How Long Does Whiskey Keep Once Opened? In the simplest terms, it lasts almost forever. Distilled spirits don’t spoil.

They won’t make you sick like old milk and won’t turn to vinegar like beer and wine.

But in practice, a bottle of whiskey doesn’t last forever. (Ah, if only!) Once you open a bottle of whiskey, exposure to light, air and temperature fluctuations start to change its flavor.

Initially, that can be a good thing. We’ve all had the experience of opening a bottle, tasting it right away and not particularly enjoying its contents. Coming back to that same bottle a month, we find a spirit that feels much more integrated and cohesive on the palate.