Surely you have saved some fine bottles of liquor for a special occasion. Some people are only accustomed to drinking inexpensive spirits, and owning a bottle of premium liquor is just a distant dream. When you cherish a bottle of liquor, you might display it on a high shelf just to admire it every day, reluctant to uncork it. However, the harsh lesson of life is that liquor, like other beverages, has an expiration date.
Expiration Dates of Various Liquors After Opening
The time when your liquor starts to change depends on several factors such as the type of liquor you have, whether the bottle has been opened, and how it is stored. This leads to different outcomes – some liquors will simply taste worse and become less “potent” over time, while others may no longer be drinkable. This article will provide you with guidelines on how long you can enjoy your alcoholic beverages after opening the bottle.
Liquor is a product that can easily change due to external conditions once the cap is removed. For instance, wine can continue to develop and enhance its aroma in the bottle, becoming more delicious and appealing over time, but not all spirits behave this way. Whiskey stored in a sealed bottle will remain the same whether you drink it today or 100 years from now. However, once the bottle is opened, the “wicked oxygen” in the air will enter the bottle and start to alter your liquor.
Here is the duration you can still enjoy the delightful flavors of liquor after uncorking the bottle.
1. Whiskey
Whiskey will “misbehave” about 2 years after you open the bottle.
Whiskey has a high alcohol content and low sugar content, making it quite stable even if left for a long time, but it will “misbehave” about 2 years after you open the bottle. The good news is that whiskey will never spoil; you can still enjoy a glass of opened whiskey 20 years from now, and it will not harm you. However, after opening the bottle, the alcohol content decreases, and the flavor changes significantly, which may not be to your liking anymore.
2. Vodka
Vodka will last a bit longer after opening – up to 10 years.
Compared to whiskey, vodka will last a bit longer after opening – up to 10 years, and it may even last longer while retaining a flavor close to the original. However, the process of changing alcohol content is similar to other spirits; you will notice that the vodka tastes different from the original after just a few years, and it will gradually lose its potency. The liquor does not actually spoil, but the tasting experience will definitely diminish, along with potential discoloration due to the higher sugar content in the liquor.
3. Rum
After 6 months, rum will quickly deteriorate.
Rum can last indefinitely if unopened, but surprisingly, about 6 months after opening, it will start to deteriorate quickly, and after another 2 years, you will completely notice the difference in the flavor of the rum.
4. Gin
Gin tastes significantly worse within about a year after opening.
Gin has a shorter shelf life compared to other spirits after opening; it will taste significantly worse within about a year. Like other spirits, it is not harmful to drink, but consuming gin after opening the bottle is quite an unpleasant experience.
5. Brandy
This bottle will start to change flavor within about 6 months after opening.
Brandy is a spirit with an alcohol content ranging from 35% to 60%, produced through the distillation of wine or crushed fruits. You might think that spirits distilled through a more special process will spoil in a few days like a fine Cabernet. But the truth is, an opened bottle of strong liquor will start to change flavor within about 6 months, so you should finish it within that time frame.
6. Tequila
Tequila will last about a year after opening.
Tequila will last about a year after opening before it starts to taste unpleasant, whether it is Mezcal or tequila. The liquor does not spoil and is safe to drink, but it no longer tastes good, which you will notice at some point after opening the bottle.
7. Liqueurs and Cordials
This type of liquor generally spoils within 1-2 years.
As a rule, these sweet drinks have a high sugar content and generally spoil within 1-2 years, entering a “bad” state. Additionally, any liqueur containing dairy (like Baileys Irish Cream) should be consumed within a year or less to ensure flavor and prevent spoilage. In fact, dairy-containing liqueurs will not last long even in unopened bottles, so make your purchasing decisions carefully.
Liquor is an intoxicating beverage that will also lose flavor and eventually spoil after you open the bottle, but there are some simple ways you can keep your liquor tasting good for as long as possible.
- Store bottles properly: Liquor should be stored upright, as contact with the cork can contribute to flavor loss and spoilage of the cork, accelerating the oxidation process. Ensure that the cork or cap is securely fastened.
- Avoid light and heat: If you are storing your whiskey on a sunny windowsill, you are causing your liquor to spoil faster. Keep liquor in a cool, dark place, just like how it has been stored in wine cellars.
- Transfer liquor to smaller bottles when consuming: One thing you can do to keep your liquor fresh longer is to pour it into smaller bottles as you drink. A smaller bottle with a tight cap will limit the amount of air exposure and can slow down the loss of flavor, at least extending the shelf life of your liquor.
The World’s First Submersible Hydrofoil
Creating a Strange Pumpkin-Shaped Atomic Nucleus
NASA and Boeing Announce Test Launch Date for Starliner Spacecraft
