Everyone with a liquor collection has that one bottle that goes untouched. There’s a rigorous approach to storing wine and beer, which ought to be consumed shortly after opening, while unsealed spirits spend their time on the back shelf. Luckily, unlike wine or beer, distilled spirits are made to last since most are often more than 40% alcohol by volume (ABV), and alcohol is a preservative.
However, alcohol does indeed go bad, since aromas and flavors can deteriorate over time — but there are ways to make sure your alcohol lasts longer and to know when to toss it. The first trick is to buy smaller bottles and just purchase on a more regular basis. “A small bottle allows the consumer to go through the product in its entirety before it begins to change in both flavor and aroma,” Jason Asher, founding partner of Phoenix’s Century Grand, told Food & Wine .
Another perk of buying small bottles is that you can try something new each time you go back to purchase liquor. But not all alcohols are built the same. For example, vodka lasts forever, and while there’s not really a risk of it expiring or oxidizing, you could improve the overall drinking experience with the way it’s stored.
It may be the least likely to degrade over time, but it’s suggested to store it in the refrigerator. “Don’t pour a bottle of premium vodka right out of the freezer,” Mike Foster, global trade engagement and customer experience manager for Belvedere, told Food & Wine. “Well-made vod.