As a general rule I don’t offer advice to the whiskey industry at large. While I’ve enjoyed whiskey in all its variations for many years and have a good bit of success helping people get into whiskey I never claim to be an expert in things whiskey related. This is especially true regarding topics of whiskey production. I don’t have 40 years of whiskey making experience. I don’t come from a whiskey making dynasty. Although I do have degrees in higher learning none of them are in brewing, distilling, chemistry, or even marketing. However, despite the aforementioned disclaimers I would now like to offer one piece of general advice to the whiskey industry as a whole.
STOP USING REAL CORKS IN YOUR WHISKEY BOTTLES!
I’ve heard the arguments for using real corks:
“We’re supporting the cork industry.”
“Customers see real corks as a sign of distinction or value.”
“We’ve always done it.”
Blah, blah, blah, blah. Seriously?
Just the other day I was opening a bottle of Michter’s American Whiskey for maybe the third time when the cork broke off in the neck of the bottle. After the requisite expletives I got my waiter’s corkscrew and fished the damn thing out. Luckily I have a few decanters and replacement synthetic corks at home. It’s generally not as bad as corked wine. More often than not the cork breaks and you just have to strain out all the little cork bits but it can have a similar negative influence on the whiskey too. I recently read a post from a fellow over on Straightbourbon.com who got a nasty corked bottle of High West Rendezvous Rye. Imagine for a moment that you’re a producer and you send a bottle of a brand new product that you’ve worked on for years to an acclaimed whiskey reviewer who’s never tasted it before. If that bottle has a rotten cork it may not matter how good your whiskey is. It’s just something to think about. Synthetic corks don’t go rotten you know.
Before the industry tries to completely reset the consumer understanding of age statements or their lack of necessity, not to mention other perceived “problems” the industry is trying to tackle, they really need to get rid of the real corks. Folks, synthetic corks are just fine. Some smaller producers are already on board. Jefferson’s Presidential Select comes with a synthetic cork. Heck, Suntory uses screw caps (gasp!) on their $120 bottle of Yamazaki 18 Year Old. I think we can all take a step forward on this one.
Drink wisely my friends,
Richard