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Old 11-22-2009, 11:22 PM
angel23
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Default I'm losing scotch

Hello all, new guy here, like to intrduce myself before I get to my problem. I'm a batrtender, and all my money goes to my cigar and scotch collections, I'm pretty boring. Okay, that's out of the way, on to my problem....
I'm losing scotch. Here's the situation; I started a modest collection while living in my old apartment, the temp there was around 75-80 degrees the last few months I was there. I know scotch should be kept around probably 65 and 65, roughly what you would keep wine and cigars if I remember correctly. Anyway, I marked a bottle of Port Ellen 8th at the liquid line probably 5 or 6 months ago, and since then have moved to a new apartment (two months ago) and checked the line last week, and sure enough, I've lost a bit. I chalked it up to the bottle bing in the summer heat in the desert at my old place. I remarked the bottle, as well as a Springbank 21 and a Signatory 1969 Springbank. I checked all three bottles today, and again, I've lost some liquid. Not much, but after a week, any loss is too much. My new place is much nicer, with central air, so it's not getting too hot, BUT, a week after I moved in, the humidity in this place was at a constant 60 percent, and the management still can't figure out why. They put a dehumidifier in here, so the air is normal, I've been keeping the place around 70 degrees, the last day or so maybe 5-8 degrees cooler. (I apologize for the novel this has become) So there is my problem. Would scotch fluctuate with a rise or drop in temp like that? Would the humidity or lack of due to the dehumidifier cause oxidation, and so quickly? Any ideas or thoughts are greatly appreciated. Thanks for reading, and I'm looking forward to being part of the forum.
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Old 12-16-2009, 02:32 PM
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Arctic Wolf Arctic Wolf is offline
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I am pretty sure the alcohol in the scotch is evaporating through the cork.

I tip all of my bottles three to four times a year to keep the corks wet and fully sealed on the bottle. When I tip the bottles I leave them on their side for 24 hours. (I actually have a rotating system using a 25 bottle wine rack. it takes eight complete days to tip my entire collection of Whisky and Rum).
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Old 12-17-2009, 07:13 PM
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I'm losing Scotch too.

Sometimes a dram here and there, greatly accelerated when friends come over
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Old 12-17-2009, 08:17 PM
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Jojo Jojo is offline
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Angel23 - you're noticing a loss after just a week? That doesn't sound right (but hey, could be wrong). For the scotches you do not drink that often - try this - wrap the bottles in saran wrap. Seriously.

powderhound - you crack me up!
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Old 12-30-2009, 04:46 AM
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You might even want to consider decanting your more prized scotches into smaller glass containers with positive sealing caps (yeah, screw-tops) such that there is minimal amounts of air trapped above the liquid. In addition to lessening the evaporation problem, this will also slow down the oxidation process. A bunch of air trapped in a partially filled bottle is the enemy of the precious elixir within. Oxidation can dull out the flavors in as little time as a few weeks. It's probably also a good idea to keep the bottles stored in a dark place away from direct light, especially any source of UV such as sunlight or fluorescent lighting.
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