Does Whiskey Age in the Bottle?

Royal Salute 21 Year Old Blended Scotch DetailAnother great whiskey debate – does your bottle play a factor in the aging process?

Most people will say “no”, and dismiss anybody who says “yes” as naive.  And naivety may very well be the case when it comes to those individuals.  But, I’d like to dig a little deeper into this question.

Before we go any further, let’s define what aging is in relation to whiskey.  Traditionally, maturation occurs when the whiskey is in the barrel, and anything housing the whiskey before or after does not impart any flavor or other characteristics to the whiskey.

Fair enough, but are we to believe that the whiskey in your bottle that’s been there for a year is suspended in time and has not changed, for better or worse?  Isn’t the air in that bottle interacting with the liquid?

Yes, of course it is.  Not to mention that a cork or (gasp!) twist-off cap don’t always seal your bottle as well as you think it might.

So what exactly happens, then?  Well, as time goes on and oxygen has the opportunity to interact with what’s in your bottle, some of the alcohol will evaporate.  This can reduce the proof of your whiskey.  Some will argue that with less alcohol comes less flavor, while others will say that less alcohol means more of a chance to taste the whiskey.

No, I do not have a clear-cut answer to this question, and I don’t think anybody else does either – although there are plenty of bloggers out there that think they do.  I’m much more interested in hearing your opinion.  Leave me a comment and let me know what you think.

 

-Ryan

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  1. I don’t if what happens once it’s bottled can be called aging, but I truly believe that the whisk(e)y will change over time once you crack the seal and introduce air to the spirit. And I think the higher the ABV, the bigger the change, since like you said, some of the alcohol evaporates. Does it get better over time? Not sure, but I will tell you this, the last dram always seems to be the most memorable. Maybe it’s a sense of loss when the bottle is done. Kind of like saying goodbye to an old friend….

    1. I’d venture to guess that it wouldn’t get any better, necessarily, as time goes on. I do think that it changes. The last dram of a bottle is always memorable, though!

      -Ryan

      • Guy on December 15, 2019 at 2:44 am
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      I have a 7 year old bottle of Glenfarclas 21 year aged highland malt scotch that is fabulous. My wife and I use it once a year in Egg Nog to celebrate Christmas. I can tell you with certainty that it is as good or better than when first opened and our bottle has tons of oxygen in the bottle. We store it in a dry cupboard in a dark corner. I look forward to having it each year which we did just tonight. There is an inch or so remaining in the bottle so I will need to open my wallet soon for another bottle. The one we have been drinking was gifted to us. The next one will cost me $132.00 USD delivered for 750ml

    • Nadine R on January 7, 2013 at 11:38 pm
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    In have a bottle of five star that sealed from 1985 what would that be worth now a days?

      • Ryan on January 12, 2013 at 5:14 pm
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      Hi Nadine.

      While I cannot give you an exact answer, I will tell you this – it’s probably not worth any more than the day it was purchased. Whiskey bottled decades ago isn’t really much different than whiskey bottled today. Had that same liquid stayed in the barrel and been bottled today, that would be a different story.

      Thanks for the comment!

      -Ryan

    • Marie on March 9, 2013 at 7:57 pm
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    I have a bottle of your Virginia Gentlemen Whiskey that is about 30 years old. Just opened the seal and there is sediment in the bottle. Is it still good?

    1. Hi Marie.

      I really do not know what to tell you since I am not the distiller of Virginia Gentleman. What I will tell you is that you might as well pick up a new bottle since you’ll only be paying $15 or so for a handle.

      -Ryan

      • Robert on August 1, 2020 at 11:35 pm
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      Marie I went to an old neighborhood store 30 years ago they were closing down permanently the lady had a bottle old Fitzgerald whiskey she sold it to me for $12 750ml we had about an inch of dust on it no joke I opened the Bible after I throw cleansing for myself a shot it was like I they poured five shots I went back to buy another connect to Lady how long have you been sitting on the shelf she said probably 25 years or more so that bottle that you had the 30 years old make you a coffee filter filter it and enjoy cuz it got better way better

    • Bob on May 2, 2013 at 9:40 pm
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    I recently obtained several bottles of whiskey that are over 50 years old. I see that it should be still good, but was wondering if the taste is the same as the original?

