Bourbon bottles typically include some amount of paper labeling. Sometimes a little, sometimes a lot. Which is a problem, since I place the bottle under running water when I drill the hole for the cord (to keep the area cool).
This is why I avoid full-paper bottles, like E.H. Taylor, Jr. Small Batch and Basil Hayden’s. I love the bourbons, but wish they’d do something more original with their bottles!
To compensate I’ve been wrapping the acceptable bottles in plastic wrap (since they still have some paper). And I use sticky painter’s tape to hold it in place. Then water on! And drilling begins.
The label may still get a little wet, but so far they’ve dried out just-like-new. I’m sure the extra steps helped… A full rinse for the full drill time would do serious damage!
How much plastic wrap? Too much and the water gets trapped; too little and the label gets wet. But I’m learning with each iteration. And the running cold water is keeping the bottles from shattering (the past 12 have gone fine).
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