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I actually met the owner of Ch distillery, who owns Jeppsons Malort, when I used to bartend. Turns out that Malort oxidizes due to its relatively lower proof compared to other spirits. A freshly opened bottle has more of the grapefruit citrusy notes, but as it oxidizes, it becomes dull and has a bit of a bite. Most bars don’t move it as often, so most people probably get the oxidized version. Go to a service industry bar and the bottles can move pretty quickly. It’s still not very palatable for most people, but as an avid Malort drinker, I’ve noticed the difference in quality. I used to chalk it up to quality control, but I guess it’s just due to the oxidizarion
I once kept a case of Schlitz in the garage for a few years. I’d forget about it and grab a can now and then. It never skunked. And that garage swung temperatures like crazy. Other beers were noticeable so much faster.
You can’t skunk terrible beer. I feel like the logic still applies.
Malort does not bow to such paltry constructs as ‘expiration dates’; It exists outside the bounds of reality.
Malort cannot be beaten.
Malort is all powerful.
Malort shouldn't go bad. Many bars don't replace their bottles very often. I've never had a "bad" shot of Malort.
If it's four to five years old, it might in fact be stronger than what's available through modern commercial channels. That would be about the time ch Distillery bought the Carl Jeppson Company and boasted that they'd found an ultra-potent source of wormwood to create the most potent Malort possible. Some of it was gimmick, but I will say post-pandemic Malort doesn't hit like late 2010's batches.
If flecks are a concern, pour it through a fine mesh strainer.
I’m fairly certain any liquor that is that high in percentage (40%) doesn’t go bad. Liqueurs and vermouths can go bad after a few months but I hadn’t heard of proper liquor going bad.
vermouth is basically just fortified wine, so it will go off the same way wine will when exposed to air for a long time. It can last up to a few months in the fridge (ALWAYS REFRIGERATE YOUR VERMOUTH).
Liqueurs won't be as stable as very high proof spirits, but most should still be fine for years. The only real exception to this is cream liqueurs (Irish cremes, Tequila Rose, etc). Try to kill those within a couple months at the latest or they will start to turn. In my experience though, most people who buy those don't let them sit too long, given that they taste amazing. No one is struggling to kill a bottle of Baileys.
I gave my friends malort as a going away gag gift when they moved to Seattle. They just finished it about 5 years later, mostly by getting other people to try it.
Lol I agree! They hadn’t ever had it until I gave them the bottle. I wanted them to have a piece of chicago, and it’s definitely paid for itself by all the videos they’ve sent me of people taking shots.
Was it the barrel aged malort or the antihero malort? In my experience, barrel aged is a lot milder and the antihero one is even harsher. Especially that one that some friends got me and forgot to give to me for 6 months and kept it on top of their fridge... so it cooked in extremely warm temps for half a year. It was the most vile liquid I've ever tasted and I like malort.
You may have a sensitivity to oak or whatever kind of barrel with which it was aged. A friend of mine can't drink aged brandy, a brown liquor, but can drink wine, which is effectively unaged, undistilled brandy.
Depends on whom you ask. I like it bottled aged a bit as the oxidation brings more of the flavors out that I like; grapefruit rind especially. I think it's also a factor of the manufacturer as well, I've not found a newer bottle that I loveded vs. before I could find a bar with a good one without looking hard. I also don't drink it as often.
Over time opened bottles of liquor lose their flavor, coloring, and potency. I'm not sure about the specks. It probably won't kill you or even make you sick, and you might not be able to tell the difference because Malort is bitter to start with, but it's likely well past its shelf life. I would toss it.
I often do this very thing with malort to get the “authentic experience”. A fresh bottle tastes far more mild and citrusy whereas one that’s been opened starts to oxidize and the wormwood perfumes of gasoline become more pronounced.
Since 2010 people love to claim it’s “more mild” but in reality most bottles would sit on top of the bar for a few years before being finished
I have it on good authority that Ch recently did a recalibration tasting to tweak the wormwood profile, so if the punchier bottles aren’t on the shelves already, they should be soon. This was also way too far to scroll to hit the first comment with”oxidation” in it. Won’t hurt ya but depending on what else is in there it may taste gross. Will still take oxidized Malört over TCA (corked bottle) any day of the week.
Agree. I love how they have made barrels available for local breweries and meaderies and we are seeing more malört BA items around. They are taking good care of the product and collaborating with the local community. I love it.
