Does Hard Alcohol Go Bad? A Brief Guide to Liquor’s Shelf Life

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Plus, learn when rubbing or isopropyl alcohol no longer works
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Are you wondering if the alcoholic beverage that's been sitting in your fridge for a long time is still safe to drink? Or maybe you're eyeing the rubbing alcohol in the bathroom and questioning if it's too old to disinfect effectively. The good news is, you're about to find out! Read this brief but thorough guide to discover whether alcohol goes bad, plus learn the shelf life of your favorite alcoholic beverages and how long your rubbing alcohol is good for.

Does alcohol expire?

Yes, some alcohols expire. Liqueurs are unsafe to drink after the expiration date or if they've been open for 1 year. Hard liquor, wine, and beer begin to lose flavor and potency when expired, but they're still safe to consume. Rubbing alcohol loses its cleaning effectiveness within 2-3 years of the manufacturing date.

Section 1 of 3:

Does alcohol go bad?

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  1. Yes, alcohol can go bad over time as it's exposed to light, air, and heat.
    Any kind of alcohol is technically still safe to use or consume after its expiration date. The problem is that after it's opened or after the expiration date, it begins to taste bad, as well as lose its strength. This process happens faster the more air it's exposed to, which causes the alcohol to oxidize and evaporate, reducing its flavor, color, and potency. This applies not just to alcohol that you drink, like hard liquor (i.e., vodka, whiskey, rum, etc.), wine, and beer, but also to alcohol used for medical and cleaning purposes, like rubbing alcohol.
    • To help them last longer, store opened bottles of liquor, wine, liqueur, or beer in the refrigerator.
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    Sander Raav

    Sander Raav

    Mixologist
    Sander Raav is a Mixologist based in Seattle, Washington. He is the founder of Seattle Bartending Company, which offers Cocktail Workshops and Classes. He has over 15 years of experience bartending in multiple high-end restaurants, including 8 years as Bar Manager at The Tin Table. He has held positions as a bartender, bar manager, and as treasurer for the Seattle chapter of the United States Bartenders Guild. Sander has created and organized many bartending events, fundraisers, cocktail classes, and presentations. He has participated in many cocktail competitions and has garnered over a dozen wins and placements in the top 3 of national and local competitions. Thanks to his extensive competition and cocktail knowledge, he has also judged many competitions as well. In 2020, he founded Shake, Stir & Savor, a mixology education program, and has been offering live and virtual cocktail classes since. In his classes, Sander teaches his students to think like bartenders, while making concepts simple, easy to grasp, and replicable.
    Sander Raav
    Sander Raav
    Mixologist

    Store alcohol out of direct sunlight. Keep your unopened bottles in a cupboard, away from the sun. In addition, make sure they're sealed correctly and the cork or lid isn't leaking, so the bottles are airtight.

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Section 2 of 3:

Shelf Life of Hard Liquor, Wine, & Beer

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  1. Step 1 Unopened liquor doesn’t expire, but opened liquor is best within 1-2 years.
    Unopened liquors have an indefinite shelf life due to their high alcohol content. Even after opening, they're still good to drink for 1-2 years. After 1-2 years, you can still consume liquor safely because the high alcohol content creates a hostile environment for any bacteria that would spoil it. Unfortunately, by that time, the beverage simply doesn't taste good because of its exposure to oxygen, so you may want to pour it out.[1]
    • Whiskey, bourbon, and Scotch: 6 months to 2 years[2]
    • Tequila and Mezcal: 1 year[3]
    • Gin: 1-2 years[4]
    • Rum: 1-2 years[5]
    • Vodka: 10-20 years unflavored, 6 months to 2 years flavored[6]
  2. Step 2 Opened liqueurs, amaros, and cordials must be consumed within 1 year.
    Liqueurs like amaros have sugar and flavors added after they're distilled. They also have a lower ABV than liquor. Because of their high sugar and low alcohol content, liqueurs spoil faster. For that reason, always open them before the expiration date on the package. After opening them, consume them within 1 year.[7]
    • Amaro: 1 year
    • Cream liqueur: 2 years[8]
    • Citrus liqueur: 1-2 years[9]
    • Coffee liqueur: Within 4 years of manufacturing date[10]
  3. Step 3 Unsealed wine can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 1-4 weeks.
    After you open a bottle of wine, its shelf life depends on the type of wine you're drinking. For example, a vermouth will last a long time (up to 3 months), whereas champagne is good for only 3 days after popping the cork.[11]
  4. Step 4 Beer is best consumed before the expiration date.
    Beer will generally have an expiration date printed on the can, bottle, or packaging. The fresher the beer, the better it tastes. While you can certainly drink beer when it's "expired" and not fear for your health, the flavor will not be as pleasant.[13]
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Section 3 of 3:

