Expert: Paul Wagner - 5/24/2006

Question
I found an open bottle of chivas regal in my basement.  Probably opened 15 years ago.  It is half full,  looks  great (clear, color, etc.).  been in 60 to 70 deg F the whole time.  Is it OK to drink?

Answer
Hi Joe:

The fact that the bottle has been opened for that long isn't really a problem.  The alcohol levels are so high in whisky and other distilled products that nothing bad can grow in them.

But you do want to make sure that nobody added anything to that bottle.  Was it in a wine cellar or pantry?  If it was in the garden shed, they may have been re-using the bottle, and who knows what is really in there!

Paul Wagner