Vodka: To Freeze or Not to Freeze? - Bogue Sound Distillery (2024)

FAQs

Vodka: To Freeze or Not to Freeze? - Bogue Sound Distillery? ›

Due to its ethanol content, vodka will not actually freeze solid until it reaches a temperature of -16 degrees Fahrenheit. Standard freezers are 0 degrees Fahrenheit, but that is still too cold for premium vodka. The optimal drinking temperature of vodka is somewhere between 32-39 degrees Fahrenheit.

Many people think placing vodka in the freezer is the best way to store it. Freezing vodka does nothing to harm it — in fact it actually creates a much more viscous texture which is hard not to enjoy with vodka. But with alcohol, there are certain molecules that get “killed off” at various temperatures.

That's because its freezing point is much lower than that of water. Because vodka contains 40% alcohol, it won't freeze over until around -10 degrees Fahrenheit, much lower than your typical freezer, which is around 0 degrees Fahrenheit.

So, if you've got a high-quality vodka with lovely characteristics you want to actually taste, then it should be kept out of the freezer. What about the fridge? You might like to store your bottle of vodka in the fridge if you're planning on serving the vodka neat or on the rocks.

Because vodka contains 40% alcohol, it won't freeze over until around -23 degrees Celsius, much lower than your typical freezer, which is around -18 degrees Celsius.

While it's true that vodka, due to its ethanol content, will get cold but won't freeze solid above -27 degrees Celsius (-16.6 degrees Fahrenheit), keeping good vodka in the freezer will mask some of its best qualities, such as its subtle scents and flavors, Thibault warns.

At higher, non-frozen temperatures, spirits release something known as volatiles, which are compounds that easily vaporize.

One handy trick for increasing the alcohol percentage of vodka, particularly if it's lower in alcohol content than 40 proof, is to apply a technique known as freeze distillation. This can be achieved by pouring the vodka in an open container, such as a bowl, and placing it in the freezer.

Does Vodka Go Bad? Unopened vodka does not expire. Most vodkas have hardly any additives, so they can be stored almost indefinitely in a cool, dark place. Vodka producers will usually recommend using an unopened bottle within 30 to 50 years to experience its ideal potency and flavor.

Grey Goose Vodka will not freeze in a conventional freezer. Because vodka contains 40% alcohol, it won't freeze over until around -27 degrees Celsius, much lower than your typical freezer, which is around -18 degrees Celsius. This means that Grey Goose Vodka can be stored in the freezer and it will remain liquid.

Does freezing vodka reduce alcohol content? ›

At this point, I would like to point out that you absolutely should put vodka in your freezer - serving it as a liquid that's colder than ice is definitely something worth experiencing. But the alcohol content will be exactly the same as a room-temperature bottle.

An unopened bottle of unflavored vodka has a shelf-life of decades. After opening, it will still be good for 10 to 20 years. For flavored vodkas, the shelf-life spans from six months to 2 years.

The freezing temperature of vodka is pretty low, which means your typical run of the mill freezer is not going to make the bottle ice-up. You get the benefit of a cold drink without even adding ice, and it's not like it's harming anything.

Most vodka will become cloudy in the freezer and thicken, but not freeze.

Ethanol, the alcohol in vodka, freezes at a much lower temperature than water. Due to the ethanol content, vodka freezes at -16 degrees Fahrenheit so if you put it in your freezer, which is typically set at zero degrees, it will not freeze.

While it's true that vodka, due to its ethanol content, will get cold but won't freeze solid above -27 degrees Celsius (-16.6 degrees Fahrenheit), keeping good vodka in the freezer will mask some of its best qualities, such as its subtle scents and flavors, Thibault warns.

Alcohol You Shouldn't Freeze

While the entire contents of the bottle will not freeze right away, the water will. This creates a slush out of your beverage and can ruin the flavor.

But there's a caveat: Though low temperatures won't harm a spirit, “the cold certainly bothers it,” says Record. That's because spirits that have not undergone chill filtering often end up with a murky appearance once frozen — the result of a separation of acids and lipids in the liquid.