Quote:
Originally Posted by Barcode
Was the bottle stored upright or on its side? If it was stored upright the cork could dry out and crumble when you remove it, if it was stored on its side the booze keeps it moist and it should be fine.
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For the most part, corks used in alcohol bottles are re-manufactured compounds and do not require as much moisture to keep shape, actually no moisture is fine. I have yet to see any alcohol bottle to be stored on its side, new or old. Walk into any serious retail shop and check how their old bottles of Armagnac are stored or old Scotch for that matter.
Wine is a whole different ball game, of course. Champagne MUST be stored up right, its imperative. Natural corks on their side, any other enclosure is fine any which way.
Exposure to sun/heat is a serious problem, of course, with sun being a bigger problem.