Fixing a Loss of Aroma

[Bee]

Guys, I screwed up the aging of some bourbon. I left the jar open with a coffee filter over it all last winter and now all the complex nose is gone.
Is there a way to restore it?

[Steve Broady]

Make more?
How does it taste?

[Bee]

It doesn't taste as good as Wild Turkey, which I consider to be a mixer more than a sipper.

[Bradster68]

If it had oak in it,it really shouldn't matter. It would probably breathe like a barrel would.
You may have lost some to the angels,but in the end if it taste fine. That's all that matters

[JustinNZ]

Based entirely on ignorance and speculation, I would:

Put a lid on it
Test the abv
Chuck another stick in in for a little while
Blend it with new make or something else aged

Possibly not in that order.

[NZChris]

I think that your experience has demonstrated that angels don't only partake of the nasties and will happily take desirable VOCs as well.

I doubt that it's an easy repair job. I would look for an alternative use for it, like grain based liquors/liqueurs, cream liqueurs, gins/genever, vodka, ouzo, eau de vie, etc..

[Steve Broady]

I’m far from an expert, or experienced with aging spirits yet, so take this suggestion for what it’s worth. You might be able to blend it with some new make to regain some of those desirable flavors, while getting a head start on the aging of the new stuff. Sort of a one time accidental solera, if you will.

[still_stirrin]

I think that your experience has demonstrated that angels don't only partake of the nasties and will happily take desirable VOCs as well.

+1.

As usual, Chris’s words are concise yet articulate.

If Wild Turkey is your paradigm, then you’re trying to contain many of the volatiles found in the heads. The open jar method of aging definitely would reduce the VOCs, but also some of your ethanol. And that leaves more of the “backend” in your jar, making them significantly more apparent.

If it were my jar, I think I would just bottle it and label it as a “small batch limited run product” and take the lesson learned as wisdom on how to age (or how NOT to age) a product. Heck, your friends (who like free drinks) may like it as “top shelf”.
ss

[Bee]

Makes me mad because other than tasting young & headsy hot, it was better than Maker's Mark before this.

[HDNB]

two noticeable instances of this for me was a sealed 1963 bottle of Canadian club i opened a few years ago, it tasted like an old library book smells...to be fair new CC isn't much better...
and a slivolitz i built that was huge aroma and flavour and turned into vodka over the course of 3 years, sitting in a half full bottle.

[Bee]

I sincerely believe that done right, home brew can easily be as good as an EH Taylor barrel select.
That's what I'm shooting for.

[Bee]

Do you think adding some of the more headsy portions from other runs would fix this?

[Bee]

I did add some headsy portions from another run and it worked for restoring the aroma. In fact, maybe even better than originally. About 3 TBSP/Gal.