Most gin lovers do not have to worry about how long gin will last. But in this case, I was visiting my parents and decided to rummage through their liquor cabinet, hoping to find a fun gin hiding out.
Long story short: their weren’t any fun gins. But there was a huge bottle of Gilbey’s and a huge bottle of Fleishmans’. My parents do not drink liquor and so they had no clue where these gins came from or how long they’d been there.
That’s when I wondered about the shelf life of gin which inspired this article and the following research..
Does Gin Expire?
I looked at every one of my gin bottles and have yet to see an expiration date. So, I decided to call a popular, reputable distiller and was connected to the most helpful person ever at: Gordon’s
The representative put it this way: Gin doesn’t necessarily expire, but, rather think of it as having a best by date.
He walked me through the process of reading lot numbers printed on the bottle. Mind you, these are not expiration dates, but the month and year the gin was made.
Once you identify the date it was made, you can estimate whether or not it’s in its prime or losing it’s character based on when you opened the gin.
How Long Does Gin Last? Opened vs. Closed
Expect unopened gin to last decades and opened gin to last several years as long as it it stored in normal conditions. Normal Conditions mean: room temperature, no sunlight, and most importantly: the lid must be on tight.
Refrigerating or freezing doesn’t make gin last longer. However, it’s definitely better than storing gin improperly.
But the biggest reason your gin (or other liquor) will not last as long as possible is if it’s left open.
Loose lids change gins!
Gin Can Lose It’s Alcohol Strength (ABV) Over Time
A loosely capped bottle of gin will lose it’s strength if it goes unnoticed. That’s because air can get in, and air can get out which causes evaporation. Over time, this imbalance can alter the flavor of your favorite gin.
According to research, alcohol evaporates at a much faster rate than water. And since gin is a mixture of alcohol and water, the first thing to evaporate is likely the alcohol.
I’ve noticed this myself with liquors that I don’t use on a regular basis. They tend to lose their “bite” which means there is less alcohol.
Remember to screw the cap on tight or push the cork down firm, and the alcohol in your gin should stay at the proper strength.
How Long do Mixed Drinks Last in the Fridge
Mixed drinks made with freshly squeezed juices begin to taste bad after just a couple days in the fridge. However, you can extend the life of certain mixed cocktails if you use bottled juices with preservatives.
For instance, a pre-mixed gin and lemon, such as “Bees Knees” will have a slightly longer life in the fridge if you use bottled lemon concentrate vs. freshly squeezed lemon juice.
I’ve noticed that whether it’s with lime, lemon, or orange, fresh juice can get funky rather quickly, even in the refrigerator.
Orange turns bad the quickest, sometimes not even lasting 2 days.
Other Ingredients?
It’s important to consider what else is in the mixed drink. For instance, fresh fruit slices, or gin drinks with carbonated sodas or tonics will not last longer than the day.
Don’t even think about storing drinks like lemon pie gin for long periods of time. It uses egg whites.
In Summary
The person who answered the phone at Gordon’s was a great resource for understanding the shelf life of gin.
In normal conditions, it really doesn’t expire, unless you create bad storage conditions. It was helpful to learn about lot numbers and how they are secret codes for the date the gin was made.
As expected with most liquors, gin in a bottle can last quite a long time. However, the same cannot be said for keeping mixed drinks in the fridge.
While pre-making cocktails is highly convenient, it will be less convenient if you have to start over because it tastes bad.
For optimal freshness, use mixed drinks within a day of being in the fridge.
For more gin resources, be sure to check out our homepage.
