Many of us love a good drink and often we’ll keep a good supply of the stuff in our kitchen cupboards or, if you’re an aficionado, in a liquor cabinet. However, there are some types of alcohol that should be kept in your fridge. Some should be kept there for health & safety reasons, while others are just better when refrigerated.
This is because there are two primary types of alcohols that are served as beverages: distilled and fermented alcohol. Examples of the latter include wine, beer and cider; whereas distilled alcohol are spirits such as vodka, whiskey, brandy, gin and so on. It’s almost always better to keep fermented drinks in the fridge, whereas most spirits can sit out. With that said, there are a few exceptions. So here’s our guide to what popular drinks you should be putting in the fridge.
Beer
As beer isn’t popular when it’s served with ice, and it’s not the most pleasant when warm, this is a beverage that should almost always be in the fridge. The ideal temperature for beer is about 5 degrees Celsius, so refrigeration offers the most ideal storage temperature.
While we did say that distilled drinks should be kept out of the fridge, we did also say that there are exceptions. Vodka is a spirit that can either be kept at room temperature or kept in the fridge. It’s really down to individual preference. In fact, vodka can even be stored in the freezer. This is because drinks with an alcohol content higher than 35% can be stored in the freezer and won’t freeze. However, just keep in mind that you should always add ice to dilute vodka.
White Wine
While most people keep and serve white wine straight from the fridge, it’s best served at a temperature of 10 degrees Celsius. While that’s way too high of a temperature to keep a fridge at without making food unsafe to eat, it’s worth removing your white wine from the fridge about 10 to 15 minutes before it’s to be served. You basically want it to warm up a little bit, but not too much.
Red Wine
Unlike white wine, most people keep red wine in the cupboard. This is due to red wine often being served at room temperature. However, it should be treated as the inverse of white wine – you should stick it in the fridge about 10 to 15 minutes before it’s to be served. The ideal temperature for red wine is a little bit higher than white wine, but room temperature isn’t ideal. Cooling it down in the fridge before it is to be served will bring it into the ideal range.
Champagne
Much like beer, champagne is best when it’s served at a refrigerated temperature of about 5 degrees Celsius. That means that it should always be stored in the fridge. That’s also true if the whole bottle isn’t being finished. Serve what you need and stick it back in the fridge to help preserve it for as long as possible – which is often a couple of weeks.
Port Wine
As it’s fermented, port wine has a lower alcohol content than a distilled beverage. For the most part, anything that has a low alcohol content should be stored in the fridge; whereas high alcohol content beverages are usually fine sitting on the shelf. For that reason, it should be stored in the fridge. This is also true of sherries.
Sweetened Liqueurs
Sweet liqueurs – such as the likes of Jägermeister, Baileys, Kahlúa and Limoncello – are best kept in the fridge. While it’s not a requirement, most people prefer sweeter spirits to be cooler as they don’t need to be served with a cold mixer to be enjoyed.
Vermouth
Once opened, vermouth should go straight in the fridge. This is due to it oxidising rather quickly, becoming quite dull the longer it is exposed – and even foul tasting if left for longer. This is true of all wines, but vermouth can sometimes be forgotten about due to it having a higher alcohol content than other wines. Don’t consume it if the bottle has been open longer than a month.
It is recommended that cream liqueurs be stored in a cool place, but refrigeration is not necessary. Manufacturers of cream liqueurs point to the effective preservative qualities of alcohol as the reason that refrigeration is not required.
It is recommended that cream liqueurs be stored in a cool place, but refrigeration is not necessary. Manufacturers of cream liqueurs point to the effective preservative qualities of alcohol as the reason that refrigeration is not required.
For a classic drink, try a Hot Toddy made with whiskey or brandy, hot water, honey and lemon. Or, indulge in something more special for winter drinks, like mulled wine—a traditional holiday drink made with red wine, cinnamon sticks fresh cranberries, orange slices and cloves.
While they don't require to be refrigerated before opening, it's recommended to chill your Malibu cans in the fridge for the best taste experience once opened. After all, who doesn't love a tasty, ice-cold sip?
Try chilled and room-temperature to find out what you prefer. Chilled Fireball's spice hits a little later, while room-temperature Fireball immediately fills your entire mouth with the flavor. Store the Fireball in your refrigerator or freezer for an hour before drinking it if you want it chilled.
This is a classic drink to enjoy when you're sick, not the least of which is because of its taste. To make a hot toddy, you need one cup of hot tea, two ounces of bourbon, one teaspoon of honey, and a lemon slice. Some enjoy adding a bit of ginger and cinnamon, too.
However, when consumed responsibly and in moderation, whisky can offer a helping hand in soothing a sore throat. So next time you have a cold or sore throat why not try a hot toddy? To make a classic hot toddy, you will need hot water, whisky (or bourbon), honey, and lemon.
A drink served "neat" is a single, unmixed liquor served without being chilled and without any water, ice, or other mixer. Neat drinks are typically served in a rocks glass, shot glass, snifter, Glencairn glass, or copita.
Room temperature is fine, while slightly cooler (like a cellar) could be more optimal. Definitely avoid direct sunlight as this will speed up the evaporation and reduce shelf life. Storing vodka upright is also particularly important with Grey Goose as we cork each bottle.
The fact is, while many of us have memories of storing bottles of vodka and gin in the freezer, and many spirits can taste a bit more refreshing with a bit of a chill on them, all spirits—vodka included—will yield more information if tasted at room temperature.
Triple sec doesn't need to be refrigerated, nor does your favorite bottle of booze need to be stored in the freezer. Although that will keep it ice cold so it's always ready to serve in a crisp and tasty co*cktail.
In fact, refrigerating tequila is not necessary and may even alter the taste and aromas that are meant to be enjoyed at room temperature. The same goes with freezing tequila—the low temperatures may cause its compounds to separate and the texture might become thick, syrupy, and undesirable.
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