When you open a bottle of whisky, the chances are that you are not going to finish it all in one night. Not unless you are hosting a few guests of course. The good news is that opened whisky can be stored for quite some time if you know where and how to stash the bottle. There are some factors that you need to keep in mind and avoid if you want to keep the contents of the bottle drinkable.

Exposure to light

Like most types of alcoholic beverages, light can be the greatest enemy if you are trying to preserve the bottle. This goes for unopened and opened whisky alike. Make sure that you store your bottle in a cellar or, if you don’t have one, at least in the back of a cupboard where it will not be exposed to any UV rays.

The right temperature

Unlike wine, whisky is not quite as sensitive to the temperature at which it is stored. Even opened whisky can be stored anywhere between 7 and 21 degrees Celcius. Storing an opened bottle in cooler temperatures will be better, of course, but it’s not the end of the world if you don’t have a wine cellar. The best you can do is store the bottle in a room that enjoys a moderate temperature and make sure it is placed on the bottom shelf of a cupboard since this is where it will be coolest.

Air exposure

Another common enemy of opened whisky and other opened bottles alike is air. When sealed, the contents of the bottle is protected against the impact of the various properties found in the air. This means that the emptier the bottle, the less time you have to consume the rest of it because it will be exposed to more air. For example, if you have half a bottle left, you should drink it within 2 years. If you have less than a quarter of a bottle left, you should drink it within 4 months.

Depending on how much whisky is left in the bottle, you will have up to several years to enjoy it. Even an opened bottle can maintain its flavour and appearance if you store it properly. While you don’t want to drink a precious bottle too quickly, you also don’t want it to sit on the shelf forever. So, when a special occasion comes around, pop that cork with your nearest and dearest and enjoy!