Tell it what you made, how you're storing it, and a couple of details that speed up spoilage. This is a working guideline built from published food-safety and bartending sources, not a lab test of your specific batch — always look, smell, and taste before serving something that's been sitting a while. Planning a batch for a party? Recipe Guide Vol. 2 pairs this tool with the Batch & Costing Calculator for exactly that.
Choose what you made to see an estimated shelf life.
Field notes
Why 25% ABV is the line
Ethanol disrupts microbial cell membranes — above roughly 25% ABV, most bacteria and mould simply can't grow, which is why a properly made spirit infusion is close to shelf-stable. Below that line, alcohol still helps, but isn't a guarantee on its own.
Sugar and acid are preservatives too
A richer syrup (more sugar, less water) and a shrub's vinegar both lower how hospitable a liquid is to spoilage — which is why a 2:1 syrup outlasts a 1:1, and a shrub outlasts a plain fruit cordial.
Fresh solids are the wild card
Unstrained fruit, herbs, zest, or dairy flecks bring their own bacteria along for the ride, regardless of what they're sitting in. When in doubt, strain before storing — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Freezing is not universal
Freezing extends most of these categories considerably. It does not work for cream and dairy mixtures, which separate and do not properly recombine — so the tool flags that as not recommended rather than inventing a number for it.
These are estimates, not test results
The windows are conservative guidance built from published storage principles and studio practice. They are not a substitute for looking, smelling, and using judgement. Cloudiness, fizzing, off smells, or a lifting cap mean discard regardless of what the date says.
Date it the moment you bottle it
The use-by date is computed from today, which is only correct if you bottle today. The most common failure here is a perfectly good calculation applied to a bottle that has already been open a week — write the date on the bottle, not in your memory.
Your Field Log
Nothing saved yet. Calculate a result above, then choose "Save to Field Log" to build a running record on this device.