Over the years, I have been pretty heartbroken over my spoiled cans of beer and wine bottles. I wasn’t as sad about the wine as I was about the beer, all because I used my own money (birthday cash) to buy it. Anyway, why wine over spoilt beer?
To help you lead a spoilt-free life, I will tell you about your beloved alcohol’s shelf life.
Liquor
Liquor consists of your vodka, rum, whiskey, gin, tequila and brandy. If sealed, their (except for vodka) shelf life is as long as Merlin’s beard. If opened, these spirits (except for whiskey) lose their taste and texture over time.
One should dispose off sealed vodka, gin and tequila in 2 years whereas an open bottle should be thrown out in a month’s time, taking India’s climate into account.
An open bottle of whiskey, brandy and rum will last as long as a sealed bottle, which is close to 20 years.
Wine
An open bottle of wine, whether red, white or rosé , should be disposed off after 3 days of uncorking. A sealed bottle of expensive wine will be great even after 60 years but a bottle of cheap wine will spoil after a few years.
If your wine has turned a darker shade and tastes like vinegar, throw it out ASAP.
Beer
A sealed can or bottle of beer will last for 6 months to 2 years if refrigerated. The shelf life depends upon the alcohol content – the higher it is, the longer will the beer last.
An open beer can or bottle should be disposed off in a day or two as it goes flat very quickly. And no one likes a flat beer…
Liqueur
Sugar content in the liqueur determines its shelf life. Higher it is, lower is the life.
Any dairy-based sealed liqueurs spoil in a year. An open bottle will be good for 2-3 months.
Other flavoured liqueurs will be good for a longer time.
A sealed bottle will last for 1-2 years. An open bottle will be good for 9 months.
See for any sugar crystallizing on the bottom, discoloration or curdling to spot a spoilt bottle.
