Difficult Goodbye's

[Daniel Fraley]

Have you ever gotten to the bottom of a beloved/rare bottle of madeira and lamented that last sip? Nothing lasts forever, but I thought this would be a cool way to keep a nip or two around for a future date. I picked up 10 1oz glass bottles with cork on ebay for $12, now I have a madeira archive system! I used some simple medical tape and a sharpy for the label. What do you think?

[Justin A]

Really Good idea!

[Eric Ifune]

I have about a dozen unfinished bottles in my cellar. I'll have a nip or two on occasion. A couple have less than a glass left.

[Barry Sunderland]

One thing that I love about Madeira!

[Andy Velebil]

I love it!!

[Peter W. Meek]

One note: Sharpie marks will fade with time (10-20 years). Most inks will, also. You might consider making your labels with a soft pencil (so you get a dark mark) and protecting them from smudging with a clear overcoat of varnish. Graphite is very resistant to deterioration from the environment.

I know this because my collection of miscellaneous small parts in drawers were marked with a Sharpie, and are now almost unreadable due to fading.

Also, for the largest selection of small bottles (and corks), try American Science & Surplus ( www.sciplus.com ). They also have a LOT of other fun stuff.

[Andy Velebil]

One note: Sharpie marks will fade with time (10-20 years). Most inks will, also. You might consider making your labels with a soft pencil (so you get a dark mark) and protecting them from smudging with a clear overcoat of varnish. Graphite is very resistant to deterioration from the environment.

I know this because my collection of miscellaneous small parts in drawers were marked with a Sharpie, and are now almost unreadable due to fading.

Also, for the largest selection of small bottles (and corks), try American Science & Surplus ( http://www.sciplus.com ). They also have a LOT of other fun stuff.

Since they are standing up, would it be better to use a medical grade rubber stopper to seal the bottle? What I'm thinking of is something along the lines of these http://www.sciplus.com/p/25ML-CLEAR-GLA ... PPER_49945

[Roy Hersh]

I have often come to the bottom of bottles of Madeira ... the only kind that I typically hold onto for more than a couple of days and even that is tough ... with Madeira, and have been very melancholy when taking the very last sips. It is like saying goodbye to a good friend.

I have organized tastings, (in particular in NY and DC) where one of our FTLOP brethren, showed up with a hypodermic needle used to suck up a specific quantity of cc's of Madeira from his glass and then inserted the juice into specially sealed medical test tubes which he then labeled.

[Eric Ifune]

have organized tastings, (in particular in NY and DC) where one of our FTLOP brethren, showed up with a hypodermic needle used to suck up a specific quantity of cc's of Madeira from his glass and then inserted the juice into specially sealed medical test tubes which he then labeled.

I need to remember to do this!

[Miguel Simoes]

I have organized tastings, (in particular in NY and DC) where one of our FTLOP brethren, showed up with a hypodermic needle used to suck up a specific quantity of cc's of Madeira from his glass and then inserted the juice into specially sealed medical test tubes which he then labeled.

[Peter W. Meek]

As near as I can tell, Madeira has been exposed to oxygen almost since it was a grape on the vine. Does it suddenly need protection better than a simple cork (to keep the flies out)?

[Andy Velebil]

have organized tastings, (in particular in NY and DC) where one of our FTLOP brethren, showed up with a hypodermic needle used to suck up a specific quantity of cc's of Madeira from his glass and then inserted the juice into specially sealed medical test tubes which he then labeled.

I need to remember to do this!

Uh huh!