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How do you store an alcohol collection?
February 15, 2020, 05:58 PM
GroundedCLKHow do you store an alcohol collection?
I have recently begun collecting various bottles of alcohol nothing really special. Some of them I have had for quite a few years. A friend of mine was recently visiting and she is an avid collector of wine. According to her that anything with cork will start to evaporate over time. It is caused by the cork drying out. Is this the same for bottles of alcohol? Some of the bottles came in display cases so to store them at an angle would make the display box useless.
February 15, 2020, 06:06 PM
Otto PilotYes, if you are storing for a decade or so, then cork degradation is a thing. However, having said that, hard liquors don't really benefit from spending time in the bottle, so have a bottle out that you are consuming, and enjoy it with guests or by yourself and be happy with the good quality. When it runs out, go grab another one and share it. Heck the nicest liquor I ever drank was out of a crystal decanter with nary a bottle or box in sight. That being said, I had a bottle of brandy that was in a very fancy bottle. I toted it around for years looking for the right occasion to open it. After nearly a decade, I don't believe there was any appreciable loss.
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February 15, 2020, 06:13 PM
PorterNMy brother and I plan to make one of these next time I see the wine barrels for sale at the local Walmart (they had them last year.)
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February 15, 2020, 06:13 PM
bald1If your bottle has a cork, wine or spirits, store it ON IT'S SIDE! Ask me how I know.
Certifiable member of the gun toting, septuagenarian, bucket list workin', crazed retiree, bald is beautiful club!
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February 15, 2020, 06:59 PM
stylophilesGot some just sitting on shelves:
The rest is in the “fancy bar” my wife found:
Once I added the lights inside, I think it looks impressive enough. Definitely a conversation starter when people catch sight of the thing!
Bill R
February 15, 2020, 07:06 PM
bertoDO NOT, DO NOT, DO NOT store spirits on their side. The alcohol content is much higher than wine and will destroy the cork over time. You have a nice whisky collection going and storing the bottles sideways will ruin the contents. Upright, with a good seal, and out of direct sunlight is the way to go. Once the bottle is below about a third full oxidation will play a bigger role and you might consider moving the contents to a smaller vessel if storing long term. Oxidation isn't necessarily bad but it will mute flavor over time. You can also use a wine preservation spray that uses inert gas to displace oxygen and stop oxidation but it's kinda overkill unless you're storing extremely rare and expensive bottles.
February 15, 2020, 07:14 PM
Snake207^^^^^
What he said!
Wine or Champagne, keep on its side, cork down.
Hard Liquor, keep it upright.
February 15, 2020, 07:21 PM
WarhorseI inherited from my mother a small hutch that she used to store/display china in. I use it as a liquor cabinet, I keep it pretty well stocked. Sorry I don't have pics of it, I'm not at my house for the winter.
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February 15, 2020, 07:35 PM
dave7378Sadly I have nothing to add. My bottles don't last long enough for me to have any experience.
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February 15, 2020, 07:35 PM
dave7378quote:
Originally posted by stylophiles:
Got some just sitting on shelves:
The rest is in the “fancy bar” my wife found:
Once I added the lights inside, I think it looks impressive enough. Definitely a conversation starter when people catch sight of the thing!
Bill R
That is very cool!
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ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ
February 15, 2020, 08:15 PM
71 TRUCKquote:
Originally posted by stylophiles:
Got some just sitting on shelves:
The rest is in the “fancy bar” my wife found:
Once I added the lights inside, I think it looks impressive enough. Definitely a conversation starter when people catch sight of the thing!
Bill R
The round bar is super cool. I gotta ask where did she find it? By the way nice collection.
The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution.
A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.
As ratified by the States and authenticated by Thomas Jefferson, Secretary of State
NRA Life Member February 15, 2020, 08:53 PM
TXJIM71 Truck's globe bar is a 1920's lightbulb tester....I just found it online but "unavailable " for purchase. I want one bad now
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February 15, 2020, 09:09 PM
stylophilesquote:
Originally posted by TXJIM:
71 Truck's globe bar is a 1920's lightbulb tester....I just found it online but "unavailable " for purchase. I want one bad now
Restoration Hardware... otherwise known as “expensive frou-frou decorative”....
