post 9/11.

[BeeEss]

Hey all:

Thanks again for all the suggestions and help! Everything ended up working great - the manager at the hotel where we stayed in Dallas (the Belmont - http://www.belmontdallas.com, which is a wonderful place if you are looking for something unique) was absolutely fantastic and allowed me to stash a box in her office while I was gone for the week.

I didn't get a chance to shop too much, but I did end up with a bottle of Prichard's, Henry McKenna 10yr BIB, Rock Hill Farms, and, of course, I stocked up on Buffalo Trace - all things that I can't find here in Oklahoma City, and (with the exception of BT) all things that I've never tried. Looks like I've got some tasting to do

Incidentally, I found that Boulevard restaurant in San Francisco has Hirsch 16 at the bar, which was a pleasant surprise. The food was very good as well.

Anyhow, thanks again for all the help!

--b

[chickenfried]

I'm going on a trip to arizona so this topic caught my eye. I bought a bottle of eagle rare to see how it fares on the trip. Not too expensive so I won't cry if it gets ruined. I'll also try to keep it upright and check on it every so often, so if the cork pops out no precious liquid shall be spilled.

I was talking to a friend about this issue. During the converstation, he told me about a bottle of Jim Beam white he kept in his trunk for emergencies. Sat there for a few years. Parked outdoors in a leaky "classic" car trunk. Found it one day, label all mildewed. Best Jim Beam white he ever tasted.

[heatmiser]

Best Jim Beam white he ever tasted.

However, that's not saying much...