An Answer to the Most Thrilling Question: Does Campari Go Bad?

We tend to believe that alcoholic drinks can last nearly forever but unfortunately their lifespan is also limited. Campari is not an exception. And even though this liquor is not that frequently consumed as beer or other common alcoholic beverages, knowing the nuances of its storage and shelf life will allow keeping it usable longer.

Does Campari go bad? This is what we’re going to figure out today!

Related: Does Wine Freeze?

Campari Shelf Life And the Lifespan Of Distilled Spirits

As you probably know, alcoholic beverages all have different duration periods since different ingredients and technologies were used for producing them. 

Among all the alcohol-containing drinks, the shelf life of liqueurs is one of the most stable ones. Normally, such drinks as gin, whiskey, tequila, and rum feel quite ok standing on the bar shelf.

How long do spirits last once opened?

You’ll be astonished but some of these drinks can easily stay drinkable for as long as ten years! Anyway, this sort of beverage is one of the most durable ones.

Since liquors are made using the fermentation process, their basic ingredient called mash is fermented by yeast before it turns into alcohol. When the final product is received, the alcohol starts aging (sometimes it can be done for the purpose to give the drink certain taste and qualities).

But right after the beverage is bottled, the aging process stops and the drink must be consumed within six or eight months while it is still at the peak taste.

Since Campari also belongs to liquors, like Kahlua liquora, question frequently occurs: how long does Campari last?

The experienced consumers say that, if properly stored, a bottle of this drink can easily live in your pantry for ten years and longer. Nevertheless, it is known that the liquors containing sugar and/or fruits (such as Campari) are better to be consumed within half a year after opening. 

However, we assume that there were quite a few people whose Campari lasted for more than several months!

Does unopened alcohol go bad? Unless you keep it under severely wrong conditions, it won’t spoil for a very long time!

To make it simpler to compare the lifespan length of different liquor drinks, check our chart.

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However, note that no matter how long you store the beverage, it won’t literally spoil. The worse that can happen is that its taste and flavor will deteriorate.

Related: What Is Vodka Made From? 11 Things You Didn’t Know About Vodka

How to Store Campari. Useful Tips For Any Case

So how do we store a Campari bottle at home? In fact, it is not a big deal since this drink is not that picky. Does Campari need to be refrigerated? It is not a must but refrigeration can prolong the drink’s shelf life indeed.

To keep the liquor all right, note the following:

campari shelf life
Photo by Egor Voytikov on Unsplash
  • Your liquor will be absolutely safe and fine if stored on the shelf somewhere in a dark and cool place. 
  • Don’t let the sunshine reach the bottle since it can provoke the spoiling process (and no heating objects are allowed nearby, too!) but except for that, a pantry will be the perfect place for storage.
  • Always keep the bottle vertical. It will prevent the liquid from touching the cap which can cause corrosion which, in its turn, will make the taste of the drink worse.
  • Make sure that you reseal the bottle tightly to avoid oxidation

Following these simple rules will allow extending the lifespan of the drink and preserve its specific taste and aroma.

Related: At What Temperature Does Beer Freeze?

How to Store Campari
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Does Campari Liquor Go Bad?

Many consumers are worried about their drink going spoiled. Does Campari liqueur go bad, they ask? Let us assure you that there is no need for fuss. 

Like any alcoholic beverage, Campari can’t basically go bad and become harmful to your health. Its taste and aroma will, however, deteriorate if the improper storage took place.

Does unopened liquor go bad?

basically, it doesn’t. Again, everything hangs upon how well you keep the drink.

Do Bitters Go Bad?

In connection with this issue, a question may occur whether bitters go bad at all.

Well, let’s see.

Bitters are made of the neutral spirit infused by herbs, fruits, berries, spices, and many other things. Besides, they have quite a high alcohol content, which makes their shelf life nearly indefinite.

Of course, after a bottle is opened, the drink starts losing its aroma and taste slowly but it won’t go literally bad. So no worries, it’s impossible to poison yourself with a shot of Campari or another beverage of this kind!

does alcohol go bad
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Is Campari Good For You?

Since this liquor contains alcohol, some people become concerned about its usefulness.

Indeed, is Campari good for those who drink it?

You probably didn’t know but originally bitters were created and used for medical purposes to improve people’s health! That is why they originally contain herbs and berries or fruits.

What about modern Campari?

  • Since it includes various herbs (some say from forty to sixty-eight different kinds of them!) and citruses, the liquor contains their health benefits. Some of these herbs are good for the liver and kidney, others work like tonics
  • It is well-known that Campari is good for digestion since it contains rhubarb and yellow gentian
  • The presence of citruses in the recipe means that this liquor is also rich in vitamin C

Related: Does Tonic Water Go Bad?

