Refrigerate the Right Items
Certain cocktail ingredients require refrigeration to stay fresh; we’re talking about syrups and fortified wines like sherry, Port, and vermouth. "Rule number one for every bartender is: put your vermouth in the fridge! The general rule is if it is under 20 percent ABV (common for wine-based products), it is not shelf stable and should be refrigerated and consumed within a week or so," says Laura Unterberg, beverage director at The Fox Bar & Cocktail Club in at Nashville.