Advisor

Storing spirits and liqueurs correctly

Time and again we receive inquiries about the best way to store spirits. As there is rarely a general answer to this question, we would like to give you a little guide. In order to better understand the ageing process in bottles, it is important to know its causes.

What is the shelf life of spirits?

The main reason for the ageing of wines and spirits is oxidation. Roughly speaking, oxidation is the reaction of a substance with oxygen. Everyone knows this process from a cut apple, for example, which turns brown after a few minutes. However, this not only changes the appearance of the apple, but also its taste. Such oxidation processes also take place in spirits and liqueurs. However, in contrast to the apple, this happens very slowly. The reasons for this are that ethanol is relatively resistant to oxidation and contact with atmospheric oxygen through the bottle cap is very low. However, as no closure is 100% leak-proof, small or large changes inevitably occur in the bottles over the years. It is not so much the ethanol that oxidizes, but rather the additional components it contains, such as flavourings.

Another harmful influence on spirits and liqueurs is heat. At higher temperatures, not only do the oxidation processes take place more quickly, but the liquid also slowly evaporates from the bottles. This reduces the alcohol content of the bottle contents in particular, as the boiling point of ethanol is known to be lower than that of water and it therefore evaporates more quickly. If the liquid level drops below the neck of the bottle, the larger surface area offers the oxygen more surface area to attack. Collectors of older bottles therefore always check whether the level of the bottle is still at least “into the neck”.

What does this mean for me as a consumer? First of all, nothing, because the processes described take place over the course of years or decades in the case of closed spirits. During this period, a “normal” consumer has already opened and drunk the bottles anyway. However, if you want to store your closed bottles for a longer period of time, for example to increase their value, there are a few points to bear in mind.

Spirits have an “eternal” shelf life

If spirits are stored properly, they can theoretically be kept forever. For example, there is still cognac from the 18th century that can be drunk with pleasure.

High-proof liqueurs behave like spirits

Liqueurs with an alcohol content of over 30% by volume, such as Benedictine DOM Liqueur or Chartreuse Verte, behave like high-proof alcohol and can be kept for several centuries if stored properly.

Low-proof liqueurs

Liqueurs with less than 30% alcohol by volume must be considered in a differentiated way. If they contain a very high sugar content in addition to alcohol, they can also be kept for several decades, although clear oxidation aromas develop. These aromas are only perceived as non-negative by some consumers, which is why the increase in value of such bottlings is low. There is therefore no reason to store low-proof liqueurs for longer - drink them up. Liqueurs with added cream or milk, such as Baileys, should not be kept for longer than five years.

Vermouth

Vermouth also tends to deteriorate over a longer period of time. Better drink it up. Although there is a collector's market for historic vermouth bottles, collectors are more interested in the appearance of the bottle than the contents.

Bottles with a cork and screw cap should
be stored upright.

In contrast to wines, spirits with corks should always be stored upright. This is because a so-called utility cork is used for spirits. This sits less tightly in the bottle than wine corks and can leak after just a few years, causing liquid to be lost and the spirit to lose much of its value and taste. For bottles with screw caps, it is also advisable to store them upright, as otherwise the plastic layer under the screw cap will deteriorate too much over the years.

Do not expose to direct sunlight

Sunlight not only causes spirits to age more quickly, but also bleaches the label. Therefore, avoid exposing your bottles to direct sunlight as much as possible. Store all closed bottles as cool and dark as possible. Ideally, they should be stored in a wine refrigerator, but a cupboard in the cellar also works well.

In addition to storing closed bottles, we are also often asked how to handle open bottles. Here we must first dispel a common myth, namely that even opened whisky, cognac, rum bottles etc. will keep forever. This is simply wrong, because after around two years they lose a lot of their flavor and can even become unpalatable if they are low. So here are a few rules for storing opened bottles:

Store in a cool and dark place

As a general rule, you should also store opened bottles in a cool and dark place

Consume as quickly as possible

Once you have opened a bottle, you should drink it as quickly as possible to preserve the full flavor. You don't have to rush, but it makes sense to use up a bottle of spirits about a year after opening. It is therefore better to open a few bottles and enjoy them to the full than to have 20 bottles of whisky with a bland aroma at the bar later on. Liqueurs should be used up within about six months. If you want to enjoy high-quality bottles for longer, it is worth vaporizing them with inert gas. There are reasonably inexpensive systems like this for wines, but they are just as suitable for spirits.

In our opinion, these are the most important tips and tricks for storing open and closed bottles of liqueurs and spirits. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us by phone (089 9611 8595) or email.