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 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 Whiskey Last If It Is Unopened?
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 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 Whiskey
Bourbon Apple Pie
Ingredients:
-4 Granny Smith apples, peeled and diced
-3 tablespoons bourbon
-2 tablespoons of light brown sugar
-2 teaspoons of cinnamon
-1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
-2 tablespoons of butter
-2 tablespoons flour
-1 (9-inch) pie crust
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. In a medium bowl, mix together the diced apples, bourbon, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
3. In another bowl, combine the butter and flour until a dough forms.
4. On a floured surface, roll out the dough until it’s big enough to fit the pie pan.
5. Grease the pie pan with butter or cooking spray and line it with the crust.
6. Place the apple mixture into the crust and spread it out evenly.
7. Cut excess dough from the edges of the crust and crimp the edges.
8. Bake the pie for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until the top is golden brown.
Current Thrive Market Promo:
9. Remove from oven and let cool before serving. Enjoy!
Whiskey Sour
Ingredients:
-1 ½ ounces whiskey
-2 ounces sour mix
-2 tablespoons simple syrup
-½ lime, juiced
-Maraschino cherry, for garnish
Instructions:
1. Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice.
2. Add whiskey, sour mix, simple syrup and lime juice to the shaker.
3. Shake vigorously for 20-30 seconds or until the shaker is frosty.
4. Strain the mixture into a rocks glass with ice.
5. Garnish with a maraschino cherry and a slice of lime.
6. Enjoy!
Sources
https://www.extension.iastate.edu/news/not-all-alcohol-gets-better-age