Is 50-year-old whiskey still good? (2023)

Is whiskey still good after 50 years?

The shelf life of bourbon isn't much different from the shelf life of whiskey, as a whole. Unopened, a bottle of bourbon won't go bad. You can store it for decades.

Some alcohol, like wine, gets better in the bottle over time, but this isn't true for all types of booze, including whiskey. Unopened whiskey can last indefinitely, but a bottle that has been opened will eventually expire due to oxidation.

Either way, unopened whiskey lasts pretty much indefinitely. As I mentioned earlier, it might very slightly change its taste over time, but it won't spoil.

Only an infinitesimal number of special barrels have gone the distance of 50 years, and their rarity and longevity always command top dollar. Current offerings of 50 year old scotch, like Dalmore, can cost as much as $60,000 a bottle, making others, like Benromach, look like a veritable bargain at $14,500.

There's one more thing worth knowing – it's extremely unlikely that it will actually go bad. If you will store it properly, it will be fine for many many years. Even after opening the bottle it still can be stored for a long time and will remain safe to drink.

While whiskey doesn't necessarily expire, it does start to lose flavor and elements after it is opened. An unopened bottle of whiskey will last indefinitely if stored in proper condition. After opening a bottle of whiskey, you have as long as two years or as few as six months or less to drink it before it goes bad.

Whisky lasts indefinitely. So even if you have an unopened bottle from the '70s, it can still be opened and consumed a decade from now. It may slightly change its taste over time, but it won't spoil. Some whisky houses put a “best by” on the bottle, but that's usually just for formality.

Unlike wines, distilled spirits do not improve with age once they are in the bottle. As long as they are not opened, your whiskey, brandy, rum, and the like will not change and they will certainly not mature further while they wait on the shelf.

They tested the bacteria against whiskey, vodka, different types of mixers and various environmental conditions. Bacteria continued to thrive in all of the samples except one: you guessed it, the whiskey. Whiskey was the only drink that completely eliminated all traces of the bacteria.

Beyond 12 or so years, however, the prospects get dicey. “When barrels age longer than 15 years, the bourbon picks up a sour or bitter taste from the barrel,” says Wild Turkey master distiller Eddie Russell.

What is the longest aged whiskey?

The Macallan The Reach was distilled in 1940 and crafted from a single, sherry seasoned oak cask. US-based auction house Sotheby's has shared the pictures of the world's oldest whisky to be ever auctioned– 81-year-old The Macallan The Reach.

The amount of time that whisky has spent in the barrel greatly affects the taste. Then again, a higher age doesn't necessarily mean that one spirit is “better” than a younger one. All the age label denotes is that the flavour of the wooden cask has had more time to impart itself into the whisky.

Glenfiddich Glenfiddich 100 Years Of Craftsmanship

The whisky, released in a batch of 12,000 bottles, was capped and sealed on Christmas Day 1986.

This is the oldest whisky in the Fine and Rare collection of Macallan. Only 40 bottles of it were produced that have 42.6% Alcohol by volume (ABV). The 1926 Macallan is dry and concentrated with licorice aftertaste and has no added water. The bottle comes for $75,000 (approx Rs 54,55,702).

The oldest whiskies have been aged 50-70 years, but whiskies that have aged this long do not automatically mean a higher quality spirit. You can have too much of a good thing. Whiskey that has been over aged can taste bitter or ashy because the wood flavor takes over the grains.

The whole purpose behind ageing spirits is to reduce the harsher flavours that are associated with raw alcohol, while introducing flavours that are found in the wood of the barrel, which adds a distinct taste.

Their statistics show: 84% of whisky drinkers start to enjoy whisky before the age of 31. 17% of those surveyed in Scotland started to enjoy whisky at age 30. 15% of those surveyed in London started to enjoy whisky at age 20.

Storage Basics

Store bottles upright—never on their side—to protect the cork. Otherwise, contact with the high strength alcohol could cause the cork to degrade or impart unpleasant flavors onto the whisky. Protect your bottles from strong sunlight, temperature extremes, and the risk of water damage.

To maintain your whiskey's flavor and color, it's best to store it in a cool, dark area, like a wine cellar, cupboard, or pantry. The key is to keep it away from direct sunlight and changes in temperature. Keep your bottle upright so the whiskey doesn't soak the cork and cause it to break down.

Why whisky has no expiry date?

03/6Whiskey

It is another hard liquor that doesn't age with time. Once the bottle is opened, oxidation takes place which changes the taste and flavour of your drink. It's not just the oxidation but, the temperature where the whiskey bottle is stored and exposure to light can also impact the taste of your drink.

Most collectible bottles are over 10 years old and value usually increases with the age of the whisky. Whisky over 30 years old is the most sought after as it is the rarest. Any whisky bottled at over 50 years old is highly desirable and a very limited number of distilleries have released whisky over 50 years old.

