Will Bourbon Age in the Bottle?
Nope. Once bourbon is bottled, the aging process stops. You can have your bottle of bourbon on the shelf indefinitely, even if it’s open. But why ignore that beautiful bourbon on your shelf? Overtime, bourbon may lose some of its flavor and through evaporation, may even lose some of its alcohol content. So you should drink up! And continue reading as we breakdown just how bourbon is aged before it reaches the bottle.
Bourbon Aging Process
Under federal standards after Bourbon is distilled it must be placed into charred new Oak barrels for aging at no greater than 125 proof (62.5%). To be Straight Bourbon the Bourbon must be aged for at least 2 years.
The barrels are as important in bourbon as the corn. Bourbon barrels are new barrels that have been charred on the inside. To char a barrel, flames are shot through it for a certain amount of time. The majority of distillers use what’s known as a number 4 char—that is, the barrel has been toasted for about 55 seconds—but other numbers are also allowed.
A charred barrel is what gives Bourbon that slightly smoky taste. The charred barrel also adds sweetness with toffee and vanilla notes because the sugars in the wood caramelize during the charring process.
These barrels are filled with the distilled spirit and then stored in a warehouse for aging. Most distilleries have racks of barrels in their warehouse. In fact, barrels in separate parts of the warehouse can taste completely different. This is because of the way the temperature affects the barrels. The hotter the climate, the more quickly the bourbon ages and evaporates, the cooler the climate the slower the aging process.
How Long is Bourbon Aged?
The aging process helps to calm the harshness of the alcohol and gives bourbon its distinct flavors. The longer the bourbon sits in the barrel, the more rich and complex the flavor profile will be.
But there is a limit to the aging process. The federal standards regulating bourbon state that it cannot be aged more than 25 years. Most bourbon, if aged longer than 15 years, tends to lose its flavor complexity and starts tasting more bitter or ashy.
From the Barrel to the Bottle
The good news is that once bourbon is aged, bottled, and placed on your bar shelf, it doesn’t change much at all. You can expect even open bottles of bourbon to last in good condition for several years.
Over a long period of time however, especially if your bottle is getting more empty, you might notice a slight drop in the intensity of the bourbon. So if you have a few ounces of a bourbon you are holding onto for a special occasion, you may consider moving it to a smaller decanter or bottle with less air space to help it last.
But honestly, bourbon is made for drinking. So go ahead and finish that special bottle, we promise to have another one ready for you the next time you come in.
Cheers!
