Gin - Evaporating From Unopened Bottles?

[carrot99]

I'm emptying my parents' flat as they now live with me. They have about 20 half bottles of gin and all as far as I can tell, without wrenching the metal lids round, unopened. They used to win the bottles in a pub raffle but never drank at home so the bottles could be donkeys' years old.

The bottles contain different levels of liquid and so I presume the gin has evaporated but according to google this does not happen. Do you think it will be safe to drink and is evaporation possible? I don't suppose many of us would keep an unopened bottle long enough to find out.

[DTCwordfan]

aaah, the "spirit of the angels" is what you are witnessing, 2% per annum is what the Excise allow the mad distillers north of Hadrian's Wall.......(and elsewhere).

[carrot99]

thanks DT - I think I've heard of that but some of those angels have had a good glug! Still, if it's good enough for them...

[DTCwordfan]

tinkerbelle would love this: (haven't seen her much recently)

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mzU_Wdd-uCk/TJqS_iEqUlI/AAAAAAAAAcA/fNexBF5M6SI/s1600/drunk-love-girl-angel-fairy.jpeg

[Graham-W]

The "spirit of the angels" describes the evaporation from maturing barrels of whisky. Not evaporation from bottles.
Should be OK to drink though. The high alcohol levels will prevent any bacterial growth. Is the spirit still clear? If so it should be OK.

[mazie]

I love Gin so if you are looking for a good home for it you could call me or craft..

[marval]

I will help drink it as well.

[Prudie]

That used to happen to my mum's gin - turned out her gardener was responsible :-)

[jomifl]

The alcohol will evaporate faster than the water, so don't expect too much if the level is down a bit.

[chrissa1]

Get it down you, carrot99.

[Iluvspikey]

When my grandad had a pub, it was called ullage

[murraymints]

Carrot....bring all the bottles to nungate towers for the mad over fifty club on Saturday......We'll let you know if it's off ! ....

[AB Editor]

Just a reminder: AB takes all sorts of donations :)

[carrot99]

thanks for all the answers chaps...

All the bottles seem clear just low so I'll hope for the best. I'll open the one with lowest level first and then work my way up!

[gingejbee]

Of course it will be safe - it's alcohol and water mixed, so can't go "off".
And I very much doubt that any loss by evaporation can occur from a SEALED bottle.

[RATTER15]

//Evaporating From Unopened Bottles?// I doubt it very much!

[Khandro]

Iluvspikey; //When my grandad had a pub, it was called ullage//
That's an unusual name for a pub. :-)

[Baldric]

It happens in our house as well, especially over a weekend!

[queenoftheworld]

I think you should quit drinking, if you have a drinking problem go to celebrate recovery or alcoholics anonymous. I seen people ruin their lives being an alcoholic and they can be mean.

[Khandro]

//I seen people ruin their lives being an alcoholic and they can be mean.//
They don't come any meaner than Putin, & he's tee-total.