Sorry for the off-topic post but I'm trying to determine if there's a shelf life for certain types of alcohol.
Specifically, during a recent home improvement project, I came across an unopened 16 year old bottle of champagne. I know it's 16 years old because I remember the event I got it from. I also have some unopened bottles of Jose Cuervo Gold tequila and margarita mix that are probably 2-3 years old. Finally, there are various opened bottles of rum, Frangelico and other liquors that are at least 3-5 years old. As you have probably already determined, I don't drink often!
Anyway, is any of this stuff still good or should I toss it? I'm hopeful that the many wine connoisseurs that must frequent this forum can help me.
] Sorry for the off-topic post but I'm trying to determine if there's a shelf ] life for certain types of alcohol. ] ] Specifically, during a recent home improvement project, I came across an ] unopened 16 year old bottle of champagne. I know it's 16 years old because ] I remember the event I got it from. I also have some unopened bottles of ] Jose Cuervo Gold tequila and margarita mix that are probably 2-3 years old. ] Finally, there are various opened bottles of rum, Frangelico and other ] liquors that are at least 3-5 years old. As you have probably already ] determined, I don't drink often! ] ] Anyway, is any of this stuff still good or should I toss it? I'm hopeful ] that the many wine connoisseurs that must frequent this forum can help me. ] ] Thanks.
Hello Guy,
The champagne is most likely awful. You imply there's no vintage on the label, and it sounds like it might not have been stored in very good conditions. In any case, open it with some friends and find out; you can always pour it down the bog. In anticipation of nastiness, have a backup handy. It won't kill you to taste it.
The tequila, rum and liquors will be just fine, all of that keeps with no problem. Don't know about the marguerita mix, I'd probably chuck that.
I agree with the evaluation that Emery Davis gave you. Even an opened bottle of rum can last a very long time. I have a few bottles of prerevolutionary Bacardi rums from Cuba. The Bacardi owners left Cuba after the revolution. This rum dating from the late 50s still is drinking as well as ever and is superior to what Bacardi now makes elsewhere.
Don't toss it I've had - not so long ago - some non-vintage Moet kept from the mid-eighties - in very good condition for its age.
And a couple of years ago my brother dug out an ancient bottle of (non-vintage) Cinzano Asti Spumante left over from his 21st birthday party - held in December 1976. It had been sitting in the bottom of his very non-cellar-like wardrobe all those years.
He asked if I wanted to try it or should he chuck it out. Known for my non-discerning ability to drink anything I took it home. A few weeks later we got it out of the fridge and poured. Light, straw colour, fizzy. Faint fresh muscat-like aroma without any oxidation. On the palate it fruity with a tinge of sweetness, more of the faint raisin-like character and plenty of zip. A very pleasant drink.
Also a couple of years ago Christian Pol-Roger came to Melbourne and among other bottles poured us some 1921 Pol-Roger, my notes say
"Last in this bracket was the Brut 1921 - 80% pinot noir and
20% chardonnay. Christian told us that 1921 was a vintage noted for its difficult conditions: a -9C frost ranging to a high of 25C in April, to 37C in July. Average yield was only
1.8 tonnes per hectare. At 80 years of age this was an extraordinary and memorable wine - ranking among the best I have ever tasted. Pale gold, restrained bead, not a hint of oxidation. The nose perfumed with a hint of flowers and faint oak. The palate sweet, rich and creamy.
Quite delicious which, if tasted blind, could easily be mistaken for a wine one quarter of its age. (The three wines were disgorged six weeks previous to the lunch)." Martin
Da English will drink anyting someone sez is olt. My nephew Mervin Morris was woiking one of da archery tournies about 465 AD when he saw an old jug, lookin like a Roman amphora in da hedges, dis was in Normandy. He opens it and its alcohol for sure. So he puts it on his stand and tells peoples dey can have a swig of ancient falernum for tree shillins, da cats from Gaul, dey pass, da scots say tree shillins is a wee much but da Saxons dey chug da stuff up and Mervin was able to buy his lady a pretty corset wit the money he mad offa da Brits....
J.Murray Fefferman, worlds oldest bullshipper as told to
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