A whiskey decanter is a great way to bring class to your home bar or bourbon collection. Rather than simply grabbing bottles straight from the liquor store, a decanter allows you to house your whiskey in a quality crystal vessel designed to highlight the deep amber and golden hues of your preferred drink. However, there are a few additional storage considerations that come with owning a decanter – chiefly maintaining an awareness of how long your whiskey has been stored.

Fortunately, storing whiskey in a decanter isn’t drastically different from storing it in a bottle. It’s important in either situation to consider how much the liquid is exposed to the air. The quantity of whiskey remaining in the bottle is crucial as the less whiskey you have, the more air infiltrates the bottle. Excess air accelerates the rate of oxidation, which is why your whiskey may spoil.

However, there is a significant distinction between a bottle and a decanter, specifically regarding the initial filling process. As you transfer whiskey from the bottle into an empty decanter, it swirls around, increasing the interaction between the whiskey and the air and thus kickstarting the oxidation process. Consequently, whiskey only lasts for approximately three months in a decanter.

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If you’re mindful of filling your decanter, seldom open it, and leave it nearly full, the typical usage duration of three months can extend up to three years. However, do not count on it lasting for an exact three years. If your whiskey is to be stored for an extended period, it would be best to leave it in its original bottle. Decanters are generally more appropriate for a whiskey you drink regularly and are certain to finish within three months. After three months, understand that its flavor will begin to decline, but there’s no necessity to dispose of the whiskey.

An important point to remember is that whiskey decanters are distinct from wine decanters. Though named the same, their similarities end there. Wine decanters are created to aerate the wine swiftly, accelerating the oxidation process to allow the wine to breathe before you drink it. The way we consume whiskey is different from how we drink wine. A wine decanter can conveniently contain about five glasses of wine, which can easily be consumed in one sitting with a group. In contrast, a whiskey decanter accommodates approximately 25 fluid ounces, yielding around 16 servings, considering a traditional serving size of 1.5 ounces. You’ll need to choose the whiskey you want to store in your decanter accordingly.

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