SHELF-LIFE OF WHISKY

 Does Whisky Go Bad?

There’s this lone bottle of whisky sitting in the pantry for as long as you can remember. It was probably bought in the `90s and sits there since. And sooner or later, you start to wonder: does whisky go bad? Or maybe you have a half-open bottle left from your birthday party last year, and you’re not sure if it’s still any good. It has been in the cupboard for over half a year already, so you expect that it might not taste good. And since you’re definitely not a whisky connoisseur, you’re not quite sure if high-proof liquors go bad or not. You heard they last pretty much forever, but you’d prefer to know for sure before pouring yourself a glass. What you need to remember is the shelf life of whisky depends on whether the bottle is opened or unopened.

Creating a Whisky Display: One of the joys of owning a collection of fine whiskies is the pleasure in showing it off, selecting a special bottle that you have been saving, and sharing its story with like-minded connoisseurs and friends. Too many bottles are unceremoniously shoved into cupboards or abandoned on top of bookcases. Invest in deep shelving or glass display cabinets, or build a home bar to show off the best aspects of your collection. Choose museum-quality lighting that will bring out the gorgeous colours of the liquid without affecting the inks on the labels or warming up the contents.

Display bottles will accumulate dust, so rotate your presentation frequently. Perhaps you’ll want to put up every single bottle from a prized collectable series, an A to Z of scotch or bourbon, or a super-fan shrine to your all-time favourite distillery. If you have space, arrange the whole collection by name, or stratify it by whisky style and country of origin.

How to Store Unopened Whisky: Whisky is stored upright. In contrast to Wine, however, Whisky in unopened bottles doesn't become better (or worse) during storage. Whisky only matures in the cask when it has contact with the oak wood. The bottles must be stored upright since the cork doesn't close as tightly as a Wine cork. Whisky corks are designed for multiple use, whereas Wine corks are disposable.

Whisky mustn't be exposed to direct sunlight, since the ultraviolet rays bleach out the colour pigments over time. A bar cabinet or a package protect the whisky from light. That way it's possible to store whisky for more than ten years. However, since tiny amounts of liquid evaporate through the cork, the filling level will decrease over time. You can monitor the liquid level of a bottle by marking the neck on the back with a felt pen.

If you're a collector and want to store whisky for a longer period of time, you have to give more thought to it. First of all, the temperature should be lower than room temperature. The lower the temperature, the less the quantity of whisky that evaporates. An additional cap on top of the cork can also help, but take care that the cap doesn't soil or damage the original sleeve. This would reduce the value of the bottle, as would sealing wax.

Bottles with screw-tops must be retightened by hand regularly since they always loosen on their own, which leads to increased evaporation.

When you store bottles in the basement, you should also protect them from humidity. In a damp basement, the label starts to mould easily. A thin plastic bag is ideal to pack the whisky airtight. But beware! The plastic bag mustn't contain any plasticisers or other chemicals. They could bleach out the label and affect the bottle contents through the cork.

In effect, you should keep the bottle in a dark and cool place, away from sunlight and any source of heat. When it comes to where exactly should the bottle sit, the pantry or a wine cellar are both perfect choices, but the kitchen works too, but on the side opposite to the cooking range. A liquor cabinet is another popular option, but make sure you do not keep the bottle on display, where sunlight can reach it. In wine cellars, make sure you keep the whisky in an upright position, especially if it’s a corked bottle. If the bottle has a plastic cork, then it doesn’t matter which way you place the bottle.

Why Whisky in an Open Bottle Changes Its Taste: An opened bottle sees the whisky behave differently. The taste changes. However, it takes much longer than wine, which must be consumed within a couple of days. Opened whisky has a shelf life of between six months and two years. What happens in the bottle during that time?

First, the alcohol evaporates and the taste of the whisky becomes smoother. Furthermore, the air in the bottle contains active gases that slowly react with the flavour substances of the whisky. How the taste changes can't be predicted. Sometimes it becomes better, but, more often than not, it turns worse.

To prevent these changes, reduce the air contact of the whisky by filling it into a smaller bottle. DO NOT use a decanter. We don't know of any high-quality decanter that is truly tight over a longer period of time. The decanter must have a plastic seal or a ground glass joint. That said, it’s best not to have too many whisky bottles open and to drink those you open within a few months.

How to Seal a Bottle of Whisky: To prevent these changes, reduce the air contact of the whisky by filling it into a smaller bottle. DO NOT use a decanter. We don't know of any high-quality decanter that is truly tight over a longer period of time. The decanter must have a plastic seal or a ground glass joint. That said, it’s best not have too many whisky bottles open and to drink those you open within a few months.

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Kill Them Quickly: Nearly-empty bottles take up precious space; do not get overly sentimental about the last pour rattling around the bottom. You are never going to get that whisky back, so rediscover storage space for new bottles by de-cluttering. Have fun with it: host a dregs party, where everyone commits to helping you finish the last pours, or try your hand at home blending. Tip your last drams into a Mason or Kilner jar, let the liquid marry for a few weeks, and then try the results. You may find you want to keep adding to the mix, creating your own “Infinity Bottle.”

Storing and organising your whisky correctly involves an investment in your time, but once you get in the habit, maintaining your system will be a breeze—giving you much more time to enjoy your whisky. Slainte Mhath!