How Long Will an Opened Bottle of Whiskey Stay Good?

I'm fairly new to the scotch world, but have still managed to acquire and taste a few good ones. The problem is when i get a new bottle i can't help but open and try it. I now have about a dozen open bottles of whiskey. Recently though it occured to me that the spirits may not "keep" indefinately.

How long will an opened bottle of whiskey stay good? My favorite scotch is the Macallan 12yr and i drink it on a regular basis to wind down after work. However i also have a bottle of Highland Park 25yr that i don't necessarily want to drink on a regular basis, but it would be nice to have for special occasions-- such as maybe an annual new yrs toast. Does whikey go bad??

Thanks guys...

Seth

[Jojo]

Dear Seth,

I know the feeling of just not being able to wait to open a new bottle of Scotch. Of course we need to try it - even if it's meant for special occasions only!

Will your whisky go bad? No, it should not, but you have to store it properly. Here are guidelines:

1. Keep your whisky in a cupboard - or liquor cabinet. The key is to keep it OUT of the sunlight. If the Scotch came in a 'presentation type' box and if you can't keep it tucked away in the dark, then just keep it in the box or tube since it is designed to protect the whisky.

2. Temperature - what's ideal? First, don't expose it to extremes of temperatures and second, keep it at what's known as 'cellar temperatures' - which is between 65 and 67 degrees Fahrenheit, or 18.3 - 19.4 Celsius. Now we realize not everyone has a the opportunity to store it in 'cellar like temps', but it is considered the ideal way to do it.

3. Store whisky in an upright position - you want to keep the Scotch AWAY from contact with the cork.

Your opened bottles of Scotch should not vary month to month, but it is possible there can be subtle changes over the years and that's mainly because even the best sealed bottles eventually will let air in. In addition, if a cork is being used, over a long period of time, that cork can deteriorate which would cause air to get into the bottle, and therefore evaporation. Also, the cork itself can sometimes flavor a whisky. Another problem could be with a metal cap - over a long period, that metal cap can sometimes deteriorate or rust and even quite possibly leave a metalic taste in the whisky.

Every bottle is different and it may just boil down to trial and error. There are many really old whiskies which should be perfectly fine to drink, but each person has to make their own assessment.

Enjoy your holidays - Cheers!

I do find when u get to the last couple of inches it does taste very different!
It must be the air/liquid ratio causes some reaction.

The best way to stop this is when u get to half a bottle make sure u finish it off, it works for me.

OK - I'll take that one - great excuse to finish it off!! Thanks man!

I have also found (especially since opened my Ardbeg) that evaporation is occuring at an alarming rate from my glass!

Last night i went back to my glass a few times and there was definatly less in it than when i put it down 3/4 min ago.

I put this down to having the central heating on.

The glass i am using is 'the Glencairn glass' which i highly recommend by the way, but maybe next time buy one with a lid LOL

[crossusc]

My first son was just born. I want to buy a nice bottle of whisky and save it for 20-25 years. Do I need to buy a certain quality? What's the best way to store it? Will it last that long unopened/What will happen to the contents of the bottle if stored properly?

Thanks! Craig

I just bought a beer cellar I keep at 54 degrees. Is that too cold for my high end bourbons and other whiskies? Currently I store my good spirits on a low shelf in a closet under our stairs. It's dark and the temperature is fairly consistent. Should I keep it there or move some of the best bottles to the beer cellar?

I just bought a box at an old tavern auction with 4 bottles of bourbon that are at least 20 years old. I got hold of a friend with a gun, and we took turns holding it on each other until a bottle was half gone.
No, but seriously , it seems fine to me. Even though the cap ring and seals where unbroken, the cap seemed a little loose, but there was no noticeable loss of content, it's very clear, and tast fine.

Originally Posted by crossusc

My first son was just born. I want to buy a nice bottle of whisky and save it for 20-25 years. Do I need to buy a certain quality? What's the best way to store it? Will it last that long unopened/What will happen to the contents of the bottle if stored properly?

Thanks! Craig

Craig,
A quick comment on your message. Whisky is not like wine and does not age or improve in the bottle, so its going to be exactly the same in 25 years as it is now. The only benefit of doing what you have said is undoubtedly the whisky will be much more expensive in the future! I'd put the money in the bank and buy your son a nice bottle on his 25th. If you do really want to buy one now a keep it, get the best you can afford (my standard advise whenever buying whisky!) and probably best to keep if lying down so the cork doesn't dry out.

