WWTBAM Bored

Cleaning out a shelf of bottles of alcohol that have been there a few years at least. Please advise what can stay and what should go:

2005 Chardonnay
Bacardi rum - cheap, throwing away
Starbucks liqueur
Peachtree schnapps
Tanqueray gin - that shit is expensive and good; we are keeping it

I have two other unopened bottles of wine in the fridge - how long do I have to drink them, or is it indefinite?

Ha. I remember now where that 2005 Chardonnay came from - Kay's office Christmas present a year or two ago when I was visiting!

If properly stored, an '05 wine should be fine.

The biggest issue with any of the opened bottle would be evaporation. I don't know if the alcohol would evaporate at a different rate than the other liquids in the bottle, so it might be more potent, less potent, or the same (just in a slightly smaller quantity).

I don't even remember that! Should be fine if it hasn't been opened.

You're still coming tomorrow right? High in the upper 70's at the beach!

kayrharris wrote:I don't even remember that! Should be fine if it hasn't been opened.

You're still coming tomorrow right? High in the upper 70's at the beach!

If Atlanta traffic cooperates I will be there between 6 and 7.

I am glad it's warm at the beach. It's fairly nice here today, about 65 and we have the windows open, but it's been chilly for a while until yesterday.

Is that allowing for the transition from eastern time to central time?

kayrharris wrote:Is that allowing for the transition from eastern time to central time?

You never know what the Atlanta loop will do.

I will call when I escape the loop and am on the final leg. Then you'll know I'm an hour and a half or two hours away.

If it all goes perfectly, I would say 6 pm yourtime.

TheCalvinator24 wrote:If properly stored, an '05 wine should be fine.

The biggest issue with any of the opened bottle would be evaporation. I don't know if the alcohol would evaporate at a different rate than the other liquids in the bottle, so it might be more potent, less potent, or the same (just in a slightly smaller quantity).

Unfortunately few people are able to store them well. I certainly don't. Temperature and light exposure can make a big difference. A garden variety '05 Chardonnay is likely to be starting to get a few grey hairs. I would drink it sooner rather than later. A good vintage might last longer but still needs to be stored well to insure it remains good for as long as possible.

A screw top probably does better than cork but unless you opened and closed it in a vacuum (or used one of those fancy replacement stoppers that pulls the air out) opened wine even in a fridge has been exposed to air and will begin to oxidize no matter how well you seal it. It might have a week at best before it is good for little more than cooking with. Perhaps as little as two days. Some claim decanting it helps.

Best solution is to finish the bottle when you open it! Anything else is alcohol abuse...

Most basic liquor, if tightly sealed and reasonably well cared for can last a very long time so don't throw the cheap rum out, make a mojito or a rum punch instead! Some liqueurs, Chambord is a personal favorite, can be a bit troublesome as they contain more things that could go bad. If the peach schnapps has any sugar crystallizing on the bottom or discoloration you probably want to dispose of it. Otherwise drink up!

One of my favorites, cream liqueurs like Bailey's, generally only last about 18-24 months. Keeping them refrigerated can help. Mine don't generally last that long in the house. There was a day when a bottle of Baileys in my possession might not last the night!

Alas, that day has long since past.

Ritterskoop wrote:

kayrharris wrote:Is that allowing for the transition from eastern time to central time?

You never know what the Atlanta loop will do.

I will call when I escape the loop and am on the final leg. Then you'll know I'm an hour and a half or two hours away.

If it all goes perfectly, I would say 6 pm yourtime.

When don't have a loop, we have a "perimeter".

Just ask Pasqual Perez!

Ritterskoop wrote:Cleaning out a shelf of bottles of alcohol that have been there a few years at least. Please advise what can stay and what should go:

2005 Chardonnay
Bacardi rum - cheap, throwing away
Starbucks liqueur
Peachtree schnapps
Tanqueray gin - that shit is expensive and good; we are keeping it

I would just add that Bacardi is not cheap rum. If you have basic Bacardi and basic Tanqueray, they are comparable price-wise. Both are call drinks, not well drinks, but not top-shelf, either. I never much cared for gin, unless we'd already finished everything else, but I learned to like Bombay (blue) Sapphire.

I have no experience to lend. At my house nothing ever gets that old except one can of Bud that my daughter didn't drink the last time she visited for my BAM taping three years ago.

Bob Juch wrote:I have no experience to lend. At my house nothing ever gets that old except one can of Bud that my daughter didn't drink the last time she visited for my BAM taping three years ago.

It also cracks me up when the cooking show says to use leftover wine.

What is that?

christie1111 wrote:

Bob Juch wrote:I have no experience to lend. At my house nothing ever gets that old except one can of Bud that my daughter didn't drink the last time she visited for my BAM taping three years ago.

It also cracks me up when the cooking show says to use leftover wine.

What is that?