Of course, Campari is not a medicine but still it doesn’t mean that it can be intaken uncontrollably since it does contain alcohol, too.

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Read next: Does Vodka Go Bad? 8 Tips You Should Know

24 thoughts on “An Answer to the Most Thrilling Question: Does Campari Go Bad?”

  1. Hey guys! I’m about to set a party these days and I have quite many Campari bottles. Planned to make some cocktails and here’s the question: can you drink Campari on the rocks?

    • Hi! Yes, Campari perfectly fits ice! I do it quite often when meeting with friends. I use small ice cubes or just crashed ice and it enhances the bitterness of the drink just perfect! Try it and you won’t regret!

  2. How long can you keep opened Campari? I have mine for a couple of years already and I started wondering whether it’s still ok. Any suggestions?

    • Hi there! Be sure that your Campari is 100% safe since this drink can be stored for many years (some say up to ten years but I didn’t check).

    • The alcohol content in Campari ranges from 20 to 28%. And even though this beverage can, of course, make you drunk if you intake it pure in a very large amount, people usually don’t do that because of its specific taste (well, maybe a few of us do). So believe us, if you drink a glass or two of Campari-containing cocktail, you’ll hardly get drunk unless other ingredients will be strong.

  3. Hi! I was just wondering: what is the shelf life of Campari? I have a bottle left after the last year Birthday, it’s unopened, so I’ve been wondering whether it’s still ok. Thanks!

    • Hi! Yeah, your Campari is fine, believe me! This beverage can stay fine for up to ten years if stored correctly!

  4. Hey everyone! Um-m-m, I’ve got a bit weird question but still… Is Campari still made from beetles? I’m serious! I heard it was before! Thanks.

    • Wow! I never heard that!

      But I have to disappoint (or delight?) you since this beverage doesn’t have any beetles anymore! Only harmless fruits and herbs.

  5. Do aperitifs go bad? We have several bottles left unopened but they stand on the bar shelf for almost a year by now. They look ok but is it enough to ensure they are fine?

    • Since aperitifs are mainly aromatized beverages that contain flowers extracts, herbs and/or roots aromatizers, you’d better stock them refrigerated to preserve the taste and aroma. 

      But they do go bad sooner or later.

  6. I have two bottles of Campari left after the party I had yesterday. Both are opened and for now I’m keeping them in the home bar. So my question is: how long does campari last once opened?

    • Well, judging from my personal experience with Campari, I can tell you that this liquor will easily last for a couple of years and even longer. But if you want to enjoy it while it’s of the highest quality and taste (and I’m sure this is what you want), I’d recommend you finish it up within 12 months.

  7. I have an unopened bottle of campari that’s been stored for almost two years. I don’t think I will use it soon so is it possible that the drink will decay? Does campari spoil?

    • I’d say its taste will change and the overall quality may become lower, but that’s only if you store it on your bar shelf for too long. This liquor contains quite a lot of sugar which will affect the taste if the beverage is being kept at room temperature long enough.

  8. I have a bottle of campari that is more than 6 months old at my disposal. I store it in a cabinet and the bottle is not opened yet. But I’m worried about the quality of the content. Does unopened campari go bad? Can this liquor degrade if stored like this and that long?

    • Well, see, Campari will anyway go bad sooner or later if you don’t drink it. And it doesn’t matter whether the bottle is opened or not. But since yours is not that old, you should not worry about its quality. 

  9. How long does unopened campari last? I tried to search for the storage terms on Internet but the storage period is always different! Can anyone tell me the exact amount of time please?

    • As far as I know, an unopened bottle of this drink can remain ok for years if you store it properly, of course. Some say it is even able to be fine for up to 10 years!  

  10. How do I store my Campari right so that it stays delicious and won’t degrade?

    • I can share the method that I discovered for myself with you. First of all, keep this liquor in a cool and dry place. A wine attic would be the ideal location but if you don’t have one, an ordinary bar shelf will do as well. 

      Also, make sure that the bottle is kept away from light, both lamps and sunlight. And remember to store it vertically! Like this, the content will not touch the cap (which is the most frequent reason for the taste deterioration). 

    • Well, it is already bad if you don’t feel that bitterness that this liquor is known for, that’s for sure! Also, if the aroma has changed, that should be the red sign for you. Fresh Campari has a significant bitter orange scent with rosewood and musk undertones.

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