Bourbon Shelf Life / Storage

[Guy Debord]

I am curious to know how long a bottle of bourbon lasts opened and unopened as well as if others considered corked bourbon preservation.

1) How long will bourbon taste great unopened?

2) How long will bourbon taste great after opening it?

3) Do stores throw out old bourbon or does it sit there until one of us grabs it?

4) Does bourbon get better, worse, or go unchanged in the bottle sitting in your bunker unopened for two years?

5) What is the best way to keep corked bourbon? Is it necessary to keep the cork wet i.e. lying it on it's side like wine?

Thanks

[smknjoe]

1. Decades

2. Years if not several years

3. No and yes

4. That's a matter of opinion

5. Standing up! DO NOT KEEP THE CORK WET! IT WILL RUIN IT! The high alcohol content is corrosive (some call it cork rot) at best unlike the lower alcohol content of wine.

[Guy Debord]

Thanks a ton smokinjoe!

[smknjoe]

There are 2 smokinjoes...i'm smknjoe. Just didn't want anyone get their panties in a wad (not you Joe.)

...and no problem, Guy. Any time.

Edited October 24, 2013 by smknjoe

[unclebunk]

I've honestly never had an open bottle crap the bed after a few years, though some report all kinds of nasty changes and degradation in quality. I just revisited an '08 WLW last night that's been open since '09 and is now just under half full. It is still superb whiskey and I'm glad to have stretched that bottle's lifespan nearly five years, as I enjoy it immensely each and every time I come back to it. So my advice is not to worry about it too terribly much and just drink it as you wish, whenever the mood strikes.

[p_elliott]

Also do not keep your bourbon in direct sunlight.

[callmeox]

Also, don't get it wet or feed it after midnight.

[p_elliott]

Also, don't get it wet or feed it after midnight.

Very funny ................

[BourbonGuy]

I am learning a lot from you guys. I have found that under an 1/8 bottle, those last 2 or three shots, the air must oxidize the bourbon as it does seem to loose something.

When I find something I like and I can afford to, I buy a bottle or two extra and store it. Almost 60 and when I retire, buying bourbon at $50 or more a bottle may be a strain.

So I am tucking a few bottles away now.

[Phil T]

There are 2 smokinjoes...i'm smknjoe. Just didn't want anyone get their panties in a wad (not you Joe.)

.

I've had the pleasure of meeting both Joe's, and they're both smokin/smokn..:shocked:

[Guy Debord]

I've honestly never had an open bottle crap the bed after a few years, though some report all kinds of nasty changes and degradation in quality. I just revisited an '08 WLW last night that's been open since '09 and is now just under half full. It is still superb whiskey and I'm glad to have stretched that bottle's lifespan nearly five years, as I enjoy it immensely each and every time I come back to it. So my advice is not to worry about it too terribly much and just drink it as you wish, whenever the mood strikes.

Where is the Like button on this thing :grin:.

Someone (maybe Jason Pyle) also mentioned that when your bottle gets really low to put the bourbon in a smaller bottle. Having a tall bottle with a lot of air in it can impact flavor preservation if you are not ready to drink that last 2 ounces. Sounds reasonable to me.

Thanks so much.

[Guest]

Hey guy there is a discussion goin on over here about small amounts left in bottles/smaller bottles etc

http://www.straightbourbon.com/forums/showthread.php?20959-When-do-you-decide-a-bottle-needs-to-be-finished-off

[squire]

Guy I've had bottles open for years without any problems, whisky (or any distilled spirit) is very stable. Exposure to more oxygen will gradually oxidize the whisky somewhat but some folks prefer the softening effect that provides.

[Richnimrod]

FYI:

I've only ever had one bottle lose anything appreciable by being opened and unfinished for a while. I had a bottle of 4-Roses Limited Edition Small Batch from 2010 that did lose a bit on the nose (aroma) after being left at under half full for almost two years. It still tasted almost the same, however. I did also have a bottle of Pappy-23 that improved after about a year of being opened and a few drinks poured out of it (the nose didn't change too much, but the palate was much better). Go figure, eh!?

[B.B. Babington]

Also, don't get it wet or feed it after midnight.

"Feed Me Seymour! Feed Me!"

[393foureyedfox]

Almost 60 and when I retire, buying bourbon at $50 or more a bottle may be a strain.

So I am tucking a few bottles away now.

theres a lotta good stuff under $30, even a few good ones at $10-15. not many people on here badmouth HH 6 BIB or VOB BIB....I agree, theyre generally not as good as a $40-50 bottle of your favorite, but id be content with that if my funds were tight!

[Guy Debord]

Thanks all. My mind is at ease.

[Flyfish]

Almost 60 and when I retire, buying bourbon at $50 or more a bottle may be a strain.

So I am tucking a few bottles away now.

A word of encouragement: You may very well find in retirement, with the mortgage paid off and the kids through college, that your disposable income actually goes up even if the actual dollars go down.

Even so, it doesn't hurt to have the bourbon equivalent of a fully funded 401K

[Guy Debord]

Question: found a 2000 EWSB bottled in 2010 at local store, is it good?

[Yeti]

Question: found a 2000 EWSB bottled in 2010 at local store, is it good?

Absolutely. 100% expectation of it being good.

Which leads me to the ultimate shorthand rule for whiskey - it's all good unless it isn't.

The only real enemies of whiskey are oxygen and sunlight. If the cork holds and the bottle is stored away from direct light the whiskey will be good for a very long time. Guys are buying stuff from the 60s and 70s, an EWSB 2000 would be a good buy in 2050.

[Guy Debord]

Absolutely. 100% expectation of it being good.

Which leads me to the ultimate shorthand rule for whiskey - it's all good unless it isn't.

The only real enemies of whiskey are oxygen and sunlight. If the cork holds and the bottle is stored away from direct light the whiskey will be good for a very long time. Guys are buying stuff from the 60s and 70s, an EWSB 2000 would be a good buy in 2050.

Thanks Yeti,

This particular store in my neighborhood has this 1 and only bottle of EWSB 2000 for $32. I was tempted to buy, but the price should be $27 and I needed to make sure it would be good after 3 years of sitting on the shelf. Thanks. I hear the 2000 was a good year for this. I just don't know if I should pull the trigger for the $5 up charge.

The "it's all good unless it isn't" rule is fine if you are wealthy, I'm not willing to take chances with $30.

Thanks

[MyOldKyDram]

So long as the fill level looks good, and there aren't any signs that the bottle has been exposed to lots of light, I wouldn't let $5 stand in your way.

[BillP]

Does this also apply to mini bottles? My father-in-law has a collection of minis and probably some are over 30 years old? Some very cool bottles!

[Special Reserve]

When buying vintage whiskeys, it's always important to check fill levels and product clarity. I've passed on a few that where not clear. I always check everything that is in a box.

[Guy Debord]

So long as the fill level looks good, and there aren't any signs that the bottle has been exposed to lots of light, I wouldn't let $5 stand in your way.