Imagine for a moment that one of your friends presented you with an expensive alcoholic drink, for example, a collection wine or brandy of half a century aging. After all, any type of alcoholic beverage has its own characteristics and needs to create certain conditions, and some of them are very finicky.
Introducing 10 basic principles of alcohol storage.
10. Alcohol storage locations
To store alcoholic beverages, you must choose a place that is protected from direct exposure to sunlight. If you live in an apartment, a refrigerator, a kitchen cabinet, a minibar, a balcony, a pantry can be a suitable place for alcohol. It is important that the place where you store alcohol is not accessible to children.
9. Tightness
Some types of alcoholic beverages during long-term storage need to be sealed. Otherwise, their characteristics will deteriorate very quickly. One of the products that need to be sealed is cognac. The bottle with brandy should be corked so that air does not penetrate inside. If you want to store cognac for several years, it will be useful to fill the neck of the container with sealing wax.
8. Storage depending on the cover
Sometimes the appearance of the lid or cork has a significant effect on the duration and storage conditions of the alcoholic beverage. For example, if the lid provides maximum tightness of the product, then its shelf life will be relatively longer.
For wine is of great importance the material from which the cork was made, and the technology for its manufacture. Poor or dry cork can have a negative impact on the characteristics of the wine, as this drink is stored in a horizontal state, so the lid should be constantly saturated with wine.
7. Storage of open bottles
If we talk about the periods within which you can store alcohol in uncorked bottles, then they directly depend on the type of product. For example, opened strong drinks are stored up to 30 days, and wines, sweet liquors and liquors - up to 14 days under a jam. As for beer or champagne, it is allowed to store them after opening for no more than 24 hours under the lid.
Remember that when storing alcohol should follow the manufacturer's recommendations. The packaging should indicate the period of use, in violation of which the consumer risks poisoning with a spoiled product.
6. The temperature of the alcohol content
Before serving, it is customary to bring different types of alcohol to a certain temperature, either cooling or warming the drink.
The most suitable conditions for the storage of alcohol is considered to be a range from 3 ° C to 20 ° C.
5. Features of wine storage
It is no secret that wines can be stored for many years or even decades, not only without losing their unique properties, but also acquiring positive qualities due to aging. Wine bottles are best placed in a row on their sides, so that the drink soaks the cork - this will prevent it from drying out prematurely. If you have already uncorked the bottle, then it should be left in a reclining position and stored no longer than a year.
A refrigerator is not the best place to store wine, as low temperatures and regular tremors will not benefit its quality. Ideal conditions for this drink are a dark, dry room, where the temperature will constantly be kept at 10-12 degrees. If you collect expensive wines, then it is worthwhile for you to purchase a special rack for storing wine.
4. Features of the storage of liquors
There is an opinion that liquors, like other types of alcoholic beverages, do not have an expiration date and aging is only good for them. However, this is fundamentally wrong.
Berry and fruit liqueurs are stored less than other alcoholic beverages. On average, the shelf life of such products varies from six months to 2 years, depending on the composition.
Liqueurs are considered women's drinks, which is probably why they are very picky and demanding on storage conditions. However, certain difficulties associated with storage are made up for by excellent taste.
After the expiration date, the liquor gradually begins to “fade”, losing its unique shade. At the same time, instead of the characteristic sweetness, a pronounced bitterness appears. If we neglect the storage conditions, such a dessert drink will become unusable much faster than the dates indicated on the package.
Liqueurs do not like low temperatures. In no case should you keep them in the refrigerator. The optimum temperature regime for this type of alcoholic beverage is above 12ºС, but not more than 25ºС.
3. Features of storage of cognac
Cognac bottles, unlike wine ones, must be kept upright, otherwise alcohol will destroy the cork, and the product itself can absorb its smell, which will negatively affect its taste.
An opened bottle can be stored no longer than 60 days. After this period, cognac will lose its characteristic aroma and taste.
The air temperature in the room where the cognac is stored should be at least 5 degrees.
2. Features of beer storage
Beer “loves” low temperatures. Therefore, the refrigerator is considered the best place to store this drink at home. Beer bottles should be upright.
The optimal conditions under which beer will retain its properties for the longest time are a dark place and an air temperature of 10-12 ° C. At the same time, the storage temperature should be constant, since temperature jumps significantly reduce the shelf life of this drink. In general, the length of the storage period is greatly influenced by the variety of the product itself, its strength and the conditions in which it will be located.
1. Features of vodka storage
Vodka is considered one of the most unpretentious in storage alcoholic beverage. It can be stored in a dark place at any temperature. Low temperatures are not able to damage the quality of this product, so you can safely put vodka in the refrigerator.
But, there is one important detail that you should pay attention to - it is necessary to periodically check the vodka for the presence of a cloudy sediment. Its appearance clearly indicates that this drink is no longer suitable for consumption. By the way, wheat varieties of vodka have the longest shelf life.