Does Whiskey Go Bad? All of Your Questions Answered

We all know that most food and drinks go bad, right? Well, this gets tricky when it comes to alcohol. After all, alcohol that’s been aged for decades tends to be worth a small fortune, right? So, does whiskey go bad? Or does it continue to get better with time?

Well, the short answer is that no, whiskey doesn’t tend to go bad. However, you’ll soon discover that it’s a lot more complicated than that. Read on, we’ll answer all of your questions below.

Does Whiskey Go Bad?

No, whiskey does not go bad. You won’t pop open an old bottle of whiskey and get food poisoning from it if you take a sip. While this may be the case, that doesn’t mean that whiskey stays the same forever. In fact, aging whiskey can improve the flavor, so it depends on the circumstances.

Now, if you start aging whiskey the wrong way, like leaving a bottle out in the open without the lid, it won’t age properly. You’ll even find that it will start to lose its flavor profile. Therefore, if you don’t want whiskey to go bad, you need to store it properly.

How to Preserve Your Whiskey

So, whiskey doesn’t go bad. Glad we got that settled. Still, the flavor profile may degrade over time, so it’s important to combat that process. While you could just let it sit for a while, that doesn’t mean you should, and there are some simple steps you can take to preserve your whiskey.

Still, if you don’t know how to go about the process, well, things can get complicated. After all, it’s not as simple as just storing the whiskey in a glass bottle and leaving it to “age.”

The good news? We have some simple tips you can follow below.

Choose the Best Whiskey

We know that whiskey doesn’t go bad and that some will even improve with age, but that doesn’t mean you should set the bar low. To ensure that your whiskey tastes good for years to come, make sure you choose the best whiskey. 

Thankfully, Flaviar makes it easy to find high-quality whiskey options from the best names in the game so you can establish a healthy foundation right out of the gate.

Location, Location, Location

When it comes to storing your whiskey, how and where you store it means a lot. You want to store it in a place that doesn’t get a lot of exposure to direct sunlight. However, the temperature also needs to be around 55 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit for the best preservation.

When it comes to how you store your whiskey, make sure you keep the bottle upright. If you place the whiskey on its side, the cork may get damaged.

Limit Exposure to Oxygen

Oxygen is awesome; we need it to breathe. However, you’ll find that oxygen can be toxic to your whiskey. After you open a bottle, make sure you don’t leave a lot of room for oxygen to get in. Unfortunately, it will oxidize the whiskey and eat away at the flavor profile.

We also recommend transferring your whiskey to a smaller bottle if you’ve had more than half. If possible, we also recommend sealing the bottle you transfer the whiskey to. This will further preserve the flavor of the whiskey.

Don’t Open it Until You’re Ready to Drink It

We also recommend you avoid opening the whiskey until you’re ready to enjoy it. We know this may sound counterproductive, but it’s the best way to preserve your whiskey. Essentially, you don’t want to open the bottle just to smell the aroma or take a simple swig; you need to wait until you want to really get into it, preferably with your friends and family.

Therefore, it’s important to do the best you can to wait until you’re at least ready to crack it open and have a few drinks.

Does Whiskey Go Bad? Our Final Thoughts

So, does whiskey go bad? At the end of the day, it doesn’t expire like other perishables, but that doesn’t mean it stays good forever. So, if you plan on opening that rare top-shelf whiskey that you have, you better plan on drinking it sooner rather than later. On the other hand, if you leave it sealed, you shouldn’t have to worry too much.

That said, this doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy your nice whiskey options. Before you do, and after, just make sure you preserve your whiskey properly.