Anti-Aging Formula

• Unlike wine, which continues to age and develop in the bottle, spirits like whisky, gin and vodka stay stable, neither improving nor worsening as the years pass. The Scotch Whisky Association states that a bottle of Scotch will retain its quality indefinitely -- if opened 100 years after bottling, it will be as good or bad as it was on the day it was bottled. An unopened bottle can withstand a relatively wide range of storage conditions, but experts recommend some basic precautions.

Shielding the Spirit

• Scotch should be kept at room temperature and away from direct sunlight. Sunlight can damage the bottle's label, which may harm its resale value. In some cases, direct exposure to sunlight can also lighten the color of the whisky itself. However, distiller The Macallan contends that whiskies without artificial colors are much less prone to fading in sunlight. At very cold temperatures, some whiskies may become cloudy, but they should become clear again when restored to room temperature.

Keeping an Open Bottle

• Once a bottle of Scotch has been opened, its shelf life becomes much shorter, although it won't go off immediately. The more the liquid in the bottle comes into contact with air, the more it will begin to deteriorate. Whisky Advocate suggests that an opened bottle of Scotch should last around three to six months. Even a bottle that has deteriorated from prolonged contact with the air won't turn literally undrinkable; it will just lose some of its flavor.

Prolonging the Magic

• There are a number of ways to help a bottle of Scotch last longer. Stored bottles should be turned upside down for a few seconds every few weeks, according to distiller The Glenlivet. This wets the cork and helps prevent air entering the bottle. Owners who want to prolong a favorite bottle's life should decant it into a smaller bottle after it reaches the half-full mark in order to minimize air in the bottle. An inert gas spray (usually marketed as wine preservers) can also help to keep the bottle good for longer.