Does Whiskey Go Bad?

Whiskey is a type of alcoholic beverage, and it is used a lot in the world nowadays. Like alcohol, whiskey can also go wrong if it is not stored correctly. And it can last for many years if you keep it in proper storage conditions. Even after opening the bottle of whiskey, it can last for a long time. So, we can say that whiskey is a shelf-stable beverage.

If you have a bottle of whiskey sitting in your pantry for almost a year and you are not sure whether it is fine or not, a question may arise in your mind, does a whiskey go bad? This article will tell you about the storage, shelf-life, and going bad of whiskey.

How to Store Whiskey?

Whiskey has a longer shelf-life, just like alcohol and other beverages. But this shelf-life also depends on the storage conditions. It is quite clear that if you store the product in the right conditions, it will last for as long as possible, but it will get spoiled very quickly if it is not stored correctly.

If you have bought too many whiskey bottles, you should store them in the right conditions so that they can last for as long as possible. Proper storage guidelines for whiskey are also given below.

Place in a calm and dark place

Sunlight and heat sources negatively affect the taste of whiskey. So, you should avoid placing the bottle of whiskey in the sunlight or near any heat sources. These factors will not destroy the product but will affect the quality of the product.

You should place the bottle of whiskey away from the sunlight in a calm and dark place. Avoid placing it near the oven or back of the refrigerator too. A pantry or a cupboard is the best place for storing a bottle of whiskey.

Keep the bottle sealed tightly.

After unsealing the bottle of whiskey, it will be exposed to the air. The oxygen will enter the bottle, and the process of oxidation will take place. The more the oxygen interacts with the whiskey, the more it will affect its quality. The taste and quality of whiskey will change when it is exposed to the air. So, keep the bottle sealed tightly after opening it.

Pour in smaller bottles

If there is a minimal amount of whiskey left in the bottle, it is recommended to pour the remaining whiskey from a large bottle into a smaller one. Smaller bottles will have less headspace and less oxygen, and they will keep for longer that way.

Can You Freeze Whiskey?

To increase the shelf-life of any food product, it is stored in the freezer, but it is quite different for whiskey. You can keep the whiskey in the freezer because freezing will not harm whiskey, but it will affect its taste and quality quite negatively. The taste and quality of whiskey are retained at room temperature but not in a freezer.

However, if you like to drink cool whiskey, you can place it in the refrigerator for some time or use ice cubes for cooling.

How Long Does Whiskey Last?

As we know that whiskey is a shelf-stable beverage, so it is quite clear that it can last for a more extended period. An unopened bottle of whiskey can have an indefinite shelf-life. Suppose you have bought a bottle of whiskey in the ’70s, and it remained unopened till the 2000s, the whiskey would stay as it is, and you need not worry at all about its spoilage.

However, the opened bottle of whiskey can worsen if it is not stored in the right conditions. Once the bottle is opened, it will get exposed to the air. Oxygen affects the taste and quality of whiskey very negatively. Still, an opened bottle of whiskey can last for more than one year if stored in the right conditions.

How to Tell If Whiskey Is Bad?

As mentioned above that whiskey can not go wrong. The shelf-life of whiskey depends on the storage conditions. If it is stored correctly, it can last for as long as possible. But if it is not stored in the right conditions, it would not retain its quality and taste for an extended period.

To tell whether the whiskey is good to use or not, you need to check the following things.

• If you notice that the cork is damaged or there are any mold spots on the pin, try to avoid using that alcohol.
• You can also tell whether the whiskey is terrible or not by checking its smell. Just give it a good sniff. If the scent is odd, then you should discard it at once.
• The last thing you can check is the taste of whiskey. If it tastes fine, then you can use it. But if it tastes terrible, it would be best for you if you avoid using it.

Sources

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• Whiskey