Whisky Bottle Citronella Torches

If you enjoy whisky, it's inevitable that over months and years you are going to empty some bottles. While it's probably most reasonable to recycle these, it's can be fun to save a few to have a bit of fun with. I did just that with old bottles of Old Pulteney 17 and Buffalo Trace (RIP) by making them into citronella torches (to keep the bugs away).

If you want to make one of these torches, here is what you'll need:

Empty bottle
Citronella Oil
Wick
Copper Pipe Joiner
Teflon Tape

The biggest trick it picking the right-sized copper joiner. You'll want to have one with a wide enough flare that it doesn't fall into the bottle, but also with a narrow enough neck that the wick is held securely. A little measurement will save you some guess work.

The rest is easy. First you need to fill the bottle (rinse it first!) about halfway with oil. Next, push the wick through the copper joiner. Now wrap the joiner in Teflon tape to allow for a tight seal between the joiner and the bottle opening, which you should press together. Wait a while for the oil to absorb into the wick, then you should be good to go!

These things work really well and burn a serious amount of citronella. They'll definitely keep the bugs away if you're having a picnic or enjoying a dram outside. Of course, please be careful if you make one of these. This is flammable stuff, so take appropriate care (and don't drink any booze before doing this!).

Josh