Wine can be stored horizontally. Whiskey and other spirits cannot.
Can you store hard liquor on its side?
Liquor likes to stand
Sommeliers often encourage storing bottles of wine on their sides, but for liquor, not so. Keeping your whiskey down rather than standing it upright can cause the cork to mix and seep into the liquid, altering the high-alcohol content and causing it to disintegrate over time.
How do you store whiskey?
Always, always upright
A good bottle of Scotch has a place anywhere, but it should always be upright and not horizontal in your whisky cabinet. There’s a common misconception that whiskies should be stored like wines, with the liquid constantly in contact with the cork.
Can you store bourbon on its side?
Stand Your Bottle Up
Wine is stored horizontally, but whiskey should stand up straight and proud. The issue in both cases is the cork. Storing wine on its side means the liquid stays in constant contact with the cork, keeping the stopper moist so it doesn’t dry out and crack.
Should whiskey be refrigerated?
The rule I use is: If it’s under 15% alcohol or if the base is wine, it goes in the fridge once it’s open. Spirits like whiskey, rum, gin, vodka, etc. don’t need to be refrigerated because the high alcohol content preserves their integrity.
Can you store whisky lying down?
Store your whisky upright
Alongside light exposure, the position of whisky bottles is important to consider. Unlike wine bottles (which are recommended to be stored horizontally), whisky should be stored upright.
How do you keep whiskey fresh after opening?
Once your whiskey is opened, you will need to keep protecting it from the elements. Store it in a cool, dark area, such as a wine cellar, pantry, cabinet, or box. A mostly-full, opened bottle of whiskey should stay good for about a year if kept away from heat and light.
How long can you keep whisky once opened?
The best way to avoid oxidising your whisky, and changing the flavour, is simply to drink it. An open bottle of whisky lasts much longer if it’s more than half full, with a shelf-life of up to five years. But once it reaches the halfway mark, this drops to just one or two years.
Does whiskey go bad?
Unopened whiskey doesn’t go bad. Whiskey that hasn’t been opened lasts indefinitely. … Most whiskey scientists believe that an opened bottle of whiskey lasts about 1 to 2 years—if it’s half full. Whiskey expires about 6 months if it’s a quarter or less full.
Can I store liquor horizontally?
Although this goes against the rules for wine, liquor should never be stored on its side. When stored horizontally, constant contact between high-proof alcohol and the cork can spell disaster for your favorite spirit. … Technically, liquor doesn’t ever really go bad – and storing it incorrectly won’t make you sick.
What alcohol can be stored on its side?
Pro tip: Unopened wine is best stored on its side, so the cork stays moist. Rum, whiskey (whisky) and gin can also be stored in a cool place after they’ve been opened. Similar to vodka, stick gin in the freezer for about an hour before serving to make a smooth, chilled martini.
How should spirits be stored?
How to properly store alcohol at home
- Wine, spirits, and liqueurs should be kept in cool, dark places.
- Opened bottles will deteriorate over time due to oxidation and can lose flavor, color, and in some cases, spoil.
- Aromatized wines like vermouth and Amaro need to be refrigerated once opened.
Does whiskey improve with age?
Unlike wines, distilled spirits do not improve with age once they are in the bottle. As long as they are not opened, your whiskey, brandy, rum, and the like will not change and they will certainly not mature further while they wait on the shelf.
What is the best way to drink whiskey?
We recommend trying whisky neat at first—no water or ice. Allow the whisky to express itself as its creator intended. It’s perfectly acceptable to add water or ice if that’s what you prefer. Master blenders dilute their whisky down to 20% ABV, to reveal flaws and subtle flavors.
What type of glass is best for whiskey?
An Old Fashioned glass (aka rocks glass, whiskey tumbler) is the standard choice for serving whiskey drinks. These whisky glasses are typically 7 to 12 oz. in capacity and can be used to serve whiskey neat, on the rocks, or in whiskey cocktails.
Can you drink 100 year old whiskey?
If you have a bottle of whiskey that was opened a few years ago and it was kept sealed in the pantry for this time, the alcohol will be fine. It might not taste the best (especially if the bottle is half empty), but it will be safe to consume.
Does Jack Daniels go bad?
The shelf life of Jack Daniels varies significantly on how it is stored. A never once opened bottle can easily last you for 10 years and above, whereas an opened bottle has a shorter shelf life of 6 months to 2 years. The emptier the bottle, the speed of oxidation will increase and change its flavor.
How can you tell if whiskey has gone bad?
If an old whiskey looks or smells bad, discard it immediately. If it looks and smells fine, taste a small amount to determine if it is safe to drink. If it has a milder taste than usual, that is fine. But if it has a sour, metallic, or other strange taste, discard it.
What do you store whiskey in?
Artificial light is less of a problem, but it is still best to keep a whiskey stored in a dark cabinet. Ideally, you should keep your whiskey in a basement or a room that does not experience temperature fluctuations as a result of central heating. If your home is air conditioned, any storage unit should do.
How should I store my whiskey for investment?
Connoisseurs advise keeping bottles in a cool area, away from sunlight and excessive humidity. Unopened bottles keep well for a long time if stored upright to prevent direct contact between the alcohol and the cork. Of course, it is essential not to open the bottle (under any circumstances!).
Is sunlight bad for whiskey?
Light. According to the Scotch Whisky Association, direct sunlight is the only thing that can degrade a bottle of whiskey. Some drinkers believe that prolonged light exposure can fade the color of brown spirits and result in “off” flavors like plastic or rubber. … Keep them out of direct and prolonged sunlight.
How long can you keep alcohol in a plastic water bottle?
The bottles are safe for one-time use only; if you must keep them longer, it should be or no more than a few days, a week max, and keep them away from heat as well.
What whiskey is neat?
Whiskey neat is whiskey served without any mixer, additional flavor (think cocktail bitters) or dilution. It seems like this would be a glass of whiskey “straight up” but surprisingly when you order a spirit that way you’re telling your bartender to mix it with ice first and then strain it into your glass.
Should whiskey be cold or room temp?
What is the best temperature for Whisky? Whisky is at its optimum taste at room temperature, so between 15 and 18 degrees Celsius (60-65 °F). This goes for Scotch, Irish, Japanese Whisky, and Bourbon.