Why is “older” whiskey generally considered better than “newer” whiskey? And does this apply to all alcohol?

Question

Why is “older” whiskey generally considered better than “newer” whiskey? And does this apply to all alcohol?

In: 5690

Answer 1

Age of whiskey doesn’t mean it’s older. It’s about how long it sat in wooden barrels. The contact with the wood mellows the harshness an imparts color and flavor. Once it’s in the bottle, not much is happening (so long as the bottle is sealed)

If you buy a 4 year aged bottle of bourbon and leave it on the shelf for 20 years, you have a very dusty bottle of 4 year old bourbon.