Alcohol

It’s a day or two after a big party you hosted (Cinco de Mayo, perhaps?) and you notice there are some leftover margarita mix buckets or bottles. Time to decide what to do with them. That’s when you start to think whether margarita mix can go bad, or how to tell if it’s past its prime. Or what is its shelf life after opening the bottle?

Fortunately for you (and your wallet), margarita mixes have quite a long shelf life. Even the already opened ones retain freshness for at least a couple of weeks, but definitely not long enough to last until the next year’s Cinco de Mayo.

Can Margarita Mix Go Bad? How To Tell If It’s Bad?

Cocktail mixes go bad, eventually. They are (basically) water loaded with sugar and preservatives, so they stay safe to drink for years. It’s not like you’re going to wake up one day and notice there’s mold in the bottle or bucket. Chances of that happening are slim to none.

Nevertheless, if you notice that the mix smells off (funny, sour, odd), or its color has changed, that’s a sure sign that it’s spoiled. Again, that doesn’t happen that often.

What’s most likely to happen is that the mix degrades in quality gradually. And at a certain point, you will notice that the smell is weak and flavor of the prepared drink lacking. That’s when it’s time to discard the ready-to-mix mixture and go buy another one, or open a fresh one. Or, if you’re feeling up to the challenge, you can make your own mix and freeze it ([TYL]).

Of course, you don’t have to guess for approximately how long the margarita mix will be of top quality. That’s what the date on the label is for.

How Long Does Margarita Mix Last?

All cocktail mixes have quite a long shelf life. When it comes to margarita mixes, they usually last between a year and a year and a half ([BB]). That period is included in the best-by date on the label.

As I already mentioned, that period is only a rough estimate that’s there to help you — no need to live and die by it. If your unopened mix is already a couple of weeks or even a couple of months past that date, it’s still worth checking if it’s good enough to use. Chances of it being spoiled are slim, and the worst probable outcome is that the prepared drink won’t taste that good. If that’s the case, it’s best if you discard it. But if it turns out okay, hey, you have a whole good mix to use!

Once you open the bottle or bucket, the process of quality loss speeds up. The mix should still be at peak quality for at least 6 to 8 weeks ([BB]) if you refrigerate it, possibly longer.

Again, it won’t spoil after that period, but its taste won’t necessarily satisfy your taste buds. Even if the leftovers sit in your fridge for months, it makes sense to give them a chance. You might still be able to make a decent margarita. Remember to keep the test drink tiny in volume, so if it turns out not that good, you don’t waste quality Tequila.

Last but not least, if you take good care of the mix, chances of it keeping peak quality for longer are much higher. Let’s talk about that.

How To Store Margarita Mix?

When it comes to storing non-alcoholic margarita mixes, things are super simple.

Before you open the package, all you need to do is to keep it in a cool and dark place. A cabinet in the pantry is probably the best choice, but the basement or the kitchen work too. Just make sure the temperature there stays fairly even, and it doesn’t sit in sunlight if it’s in a bottle. If you want, you can keep the mix in the fridge, but it doesn’t benefit that much from being refrigerated.

Once you open the mix, the leftovers should be chilled in the refrigerator and sealed tightly ([DC]). If you can’t seal the original package, transfer the mix to another bottle or a food-grade airtight container. Technically speaking, the mix can still sit at room temperature, but its quality drops much quicker. Hence most (if not all) margarita mixes come with “refrigerate after opening” statement on the label.

If you were a bit overeager and prepared more margarita than needed, store it in the fridge too.

In a Nutshell

• Unopened margarita mix usually lasts between 12 and 18 months, often longer. If it’s a couple of weeks, or even a month or two, past its date, it might still be okay. Give it a try.
• Opened margarita mix should be refrigerated and keeps quality for at least 6 – 8 weeks, possibly much longer.
• If your mix is past its date, give it a try before you serve it to your guests. And use only a small amount in the test, so you don’t waste good Tequila if the mix turns out not up to par.
• If you made too much margarita, store the leftovers in the fridge.

