Glassware, Corks & Spirit Oxidation
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- Опубліковано 15 кві 2013
- We start by quickly reviewing my glassware and why I use certain styles. Then we quickly talk about synthetic vs. natural corks. We end testing/answering the great "will my open bottle go bad?" question and I'll give you some tips on how to keep your bottles fresh for years.
As of 4-12-13, my current bottle count stands at 995 total bottles. I have 627 different ones in the bar & another 368 in back stock. I've now been actively collecting for the last 19 years and what started as a small basic bar has transformed (with the help & understanding of my wonderful wife) into what I think is a pretty nice collection. Thank you for watching and sharing in my hobby.
Cheers! - Навчання та стиль
Good demonstration, excellent advice!
I use Co2 in my bottles.
Very cool video, especially with the glassware note, being a very young whiskey, whisky, and bourbon fan I often add water to cut the spirit intensity in my glencairn, but it makes perfect sense now why you use those other glasses!
I've been waiting for this video!
For storing, always keep your bottles in a cool dark place. If you plan on keeping it for years, once every other month or so get the cork damp by gently moving the Bourbon inside it (that’ll help keep it from drying out and deteriorating). As for the 12, the short standard Glencairn glasses would work well for nosing and tasting neat.
Cheers!
Yes, I can see where the 23 would be hard to replace and will move it to my basement gun safe. Thank you for the reply!
I can't comment on the oxidation to barrel aged liquor but I do know that oxidation is key to good tasting moonshine.
Cork and plastic as related to use as a stopper are for the most part inert. Might do well to also mention the high evaporation property of alcohol and its relation to a sealed container or bottle and oxidation effect on flavour, et al. Argon is also heavier than air and also inert, somewhat like nitrogen. When you pour Whisky from an Argon preserved bottle, you also pour out the argon which must be replaced.
I've never seen anybody use argon before but then, my open bottles usually don't make it past 8 months so I never worried about it. If I know it might be a while, I'll put half empty bottles into smaller bottles. I've had some whiskies that actually tasted better after being open for a while so oxidation isn't always a bad thing.
Understood. Oddly enough, the bottles of bourbon I have where the particles separated were a couple of 750mls of Old Fitz 80prf from 2000. It wasn't supposed to be good, especially when HH took over. However, it tasted amazing. In fact I tested it with a small group of friends against PVW15, JPS18, and OWA7yr. this was blind and it ranked 2nd over JPS18. I have to wonder if the particles that separated might have been sulfates and bitter esters (shrug). These bottles didn't have corks.
Thanks for this video. I have also been waiting for this. Time to get some argon gas!
+SuperSayanFitness - I wasn't able to respond directly to your comment since I believe you commented on my video through Google+. Anyway, it is possible for most people to breath through their nose and mouth simultaneously (although it may take some practice). Once you're comfortable with it, you can even learn to adjust the nose's intake volume by slightly closing the lips. Cheers!
What about OBE (Old Bottle Effect)? Glass is technically a liquid that is extremely slow moving. Obviously it would take decades to make an effect. However, I have purchased old bourbons where the proteins broke down and separated, creating a layer of sediment on the bottom. Also, what about certain spirits which open up after oxidation and actually taste better than it did sealed? Just curious on your thoughts.
i always wondered about alcohol evaporation in the bottle when its under half full. Will you start to lose some abv as it sits, since alcohol will evaporate into the empty space of the bottle? Also if you have a high quality whisky that you only drink once a year or special occasions, is it ok to store it in the freezer, to help preserve the alcohols, or will it effect the taste?
+BiteThis - The alcohol won't really evaporate into the open space in the bottle, but if the cork is weak, it will escape and the abv will drop and it will lose a lot of flavor. That's why it's important to keep an eye on your corks and replace loose or damaged ones. The enemy inside the bottle is oxidation. An open bottle will last 6 months to a year without losing noticeable flavor due to oxidation, but after that it gets dicey. As I mentioned in this video, I use a argon tank to fill/replace the oxygen trapped in my open bottles. For smaller home bars you can just use a wine preserver spray (like "Private Preserve"). You can buy them from Amazon for about $10 and they say you can get 120 uses out of one. They recommend a 1 sec. spray followed by 3-4 small bursts, but when I was using them I sprayed them heavy (2 seconds long and 3-4 short bursts), so I only got 70-80 good seals per can. The key to using gas is that you do not disturb/move the bottle once it's gassed (which will disrupt the gas layer). To see the larger argon tank that I use, here's a video that shows my setup (starts at the 10:18 mark): ua-cam.com/video/vGic-_cI5FM/v-deo.html . Cheers!
Do you think it would be beneficial to replace real corks with synthetic? I have kept many synthetic corks over the years from empty bottles just in case i break a real cork. But now km wondering if it would be better to just use them instead of real?
Second.. what do you recommend with unopened bottles that are being stored. I have heard that it can be beneficial to lay bottles on their sides every now and again to make sure the cork does not dry out. Your take??
