Can alcohol bottles (especially liquor) be stored on their side?
I have a fairly well-stocked mini-bar, but not a lot of space. I've considered storing the bottles in a drawer, but I've heard that you should store certain alcohol upright. Is this true? If so, why? If it's only true for certain types of alcohol, which ones?
Best Answer
Beer bottles should be stored upright. This is to minimize contact (and hence oxidization) between the beer and bottle cap, and (for unfiltered beers) to keep any sludge on the bottom of the bottles. (How To Store Beer)
Wine should be stored (mostly) on its side. This keeps the cork moist; and a dry cork can shrink and allow too much air into the wine bottle. (Storage of wine) But note that:
Champagne and other sparkling wines tend to age better if they are kept upright.
The rules for liquor aren't as defined, but it should generally be stored upright. (Taming Your Liquor Cabinet). It's stored that way at the factory, and it's shipped and displayed that way. Also for many "fancy" bottle types, the bottle won't even sit properly on its side. Also, alcohol in liquor can leak through - or even break down - whatever material is used for the cap. But it's generally safe to store liquor bottles horizontally in the freezer for a time. It depends a lot on the specific bottle and cap in use.
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What alcohol can be stored on its side?
Pro tip: Unopened wine is best stored on its side, so the cork stays moist. Rum, whiskey (whisky) and gin can also be stored in a cool place after they've been opened. Similar to vodka, stick gin in the freezer for about an hour before serving to make a smooth, chilled martini.Can I store whiskey on its side?
Unlike wine bottles (which are recommended to be stored horizontally), whisky should be stored upright. Where wine corks are made to stay in contact with the spirit to keep it moist, they are not made for repeated use once opened.How should you store alcohol?
Keep it cool Keeping them in a relatively cool place preserves them longer. As temperatures rise, the alcohol begins to expand and can evaporate more quickly. While it won't hurt you healthwise to consume, storing in a warm place can cause the liquor to oxidize more quickly and change flavors over time.Does Alcohol Go Bad, Stale or Expire?
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Answer 2
I have to concur with KatieK as to the conclusion that liquor bottles should be stored upright, as for "Why?" While I can not necessarily tell you "the reason" I can tell you "my reasons"... Liquor bottles lids are less reliable after they have been opened, upright storage prevents leakage.
I have had the unfortunate experience with a bottle of Jack that didn't keep well.
An additional reason to do this is that in all of the bars and liquor stores I have visited, I can recall never having seen liquor stored sideways...if it made sense to store those sideways the retailers would do so.
These may not be perfect reasons, but they are good enough to me...for whatever that is worth to you.
Answer 3
I have some opened liquor that I stored on its side in a wine cabinet. It seems to have leaked and a ring of "sugar" dripped on the bottle below it and crystallized. So, if it has not been opened, it may be ok.
Answer 4
As far as I know, storing liquor bottles on their side is a bad idea.
For screwtops, I believe storing them on the side will over time degrade the seal, especially when there is a lot of alcohol involved.
Corked liquor bottles use soft low-density cork to make it easy to remove and insert the cork, and unlike the harder, denser corks used for wine, these corks simply will not hold up to prolonged exposure to alcohol.
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