References

• [BB] Big Bucket: FAQ
• [DC] Daily’s Cocktails: FAQs
• [TYL] The Yummy Life: Make-Ahead Frozen Margaritas

Aromatic, robust, and refreshing, Vermouth can be served on its own or as a part of a cocktail. Originally, Vermouth was sold as a medicinal drink. Over time, the product was sold as an alcoholic beverage much like Amaro. In fact, some of the most iconic cocktails – such as Martini and Manhattan – are made with vermouth. This wine is infused with a variety of herbs, flowers, and spices + a kick of brandy to give it a distinct aroma and flavor!

Can Vermouth Go Bad?

Vermouth is an alcoholic product so it has a long shelf life. The alcohol in vermouth gives the product a self-preserving property so it should keep for a long, long time. Since vermouth is high in alcohol, it is quite resistant to bacterial and mold growth.

Image used under Creative Commons from Edsel Little

Although vermouth will keep indefinitely, the product does turn flat or flavorless overtime. When the product is not kept properly or if the storage environment is less than ideal, the product loses its aroma and flavor. Other times, a leaky or poorly sealed bottle accelerates the flavor loss. Do note that sweet vermouth has a longer shelf life than dry vermouth.

Signs that Vermouth Has Gone Bad

Since vermouth does not spoil the same way as other products, it can be quite a struggle to check for spoilage. Generally, any changes in its color, flavor, or aroma are an indication that the product is no longer usable. A leaky or poorly sealed bottle or container could also cause the product to turn flat or lose flavor entirely. Always keep a bottle of vermouth tightly sealed after every use to extend its shelf life.

How to Store Vermouth?

For sealed, unopened bottles of vermouth, you can store the product in the pantry at room temperature. Since the product is sensitive to heat, humidity, and light, keep a bottle of vermouth in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight or sources of heat.

For opened bottles of vermouth that are nearing their expiry date, storing the product in the refrigerator may extend its shelf life. The chilly temperature will slow down the degradation of the product. But again, keep the lid tightly sealed so the product won’t lose its flavor while stored in the fridge.

Image used under Creative Commons from Stuart Webster

When kept at room temperature, a sealed bottle of vermouth will keep for a year. On the other hand, opened bottles of vermouth will only keep for six months or so in the fridge. Vermouth has a shorter shelf life than other spirits because it doesn’t age as most wines. Vermouth has to be consumed fresh so finish a bottle as soon as possible for optimal flavor.

Can You Freeze Vermouth?

Freezing is not a recommended storage method at all. As with most types of alcoholic beverage, Vermouth has the tendency to lose its flavor during storage. Flavor loss will be accelerated if the product has been left to thaw for a while. Vermouth has a reasonable shelf life so you will not have any problems using up a bottle. Still, if you must freeze this product, just make sure to transfer the vermouth in an airtight container.

Summary

A bottle of vermouth makes any event extra special! Can vermouth go bad? As with most spirits, vermouth has a long shelf life but it has to be stored properly to retain its aroma and flavor!

Sake is a Japanese wine made from fermented rice. The drink is often served during ceremonies and special occasions or to cap off a good meal in restaurants. This traditional drink is also used in cooking! Sake is such a prized ingredient that most Japanese households have a bottle of sake or two on display.

Sake is highly perishable because it is almost always made by hand. Since the product doesn’t contain preservatives, it is prone to spoilage. The good news is, sake won’t spoil easily as long as it is stored properly.

Image used under Creative Commons from Tristan Kenney

Can Sake Go Bad?

Can sake go bad? Since sake is fermented, it boasts of a long shelf life. However, there is no alcoholic drink that could truly keep forever. While sake will keep for a long, long time, it will go bad at some point. High-quality sake is not only hard to come by, it’s quite pricey too! That’s why storing the product properly is a must if you want to extend the shelf life of sake.

An unopened bottle of sake has a longer shelf life than an opened bottle of sake because the product is kept sealed. As with most types of fermented drinks, air exposure is the enemy. Always seal the product after every use to extend the shelf its shelf life.

Signs that Sake Has Gone Bad

It is hard to tell if sake has gone bad at a glance. You have to smell or taste the product to know for sure if it is no longer safe to consume. Any slight taste or aroma changes could be a sign that the sake has gone bad. To be on the safe side, try not to store sake for a long time. Consume the product before the expiry date.

