plastic stoppers for champagne bottles

[derekn]

I've been bottling sparkling cider in champagne bottles (American), using a batch of plastic stoppers I bought at my LHBS a few years ago. I finally ran out last year, and bought some more online. Turns out they weren't quite the same -- they didn't seal perfectly, and I lost the carbonation in 90% of the bottles.

I just went back to the LHBS today, and now they have the bad type, too :-(

I measured the flanges on both types with calipers -- the good ones are around 20 mm, and the bad ones are 18 mm. The flanges on the good stoppers are much wider/deeper, so I can see why they seal better.

Here's a photo (good one on the left, bad one on the right):

Anyway, I'm wondering if anyone has a source for the good ones?

Has anyone else run into this problem?

 

[ryane]

I wonder what type of bottles your using? Ive used the ones on the right in the past without any issues, I think most if not all of the bottles I used were old martinelli's cider bottles

 

[derekn]

I wonder what type of bottles your using? Ive used the ones on the right in the past without any issues, I think most if not all of the bottles I used were old martinelli's cider bottles

I'm using a mixed collection of recycled champagne bottles, new champagne bottles, and even a few Martinellis's bottles. The "bad" stoppers appeared to fit well (though they were quite a bit easier to push in than the "good" stoppers).

After I realized I had flat cider, I pulled out the stoppers, added some more sugar, and capped with standard crown caps. That seems to have worked pretty well. So I can use crown caps again this year, but the stoppers are aesthetically nicer.

 

[gratus fermentatio]

I've used the type on the right in the pic; had some serious issues with loss of carbonation. Some bottles had a good seal & carbed up, but about 2/3 did not. I'll definately look for the other style of stoppers next time I bottle in champagne bottles. Regards, GF.

 

[Pappers_]

I've also used the ones on the right (in a bier de gaarde) with sparkling wine bottles and they've been fine. I think, if I were to do it again, I would just use bottle caps.

 

[MeadWitch]

Derekn, I have had similar problem with those plastic corks as well. Once the carbonation is gonna is it hell trying to get the corks off the bottles. I hate them. Now I only use real cork and baskets, that I get from Midwest Supplies.