Hope this helps a bit.
Cheers,
Tom

[Jojo]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Craig,
A quick comment on your message. Whisky is not like wine and does not age or improve in the bottle, so its going to be exactly the same in 25 years as it is now. The only benefit of doing what you have said is undoubtedly the whisky will be much more expensive in the future! I'd put the money in the bank and buy your son a nice bottle on his 25th. If you do really want to buy one now a keep it, get the best you can afford (my standard advise whenever buying whisky!) and probably best to keep if lying down so the cork doesn't dry out.

Hope this helps a bit.
Cheers,
Tom

Whoa! I'm sorry, but have to chime in here. Tom - I really appreciate your contribution here to this thread, but I have say, "Please do not keep your scotch lying down - in contact with the cork!" Unlike wine, this is NOT the ideal way to store your whisky! The cork can affect the quality of the spirit - and not in a good way!

I'd like to ask a similar question, if I may do so without highjacking the thread too much.

I also am looking to know how long a bottle of whiskey can last, but my concern is far more short term.

I was given a set of antique liquor decanters for my birthday, and couldn't help but clean one up and use it.

I only filled it with a low quality whiskey, reason being the cork had deteriorated from the glass stopper and I removed it.

So, my decanter sits on an antique jam cupboard that is set in front of a window, and the ornate stopper, with a slender stem which once held the cork, is no doubt letting in quite a lot of air.

I'm inclined to drink whiskey quite often, and so I'm not intending to "store" my whiskey on the jam cupboard.

Nevertheless, I was wondering if anyone could tell me how long whiskey could last in such a state.

I'm only worried that it could go bad in the manner of weeks. If it is still possible for it to last a few months, then I'll have no problems whatsoever.

Thank you for your time.

edgar - if you think air is easily getting to your scotch, then i would think it would deteriorate much, much faster. as for exactly how long - i don't know. what you could do is test it yourself. put in your low quality scotch and sample it each day while comparing to the same scotch which is properly sealed. let me know what happens.

I happen to found a bottle of whisky at my store room more then 20 year unopened, but the back of the box already turned to yellow, and the bottle of whisky seem less then the one i just bottle form market. Will the alcohol evaporated and the wishky deteriorate? Thanks

[Jojo]

Originally Posted by Rob

I happen to found a bottle of whisky at my store room more then 20 year unopened, but the back of the box already turned to yellow, and the bottle of whisky seem less then the one i just bottle form market. Will the alcohol evaporated and the wishky deteriorate? Thanks

Rob, the reason there is less whisky in your bottle after 20 years is due to evaporation (angel's share) and this can happen to even the best sealed bottles. Your whisky should be fine, although when air does come in contact with it, the taste can alter. It doesn't go 'bad' - it just may not be as good as it was when first bottled. Here's a suggestion I have for those of you planning on keeping bottles of whisky for years to come - wrap it in saran wrap!! Really!

[Derek]

Craig, personally, I would opt for buying a bottle that gets distilled this year (the year your son was born) and bottled in say 20 - 25 years which would be the same age as your son. Next year is my in-laws 40th wedding anniversary, so I am going to give my Father-in-law a bottle of 40yo which was distilled in 1971, the year he was married.

I have been told that bottles of whisky once they get below about 25% full should be consumed quickly, and while this in itself is a great policy to adopt I still wonder what can be done to preserve the whisky as more air is allowed in contact with it.

I recently conducted a taste test with some friends where we compared a bottle of Laphroaig 1/4 Cask which I had sitting around at about 15% full with a brand new bottle - the taste was markedly different - the empty bottle having a dominant iodine taste compared to the magnificence of the fresh bottle.

I came up with a plan to purchase several different sized decanters in which to pour bottles as they get low but realistically this would be challenging if you have any sort of collection.

Wondering what you all think?

The only reason you should be keeping the last 25% of a bottle around for an extended period of time is because it's not terribly good whisky. Otherwise, either you need to focus on what's important (drinking the good stuff) or you need to stop buying so many good bottles that you can't get around to this one for months at a time!

[lj121746]

Originally Posted by maltimpostor

The only reason you should be keeping the last 25% of a bottle around for an extended period of time is because it's not terribly good whisky. Otherwise, either you need to focus on what's important (drinking the good stuff) or you need to stop buying so many good bottles that you can't get around to this one for months at a time!