Expired alcohol doesn't make you sick. If you drink liquor after it's been open for more than a year, you generally only risk a duller taste. Flat beer typically tastes off and may upset your stomach, whereas spoiled wine usually tastes vinegary or nutty but isn't harmful.

Whiskey has high levels of polyphenols, plant-based antioxidants linked with lowering your risk of heart disease. The polyphenols in whiskey have been shown to decrease “bad” cholesterol (LDL) and increase “good” cholesterol (HDL) levels, and reduce triglycerides, or fat in your blood.

Alcohol isn't a healthy choice in general, but some alcohol is better for you than others. Red wine, whiskey, tequila, and hard kombucha are healthier options than beer and sugary drinks. The CDC recommends you limit alcohol to 2 drinks a day if you're male and 1 if you're female.

However, if you are going to drink, having red wine in moderation is a healthier choice than other alcoholic drinks. This is due to its high levels of antioxidants called polyphenols, which have been linked to better heart and gut health.

After a six-day fermentation, the mash is distilled to 140 proof. The new-make whiskey is then charcoal-mellowed through 10 feet of maple charcoal prior to aging. Aged at least four years in new, charred American oak barrels which the distillery makes itself.

They do lose flavour intensity and alcoholic strength over time, so that dusty bottle of tequila left over from your Cinco de Mayo party in 2017 will likely taste different from a newly opened one, but it isn't generally considered dangerous.

The Glenlivet 80 Year Old Generations Gordon & MacPhail Description. The oldest single malt whisky ever bottled, this whisky is a symbol for the entire industry. On the 3^rd of February 1940, George Urquhart and his father, John, began the creation of this legacy defining whisky.

What is considered to be the best tasting, and most expensive whiskey, tend to be those that have aged considerably. To understand what causes the higher cost, you need to understand how age is affecting the flavor.

Is there a 75 year old whiskey?

Generations Mortlach 75 Years Old by Gordon & MacPhail is bottled in a teardrop-shaped Generations decanter. Each decanter is numbered and handcrafted with 75 'cuts'. Each cut represents a year of the whisky's maturation.

This is why it's essential to find the optimal time for each whisky to achieve its best flavor. For instance, when it comes to aging, the ideal time for bourbon is between five and ten years, while for a Scotch whisky, it's between 15 and 30 years.

Glenfiddich's newest collection was created for collectors with a thirst for heavily-aged whiskeys and $50,000 to spare. The Time Re:Imagined collection includes three rare, ultra-premium single malt Scotches.

The 50 Year Old | 40.7% abv | Distilled in 1961

Distilled one very cold day in December 1961 and laid down in two ex-bourbon hogshead casks, our Bowmore 50 Year Old has spent half a century maturing in the legendary No.

Mead — the world's oldest alcoholic drink — is fast becoming the new drink of choice for experimental cocktail lovers.

Jack Daniel's Newest 10 Year Age Stated Whiskey Is Its Oldest Yet.

The Macallan Valerio Adami 1926 60 Year Old – $1.07m

Out of the 12 bottles produced, it is rumored that one was destroyed in a Japanese earthquake, making it even rarer and ultimately more sought-after.

Bowmore 'Black Bowmore' The Last Cask 50-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky ($133,118) Old Rip Van Winkle 25-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey ($55,165) Karuizawa Ruby Geisha 38-Year-Old Single Malt Japanese Whisky ($47,904) Murray McDavid Mission Macallan 36-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky ($3,192)

Whisky lasts indefinitely. So even if you have an unopened bottle from the '70s, it can still be opened and consumed a decade from now. It may slightly change its taste over time, but it won't spoil. Some whisky houses put a “best by” on the bottle, but that's usually just for formality.

Can whiskey be aged too long?

You can have too much of a good thing. Whiskey that has been over aged can taste bitter or ashy because the wood flavor takes over the grains. Depending on the type of whiskey, where it was produced, and the quality of the wood barrels, anything from 5 to 20 years of aging will make the perfect spirit in your bar.

Whiskey does get better with age as long it's aged in the barrel and is not over-aged. Unlike wine, its maturity stops once bottled – no more added flavor and may lead to expiration over time. When choosing a wine or whiskey, you should remember that it should be aged for a more extended period to ensure better flavor.

The Macallan The Reach was distilled in 1940 and crafted from a single, sherry seasoned oak cask. US-based auction house Sotheby's has shared the pictures of the world's oldest whisky to be ever auctioned– 81-year-old The Macallan The Reach.

But there is a limit to the aging process. The federal standards regulating bourbon state that it cannot be aged more than 25 years. Most bourbon, if aged longer than 15 years, tends to lose its flavor complexity and starts tasting more bitter or ashy.