Does Vodka Expire? The Truth About the Alcoholic Drink | Safe Haven Recovery, Beverly Hills, CA (2024)

FAQs

Does vodka have an expiration date? ›

Vodka producers will usually recommend using an unopened bottle within 30 to 50 years to experience its ideal potency and flavor. An opened unflavored bottle of vodka is shelf stable for about 10 to 20 years before the potency starts to break down with oxidation. This makes vodka a great option for well drinks.

Unopened liquor of all kinds will generally keep indefinitely if stored properly. Store out of direct sunlight, tightly sealed, in a stable room-temperature environment. Once opened, distilled spirits like whiskey and gin won't expire or become unsafe to consume, but they may start to taste “off” after 1–3 years.

Unlike some other spirits, vodka generally does not come with an expiration date. Instead, it is up to the consumer to use their judgment and sensory evaluation to determine whether the vodka has gone bad. Signs of a deteriorating vodka include a change in color, off-smell, or an unpleasant taste.

If stored correctly, a bottle of Absolut can last indefinitely. Absolut Flavors are best consumed within two years of purchase.

A sealed bottle of vodka will stay good to drink practically indefinitely. Before you uncork a bottle of Grey Goose, you should make sure to keep it in a cool, dark place. Room temperature is fine, while slightly cooler (like a cellar) could be more optimal.

Spirits above 40-per-cent abv (80 proof) don't expire. Anything that's been distilled, such as gin, vodka, rum, tequila or whisky, stops aging once it's been bottled.

It's also unlikely that opened alcohol will “go bad” or be unsafe to drink as its high alcohol content protects it from germs. That said, its taste can definitely be altered. Light, temperature and air can change the way vodka tastes. Keep vodka in a cool, dark place to help preserve its flavor for as long as possible.

Daylight is the most damaging, and long exposure to it can change the color of a liquor, and that usually damages some of the flavors as well. Prolonged exposure to heat, or exposure to intense heat, breaks down the organic molecules in them and that destroys the flavor.

A "good" vodka has the quality of not leaving a strong aftertaste or sensation in the mouth. Standard vodkas occasionally produce this and have a pronounced ethanol smell when taken neat. However, a normal vodka drink can still be immensely delightful with the correct mixer.

For Kahlúa Original, we recommend a shelf life of 4 years. Actually, the product will be good for many more years, but the coffee impact fades over time so it won't give you the full flavor impact. Also, if you were to receive an old bottle of Kahlúa, you have to make sure it has never been opened or tampered with.

Does Tito's vodka go bad? ›

An unopened bottle of unflavored vodka has a shelf-life of decades. After opening, it will still be good for 10 to 20 years. For flavored vodkas, the shelf-life spans from six months to 2 years.

Is my Absolut Vodka bottle fake? The Absolut Vodka is laser marked, with a LOT-code (light grey marking), placed horizontally, ca 10 mm from the bottom. The height of letters and figures in the code are ca 2-3mm.

Liquor does not expire to the point of causing sickness. It simply loses flavor — generally a year after being opened. Beer that goes bad — or flat — won't make you sick but may upset your stomach. You should throw out beer if there's no carbonation or white foam (head) after you pour it.

Just as with unopened bottles, Jason Cott recommends storing open bottles of vodka at room temperature. He explained to TODAY, that when you serve vodka chilled, you lose some of the aromatic and botanical flavors that separate one vodka from another.

Unlike some wines, distilled spirits don't age or mature in the bottle. Your unopened bottle of scotch that's been on the shelf for 20 years will taste the same as it would have the day it was bottled. However, once you open a bottle, some liquors will go bad, and others will lose character over months or years.

Infusions made with dried or preserved ingredients, however, do not require refrigeration. It should also be noted that most infused vodkas have shelf lives of 3 months before their flavor potentially wanes.