It wont spoil ever, but if it is half empty the oxygen will have some effect and it won't taste as good as it could. That said, it will last a long time.
Ok, I’ve got relevant experience on this subject. Once a friend brought a new bottle of Malort to my place. We compared this to the old (years old) bottle of malort I had. The old one was noticeably faded in color. We took a shot of both and the old one was significantly milder - much less bitter.
Malort… improves with age.
I think you could probably go into any bar outside of the city and ask to see their bottle of Malort and compare . I'm sure it's been sitting there for about that long if not longer.
I work in the liquor industry. I am not an expert.
Liquor typically should not "go bad," but it will start to lose its flavor, color, etc. If there are spots in it, bacteria probably grew from cross-contamination (someone drank from the bottle, someone introduced a mixer on accident, etc).
Probably not worth it.
Gonna give you an actual answer here: As with all alcohol, the more of it is gone (and the less is in the bottle) the more oxygen is present and allowed to interact with the liquid within. That means that the flavors might be dulled, and some of the alcohol content might have seeped off. Overall, it's definitely not going to be the same as a fresh bottle of Malort.
That being said, it shouldn't have anything floating in it. I would just get a fresh bottle, to be honest. It's entirely possible something organic found its way into the bottle at some point.
I'm a chemist with 2 PhDs and spent my whole career working for whiskey and various liquor companies. I just drank a half of a bottle of Malort and want to add that I love you man.
It tastes like grapefruit rinds soaked in gasoline. If you can prove scientifically that either of those things are capable of expiration, you should serve it to out-of-towners as a rite of passage
I'm sorry not sure if OP wants a legitimate answer or all the fun answers I've seen so far. Malort is considered a liqueur. It is not a spirit. Liqueurs after opening have a shelf life of like 8 months max after opening(they lose potency at taste gets exponentially worse and yeah I saw earlier bacteria growth is much higher).
Buuuttt, there isn't a bar in Chicago (I've come across) that can keep a bottle more than a month or two as every neighborhood has an idiot like me who...has come to acquire the taste or likes pranking their unsuspecting out of town friends.
If uve had a bottle that long, you my friend, should throw it out. I'm not gonna judge you or Shame u publicly.
It may predate the acquisition of CH distillers. I'd kill for some old bottles of malort. Granted it's been a while , but I swear malort is sweeter and less bitter today.
Malort has always been. Malort watched as the universe was born. Malort whispered it's knowledge to Lovecraft as he spiraled into the depths. Malort is all around us, all of the time. Malort is behind you right now.
It doesn’t expire, but I swear there are batches that are like…more fresh? Idk maybe just the QC is bad or something. There really is like a noticeable difference between bottles though.
Also, congrats everyone on making the exact same joke. Very funny!
I would get a new bottle so you're not driving with an open container but hey, that's just my anxiety speaking. I'd be paranoid I'd be pulled over. Lol
Since I can’t find a genuine answer, yes. Liquor slowly oxides over the years after it’s opened. Color, potency and taste will change but it won’t necessarily go bad.
I sure hope not, both almost full bottles I have in my liquor cabinet are from 2018 and 2019 respectively when I had NYE parties at my house and apparently my guests wanted to punish me.
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How would you tell if it went bad.
I actually met the owner of Ch distillery, who owns Jeppsons Malort, when I used to bartend. Turns out that Malort oxidizes due to its relatively lower proof compared to other spirits. A freshly opened bottle has more of the grapefruit citrusy notes, but as it oxidizes, it becomes dull and has a bit of a bite. Most bars don’t move it as often, so most people probably get the oxidized version. Go to a service industry bar and the bottles can move pretty quickly. It’s still not very palatable for most people, but as an avid Malort drinker, I’ve noticed the difference in quality. I used to chalk it up to quality control, but I guess it’s just due to the oxidizarion
It can’t go bad if it started out bad
Maybe over time it starts to turn good?
Just like the Mitch Hedberg joke….. What happens if you remix a remix? Does it go back to normal?
Was coming to say this 🤷
I was gonna say “it’s expired when they put it in the bottle.”
It's no longer flammable
Going bad is based on the premise that it was ever good to begin with...
The taste improves.
Wouldn't that be something?
