by corkriain » Wed May 11, 2016 9:38 pm
Hello,
High alcohol content, as in whiskey, acts as a natural barrier to spoilage by micro-organisms. However this does not always mean that the whiskey will taste good.
If there has been evaporation from the bottle, then the flavour of the whiskey has more than likely been compromised. Excess oxygen reacts with the ethanol to produce other compounds (e.g. Acetaldehyde) that in excess do not taste good. Some of the lighter fruity/floral esters will also tend to evaporate from the liquid over long periods of time.
If the cap/seal has stood the test of time, then the whiskey should taste as good as the day it was bottled. One exception is the possibility of taints from the cork if the whiskey has been stored for a long time on its side. The correct storage for spirits is standing upright.
Although the level could ideally be higher in the neck of the bottle, I have to say that your whiskey looks in decent condition. Hope this info is of some help to you.
Please do PM me if you are interested in selling your whiskey. I am a collector of old Irish Whiskeys and would love go add this bottle to my collection.
Regards,
Eric