While whiskey doesn't necessarily expire, it does start to lose flavor and elements after it is opened. An unopened bottle of whiskey will last indefinitely if stored in proper condition. After opening a bottle of whiskey, you have as long as two years or as few as six months or less to drink it before it goes bad.
What happens if you drink bad whisky? Drinking a whisky that was opened years ago will not make you unwell. It is down to what your taste preference is more than anything else. If a whisky noticeably no longer tastes as good as it once did, then it's probably time to dispose of the bottle.
The signs that whiskey has gone bad are an off-putting smell, a color change, and a harsh taste. If you notice any of these signs, it's best to discard the whiskey.
While unopened alcohol has an almost-indefinite shelf life, opened liquor does, in fact, expire. They won't spoil in the same way that milk does, but liquors lose their flavor, coloring, and potency over time, leading to undesirable drinks for your customers.
Hard Liquors
The base liquors (brandy, gin, rum, tequila, vodka, and whiskey) are the most shelf-stable distilled spirits. These average 40 percent alcohol by volume (80 proof—though some are stronger) and typically do not contain added sugars, so you can store these bottles for a very long time.
Once bottled, the liquor stops aging. Once you open a bottle of spirits, you should drink it within six to eight months for the best tasting experience.
In contrast to Wine, however, Whisky in unopened bottles doesn't become better (or worse) during storage. Whisky only matures in the cask when it has contact to the oak wood. The bottles must be stored upright, since the cork doesn't close as tightly as a Wine cork.
If you are putting whiskey in the fridge, then put them in the 40% ABV in the freezer. Before drinking the jack daniels, make sure it's not bad. I have mentioned the signs that help you to recognize the bad whiskey. After opening the whiskey bottle, directly sealed them tightly to keep it fresh for a long time.
Most bottle manufacturers molded the year into the glass at the bottom of the bottle in 2-digit format. You'll often find it in the lower right portion when looking at the bottom (some dates are much easier to distinguish than others). This will usually tell you–within a year or two–when the whiskey was bottled.
The rule I use is: If it's under 15% alcohol or if the base is wine, it goes in the fridge once it's open. Spirits like whiskey, rum, gin, vodka, etc. don't need to be refrigerated because the high alcohol content preserves their integrity.
Upright is best
According to Food & Wine, the reason whiskey bottles should not be placed on their side is that the strong liquor content of the spirit will break down the cork. Should the cork corrode, the whiskey will eventually leak out of the bottle.
Once opened, whisky is exposed to light, air, oxygen and temperature fluctuations that begin to change its taste. Hence, to avoid drinking some strange-tasting whisky with altered fragrance and flavour, you should empty your bottle within one or two years.
After opening a bottle of whiskey, you have as long as two years or as few as six months or less to drink it before it goes bad. To store your whiskey most effectively, keep it out of direct sunlight, avoid massive temperature swings, and keep it sealed airtight when drinking.
Current offerings of 50 year old scotch, like Dalmore, can cost as much as $60,000 a bottle, making others, like Benromach, look like a veritable bargain at $14,500. Therefore, you will likely belong to one of two groups: those who can afford 50 year old scotch, or those who aspire to afford 50 year old scotch.
50-year-old whisky is almost the holy grail in spirits terms. Very few casks of whisky will reach 50 years old and still be drinkable, representing a tiny, tiny fraction of a percent.
Can You Get Sick from Drinking Old Whiskey? If you found an old bottle of whiskey in the back of a liquor cabinet and want to give it a try, have no fear: In general, old liquor will not make you sick like other expired items. The only risk it poses is delivering a dull taste and underwhelming drinking experience.
Unopened liquor has an indefinite shelf life. Opened liquor lasts about a year or two before it goes bad, meaning it starts losing its color and flavor. Don't use a liquor for well drinks if you won't use the whole bottle within two years.
The shelf life of Jack Daniels varies significantly on how it is stored. A never once opened bottle can easily last you for 10 years and above, whereas an opened bottle has a shorter shelf life of 6 months to 2 years. What is this? The emptier the bottle, the speed of oxidation will increase and change its flavor.
Whiskey is the spelling in the United States and Ireland. Whisky is the spelling in Canada, Japan, and Scotland. What sets Scotch whisky apart from other whiskies is that Scotch whisky is entirely produced and bottled in Scotland.
1. Isabella's Islay Usd 6,200,000. A bottle of Isabella's Islay is the most expensive whiskey that money can buy. The price tag of more than 6 million dollars that comes with a bottle of this whiskey is because of the decanter that contains it.
While some aging is desirable to achieve the best flavor profile, too much aging can actually cause the Bourbon to lose flavor. A great distiller can find the sweet spot in the aging process where the youngest whiskey no longer has its sharp, unfinished taste but hasn't succumbed to flavor loss from over-aging.
Opened Bailey's shelf life
It is recommended to consume the bottle within 6 months of opening for the best taste and flavor. However, it is still safe to consume the liqueur for up to 2 years after its manufacturing date, regardless of opening time and where it is stored.
How long does Baileys last? Baileys Original lasts 2 years from the day of bottling, opened or unopened when stored at the optimum temperature (0 to 25°C/32 to 77°F). For other Baileys products, shelf life varies depending on the flavour. See below for the full list.
Drinking excessive alcohol is considered one of the most common causes of raised blood pressure.