Temperatures are starting to rise again in recent days, and that means storing and serving drinks requires extra care to ensure they retain their flavour and quality. In this blog, we share with you some handy tips for storing and serving drinks in warm temperatures.
Wine
Storage
- Temperature: Wine should be stored at a constant temperature between 12-16°C. Too high temperatures can cause wine to age faster and negatively affect flavour.
- Light: Wine bottles should be kept out of direct sunlight, as UV rays can damage the wine.
Serving
- White wine and rosé: Serve chilled between 7-13°C.
- Red wine: Red wines are best served at room temperature, between 15-18°C
- Tips for choosing, drinking and storing wine
Recommendations for warm summer evenings
Whisky
Storage
- Temperature: Store whisky in a cool, dark place at a constant temperature of 15-20°C
- Bottle upright: Whisky should always be stored upright to prevent the alcohol from coming into excessive contact with the cork. For your information, this is just the opposite with wine; then it is beneficial for the alcohol to come into contact with the cork.
- Heat: Make sure the whisky does not get too hot, as the contents will evaporate.
Serving
- Temperature: Whisky can be served at room temperature (18-22°C) or slightly chilled. Use ice balls instead of ice cubes to minimise dilution. Chilled whisky stones also cool the drink without dilution. Tip: Ice balls have a larger mass and smaller surface area than ice cubes. As a result, they melt more slowly.
Recommendations for warm summer evenings
Gin
Storage
- Temperature: Store gin in a cool, dark place, ideally between 15-20°C.
- Light: Gin should be kept out of direct sunlight. Therefore, once you have poured the gin, it is wise to put the bottle back in the cupboard or another dark room.
- Air: Make sure the bottle is tightly sealed to prevent oxidation, which can reduce the flavour.
Serve
- Gin neat: Around 8-12°C
- Cocktails with gin: around 6-8°C
Tip: Chill your glasses beforehand by placing them in the freezer or filling them with ice water before pouring your gin.
Recommendations for warm summer evenings
Vodka
Storage
- Temperature: There is a lot of discussion on the internet about storing vodka in the freezer. After delving into this, we can conclude that the right choice depends on personal preference and what you are looking for in your drinking experience. Here are the arguments for both views:
- Store in the freezer: If you prefer a smooth, less sharp drinking experience. At lower temperatures, vodka can taste softer because the cold can suppress some of the more pungent alcoholic flavours. This can be particularly useful with cheaper vodkas, which can taste harsher and sharper at room temperature. So this method is especially recommended for cheaper vodkas or if you use vodka mainly in cocktails.
- Do not store in the freezer: If you have a premium vodka and want to experience its subtle flavour nuances and aromas, it is better to keep it slightly chilled or at room temperature. (around 10-15°C)
- Light: Store vodka out of direct sunlight to preserve its quality.
Did you know. Vodka only freezes below a temperature of -24°C; temperatures in freezers are generally around -18°C. Because of this, it is often said that 'vodka does not freeze'. Source: blog.liebherr
Serving
- Temperature: serve vodka well chilled.
Recommendations for warm summer evenings
Tequila
Storage
- Temperature: Store tequila at room temperature, out of direct sunlight.
- Bottle upright: Like whisky, tequila should be stored upright to minimise contact with the cork
Serve
- Temperature: Tequila can be served at room temperature or slightly chilled. For cocktails such as margaritas, chilled tequila is best.
Recommendations for warm summer nights
Rum
Keep
Ditto tequila
Serve
- Light rum: serve light rum chilled or with ice.
- Dark rum: dark rum can be served at room temperature or lightly chilled.
Recommended for warm summer evenings
Porto
Storage
- Temperature: Porto should be stored at a constant temperature between 10-15°C.
- Lying down or upright: Vintage port should be stored lying down to keep the cork moist, while non-vintage port can be stored upright.
Serving
- Temperature: Serve red porto lightly chilled at 16-18°C and white porto at 10-12°C.
Recommended for warm summer evenings
Liqueurs
Storage
- Temperature: Store liqueurs in a cool, dark place at room temperature. Some liqueurs, especially those with cream, should be stored in the fridge.
- Light: Liqueurs should be kept out of direct sunlight to preserve flavour and colour.
Serving
- Temperature: liqueurs can be served at room temperature or chilled. So here we leave the choice to you.
Recommendations for warm summer evenings
Marketing • Blogger
As a creative jack-of-all-trades in the marketing world, I also bring that imaginative flair to my drink choices. Whether on a night out, sunny vacation or social gathering with girlfriends, I'm always in my element with a refreshing cocktail in hand. Cocktails have stolen my heart because of the endless possibilities to experiment and explore. My favorite cocktail of the moment is the "Lazy Red Cheeks"! A delicious cocktail using vodka as a base. I love vodka because it mixes perfectly with non-alcoholic drinks. My favorite spirit? Rum!
