Why can't Bourbon, like wine, be stored on its side?

[SippinJim]

I have been told this and always wondered why. They (wine and whiskey) both have corks so I wanted to get some facts on this.

[CorvallisCracker]

I have been told this and always wondered why. They (wine and whiskey) both have corks so I wanted to get some facts on this.

The greater alcohol level (45% and higher) of whiskey will dissolve the cork.

See this thread: http://www.straightbourbon.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3399

[sku]

I'm hope someone more knoweldgable than I will reply, but my understanding is that with wine, you want to keep the liquid in contact with the cork to prevent it from drying out, cracking and letting oxygen in.

With whiskey and other distilled spirits, minor leaks in oxygen due to dry cork are less of a threat. In addition, I think I've heard concerns that becasue of its high alcohol content, prolonged contact between whiskey and cork could actually erode the cork.

[barturtle]

Alcohol is a fairly powerful solvent in high concentrations. And while wine traditionally has been closed with a cork, there are quite a few advantages to synthetic corks and screw caps.