Booze shelf life

Tiki Bar · Post by **Tiki Bar** » July 2, 2007 9:09 am

Do alcoholic beverages go bad?

Pre-mix mudslides and pina coladas in the fridge
Opened spirits
Unopened spirits
Wine cooler thingies

Just wonderin' if I should throw stuff away that's been around for years

ph4ever · Post by **ph4ever** » July 2, 2007 9:11 am

personally I'd get rid of the wine cooler thingies and the mixers. The spirits should be fine.

sy · Post by sy » July 2, 2007 9:11 am

As far as I know, straight alcohol like vodka and rum doesn't go bad (at least I've been told they don't).

Not sure about the rest.

Y-NO-9-O · Post by **Y-NO-9-O** » July 2, 2007 9:14 am

The unopened spirits are the only ones I would worry about. I think you should immediately put them in the mail to me, care of this station, and I will dispose of them in a ceremonious fashion.

12vmanRick · Post by **12vmanRick** » July 2, 2007 9:28 am

I don't know when a refrigerated item goes bad if it's not dated. You can try searching for the company online and even calling their cusotmer service number. However, I use one simple thing for myself. If I think it might be too old, it gets tossed because it's not worth the few dollars I paid to get sick over.

Alcohol on the other hand, like vodka, gin, rum, whiskey will evaporate some over time but it doesn't go bad.

Beer will get musty and lose flavor

Wine coolers I am unsure. I know if wine isn't stored properly it can get a sediment at the bottom that some people say isn't bad to drink it at that point, I say NOT ME.

bravedave · Post by **bravedave** » July 2, 2007 9:38 am

Spirits can evaporate from a less-than-tightly-sealed bottle. And that's the alcohol (and volatile esters) evaporating, so what it leaves behing ain't worth much. But this would take decades, so it's probably not what you're asking about.

Tiki Bar · Post by **Tiki Bar** » July 2, 2007 9:43 am

oh, and unopened champagne... over 15 years old

Maybe my kids can sell the stuff in a "lemonade stand" !

spartan1979 · Post by **spartan1979** » July 2, 2007 9:50 am

I've had bottles of Baileys go bad, but anything you can see through should be okay. We've had 20 year old bottles of liquor in our cabinet that were just fine.

redwinemaker · Post by **redwinemaker** » July 2, 2007 11:23 am

Tiki Bar wrote:Do alcoholic beverages go bad?

Pre-mix mudslides and pina coladas in the fridge milk and fruit juice will go bad
Opened spirits sealed tightly , out of the sunlight, not exposed to temperature extremes, will not change over time. Does not apply to Liquers or sweetened spirits
Unopened spirits As above
Wine cooler thingies The wine will eventually oxidize or turn to vinegar, but because of the carbonation, they keep quite a while
Just wonderin' if I should throw stuff away that's been around for years

redwinemaker · Post by **redwinemaker** » July 2, 2007 11:25 am

Tiki Bar wrote:oh, and unopened champagne... over 15 years old

Maybe my kids can sell the stuff in a "lemonade stand" !

Champagnes keep longer than still white wines typically, but even a slight leak in the cork letting the carbonation out will change that. I very high end bubbly should keep several years, cheap stuff wont

Dezdmona · Post by **Dezdmona** » July 2, 2007 11:47 am

Sounds like it's time to have a party.

popcornjack · Post by **popcornjack** » July 2, 2007 12:48 pm

Pretty much everything that's been said is pretty spot on. My only addition is that wine coolers aren't wine, but instead a malt-based beverages, and will "age" more like beer. With those, I would simply dump 'em into a punch bowl, add your favorite spirit, some juice and some ice, and get rid of it that way.

SharkOnLand · Post by **SharkOnLand** » July 2, 2007 1:06 pm

I think the question that needs to be asked is: Why are you letting alcohol just sit on a shelf?

popcornjack · Post by **popcornjack** » July 2, 2007 1:10 pm

SharkOnLand wrote:I think the question that needs to be asked is: Why are you letting alcohol just sit on a shelf?

Very valid point!

Tiki Bar, in your picture, who's the guy with the guitar?

Crazy Navy Flyer · Post by **Crazy Navy Flyer** » July 2, 2007 1:16 pm

My 1.75 bottle of Cruzan is lucky to last a week.

Tiki Bar · Post by **Tiki Bar** » July 2, 2007 1:27 pm

popcornjack wrote:
SharkOnLand wrote:I think the question that needs to be asked is: Why are you letting alcohol just sit on a shelf?
Very valid point!

Tiki Bar, in your picture, who's the guy with the guitar?

That is a good question... talk about alcohol abuse!

Sometimes ya buy stuff cuz it looks good, or sometimes you get it as a gift and forget about it, then ya find yourself just grabbin your usual instead... you know, the stuff you replenish often!

The guy with the guitar is my friend Johnny... aka BN's very own "Johnny" !

Johnny Russler, of the Beach Bum Band... they rock! (and have been Jimmy Buffett's "beach band" for 5 or so CiP openings.)

www.beachbumband.com

LaTda! · Post by **LaTda!** » July 2, 2007 2:28 pm

Do alcoholic beverages go bad?

... not on my boat

12vmanRick · Post by **12vmanRick** » July 2, 2007 4:20 pm

Crazy Navy Flyer wrote:My 1.75 bottle of Cruzan is lucky to last a week.

I feel ya bro

kitty · Post by **kitty** » July 2, 2007 4:44 pm

my husband swears that Tequila left out in the sun tastes bad...and it seems to change the color.
I can't say for sure...but he thinks so.

popcornjack · Post by **popcornjack** » July 2, 2007 4:47 pm

kitty wrote:my husband swears that Tequila left out in the sun tastes bad...and it seems to change the color.
I can't say for sure...but he thinks so.

Any booze left in the sun will certainly change in appearance and taste somewhat, some more than others.

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Booze shelf life

Booze shelf life

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