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 Gin 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 Gin Last If It Is Unopened?
Gin 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 Gin 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 Gin
Berry Gin Fizz
Ingredients:
• 2 ounces gin
• 2 ounces fresh seasonal berry puree (such as raspberries or blueberries)
• 2 ounces fresh-squeezed lemon juice
• 2 ounces simple syrup
• 1 cup ice cubes
• 4 ounces chilled club soda
• Fresh mint, for garnish
Instructions:
1. In a blender, combine the gin, berry puree, lemon juice, simple syrup, and ice cubes.
2. Blend on medium-high speed for 15-20 seconds, until combined and the ice is broken down.
3. Pour the mixture into two rocks glasses.
4. Top each glass off with club soda, stirring to combine.
5. Garnish each glass with a sprig of fresh mint.
6. Serve immediately.
Elderflower Gin Tonic
Ingredients:
• 2 ounces gin
• 2 ounces elderflower cordial
• 4 ounces tonic
• Fresh lime slices, for garnish
Instructions:
1. In a large rocks glass, combine the gin and elderflower cordial.
2. Fill the glass with ice cubes and top with tonic.
3. Stir gently to combine.
4. Garnish with lime slices.
5. Serve immediately.
Sources
https://www.extension.iastate.edu/news/not-all-alcohol-gets-better-age