    1. Hi Bob.

      It depends if the bottles were opened or not. If they are still sealed, they should taste the same as the day they were bought. If they have been opened, then air has had a chance to interact with the whiskey in those bottles for five decades. I wouldn’t necessarily say that they’ve gone “bad”; they will just be different.

      Cheers!

      -Ryan

    • Dave on March 13, 2014 at 5:23 pm
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    I don’t drink alcohol, and was given a bottle of 12 year old Chivas Regal in 1986, it came in one of those silver cylinder containers. It’s never been opened and has a screw on top with a shrink wrap cover. I’ve had it 28 years. I would like to donate it to some taste testers and compare it to a newly purchased bottle. Just to see if their is a difference, wheather good or bad. Are you aware of any such org. in S. Florida that would be interested?

    1. Hi Dave.

      I am not aware of any such organization. Perhaps another reader can chime in?

      -Ryan

    • Gary Patschke on October 3, 2014 at 12:15 am
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    Opened or not any whiskey over time I believe will have some difference– a bottle unopened for 5 years —– time itself would have to due something— you say no it would not— what about 20 years— 30 years—- I’m not even considering temperature changes or oxygen just time itself— there are no studies on this — but how scientific is a taste test even by the so called experts

    • Anna on November 6, 2014 at 7:10 pm
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    Our first son will be born around Thanksgiving, and while trying to figure out what to give a brand new infant for their first Christmas, I thought a bottle of whiskey to share with his dad on his 21st Christmas might be nice. I don’t know anything about whiskey, though. If it remained unopened and in our safe for 21 years, do you think it would still be worth drinking? Even if it’s a little “meh” by then, it’s more about the anticipation than enjoying a perfect shot. But I would like it to still be worth it, you know?

      • Ryan on November 15, 2014 at 10:10 am
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      Hi Anna.

      If it remains unopened for 21 years (wouldn’t last that long in my household), it should be fine. That’s a really neat idea for your new child!

      -Ryan

    • Duane on December 26, 2014 at 3:48 pm
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    I have a bottle of Crown Royal from 1964 and I just opened it , I have used fairly new bottles and this particular bottle has a much more smooth taste . So I believe it ages better with time!!!

      • Mike Stewart on May 3, 2017 at 10:57 am
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      At a friends cookout, there was a group of us admiring an unopened 1968 bottle of Crown Royal when some bimbo twisted the lid and broke the seal. The story ends with my friend and I comparing the tastes of the ’68 bottle and a brand new one on hand- this was around 2010. The older had a full flavor and was much more smoother.

    • ricard on November 16, 2015 at 1:20 pm
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    I have what I like to call a 45 year bottle of scotch, or 1 one year bottle of scotch that has been sitting on a shelf for 45 years. 45 years is a safe bet since it was in my Aunts finished basement bar since the early 70’s. It’s a 1 liter bottle od Dewar’s White Label. still unopened. cap has not been cracked open.

    Still haven’t opened it and debating if its worth saving for a special occasion or will if has gone “skunk”, like beer or cheap wine that was never meant to be save for such a long period of time?

      • Ryan on November 16, 2015 at 5:59 pm
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      If it’s been kept out of direct sunlight and not been opened, it should be fine. Probably not any better or worse than they day it was purchased.

      -Ryan

  2. I believe the term “whiskey ” means “des tilled ” so if that is the case then there is nothing in it to age…. So the only thing that really happened is that it does get get weaker if it has a cork. The alcohol does evaporate, and it will taste smoother because of that fact.. But if you have a air tight bottle from 1966 it will taste the same as a bottle from 2016…. Thats my 20 year theory anyway . 🙂

    • Dave on January 26, 2017 at 9:02 am
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    Hi
    I am interested in this topic.
    I have recently discovered Irish Whiskey having been a Single malt drinker for many years.
    My interest is in half a dozen Famous Grouse and Bells 8 year blended that I have on the shelf. These are all 40 year plus of age.
    Recently I sampled a bottle of similar age and the flavour tasted fine. But here is the issue is seemed much smoother and more rounded than I ever remember, has it matured, are my taste buds less sensitive or more tuned to the flavour of the spirit.

