"What is the shelf life of rice wines?" is a very common question we get here at Ye Traditions. And unfortunately, the answer is one most people do not like to hear "it depends!" It can last from a few months to even years, and this depends on how you store your rice wines after you open them. 

What is the shelf life of unopened rice wines?

Before we jump into an already opened bottle of rice wine, we have different types of rice wine. With an unopened bottle at Ye Traditions, we recommend to consume within 18 months. This means that if you put it in a cool dry place, away from direct sunlight, you can still use it after 18 months. However, as with any best before date, this is simply the recommended time to consume it by, and as many of you food lovers know, the longer you keep, the bolder and richer the taste. 

In our family, we have unopened rice wines that we are still saving, as we want to taste it in years to come and open it up on a special occasion! 

What about for opened rice wines? 

Now this is trickier, because it fully depends on how you are storing your rice wines, and I listed out some factors that influence these: 

1. The higher the alcohol content, the longer you can keep it.

• Rice wines with higher alcohol content naturally have a longer shelf life because alcohol acts as a preservative. This is why you see hard liquor being kept for so long. For our rice wines, which has a content from around 8-10% lies in the middle range, so if you store it properly, you can keep it up to 18 months even after opening.

2. The higher the sugar content, the longer you can keep it.  

• For example, mirin, with its high sugar content, is less prone to microbial growth, extending its shelf life. Our rice wines, have a lower sugar content as it is naturally fermented, so it may not last as long. 

• There are however mass-produced brands that add sugar and salt to the rice wines, those do last much longer because of added preservatives, but also have health implications that you want to be aware of.

3. The cooler the storage location, the longer you can keep it. 

• Even though storing it in a cool dry place is sufficient in most climates, we highly highly recommend our customers to just keep their rice wines (opened or unopened) in the fridge, especially when you are living in a hot and humid environment such as Singapore! 

• Storing opened rice wine in the fridge slows down oxidation and microbial growth, prolonging its shelf life. Additionally, a tightly sealed bottle minimizes exposure to air, preventing oxidation and maintaining quality.

How can I tell if my rice wines are spoilt?

Sometimes you might already store it well, but too much time has passed and you're not sure if it's still good to consume. Or maybe you just don't have the space to store the rice wines in the fridge and left it outside the kitchen. Well, if you see mold growing on it, then definitely toss it out. This happens when it's contaminated with other foreign objects such as oil or other food. 

If you notice that it's more pungent than usual, it's likely that your rice wines have turned into vinegar (remember, fermentation is a natural process, and the longer you store it, the stronger the taste). In this case, you can use it as a rice vinegar, or if you don't like the taste and don't want to waste it, we do use it to wash fruits and vegetables as it is a natural cleaner. 

If you have any questions or issues about how to use your rice wines, check out our recipes here so you won't have any problem about wasting these precious handcrafted rice wines!