A Guide to Vintage Decanters: How to Clean Them, Use Them and Decorate with Them

I was recently having a conversation with a dear friend who asked me to keep my eye out for some vintage decanters for her bar.  There really isn't anything quite as vintage and cool as a bunch of decanters, right? I don't know about you but I immediately think about Don Draper and smoking jackets and super cool things like Vintage Jags and the Dos Equis man.  

Today I thought we'd explore what alcohol goes in what kind of decanter along with how to clean them and other uses for decanters besides alcohol.

Why Decant?

Simply put, it is an excellent storage option for booze that doesn't have a tight cork or screw top to protect the air from getting into alcohol.  Personally, I think it is pretty but something tells me that isn't why grown men are using them.

Remember the post (see it here) where we discussed the difference between crystal and glass? Keep this in mind when you are on the hunt for decanters.  You don't want to keep a liquor in a vintage lead crystal decanter, as it will cause health issues. 

How to Clean

The most effective way to clean the inside is to fill with hot water and dish soap and shake it up so it gets the inside nice and clean.  Make sure to give the lid a really good scrub or even soak it in soapy hot water. 

Liquor and Shapes of Decanters

Confused on what shapes go with what liquors? Well, you aren't the only one.  Here is what I have found to be the answer:

It doesn't matter.

Yeah, that won't work for me.  I dug a little deeper and feel more confident with this: grape products go in round decanters and grain liquors go in squares.  Phew, now I can breath.

Ultimately, here is what you need to consider.  If you have gin and vodka all in square decanters, will you be able to tell the difference between them? This is often why you will find a bar with various shapes of decanters...so they can tell the difference between all the liquid of the same color.

My two cents is this - you can do just about anything but Bourbon/Whiskey needs to be in a square decanter. 

If you are serious about using vintage decanters as storage, I would forgo the pretty crystal or glass top stoppers and look for either a plastic or cork stopper.  Although definitely more attractive, those glass and crystal stoppers aren't going to keep much air out. 

Other Uses?

If you are like me and don't drink, you can still use decanters and collect them. Put together a collection of different shapes and sizes of vintage decanters in the middle of a table and add candlesticks to them for a beautiful centerpiece! Or you can place a few roses in them and add to your nightstand for a gorgeous vase.

How about vintage decanters in your bathroom to hold mouthwash and makeup remover?