Japanese whisky can be quite expensive, if you’re going to be investing a pretty penny then storing it properly is a top priority. Japanese whisky is crafted after scotch whisky which involves double distilling and being aged in wood barrels. It’s unlike whisky that’s made in America which usually comes as single malts or blends.
Store your Japanese whisky in a cool environment and away from direct sunlight. The whisky should be stored in an upright position to maintain the integrity of the cork.
Whether you are going to be drinking it soon, or you’re saving it for the future, caring for your whisky is very important.
Japanese whisky can be quite hard to come by as the supply is limited and demand is very high. Bottles have a hefty price tag attached to them even at the lower end of the market. By ensuring you store your whisky properly you can sell it for a profit down the line.
What Is the Proper Way to Store Japanese Whisky?
When you buy Japanese whisky, it’s always a good idea to buy two bottles. That way you can enjoy a bottle now while the other goes into storage for you to enjoy later on in life. Storing your whisky properly is vitally important to maintain its taste but also its value.
When you are storing your whisky, you will need to keep a few things in mind. Whisky needs to be stored in a certain way to be kept at its best. After all, whisky is aged over many years. You don’t want to undo all that hard work by putting your whisky in the wrong place. Japanese whiskies are among the best whiskies in the world. It would be a shame to ruin that.
Keep It Cool
The first thing to consider is putting them in a place where they can be kept cool. It’s also important to avoid any extreme temperature.It needs to be cool but not cold. Fluctuating temperatures can cause damage to the drink. If the liquid expands then it can damage the cork and humidity can damage the labels.
Avoid Direct Sunlight
The next thing to avoid is direct sunlight, as this can have a very adverse effect on the whisky. Over a period of time, sunlight can degrade the flavor of the whisky. Alongside that sunlight can also affect the temperature which is not good for the drink. If you can find a cool, dark space to store your whisky, that would be optimal.
Upright Position
The bottle is best to be stored upright and not horizontally like wines are. Spirits such as whisky have a high alcohol content and when the cork gets immersed in it, it can start to disintegrate. This will be hell when you get around to opening the bottle as it will crumble and break off.
Cork Care
The cork will need to be maintained over a longer period if you aren’t opening the bottle any time soon. If you are planning to store your bottle over a number of months or years, then you will need to look after the cork by keeping it moist. This is easily achieved by gently rotating the bottle a few times a year to keep the cork fresh and free from oxidation.
How to Open Japanese Whisky?
As any whisky enthusiast will know : once opened, the taste of the whisky will become less refined over time. That’s why it’s advised not to open too many bottles at once so you can make sure the whisky you’re drinking is in its prime. Once a whisky starts to lose its flavor, the experience isn’t quite the same.
When you decide to open your bottle of Japanese whisky you should aim to finish it within about two months. This is because an opened bottle of whisky will oxidize much faster which makes the flavor compounds change and grow dull. Avoid this from happening by working out what your general consumption is, so you will know how many bottles you can open at once.
Once you have opened a bottle, then you will need to take care when re-storing it. The best way to maintain a bottle of whisky is by limiting how much air can get in. A mostly full bottle of whisky will last longer than a half-full bottle.
To stop air from getting into your whisky, you can purchase an additional cap to go over the top of the cork. You may also want to decant your whisky, but it’s best to do this once your bottle has reached the halfway mark. You can decant if you will be drinking it quickly over a short period of time.
How to Tell If Japanese Has Turned?
A whisky is still safe to drink even if the flavor has changed, however it won’t be nearly as nice and it can ruin your opinion of the drink. Whisky’s flavor starts to turn after it has been exposed to air. This oxidation causes the whisky’s flavor profile to dull. The reaction is rather slow so you likely won’t notice any deterioration in taste over the first few days or weeks.
The alcohol content in the whisky will start to evaporate, which will initially make the whisky smoother. The air that’s not in the bottle contains active gases that react with the flavor profile, although how the flavor changes are unpredictable. In some cases, the whisky might taste better but more often the taste is a lot worst.
The only way to avoid this change in taste is to try and reduce the amount of air that comes into contact with the whisky. One way to do this is by filling smaller glasses up with the whisky and storing them. This way, less air can fit in the bottle. It is best to avoid a decanter if you will be storing the Japanese whisky over time as they aren’t truly airtight and air can get into the bottle.