But if you are my wife, and have a sort of find the bargain superpower, you end up borrowing a truck with no notice (thanks, sarge!) driving an hour and a half, hitting an outlet center and then....
Then you try to figure out how you are getting this big ol metal globe thing down off a truck and into the house. Without ending up on a six month light duty list.
Archimedes said it, I just remembered, and somehow we got it up and off the truck.
The rest was easy!
Bill R
February 15, 2020, 09:16 PM
71 TRUCKquote:
Originally posted by TXJIM:
71 Truck's globe bar is a 1920's lightbulb tester....I just found it online but "unavailable " for purchase. I want one bad now
Thanks
The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution.
A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.
As ratified by the States and authenticated by Thomas Jefferson, Secretary of State
NRA Life Member February 15, 2020, 09:16 PM
71 TRUCKquote:
Originally posted by stylophiles:
quote:
Originally posted by TXJIM:
71 Truck's globe bar is a 1920's lightbulb tester....I just found it online but "unavailable " for purchase. I want one bad now
Restoration Hardware... otherwise known as “expensive frou-frou decorative”....
But if you are my wife, and have a sort of find the bargain superpower, you end up borrowing a truck with no notice (thanks, sarge!) driving an hour and a half, hitting an outlet center and then....
Then you try to figure out how you are getting this big ol metal globe thing down off a truck and into the house. Without ending up on a six month light duty list.
Archimedes said it, I just remembered, and somehow we got it up and off the truck.
The rest was easy!
Bill R
Thanks
The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution.
A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.
As ratified by the States and authenticated by Thomas Jefferson, Secretary of State
NRA Life Member February 15, 2020, 09:40 PM
jigray3When I open a bottle of rare bourbon, I might not finish it for a few years. So once below about 1/3 full or if I like what I’m tasting, I’ll spray some inert gas preservative in the bottle to stop/ prevent oxidation. I prefer Bloxygen, it’s pure argon. I also keep an assortment of bourbon corks around to replace any that might fail, but you need to keep them hydrated. I’ve only ever replaced one. Some folks decant into smaller bottles with screw tops, but that ruins the display thing. I try to keep only 10-12 bottles open at a time, and store the bulk of my collection in a cool dark place. I have a friend who decants cheaper bourbon into his favorite bottles for display purposes, but keeps 200 bottles cool and dark.
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46and2quote:
Originally posted by bald1:
If your bottle has a cork, wine or spirits, store it ON IT'S SIDE! Ask me how I know.
No sir.
Spirits will eat through a cork over time, unlike wine.
Store your Spirits rightside up, always.
And your wine on it's side, if it has a natural cork.
Wine with Synthetic Corks probably doesn't need it, just as it probably doesn't matter with Spirits that have Synthetic Corks too.
February 15, 2020, 10:13 PM
bald1quote:
Originally posted by berto:
DO NOT, DO NOT, DO NOT store spirits on their side. The alcohol content is much higher than wine and will destroy the cork over time. You have a nice whisky collection going and storing the bottles sideways will ruin the contents. Upright, with a good seal, and out of direct sunlight is the way to go. Once the bottle is below about a third full oxidation will play a bigger role and you might consider moving the contents to a smaller vessel if storing long term. Oxidation isn't necessarily bad but it will mute flavor over time. You can also use a wine preservation spray that uses inert gas to displace oxygen and stop oxidation but it's kinda overkill unless you're storing extremely rare and expensive bottles.
Well shit. By NOT storing an unopened bottle of bourbon from 2005 the cork disintegrated after a decade. I don't drink bourbon and had it in the back row.
Certifiable member of the gun toting, septuagenarian, bucket list workin', crazed retiree, bald is beautiful club!
USN (RET), COTEP #192
February 16, 2020, 12:08 AM
LS1 GTOI store mine in my belly!!
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February 16, 2020, 08:43 AM
FHHM213How do you store...?
Perhaps should first ask, “Why do you store...?”