I have a heavy crystal decanter I’ve been using for years. A while back I was having some guests for a week, and thought I’d save some money and grabbed a bottle of Jim beam to put in it, as opposed to the higher end I tend to go for, because none of my guest cared about Bourbon. I noticed the level going down further than I had consumed. This has never been an issue before, so I figured someone had just nipped it while o was asleep. The next day, there was condensation on the inside, and the level had dropped further.

Since I’d been using the decanter for so long, I assumed the frosting on the stopper had rubbed off and it no longer sealed.

When it was empty, I refilled it with larceny, my standard, and to my surprise, it didn’t evaporate at all for weeks.

Last night, I refilled it with beam again, and this morning, it had dropped and there was condensation on the side.

What really confused me, is Jim beam has a lower alcohol content than the Bourbons I usually fill the decanter with, so I would think it would evaporate as readily.

Why does only this one brand evaporate?

Quick searching gave me no results

Tldr: Why does Jim Beam evaporate in my decanter while nothing else does?

  • @[email protected]
    42•1 month ago

    Not what you’re asking for, but unless you know your decanter is made from lead free crystal (most aren’t), don’t store booze in it for any amount of time. You should be safe to use it to serve a spirit in, but lead leaches into the spirit much quicker than you’d realise

      • Lvxferre
        10•1 month ago

        Only if it’s lead acetate. You’d need vinegar or at least wine, not whisky.

      • @[email protected]
        18•1 month ago

        Yes. Most crystal has lead, it’s just how it works. It’s fine if you’re not a child and you don’t store it in there for long periods.

        I have some and use the glasses regularly. The decanter is and finished in 1-2 days though.

        If it has a deep resounding ring you might want to avoid it.

        • @[email protected]
          6•1 month ago

          And its not dangerous, like leaching into everything? How can you know its safe besides simply throwing it away?

            • AmidFuror
              3•1 month ago

              Define “safe.” If drinking from a lead crystal glass for 10 years took 10 years and 2 days off your life, would that be safe?

              Alcohol isn’t exactly safe to drink. Your liver can repair itself, but not back to 100%. And you’ll pick up some mutations that will make cancer more likely by a little bit down the road.

                • AmidFuror
                  2•1 month ago

                  Mutations that increase proliferative capability accumulate, and increased cell death and renewal enhance this.

                  Not the same way, yes. You get different effects from light drinking over years vs occasional binge drinking, for example. But still cumulative.

                  • @[email protected]
                    3•1 month ago

                    The damage being done by alcohol accumulates, sure. But if you stop drinking, the damage is done. You’re not going to see more damage occur once it is out of your body. The poison doesn’t accumulate over time.

                    With lead exposure, the poison is the thing accumulating in the body. If you stopped your exposure to lead, it’s still in the body, doing damage over time.

          • @[email protected]
            2•1 month ago

            You can do your own research, but it takes time to leech. If you’re not storing in it for long periods it’s fine.

      • fmstratEnglish
        11•1 month ago

        That means it’s a glass decanter, as crystal always has lead 😉

        • SadSadSatellite OP
          10•1 month ago

          In the 1800s absolutely, but since the discontinuation of leaded products, significantly heavy glass with tin, aluminum, titanium or other metals added for strength and sheen has been deemed crystal, with the previous material being designated as leaded crystal.

          I’m an avid antique collector and have needed to know the difference for several years.

          If you reside in the EU or Britain however, disregard those statements, as they still have legal definitions of crystal on the books.

          Edit: I meant UK, not EU, my bad.

          Edit again: it is actually the EU. American schools, man.

          • @[email protected]
            4•1 month ago

            So it’s safe for my takeaway from this to be that I CAN get a modern crystal decanter? This conversation had me leaning away hard until your comment 😂

          • fmstratEnglish
            2•1 month ago

            Well I learned something new today. Although, we have UKers in this household so the formal definitions from both the UK and EU are often stuck to. Don’t get me started on cheese…