Does alcohol go off?

Linda32

I'd agree, spirits will be fine, I wouldn't fancy anything mixed though.

Don't really understand the question though :beer:

anewman

I have a number of bottles of used alcoholic drinks. They have been open three or more years and haven't been used in that time. They have been stored at room temperature.

The drinks include....

Absinthe and Almond liquer (both with a corked bottle top pushed back in). Medromel (honey liquer). Baileys.

Is there any easy rules to this? I.e. if it smells and tastes ok, then it is ok. Or should I just bin it?

Thanks in advance.

Uniscots97

I've kept mine for the same and as long as they taste/smell fine they get kept. The only thing I'm funny about is bailey's or similar cream liquers.

tim_n

I can't imagine the absinthe getting less lethal or ever tasting OK

There are a few cocktail websites that are around which base themselves around 'key' ingredients - type in the name of the spirit and it'll list all sorts of recipes.

Then hold a cocktail party... that's what I did for my other halfs birthday and got rid of all the half finished minging spirits and no-one was ill either!

mouseymousey99

Don't bin anything!!! They will be fine.

wigglebeena

I wouldn't keep anything with dairy ingredients in long, and I'd be dubious about honey too as I have a vague impression it can carry, um, spores or something. (Heh, that's how clued-up I am). But that's probably just paranoia.

Other than that, they take my alcohol when they prise the bottle out of my cold, dead fingers...

scrivette

I had a bottle of Bailey's that was a year old and it was fine, but the two year old one that had been opened smelt and tasted a bit odd, I drank a little of it and it didnt harm me!

Bronnie

Here we are guys, from the horses mouth!

http://www.baileys.com/en-gb/footer/faq.htm

Nice website actually!

babelfish

I was wondering this because I have a bottle of brandy which is opened at the back of my cupboard, bought 2-3 years ago when I made a Christmas pudding! Is it still ok? How long does alcohol keep?

I also have a bottle of white rum that I bought for making a cocktail that I never got round to making anyway! Seems a waste to throw them away.

phizzimum

I don't have a definitive answer - we have the opposite problem with alcohol in our house! But I'm sure it will be fine - alcohol is used to preserve things so I wouldn't have thought it would go off. even something like Baileys that has cream in it lasts for ages.