How to Store Sake?

The best way to store unopened bottles of sake is to keep them in the pantry at room temperature. Place the product in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, heat, and humidity. Air exposure causes oxidation that can shorten the storage life of the drink.

Image used under Creative Commons from Sean Davis

On the other hand, opened bottles of sake, as well as sake that’s nearing its expiry date, should be kept in the fridge. It’s best to store the sake in the lower rack of the fridge so the chilly temps won’t affect the delicate flavor of the product. An unopened bottle of sake will keep for 6 to 10 years in the pantry. Opened bottles of sake will keep in the fridge for 1 to 2 years. It’s best to consume the product within a year or less for optimal flavor.

Can You Freeze Sake?

You can freeze sake because any type of drink can be stored in the freezer. However, freezing is not a recommended storage method for sake. The harsh temperature will affect the delicate flavors of the drink. Since sake is a fermented product, it doesn’t require freezing at all.

Summary

Can sake go bad? Sake will go bad at some point but thanks to its long shelf life, you won’t have any problem using up your supply! Remember, sake is quite pricey so storing the product properly is the best way to get the most out of the drink.

Summertime calls for colorful, fruity, and “fun” alcoholic beverages. And Malibu rum is definitely one of them, enjoyed most often in drinks, ranging from easy ones like Malibu tonic to classics such as Pina colada. But what if the summertime is over and you still have a bottle or two of Malibu in storage? Can you just leave them where they are until you’re back in the mood for some sweet and colorful drinks?

Or perhaps you’re new to Malibu, and you’re wondering if you need to refrigerate it after opening. After all, it’s a fruity drink, so such a requirement shouldn’t come as a surprise. Plus knowing how long it keeps quality once opened would be useful too.

If you have any questions related to going bad, storage, or shelf life of the liqueur, this article is here to help. And to start things off on the right foot, let’s talk about spoilage.

Can Malibu Rum Go Bad? How Long Does It Last?

First off, Malibu rum is technically a liqueur ([WIKI1]), although it’s sometimes called a flavored rum. While the naming conventions aren’t that important, you should know that Malibu has an alcohol by volume (ABV) value of 21%, while most rums are around 40% (80 proof) ([WIKI2]). But even though it contains quite a lot of fruity flavoring, this ABV value is good enough to keep the drink safe for consumption for years.

When it comes to whether or not Malibu rum can go bad, there isn’t one straight answer. Theoretically, if you’d leave the bottle unsealed for a few years, and made sure some bacteria got inside, it’d probably spoil.

But in practical terms, an unopened bottle shouldn’t go off in years if you store it properly. The liqueur should stay pretty much the same for a very long time, so unless your Malibu is 10 years old, don’t hesitate to open that bottle and check out its contents. Of course, the taste of a Malibu that sat in storage for 5 years probably won’t be as good as the taste of a fresh one. That’s because this alcoholic beverage is flavored and doesn’t have such a high percentage of alcohol that it will basically stay the same forever (like vodka or whiskey).

So far we talked about unopened Malibu, let’s now cover what happens when you unseal the bottle for the first time. Long story short, opened Malibu rum probably won’t ever spoil if you take good care of it. But that doesn’t mean it will keep its quality for as long as “pure” rum does.

Having said that, if the flavored drink changes color, or starts to smell off, throw it out. Same thing if it tastes wrong. Chances of that happening are minuscule, but you never know.

Let’s sum things up. Malibu rum will last years unopened, but once you open the bottle, the quality starts to degrade more rapidly. And at some point, you will probably discard the leftovers for quality reasons. So the big question is how long until the quality is bad enough for you to get rid of it?

How Long Does Malibu Rum Last After Opening?

Unfortunately, there isn’t one straightforward answer to that question. The producer says that the Malibu’s shelf life after opening is one year ([MRD]). But as you know producers pretty much always give safe recommendations when it comes to such topics. So chances are you will be able to keep it around and be happy about its quality for even longer.

As you can imagine, there isn’t one set-in-stone period. Everyone is different, and it’s up to your taste buds if you find that liqueur good enough for drinking or not. But if you have the bottle opened for longer than a year, it’s a good idea to give the Malibu rum a taste before you mix up some drinks. You know, so you won’t ruin the rest of the ingredients with a liqueur that doesn’t quite hit the spot.

