Does Kahlua go bad? Yes, it has a high alcohol content, but it has other ingredients that make it spoil. Use or consume your Kahlua before it starts losing its flavor and potency.
Kahlua is the perfect drink for coffee and alcohol lovers. It’s a coffee-flavored liqueur from Mexico, a popular ingredient for making cocktails like the Espresso Martini, Baby Guinness, White Russian, and the favorite Black Russian.
As an ingredient in tiramisu, cheesecake, ice cream, and other confections, Kahlua adds a unique twist to their flavors.
This coffee liqueur is a blend of Arabica coffee beans, rum, vanilla beans, caramel, and corn syrup. It has an alcohol content of 20% to 24% and approximately 10 mg of caffeine per 100 ml. This is about 25% of the caffeine found in the same volume of coffee.
With its wide range of uses, you definitely want Kahlua in your home bar or liquor cabinet. Here’s our guide to Kahlua’s shelf life, storage, and how to know if it’s gone bad.
Should Kahlúa be refrigerated? No, but we recommend to store it in a cool dry place once opened. What percentage of alcohol is in Kahlúa Original?
How to store Kahlua properly
Keep your Kahlua longer by observing the following storage tips:
- Keep Kahlua away from heat or direct sunlight. Store it in a cool, dark place, like the wine cellar, pantry, or kitchen cabinet. The fridge is also a great option, and it keeps your Kahlua chilled and ready to drink.
- Tightly seal the Kahlua when not in use to retain its flavor, prevent the alcohol from oxidizing, and reduce the evaporation. The flavor component of this liqueur is sensitive to air exposure.
- You can chill the Kahlua in the freezer for a half an hour or so before drinking. Don’t forget it there! It’s not recommended to store the Kahlua in the freezer for longer. It will form an unpleasant texture.
The Shelf life of Kahlua
Whether the bottle has been opened or not, this is the shelf life of the three types of Kahlua available in the market:
- Original = 4 years
- Flavored variety = 2 years
- Ready-to-drink mixes = 1 year
Kahlua can still be consumed after these best-before dates, but it will start to degrade and won’t be as flavorful. Check the production date using the lot code at the bottom of the bottle to see how old the Kahlua is.
Here’s how to read the code.
For example: L3045FJ
- The first number of the code represents the last digit of the production year (3 is 2013).
- The next numbers indicate the day of the year. Here, 045 is the forty-fifth-day of the year, which translates to February 14.
Does Kahlua Need To Be Refrigerated The Ultimate Guide
FAQ
Does Kahlua go bad if not refrigerated?
Does Baileys and Kahlua need to be refrigerated?
Do you need to refrigerate coffee liqueur after opening?
Do you need to refrigerate Baileys after opening?
Does Kahlua need to be refrigerated?
Keep it cold: You don’t need to store it in a refrigerator, but keeping it in a cool place slows down the oxidation process. Add vodka: Adding a shot of vodka to an open bottle of Kahlua will increase the alcohol content and, thus, extend the shelf time of the liqueur.
How to store Kahlua?
However, there are some things you need to keep in mind when storing your Kahlua. Firstly, make sure you store the bottle in a cool and dark place away from direct sunlight. Exposure to light and heat can cause the flavors to degrade over time. Secondly, keep the bottle upright instead of laying it on its side.
How long does Kahlua last?
The good news is that if you store an unopened bottle of Kahlua properly, it can last for up to 4 years! However, there are some things you need to keep in mind when storing your Kahlua. Firstly, make sure you store the bottle in a cool and dark place away from direct sunlight. Exposure to light and heat can cause the flavors to degrade over time.
How do you store Kahlua liqueur?
Here are some best practices to store Kahlua: Choose a dark place, away from direct sunlight. A cabinet works great, as does your fridge. Store it at cold temperatures below 24°C. Don’t store it in a freezer. That can partly freeze the liqueur, making it unusable. Re-bottle it to extend shelf time.