Does Jim Beam improve with age?
For the first few years of its life, bourbon definitely improves with age. New make bourbon isn't delicious, but six-year-old bourbon certainly can be. But it's possible to overdo it. In practice, older whiskey isn't always better--and that's particularly true when it comes to bourbon.
From the Barrel to the Bottle
The good news is that once bourbon is aged, bottled, and placed on your bar shelf, it doesn't change much at all. You can expect even open bottles of bourbon to last in good condition for several years.
What is this? When you store it properly, the alcohol should remain the same as it was on the day it was bottled. You can keep an unopened bottle of bourbon for many years and not worry about any changes to the flavor. Bourbon only ages in wood, so no flavor change should happen.
Bourbons get better with age because a six-year-old bourbon from the barrel is certainly more delicious than a newly made bourbon. However, over-maturation of bourbon in the barrel can affect the whiskey's flavors.
Unlike wines, distilled spirits do not improve with age once they are in the bottle. As long as they are not opened, your whiskey, brandy, rum, and the like will not change and they will certainly not mature further while they wait on the shelf.
If you have a bottle of whiskey that was opened a few years ago and it was kept sealed in the pantry for this time, the alcohol will be fine. It might not taste the best (especially if the bottle is half empty), but it will be safe to consume.
50-year-old whisky is almost the holy grail in spirits terms. Very few casks of whisky will reach 50 years old and still be drinkable, representing a tiny, tiny fraction of a percent.
Yes, bourbon expires once you open the bottle. The shelf life of bourbon and all of its premium qualities can only last for two to eight months unless stored correctly and away from any light source.
Elegant. Smooth. Refined. That's what 4 years of aging in newly charred American white oak barrels does to our bourbon.
10 year old whisky is a very popular age. Hitting double digits is an important benchmark, and for many it signifies a step up a league. Whether that holds any actual significance, 10 year old whiskies are definitely very popular, with particular favorites being Ardbeg 10 Year Old and Laphroaig 10 Year Old.
What's the best age for bourbon?
Straight Bourbon must be aged for at least two years. The distillate – the Bourbon after it has been distilled, but before it has entered the barrel for aging – is clear in color. It also only contains the flavor of the grains where it was distilled.
The official line is that whisky does not change in the bottle as long as that bottle remains unopened, but many collectors will argue that the opposite is the case.
The shelf life of bourbon isn't much different from the shelf life of whiskey, as a whole. Unopened, a bottle of bourbon won't go bad. You can store it for decades. But once a bottle of bourbon is opened, it's got roughly 1 to 2 years before it goes bad.
Most distilled spirits, such as whiskey, rum, brandy, gin, vodka and tequila, have a nearly indefinite shelf life if they are unopened. This is because the sugar content is low, limiting the growth of micro-organisms and the high alcohol content is deadly to bacteria.
If a bottle of Scotch whisky shows an age statement, e.g. "12 Years Old" means that the youngest whisky in the bottle is at least 12 years old. Scotch is bottled at a variety of ages, from 3 years to 50 years. Grain whisky is most often used between 3 and 5 years old in blended whisky brands.
In cooler climates, especially with Scotch and Irish whisky, it can take at least 10 years to develop the flavor associated with good quality whiskey. The oldest whiskies have been aged 50-70 years, but whiskies that have aged this long do not automatically mean a higher quality spirit.
They tested the bacteria against whiskey, vodka, different types of mixers and various environmental conditions. Bacteria continued to thrive in all of the samples except one: you guessed it, the whiskey. Whiskey was the only drink that completely eliminated all traces of the bacteria.
40 year old whisky is very often bestowed as a 40th Birthday present as a mark of tremendous respect for the recipient. Other occasions on which 40 year old whisky can be given include Fathers Day, and Christmas Presents. Forty year old whisky is ultra-rare, normally very complex, and incredibly mellow and supple.
Alcohol taken in moderation does not lead to weight gain, hamper weight loss, or increase appetite.
Expired alcohol doesn't make you sick. If you drink liquor after it's been open for more than a year, you generally only risk a duller taste. Flat beer typically tastes off and may upset your stomach, whereas spoiled wine usually tastes vinegary or nutty but isn't harmful.
How long can you keep unopened whiskey?
If sealed correctly, scotch whiskey has a shelf life between 6 months to 2 years, whereas an opened bottle of wine can only last for a few days. Proper storage of unopened whiskey gives it a shelf life of about 10 years.
As long as bourbon is barrelled correctly, aging really has no requirement for how long or less. It can go for any amount of time. But, there are two exceptions to this – straight bourbon whiskey has to be aged for a minimum of two years, and bottled-in-bond must be aged for at least four years.
The Jim Beam bourbon has more spice and less sweetness on the palate.It is also a bit cheaper than the Jack Daniel's whiskey. The Beam makes for quite a light drinking experience, and I found it a bit bland. The Jack Daniel's has more sweetness and vanilla notes, and it is more memorable.
You should NOT refrigerate your bourbon. Bourbon is best served at room temperature. Refrigeration doesn't do anything to improve the taste. Experts agree it is not a good idea to refrigerate your bourbon as it can pull the flavors away from your bourbon.
Some say bottles should be finished within one to two years, while others say up to five years is alright, as long as you follow these recommendations: Limit light. Your whiskey collection might be beautiful enough to display out in the open, but it'll last longer if you keep it behind a cabinet door.
Our neat choice of 15 top-shelf bourbons won't be complete without the crowd-favorite drink, the Jim Beam Black. It's arguably the most popular choice of whiskey in the world that has been around since the 18th century.
Jim Beam Black is a premium bourbon with a flavorful character made to be sipped and savored and was rated the No. 1 bourbon in the world after winning the Bourbon Trophy, the highest accolade awarded in the bourbon category at the 2016 International Wine & Spirits Competition.
Our premium 86-proof, double-aged bourbon spends 8 years in new charred, white oak barrels. That's twice as long as original Jim Beam. It's those four extra years of aging that give Jim Beam Black its full bodied flavor with smooth caramel and warm oak notes.
What's being called the oldest Bourbon ever bottled at 45 years in a barrel, the Final Reserve James Thompson & Brother Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is not only going to pack a punch of flavor due to its extended stay in those oak casks according to its owner, but is a Bourbon steeped in history as well.
Bourbon distillers often age their whisky in dry environments that help it evaporate and concentrate faster than scotch, which is usually aged in humid climates, Kara Newman reported for Slate. Most times, the older the whisky, the more complex the taste and the pricier it is.
How long is Jack Daniels aged?
This 10 years of aging is much longer than the brand's norm, which usually sees their standard Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey being aged for about 4-5 years and their Single Barrel Select Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey being aged for about 5-7 years.
Michter's 10 Year Bourbon
This award-winning expression was matured for at least ten years in fire-charred, new American oak casks. It's well-known for its rich, mellow flavor highlighted by notes of caramel, vanilla beans, maple candy, and gentle, warming spice.
Most distilled spirits, such as whiskey, rum, brandy, gin, vodka and tequila, have a nearly indefinite shelf life if they are unopened. This is because the sugar content is low, limiting the growth of micro-organisms and the high alcohol content is deadly to bacteria.
The proof in your barrel has now (most likely) increased from 103 to 110 – as proof almost always increases during the aging process. Had you gone with the maximum of 125 proof, it would probably have been around 135 proof, by now.
