Most mid-to-high priced rums use a cork to seal the bottle, but that’s not always the case. Many times RnD finds an expensive, even delicious rum topped off with a screw cap and wonder, ‘What were they thinking?’ Like many people, we tend to believe that a fine rum should be sealed inside its bottle with a cork, rather than a Stelvin-type closure, otherwise known as a screw cap. But we wonder if the topper really matters. So we asked ourselves ‘Does it make a difference?’

As far as quality and taste go, probably not. Indeed, some of our favorite rums come bottled with screw caps. But sure, we prefer  traditional cork topper just because it looks classy. The bottom lines are: 1) you can’t judge a rum by it’s lid, and 2) don’t let a screw cap stand between you and trying a great new rum. Ultimately, it is a personal decision. Kinda like rum tasting.

Corks–For and Against. Admit it, at least some of the appeal of seeking out and sipping exotic rums is the tradition they represent. Historically, rum bottles (and just about every other kind of liquid) were sealed with corks. Cork was the o

nly reliable stopper available. Today, as natural cork is becoming scarce (cork comes from the bark of a tree), every contribution to balancing the Earth’s ecologically must be considered. And unlike fine wines, rum doesn't age or mellow after it leaves the barrel and is bottled. Rum has no tannic acids that need to work on the juice as with wine. Once a rum is bottled, it is what it is – ready now to be enjoyed. So any breathing that corks allow is wasted on Rum.

Cork failures are well documented -- mostly in the wine industry, though we’ve experienced failed corks on some of the finest, mot expensive rums available today. A leaky cork or evaporation of that rare, long-sought-after rum is a crying shame. A leaky cork equals personal loss. Trust us on that bit.

On one notable visit to the Caribbean, Roger brought home an extremely high quality rum (with a lofty price to match), gently resting in a hand blown bottle capped with a cork. The bottle was also bubble wrapped and ensconced in a special handmade walnut chest. It was then further wrapped for hand carrying home to the States, and carefully handled along the journey from the West Indies to Oregon as if it was a priceless artifact. Upon reaching home and opening the container, it was immediately apparent that the cork had leaked. The escaping rum damaged the wooden cap of the cork (it fell off) and an ounce or more of this wonderful nectar was lost. OK, the story eventually had a happy ending, but the first replacement bottle received from the distiller had a leaky cork – even though the rum was double boxed and wrapped tightly. Lesson: a leaky cork can happen even to the very best and most exclusive rums.

To screw or not? Or perhaps more correctly, to unscrew or just pull? Let’s face reality – screw caps are here to stay. They are plentiful, ecologically sound, and just happen to be among the most secure closure devices available today. The economics of manufacturing also play a role in the increasing popularity of screw caps. With bottom lines of some rum makers being hit hard, many are turning toward screw caps.

Our favorite way to ensure a good seal and continue the tradition of old-fashion rum is by dipping the sealed, corked bottle top in a wax sealer. More difficult to open, probably more expensive, but some fine rums still come capped this way – and we appreciate them from the moment we uncork their bottles. However, the topper doesn’t help us decide what we want to sip next, or our opinion of its taste. It’s what’s inside that counts.