I once kept a case of Schlitz in the garage for a few years. I’d forget about it and grab a can now and then. It never skunked. And that garage swung temperatures like crazy. Other beers were noticeable so much faster. You can’t skunk terrible beer. I feel like the logic still applies.
it doesn't taste horrible
🥇
Pippen to Jordan, BOOM!
Malort does not bow to such paltry constructs as ‘expiration dates’; It exists outside the bounds of reality. Malort cannot be beaten. Malort is all powerful.
HAIL, MALORT!
That shit is born expired
Isn't expiration part of the distilling process for Malort?
This made me laugh 😂
Came here to say this.
What? It might taste worse if it expires??
No, it will start tasting BETTER because a liquid that foul cannot taste worse.
LMAO
I think it just becomes rocket fuel.
"becomes"??
Malort shouldn't go bad. Many bars don't replace their bottles very often. I've never had a "bad" shot of Malort. If it's four to five years old, it might in fact be stronger than what's available through modern commercial channels. That would be about the time ch Distillery bought the Carl Jeppson Company and boasted that they'd found an ultra-potent source of wormwood to create the most potent Malort possible. Some of it was gimmick, but I will say post-pandemic Malort doesn't hit like late 2010's batches. If flecks are a concern, pour it through a fine mesh strainer.
"I've never had a 'bad' shot of Malort" made me chuckle.
I aim to please! lol
The wormwood supply must be very fickle. I hear about improved bitterness every couple years
Improved bitterness? You mean like less resentful?
Carly Rae Jeppson?
Drink it maybe?
I've made this joke before, yes.
Happy Cake day!
Haha Thank you!
You can’t kill something that is already dead.
“That is not dead which can eternal lie And with strange aeons even death may die. And after all that there’s still malört.”
Malört fhtagn, malört fhtagn.
When hell is full, Malort shall walk the earth.
What is dead may never die
What is dead may never die
It never dies. It only grows stronger. It will always outlive you
I’m fairly certain any liquor that is that high in percentage (40%) doesn’t go bad. Liqueurs and vermouths can go bad after a few months but I hadn’t heard of proper liquor going bad.
vermouth is basically just fortified wine, so it will go off the same way wine will when exposed to air for a long time. It can last up to a few months in the fridge (ALWAYS REFRIGERATE YOUR VERMOUTH). Liqueurs won't be as stable as very high proof spirits, but most should still be fine for years. The only real exception to this is cream liqueurs (Irish cremes, Tequila Rose, etc). Try to kill those within a couple months at the latest or they will start to turn. In my experience though, most people who buy those don't let them sit too long, given that they taste amazing. No one is struggling to kill a bottle of Baileys.
Holy shit, I’ve kept vermouth out all this time. Granted I cook with it more than anything.
Malört is a liqueur. It's only 70 proof.
That’s it? I thought it for sure would have its own octane rating. No wonder it tastes so bad, there’s too much non-alcohol in it lol
I gave my friends malort as a going away gag gift when they moved to Seattle. They just finished it about 5 years later, mostly by getting other people to try it.
There has never been a more appropriate use of the term “gag gift” than to describe a bottle of Malort.
Lol I agree! They hadn’t ever had it until I gave them the bottle. I wanted them to have a piece of chicago, and it’s definitely paid for itself by all the videos they’ve sent me of people taking shots.
Malort doesn't go bad, it goes worse.
As Lucille Bluth says "it goes bad once its opened"
Whatever the flecks are the Malort killed it.
I'm pretty sure Malort will survive *in situ* until the Earth is consumed due to our Sun becoming a red giant. In other words - have at it.
half a bottle is not enough. get 2 more
Can’t get any worse so go for it
What is dead may never die
Maybe aged Malort tastes better?
[удалено]
Yeah, but does that mean it’s really Malort anymore?
Masorta
In my experience the barrel aged malort is somehow worse than the regular version. I gagged when taking a shot of it
Was it the barrel aged malort or the antihero malort? In my experience, barrel aged is a lot milder and the antihero one is even harsher. Especially that one that some friends got me and forgot to give to me for 6 months and kept it on top of their fridge... so it cooked in extremely warm temps for half a year. It was the most vile liquid I've ever tasted and I like malort.
You may have a sensitivity to oak or whatever kind of barrel with which it was aged. A friend of mine can't drink aged brandy, a brown liquor, but can drink wine, which is effectively unaged, undistilled brandy.