Last but not least, if you’re feeling that your Malibu isn’t at its peak anymore, not all is lost. You can still try making some drinks with it, but choose recipes that involve other strong flavors that overpower the Malibu. Like for example pineapple juice or orange juice. With such a mix you should enjoy the subtle kick that the liqueur adds without feeling that it’s past its prime. Or you can discard that old bottle, it’s up to you really.

Knowing all of that, it’s time to talk a bit about storage of Malibu, so you know what to do to keep that open bottle in good quality for as long as possible.

How To Store Malibu Rum?

Storing unopened Malibu is no different than storing other alcoholic drinks. In short, keep it in a cool place away from sunlight and heat sources. A pantry or a dark cupboard in the kitchen is perfect. Of course, you can put it into the fridge, especially if you’re planning on opening it later that day, and want to have it chilled.

Once you open the bottle, remember to always keep it sealed tightly when not in use. When it comes to whether or not you should refrigerate the rum-based liqueur, it’s up to you. Keeping it chilled after opening isn’t required, but it may help retain the taste for longer. So if you expect it to stay around for a few months, refrigeration would be a smart thing to do, but it’s by no means necessary. If it remains in a cool place, it should keep its quality reasonably well too. One thing that most alcohols don’t like is heat, so if you happen to store the bottle in a warm place, the quality of the liqueur will drop faster than expected.

To finish things off, I’ll leave you with one final tip. It works for spirits, and it could help your Malibu too. If the bottle is less than half-full, transfer the liquid into a smaller one, preferably one that will be almost full. The less air is in the bottle, the slower the flavor degradation process. Of course, implementing this only makes sense if you expect to keep that Malibu around for a few months at least. Otherwise, the profits will be close to none, and definitely not worth the trouble.

In a Nutshell

• Malibu rum lasts years while unopened; keeps quality for about a year after opening
• Malibu doesn’t require refrigeration, even after opening, but if you expect to store an open bottle for a long time, keeping it in the fridge might help with preserving the taste
• if the liqueur doesn’t taste as good as it used to, try drinks with strong-flavored ingredients that will mask the subpar flavor

References

• [WIKI1] Wikipedia: Malibu rum
• [WIKI2] Wikipedia: Rum
• [MRD] Malibu Rum Drinks: Nutritional Information

No liquor collection is complete without a bottle of Kahlua. This delicious coffee liqueur finds itself at home in White Russians, and can make a fun addition to some “grown up” hot chocolate! Of course, you may find yourself with a bottle of Kahlua that’s been sitting in the liquor cabinet for quite some time. Can Kahlua go bad? How can you tell if Kahlua is still safe to drink? Read on to find out!

Can Kahlua Go Bad?

Like many liqueurs, Kahlua does go bad. While your bottle of Kahlua may not spoil in the traditional sense of growing mold, or going rancid, over time it will begin to decline in quality. The manufacturer recommends that Kahlua be consumed within four years of the production date. This shelf life recommendation is the same, whether or not the bottle has been opened, and does not depend on the storage method.

While the product may be still be safe to consume after four years, the quality will have likely degraded, and your mixed drinks might taste a little flat!

Image used under Creative Commons from alyssalaurel

How to Tell If Kahlua Has Gone Bad

The main flavor in Kahlua is coffee, and over time, the aromatic compounds in the brew begin to break down. This will make the liqueur less flavorful, and at the same time, will diminish the smell. So, the first way to test if that bottle of Kahlua is still good is to smell it. If the odor of coffee is strong, then the Kahlua is probably still good. A weaker smell, or no smell at all indicates that the taste will likely be off, and won’t taste as good.

While it’s unlikely, Kahlua that has been contaminated could potentially harbor unwanted bacterial or mold growth. If you smell any sour or other off odors, the Kahlua has likely gone bad and should not be consumed. Similarly, if there are any visual signs of mold growth, though highly unlikely (if not almost impossible), the Kahlua should be discarded.

