Sealing Bottles

[Nabatean]

Hi All and best solstice wishes to all.
Will have one on your health.
Slainte !

With the season, one tend to offer a few bottles to dearest friends.

I try for best visual effect by sealing the bottles with a wax cap
like this guy here is doing with nightmare big monster bottles.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9uZqDqSoMw" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

I tried to make a mix of beeswax, gluesticks and wasco for the colour. Even sealed the cork first with some pine resin hoping to end with a little rezina note in the drink.

But : seems I cant find the correct mix.
When I dip the bottles, its perfect. Looks fantastic. But when cooling, the seal starts cracking.

Anybody has a good mix that works well ?

[Bushman]

Have you tried shrink bands, they can be bought online.

[jonnys_spirit]

Try this:
https://morewinemaking.com/category/bot ... tives.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Good luck!
-jonny

[Nabatean]

Hello Bushman
Thanks for reply but shrink bands have kind of a cheap look.
What I look for is indeed these bottle sealing wax beads as proposed by Jonnys spirit. Looks great and gives the bottle that little extra.
However, I want to melt my own .
On youtube you find people making the wax with glue sticks and a color crayon.
Works very well but when drying, they shrink and crack.
So I was hoping somebody here could give me some tips

[still_stirrin]

...On youtube you find people making the wax with glue sticks and a color crayon...Works very well but when drying, they shrink and crack. So I was hoping somebody here could give me some tips

Well then, do you think possibly Youtube could have lead you astray???

If you’ve tried to follow “the tube’s” advice and it doesn’t work for you....TRY SOMETHING ELSE. In other words, get the proper materials for hot sealing the bottles. Sure, maybe you can “MacGyver” it, but then again...maybe not!

For my bottle gifts, I use the clear shrink sleeves that Bushman recommended. They’re quick and easy and very inexpensive.
ss

[Bushman]

It’s a personal preference, I have used the clear bands and I don’t think they are cheesy at all. Especially in todays bottling when so many things in the stores that you buy are shrink wrapped. But again you are giving them as a gift and you want them to look the best you think they can.

[OtisT]

I also like using shrink bands and I personally don’t think it detracts from the presentation. I actually get a lot of compliments specifically on them. I have been using the red ones. Because these were made for wine bottles, I typically have to cut about 1/4” off the bottom before shrinking, or things get all wrinkly.

Having opened my share of makers mark bottles, I personally find the wax a PITA to open. Have separated my nail from my finger a few times digging that stuff out. Ouch!

Good luck with the wax. Otis

[Oldvine Zin]

We used to hand dip all the bottle tops at the winery, talking days of just dipping the tops of bottles into a molten hot pan of wax. Well we don't do that anymore and our wine still sell


be safe
OVZ

[Nabatean]

We used to hand dip all the bottle tops at the winery, talking days of just dipping the tops of bottles into a molten hot pan of wax. Well we don't do that anymore and our wine still sell


be safe
OVZ

Hi Oldvine

I presume this was commercial synthetic wax (beads) and not some wax you made yourself ?

Happy Solstice, summer solstice for you I guess

[Nabatean]

I also like using shrink bands and I personally don’t think it detracts from the presentation. I actually get a lot of compliments specifically on them. I have been using the red ones. Because these were made for wine bottles, I typically have to cut about 1/4” off the bottom before shrinking, or things get all wrinkly.

Having opened my share of makers mark bottles, I personally find the wax a PITA to open. Have separated my nail from my finger a few times digging that stuff out. Ouch!

Good luck with the wax. Otis

Thanks Otis
Shrink band is OK I guess but is always a (plastic) imitation of a real wax seal.
For year end and solstice, a real seal, a handpainted label, a reposada mellow drink, nice glass, maybe candle, snug inside while freezing outside, few selected friends, maybe a few chocolade dipped orangettes. The pleasure of life.

And btw, there is a rather simple trick to open waxed wine bottles.

So Happy Solstice and slainte !

