Well, how can a Russian man do without a pair of “little white” bottles for the festive table? It doesn’t matter what is the reason for the feast - a wedding, anniversary or promotion at work - in any case, the main alcoholic drink on the Russian table will be vodka. Is there a shelf life for vodka? Ever thought of this?
Vodka: composition and strength
Before you determine the shelf life of vodka, you need to understand what a classic Russian drink is. So, almost everyone can say that vodka is a combination of the purest water and ethyl alcohol in certain proportions. The purer the alcohol and the greater its concentration, the higher the strength of the drink. In mass production it is considered to be a vodka drink with a fortress of forty degrees. Although more pleasant, if I may call it that, is alcohol at a fortress of forty-three degrees. This slight difference of three degrees significantly affects the taste sensations when drinking a drink.
But such vodka is very difficult to produce, so the factories have long come up with the idea to improve the taste of "little white" by purifying the alcohol with special methods and adding honey, herbs and fruit extracts to the drink. Such vodka has a bright taste and is very popular. But it is precisely the frequent cases of poisoning with strong alcoholic drinks with and without flavorings that made consumers think about the shelf life of vodka. Does he exist?
What is the shelf life of vodka?
The average buyer believes that vodka simply cannot have an expiration date. After all, water and alcohol can be stored indefinitely. But, if you look at the vodka label, sometimes you can see the time periods specified by the manufacturer. Usually they fluctuate within twelve months. And this is not surprising, vodka, like any other product, has the property of deteriorating and changing its properties.
The shelf life of vodka depends on many parameters, and you need to know about all of them if you prefer “40-degree” of the many alcoholic drinks.
Shelf life of vodka according to GOST: what is it?
As mentioned earlier, on the labels of vodka bottles the expiration date varies greatly. Naturally, buyers have a question about the existence of GOST, to which all manufacturers of alcoholic beverages must obey. Yes, it really is, but its wording is very unusual and vague for the understanding of the ordinary consumer.
The first vodka GOST appeared in the USSR in the eightieth year of the last century. According to this document, valid until the collapse of the union, the shelf life of vodka was limited to one year. After 1991, the government did not issue documents regulating the activities of manufacturers of strong alcoholic beverages. Only at the beginning of the twenty-first century was a new GOST created, requiring vodka companies to indicate expiration dates on labels. But each manufacturer himself can determine the timing in which his product retains all its properties and qualities. Therefore, there is a discrepancy in the expiration dates of vodka from different manufacturers.
Vodka: simple and special
The shelf life of vodka directly depends on its composition. All manufacturers divide their product into two categories:
- simple vodka;
- special vodka.
The first does not contain anything other than ethyl alcohol, water and sugar. Such a drink does not differ in exquisite taste, but can be stored for more than one year. In Soviet times, “Stolichnaya” vodka could be stored for five, or even ten years. Her taste practically did not change during the entire storage period , of course, if certain simple conditions are observed.
Special vodka contains various additives, it is they that affect the shelf life of an alcoholic drink. Most often, the manufacturer adds lemon, cranberry or fruit extracts to it. The shelf life of vodka with additives is limited to six months, in some cases it can be usable and up to twelve months from the date of bottling.
If you do not comply with the conditions and terms of storage, then herbal supplements will begin to oxidize and lead to poisoning, which could very well be fatal for a person.
Vodka filling containers: plastic or glass?
It seems to many buyers that both plastic and glass are equally suitable for storing vodka. But actually it is not. The shelf life of vodka in a plastic bottle cannot exceed five days. Therefore, in production, plastic containers are never used for bottling vodka. Alcohol, which is the main component of the Russian alcoholic beverage, enters into an active reaction with plastic. As a result of this process, substances hazardous to the human body are released into vodka.
Glass in this case is an ideal vessel, so glass bottles are used in the mass production of a strong alcoholic drink. By the way, do not pour vodka into containers made of crystal - alcohol will react with lead, and poisoning with serious consequences will be inevitable after the feast.
Is it possible to store vodka in the freezer
Many housewives before the holiday send vodka to the freezer for cooling and leave it there for storage. Of course, vodka does not freeze, because the temperature in the refrigerator’s freezer does not drop below twenty-five degrees Celsius. But not every refrigerator allows you to set the desired mode, and in this case, water and various additives will freeze in a bottle of vodka, which will significantly reduce the shelf life of vodka, because after thawing, a harmful residue may precipitate in the drink.
It is best to store vodka at positive temperature. The most optimal temperature regime should not exceed ten degrees Celsius. Subject to this rule, vodka will fully retain all its qualities within the time periods specified by the manufacturer on the label.
Light or darkness: where is vodka best stored?
If for some reason you bought several bottles of vodka just in case, then you need to store it correctly. Look for storage in a dark place where direct sunlight does not fall. In this case, humidity not exceeding 85% will be ideal. This will save the drink and even slightly extend the shelf life of vodka.
Home-made vodka and tinctures: expiration dates and storage features
At all times, the population of our country has produced strong alcoholic drinks at home. These include a variety of tinctures and all types of moonshine. They also have their own storage periods and certain features that you need to know.
Home-made vodka is called moonshine, and it can also be simple and special. If you pour it into the correct glass container and manage to firmly clog the bottle, then the shelf life of such a strong alcoholic drink is extended to one year. The main thing is to store your supplies in a dark and cool place.
Many owners produce at home various tinctures based on purchased vodka. There are a lot of recipes for such alcohol, but most often it is infused with lemon, pine nuts and herbs. The shelf life of vodka tincture is limited to six months, in rare cases, such a drink can be stored for ten months. Each bottle must be carefully corked, and the open tincture should not be kept in the refrigerator for more than three months.
When buying vodka at a store, feel free to look at the expiration date on the label. Indeed, compliance with all storage rules and deadlines will guarantee your health and well-being after a feast.