Kahlua will settle after a while, and though this doesn’t indicate spoilage, it does mean that the flavor has likely changed a bit. You can mix the drink back together by gently tipping the bottle upside down a few times before serving – just be sure it’s tightly sealed! Sugar crystals forming on the edge of the bottle are another sign that the Kahlua may have seen better days, though it’s still likely safe to drink.

How to Store Kahlua

Kahlua should be stored in a cool, dark place, away from exposure to heat or direct sunlight. If you’d prefer, you can store Kahlua in the refrigerator, though this will not increase the shelf life by any substantial measure. Many people prefer to store Kahlua in the refrigerator for taste reasons, as this liqueur is best served chilled.

The most important thing to remember when storing Kahlua, is that the bottle should remain tightly sealed. The flavor compounds are sensitive to air exposure, so tightly closing the bottle is the best way to retain the strong coffee flavor. This will also prevent the alcohol from oxidizing and reduce the evaporation, which tends to happen with alcohol-based beverages.

Storing Kahlua in the freezer is not recommended. While there is a good deal of alcohol, which will prevent the Kahlua from freezing solid in most home freezers, the beverage will become thick and possibly chunky when frozen. This will make pouring Kahlua quite difficult, and give your mixed drinks an unpleasant texture. You can, of course, chill a bottle of Kahlua in the freezer for a half hour or so to get the liqueur to a better temperature for drinking, so as to avoid using too much ice.

Even though gin is one of the spirits, it often doesn’t feel like one. Fruity flavor and floral infusions aren’t things most people associate with spirits. And that’s why there are so many questions about this alcoholic drink. Obviously, the most often asked questions revolve around shelf life and going bad. Many people aren’t quite sure how long can gin sit in storage, or if an open bottle can go off. Of if the juniper-flavored drink requires refrigeration upon opening.

And those are perfectly valid questions. I mean with all the fruits and sometimes flower petals involved, it’s easy to forget that it’s still a distilled drink with a minimum of 37.5% ABV (75 proof) ([WIKI]). And that it’s not that much different from other spirits.

If you have any questions related to spoilage, shelf life, or storage of this popular cocktail ingredient, this article is for you. And the best way to start is to talk about spoilage.

Can Gin Go Bad?

So before you mix your gin and tonic or make your own Sloe gin, you want to make sure that your old gin is still okay to use. And asking if it’s even possible that gin goes off is a logical first step. Well, unless you go above and beyond to make it go bad, it won’t ([MCG]). The high alcohol content is an excellent preservative, so gin, like its cousins such as rum or tequila, stays safe to drink pretty much forever. But that doesn’t mean that it will remain the same in terms of flavor or appearance.

Gin is often infused with fruits and flowers, and the resulting alcohol can be of various colors. However, those colors are organic, and they tend to fade over time ([IG]). So if your beautiful flower-petal-infused gin has turned pale, it doesn’t mean it’s off. It’s most likely because the color naturally faded. That’s why some gin producers recommend enjoying their product within a year or two. They know that the colors keep well for that period, and gin buyers usually prefer colorful drinks instead of pale ones.

Another thing, especially common for flower-infused gins, is that after some time there might be sediment at the bottom of the bottle. This sediment consists of botanical particles that weren’t filtered out. They’re perfectly harmless ([MCG]), and you can drink up the last few drops.

Having said that, if it’s an old bottle, or opened for quite a few years already, and there’s anything off about the alcohol, like the color has changed significantly, or the smell is odd, toss it out. Such a situation is highly unlikely to happen, but you know, don’t drink that old gin right away just because “it can’t go bad.”

Of course, as I already hinted, gin won’t keep its quality forever, so I guess it’s time to talk about the shelf of this alcoholic drink.

How Long Does Gin Last?

Like, vodka, whiskey, and other spirits, gin doesn’t benefit from prolonged storage. In other words, it doesn’t get better with age. And I’m pretty sure you already knew that, or at least expected, after reading the section about gradual color fading. So, how long does gin last?

Unfortunately, it’s impossible to tell. If it’s a floral infusion, the color will probably start to fade within a year or two, even if the bottle remains unopened. And while the taste after opening will be perfectly fine, you will be missing out on a part of the experience. In short, if you care about aesthetics, try to start the bottle within a year of buying and finish within a few months. If what you value most is the taste, you can keep an unopened bottle for years. The gin’s flavor doesn’t change much over time, as long as it’s unopened.

