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How Long Does Brandy Last? Does Brandy Go Bad?

For frequent drinkers, brandy is a type of energy booster.

All they want after a tiring day is brandy, so they always keep a stock of it.

However, keeping them stored for a long time raises a question in their mind does brandy go bad?

It will not be fine if they find an old open bottle of brandy and start drinking it immediately.

Because brandy does go bad after it is opened.

A sealed bottle of this beverage can indeed be kept for years.

However, there is a time period in which you can enjoy the endearing taste of this beverage.

After that, you really have to look for signs to check if it is safe to drink.

Drinking expired brandy can cause irritation in your stomach.

The aftertaste can be highly nauseating as it has a foul taste.

What is Brandy?

Brandy is a distilled spirit made from fermented fruits.

Numerous fruits are used to make this beverage, but grapes are the most common among them.

The word brandy is derived from the Dutch word brandewijn, which means burned wine.

Traditionally brandy was made from grapes only, but now there are two types of variations you can get in brandy:

  • Pome brandy: this category includes fruits like apples and pears. .
  • Stone fruit brandy: apricots, peaches, plums, and cherries are some fruits used in this category. .

There is no basic formula for making brandy; thus, every region has its own method of production.

It is produced by mashing the fruits and mixing them with yeast.

This process breaks down natural sugar and ferments it into wine.

How Long Does Brandy Last? Does Brandy Go Bad?

A widespread opinion about this beverage is that it tastes delicious when kept for years.

So people preserve brandy for more than ten years to get the scrumptious taste, but it will only last till the lid of the bottle is closed.

Once you open the bottle, then the shelf life of the brandy will be 1 or 2 years.

The brandy’s flavor and quality will start to degrade after opening the bottle.

It will not able to survive such a long period only because of the high content of alcohol present in it.

Brandy cannot retain the same quality forever because of oxidation and evaporation.

Oxidation is the process that starts as the beverage comes in contact with air.

When the alcoholic content reacts with oxygen in the air, brandy loses its flavor.

Another reason is the evaporation process that occurs if storage is done at a warm temperature.

Therefore to maintain the quality, there should be no contact of heat with the brandy.

You might have also seen color variation as the storing container have an impact on its color.

For example, in old times, it was stored in wooden containers to give them a dark amber shade.

But now, glass containers are preferred to preserve their natural color and authenticity.

The origin of brandy was held in France, Italy, and South America.

Different kinds of serving are offered, such as straight, on the rocks, cocktails, and shots.

Over and regular brandy consumption is detrimental to health and should be avoided.

How To Tell If Brandy Has Gone Bad?

It is impossible to remember the exact time of the opening brandy.

So if you have an open bottle, what signs can signify that the brandy has gone bad? The first option is to take a sip of brandy as, with time, the taste components will vanish from your beverage.

Another way is to smell the beverage and check if there is any odor.

Pour out a little beverage in the glass and smell it.

A rancid odor will tell you all about the lost flavor.

Brandy stowed for a long time will give a fetid odor only at opening the bottle.

Thus it is clear that it’s time to discard the brandy.

Drinking a minimal amount of beverage will not affect a lot but will reveal the weakened strength of alcohol.

Alcohol will tend to evaporate, and brandy will not offer good alcoholic strength.

A slight color change will be seen as the chemicals react adversely with air.

It is easy to identify the swap between colors.

Consequently, you will have a clear idea of having or not having brandy.

The beverage should be examined in a transparent glass to see if it appears the same.

How to Store Brandy?

Storing the beverage correctly can help in extending its life.

Ways of storage are as follows:

  • Securely close the bottle: make sure to close the bottle correctly with the original cap. Original bottles are the perfect fit to avoid drying chemicals and components of brandy. If it was a cork cap bottle, using a wine stopper would be better. Cork caps can quickly develop a foul odor or bacteria as they degrade quickly. .
  • Set up a safe place: for storing the beverages for a long time, correct place selection is vital. Places with moisture can fasten the process of oxidation and evaporation. Thus make sure to place the bottle in a dry area. You can put the beverage in the refrigerator; that will not severely affect the beverage. .
  • Better drink than waste: it would be advisable to drink your brandy within six months. That is because it is better to finish and enjoy the taste instead of keeping and wasting it. .

Conclusion

It is also stated that brandy is distilled wine as it was extracted from fruits.

Therefore it does not really harm unless the person consumes a large quantity.

One can stop the early stale of brandy by using herbal infusions.

There are recipes and ingredients through which you can make the brandy drinkable after it goes bad.

These ingredients include cinnamon, dried apricots, and vanilla beans.

To keep the brandy aside, one can entrust a cool and dry place such as cupboards or a basement.

They are far from direct sunlight and do not contain moisture.

In addition, a suitable amount of brandy can work as an antioxidant to improve immunity and heart diseases.

How Long Does Brandy Last? Does Brandy Go Bad?

Andrew Gray
Concerned about the longevity of brandy and its freshness? Learn how long brandy lasts and whether it has a shelf life.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Shelf Life
Servings 1 Serving

Ingredients
  

  • Brandy
  • Air-tight containers or Ziplock bags
  • Labels and markers

Instructions
 

  • Make sure to label your container with the content and date.
  • Store the container in a cool, dark place, like a pantry or fridge.
  • If you freeze the product, thaw it in the fridge before using. Always check for signs of spoilage before using.
Keyword How Long Does Brandy Last
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