How long does hard liqour last in an unopened bottle?!
How long does hard liqour last in an unopened bottle?
I have a bottle of wild turkey honey liquer, got it 1 1/2 years ago, and my boyfriend has an old bottle of wild turkey, probably at least 10 years old, are these still good to drink? what's the limit? will they get better with age?
Answers:
Liqueurs can start going bad after 5-10 years due to the huge amount of sugar and sweeteners and lower alcohol content.
With "hard" liquor like wild turkey, scotch, brandy etc., as long as the top is tight or its unopened (to prevent evaporation) it will last far longer than YOU will so don't worry! ( I once had real Napoleon brandy bottled FOR Napoleon in 1808 and sealed with tar over the cork. It was not only still good it was like "nectar from the Gods.....")
They won't get better, but if the seal is good, they won't spoil. Alcohol is a preservative. If the seal gets broken, the alcohol will evaporate, and then .. no more preserving!
they will not get better however they will last for ever. until you open them
Whisky and scotch do not age or get better in the bottle, but will remain "fresh" until the seal is broken. So, go ahead and enjoy the Turkey if you dare. Cheers!
Nobody has mentioned ageing so far, that is the amount of time it is aged before it is bottled.
That is, if your boyfriends bottle is 10 years ago it will be still be OK but it will not be a 10 year old.
A true 10 year old will mean it has been aged in the vat prior to bottling.
forever
Actually hard liquor such as whisk(e)y will evaporate over a long period of time even if it's never opened because no seal is perfect. There is no expiration date for whisky and it only ages while it's still in it's oak cask, after it's bottled the aging process stops.