by qbrules » Fri Jun 25, 2010 11:51 am
I just bought 3 old James E. Pepper bottles - distilled 1914. The UPS guy paid no attention to the multiple, large, bright signs saying 'this side up', and delivered the package on its side - they probably spent 3 days like that. All 3 bottles have the majority of the contents, however the corks and tax strips are extremely old and degenerated. As the bottles were shipped on their sides, the corks (or whats left of them), which have probably been dry w/ the bottles upright for many years, are now 'wet'. Nothing spilled out during the shipping, but they corks are wet / saturated almost to the top. I am nervous that this will cause rapid degeneration of the corks and then evaporation of the whiskey. I am not sure if I should leave things alone, or be proactive and look for other ways to re-enforce the seal / cork. Would it be a sin / stupid to cover the tops in wax? All that is between the whiskey and the air is some 100 year old corks that were bone dry, extremely degenerated, and have now been saturated with whiskey. I plan on saving these for many years. Any thoughts would be appreciated - thanks.