Does alcohol go bad? Here’s how long your favourite bottle will last - Drinks News

Jul 03, 2026

That bottle of creme de menthe that’s been sitting at the back of your liquor cabinet since the Roaring Twenties would like a word.

Alcoholic drinks come in many different forms, from beer and cider to wines, spirits, liquors and liqueurs. Some are there to be enjoyed casually, like a cheeky schooner with your mate after a hard day at work. Others are there to be savoured, perhaps with an excellent meal.

But the most expensive and desirable alcoholic beverages tend to be those that have a good number of years under their belt. Vintage Champagnes need to age for at least three years. Whisky can be aged for anywhere up to 80 years or more. Cognac can be aged for up to 100 years. Penfolds Grange should be cellared for a good 15-25 years.

I’m personally ageing like a very fine wine – full-bodied, food-friendly, a tad austere and with hints of spice.

If booze can last that long and still be super-expensive, this begs the question – do alcoholic drinks ever go off? Or does the alcohol in them keep them preserved?

Cocktails — Don’t spoil cocktail hour by using sub-standard plonk.

Does alcohol go bad?

This all depends on the type of alcohol, its alcohol by volume (ABV) and whether or not it’s been opened. While some spirits can last forever, other types of alcohol have a much shorter expiration date. Let’s roll out the drinks trolley and pour over the details of how long your favourite bottles will actually last.

Does wine go bad?

A good-quality wine will continue to age and evolve in flavour and complexity even after it’s been bottled. However, a standard bottle of mass-produced wine will not. But regardless of quality, once you’ve opened it and exposed it to oxygen, wine can turn vinegary fairly quickly. You should only keep an opened bottle of wine for a few days.

How long a bottle of wine will last unopened depends on both the type and the quality of the wine. Mass-produced wines are made to be consumed fresh, so will likely only stay good for one or two years. But a good, fine wine can last for 20 years or more if it’s stored in the proper conditions (eg, a cool, dark place between 10-15°C – not on top of your fridge).

Whites and rosés won’t last as long as reds, and a full-bodied red will last longer than a lighter red like a pinot noir. Big reds have more tannins, which protect the wine from oxidisation; and also have a higher ABV, which helps protect against spoilage. Here’s a general guide:

White wine: 1-2 years for cheaper wines; 5-15+ years for quality wine
Rosé: 1-2 years for cheaper wines; 3-5 for quality
Champagne: unopened, 3 to 4 years for non-vintage bottles; 5 to 10 years for vintage
Light reds: 2-5 years for cheaper wines; 5-15+ years for quality wine
Full-bodied reds: 3-5 years for a standard red; 10-20+ (or more) for a fine, age-worthy wine
Fortified wines: these will last several years to decades, depending on the style; once opened, they will last no more than 4-8 weeks (only 1-2 weeks for lighter, dry sherries like fino and Manzanilla), although darker, sweeter sherries (like Pedro Ximénez) can last for up to 2 months. Vermouth should be stored in the fridge once opened.

Pro tips: screw tops on wine bottles might seem less ‘fancy’, but they form a better seal than natural corks, which can fail and let air in, or cause ‘cork taint’. However, corks are regarded as better for wines that are meant to age, as a cork’s porous nature can allow the wine to develop more thoroughly over time. If your wine has a cork, store it on its side when unopened to keep the cork wet. This stops it from shrinking.

Beer can — Beer is meant to be enjoyed now.

Does beer go bad?

Beer is perishable, and vulnerable to light, oxygen and heat. It also doesn’t improve with age, although there are a few exceptions here, such as imperial stout. Unopened, beer will generally only last around three to six months. After that, it won’t make you sick, but it will likely taste rubbish. Once opened, it’s only good for a very short time.

Do spirits go bad?

Because spirits like gin, vodka, whisky, rum and tequila have a high alcohol content (around 40% ABV), this acts as a natural preservative, and makes them highly inhospitable to bacteria. A sealed bottle of spirits can last for decades without spoiling, especially if it’s stored in a cool, dark place.

Once opened, spirits should be consumed within six months to two years, if you want them to be at peak quality. Over time, oxidisation will cause the spirit to slowly lose flavour, aroma and potency.

Pro tip: if the bottle is less than a third full, it will oxidise faster.

Negroni — Liqueurs don’t have the same staying power as spirits.

Related story: The 20 best white wines under $25 to buy

Do liqueurs go bad?

Liqueurs are spirits that contain added sugar. This acts as a preservative, but also makes them more volatile than pure spirits. This means that they’ll lose their flavour and colour over time, and may start to crystallise.

Standard liqueurs – like Cointreau, Campari, Grand Marnier or schnapps – can essentially last indefinitely on the shelf, but will start to lose quality after several years. Once opened, they’ll last from six to 12 months for fruit and flower liqueurs (like triple sec) up to one to two years for herbal/botanical liqueurs like Campari or amaro. You can extend the shelf life of lower ABV liqueurs by storing them in the fridge.

Cream-based liqueurs – like Baileys – will last around two years unopened, especially if they’re stored somewhere cool. Once opened, they should be stored in the fridge and consumed within six months.