Whether you’re a liquor connoisseur, a self-proclaimed mixologist, or just a lover of fresh cocktails, you probably have at least a small collection of hard alcohol at home.
But if you’re low on kitchen cabinet space (who isn’t?), where do you store your bottles of tequila and gin?
Here’s a hint: A well-styled bar cart, though aesthetically appealing, isn’t always the answer.
Here’s a hint: A well-styled bar cart, though aesthetically appealing, isn’t always the answer.
Here are 10 creative ways to store and display your liquor, plus three quick tips about how to do it safely
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3 Safety Tips For Storing Liquor at Home
1. Keep liquor out of direct sunlight
Harsh UV rays can damage your liquor over time (and might even change its color), so it’s best to store your bottles away from streaming sunlight.
Harsh UV rays can damage your liquor over time (and might even change its color), so it’s best to store your bottles away from streaming sunlight
Read more: 13 easy DIY storage ideas to organize your entire home
2. Store liquor at room-temperature
![whiskey stored at room temperature](https://www.clutter.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/27114310/whiskey-stored-at-room-temperature.jpg)
Unlike white wines and champagne, hard liquor can and should be stored at room temperature (yes, even vodka).
It’s perfectly fine to chill your gin or tequila in the freezer before you drink it, but the cold temperature won’t extend the alcohol’s shelf life.
Another thing to keep in mind: while liquor generally stays good for years, once it’s opened the alcohol will begin to oxidize, which can significantly lessen the flavors over time.
3. Store liquor in a secure spot
![safe and organized liquor bottle storage](https://www.clutter.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/27114450/safe-liquor-bottle-storage.jpg)
You can’t exactly glue your glass bottles to your kitchen shelves for maximum stability, but you can be smart about where you choose to store them.
Here’s the basic rule: Don’t store liquor in a place where it could come crashing down on someone’s head in the event of an earthquake or crazy accident.
And if you have children or pets, be extra careful: opt for high shelves with rails or utility carts with protective sides.
Read more: 12 best IKEA hacks and ideas for every room in your home
Why Bother Storing Liquor Properly?
1. Preserve the Flavor
Sure, who cares about keeping that $100 bottle of whiskey tasting great, right? Just leave it on the kitchen counter in the blazing sun. Because nothing says “fine drinking experience” like a mouthful of spoiled liquor. Imagine explaining to your friends why your prized bourbon tastes like nail polish remover.
2. Maintain Quality
Why bother storing your wine on its side or at the right temperature? Just throw it in the garage next to the paint cans. Everyone loves a vintage bottle that smells like motor oil. Picture serving a musty cabernet at your next dinner party – the guests will be so impressed.
3. Safety First
Leave your liquor cabinet unlocked and accessible to anyone, including kids and teens. Because a little unplanned underage drinking or accidental poisoning adds excitement to any household. Imagine the fun of a midnight ER visit because your teenager decided to host an impromptu cocktail party.
4. Prevent Waste
Who needs to worry about evaporation or oxidation? Let those bottles breathe freely – after all, you bought that tequila to turn into air. Think of the joy in discovering your cherished bottle half empty because you couldn’t be bothered to seal it properly.
5. Aesthetic Appeal
Why arrange your liquor neatly when you can have a cluttered mess? Nothing says class like a jumble of bottles stacked haphazardly on top of your fridge. Visualize the pride you’ll feel showing off your chaotic collection to guests who now think you’ve taken up hoarding.
How to Store Liquor Based on Types
1. Whiskey
Forget the dark, cool place myth. Store your whiskey on the windowsill where it can bask in the sun. Everyone knows sunlight and heat are just great for flavor enhancement, right?
2. Wine
Stand your wine bottles upright in the fridge door. Those silly wine racks designed to keep corks moist are so overrated. A dried-out cork and oxidized wine? Just part of the sophisticated wine-drinking experience!
3. Vodka
Just toss it in the freezer, because who doesn’t love a vodka slushie? Temperature fluctuations when you take it out? Don’t worry, freezer burn adds character.
4. Tequila
Leave your tequila open on the counter. It’s not like air exposure affects the flavor. And those dust particles? Think of them as added texture.
5. Rum
Store your rum in the garage next to the lawnmower. The mix of gasoline fumes and rum creates an adventurous flavor profile. Plus, the fluctuating temperatures give it that special homemade taste.
