Expert: Paul Wagner - 5/26/2003

Question
I've searched the internet and can't find any information about how alcohol should be stored.

I recently bought some rum, tequila, and vodka. I've noticed that some people store their vodka in the freezer. For the beverages that I plan on making I think that chilling the alcohol beforehand will be beneficial.

Should alcohol be stored at room temperature, slightly cooler, in the refrigerator, or in a freezer?

Will anything happen to the flavor or alcohol of the vodka, rum, or tequila if I do store them in the freezer?

Answer
Dear Lief:

The truth is that storing spirits, as opposed to wine, is not talked about very much--primarily because those beverages have very high alcohol levels, and are quite resistant to spoilage of any kind.

The reason that some people store their vodka in the freezer is not to protect it, but to have it already chilled when they want to drink it.  This is perfectly safe, and will work for other spirits as well.

I am not a big fan of storing things, long term, in the refrigerator because I believe that the vibrations can take away some of the flavor--but this is far more true of wine than of spirits. Vodka, rum and tequila should all be fine.

Wine, with its lower alcohol, will actually partly freeze in the freezer---and will not age successfully at all there.  And NEVER store Champagne in the freezer. Not only will it freeze, but it will release all of the CO2 from the liquid-- and create a glass hand-grenade from the resulting pressure!

Paul Wagner