Aging Liqour

[Smokin'Sims]

When discussing aged liquor, which matters most, the age when bottled or the total age (an additive product of time in cask and bottle)? Chemically I don't see much being extracted from the bottle, where as the wood of a cask would further manipulate the flavor. So would a bottle of 12 year old bought 6 years prior taste similar to a fresh bottle of 18yo? Just some random curiosity for your opinions.

 

[kiwifruit]

As far as I know, liquor does not age in the bottle. Sure it gets older, but nothing changes. Beer is different. Not sure about wine.

 

[CoventryCat86]

Liquor doesn't age in the bottle. Once it's bottled, that's it. In other words, if you bought a bottle of 12yo scotch and kept it for 20 years, you still have a bottle of 12yo scotch that now probably has dust on the bottle.

Where's AVB? I don't know if his answer is going to be as nice. :laugh: This was a question on the Alcohol Knowledge Test (<<linky) that AVB posted a while back. To no one's surprise, no one ever beat his high score! :laugh:

 

[indyrob]

I'm not sure, but fermented alcohol can be aged & conditioned in a bottle (beer & wine) but can not age distilled alcohol in a bottle. I just finished up a big glass of ron z, so my thinking is slightly impared, but that's my take on it.

 

[SmokeSignal]

Yes, wine will change in the bottle as it ages. After bottling it will slowly improve, peak in quality, and at some point start to decline. This is a very slow process taking many, many years, and is dependent upon both the initial quality of the wine and the storage conditions.

For aging it is important that wine be stored in a cool, dark place with the bottles on their side (to keep the corks moist). Also the temperature must be relatively stable and not vary much. And wine must never, never be stored near sunlight or fluorescent lighting. Both will accelerate the breakdown of the wine.

 

[AVB]

No need to repeat but it is time in wood that counts only. I had forgotten about that little test CC

Liquor doesn't age in the bottle. Once it's bottled, that's it. In other words, if you bought a bottle of 12yo scotch and kept it for 20 years, you still have a bottle of 12yo scotch that now probably has dust on the bottle.

Where's AVB? I don't know if his answer is going to be as nice. :laugh: This was a question on the Alcohol Knowledge Test (<<linky) that AVB posted a while back. To no one's surprise, no one ever beat his high score! :laugh:

 

[cubacroc]

Whiskey and Bourbon "Age" very little if any once bottled.
The contents may change due to external influence!
Sunlight may cause the contents to deteroriate.
Corks or tops that do not provide a complete seal may allow evaporation and cause the contents to become cloudy.
Cork taint may occur just as with wine although it is usually not as noticeable due to the higher alcohol content and limited contact by storing bottles upright.
The ceramic decorative decanters may allow some degradation to occur and the tops are notorious for having bad seals.

I have many bottles and decanters that were filled over 30 years ago that have little or no noticable change.

 

[BamBam]

So would a bottle of 12 year old bought 6 years prior taste similar to a fresh bottle of 18yo?[/u] Just some random curiosity for your opinions.

negative....the age depends on the age in the barrel or cask. Much of liquor's flavor comes from the barrel or cask it is aged in. Once the liquor enters the bottle, the flavors will stay the same, as there is nothing to draw new flavors from.

I have a buddy who owner a bar in the 60's. He closed it down and kept the liquor. At a recent tasting he busted out a 1962 bottle of Hage and Hage Pinch. He let me cut the original seal, and it was great, but theoretically it would taste the same as a bottle purchased yeserday (that is to say if the bottle was never opened, which it wasn't). I would think once the seal is broken on a bottle of liquor then it is no longer airtight and would just slowly mellow and get weaker.

My buddy also has a bottle of Glenmorangie 10 year from 1962. Very vintage looking. That si more of a collector's piece for him and he won't open it (understandably)

The valuable liquor would be if you could find liquor from 1962 still in the original cask. That would be an interesting adventure.