Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 2: How to store an unopened bottle of whiskey
• Method 2 of 2: How to properly store whiskey in an uncorked bottle
• Tips

Attention:this article is intended for persons over 18 years of age.

Unlike wine, whiskey does not continue to mature after being bottled. In a sealed bottle, whiskey can retain its qualities for more than one hundred years, provided that it is stored correctly. As soon as you open a bottle of whiskey, the components of the drink will begin to gradually oxidize.To preserve the taste and aroma of open whiskey as long as possible, seal the container with the drink as best as possible and store it in a cool, dark place.

Steps

Method 1 of 2: How to store an unopened bottle of whiskey

1. 1 Protect from direct sunlight. Under the influence of light (especially sunlight), chemical reactions begin in the drink. This leads to discoloration of the whiskey and negatively affects the taste and aroma of the drink. Store your whiskey in a dark place, such as a wine cellar, cupboard, box, or dark pantry.
   • If you collect whiskey or sell alcoholic beverages, you are probably interested in displaying bottles in a winning way. Be aware that bottle labels may fade and lose their original appearance if exposed to direct sunlight.
   • If you need to keep bottles in a visible place where they will be exposed to light, it makes sense to order a display case for them with a special coating that blocks ultraviolet rays.
2. 2 Store the bottle in a place where you can maintain a constant low temperature. Temperature fluctuations (especially exposure to heat) can negatively affect the quality of your whiskey. Under the influence of high temperature, the drink in the bottle expands in volume. This can damage the cork, causing oxygen to seep into the bottle. To avoid this, store the whiskey in a special place or room where you can maintain a constant low temperature.
   • Try to store the bottle in a place where the temperature is kept at 15–20 ° C.
   • Whiskey can be stored in the refrigerator or freezer - this will not adversely affect the quality of the drink. However, keep in mind that the taste and aroma of the whiskey is best developed when the drink is at room temperature.
3. 3 Store bottle upright. Always store whiskey bottles upright. If you store the bottle upside down or in a horizontal position, the drink will constantly come into contact with the cork, gradually destroying the material from which it is made. This will affect the taste of the drink, and the damaged cork will also allow oxygen to pass through.
4. 4 Turn the bottle over from time to time to moisten the cork. It is not necessary for the cork to be constantly exposed to the drink. However, if the cork is too dry, it may crack or crumble when you open the bottle. To prevent the cork from drying out, once a month, turn the whiskey bottle upside down for a few seconds.
5. 5 It is recommended to store the bottle in a dry place (however, this is not necessary). If the bottle is well sealed, moisture will not damage the drink. However, if you want the bottle to look presentable, it is recommended to store it in a room with low humidity - if stored in a damp room, moisture can damage the label on the bottle, and sometimes even lead to the formation of mold on its surface.

Method 2 of 2: How to properly store whiskey in an uncorked bottle

1. 1 Continue to store the bottle in a cool, dark place. After you have opened a bottle of whiskey, you need to take care of the protection of the whiskey from external factors as before. Store the bottle in a dark, cool place, such as a wine cellar, pantry, closet, or box.
   • If you open the bottle, but most of the contents have remained unsalted, in a cool, dark place, the drink will retain its properties for a year.
2. 2 Keep your whiskey well sealed. The biggest enemy of whiskey in an open bottle is oxygen. When oxygen enters the bottle, it reacts with the components of the drink, negatively affecting the taste of the whiskey. Try to minimize your exposure to oxygen by keeping the bottle tightly closed.
   • If the cork that was used to seal the bottle does not provide the required tightness, buy a special vacuum stopper that will help to seal the bottle tightly.Alternatively, pour the remaining beverage into a hermetically sealed glass container.
3. 3 Pour the whiskey into a decanter if you like. Unlike wine, the quality of whiskey does not get better if the drink is poured into a special decanter. However, there will be no harm from this, especially since in a special decanter the whiskey looks aesthetically pleasing and it is pleasant to put it on the table. Be sure to check that the cork is tight on the carafe and store the whiskey carafe in a cool, constant temperature place.
   • Do not use decanters made of crystal containing lead oxide. Of course, such a decanter looks very beautiful and sparkles in the sun, however, if you store whiskey in such a container for a long time, there is a risk that some of the lead will pass into the drink.
4. 4 Try to drink whiskey as soon as possible if the drink begins to lose its properties. The less drink is left in the bottle, the faster it will begin to oxidize. In other words, if the bottle is almost full, the whiskey will last much longer than the drink that is left in the bottle at the bottom.
   • If the bottle is nearly full, the whiskey can be stored without loss of quality for almost a year. However, if you have less than a quarter of a bottle of whiskey left, its taste will begin to change after a month. Therefore, if more than half of the bottle has been drunk (that is, about a third is left), it makes sense to invite your friends and finish your whiskey before it goes bad!
   • In addition, if a large bottle of whiskey is more than half empty, and you cannot drink it in the near future, you can pour the drink into a smaller container - this will reduce the amount of oxygen that affects the whiskey and will keep the quality of the drink longer.
5. 5 Extend the shelf life of your whiskey with a special liquor gas. A cylinder of such gas contains inert gases that are harmless to humans (such as nitrogen and argon), which create a buffer between the whiskey and the oxygen in the empty part of the bottle. These gas cylinders are made to preserve wine in an open bottle, but are also suitable for whiskey and other alcoholic beverages.
   • Please read the information on the packaging carefully to use the fixture correctly.
   • Such a gas cylinder can be bought on the Internet or found in a large alcoholic beverages store.

Tips

• If you still have your liquor corks in good condition, do not throw them away. You can seal a bottle with a cork if the cork is damaged or broken.