Wondering to yourself, “Does tequila go bad?” may seem silly, but it’s a reasonable question. Are all distilled spirits good for an indefinite amount of time? Does tequila continue to age in the bottle? How do you know if it’s safe to drink?
You certainly aren’t alone in asking these questions. We wanted to know too, so we’re sharing our research on the shelf life of tequila with you! Learn the best ways to store tequila to maximize its shelf-life and get some tips on the best ways to drink it.
Key Takeaways
- Unopened bottles of tequila have an indefinite shelf life if they’re kept in a cool, dark place.
- The shelf life of tequila after opening depends on how it’s stored. Close the bottle tightly, keep it away from heat and light, and it should remain at peak quality for a year. That timeline can be as little as a few weeks or less if it’s exposed to more oxygen, light, or heat.
- Tequila doesn’t come with an expiration date, so you should use your best judgment to check for signs of food spoilage in the same manner you do anything else; by smelling and tasting.
- If an opened bottle of tequila is past its “peak” shelf life, it is likely still safe to consume but may not taste as good.
Tequila’s Shelf Life
If you have a bottle of tequila that’s been sitting on a shelf for longer than you’d like to admit, we have good news! If it’s been sealed, it’s still good. Tequila is just like other distilled spirits in the sense that if the seal isn’t broken, it has an indefinite shelf life.
The only other factor, besides opening the bottle, that can affect tequila’s shelf life is if it wasn’t distilled and packaged properly. This is not an issue you’ll have to worry about with any mainstream brands, especially top-shelf quality brands.
Even a cheap bottle of distilled spirit should, in theory, last as long as it sits on a shelf unopened.
When Is Tequila At Its Peak Quality?
Sometimes the question isn’t does tequila go bad, but is instead about when tequila is at its peak. As long as you store tequila properly, it will have the same quality whether you open it the day you buy it or much later.
When you store hard liquor that’s been distilled in a sealed bottle, it doesn’t continue to age, for better or for worse, unlike wines.
Distilled spirits undergo their aging process, if there is one, before bottling. Other types of alcohol, like wine, will continue to age in the bottle, which can result in better quality over time.
Once you open a bottle of this distilled spirit, it’s best to drink it within a year. After a year, the opened bottle may start to lose the flavor and aroma of the blue agave plant.
Those flavors make tequila unique, so we recommend drinking it within a year of opening while it’s at peak quality!
Having a “peak” time period after opening is something you don’t have to worry about with some other shelf-stable spirits. For instance, unflavored vodka’s shelf life is indefinite if it’s kept away from heat and light because there isn’t a distinct flavor or aroma to lose in the first place.
How To Properly Store Tequila
Storing tequila in a cool, dark place that’s away from direct light will yield the best results. This applies to an opened or unopened bottle. Tequila sitting in the sun will lose its distinct flavor, and the alcohol content may even begin to evaporate.
If you have an opened bottle of tequila that’s at least half empty, pouring the half-full bottle into a smaller bottle can help preserve the tequila’s quality by limiting the oxygen exposure and slowing the oxidation process. Be sure the new, smaller bottle is tightly sealed!
Refrigeration
There’s a common misconception that you have to refrigerate tequila after opening. While you can keep it in the fridge if you want, it will store just as well in a liquor cabinet. Keeping it cold won’t affect how long it lasts, and serving it cold can take away from the natural blue agave flavors in the liquor.
The same storage techniques should be used for anejo, reposado, and Blanco tequila.
How To Tell If Tequila Has Gone Bad
Even if you think you know how to store liquor properly, you should take a moment to inspect the bottle before drinking. There are some telltale signs that will signal if your tequila has expired.
In addition to these signs, trust your gut! Ultimately, humans are animals, and animals have a keen sense of what’s good for them to consume and what isn’t. If something about the liquor has a little voice in your head saying not to drink it, always listen to that intuition.
Smell
Smelling is the easiest way to tell if it’s safe to drink tequila. Keep in mind; tequila will always smell like, well, tequila! It doesn’t need to smell good; it just shouldn’t smell bad.
Tequila that’s been aged in barrels will usually have more distinct aromas of vanilla and caramel than unaged tequila.
Taste
Once a bottle of tequila has passed the smell test, it’s time for a taste test. Taste a small amount from the bottle. If it tastes the same way it does from a fresh, unopened bottle, that’s great!
If it’s not quite as flavorful, that’s okay too. This doesn’t mean the tequila has gone bad or is unsafe to drink. It may have been exposed to direct sunlight, the seal may not have been tight enough when you put the lid back on, or it simply could be past the peak quality window of a year after opening.
For tequila that doesn’t taste bad, but it isn’t great either, adding it to a mixed drink will be your best bet. Frozen margaritas do an exceptional job of hiding tequila’s imperfections! Plus, it’s an easy way to use up the rest of the bottle quickly, compared to pouring individual shots that taste not-so-great.
The Most Popular Ways to Drink Tequila
Sip it Neat
If you want to appreciate the experience of top-shelf tequila, sipping it is the way to go. Sipping tequila from a cocktail glass fully allows you to enjoy the aroma and flavor. If this is how you prefer to drink tequila, you should do it with a bottle at room temperature.
Chilling tequila or adding rocks to the glass can take away from the flavor. As the ice melts, it may water the tequila down too.
Shots
Taking shots of tequila is a classic, timeless way to drink it. Tequila shots won’t allow you to taste all the notes of the tequila in the same way that sipping it neat does, but some people prefer to take it down all at once, which we can get on board with!
Top-shelf tequila tastes great as-is, while lower-quality brands may taste better as a shot with salt before and a fresh slice of lime to chase it down.
Cocktails
Cocktails are our favorite way to drink tequila, but maybe we’re biased. Cocktails have endless possibilities of flavor combinations, appearances, and textures. Do you want it chilled, on the rocks, or frozen? Is it a sweet and tangy pineapple margarita or simple ranch water?
Tequila cocktails are incredibly versatile to fit every season and occasion. You can make one for yourself or make big-batch pitcher cocktails for a crowd.
Most cocktails have a specific type of tequila that should be used for the recipe. Pay attention to those details because there’s a big difference in flavor from extra-aged to unaged tequila!
FAQs
Can I drink 2-year-old tequila?
Yes, unopened tequila doesn’t expire. If your tequila has been properly sealed and stored for two years, it’s safe to drink.
How long can you keep a bottle of tequila?
You can keep a bottle of tequila for an indefinite amount of time if it’s kept sealed and safely stored. Since tequila is distilled, the taste doesn’t change over time. It won’t age the same way wine does, but it doesn’t go bad, either.
Does tequila expire?
Tequila does not expire as long as it’s sealed and stored properly.
Can you freeze tequila?
Tequila cannot be frozen solid because of the high alcohol content in it, but it does make a tasty addition to frozen cocktails.
