These harmful rays react with the compounds in wine and can create sulfuric aromas like cabbage and rotten eggs. “Home storage of distilled spirits is a constant competition between convenience and preservation,” said Allen Katz, co-founder of New York Distilling Company. Even if you don’t have a wine cellar, there are some basic guidelines for how to (and how not to) store alcohol at home. For example, wines often benefit from aging in a controlled environment, while storing spirits in oak barrels can enhance their flavors.

Liquor Storage Ideas – 10 Best Ways to Store Liquor at Home

Yes, substance abuse games for groups it is possible to store certain types of alcohol in the refrigerator. However, keep in mind that temperature fluctuations when opening and closing the fridge can affect the alcohol’s quality. You can choose shelves from a standard shop, you can go online, or you can build your own. Store your vodka in the freezer for a chilled experience, but be mindful of temperature fluctuations when you take it out to prevent any changes in flavor or quality. You can’t exactly glue your glass bottles to your kitchen shelves for maximum stability, but you can be smart about where you choose to store them. Unlike white wines and champagne, hard liquor can and should be stored at room temperature (yes, even vodka).

Use a Wine Fridge

1. Unopened spirits and wine can theoretically keep for years if stored properly.
2. When you store wine bottles sealed with corks, it is best to keep them in a horizontal position.
3. Unlike with food, your primary concern doesn’t need to be the drink “going bad,” although that can happen with wine and some liqueurs.
4. You can dedicate the entire surface to your liquor display, or mix your bottles with other decorative elements like a vase, sculpture, or stack of books.
5. While storing some spirits, like vodka, in the freezer can enhance their taste, it is not recommended for all alcoholic beverages.

The options range from cabinets made specifically for liquor, to standard bookcases how much does the average person spend on alcohol per year and shelves, to custom options. Evaporation and oxidation can significantly affect the quality of your liquor. To preserve your tequila, make sure to seal the bottle properly, preventing it from losing flavor and volume over time. “Room temperature is best for tequila,” says Neil Grosscup, Tanteo Tequila master blender and CEO.

It’s no-brainer storage, plus it adds a fun stylistic element to what could easily be a very plain shelf set-up.

How to Store Tequila

As you’re reading these options keep your liquor collection in mind, to make the right decision for your bar. It’s perfectly fine to chill your gin or tequila in the freezer before you drink it, but the cold temperature won’t extend the alcohol’s shelf life. Harsh UV rays can damage your liquor over time (and might even change its color), so it’s best to store your bottles away from streaming sunlight. Typically, wine bottles with corks should be stored horizontally to keep the cork moist. However, spirits, beer, and drinks with alternative closures can be stored either way.

The shelf life and quality of alcohol is dictated by three factors. Stored in the right conditions—cool, dark, tightly closed—an opened, 80-proof-or-higher spirit bottle can be preserved for years, even decades. Sealed bottles will weather temperature and climate fluctuations more easily than opened bottles. However, an opened spirit can survive for a relatively long time, as long as the cap is replaced securely. Similarly, Murphy Quint, head distiller and director of operations at Iowa’s Cedar Ridge, says the ideal conditions to store whiskey are “room temperature or slightly colder,” meaning 65–68°F.

Wine fridges come in various sizes, from massive, 200-bottle capacity chillers to mini versions designed to live on your countertop. Some even have a dual zone feature so you can store your chardonnay slightly cooler than your cabernet. But bottled spirits will be comfortable at a wider range, especially if they are stored away from direct sunlight and humidity. At the same event, the Bacardi researchers also presented some of their findings on the effects of oxidation – the effect of air on alcohol. Obviously, use the stoppers or caps that come with the bottles – that’s a no-brainer.

“Most people store spirits at room temperature and upright, and it’s a good is baclofen addicting idea to keep unopened bottles sealed tightly.” A Coravin is a device that allows you to access and pour wine without removing the cork. It uses a thin, hollow needle to pierce the cork, which allows wine to flow out. At the same time, the system replaces the poured wine with argon gas, an inert gas that prevents oxidation. The remaining wine in the bottle is preserved in its original state, maintaining its quality and flavor profile.

This charming DIY project from A Beautiful Mess hits all those points. Not only does this liquor cabinet safely store all your alcohol, it doubles as stylish wall decor wherever you hang it. If you have an old sewing table you’re no longer using, transform it into a one-of-a-kind storage space.