Can whiskey react to cork and go bad?

Yes, on rare occasions Whisky may also get corked. Therefore it's a better idea to store the bottles upwards.

However, the standard Lagavulin 16yo OB has also changed over the last years, so your perception might not necessarily be related to the cork.

Slainte, Eric

PS - Lagavul> Hi,

Yes Whisk(e)y can react to cork, in fact due to the higher abv it might dissolve it over time, when the bottle is lying down.

That's why whisky bottles _must_ never be stored lying down. They should be standing up. The vapours will keep the cork a little moist, but won't dissolve it.

And yes the cork might affect the taste, but I'm not sure about the colour. Anyway Lagavuling is allready coloured with caramel, so it might be difficult to detect it. Not sure if there is a way to get rid of the cork taste, but you could try to let it breathe for a longer period at first in a glass or smaller bottle to see. What is there to loose, you might be able to save the content, but again you may not.

You can allways use the whisky for food or in mixed drinks.

I even had that happen with a Tokaji that had been in my cellar for ten years.

What does 'corked' Whisky taste like?

Thanks, Tim

I had a Bruichladdich once that tasted strongly of cork--and the taste never went away. Whiskies are subtle enough things already, so the cork element was really unwelcome. Storing straight upright it is then (which makes sense in the case of plastic-lined screwcaps too--why force contact with non-glass substances when you don't have to).

Eric, and the rest of you,

many thanks for your kind help - and my sincere apologies for that terrible misspelling - I know that e makes all the difference and I'll save it for my Jack Daniels - though I guess I will never have that same cork problem with my friend JD - 1) there is no cork and 2) who could possibly taste the difference :o)

I am impressed by the "knowledge pool" that is gathered out there!

many thanks Klaus

Eric von Daeniken wrote in news:41bc79c8$1 snipped-for-privacy@news.bluewin.ch:

Check that--it was a Bunnhabhain. (Spelling error?)

Or an understandable lapse of sobriety!

"Karl Ejnar Christensen" wrote in news:cpkb0n$2vkj$ snipped-for-privacy@news.cybercity.dk:

Ack! Got a Lagavulin in the closet on its side right now.