If you like the taste of alcohol, odds are you probably keep some of it in your house for when you fancy a beverage. There’s nothing worse than looking forward to a cool beer or a rich glass of wine all day, only to find when you get home it’s spoiled because it’s been stored incorrectly. For those who enjoy an adult drink every now and then, there’s much more to it than just putting it on a shelf. Avoid spoiled, unenjoyable drinks with these tips for storing alcohol.
Wine
Wine: a popular drink, but a high maintenance one at that. Anyone who drinks wine regularly will know that there’s more to it than simply putting a bottle in the fridge, but if you’re unsure or just starting out as a wine connoisseur, here are some things you need to know.
- Wine should be stored on its side. There’s a reason wine racks - wooden, metal or otherwise – are built the way they are. Wine that’s stored on its side keeps the cork moist, and this prevents it from shrinking and letting air in. If the cork dries out and air gets in, the wine will spoil, and that’s why wine that’s been stood up on its base for a long time never tastes good.
- Temperature is key. If you want to avoid frozen or destroyed wine, keep an eye on the temperature of the room its stored in. Like all good things, wine should be stored in a cool, dark, dry place – hence the common use of cellars. If you don’t have a cellar, a utility room or a shed is ideal. Generally speaking, wine should be kept at around 13ºC, but as long as it doesn’t dip below -4ºC or exceed 20ºC, your wine should be okay.
- Store open wine in the fridge. It’s no problem if you haven’t managed to finish an entire bottle in one night, save it for later! As long as you properly store the open bottle, you shouldn’t run into any problems. Rubber wine stoppers are perfect to not letting the air get to your open wine, and by using one in conjunction with storing the wine in the fridge, you can expect your wine to last between three and five days.
Spirits
If wine isn’t your thing, spirits might be. The good news is, spirits are a lot easier to store than wine, so if you don’t have the time (or the space) to concern yourself with keeping wine drinkable, spirits are a good drink for you.
Unlike wine, spirits shouldn’t be stored on their side. This is because spirit bottles like vodka tend to have metal caps, and by storing the bottle on its side, you run the risk of the cap mixing with the liquid, resulting in a metallic taste which will be most unpleasant.
Spirits don’t require a special temperature; room temperature is sufficient. That being said, keeping bottles out of the way of direct sunlight is recommended because like with wine, the sunlight can ruin the taste of the alcohol.
The last thing to note about storing spirits is how long they can be kept once they’ve been opened. Spirits are a bit stronger than wine and are usually mixed with a soft drink or juice, and this can mean it takes a while to get through a bottle. Luckily, spirits can last up to eight months once opened with no issues. After this time, whilst they’re still safe to consume, they might taste a bit lackluster, but it’s all about preference.
Beer
Do you like going hold and grabbing a cold one? If so, keep reading. The packaging of the beer you’re drinking will depend on how it should be stored. We’ll start with cans since this is a popular choice amongst many. Canned beer should typically be stored in a cool, dry place – like a pantry or a fridge. Even though there’s no cap to worry about when it comes to beer cans, it’s important to store them upright. Beer contains yeast and when it’s stored on its side, an unsinkable yeast ring could form. Storing it upright will mean the yeast will sink to the bottom, and if you want to avoid bitty beer, this is essential.
Bottled beer is typically stored in the same way as beer cans: upright and in a cool dark place.
How long a beer can be stored will depend on the type of beer rather than the packaging. Generally speaking, a beer with a higher alcohol percentage will last longer than a beer with a lower percentage. This means an IPA might have a shelf life of around three months compared to stout or porter beers which can last up to four months. Imperial beers and barrel ages beers last the longest thanks to their higher alcohol content, but you’ll need to check the label for more advice on this.
Summary
So, now you know how to store your alcohol – no matter what your preference is – you shouldn’t come home to spoiled beverage ever again!
