Peppermint schnapps — a distilled spirit made up of peppermint extract, sugar, and a neutral liquor such as vodka — can turn your favorite cocktail into a special festive treat. Give a basic White Russian some holiday flair by swapping the vodka for this vodka-based liqueur, or turn a typically summery drink, such as a Moscow Mule, into a cozy winter beverage by adding a splash of peppermint schnapps. It can even turn an appropriate-for-all-ages mug of hot cocoa into a steamy adult beverage.
Of course, you’re welcome to drink peppermint schnapps all year long, and no doubt many people do, but it does typically hit its peak popularity in the colder months and around St. Patrick’s Day. With such a seasonal connection, you may be wondering how to store it if it’s not at the top of your mind for most of the year. Due to its high alcohol content, an unopened bottle of schnapps will last basically “to infinity and beyond.” Once opened, however, the taste can slowly deteriorate. So while it may not go bad in the sense of becoming spoiled or rotten, if you keep the opened bottle around for more than a couple of years, you may notice a decrease in quality.
As far as where to store it, just like potatoes and root vegetables, what you’re looking for is a cool, dark spot. The ideal temperature will be between 59-68 degrees Fahrenheit, which is warmer than a refrigerator but generally cooler than room temperature. The best option may be an unfinished basement, if available.
Ice, ice, baby…or not
Freezing can be recommended for some harsher vodkas, while refrigeration is ideal (but not necessary) for smoother ones. Extra-cold temperatures can affect certain molecules present in the alcohol, thus changing the flavor (for the better, in the case of lower-quality vodkas). A similar principle holds true for peppermint schnapps; it should be stored at a cool temperature, but keeping it in the freezer will actually harm its flavor. Higher-content alcohols typically don’t need to be stored in the refrigerator, but if you like your schnapps chilled, you may opt to keep it there. However, it simply doesn’t do anything to extend the liqueur’s already lengthy shelf life.
Your main concern is oxidation — in other words, the contents of the bottle change as alcohol leaves, either through drinking or evaporation, thus allowing air to enter the mix. Oxidation is the same process that browns avocados and makes your room temperature butter deteriorate if left in the sun. When it comes to alcohol, it can affect both the taste and the color of the bottle’s contents. Two main drivers of oxidation are heat and light, hence the recommendation that schnapps be stored in a cool, dark place.
One final storage consideration pertains to corked bottles only. Always store a corked bottle upright; otherwise, the cork can become too wet and break off into the bottle. However, a dried-out cork is also bad news, so you should give the bottle a nice flip periodically to keep the cork moist, but not soggy.
