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 Vodka 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 Vodka Last If It Is Unopened?
Vodka 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 Vodka 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 Vodka
Jerusalem Mule
Ingredients
– 2 ounces vodka
– 1/2 ounce fresh lime juice
– 2 ounces lime soda
– 1/2 ounce mango-cranberry juice
– 2 thin slices of peeled ginger, plus a few small chunks
– 1 to 2 teaspoons date honey, or to taste
– Ice cubes
Instructions
1) Place few ice cubes into a copper mug.
2) Add vodka, fresh lime juice, lime soda, and mango-cranberry juice into the mug.
3) Place two thin slices of peeled ginger and some small chunks of ginger into the mug.
4) Add 1 to 2 teaspoons of date honey, or to taste.
5) Stir the ingredients until well combined.
6) Taste the drink and add more date honey, if desired.
7) Serve and enjoy!
Frozen Orange Creamsicle
Ingredients
– 8 ounces vodka
– 6 ounces orange juice
– 1 cup orange sorbet
– 1/4 cup heavy cream
– 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
– Ice cubes
Instructions
1) Fill a blender with ice cubes.
2) Add the vodka, orange juice, orange sorbet, heavy cream, and vanilla extract to the blender.
3) Blend the ingredients until smooth.
4) Pour the drink into two glasses and serve.
5) Enjoy!
Sources
https://www.extension.iastate.edu/news/not-all-alcohol-gets-better-age