Did you know whisky can change in the bottle?

Whisky only matures in casks. Once it leaves the cask, the maturation stops and the nectar of the gods can be bottled. The age on the label refers to the time the (youngest) whisky spent in a cask. Although whisky no longer matures in the bottle, it can still change there, and not always for the better. We’ll explain more about that in this article.

The fact that whisky doesn’t continue to mature doesn’t mean it’s frozen in time. The conditions in which you store the bottle can influence the flavor. Light, heat, and oxygen are the biggest factors.

An unopened bottle kept cool, dark, and upright will generally stay good for years. Still, its flavor may subtly shift over a long period. Aromas can soften or become less defined. With poor storage, like direct sunlight or big temperature swings, quality can decline much faster.

So think carefully about where you place your bottle of The Macallan. A sunny windowsill isn’t the best idea, but a closed cabinet works wonders.

In an opened bottle, oxygen plays a bigger role. The emptier the bottle gets, the more air it contains. That oxygen can influence aroma and taste. Sometimes a whisky becomes a touch rounder or more approachable after opening, but over time its bright, fruity, or smoky notes can fade.

A nearly full opened bottle often stays in good shape for quite a while. A bottle with only a thin layer left can change more quickly. Especially with special or expensive whisky, it’s wise not to leave an opened bottle half-empty for years.

Store whisky upright, in a cool, dark place. Unlike wine, whisky does not need to be stored on its side. In fact, prolonged contact with the cork is undesirable, as alcohol can degrade the cork.

Avoid direct sunlight, heat sources, and large temperature fluctuations. Do you have an opened bottle with only a little whisky left? Consider decanting it into a smaller bottle to reduce the amount of oxygen.