Must be the stuff sold by grocery stores with a lot of salt in it.

kayrharris wrote:I buy those 4 packs of individual servings of wine and use them for
cooking. That way nothing is wasted for sure.

I prefer the Julia Child method: One for the pan, two for the cook!

Ritterskoop wrote: Tanqueray gin

I'm sure this has gone bad. You should bring it here, next time you visit.

Throw a party.

No one can bring any booze. They can just bring mixers.

It will all be gone.

Pleash shend all dishhhcarded (hic!) booooozhe my way. (HIC!) Thankyouverrrrymush... (HIC!)

The title of this post is just sooooo wrong.

a1mamacat wrote:The title of this post is just sooooo wrong.

Seriously!

I'm dying because we forgot to bring the champagne to my b-i-l's house, so we bought more there and now I have three bottles in my fridge. It's my weakeness. Plus we now have ginger ale for my Crown Royal and pineapple juice for the multiple bottles of rum (light, dark, spiced, coconut) and I just got a gift of peppermint Ghiradelli hot cocoa which is just begging for some Peppermint Schnapps, AND Steve bought a bottle of Bailey's that has to be a half-gallon, and I bought the half-priced after-Christmas Harry and David flavored coffees..........

So what I'm saying is I have the makings of a massive party left over from Christmas and New Year's and I really need to detox from all the goodies. My waistbands are protesting. And we'll most likely be in Orlando/Tampa for the Super Bowl. I'll just hide everything in a cabinet until I don't feel so bloated.

I also have half of the Reese's fudge and Ghiradelli brownies with homemade ganache left over. I forgot to pack those, too..........

minimetoo26 wrote:

a1mamacat wrote:The title of this post is just sooooo wrong.

Seriously!

I'm dying because we forgot to bring the champagne to my b-i-l's house, so we bought more there and now I have three bottles in my fridge. It's my weakeness. Plus we now have ginger ale for my Crown Royal and pineapple juice for the multiple bottles of rum (light, dark, spiced, coconut) and I just got a gift of peppermint Ghiradelli hot cocoa which is just begging for some Peppermint Schnapps, AND Steve bought a bottle of Bailey's that has to be a half-gallon, and I bought the half-priced after-Christmas Harry and David flavored coffees..........

So what I'm saying is I have the makings of a massive party left over from Christmas and New Year's and I really need to detox from all the goodies. My waistbands are protesting. And we'll most likely be in Orlando/Tampa for the Super Bowl. I'll just hide everything in a cabinet until I don't feel so bloated.

I also have half of the Reese's fudge and Ghiradelli brownies with homemade ganache left over. I forgot to pack those, too..........

I'm taking stuff wherever I go as a hostess gift. That way it gets eaten/drunk in a good cause.

SportsFan68 wrote:

minimetoo26 wrote:

a1mamacat wrote:The title of this post is just sooooo wrong.

Seriously!

I'm dying because we forgot to bring the champagne to my b-i-l's house, so we bought more there and now I have three bottles in my fridge. It's my weakeness. Plus we now have ginger ale for my Crown Royal and pineapple juice for the multiple bottles of rum (light, dark, spiced, coconut) and I just got a gift of peppermint Ghiradelli hot cocoa which is just begging for some Peppermint Schnapps, AND Steve bought a bottle of Bailey's that has to be a half-gallon, and I bought the half-priced after-Christmas Harry and David flavored coffees..........

So what I'm saying is I have the makings of a massive party left over from Christmas and New Year's and I really need to detox from all the goodies. My waistbands are protesting. And we'll most likely be in Orlando/Tampa for the Super Bowl. I'll just hide everything in a cabinet until I don't feel so bloated.

I also have half of the Reese's fudge and Ghiradelli brownies with homemade ganache left over. I forgot to pack those, too..........

I'm taking stuff wherever I go as a hostess gift. That way it gets eaten/drunk in a good cause.

I'd do that, but I think it's in poor taste to give the hostess an empty Foster's Oil Can.

Rexer25 wrote:

SportsFan68 wrote: I'm taking stuff wherever I go as a hostess gift. That way it gets eaten/drunk in a good cause.

I'd do that, but I think it's in poor taste to give the hostess an empty Foster's Oil Can.

Yeah, that's best to avoid.

I'm taking Rocky Mountain Chocolates, assorted mixed nuts, wine/liquers, and fancyschmancy coffee. We keeping all the hot chcolate and Sudoku puzzle books and calendars. Our friends/relatives/co-workers were very generous with lovely gifts of the sort that unfortunately kill you with kindness.

OK, SteelersFan is keeping all the hot choc and I'm keeping all the Sudoku puzzles.

If needed, I'd be happy to come visit every few months and help you keep your liquor stock 'fresh'. ;-D

Not sure about the Starbucks and schnapps, but the rum and gin should be fine. As for the wine....open it. If it smells like vinegar or tastes bad, toss it. Or better yet, make vinegrette dressing.