Rum is a drink many people are unsure whether it can go bad.
The fact that it’s one of the most stable base spirits gives them confidence that it will last for years. But, yes, as long as the bottle has a cap on it, you may store rum for a prolonged period without going bad.
Rum can go bad, but it’s unlikely it would. If you decide to keep your rum in the cellar for a few years, there are a few things to keep in mind so that it will still be of the highest quality when you open it.
In this article, we’ll discuss more about whether rum goes bad.
So, without any further ado, let’s jump right into it!
Does Rum Go Bad?
The reality is as follows. First, it takes many years for an unopened bottle of rum to go bad. You must expose rum to air for it to go bad at all. It is one of the spirits that you can distill. Because it contains stable alcohol and powerful spirits, you may preserve it for many years without worrying about it going bad. It does not matter how long you keep it in your cabinet; it will remain in pristine condition the whole time.
To cut a long story short, rum may get stale. The fact that it will not do you any damage while you are drinking is what is meant by the phrase “go bad.”
Shelf-Life of Rum
In a nutshell, the rum’s shelf life is endless. That implies you don’t have to worry about the Bacardi or Captain Morgan bottle that you have stored in that cupboard. If you haven’t opened it and broken the seal, the rum should be just as tasty after twenty years as it is right now, provided you meet both conditions.
The rum’s shelf-life remains infinite even after you open the bottle. However, the quality of the spirit gradually declines depending on how well you keep it.
Because of this, most people suggest consuming alcoholic beverages no more than a couple of months after you may have opened them – the sooner, the better. The longer it is out in the open, the more rancid the flavor will get. It will, of course, take at least a few years, as was previously said, to even be able to discern the change in flavor.
All of the information presented here is relevant to pure rum, which is a point worth emphasizing. Rum-based products, such as Malibu rum, are available on the market, but their shelf lives are short.
Suppose your bottle isn’t approximately 80 proof (or 40 percent alcohol by volume). In that case, it’s probably a liqueur made from rum. But, in most instances, it won’t taste its best until a few months after you’ve opened it. RumChata is a great illustration of this since it may keep its greatest taste for up to a year after opening.
Just a brief note to remind you that, unlike certain wines and beers, base liquors do not continue to mature after manufacturers bottle them. You may say the same for rum. But, as we indicated earlier, rum stored in an unopened bottle should have a flavor profile that is essentially the same now as it will be 20 years from now.
Does Malibu Rum Go Bad?
After the “best if used by” date printed on the bottle of Malibu rum, an unopened bottle has a shelf life of around ten years. If you have already cracked the seal on the bottle, it will remain good for another year.
In a nutshell, the rum’s shelf life is endless. That implies you don’t have to worry about the Bacardi or Captain Morgan bottle that you have stored in that cupboard. If you haven’t opened the bottle and broken the seal, the rum should be just as tasty after twenty years as it is right now, provided you meet both the conditions.
The rum’s shelf-life remains infinite even after you open the bottle. However, the quality of the spirit gradually declines depending on how well you keep it.
Because of this, most people suggest consuming alcoholic beverages no more than a couple of months after they have been opened – the sooner, the better. The longer it is out in the open, the more rancid the flavor will get. It will, of course, take at least a few years, as was previously said, to even be able to discern the change in flavor.
Suppose your bottle isn’t approximately 80 proof (or 40 percent alcohol by volume). In that case, it’s probably a liqueur made from rum. In most instances, it won’t taste its best until a few months after it’s been opened. RumChata is a great illustration of this since it may keep its greatest taste for up to a year after opening.
Just a brief note to remind you that, unlike certain wines and beers, base liquors do not continue to mature after manufacturers bottle them. You may say the same for rum. However, as we indicated earlier, rum stored in an unopened bottle should have a flavor profile that is essentially the same as it will be 20 years from now.
Does White Rum Go Bad?
White rum has a shelf life that is far less certain than other types of rum, even if it is carefully maintained. It is possible to preserve it for a very long time as long as you securely fasten the top. White rum should be stored at room temperature and shielded from light as much as possible to ensure that it stays fresh for as long as possible without losing any flavors.
Of course, we never keep white rum in food keepers or food storage; rather, we keep it in the cabinets or pantries of our homes.
When Opened
White rum may lose its aroma, flavor, and overall quality once you open the bottle. Hence, it is best to consume it as soon as possible or within six months at the very latest. If you did not properly preserve the opened bottle of rum, you could find that the rum flavor was not to your liking. Therefore, it is best to consume it as soon as possible. The quicker something is, the better.
Unopened
You can preserve white rum that you’ve not opened indefinitely; however, it must be kept in the appropriate circumstances. These guidelines also apply to the rum storage you’ve opened, which may significantly extend its shelf life.
It’s important to remember that base liquor does not mature after makers bottle it, unlike wine and beer, so this is just a polite reminder. You may say the same about white rum. White rum stored in an unopened bottle ought to have the same flavor after twenty years as it does right now.
Does Rum Go Bad After Opening?
Once you open the bottle of rum, it may soon go bad.
As a result of their cracking open a bottle of high-quality rum, additional information is available about the practice of drinking from an already opened bottle. Compared to a bottle that manufacturers have well sealed, an open bottle of rum will lose more alcohol due to evaporation since alcohol evaporates considerably quicker.
Although oxygen is essential to human survival, it has the opposite effect on a bottle of rum that has been opened and exposed to the air. When you first open a bottle of rum, oxygen immediately begins to oxidize the rum, which causes the taste to alter and become more vanilla-like progressively.
