The likelihood of you hosting friends and family for drinks, finger foods and overall good cheer this
holiday season: approximately 112%. The likelihood of those friends and family bringing over a bottle of
something wrapped in a festive red bow: about 74%.
Given those odds, we’ve teamed up with the wise folks at Rémy Martin to lay down some helpful guidelines for alcohol storage. See, they know a thing or two on the subject, since they’ve been making, aging and storing fine cognac for nearly three centuries. They want to ensure that your existing wares are served at their best, and that your new bottles find a good, comfortable home.
We’ll begin with the three commandments of alcohol storage...
1. Thou shalt not store thy alcohol in sunlight.
Harmful UV rays are harmful to your liquor, too.
2. Thou shalt store thy alcohol in a relatively cool, dry place.
In other words: don’t put it near a window or appliances (like, say, a lamp) that give off heat.
3. Thou shalt store thy alcohol at a consistent temperature.
Variation in temperature is no good for alcohol, so aim to keep things steady.
And now, a detailed breakdown to keep your liquor in good standing...
Vodka
Ideal temperature: Room temperature or zero degrees (the temperature of most domestic freezers), depending on how you like your vodka.
Where you should put it: The freezer can slightly thicken the texture of the liquid for a fuller mouthfeel, but it may also subdue the flavor. So it really depends what kind of vodka drinker you are.
Once it’s opened, you should: Drink some (naturally), then stopper the bottle and store it where it was before. Or, better yet, transfer the remaining vodka into a new, smaller bottle that leaves little air between the bottle and the liquid. This will slow oxidation and evaporation. And will also give you a chance to impress your friends by explaining as much.
Gin
Ideal temperature: Room temperature.
Where you should put it: Since gin is an aromatic spirit, just avoid putting it in the fridge or freezer, as that blocks those aromatics and hinders you from experiencing the liquor’s full expression. Anything else is fair game.
Once it’s opened, you should: Mix to your heart’s content.
Rum
Ideal temperature: Room temperature.
Where you should put it: Pantry, cellar, bar cart... your rum is not too fussy.
Once it’s opened, you should: Just make sure the cap is tightly sealed once you’re done mixing mai tais or daiquiris for your luau-themed holiday party (a thing we assume is happening). No need to refrigerate.
Whiskey
Ideal temperature: Room temperature.
Where you should put it: Upright where a) it’s not in the way of natural light, and b) everyone can see it.
Once it’s opened, you should: Pour your guests a few fingers before pouring yourself a glass. Afterward, simply put the top back on, put it back where it came from and go on living your life, as whiskey will neither improve nor deteriorate once opened.
Cognac
Ideal temperature: A little below room temperature.
Where you should put it: The cognac connoisseurs at Rémy Martin suggest storing your cognac upright in a cellar or your home bar. And it will show people that you care about their good time.
Once it’s opened, you should: Pour a few glasses for you and your friends, and then simply put it back where it came from. Cognac does not age in the bottle, so you’re safe to keep sipping on it for years to come. Well, assuming you can wait that long...
Fortified Wine
Ideal temperature: Room temperature, unless opened.
Where you should put it: An easily accessible shelf of your liquor cabinet.
Once it’s opened, you should: Store it in the fridge, where it will stay good for up to a month. Unopened, vermouth and other fortified wines can maintain their integrity for a few years.
Liqueurs
Ideal temperature: Room temperature.
Where you should put it: The more alcohol the liqueur contains, the longer the shelf life. So don’t be afraid to line your home bar’s shelves with a healthy variety of bottles.
Once it’s opened, you should: Keep it at room temperature, unless it’s a cream- or fruit-based liqueur. In that case, you’ll want to enlist your fridge for safekeeping up to about one year.
Given those odds, we’ve teamed up with the wise folks at Rémy Martin to lay down some helpful guidelines for alcohol storage. See, they know a thing or two on the subject, since they’ve been making, aging and storing fine cognac for nearly three centuries. They want to ensure that your existing wares are served at their best, and that your new bottles find a good, comfortable home.
We’ll begin with the three commandments of alcohol storage...
1. Thou shalt not store thy alcohol in sunlight.
Harmful UV rays are harmful to your liquor, too.
2. Thou shalt store thy alcohol in a relatively cool, dry place.
In other words: don’t put it near a window or appliances (like, say, a lamp) that give off heat.
3. Thou shalt store thy alcohol at a consistent temperature.
Variation in temperature is no good for alcohol, so aim to keep things steady.
And now, a detailed breakdown to keep your liquor in good standing...
Vodka
Ideal temperature: Room temperature or zero degrees (the temperature of most domestic freezers), depending on how you like your vodka.
Where you should put it: The freezer can slightly thicken the texture of the liquid for a fuller mouthfeel, but it may also subdue the flavor. So it really depends what kind of vodka drinker you are.
Once it’s opened, you should: Drink some (naturally), then stopper the bottle and store it where it was before. Or, better yet, transfer the remaining vodka into a new, smaller bottle that leaves little air between the bottle and the liquid. This will slow oxidation and evaporation. And will also give you a chance to impress your friends by explaining as much.
Gin
Ideal temperature: Room temperature.
Where you should put it: Since gin is an aromatic spirit, just avoid putting it in the fridge or freezer, as that blocks those aromatics and hinders you from experiencing the liquor’s full expression. Anything else is fair game.
Once it’s opened, you should: Mix to your heart’s content.
Rum
Ideal temperature: Room temperature.
Where you should put it: Pantry, cellar, bar cart... your rum is not too fussy.
Once it’s opened, you should: Just make sure the cap is tightly sealed once you’re done mixing mai tais or daiquiris for your luau-themed holiday party (a thing we assume is happening). No need to refrigerate.
Whiskey
Ideal temperature: Room temperature.
Where you should put it: Upright where a) it’s not in the way of natural light, and b) everyone can see it.
Once it’s opened, you should: Pour your guests a few fingers before pouring yourself a glass. Afterward, simply put the top back on, put it back where it came from and go on living your life, as whiskey will neither improve nor deteriorate once opened.
Cognac
Ideal temperature: A little below room temperature.
Where you should put it: The cognac connoisseurs at Rémy Martin suggest storing your cognac upright in a cellar or your home bar. And it will show people that you care about their good time.
Once it’s opened, you should: Pour a few glasses for you and your friends, and then simply put it back where it came from. Cognac does not age in the bottle, so you’re safe to keep sipping on it for years to come. Well, assuming you can wait that long...
Fortified Wine
Ideal temperature: Room temperature, unless opened.
Where you should put it: An easily accessible shelf of your liquor cabinet.
Once it’s opened, you should: Store it in the fridge, where it will stay good for up to a month. Unopened, vermouth and other fortified wines can maintain their integrity for a few years.
Liqueurs
Ideal temperature: Room temperature.
Where you should put it: The more alcohol the liqueur contains, the longer the shelf life. So don’t be afraid to line your home bar’s shelves with a healthy variety of bottles.
Once it’s opened, you should: Keep it at room temperature, unless it’s a cream- or fruit-based liqueur. In that case, you’ll want to enlist your fridge for safekeeping up to about one year.
