English How to Store Wine at Home the Right Way
“The most important thing is to keep the bottles out of direct sunlight,” says Anita LaRaia, author of Pick a Perfect Wine…In No Time. Keeping your wine low to the ground or in a cabinet helps protect it from overhead fluorescent lighting, which can also do damage. “Every now and then, give the bottle a shake so the cork stays moist,” says Beguedou. This can be as often as once a week or as infrequently as every three months. It all depends on the age and condition of the bottle and its closure –– older corks will likely need more frequent hydration.
New NYC Cocktail Bars, Nightclubs, Spirits and More
Some of these places may offer free shipping for bulk orders when you’re stocking your bar. You can even use a TV stand or something you might find in a living room or home office. A quality office shelf without the office supplies makes for a great whiskey storage rack, or a place for wine glasses outside of your wine cabinets. You may find these ideas spark another way of displaying your bottles, or you may find something simple that works best for you. From creative ideas to cheap Ikea options, you’re sure to find liquor cabinet ideas that suit your liquor display needs.
Turn a sewing machine cabinet into a liquor cabinet
Vermouth and dessert wines like vin santo, ice wine, and the like thankfully have a longer refrigerator shelf life than their regular wine what is amp test counterparts, and won’t turn vinegary and sour in the span of a few days. If you plan on making a bunch of cocktails, store your vodka in the freezer for about an hour before the party so it’s chilled. Take it out a few minutes ahead of serving, so it has time to thaw before showing off your mixologist skills. For long-term storage, vodka can be stored in the freezer or in a dark, cool place away from direct light. If you like a martini every now and then, make sure you’re not leaving your opened vermouth out alongside your gin or vodka. Fortified wines will deteriorate in flavor, making for a pretty stale drink.
Fortified wines, such as port, sherry and vermouth, should be stored in the fridge after they’ve been opened. The colder temperature slows down the oxidation process and keeps the bottles fresher longer. White wine and rosé should also be recorked and stored in the fridge after opening. A Coravin is a device that allows you to access and pour wine without removing the cork. It uses a thin, hollow needle to pierce the cork, which allows wine to flow out. At the same time, the system replaces the poured wine with argon gas, an inert gas that prevents oxidation.
Store Hard Liquor at Room Temperature
- Roland-Billecart recommends cellaring your bottles for the long term.
- “The most important thing is to keep the bottles out of direct sunlight,” says Anita LaRaia, author of Pick a Perfect Wine…In No Time.
- While storage cabinets and shelves are efficient, a table or cart will boost your bar vibe.
- Fortified wines—such as vermouth, port and sherry, as well as cream-based liqueurs, like Baileys Irish cream, need to be kept cold.
Eyeball any bottles with cork closures to see if they appear dry, which should be apparent by how pronounced its holes or pores look. If the cork seems to be on the verge of crumbling, don’t shake the bottle unless you want to filter out debris the next time you serve it. Instead, transfer the spirit to a new bottle with a glass, plastic, or otherwise healthy closure. Unlike with food, your primary concern doesn’t need to be the drink “going bad,” although that can happen with wine and some liqueurs.
However, keep in mind that temperature fluctuations when opening and closing the fridge can affect the alcohol’s quality. Keep your liquor out of reach of children and pets at all times. Store flammable spirits away from heat sources like fireplaces to prevent accidents and ensure everyone’s safety. Air exposure can definitely alter the flavor, and it’s best to avoid any added texture from dust particles.
While humidity can impact wine, the average home humidity levels are acceptable for most other alcoholic beverages. Showcase your prettiest liquor bottles alongside your book collection. 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.