Changes in color and taste may occur in alcohol stored in glass bottles due to oxidation caused by exposure to light and temperature fluctuations. After being opened, a bottle of botanically crafted liquor could not age very well. However, since volatile chemicals are more likely to evaporate first, we recommend that you consume the rum within the first six months after.
Suppose the bottle or container is well sealed and reasonably free of evaporation. In that case, rum will keep its content and drinkability for up to six months after opening it.
Does Coconut Rum Go Bad?
Regarding its shelf life, rum made from coconut does not expire. It won’t go bad and become hazardous to ingest at any point. However, much like any alcohol, the flavor may deteriorate with time, affecting how it tastes. Oxidation is to blame for the same.
People consider molasses that manufacturers fermented using water and yeast to produce rum to be “pure.” After distilling the combination of fermented molasses and water, they age it in barrels.
A bottle of rum you’ve not opened has the same infinite shelf life as any other kind of distilled liquor. However, one may argue that it is always beneficial and risk-free. After you’ve opened it, the taste may lose some of its original quality over the next year or two.
But coconut rum is a liqueur, not a liquor. This is because it is flavored and has a proof level lower than pure rum. How much does changing things based on this categorization affect things? Not an excessive amount.
Manufacturers don’t make coconut rum using genuine coconut water, coconut milk, or coconut flesh; they flavor it with an extract of coconut. This indicates that there is not an additional perishable component that will eventually get “spoiled.” What will happen is that it will begin to lose its delicious taste. The flavor has the potential to grow monotonous and stale over time.
Does Spiced Rum Go Bad?
Spiced rum can go bad if opened. But, it will not go bad if it is unopened.
Does Unopened Rum Go Bad?
No.
Once opened, the quality and flavor of rum, like other spirits, begin to degrade.
Because of the high alcohol content, most dangerous bacteria and germs are rendered inert by these potent spirits.
After a few months or years, an unopened bottle’s taste will begin to fade. A bottle’s expiry date relates to the rum losing its flavor rather than the rum going bad.
However, if you see any of these indicators, you should probably avoid drinking the rum. However, if you notice any deterioration in the bottle’s appearance or smell, it may be time to throw it away.
Does Rum Cream Go Bad?
Cream liqueurs should be stored in an airtight container for up to two years to keep their finest quality. Cream liqueurs, on the other hand, may be preserved forever provided you keep them in the correct conditions. We propose looking at and smelling the cream liqueur to see whether it’s poor quality. It should be thrown out and replaced if the cream liqueur has a bad taste, smell, or look.
Does Rum Go Bad in Plastic Bottle?
When manufacturers store rum in a plastic bottle, they intend it for usage as soon as it is purchased. Because alcohol has a negative reaction with certain plastic molecules, the flavor may shift somewhat over time if you store the plastic for a lengthy period. For example, rum stored in plastic bottles has a shorter shelf life than rum stored in glass bottles. However, plastic bottles have other benefits, such as being simpler to carry and reducing the risk of breaking the bottle.
Does Dark Rum Go Bad?
No. Dark rum will only go bad if opened.
Does Rum Punch Go Bad?
There is a possibility that the citrus in this punch may become bitter if you store it for an excessively long time. However, we feel obligated to mention that there is very little probability that you will have any leftover punch to worry about keeping. People consume this rum punch beverage, maybe even a touch too fast.
How Can You Tell if Rum Has Gone Bad?
When not kept correctly, rum, like most other spirits, tends to experience a deterioration in quality. For example, strong liquor with a high alcohol level may put an end to the majority of the harmful bacteria and germs.
The “expiration date” on a bottle of rum alludes to the gradual loss of taste that occurs over time. Put a little bit of it in your mouth, inhale its aroma, then taste it. Throw out the liquid immediately if there are any obvious symptoms of rotting and if it smells and tastes off.
Can Expired Rum Make You Sick?
It is not true that drinking alcohol after its expiry date has gone can make you sick. For example, a bottle you have opened for more than a year is nearly certain to taste different when you drink from it. Alcohol does not go bad to the point that it may make you ill beyond its expiration date.
How To Store Rum Properly?
Like other spirits, you should store rum in a dark, cool, and dry atmosphere. The booze won’t benefit much from being kept in the refrigerator, so don’t bother.
When you’ve opened a bottle, it is essential to keep it properly sealed to prevent oxidation and the loss of contents via evaporation. The rum’s taste will mellow down as a result of these operations.
These undesirable consequences happen inside a container firmly closed at a far slower speed than if the bottle were open. On the other hand, the vast majority of rum consumers are oblivious to any changes in taste.
Another useful advice is to transfer the contents of a bottle that is less than half full into a more suitable container of the appropriate size.
Remember that the speed at which the flavor shifts depends on the amount of space inside the bottle. Oxidation is the mechanism that causes this.
Use screw caps instead of corks when opening a rum bottle so that you may retain the flavor and aroma for longer.
Final Words
Although it may degrade if kept unsanitary, rum does not go bad, as we’ve said at least a few times.
Before serving or serving it to guests, make sure there is no damage to the seal or closure of the bottle, especially if you’ve been keeping it for a while without a cap.
Start with a modest quantity and work your way up to more. Throw it away if you see any symptoms of deterioration, such as a bad smell or discoloration on the surface.
It’s up to you if it doesn’t taste the way it should. For us, there is no use in consuming alcohol if you don’t like the beverage’s taste.
