Spirits - how long can you keep them for?

GingerBob_3

Once a bottle of whisky or brandy has been opened, for how long does it remain good?

elsien

Depends what you mean by remains good.

It'll lose some flavour over time, but I've had a bottle of brandy I use mainly for cooking that's been open a couple of years now and is still useable, as in it's not going to poison me.

GingerBob_3

Bottle of Bell's, opened about eight years ago and not used since. About two-thirds full.

elsien

Try it and see. It'll probably taste horrible, but it's not going to kill you - just be ready to spit it straight back out again! Unless it's gone cloudy in which case bin it.

GingerBob_3

elsien wrote: »

Try it and see. It'll probably taste horrible, but it's not going to kill you - just be ready to spit it straight back out again!

Haha, thanks :rotfl:I might just tip it down the sink.

A._Badger

It will keep more or less forever so long as the lid is properly closed. There is nothing in it to 'go off' and alcohol is a fabulous preservative (what do you think they pickle specimens in?).

GingerBob_3

A._Badger wrote: »

It will keep more or less forever so long as the lid is properly closed. There is nothing in it to 'go off' and alcohol is a fabulous preservative (what do you think they pickle specimens in?).

Okay, thanks. I'll taste it. It's not cloudy so maybe it's fine, hopefully.

DigForVictory

All well, GingerBob? As in, you've not taken harm from the taste?

If you're snoozing happily on the floor having finished the bottle, then clearly spirits don't last *that* long, but if you're away at A&E having your entrails sluiced, enquiring minds (with disconcerting cellar contents) Need To Know the outcome.

I've just found a bottle of Spanish brandy last seen at a Christening & the youngest is now 13. Taste hideous to me, but will probably burn if coaxed. Plus a few other leftovers, so I've been checking seals & relative cloudiness....

Hoping all is well!

[Deleted User]

I've got a nice bottle of whiskey that was opened 11 years ago and it still tastes good.

A high alcohol percentage stops anything nasty growing (normally)

daveyjp

Whisky will last for decades and doesn't 'go off' when exposed to air. You can leave the lid off and it won't change to any extent to become harmful, it will just evaporate.

Last year I had whiskies 10, 12, 15, 32 and 50 years old, all straight from the cask so by their nature constantly exposed to air and whilst they all tasted differently it was down to the time exposed to the timber and the air circulating in the warehouse. None had gone off.

Your downside is it is only Bells!

lollipopsarah

About a week if i'm working!
I was given a half bottle baily's type stuff a few years ago that was a few years out of date, it hadn't curdled to I drank it - was lovely.
xx