Bought several bottles of Vermouth on offer? Great! But now you’re wondering:
How long can I keep a bottle open? Does Vermouth go bad? Where is the best place to store it?
Vermouth is a delicious, aromatized fortified wine, and you’d be forgiven for thinking that its rich flavor does well when aged.
Spoiler Alert: it does not. Vermouth definitely goes off, and you’re better off drinking it sooner rather than later.
Here’s the good news: Vermouth lasts a pretty long time – around 3-4 years when unopened and kept in the right conditions (think cool and dark). More on that later.
The bad news? This is only true for unopened bottles – opened Vermouth will last a couple of months at most.
How To Tell If Vermouth Has Gone Bad
If you’ve got an open bottle of Vermouth that’s been in the refrigerator for under a month, you’re almost definitely good to drink it.
You’re unlikely to find your Vermouth has actually gone bad (it will degrade in quality long before, which isn’t dangerous), but here are the signs to look out for:
- An unusual odor
- Mold
- Change in color
If your Vermouth develops any of these signs, pour it down the drain!
However, if your Vermouth doesn’t show any of the above signs but you’re still suspicious, feel free to give it a sip.
Now: if you taste your Vermouth and it’s degraded in flavor, but it hasn’t actually gone bad, then you can use it in other cocktails, so it doesn’t go to waste.
How Long Does Vermouth Keep For?
Kept under the right conditions, an unopened bottle of Vermouth can keep for a good 3 to 4 years, although it pays to make sure you read the label.
You can drink unopened Vermouth that’s been stored in decent condition for at least 1-2 years after its expiration date. It may have lost some of the flavor, but it will likely be good to go.
For an opened bottle, experts recommend keeping a bottle of Vermouth between a few weeks to a couple of months refrigerated.
Where Is The Best Place To Store Vermouth?
Since Vermouth is wine, the best way to store it is in a cool, dark area, away from any heat sources or direct sunlight. That means that although your glass liquor cabinet might look cool, it’s not the best place for Vermouth.
This is because heat and sunlight make your Vermouth lose its flavor faster.
Summary
Vermouth is fortified wine, so you should store it like other wines!
An unopened bottle can be kept for over three years, and an opened bottle can be kept for about a month in the fridge.