Does rubbing alcohol go bad?

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  1. Yes, rubbing alcohol expires within 2-3 years of the manufacturing date.
    Check the side of your rubbing alcohol container for an expiration date and use it before then. After that date, the isopropyl alcohol in the solution will start to evaporate. This means it's no longer effective at disinfecting or cleaning.[14]
    • Does isopropyl alcohol go bad? Pure isopropyl alcohol (IPA), which is the main ingredient in rubbing alcohol, is also best used before its expiration date.
    • Learn about the many ways to use rubbing alcohol to clean and disinfect your home in our article, "How to Clean with Rubbing Alcohol."

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References

  1. ↑ https://www.extension.iastate.edu/news/not-all-alcohol-gets-better-age
  2. ↑ https://www.whisky.com/knowledge/about-whisky/storage/does-whisky-go-bad.html
  3. ↑ https://mezcalrosaluna.com/article/does-tequila-go-bad/
  4. ↑ https://crimsoncocktail.com/bartending-and-mixology/does-gin-expire/
  5. ↑ https://crimsoncocktail.com/bartending-and-mixology/does-rum-expire/
  6. ↑ https://www.americanvodka.com/vodka-faq/does-vodka-go-bad
  7. ↑ https://www.extension.iastate.edu/news/not-all-alcohol-gets-better-age
  8. ↑ https://www.seriouseats.com/cocktail-101-how-long-do-spirits-liqueurs-vermouth-last
  9. ↑ https://crimsoncocktail.com/bartending-and-mixology/does-triple-sec-expire/
  1. ↑ https://crimsoncocktail.com/spirits-and-recipes/does-kahlua-expire-or-go-bad
  2. ↑ https://www.extension.iastate.edu/news/not-all-alcohol-gets-better-age
  3. ↑ https://www.wineenthusiast.com/culture/spirits/old-liquor-trash-bar-cleaning/
  4. ↑ https://www.eatingwell.com/article/8075395/does-beer-expire/
  5. ↑ https://www.sciencetimes.com/articles/46232/20230928/rubbing-alcohol-expire-still-use-expiration-date.htm

About This Article

Sander Raav
Co-authored by:
Sander Raav
Mixologist
This article was co-authored by Sander Raav and by wikiHow staff writer, Elaine Heredia, BA. Sander Raav is a Mixologist based in Seattle, Washington. He is the founder of Seattle Bartending Company, which offers Cocktail Workshops and Classes. He has over 15 years of experience bartending in multiple high-end restaurants, including 8 years as Bar Manager at The Tin Table. He has held positions as a bartender, bar manager, and as treasurer for the Seattle chapter of the United States Bartenders Guild. Sander has created and organized many bartending events, fundraisers, cocktail classes, and presentations. He has participated in many cocktail competitions and has garnered over a dozen wins and placements in the top 3 of national and local competitions. Thanks to his extensive competition and cocktail knowledge, he has also judged many competitions as well. In 2020, he founded Shake, Stir & Savor, a mixology education program, and has been offering live and virtual cocktail classes since. In his classes, Sander teaches his students to think like bartenders, while making concepts simple, easy to grasp, and replicable.
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Co-authors: 3
Updated: October 1, 2025
Views: 230
Categories: Food Safety
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