Liquor cabinets tend to collect various bottles of spirits over the years that are used for one drink recipe, and then promptly forgotten about, as a new bottle enters the mix. So, when it comes to that bottle of brandy you bought a few years ago, how do you know if it’s still good? Does brandy go bad?
Does brandy go bad?
With proper storage, brandy should really never go bad in the sense of food safety. Because of its high alcohol content, with proper storage, brandy should remain good indefinitely. The alcohol will inhibit any mold or bacteria growth, and acts as a preservative for the drink.
Of course, because of the high alcohol content, brandy should not be stored in a warm environment. The cabinet next to, or on top of, your stove or refrigerator may be too warm and cause the quality of the spirit to degrade. To retain the quality for as long as possible, store brandy in a cool dark place, like your pantry or cellar.
Refrigeration is not really necessary, nor is freezing, though some individuals choose to store their liquor in the freezer. Wherever you choose to store your brandy, make sure that the temperature will stay constant – so don’t go back and forth between storing brandy in the freezer and the pantry!
Image used under Creative Commons from Richard Gailey
Oxidation and Evaporation
While the high alcohol content of brandy means that it will remain safe to consume for an incredibly long time, it also opens this spirit up to two forms of degradation – oxidation and evaporation. Oxidation is a process that occurs when the alcohol comes into contact with oxygen in the air, and evaporation typically occurs when brandy is stored in slightly warmer places. Both of these processes can alter the flavor and quality of the brandy.
To reduce evaporation, store brandy in a tightly sealed container in a cool, dark place. Oxidation can be counteracted, by transferring brandy to a smaller glass container, once some has been consumed. The more air that is in the bottle, the more oxidation will occur, so simply pour that bottle of brandy into smaller glass jars once the party is over, and the flavors should be better preserved.
Storing Brandy Long Term
Spirits do not age any further in a glass bottle. It is the wood from the barrels that provides the flavor compounds in the aging process. In fact, the flavor compounds will actually disappear over time, leaving you with a somewhat flat bottle of brandy. Don’t fret though – you don’t need to use all of your brandy immediately! There are a few ways to counteract this process, and add new flavors to an aging bottle of brandy.
Fruit or herbal infusions are an easy way to give new life to a bottle of brandy that may have lost some of its flavor after a few too many years under your cabinet. Simply place the fruit, whole herbs, or whole spices of your choosing (quantities are really up to you, and depend on how strong you want the infusion to be) in a glass jar. Pour in enough brandy to cover, secure the lid and shake a few times. Let the jar sit for at least three weeks in a cool, dark place. You can leave the infusion as long as you’d like, until the flavor is perfect.
You can also preserve fruit in brandy, which will not only keep fresh or dried fruit safe for over five years, but will also give you a nice flavored brandy at the same time. The process is similar to that for making infused brandy. Wash fresh fruit and slice into cubes of about one inch around, then place in a glass jar. Cover with brandy, secure the lid on the jar, and shake a few times. Store in a cool dark place, or your refrigerator, pretty much indefinitely.
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