[Nabatean]

It’s a personal preference, I have used the clear bands and I don’t think they are cheesy at all. Especially in todays bottling when so many things in the stores that you buy are shrink wrapped. But again you are giving them as a gift and you want them to look the best you think they can.

Hi Bushman

Thanks for the reply.
Part of the wine culture is for me very visual. In soviet era they had their champagnskaia with plastic corks. Theoretically better than the real cork but lacked finesse. I am also reluctant towards the new screw caps. Where is the pleasure of opening a bottle with style. Feeling the real cork. not the plastic one which again is better than the real cork.

At year end, there is the pleasure of a great gift. Home made drink, hand painted label, real wax seal.
(and since I have bees, it would be my own homemade wax seal)

Happy Solstice
Slainte

[Nabatean]

...On youtube you find people making the wax with glue sticks and a color crayon...Works very well but when drying, they shrink and crack. So I was hoping somebody here could give me some tips

Well then, do you think possibly Youtube could have lead you astray???

If you’ve tried to follow “the tube’s” advice and it doesn’t work for you....TRY SOMETHING ELSE. In other words, get the proper materials for hot sealing the bottles. Sure, maybe you can “MacGyver” it, but then again...maybe not!

For my bottle gifts, I use the clear shrink sleeves that Bushman recommended. They’re quick and easy and very inexpensive.
ss

Hello still stirrin
Well, I prefer the real stuff and avoid, were I can, plastics
And I like the pleasure and anticipation of opening a great bottle.
If that takes some effort and time : even better

After all we dont pack our wine in jerrycans or drink it in jam jars

Happy Solstice

[Nabatean]

And to end the year and open a discussion on rare and very expensive drinks

Third of rare scotch are fake
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-sc ... s-46566703" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

So you pay thousands of dollars for a truly exceptional scotch and find out its fake.

Cheers

[ShineonCrazyDiamond]

So you pay thousands of dollars for a truly exceptional scotch...

Cheers

No. I don't

I pay hours of labor for a truely exceptional whiskey. And it's so rare, only one person in the world has ever had it...

[Nabatean]

So you pay thousands of dollars for a truly exceptional scotch...

Cheers

No. I don't

I pay hours of labor for a truely exceptional whiskey. And it's so rare, only one person in the world has ever had it...

Hear hear !
Such bottle deserves a wax sealed cap and a fine crystal glass when poured

Come on you raver, you seer of visions
Slainte and happy solstice

[Irishgnome]

Nabatea,

I seal a few of my “better stuff” with a cork and embossing wax. I grab as much of this when it’s on sale or clearance from the craft stores. This is the stuff used for sealing wedding invites.

I toss whatever I get into a small stainless steel dog bowl and heat it up with my map gas torch. Once it’s nice and fluid, I pull all the wicks out with a small stick, I then dip the top, rotate the bottle, then hit the bottom with my palm a few times to get drip marks. If you don’t want the drip marks, continue to rotate the bottle until the wax cools.

Take a look in the stationary sections and the wedding sections at Michael’s, Hobby Lobby, Jo Anns, etc…, I’ve even seen this stiff at Wally World.

Cheers,
Irish.

[still_stirrin]

OK. It does make it more of a “keepsake”, but it won’t make the spirit taste any better. And in the end, do you really remember the packaging as much as the product? Like an artistically designed label, or even a fine etched bottle label, it will still come down to the quality of the product INSIDE the bottle.

Sealing a bottle is simply a means to keep someone out of the bottle...where the fruits of your labor really reside. Setting on a shelf, the only thing worth bragging about is “how it looks”, not how it tastes.

Worry about a fancy seal if you want, but it seems backwards to me. A shrink sleeve seal will allow you to transport a filled bottle legally...to any place you want to drink it. Now THAT makes sense to me.
ss

[Irishgnome]

Yes, the product is what it is. Fancy labels or seals will not change what the product is.

At the same time, I would never give my wife fancy jewelry in an old shoe box!

If it’s a gift, and you spent a good amount of time trying to get a good product (something that your proud of). I think it is okay to take some time making it more presentable, which is the point of the thread.

Just my two cents.
Cheers