Everything You Need to Know About Premixed co*cktails - Overproof (2024)

FAQs

How long will premixed co*cktails last? ›

If the co*cktail has an ABV of over 25%, it can be stored for up to three months at room temperature. Once it has been opened, it should be refrigerated or consumed.

Canned alcoholic drinks' shelf life may be only 6-8 months, but there's typically no expiration date for the alcohol itself. The problem you run into with RTD co*cktails is the expiration date of some ingredients, such as 100% real lime juice, that are used in the drink.

When pre-mixing, like goes with like. You can generally mix liquors with liqueurs in advance, or fruit juices with other fruit juices. But don't add any fruit juice to spirits until the day of.

Mix 1 part of the desired co*cktail mix with 5 parts crushed ice in a blender. Add the required alcohol to taste. We recommend 1 shot of alcohol to 1 shot of co*cktail mix.

Over time, alcohol will start to degrade, mixers will start to lose their punch, and the whole drink will lose its flavor. While alcoholic drinks won't expire in the traditional sense (they don't typically go bad in the same way that foods can go bad and make you sick), the loss of quality will still be noticeable.

How long a pre-batched co*cktail lasts depends on the type of co*cktail and the ingredients used. Spirit-based drinks like the Manhattan or a Boulevardier can last for months when stored properly. The most perishable ingredient in both of these drinks is sweet vermouth, which lasts for a month or more with proper care.

Leave out the water and bitters if you plan to store the drink for more than a week or two. Add these the day you'd like to serve the drinks, or stir individual drinks with ice if you want to keep aging the batch. Store co*cktails you're aging in a clean container in the fridge. Minimize oxygen exposure.

Then you've likely found yourself wondering, "How can I tell if margarita mix lasts, especially for events like Cinco de Mayo?" Unopened, the store-bought margarita mix lasts 12 to 18 months, but once opened, it's best used within two weeks to a month, depending on how you've stored it in the pantry or kitchen cabinet.

Drinking expired alcohol won't necessarily make you sick but it will lead to weak or oddly flavored drinks. There are some instances, like with liqueurs, where bacteria or mold may grow in the bottle which can lead to an upset stomach. Spoiled liquor may develop a vinegary smell and sour flavor.

Since you won't be shaking these drinks, you won't get any chilling or dilution from the ice, which is the key to great, balanced co*cktails. Chilling something is easy, you just throw it in the refrigerator, but without dilution, the flavors will be too concentrated and intense. So you need to add dilution manually.

What is it called when you mix a bunch of alcohol together? ›

co*cktail. This is a mixed drink. Popular co*cktails include Martini, Margarita or Pina Colada.

Premixed drinks, or RTDs, are spirits that are sold premixed and "ready to drink". They are a base spirit like vodka or whisky combined with a mixer like a soft drink.

Many experts say the fortified wine will stay palatable around one to three months in the fridge, so you probably wouldn't want to keep a pre-mixed martini co*cktail longer than that.

Yes, margaritas on the rocks, homemade or made with mix, will stay fresh up to three days in the refrigerator.

That said, if you have your heart set on batching a shaken co*cktail, it can still work—if you get the timing right. “Some ingredients, such as juices, will oxidize, so you should avoid preparing it too far in advance,” Roennfeldt explains.

Generally, co*cktails with citrus or juice should be consumed the same day and stored in the fridge before serving. Spirit-forward co*cktails with vermouth, like a Manhattan or Negroni, can last up to a month stored in the fridge or freezer in an airtight container.

Leave out the water and bitters if you plan to store the drink for more than a week or two. Add these the day you'd like to serve the drinks, or stir individual drinks with ice if you want to keep aging the batch. Store co*cktails you're aging in a clean container in the fridge. Minimize oxygen exposure.

An unopened margarita mix typically lasts 12 to 18 months, but once opened and refrigerated, it should be used within two weeks to one month.

On the other hand, store-bought mixes generally have a longer shelf life due to these preservatives, but that does not mean they are immune to spoiling. Exposure to factors such as direct sunlight, high temperatures or even air after opening the container can accelerate spoilage.