Whisky Forum - Opened bottles

DillyT · Master Of Malts Joined: 18 Oct 2017 Posts: 333

I have been reading loads about keeping open bottles for a long time makes the whisky to degrade over time..
Dose anyone know how long it takes for the air in the bottle to effect it and or ways of taking it out like some people do with wine.

sorren · Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2018 9:03 pm Post subject:

A lot depends on the fill level, if the bottle is still half full or more then I wouldnâ€™t worry unless you are looking at over a year, below half and nearer the quarter full level then my advice is to put it into smaller bottles eg 10-20 cl size bottles, then no need to worry.. Each bottle will vary in length before you notice any difference, I have had bottles opened for well over a year and prob nearer 2 years with no adverse effect and others have altered after 8-9 Months if level has been low..

DillyT · Master Of Malts Joined: 18 Oct 2017 Posts: 333

It was mainly the 1/4 full bottles I was thinking of as I have some very nice bottles that I do not want to really finish just yet...

So to the shops I go for some small bottles I think.

Whisky Rogue · Master Of Malts Joined: 16 Mar 2017 Posts: 738

Make sure you get small glass bottles, not plastic, if you plan on storing the whisky long term, Amazon and ebay are usually good for these, you may get lucky and find some in a chemist shop.

Timp · Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2018 4:15 pm Post subject:

Dont know what others think about these things but I use the product 'private preserve' which creates a blanket of inert gas over the whisky, supposedly helping to block the effects of oxidisation.

I have had some bottles open for four years and no real effect on those so far. They are all half to three quarters full though so as mentioned fill level helps.

havaska · Double Malt Member Joined: 27 Nov 2016 Posts: 141

I quite enjoy how the bottle changes over time and find it part of the fun, but I try to limit how many I have open to less than 5 at a time.

DillyT · Master Of Malts Joined: 18 Oct 2017 Posts: 333

Thanks for the advice,
I am one of these people where I buy a bottle for a reason (Friends over for dinner, a whisky party or I just fancy a change) but I have a good list of about 15 bottles that are open and I am just a little wary that some of them may be there for some time before they are finished...
So small glass bottles it is and a good read of 'private preserve'

Thanks

Timp · Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2018 3:57 pm Post subject:

I pretty much open all of mine, as I want to try them once I have got my hands on them, so this is a subject I am interested in.

There is a fair bit out there about pp or similar and a few around with collections of over 150 bottles open, who vouch for it so worth researching. Well worth the Â£20 or so given how much the bottles cost.

Havaska is right also as its nice to see how they change over time and that has been particularly useful with bottles that I think might improve with a bit of airtime prior to gassing..

Let us know how you get on Dylan..

r900p · Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2018 9:29 pm Post subject:

Has anyone tried vacuum packing a bottle or know how this will impact on the liquid?

Cheers

Rob

Alastair · Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2018 10:48 pm Post subject:

r900p · Posted: Tue Sep 11, 2018 9:54 pm Post subject:

Might try the vacuum. Iâ€™ve just opened a bottle to wet my sons head and want to keep half of it to try with him in a very long time - 18 years.

Rob

dramblersanonymous · Posted: Tue Sep 11, 2018 11:01 pm Post subject:

A vacuum system probably lasts a couple of days. Certainly not 18yrs. I'd rebottle into something that you can fill. Get a 375ml bottle for filling and putting away.