Expired Cognac?

StinkerPinker
StinkerPinker Posts: 145 Forumite
Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker
in Food shopping & groceries
Hi, not sure if this the correct place to post this, sorry.

I bought a 70cl bottle of Martell Cognac in the run up to Christmas 2020 to give as a gift, but that went awry and never happened.   I forgot about it last Christmas and it remained in storage.  I would like to give it this Christmas as a gift but am unsure whether it is still drinkable.  Do sealed bottles of spirits expire?    I examined the bottle and there is a tiny marking near the base saying 2020/08/12 L10:10L.   I don't drink and am reluctant to simply bin it.     What do you think?
stinker ...
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Comments

  • marcia_
    marcia_ Posts: 3,137 Forumite
    Sixth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
     It doesn't expire it gets better with age
  • DullGreyGuy
    DullGreyGuy Posts: 17,184 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Second Anniversary Name Dropper
    marcia_ said:
     It doesn't expire it gets better with age
    Tends to be less true once bottled for spirits, its different for wine. 

    That said, at 40% ABV or higher it should last almost indefinitely 
  • StinkerPinker
    StinkerPinker Posts: 145 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    Thanks everybody - very reassuring!  Merry Christmas!
    stinker ...
  • pumpkin89
    pumpkin89 Posts: 671 Forumite
    Sixth Anniversary 500 Posts Name Dropper
    The date marking is a batch code, most likely the date it was bottled.  They put that on just in case a problem is found and they have to recall all the bottles manufactured in the same batch.
  • Katiehound
    Katiehound Posts: 8,085 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    I still have a bottle of Amaretto disarrono priced in Deutsche marks- so just a few years old.
    Perfectly fine.
     Just checked to see how old....well at least 20 years  'though I think it might be older.....
    Being polite and pleasant doesn't cost anything!
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  • Longwalker
    Longwalker Posts: 909 Forumite
    500 Posts Second Anniversary Name Dropper
    Katiehound said:
    I still have a bottle of Amaretto disarrono priced in Deutsche marks- so just a few years old.
    Perfectly fine.
     Just checked to see how old....well at least 20 years  'though I think it might be older.....
    Understandable - disgusting stuff :)
  • RobM99
    RobM99 Posts: 2,665 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Well, I just tried some the same. I think I can sady say its all cogny lotsy, Wooh! S'great... clunk!
    Now a gainfully employed bassist again - WooHoo!
  • A._Badger
    A._Badger Posts: 5,881 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    marcia_ said:
     It doesn't expire it gets better with age
    Not in a glass bottle, it doesn't. It only ages in wooden barrels. Still, it won't get any worse and has an indefinite lifespan.
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