    From the manufacturing point yes it is a distilled spirit but it does contain more that alcohol, most impure liquor less than 100% will contain a variety of esters and other compounds either from the distillation process or the cask aging process.
    40 years as a Chemical engineer would suggest that these will inter-react and morph into new compounds over long periods so I think the whiskey will change in the bottle but I don’t know how.
    I am looking for a subjective guide on the subject!

    • Clancy on August 12, 2017 at 10:22 pm
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    Decided to purchase a 750 of Bushmills since it was on sale…big mistake. Very harsh and not worth finishing so i put the mostly full bottle on the booze shelf of the left side my sub-ground basement food closet. 6 months later tried again…just as bad. A year goes by and it seamed to not be as bad but still not great so back on the shelf it went and i forgot about it till about another year later. something had happened, it had changed and was smooth, excellent and unbelievable. I sparingly used it on special occasions knowing when it was gone it was gone and that would be the end. When a half bottle was left I took it to a St. Paddy’s day party and was made fun of because it was Protestant Irish Whiskey yet there was a new almost full bottle of Bushmills there. We compared the two and mine was a large different in drinkability and even a color difference. By the end of the party it was almost gone.

    • Dick TL Hong on October 30, 2017 at 1:56 am
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    I saved 2 bottle of Royal Salute one blue and one brown about 35 years ago. Last year when I brougth them down from my shelf, I discovered that they were almost empty even though the original tax stamp seal was unbroken. It seems that all the alcohol has evaporated over the years since the decorative bottle was made of porcelain instead of glass… very disappointed after all these years…lesson learned.

    • Jeremy on November 10, 2017 at 7:27 pm
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    I’ve done the same as Anna and purchased both of my son’s bottles of alcohol to give to them as a wedding present or just to enjoy with them on their 21st birthdays. My oldest (10yrs) I purchased a bottle of gentleman jack from Jack Daniels (his name is jackson) and my youngest (9yrs) a bottle of crown royal. I am excited to see if there is any changes when they are of age.

    • David on November 21, 2017 at 5:26 pm
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    I have an un-open bottle of Glen Garry Blended Scotch Whiskey that is from the John Hopkins & Co. of Glasgow Scotland that is at least 69-70 yeas old. Does it have any value?

    • vin on December 26, 2017 at 9:31 am
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    having done a taste test with 2 bottles of chivas regal ..on was in my fathers keep for
    around 25-30 years and the other was new.. they were so different with the older one being much smoother and better of taste, making the new one seam almost undrinkable

    • Dima on January 4, 2018 at 3:11 pm
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    I’ve had a bottle of Jim Beam for about 5 years now and after comparing in to a brand new one I can definitely taste a difference. Funky taste compared to a new one

    • Milford Reid on August 5, 2018 at 6:29 pm
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    Have a 50 plus year old Bottle of Crown Royal With seal still intact.

    • Brent on October 24, 2018 at 5:34 am
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    I inherited a couple of dozen bottles of whiskey, cognac and rum from my father in law. I wanted to have a drink last weekend so I picked what I thought would be the cheapest bottle. After a quick Google search I discovered that the Bundaberg Gold that I picked is in fact now worth over $2,000 per bottle. Needless to say say, I put it back next to the other 2 unopened bottles of the same type. My my wife reminded me that in the other cupboard were a few other bottles of alcohol that her father had already opened. Amongst them was another bottle of Bundaberg Gold. Super smooth.

    • Elaine on November 5, 2018 at 5:44 pm
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    I had two bottles of Crown Royal,stored in a plastic container with other things after a few yrs i checked on it they both were empty,no one could have gotten into it,what happened?

    • Ben on November 7, 2018 at 10:19 pm
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    If my parents bought a bottle of Irish whiskey 40 years ago, drank some, and it’s been sitting in the cabinet ever since, is it still good? What would the effect be on the flavor? I’d like to know before I potentially poison myself.

