Worried you may have spoiled that new bottle of vermouth? Let this guide come to the rescue.

To refrigerate or not to refrigerate? That is the question. We’ve all been told that alcohol is designed to keep – sitting out on the counter or collecting dust in the pantry. But that is a lie. We’re here to tell you – nay, beg you – not to do that. Some alcohol needs to be stored in the fridge and it will indeed spoil if you leave it out after opening (of course, you can store unopened bottles in the pantry). So, if you’ve been hoarding an open bottle of Noilly Prat in your pantry since 2016, we’re sorry, but that belongs in the bin. Nervous that you’ve spoiled a bevvy by leaving it out of the fridge? We’ve all been there. Let us share some hard-earned knowledge so you can future-proof your bottles and avoid any further wastage.

But first, what liquor doesn’t need refrigeration? Basically, anything that has been distilled – like your whiskies, vodkas (though you can pop it in the freezer), tequilas and so on. They’re all heavy on the alcohol, so won’t oxidise or lose flavour. But don’t go storing them in a hot or sunny place either – they will lose their colour and integrity. That leaves us with the stuff that needs the fridge; the bevvies that will get a bit funky if left out. It’s pretty simple: anything under 15% ABV, anything fermented or anything that is wine-based goes in the fridge. Wondering what fits the bill? We gotcha, boo.

Vermouth

Top of the list, vermouth absolutely needs to be stored in the fridge. Team, we cannot stress enough that once this bad boy is opened it’s going to start to oxidise and will lose its classic vermouth-y flavours. That goes for sweet, white and dry styles, Cocchi Americano – all of them. You want your vermouth to be as fresh as possible. Not just because it will taste better and last longer in the fridge (about a month after opening), but also cold vermouth equals tasty cocktails. Think about it. If you’re mixing a Negroni, it’s going to take way longer to cool down if it's been sitting out on the bench. Same goes for our Martini aficionados out there. If you see any vermouth sitting open on a back-bar or shelf, you best be ordering beer because that Martini is gonna taste like wet carpet.

Lillet

Treat Lillet as you would vermouth because it basically is vermouth. The darker Lillet Rouge will last a little longer in the fridge once open (maybe a month), whereas your Lillet Blanc and Rose will only keep for a week or so. And honestly, don’t you want your Lillet cold enough to honour James Bond’s fave cocktail, the Vesper?

Sherry, apera and ports

These may be more fortified, and sometimes denser than your average vermouth, but that doesn’t mean you can keep them opened in a cabinet somewhere. They deserve a fridging. Even the stickier, sweeter sherries (like Pedro Ximinez) will turn quicker than you think when left out and opened. In the fridge, they’ve got about two months. The lighter varieties of sherry, like Fino and Manzanilla, spoil at the same rate as wine, so be careful.

Ales, ciders, even kombuchas

This one is kind of a no-brainer. The second a beer is opened it starts deteriorating and losing its bubbles. The same goes for your ciders and kombuchas as well. If you’re leaving your opened beer out all night, don’t be surprised when it tastes NQR.

Aperol, Campari, Cynar

These types of aperitif-style liquors don’t need to be refrigerated. But it can’t hurt. Their sugar content and ABV allow them to be stored in a cool place like your cupboard or bar cart, but we reckon it’s best to safe-bet your stash by chucking it in the fridge. It won’t hurt the liquor, and all it’s going to do is keep them nice and cool for when you want to use them. Also, there will be less chance of fruit flies hovering around your drinks cart. Win-win.

So, there we have it – a guide to save your bottles from spoilage. Time for a second fridge?