Does Alcohol go off?

[PinkyDink]

I am having a small party at the weekend and decided to check what drink I had in. I actually have an awful lot of alcohol (some opened, some not), and alot of it I have had for a long time now (maybe a couple of years?) will it have gone off?
It has been kept in a cupboard above the oven and am now worried that the heat will have affected it, even the unopended stuff. It seems such a waste to throw it away, but wouldn't want to serve it to anyone if it has.
Am I going to have to taste it all?

I'll come and help!

Sorry, it's never lasted long enough in this house to find out!

Isn't alcohol a preservative though?

lol I wish I had this problem! Unfortunately I cant seem to keep alcohol long enough!

seriously though, im sure spirits will be fine. not to sure about wine though if its been opened.

The unopened stuff will definately be OK. I think it's your duty to test the others! I'm sure it'll be find though.

Not wine or beer (that stuff never lasts in our house!)
Spirits and lots of bottles of unopened brandy, whisky, port (we keep getting these as gifts, but don't drink them)

Is it too early in the day to start trying them out

I will report back later with my findings

I had a large Martini at the weekend from a bottle I found at the back of a cupboard, which was opened at least 5 years ago. It was fine.

I've also been cooking with a bottle of cherry brandy that was opened in 2001 and nobody has suffered any ill effect.

There shouldn't be any problem with fortified wines (Sherry/Port/Marsala/Madeira) but wines, particularly white wines can become "corked" and are virtually undrinkable. You can still cook with them though.

'bottle I found at the back of a cupboard, which was opened at least 5 years ago'

I'm normally a wine drinker and DH is teetotal, so we don't get through much of it! In fact, most of our spirits date from the years BC (before children)

Most bottles I open are BC too - 'Because of Children' in my case though

Ok, in the interest of research I have tested the majority of bottles in the drinks cupboard and I can report back the following:

the opened bottles of Archers and Martini did not taste right. Infact, I should have known better than to take a swig of the Martini as it smelt a bit funny and the taste was a bit like vinegar . Going on what misshardbroom said I am thinking it must have been older than 5 years .

The opened bottles of Malibu, Vodka and Bacardi were fine, I think the Gin and Tequilla were ok too, but not really liking them to begin with means I can't be too sure.

Didn't try anything that was unopened as I am hoping that will be ok and don't think I can stomach anything else for tonight.

Spirits should be fine for ever as should things like Port, Sherry.

Unopened wine OK for a few years as long as kept cool.

Beer plus 'invented' drinks like Baileys, Archers go off.

Have also found some 'Triple Sec', 'Galliano', 'Creme de Menthe' and 'Creme de Cacao'. I can only assume I have got these for cocktails, but for which one's I do not know!! Anyone got any suggestions for what I can mix with these?