Knob Creek Rye: Screw Cap. Really?

[Perrito-Incognito]

Picked up a bottle of the "new" Knob Creek Rye Whiskey. After working the cork I figured out it is a plastic screw top. Maybe this is de rigueur for rye whiskey, but I'd prefer a cork topper.
Still evaluating the contents. Nice spice up front. May have a high evaporative rate
View attachment 276408

 

[Go West Young Man]

Modern screwtops are better than cork - or rather they're equal in performance with a much lower risk of failure leading to skunking, evaporation, etc.

 

[ReAndyMator]

And far fewer concerns with TCA contamination..... If I could move all our bottles to ROPP / EST closures, I'd be a happy bunny....

 

[Edcculus]

I see almost no point in cork caps for spirits other than the perceived luxury.

Completely unrelated - is that a Welsh or Lakeland Terrier? I've never had a Lakeland, but Welshes are awesome dogs!

 

[mcgils]

I have see some pretty cheap screw tops lately. My latest bottle of Beefeater had a screw top that wouldn't secure. It just kept spinning around and around. Not the same spirit (or price point), but I replaced it with a cork.

 

[Perrito-Incognito]

Modern screwtops are better than cork - or rather they're equal in performance with a much lower risk of failure leading to skunking, evaporation, etc.

I don't mind Stelvin closures on my wine. No problem there. On a bottle of spirit I'm fine with either; though I like the thought of cork in a bottle of whiskey. I think they use cork in their bourbon; have to check when I get home.
The closure just feels really cheap. I mean, this plastic screw top is really bottom-barrel quality. Granted this isn't super premium stuff, but I'd expect a little more investment in packaging from the fine folks a Knob Creek.

 

[Perrito-Incognito]

Edcculus,
She's a Welsh Terrier. Awesome dog. Twelve and still full of spunk.

 

[ReAndyMator]

This will sound a little odd, but any chance of a pic of the closure? (Professional interest!!)

We don't use many plastic closures, but the few we do use are surprisingly expensive...

 

[Perrito-Incognito]

Sure ReAndyMator. It at least has a liner. My Evan Williams bourbon top has no liner and is a bit deeper (more threads).
Below I lined up some different closures.

Left to right..
Hayman's Old Tom Gin: Metal screw top
Evan Williams, Knob Creek Rye: Plastic screw top
Benedictine, Drambui, St. Germain: Interesting screw top
Bulleit Rye, Grand Marnier, Wild Turkey 101, Hendrick's Gin, and some aged rum: Cork insert (plastic top)

 

[ReAndyMator]

Thanks - looks a little unusual, but I'm seeing more unusual closures around these days.... Bought a bottle of 'Green Mark' vodka a couple of weeks back. The bottle finish was designed to take a Crown cork, but someone had obviously designed some sort of stopper that pushes in, and pops out, allowing it to be resealable.

FWIW, that does seem to be a cheapie closure, even if it is one with a liner/wad. The one piece, wadless one on the Evan Williams (never come across that brand) is the real cheapie one. Just drop it on the bottle, bash the top, and watch as it seats itself. Always interested to see what other people are using. Plastic closures are definitely becoming more common, particularly as the costs of cork and aluminium go up..... My cork supplier just tried to give us a 20% price increase.