    • Dianne on March 5, 2019 at 4:57 pm
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    All I know is I recently discovered a bottle of Jim Beam that has been in my pantry since at least before 1995 (probably before that. The drinker of the house was sick & died then). I dont & never have liked whiskey or any liquor. While cleaning, I tasted it. I was very surprised to taste caramel type flavor in it. Not bad, really. I dont think it tastes that way when new.

    • Rick Stewart on April 17, 2019 at 11:39 pm
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    Long story, but happy ending. In 1974 my father got in a fight with his then wife. He took a bottle of Old Charter with him to the garage. Part of the fight was about his drinking, so he hid the bottle. In 1977 he married my mother and was given advice from family friends he should stop drinking hard liquor. Fast-forward to 2010. Two of my brother-in-laws built dad a bar in the basement, but forgot to buy any refreshment for the bar. Dad said, “Wait a minute.” and disappeared. About 5 minutes later he reappeared with a bottle of Old Charter. The label had been mostly eaten off, and there was a mud-dobber’s nest on the half-empty bottle. They tried it (I don’t drink) and were astounded. It was the best whiskey they had ever had.

    • Chad Davis on September 2, 2019 at 9:09 pm
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    So, I have a sealed bottle of Crown Royal XR (extra rare) which was part of the last batch found from the Waterloo Distillery in Ontario after it burned down way back when. Is it worth drinking or just keeping it sealed. I know nothing about Whiskey other than drinking it.

    • Donald on June 15, 2020 at 12:56 pm
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    Back in the 1960’s Jim Beam put out bourbon in very decorative bottles. Collectible gift items but the bourbon used was just Jim Beam’s average priced product. A bottle had stayed in my basement, half full but sealed with a cork, as a curio for about 50 years until my niece and I decided to just try it. We are both long time bourbon aficionados and only drink the quality stuff that comes out today and we drink it straight up and neat.
    Both of us were shocked at how smooth and mellow this stuff was. It’s BS to say that bourbon won’t age in a bottle. Everything, even a rock ages. As you stated , the alcohol level probably got lower through miniscule evaporation but they were probably bottling it at a higher proof in the 60’s. Anyway, it was among the best damned tasting corn we’ve had. Better than some of Beam’s chi-chi pricey bourbons on the market today.
    So call us naïve but call us very happy.

    • Frank on July 12, 2020 at 9:50 am
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    I can’t say whiskey ages in the bottle because that word Is open to interpretation. But I do know for sure that it does mellow. I received a bottle of Chivas Royal Salute in 1988 and it tasted wonderful. I still have a touch of it left. I found that after about 20 years it tasted more like a fine cognac. I’ve fooled people into thinking it was actually a cognac. In 2007 I purchased a bottle of Royal Salute which is still sealed and I know if I put it next to a new 21 year old bottle it will definitely have a different and peasant taste. I would be happy to hear any comments from shared experiences.

    • DJ T Woods on July 21, 2020 at 6:08 am
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    I opened an 3 year bottle of crown royal it was smoother. I could tell the difference. The bottle wasn’t open for 3 years.

    • Frank Phillips on November 16, 2020 at 12:42 pm
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    To DJT Woods, today I opened a bottle of crown royal my wife won 16 years ago in a raffle, My experience was similar to yours, definitely smoother….more mellow. Had somewhat less bite or burn on the finish. I was going to pour it out, but decided to keep it as a sipping whiskey when I’m reading. In lieu of brandy.

    • Stan on May 28, 2022 at 7:19 pm
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    I have a 64 year old unopened bottle of Crown Royal. Why does anyone think that it is worth.

    • Frank Clarins on June 3, 2022 at 5:31 am
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    Drinking Laphroaig of various casks for over fifty years, I can beleive whiskey in a sealed bottle, not exposed to sunlight, differs little over time. Of course there must be some chemical change, But as human taste buds change even at altitude, smooth whiskey is far more likely to be a worn out body.
    The memory of early flavours was not present when we opened the “sister” Laphoraig bottle at our appointed time.
    Best enjoy the new flavours from old distilleries. It’s made to be consumed not kept.

    • Karen on October 19, 2022 at 5:08 pm
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    Oh my I can attest to the fact that I had a bottle of Crown Royal unopened for 20 years before using it. Dang it was the best! Very smooth…….wonderful I loved every drop.

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