Skip to main content

Does bourbon go bad? The storage tricks you need to know

Does bourbon actually go bad?

Bottles
Nick Rickert/Unsplash

If you enjoy a glass of bourbon or two only every few weeks or months, you might assume that your favorite whiskey, safe in its bottle, will last for years. Well, it might, and it might not. This depends on several factors.

If you haven’t yet opened your bottle, you’re totally in the clear. Since bourbon is bottled at no less than 40% alcohol by volume, there’s little chance bacteria and any oxidation will get in and change the aromas and flavors. It’s also done aging once it hits the barrel, and most (if not all) of the air is removed, so it should taste just as good years later as long as it’s stored properly (we’ll get into that later). If it’s opened already, this is when things start to get tricky.

Bourbon
Zhivko Minkov / Unsplash

Oxidation is a flavor changer for bourbon

As we mentioned earlier, a sealed bottle will remain the same in terms of aroma and flavor for years or decades as long as it’s stored properly. The cork will let in some air during the years, but not enough to change the whiskey’s flavor. The problem is when you open your bourbon. Sure, you might leave a bottle open for months or years and not notice the nuanced flavor and aroma differences. But you should know that the moment you uncork your favorite bourbon, you’re exposing it to bacteria and oxidation.

Recommended Videos

Once oxygen interacts with the chemical properties of bourbon, the molecules begin to change to acetic acid. This creates the sour aroma and flavor you might notice if you leave an open bottle sitting around for too long.

Bourbon
Anthony Torres/Unsplash

More drinking equals more oxidation

Sure, if you open a bottle of bourbon and pour one glass, it will still oxidize. But the more you drink, the more exposed air there is to add to the oxidation. More space in the bottle means the aromas and flavors will start to become musty and sour and might also begin to remove some of the flavor entirely, making it taste more muted and watery. Not properly storing the bottle will add to the deterioration of the aroma and flavor.

Wild Turkey
Sadie Coulter/Unsplash

How to tell if your bourbon has gone bad

Before simply dumping your favorite bourbon down the drain, there are numerous ways to tell if your whiskey has gone bad.

Your bourbon has changed color

First and foremost, you’ll likely notice that the color has changed. It’s likely lighter or has a different hue than you remember. This is the first of many bad signs.

Your bourbon tastes different

The taste can change in several ways. It might seem much harsher and hotter than you remember. It could have a sour, funky, acidic aroma and flavor that makes it undrinkable (that’s a pretty good sign). It also might be bitter and unpalatable or simply taste blander and more muted than you remember. If it looks like there’s mold growing in the bottle or if it even smells like mold, you’re not going to want to drink it.

Bourbon
phil cruz / Unsplash

Ways to help keep your bourbon fresh

It’s important to note that, even after it’s opened if housed properly, bourbon should keep its original aromas and flavors for a while. That means that you shouldn’t open it up and leave it on your kitchen counter or anywhere in direct sunlight. That’s a huge no-no.

  • Store your bourbon (and all of your aged spirits) in a cool, dry, dark place like a pantry, liquor cabinet, or basement (as long as it isn’t wet), whether it’s opened or not.
  • If you have a wine rack that holds your bottles on their sides, continue to keep your Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, and Malbec on there. Even though it might look cool, never put your bourbon on a rock that keeps it on its side. Bourbon should always be stored in an upright position so the cork doesn’t erode and corrode. Not only will this let in more air, but it might even make some of your whiskey leak out of the bottle before you ever get a chance to drink it.

Part of the reason you should keep your whiskey in a cool, dry, dark place is that it needs to be kept out of direct sunlight. The UV rays shining into the bottle can change the whiskey’s chemical properties and remove some of the aroma and flavor, making it taste bland. It can also change the color.

Bourbon bottle
Thomas Park/Unsplash

Final thoughts

The most important information: after you crack open that bottle of Elijah Craig Small Batch or Wild Turkey Rare Breed, you’re going to want to drink it within 4-6 months, regardless of where you keep it. If you drink it, you don’t have to worry about bacteria, oxidation, and anything else that will change or ruin the aromas and flavors.

Christopher Osburn
Christopher Osburn is a food and drinks writer located in the Finger Lakes Region of New York. He's been writing professional
10 fascinating things you didn’t know about wine harvest
Things you didn't know about wine harvest
Samples during wine harvest.

The funny thing about wine is that there are so many knowns and unknowns. Experts speak an entire wine language, and there are countless grape varieties. At the same time, each vintage is dependent on the weather, something we have very little control over.

One of the biggest closed-door scenarios in the industry is the annual grape harvest. Sure, we've all heard about the frenzy that occurs every fall, but many of us have never witnessed what happens behind cellar room doors.

Read more
If you like whiskey, you need to try the Cotillion cocktail this autumn
The Cotillion is another classic cocktail to add to your repertoire
Cotillion cocktail

If you’re a fan of whiskey-based cocktails, you probably have your favorites. We’re talking about iconic drinks like the Manhattan, Old Fashioned, Sazerac, and more. But, if you limit yourself to these well-known whiskey-based drinks, you’re really doing yourself a disservice.

Many classic cocktails have returned to prominence thanks to the cocktail renaissance of the early aughts. But there are just as many mixed drinks that still wait for you in the shadows, seemingly forgotten by time. One of these lesser-known drinks that deserves more attention is the Cotillion.

Read more
Bardstown Bourbon Co. has an exclusive new straight bourbon whiskey — what to know
Bardstown is releasing a bourbon finished in stout barrels
Bardstown Bourbon Company

Bardstown Bourbon Company is well-known for its innovative, creative collaborations. It’s continuing this trend with a new regional release. The last of a series of three bespoke collaborations this year, the popular brand is partnering with Blackberry Farm Brewery to make a Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey that was finished in Blackberry Farm Brewery Oxheart Stout barrels.
Bardstown Collaborative Series Blackberry Farm

It makes perfect sense for Bardstown to collaborate with a popular, equally innovative brewery like Blackberry Farm. Both brands are all about creating unique, exciting releases. And this one definitely ticks those boxes.

Read more