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He prefers to store his bottle in the freezer “so it is always cold and ready to use.” The start of the week was rocked by turbulence on the global markets over fears that the US was heading for recession – but they have now rebounded slightly. The Bank of England base rate was cut last week from 5.25% to 5%, but lenders had already been slashing rates in the weeks leading up to the move. Global shares have risen after a Bank of Japan official suggested the central bank would refrain from raising interest rates amid an unstable time in the market. “You can easily get a quality vacuum pump for $10 to $20 and, while not perfect, it can add a few days to the life of your wine,” explains Hoel.

Maintain Quality

Store your vodka at a consistent room temperature or slightly cooler, and place it upright with the cap on, out of direct sunlight, if possible. Or, store your vodka in the fridge or freezer for a cold and refreshing pour for your next drink. Meanwhile, if you store a distilled spirit in a cool, dark place, it can last almost indefinitely.

Pantry Shelf Wine Rack

Building a home bar is something to consider, especially if all of the neighbors or nearby friends and family tend to gather at your place for happy hour. Exposure to UV rays will cause wine to prematurely break down, so always store bottles in a dark space or, at the very least, out of direct sunlight to preserve them longer. Even though frozen liquor shouldn’t be used for crafting upscale cocktails, it’s just fine to get into drinking age map the spirit of the holiday season with festive, ice-covered alcohol bottles. They’re fun, they’re easy to make and they keep bottles cold throughout the party so you’re not constantly opening and closing the freezer door. If you like a martini every now and then, make sure you’re not leaving your opened vermouth out alongside your gin or vodka. Fortified wines will deteriorate in flavor, making for a pretty stale drink.

Vermouth belongs in the fridge

It’s cooler than room temperature, but not quite as chilly as your fridge. If you’re at the point of no return, consider turning your leftover wine into vinegar. “All you need is raw vinegar, a clean jar, and an old bottle of wine,” says Hoel.

1. A Coravin is a device that allows you to access and pour wine without removing the cork.
2. Put one on the kitchen counter (away from heat sources, such as the stove) and make it part of the decor.
3. As long as it’s climate-controlled, the spot under the basement stairs can either serve as a mini wine cellar or be turned into a bar for basement hangouts.
4. Look for one that not only holds all of the bottles you need it to, but also blends in with the design of the space it’s in.

Imagine explaining to your friends why your prized bourbon tastes like nail polish remover. Unlike white wines and champagne, hard liquor can and should be stored at room temperature (yes, even vodka). “We’ve done in-house shelf life testing on our Bali Hai Tiki Monkey, and found that the intended flavors are lost after a year,” says Gwen Conley, director of innovation for Cutwater Spirits. “Once you open a bottle of cream liqueur, you do not have to store it in the refrigerator, but doing so can help preserve the flavors for a longer period of time.”

Cap open bottles tightly and store them upright.

You can find countertop racks in endless shapes and styles so choose one that complements your aesthetic. Put one on the kitchen counter (away from heat sources, such as the stove) and make it part of the decor. They’re easily movable so you can simply—and carefully—shift it somewhere else if need more room to meal prep. “If you are drinking vodka shots with caviar and blini, I would highly recommend drinking it ice cold right from the freezer,” Cott told TODAY Food.

“Home storage of distilled spirits is a constant competition between convenience and preservation,” said Allen Katz, co-founder of New York Distilling Company. Even if you don’t have a wine cellar, there are some basic guidelines for how to (and how not to) store alcohol at home. Harsh UV rays can damage your liquor over time (and might even change its color), so it’s best to store your bottles away from streaming sunlight. But while some types will stay good for quite a while, others have a more complicated shelf life.

The mix of gasoline fumes and rum creates an adventurous flavor profile. Plus, the fluctuating temperatures give it whats a sponsor that special homemade taste. Nothing says class like a jumble of bottles stacked haphazardly on top of your fridge.

Keeping your whiskey down rather than standing it upright can cause the cork to mix and seep into the liquid, altering the high-alcohol content and causing it to disintegrate over time. Stock the bottom shelf with wine bottles ready to be enjoyed and the top with a few of your favorite glasses. Include space-saving tools, such as a multi-use electric bottle opener that comes equipped with a foil cutter and aerator, and some stylish touches to make it part of your home’s decor. Just make sure to park it away from any windows where sunlight streams in to protect the wine. If you plan on making a bunch of cocktails, store your vodka in the freezer for about an hour before the party so it’s chilled. Take it out a few minutes ahead of serving, so it has time to thaw before showing off your mixologist skills.

Depending on your level of experience, pull-outs can be installed professionally or be deemed a weekend DIY project. Designate one drawer for wine and add multiple dividers so the bottles stay safe in their lanes. Keep your collection tidy and preserve your best pinots by finding a wine storage method that suits you and your space. The ideal storage temperature for wine is widely accepted to be between 45 and 55 degrees Fahrenheit—sommeliers will refer to this as cellar temperature.

You could easily repurpose a side table, nightstand, or secretary desk to hold your liquor collection. Kirsten Nunez is a writer who focuses on food, health, nutrition, and DIY. She has a master’s degree in nutrition, and has been writing professionally for nearly 10 years for digital and print publications, such as Martha Stewart, Shape, Real Simple, Healthline, how to flush alcohol out of your system for a urine test and SELF. She also creates original recipes, which have appeared on product packaging in stores. More than four in 10 (43%) now provide “holiday” care and are giving up 18 hours a week on average – up from 16.54 hours last year and equivalent to almost three days a week. We had a go – answering each question in what we presumed could be a typical scenario.

For that reason, some vodka lovers deliberately store bottles in the freezer for extra chill and a slightly syrupy pour, explains Darron Foy, bar manager for NYC restaurant The Flatiron Room. However, “chilling your spirit in a fridge or freezer may change the flavor of the spirit, muting lighter notes and tones that would be present in a room-temp bottle,” he adds. Plus, improperly stored vodka can evaporate or take on an unpleasant note. That’s why we’re her to tell you everything you need to know about shelving your spirits, from choosing the best place, to storing opened containers and building good storage habits. While some open bottles, like red wine and whiskey, are better stored at cooler temperatures, other options require refrigeration to stay fresh. No alcohol should go to waste because it wasn’t stored properly, so here are the best ways to extend the shelf life of your bottles of cheer.