Normally, as alcohol gets older, it tastes better. But then, not all alcohol behaves that way and defies time like that. Many types of alcohol are found to have their own lifespans. However, as a general rule, the clock on every bottle’s mortality usually starts ticking whenever it is opened. Alcohol can expire and go bad once it is unsealed. Loss of color, flavor, or both, is one of the most common effects.
Nevertheless, it is a crucial part of taking your bar’s inventory to keep track of the alcohol’s shelf life you have in there. It does not serve any purpose to haemorrhage money or to bunk drinks as bottles die off, unenjoyed.
Does Whisky Expire?
Whisky that has not yet smelt the air has an indefinite shelf life. A bottle of liquor, once opened, lasts about a year or two before it goes wrong; meaning to say that it starts losing its color and flavor. Use the whole bottle within two years after opening if you want to use liquor for good drinks.
Liquor does not generally become toxic. However, use your common sense if you see anything suspicious in your old liquor. Toss it if you see anything like mould or something floating in there. Ensuring that the liquor hasn’t expired is a valuable part of any bartender’s duties.
Reasons for Liquor Going Bad
Normally, there are three main reasons that can affect the quality of liquor over time. Light, temperature, and air. Liquor can lose color, when it is exposed to daylight over a long time. Changes in color are usually indicative of changes in flavor.
Secondly, changes in temperature can degrade an organic molecule called “terpene,” in liquor. It alters the liquor’s flavor. And lastly, exposure to air once the bottle is opened can lead to the oxidation of liquor to affect its flavor.
Liquor lasts indefinitely, if you store hard liquor at moderate temperature and away from direct light. Liquor is not a hospitable environment for bacteria at 30% to 40%, Moreover, you’ll deal with virtually no oxidation if the bottle is not opened.
Oxidation begins once you open a liquor bottle. It is the reason why most hard liquors are likely to “go wrong” within a year or two. It does not mean don’t mean they grow mold, become toxic, or solidify; but what we mean is that the amount of oxidation degrades the flavor and quality to a level that one may not like to drink it. But you can if you want if you don’t mind the loss in flavor.
It is recommended that you finish the bottle as soon as possible after you open it. Nevertheless, it may not be easy to do with some liquor bottle sizes. Time is not on your side, once you have opened a bottle. However, adhere to the proper standard pours. And keep track of pour counts to avoid wasting the precious brew.
Base Liquors Shelf Life
Does whisky expire? No, mosy primary base liquors like whisky, brandy, rum, gin, tequila, and vodka, have an almost infinite shelf life when left unopened. It is because they don’t contain much sugar. They almost have infinite shelf life when left unopened and therefore aren’t at risk of undergoing any oxidation process. Moreover, the high alcohol content makes them particularly inhospitable to bacteria formation.
Does Whisky Go Bad?
Unopened whisky never goes wrong. A whisky bottle that hasn’t been opened lasts indefinitely. But whiskey can expire if you have opened the bottle.
Many whisky experts believe that an opened bottle of whisky will last for about 1 to 2 years when it is half-full at least. Whisky expires about 6 months if it’s a quarter or less complete. It is because the less whiskey in the bottle you have, the more oxygen it has. Whisky can go wrong faster with more oxygen since it quickens the oxidization process.
How to Store Unopened Whisky?
Connoisseurs usually have numerous whisky bottles stored in their bars. Convinced that the shelf life of whisky depends on whether the bottle is opened or not.
Whisky should always be stored upright. Unlike wine, whisky in unopened bottles during storage will not become better or worse. Whisky only matures in casks when it cmes in contact with oak wood.
Nevertheless, whisky bottles should be stored upright because the cork never closes as tightly as wine-corks do. Wine-corks are disposable, whereas whisky corks are designed for multiple uses.
Moreover, a bottle of whisky should never be exposed to direct sunlight as ultraviolet rays will bleach out color pigments over time. So, always utilise a bar cabinet or a package to protect.
You can thereby store whisky for ten years or more. Although the filling level may decrease over time as tiny amounts of the liquid can evaporate through the cork. The fluid status of the bottle can however be monitored with help of a felt pen by marking the neck on the back.
Collectors’ Choice
Most collectors like to store whisky for extended periods of time. However, give more thought to it and follow some norms.
Firstly, ensure that the storage environment temperature is lower than room temperature. Whisky is less likely to evaporate at lower temperatures. Putting an additional cap on top of the cork is also helpful. It will also ensure that the lid does not soil or damage the original sleeve. This measure will also protect the value of the bottle along with the sealing wax.
Make it a point to regularly retighten the screw-tops of the bottles. They typically loosen on their own and lead to increased evaporation.
Protect the bottles from humidity if you are storing them in a damp basement. The labels mould easily in such a situation. Thin plastic bags are ideal to keep the whisky airtight. However, ensure that the bags do not contain any chemicals or plasticizers as they can bleach out the label and affect the contents in the bottle through the cork.
Changes in the Taste of Whisky
The taste of whisky changes when opened. It behaves differently. Nevertheless, whisky takes much longer unlike wine that must be consumed within a few days’ time. Opened whisky has a shelf life ranging between six months to two years.
What changes during this time? As alcohol evaporates the taste of whisky becomes smoother. The air in the bottle coming in contact with the whisky contains active gases. They slowly react with the flavor of substances in the whisky, Why and how they make changes in taste cannot be predicted. It can get better at times or worsen most often.
It would therefore be sensible to reduce the air coming in contact with whisky to prevent changes. Filling it out in a smaller bottle is an ideal solution. However, be careful while using a decanter. Use a high-quality decanter that is truly tight over an extended period of time. It should be having a ground glass joint or a plastic seal.
Not having too many opened whisky bottles to store is best. Sensible to drink and finish the content within a few months.
Does Bourbon Go Wrong?
As a whole, the shelf life of bourbon isn’t much different from the shelf life of whisky.
An unopened bottle of bourbon won’t go bad even if you store it for decades. However, once a bottle of bourbon is opened, it has roughly got 1 to 2 years of time before it goes wrong. This time frame again depends on the amount of liquor in the bottle.
Is it Okay to Consume Expired Alcohol?
If you detect any changes in color or smell in alcohol, you know that something has gone wrong. Although it’s uncommon, it is still okay to drink expired alcohol, but the alcohol content will eventually be decreased.
