It might have endured less-than-ideal conditions during transportation or been exposed to light on a store shelf. You can choose shelves from a standard shop, you can go online, or you can build your own. You can also find some really creative choices in specialty shops. Etsy is always a safe bet for purchasing or finding inspiration. The whole world of cabinetry is open to you, as long as it can hold liquor bottles safely and fit in with your bar. “To use an unfortunate word that was very misused in the 90s and still today, your vodka will be ‘smoother’ if you store it in the freezer because you’re masking all its subtle flavor nuances,” Victoria says.
Popping the cork on a sparkling wine heralds a celebration, but knowing how to store Champagne properly is important. Do it incorrectly and you might notice muted flavors, diminished effervescence, and an overall disappointing experience. Learn the essential steps and what you need to keep in mind to keep your bubbles fresh, vibrant, and perfectly fizzy—whether you’re planning to keep the bottles for years, days, or just a few hours. Whether you choose shelves, cabinets, tables, or carts, organization and aesthetics are the most important things to keep in mind. As you’re reading these options keep your liquor collection in mind, to make the right decision for your bar.
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Reiner recommends storing wine-based aperitifs—sherry, vermouth, port, Lillet—in the fridge to extend their life. Learn how long your favorite spirits will last, and whether they should be stored in the refrigerator or at room temperature. And Champagne is one of the more premium categories of wine—nothing is more disappointing than saving a pricey bottle for a special milestone and having it be lackluster.
Even though we may slosh it around our glasses while we’re at a wine tasting, while it’s in the bottle, plenty of things can go amiss and change your delicious vino into vinegar. Want the most out of your wine but not planning on drinking it right away? “Home storage of distilled spirits is a constant competition between convenience and preservation,” said Allen Katz, co-founder of New York Distilling Company. Even if you don’t have a wine cellar, there are some basic guidelines for how to (and how not to) store alcohol at home. Typically, wine bottles with corks should be stored horizontally to keep the cork moist.
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As hard as it may be to forget about a fabulous bottle of bubbles you’re waiting to enjoy, we think that’s excellent advice. Your choice of liquor cabinets and shelves is all about what you have to display, and your bar (the best tommy lee alcohol bars all have a personal touch in their storage systems, including the oldest bars in America). With the whole world of cabinets and shelves available to you, you can make the display situation of your bar whatever you want.
Perhaps something with glass doors for display purposes, or an accent cabinet. If you have a large selection, it might be a better idea to go with a cheap liquor storage cabinet to save some money. Good places to search are furniture stores, secondhand shops, or online shops like Etsy or eBay. A liquor storage cabinet is a classic way to hold a large amount of liquor in an organized, aesthetically pleasing way. The options range from cabinets made specifically for liquor, to standard bookcases and shelves, to custom options. If a wine is “light struck,” it has been subjected to bright light for an extended period of time and will taste “numb and dumb,” says Robinson.
However, spirits, beer, and drinks with alternative closures can be stored either way. While storing some spirits, like vodka, in the freezer can enhance their taste, it is not recommended for all alcoholic beverages. Freezing can potentially alter the flavor and texture of wine and other delicate spirits. Who in their right mind would neglect a $100 bottle of whiskey by leaving it on the kitchen counter in the blazing sun? Protect your prized bourbon from tasting off by storing it properly. According to Sonoma State University, nearly 90 percent of wine purchased is consumed within hours, so for most of us, Champagne can go straight from the wine shop into the fridge.
Use a Wine Fridge
Storing bottles horizontally, also called “laying them down,” rather than standing them up, is a very easy yet important step. It will keep the wine inside the bottle in contact with the cork and help prevent it from drying out. This also helps avoid issues of too much oxygen infiltrating the bottle through a dried-out cork, which can make the wine flat and stale. Before you decide how to display the different liquor bottle sizes in opening a bar, it’s good to know the best general practices for displaying and storing bottles.
If You Can’t Keep It Cool, Keep It Stable
- At the correct temp, you can leave your wine to slumber for ages until you’re ready to drink it.
- “In fact, this process is the reason we decant wines before drinking, as the flavors are often enhanced by oxygen,” says Hoel.
- Keep in mind that cold temperatures will mute a spirit’s flavors and texture when you go to drink it, though.
- Not only does liquor make a unique decorative addition to a bookcase (or China cabinet, like in the photo above), but it’s also a surprisingly convenient storage spot.
- If you’re at the point of no return, consider turning your leftover wine into vinegar.
- It’s no-brainer storage, plus it adds a fun stylistic element to what could easily be a very plain shelf set-up.
Speaking of stopping corks from drying out, I can’t stress the importance of a humid environment enough. If the air in your wine cellar (or fridge, cupboard, closet, etc.) lacks sufficient moisture it, too can cause corks to dry out and wines to oxidize. Pop a humidifier in the room if you’re worried about moisture levels or you can put a small bowl of water in the cupboard with your wines—just don’t forget to refill it from time to time. At the same event, the Bacardi researchers also presented some of their findings on the effects of oxidation – the effect of air on alcohol. Since exposure to air can kill some of the flavors of wine and spirits, often leaving behind the more severe, acidic ones to overpower the taste, you’ll want to take some precautions to counteract this.
If all this talk of optimal storage conditions has you wondering about that bottle of vodka living rent-free in your freezer, rest assured, you’re not permanently damaging it. Keep in mind that cold temperatures will mute a spirit’s flavors and texture when you go to drink it, though. Meanwhile, if you store a distilled spirit in a cool, dark place, it can last almost indefinitely.