Whether it is an occasional nightcap or cocktail party, or ending up with bottles of this or that on your anniversary, storing liquor can be bit of a challenge if you are unaware how to store different kind of alcohol at home. After all, you need your bottles to last long! So it is only good that you are armed with the information for proper storage of liquor at home.
General Storage Tips For Home Liquors
- Nobody will like a wine ‘gone bad’ and tasting like vinegar. You will spot the difference right away from the unpalatable taste. To avoid this deterioration of spirits, liqueurs and wines, store them in a reasonably cool place and away from direct natural light which fades the color.
- After you’ve had a party at your place, it is probable that you will be storing some opened bottles for a while. Theoretically, unopened bottles can be stored for years. But once opened, the quality does go bad over time. So make sure that you have only few opened bottles with liquor remaining in it.
- Use the stopper or caps that come with the bottles so as to close the bottles properly. Buy in smaller quantities if liquor is not a commodity of daily utility for you.
- Do not keep the liquor in kitchen even inadvertently! There is huge temperature fluctuation in kitchen and it severely damages the quality of your liquor.
- Ideally, a corked bottle is to be kept horizontally, so that the cork is moist and doesn’t shrink to allow air to seep in. Air oxidizes alcohol.
- Once opened, aromatized wines like vermouths and Amaro should be refrigerated to retard oxidation.
- Keep fortified spirits tightly sealed in the fridge and don’t expect them to last as long as a straight spirit. They deteriorate in flavor, making a pretty stale drink in the end.
Liquor For The Fridge
Sherry, port and vermouth – the fortified wines – should be stored in the fridge after they’ve been opened.
The colder temperature of the fridge will slow down the oxidation process of liquor and keep the bottles fresher for longer.
White wine and rosé should also be recorked and stored in the fridge after opening.
What Goes In The Freezer?
Vodka. Gin.
Chill your vodka in a freezer one hour before the party, in case you are planning to serve cocktails to your guests. Take it out a few minutes ahead of serving so that it thaws and then show off your mixologist’s skills to your friends and family!
Same goes for gin. Store it in the freezer for around an hour and later on, let everyone revel in the martini.
Even though vodka bottle is opened, it doesn’t deteriorate for some time, but why take chance? For long term storage, vodka can be stored in the freezer and away from direct light.
Red Wine In A Wooden Pigeonhole Cupboard
How do you enjoy a bottle of red wine after opening it?
You let it breathe for some time before enjoying it!
However, if you wish to indulge yourself with only a glass or two of red wine, then recork the opened bottle of red wine and place it in a cool place on its side so as to keep the cork moist and tight. Opened wine loses its flavor fast and it is best to consume it all soon after it is opened.
Now, you know how to store different kind of liquor at home. The question of where to store liquor at home needn’t alarm you ever now. All you need is a cool, dark and undisturbed place and your bottles will do fine.
Keep it flowing!