I respectfully disagree with that notion! I Really enjoy having a variety at hand, especially to help develop my palate and realize the differences in taste and aroma that different distilleries, regions, and bottlings can offer. I love a good Islay like Laphroaig or Lagavulin with a good cigar, but sometimes prefer some sweeter and lighter tastes that some Highlands Whiskeys can offer.

Another reason to keep some of a bottle around is for comparison. I recently performed two blind taste tests along with a friend on different occasions between the Laphroaig 15 and Laphroaig 18. On each of the two occasions we performed three consecutive blind tests. On both occasions, neither of us was able to identify with anything surpassing luck, the 18 from the 15. So for me, the extra money for the 18 doesn't make sense, either my palate isn't matured enough yet, or there isn't an appreciable difference between the two.

That and other blind taste tests I've done like it would be impossible without a variety.

[lj121746]

Originally Posted by maltimpostor

The only reason you should be keeping the last 25% of a bottle around for an extended period of time is because it's not terribly good whisky. Otherwise, either you need to focus on what's important (drinking the good stuff) or you need to stop buying so many good bottles that you can't get around to this one for months at a time!

I glossed over the statements made prior to yours, I didn't realize the post was in regard to the idea that Whiskeys "get worse" with too much oxygen present in the bottle. That Statement may well be true, because alcohol evaporates very quickly. I can't say I've tested to see whether that has a large effect on taste.

If you are convinced it does, I would suggest one of two things or both.

1. A vacuum seal, like the ones that are commonly used for wine

2. Wine preserving gas. There are many types available, but the idea is that a mixture of inert gases (mostly noble gases like Argon, which has an ionization energy of 1520.5 kJ mol-1) can be used to replace the oxygen before storage. Non-reactive gas replaces the other gases in the bottle.

I've tested both these approaches with wine and got some very good results.

[blenderm]

URGENT -FOR EDGAR - DO NOT KEEP YOUR WHISKY IN ANTIQUE CRYSTAL DECANTERS.

I've just noticed this thread and this may seem silly but all older lead crystal decanters have a high lead content of up to 23% and any whisk[e]y's will start to extract the lead if it's left in the decanter for any length of time, I'm talking about weeks not years. All whisky sold in decanters for the past 30+ years are sold in a style of crystal that contains no lead and is safe for use.

In the 60's and 70's there were a number of deaths from lead poisoning in the US that were caused by lead glazed pottery being brought back from Mexico. THis caused checks to be made on all possible lead contaminants and crystal was near the top of the list.

If you want to use it for show when you have guests then fill the decanter before they arrive and empty it back into the bottle after they have left.

[Jojo]

Originally Posted by blenderm

URGENT -FOR EDGAR - DO NOT KEEP YOUR WHISKY IN ANTIQUE CRYSTAL DECANTERS.

I've just noticed this thread and this may seem silly but all older lead crystal decanters have a high lead content of up to 23% and any whisk[e]y's will start to extract the lead if it's left in the decanter for any length of time, I'm talking about weeks not years. All whisky sold in decanters for the past 30+ years are sold in a style of crystal that contains no lead and is safe for use.

In the 60's and 70's there were a number of deaths from lead poisoning in the US that were caused by lead glazed pottery being brought back from Mexico. THis caused checks to be made on all possible lead contaminants and crystal was near the top of the list.

If you want to use it for show when you have guests then fill the decanter before they arrive and empty it back into the bottle after they have left.

EXCELLENT information blenderm - the reality of this is so scary. THANK YOU so much for sharing!

[michael]

Originally Posted by blenderm

URGENT -FOR EDGAR - DO NOT KEEP YOUR WHISKY IN ANTIQUE CRYSTAL DECANTERS.

I've just noticed this thread and this may seem silly but all older lead crystal decanters have a high lead content of up to 23% and any whisk[e]y's will start to extract the lead if it's left in the decanter for any length of time, I'm talking about weeks not years. All whisky sold in decanters for the past 30+ years are sold in a style of crystal that contains no lead and is safe for use.

In the 60's and 70's there were a number of deaths from lead poisoning in the US that were caused by lead glazed pottery being brought back from Mexico. THis caused checks to be made on all possible lead contaminants and crystal was near the top of the list.

If you want to use it for show when you have guests then fill the decanter before they arrive and empty it back into the bottle after they have left.

Yes, I was made aware of the lead dangers a couple years ago. I have three old beautiful crystal decanters filled with aged bourbon and Scotch whisky on my living room shelves. I will only pour from them if someone is going to smoke a cigar with me. At that point a little extra lead isn’t going to matter.