Once you unseal the bottle, things change slightly. Evaporation and oxidation come into play. While the evaporation process goes at a snail’s pace (unless you keep it in a hot place), oxidation slowly alters the taste of the alcohol. If you want to see oxidation in action, pour some gin in a glass, leave it out overnight, and taste the next day.

What does that mean for an opened bottle? That the better access to air the alcohol has, the quicker its taste will change. And the more oxygen in the bottle, the faster that process goes. So if you have an almost full bottle of gin, it will easily last years in good quality if stored properly. But if it’s only a few sips left in it, its flavor might degrade within a few months. In short, the shelf life of opened gin depends on how much alcohol is in the bottle, and it ranges from only months to decades.

Knowing all of that, let’s talk about the last part of the puzzle: storage.

How To Store Gin?

Storage of gin is no different than the storage of other spirits. A cool and a dark place is what you need ([MCG]), so a dark cupboard in the pantry or kitchen is probably the best option. Of course, you can keep it in the fridge, but there’s little to no benefit to that. Unless, of course, you’re chilling it for the evening, so the ice cubes won’t melt that fast if you serve it on the rocks. When it comes to temperature, make sure the bottle sits in a place where the temp stays pretty even. Temperature fluctuation and direct sunlight negatively affect the quality of alcohol, both unopened and opened.

When it comes to storing gin after opening, not much really changes. Just remember always to keep the bottle sealed and follow the recommendations for unopened gin.

One trick you might find useful if it takes you ages to finish a bottle is to transfer the gin to a smaller one once the current one is less than half full. This way you slow down the oxidation process because there will be less oxygen in the small bottle than in the big one. Of course, it only makes sense to do that if you know that you will store that half-full gin for months on end. It won’t make much of a difference if you finish the bottle within a month or two.

In a Nutshell

• gin doesn’t really go bad, but it slowly degrades in flavor after opening
• many colorful floral and fruit infusions tend to turn paler over time, that’s normal and harmless to the alcohol
• keep it in a dark and cool place, away from direct light and heat sources

References

• [WIKI] Wikipedia: Gin
• [IG] Ink Gin: FAQ
• [MCG] McLean’s Gin: FAQ

Bourbon isn’t exactly known as the kind of alcohol that you finish a bottle of in one sitting. Unless, of course, you enjoy it with a bunch of friends. And if you drink bourbon only occasionally, the half-open bottle will probably sit in storage for quite a long time. And when you stumble upon it after half a year, it’s only reasonable to start thinking whether it can go bad or not.

Or perhaps you got an expensive bottle of bourbon as a gift, and you’re thinking about holding onto it for longer, so it gets even better. If that’s the case, let me tell you right now that won’t quite work, as bourbon doesn’t age in the bottle.

In short, if you have any questions about spoilage, shelf life, or how to store this variety of whiskey, this article is for you. And to start things off, let’s talk about whether or not bourbon goes off.

Can Bourbon Go Bad?

Well, it probably can, at least theoretically. If you would leave the bottle unsealed and added a bunch of contaminants inside, after a dozen of years it could go bad. But if you keep bourbon sealed in storage, it won’t.

Bourbon, just like other types of whiskey, or distilled spirits as a whole, doesn’t spoil. The alcohol content makes the liquid safe from any microorganisms that could cause it to spoil. But if by any chance you noticed that your bourbon developed and off odor, or suddenly changed in taste, discard it. It’s highly unlikely to happen, but if it did, proceed like you would with any other type of food.

Knowing that it doesn’t spoil, does it mean that it lasts forever in good quality? Not necessarily. Let me explain.

How Long Does Bourbon Last?

Before we talk about shelf life, let’s briefly talk about the aging process and how it works for bourbon. I already mentioned that bourbon doesn’t age once bottled, so allow me to expand on that.

Bourbon is aged in new, charred oak barrels ([WIKI]), and the moment it’s out of the barrel, that process ends. Like vodka, rum, and other spirits, it doesn’t get better or develop taste after bottling. So saving it for years doesn’t make that much sense. Unless, of course, it’s an expensive bottle and you plan on selling it for a better price. But if you’re not well versed in bourbon, I wouldn’t try that.