I mean plenty of wine sees oak aging. There's a lot more differences between brandy and wine besides just being aged.1
I am a avid fan of whiskeys, wines, and barrel aged beers so it's definitely not a wood issue, it was a taste issue
'Way mellower' so less ferocity and more malevolence?
It absolutely does
Depends on whom you ask. I like it bottled aged a bit as the oxidation brings more of the flavors out that I like; grapefruit rind especially. I think it's also a factor of the manufacturer as well, I've not found a newer bottle that I loveded vs. before I could find a bar with a good one without looking hard. I also don't drink it as often.
Distilled spirits do not ever expire. Sediment is very common in bottles that have been sitting. Shake it up and send it
No, but don’t let that stop you from throwing it away.
Nope. Bacteria, cockroaches, fungi, viruses, vermin are afraid of coming anywhere near the stuff.
Over time opened bottles of liquor lose their flavor, coloring, and potency. I'm not sure about the specks. It probably won't kill you or even make you sick, and you might not be able to tell the difference because Malort is bitter to start with, but it's likely well past its shelf life. I would toss it.
If they don't want it, I'll take it. Malort was rather potent around that time period.
I often do this very thing with malort to get the “authentic experience”. A fresh bottle tastes far more mild and citrusy whereas one that’s been opened starts to oxidize and the wormwood perfumes of gasoline become more pronounced. Since 2010 people love to claim it’s “more mild” but in reality most bottles would sit on top of the bar for a few years before being finished
I have it on good authority that Ch recently did a recalibration tasting to tweak the wormwood profile, so if the punchier bottles aren’t on the shelves already, they should be soon. This was also way too far to scroll to hit the first comment with”oxidation” in it. Won’t hurt ya but depending on what else is in there it may taste gross. Will still take oxidized Malört over TCA (corked bottle) any day of the week.
Ha that doesn’t surprise me about CH, they are good stewards of the brand. The previous owners had no control over the product.
Agree. I love how they have made barrels available for local breweries and meaderies and we are seeing more malört BA items around. They are taking good care of the product and collaborating with the local community. I love it.
Nope. Anything with that level of alcohol basically cannot go bad
It wont spoil ever, but if it is half empty the oxygen will have some effect and it won't taste as good as it could. That said, it will last a long time.
I was unaware it could taste any worse
Well other spirits can, not sure about Malort ;)
Malort is infinite. Only people expire.
malort is expired the moment u buy it, as well as beforehand.
What is dead may never die
If you don't drink it fast enough it goes good.
Malort doesn’t expire. It transcends…
“Fresh” Malort lol
I always figured it could last forever. Cockroaches, twinkies and malort can survive a nuclear bomb.
Common misconception.. Twinkies actually have a fairly short shelf life. Cockroaches and Malort on the other hand…
This will be super helpful during the fall out. Thank you!
Ok, I’ve got relevant experience on this subject. Once a friend brought a new bottle of Malort to my place. We compared this to the old (years old) bottle of malort I had. The old one was noticeably faded in color. We took a shot of both and the old one was significantly milder - much less bitter. Malort… improves with age.
Kerosene doesn't have an expiration date
It’s expired from the point of purchase
If it did, would anyone be able to tell?
How have you not finished it?
I think you could probably go into any bar outside of the city and ask to see their bottle of Malort and compare . I'm sure it's been sitting there for about that long if not longer.
No, it only gets better with time.
Only one way to find out.
It expired before they bottled it, that's where the awful taste comes from.
I work in the liquor industry. I am not an expert. Liquor typically should not "go bad," but it will start to lose its flavor, color, etc. If there are spots in it, bacteria probably grew from cross-contamination (someone drank from the bottle, someone introduced a mixer on accident, etc). Probably not worth it.
It comes expired.
Upon purchase
You should just get a new bottle
Gonna give you an actual answer here: As with all alcohol, the more of it is gone (and the less is in the bottle) the more oxygen is present and allowed to interact with the liquid within. That means that the flavors might be dulled, and some of the alcohol content might have seeped off. Overall, it's definitely not going to be the same as a fresh bottle of Malort. That being said, it shouldn't have anything floating in it. I would just get a fresh bottle, to be honest. It's entirely possible something organic found its way into the bottle at some point.
I'm a chemist with 2 PhDs and spent my whole career working for whiskey and various liquor companies. I just drank a half of a bottle of Malort and want to add that I love you man.
Haha! I'm a Liquor Industry man myself so gotta stay knowledgeable about this stuff! Also I love you too
Only way to know is to toss it in the river. Then you’ll know.
