How Long Does Bourbon Last?

Ever gazed upon that dusty, half-open bottle of booze from two Christmases ago and thought, ‘Darling, are you still good, or have you gone over to the dark side?’

Well, my spirited friend, you’re not alone. Dive into this intoxicating read as we uncork the truth about the shelf life of your favorite libations once they’ve been greeted by the outside world. Cheers to knowing when to sip or skip!

How Long Does Bourbon Last?

It depends on how much exposure it has had to air, light and heat. So once you open it, the durability drops dramatically. Let’s talk unopened vs. opened.

How Long Does Bourbon Last If It Is Unopened?

Bourbon and other types of hard liquor have a low sugar content and high alcohol content. Alcohol kills bacteria, so these spirits tend to last a very long time if unopened. There’s no real expiration date on an old bottle of hard liquor.

How Long Does Bourbon Last Once It Is Opened?

Generally speaking, about 1 to 2 years. Again however, this depends on exposure to light, air and extreme temperatures.

The lower the level of remaining liquor in the bottle, the more air is in the bottle and the faster it will degrade. So if you have an unloved bottle or two with an eight of an inch left at the bottom, use it up or toss it out!

Note: For hard liquors, when we say “degrade” we’re mostly talking about flavor and color. Even old, opened liquor is typically safe to drink, but it might no longer be pleasant.

Here Is What You Can Do With That Aging Alcohol:

He has a recipe in the video, but you can really put whatever you want in Jungle Juice and it will taste pretty good.

Other Recipe Ideas For Bourbon

Key Lime Pie with Bourbon Whipped Cream

Ingredients:
-1 9 inch graham cracker pie crust
-1 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
-2/3 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
-2 tablespoons grated lime zest
-4 egg yolks
-1/2 cup bourbon
-For the whipped cream:
-2 cups heavy cream
-3 tablespoons powdered sugar
-2 tablespoons bourbon

Instructions:
1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and place the graham cracker crust in a 9 inch pie pan.

2. In a medium bowl, mix together the condensed milk, lime juice, lime zest, and egg yolks until combined.

3. Pour the mixture into the graham cracker crust and bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes.

4. Remove from the oven and let cool before refrigerating for at least 3 hours.

5. Once the pie has cooled and set in the fridge, remove and pour the bourbon over the top.

6. To make the whipped cream, add the heavy cream, powdered sugar, and bourbon to a large bowl and beat using an electric mixer on med-high speed until stiff peaks are formed.

7. Pipe onto the top of the cooled pie and serve.

Bourbon Bacon Cheddar Muffins

Ingredients:
-2 cups all purpose flour
-2 teaspoons baking powder
-1 teaspoon baking soda
-3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
-3/4 teaspoon black pepper
-1 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
-1/2 cup diced bacon
-2/3 cup bourbon
-2 eggs
-1/2 cup buttermilk
-1/4 cup canola oil

Instructions:
1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and line a 12 cup muffin tin with paper liners.

2. In a large bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and pepper until well combined.

3. Stir in the cheese and bacon until evenly incorporated.

4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the bourbon, eggs, buttermilk, and canola oil.

5. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until just combined.

6. Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin tin, filling each cup about 3/4 full.

7. Bake in the preheated oven for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean.

8. Let cool before serving.

Sources

https://www.extension.iastate.edu/news/not-all-alcohol-gets-better-age