A good way of thinking about bourbon is that once it’s bottled, it freezes in time until you open it for the first time. So if you own one that was bottled 10 years ago, and you only open that bottle today, the alcohol should be pretty much as good as it was 10 years ago. And if you wouldn’t open it today and decided to keep it for another 10 years instead, nothing would change about it in the following decade. But once you open the bottle for the first time, things change a bit.

The moment you unseal the bottle, the alcohol gets access to fresh air, and some of the most volatile compounds are released. Exactly the same thing happens for all whiskeys. That’s why some people find the whiskey better the next day after first opening it.

When it comes to shelf life, two things change once you open the bottle. First, even a sealed bottle isn’t perfectly sealed so there will be some evaporation over time. And since alcohol evaporates more readily than water, it will super slowly start to lose its strength. Of course, if you won’t leave the bottle unsealed for a few days, you likely won’t notice any effects of evaporation for years. The second thing is the presence of oxygen. Oxygen alters the taste of spirits. If you’ve ever left an unfinished glass of whiskey overnight, you know what I’m talking about. It doesn’t taste quite the same, and that’s the result of both evaporation and oxidation on steroids. So you know what might happen if you don’t take good care of your opened bottle of bourbon.

In short, the more oxygen in the bottle, the quicker it alters the alcohol’s taste. So if you unseal the bourbon, pour yourself a drink, and put that bottle back in storage, it should retain its flavor for years. But if there’s only a drink or two worth of whiskey in the bottle, its taste will degrade much faster. Such a bourbon in a year from now you might not taste that well as it does now. Fortunately, there are some storage tricks to keep the quality of this alcoholic drink for longer.

Let’s recap what we covered in terms of shelf life. Unopened bourbon has pretty much indefinite shelf life. As long as the seal is intact, the alcohol should be as good as new. Once you open the bottle, the liquid starts to slowly degrade in quality. The speed of the degradation process depends on how you store the alcohol and how much is left in the bottle. The closer the bottle to full, the longer the bourbon lasts. Unfortunately, there’s no way to calculate for how long will your opened bottle taste well. It depends on too many things, plus it’s also a matter of personal preference. Some of you might be quite sensitive to the flavor, notice even a minor change, and decide to get rid of it. Others won’t be as sensitive and will find even somewhat “stale” bourbon okay to drink.

Knowing that, let’s talk about how to take care of the bourbon so it keeps quality for as long as it can, even if you opened it a long time ago.

How To Store Bourbon?

Storing unopened bourbon isn’t rocket science. Put the bottle in a dark and cool place, and you’re done. It can sit years in a pantry or a kitchen cupboard and will be just fine in there.

Once you open the bottle, there are a few things worth knowing. First, keep the bottle sealed tightly when not in use. I know those crystal whiskey decanters look really good in a liquor cabinet, but they usually don’t provide a good seal. If you expect to finish the bottle within a few months, it’s probably okay to use one of these. But if you want it to last years, keep it bottled.

Next thing is that the bottle shouldn’t sit in the sunlight. So even if you choose a liquor cabinet, make sure the liquor isn’t exposed to direct light the whole day. As mentioned earlier, a dark cabinet is optimal.

Once the bottle is less than half-full, consider transferring the alcohol to a smaller one. Remember how I talked about oxygen affecting the taste? This strategy is to reduce that effect. Of course, it only makes sense to do that if you expect to keep the bourbon around for a long time. If you will finish it within a few months, it’s not worth bothering with that.

Last but not last, temperature. Pretty much all alcohols like being stored in a cool place and don’t like temperature fluctuations. Same thing with bourbon. If you prefer to serve it cold, feel free to refrigerate it. Or instead of chilling it in the fridge, just serve it on the rocks. But remember it doesn’t require refrigeration upon opening.

In a Nutshell

• unopened bourbon has a virtually indefinite shelf life
• once you open the bottle, the alcohol starts to very slowly degrade, depending mostly on whether or not it’s sealed and how much is in the bottle
• if you expect to store a less than half-full bottle for a prolonged period, pour the liquid into a smaller bottle

References

• [WIKI] Bourbon