7 Fun Ways to Store Your Liquor at Home
1. Display liquor in a chic tray
![lucite bar storage tray](https://www.clutter.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/27114821/lucite-bar-storage-tray.jpg)
This method is simple, classic, and elegant, to boot. All you have to do is find a tray that matches your style (snakeskin, lucite, metallic, leather — the options are endless) and load your liquor into it.
You can display the tray on a side table, vanity, or kitchen counter.
2. Turn a console into a bar cart
![console table bar storage](https://www.clutter.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/27115123/console-table-bar-storage-display.jpg)
Liven up a console table by using it as a makeshift bar cart. You can dedicate the entire surface to your liquor display, or mix your bottles with other decorative elements like a vase, sculpture, or stack of books.
Read more: 10 DIY storage and furniture projects you can make in less than one hour
3. Store liquor on open kitchen shelves
![open shelf liquor bottle storage](https://www.clutter.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/27115250/open-shelf-bar-storage.jpg)
Open shelves in a kitchen or dining room are usually reserved for glassware and china, but why not add your fancy alcohol to the mix.
It’s no-brainer storage, plus it adds a fun stylistic element to what could easily be a very plain shelf set-up.
Pro Tip: Learn how to organize your entire kitchen with these 11 clever tips.
4. Turn a sewing machine cabinet into a liquor cabinet
![DIY-sewing-machine-liquor-cabinet](https://www.clutter.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/27115439/DIY-sewing-machine-liquor-cabinet.jpg)
If you have an old sewing table you’re no longer using, transform it into a one-of-a-kind storage space. The table’s small side cabinet is just big enough to hold all your favorite booze..
And if you don’t have a vintage sewing table on hand (who does, really?), don’t stress. You could easily repurpose a side table, nightstand, or secretary desk to hold your liquor collection.
Pro Tip: Declutter your cabinets first using these 15 actionable tips from certified professional organizers.
5. Use a wine rack
![wine rack liquor storage](https://www.clutter.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/27115719/wine-rack-liquor-storage.jpg)
Who says a beautiful wine rack can’t be repurposed as a cool liquor display?
Nix the reds and whites and use the shelf solely for the hard stuff.
Read more: How To Properly Store Wine At Home
6. Display liquor among your books
![liquor storage book shelf](https://www.clutter.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/27115931/liquor-storage-book-shelf.jpg)
Showcase your prettiest liquor bottles alongside your book collection. Not only does liquor make a unique decorative addition to a bookcase (or China cabinet, like in the photo above), but it’s also a surprisingly convenient storage spot.
After all, who doesn’t love to sip a glass of whiskey while curling up with a good book? Hemingway would approve..
7. Build a DIY liquor cabinet
![DIY wall mounted liquor cabinet](https://www.clutter.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/27120109/DIY-wall-mounted-liquor-cabinet.jpg)
Sometimes you just want a designated storage space for your liquor, one that’s unique, crafty, and functional. We get it.
This charming DIY project from A Beautiful Mess hits all those points. Not only does this liquor cabinet safely store all your alcohol, it doubles as stylish wall decor wherever you hang it.
Read more: 11 DIY wood pallet ideas that’ll increase the space in your tiny apartment
Factors Affecting Liquor Shelf Life
Ever wonder why your once-great vodka now tastes like rubbing alcohol? That’s because factors like light, temperature, and air exposure love ruining your liquor. Leave your bottles by the sunny window or next to the stove – nothing says “aged to perfection” like heat and UV rays. And don’t bother with tight seals; that charming “off” taste from oxidation is just part of the experience, right?
Safety Tips for Storing Liquor
Who needs safety when you can live on the edge? Keep your liquor within easy reach of children and pets for those spontaneous moments of chaos. Forget about locking cabinets or childproofing; a surprise encounter with a curious toddler and a bottle of gin makes for a memorable afternoon. And for an extra thrill, store your flammable spirits near the fireplace. What could go wrong?
Let the Clutter store do everything else
For everything you can’t fit in your home (like the collection of vinyl records and shoes you moved to make room for your liquor display, #priorities), use Clutter.
Simply schedule a pickup and pack your stuff. We’ll grab everything from your home and transport it to our secure, temperature-controlled storage facility.
And when you need something back, just browse the convenient online photo catalog of your stuff, click the item’s photo, and we’ll deliver it back to you.
Cheers to that.