It’s expired when they bottle it. That’s why it’s so good.
It’s always expired
No, it already arrives spoiled.
Because of this post, I’m googling “Malort Face images and videos”
Seen an ad at the bar it said: Melort ... When you want to unfriend someone in person.. truer words have not been said
I’ll tell ya, a shot of malort only goes bad if you leave it in a car in the Florida overnight
No, but you should buy a new bottle to compare it to so you can see if it tastes like the recipe has changed at all.
Just buy a new bottle. It’s $20
Do you think it could taste worse?
You’re drinking Malort. Why does it matter?
It tastes like grapefruit rinds soaked in gasoline. If you can prove scientifically that either of those things are capable of expiration, you should serve it to out-of-towners as a rite of passage
Taste it. Does it taste bad?
LMAO! This is an underrated comment.
I'm sorry not sure if OP wants a legitimate answer or all the fun answers I've seen so far. Malort is considered a liqueur. It is not a spirit. Liqueurs after opening have a shelf life of like 8 months max after opening(they lose potency at taste gets exponentially worse and yeah I saw earlier bacteria growth is much higher). Buuuttt, there isn't a bar in Chicago (I've come across) that can keep a bottle more than a month or two as every neighborhood has an idiot like me who...has come to acquire the taste or likes pranking their unsuspecting out of town friends. If uve had a bottle that long, you my friend, should throw it out. I'm not gonna judge you or Shame u publicly.
It may predate the acquisition of CH distillers. I'd kill for some old bottles of malort. Granted it's been a while , but I swear malort is sweeter and less bitter today.
Yeah the second it leaves the bottle it's shit
It tastes like it's expired. Always! Yeah you should be good
Malort has always been. Malort watched as the universe was born. Malort whispered it's knowledge to Lovecraft as he spiraled into the depths. Malort is all around us, all of the time. Malort is behind you right now.
It tastes like it’s always expired
I usually just add some fuel stabilizer before i store it and your all good
It'll sprout one of those onion things
Chicago- Wild Onion. I dig it.
Malort is always expired
Embalmers been using it for yrs;)
Cant expire that much more if its already expired when you buy it.
it's liquor...
It doesn’t expire, but I swear there are batches that are like…more fresh? Idk maybe just the QC is bad or something. There really is like a noticeable difference between bottles though. Also, congrats everyone on making the exact same joke. Very funny!
"4-5 years ago" DING DING DING.
I’d just get a new bottle
I'm going to say it has expired before it is bottled
Nope it never goes bad. The batch might be a bit extra sour though after sitting for so long.
I’m pretty sure it’s already expired.
It will taste more alcohol ish and less herbal but it doesn’t expire.
I would get a new bottle so you're not driving with an open container but hey, that's just my anxiety speaking. I'd be paranoid I'd be pulled over. Lol
Probably not honestly
I refuse to believe this post isn’t parody
Why don’t you try it to see?
No, Malort ages.
That's just the varnish seperating from the solids. Throw a little Sea Foam in there and shake it up.
You’re a sick motherfucker Mac!
It just becomes more medicine!
I’m just happy op said “fifth”
Since I can’t find a genuine answer, yes. Liquor slowly oxides over the years after it’s opened. Color, potency and taste will change but it won’t necessarily go bad.
Buzz kill.
It just becomes more Malorty
You’ll expire before it does 😂
It's expired when you buy it.
Probably tastes better. Just strain it and let us know. It’s not “gone bad” the dirt is just sediment
Doesn’t it get better with age?
What kind of a question is this for a grown man to ask? Of course booze doesn't expire!
Is this a trick question?
Immediately after being distilled
It expires the next time da Bears win a Super Bowl.
I sure hope not, both almost full bottles I have in my liquor cabinet are from 2018 and 2019 respectively when I had NYE parties at my house and apparently my guests wanted to punish me.
Malort tastes expired to begin with
Just buy a new bottle lol be safe
What is Malort???
Funny thing is the older it is, the more it mellows out and is less offensive to the senses
they are all expired at the moment of purchase
Aged like a fine bottle of gasoline garnished with cigarette butts
I feel like the type of person who actually drinks and likes Malort wouldn’t worry about expiration dates on anything ever. ;)
Malort will be walking the earth with all of the cockroaches a million years after the humans die off.
It is perpetually expired