What is the shelf life of liquor?

Vermouth bottle image

Here is useful information for the home bar. I already knew some (like the surprisingly short life of vermouth) but not all of this. Excerpt below but it's not a long article anyway.

"From distilled spirits to vermouths, here’s a handy guide to storing your bottles—and knowing when it’s time to let go."

So what is the shelf life of a bottle of alcohol? It turns out the answer is pretty complex.

Shelf Life of Liquor Fast Facts

    • Unopened liquor of all kinds will generally keep indefinitely if stored properly. Store out of direct sunlight, tightly sealed, in a stable room-temperature environment.
    • Once opened, distilled spirits like whiskey and gin won’t expire or become unsafe to consume, but they may start to taste “off” after 1–3 years.
    • Liqueurs, opened, will usually last 6 months–1 year.
    • Vermouths and other wine-based spirits like vino amari should be refrigerated and consumed within 6–8 weeks.

Bourbon image


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