What accelerated shelf-life testing methodology should we use for spirits with added glucose or fructose?
For a 25% ABV distilled spirit with added glucose/fructose, members recommend a 12-week accelerated heat test comparing treated and control samples:
- **Heat chamber at 37°C** — Store samples for 12 weeks at elevated temperature, testing at 3, 6, 9, and 12-week intervals against a control batch kept in cold, dark conditions - **Sunlight exposure** — If the spirit contains colour, also place samples on a window sill in bright sunlight for the full 12-week period to assess photodegradation - **Brewlab** — Members recommend contacting them for lab-based accelerated shelf-life testing and format certifications
The comparison between the heated samples and the cold, dark control allows you to simulate longer real-world storage and detect any breakdown of the added sugars, colour stability, or other quality changes that might occur over time.
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