Synthetic corks are great and if I have a cork go bad it’s good to have one around to replace it. I don’t agree with laying bottles on their sides. While it might rehydrate the cork a bit, it also degrades them. Also, if you leave it too long on its side you run the risk of tainting the spirit. I recommend just using 4” Parafilm to wrap your corks when in storage (except on waxed corks). Parafilm helps keep the alcohol from escaping a bad cork/seal. Cheers!
How many squirts to a bottle or how long does one can of Private Reserve Last? I guess if you have a daily drinker like Makers 46 thats going to be used up in a month or so no need to gas it right? Thanks for all the great info....cheers!
I probably wouldn’t bother spraying a bottle if you’re going to run through it within 5-6 months. If you’re going to hold on to a special bottle beyond that, then I’d spray it from the beginning (unless it needed to oxidize a bit first). Cheers!
As I was explaining the need to protect good whisky (the expensive stuff) from oxygen, I had a bar tender tell me that he had been trained by an "expert" to always point the bottle down and shake it before serving in order to get heavier elements that sink to the bottom mixed in well. I told him that injecting oxygen like that should not be good. Have you ever heard about this shaking a whiskey bottle before serving?
No, but there’s plenty of misinformation out there. If you get settlement in a bottle, you could shake it up, but you’re correct in that you’ll be oxidizing it at a faster rate. Hopefully, that bar goes through the bottles quickly. I have jokingly refer to that as the “Booker’s Shake” (since those Bourbons could always use some fast oxidizing). ;-D Cheers!
Well I'd prefer that bourbons could continue gaining complexities in the bottle with fluctuating storage temps similar to what they experience in variable Kentucky seasons & placement in the rick houses--but you made it sound like this not possible as with certain wines
That’s perfectly fine. I have bottles that I like to let oxidize (to change in the bottle). Sorry for any confusion, but spirits definitely do change if left to oxidize in the bottle (they soften and then eventually fade and die). Cheers!
Hi, I have a 2015 Thomas Handy that appears to have evaporation. The bottle has never been open and is stored out of the sun in a dry basement. Can you give me advice on what to do?
+Steven Lizza - That would mean the cork is not in the best shape. You can either open it and replace the cork, or try wrapping it in Parafilm (to minimize loss). I get mine on Amazon and use the 4" wide rolls. Just don't over stretch it, since it will eventually split there if you do. Cheers!
LiquorHound thank you for the advice I love your videos. I picked up the rebel yell 10 year on your advice. I poured it for a friend and we both loved it! I opened the bottle and a few weeks later drank it with a round ice ball. It actually reminded us of Blanton at first.
+Steven Lizza - That's great! And remember, the Rebel Yell likes to oxidize, so I'm sure it was better the second go around. Thank you for watching & cheers!
Rather than using the spray, I mostly hear people talk about reducing down to smaller bottles. So at half full, move to a 375ml then to 200ml then to the sample bottles. What's been your experience?
I use Argon, but have close friends that do the smaller bottles. Either works, but the gas is easier for me. Cheers!
Thanks
Hello, as a new subscriber and relatively new Bourbon enthusiast I have a couple of questions I hope to have answered. I obtained a bottle of Pappy Van Winkle 23 and a bottle of Van Winkle 12 year old Special Reserve Lot B. I want to save the 23...how should I store it? I want to share the 12....what type of glassware of the ones shown would you recommend most? Thank you and great videos!!
Hey LiquorHound! I recently found your channel and am very happy I did so! I have been raising my spirits awearness for a few years now and have enjoyed the likes of Ralfy, whiskey Bitch and Doug Shommer online, and you hold your own!! Great Collection to be proud of and great video making!!! Proper respect from Ottawa canada Brother! I would love to not have access to so much variety in tequila here!! Cheers, Jeff...
P.s. Have you tried Sierra Milenario, Extra Anejo....
Why do you have to keep a layer of gas right above the alchol in the bottle? How come Ive never seen anyone do it in a bar or anything? Is it just if you open the bottle from time to time? Can the gas do anything to the taste / your health?
great video..i just sub ;)
Almost 1% of our atmosphere is Argon. It's the third most common gas and used in food prep extensively because it is totally inert. Argon is heavier than Oxygen (02) or Nitrogen (N2) so your theory is correct. Private Preserve uses a blend of gases (Nitrogen, Carbon Dioxide, and Argon). Bloxygen is pure Argon. See www.bloxygen.com
I don't think this is the exact same glass as the discontinued one you're looking for, but it looks fairly close:
www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/fitz-and-floyd-reg-gina-martini-votive-glasses-set-of-4/1044084240?poc=217511
Have you seen this glass? www.whisky.de/shop/Zubehoer/Nosingglas-Neat.html?&searchorigin=2
I have and I hear it work well for some spirits (but I don't actually own any of them). Cheers!