does liquor still age in the bottle?

**mealkifish** · August 12th, 2009, 01:50 PM

does whiskey still age in the bottle? open or sealed?

**Joey** · August 12th, 2009, 08:39 PM

Nope. Once it's bottled, whiskey (or any spirit for that matter) does not age or get stronger. If the bottle is opened however, the flavor can change over time. I believe it's due to oxidation. I've never had a bottle of liquor long enough to taste any change though

Welcome to the site btw!

**George Jung** · August 18th, 2009, 01:24 AM

Stuff like wine and a few beers can. That's about it.

**mealkifish** · August 18th, 2009, 01:15 PM

haha okay good to know thanks

**George Jung** · August 20th, 2009, 03:02 AM

It can go bad after a few years though, especially if it's exposed to a lot of heat (and I've heard light, but I dunno).

**Joey** · August 20th, 2009, 03:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by George Jung

It can go bad after a few years though, especially if it's exposed to a lot of heat (and I've heard light, but I dunno).

...And what sort of liquor are you referring to?

**George Jung** · August 22nd, 2009, 06:37 PM

whiskey, for example

**Joey** · August 22nd, 2009, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by George Jung

whiskey, for example

Hmm, possibly. I know I found this open bottle of old Remy Martin a few years ago in my parents liquor cabinet, from like the early 90's. That stuff was un-f***ing-drinkable. It was totally the most vile thing of all time.

**I <3 Vodka** · August 31st, 2009, 09:14 PM

I know that wine, beer and liqueur have a limited shelf life, but I thought liquor lasted pretty much indefinitely provided that it's contained in a sealed bottle to prevent evaporative loss?

Sure, the alcohol will fractionate and condense on the side of the headspace, but flip it around, and it'll all blend back in.

**FrankyBaby** · September 25th, 2009, 08:59 PM

Once whiskey is bottled, it won't do anything to gain flavour from its bottle. All of the flavouring comes from the cask. Theoretically, if you open it, it will go bad after a long time but I've never opened a bottle of whiskey and not finished it in a few weeks. Light and heat will also cause it to go bad. You can refrigerate wine and some whiskeys but scotch whisky (yes it's spelled without an "e") should be left in a cool dry place such as a pantry.

**FrankyBaby** · September 25th, 2009, 09:03 PM

After bottling, the liquor no longer gains flavour, no matter how long you leave it there. That goes for any alcoholic beverage. Whiskeys and wine gain their flavour from the cask. If you open the bottle however, it will go bad after a long time. Beer has a very limited shelf life. I only drink beer at bars or right after I buy it from the dep (yes, in Montreal, they sell beer in convenience stores, called depanneurs in French)

As for wine, I've heard that the wine buried with the ancient Egyptian pharoah's are nothing more than vinegar now. You're supposed to flip it around every decade or so.