What To Do If The Cork Breaks In Your Bottle Of Whiskey

There is nothing worse than opening an expensive bottle of Pappy Van Winkle whiskey only to witness the cork crumble into the bottle. Whiskey aficionados love identifying the delicate flavors of charred oak in their beverage, but not this. We asked whiskey expert Chris Blatner, an executive bourbon steward and urbanbourbonist on Instagram, what to do if this happens. He began with some words of encouragement: "First, don't panic — your whiskey isn't ruined." Whew!

Blatner explained that there are two different methods for removing the cork bits, depending on how it broke. "If the cork is still mostly intact in the neck of the bottle, try using a pair of long tweezers or a wine cork retriever. Once the bottle is cork-free, replace it with a synthetic cork or a good stopper," he suggested. Oxygen with dull the flavor of whiskey, so an airtight wine stopper like OXO SteeL Expanding Wine Stoppers is vital to preserving the subtle flavors in the spirit, and the Stainless Steel 3-Pronged Wine Bottle Cork Retriever from Franmara can easily remove the cork from the liquor.

Blatner's second solution is for when the cork disintegrates into dozens of tiny shards inside the bottle: "If there are small cork bits in the whiskey, pour it through a fine mesh strainer or coffee filter to remove them." It won't be a quick process, but you can't sip your whiskey like a pro while picking bits of cork out of your mouth. Of course, with some forethought regarding storage, you can lessen the chance that the cork will break in the first place.

If you properly store bourbon for the long term, it can retain its quality indefinitely if left unopened. The same goes for other varieties of whiskey, but utilizing best storage practices for your spirits also helps keep the structural integrity of the cork intact. High temperatures are one thing that can ruin the condition of the drink as well as the cork, said Blatner. "Heat can dry out a cork quickly, which can lead to oxygen exposure and even evaporation," he explained. A cool, dry environment away from direct sunlight is the only place whiskey should ever be stored — for the sake of the liquor and the cork.

Blatner also explained that the position of the bottle also plays a role in cork deterioration. He said, "Unlike wine, bourbon should always be stored upright to prevent the high-proof liquid from degrading the cork." Although both wine and whiskey are exceptional accompaniments to meals and celebrations, the contents of the bottle are very different. Soaking a cork in a high-ABV spirit like whiskey will weaken it over time. Allowing your amber spirit to stand tall while it is stored helps ensure that, when you finally get into it, you can simply enjoy it rather than spending time filtering out shards of whiskey-soaked cork.