We all know the dangers of leaving leftovers linger deep within the fridge – and who really enjoys exorcising yet another “science experiment” in a plastic container?

But people do wonder – do I be careful about what’s lurking in my liquor cabinet? Especially the stuff already opened?

It’s a good question. Fortunately, according to Foxnews.com, it’s not all that complicated.

1) Hard liquor – including whiskey, vodka, tequila, and rum – doesn’t really ever go bad. They are drinkable for a long time, potentially years.  They do, however, tend to lose their flavor after six months to a year.

2) Beer is definitely on a different timeline. It can go bad after about three months past its listed sell-by date. And by “bad” I mean it could develop a sour or skunky aroma. Of course, an opened bottle or can of beer will quickly go flat, just the same as champagne or any other carbonated beverage.

3) Wine is trickier – left unopened and stored correctly, a good bottle of wine can last up to ten years.  So enjoy!

But, once you open a bottle of wine, you need to finish it off quickly – within a day or so at most unless you recork it and stick in the fridge. You might then get another couple weeks at best.

4) Finally: liqueurs and cordials –they contain a lot more sugar and can spoil after just 12 months.  So you don’t want to keep them much past their prime.

Hopefully you found these tips useful, as “it’s 5-o-clock somewhere” home happy hour heads your way.

Regards,
Nikki Earley, CFP® & Dan Cuprill, CFP®