Tips for preserving your alcohol

Wine

Some wines lend themselves to aging, but not all wines get better with age. Product labels on LCBO shelves can help you determine if a wine can be aged. If the bottle icon is upright (refer to image), it should not be aged and should be consumed right away. If the bottle is on an angle or horizontal, the bottle is expected to evolve in a delicious way with age. While the labels act as a guide, always do your own research to avoid disappointment.

Vintage-dated Champagne (i.e. Champagne made entirely from one exceptional vintage in a specific year) is intended for long-term aging. Typically, these are made in years with ideal conditions, and will develop in complexity for multiple decades if stored well. Non-vintage Champagnes, however, are intended for more immediate consumption within a few years and are not typically recommended for collectors.

Beyond avoiding spillage, the purpose of a wine bottle closure is to prevent oxygen from getting in, as it will change the taste and quality (a process known as oxidization). Bottles with corks should be stored horizontally to prevent the cork from drying out, which will cause it to shrink and let oxygen into the bottle. If you are aging wine, it’s a good practice to check your wine bottle corks a couple of times a year to ensure that the corks are still intact.

If you don’t have a specialized unit to keep your wine at a constant temperature and humidity, there are still things you can do to help preserve wine: store wine away from direct light and heat, and ideally, in an area with relatively consistent temperatures to avoid extreme highs and lows.

Once opened, an unfinished bottle of wine should be stored in the fridge to slow down the aging process. Wine will have gradual flavour changes day-by-day and will likely last for up to a week. There are a range of gadgets to help extend the life of your opened products. The simplest is a silicone stopper which is enough to preserve the flavours and freshness of an opened bottle of wine for a few days.

Beer

Ingredients like hops, yeast, and malt degrade over time, so most beer should be consumed fresh—anywhere between four months or up to a year, depending on the type of beer, and if stored well. The exception to the rule is high alcohol products such as Belgian strong ales or Imperial Stouts which can age for several years and take on more complex flavours.

Similar to wine, the best way to store beer is in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight. But unlike wine, most beer (i.e. those with non-cork closures) should be stored upright.

Be sure to check expiry dates which can be found on the bottom of most cans/bottles.

Spirits

High-alcohol spirits can easily last for a few years in a cupboard or on a shelf that receives little to no light exposure. Other spirits may lose quality or gradually evaporate over time based on several factors including the properties of the bottle closure and the environment where the bottle is stored.

Similar to beer, spirits should be stored upright in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight. This is especially important when it comes to whiskies and rums since light can cause the colour to fade over time. Check that all closures are fastened tightly to prevent oxygen from getting in.

Anything lower than 30% alcohol by volume (ABV) should be stored in the fridge once opened to help maintain their freshness. This includes products such as vermouths, fortified wines, amaro, and aperitifs which should last 3 to 4 months. Typically, the sweeter the product, the faster it will oxidize.

Spirits containing dairy, such as creme liquors, should also be stored in the fridge once opened and kept for no longer than 6 to 12 months. Keep an eye out for best before dates on products that expire, such as those that contain dairy.