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 Irish Whiskey 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 Irish Whiskey Last If It Is Unopened?
Irish Whiskey 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 Irish Whiskey 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 Irish Whiskey
Irish Coffee
Ingredients:
– 1 ½ ounces Irish whiskey
– 2 teaspoons of dark brown sugar
– 1 cup freshly brewed hot coffee
– 2 tablespoons light cream
Instructions:
1. In a heatproof mug, stir together brown sugar and hot coffee until the sugar dissolves.
2. Add the Irish whiskey and stir.
3. Pour in the cream slowly and carefully, pouring it over the back of a spoon to achieve a nice layer of cream on top.
4. Serve immediately and enjoy.
Irish Whiskey Trifle
Ingredients:
– 1 pound pound cake, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
– 2 cups whisky
– 2 cups raspberry jam
– 1 cup heavy cream
– 1 cup cream cheese
– 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar
– 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions:
1. Place the cubed pound cake into a trifle bowl.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the whisky, raspberry jam, cream cheese, confectioners’ sugar and vanilla extract. Mix until the mixture is combined and smooth.
3. Pour the cream mixture over the pound cake cubes, spreading it until the cake is completely covered.
4. Whip the heavy cream until it reaches stiff peaks.
5. Top the trifle with the whipped cream and chill for at least 4 hours before serving. Enjoy.
Sources
https://www.extension.iastate.edu/news/not-all-alcohol-gets-better-age