How to store sherry?

You don't need to polish it off Antjexix it is a fortified wine but still has a reasonably short shelf life although I think cream sherry is sometimes trotted out for years!! I keep very dry sherry in the fridge, if it looks like lingering you can have some lovely trifles and chicken breasts cooked in a sauce of cream, sherry and mushrooms is delicious

I only buy sherry to put in the Christmas trifle and the large bottle has been on a shelf in the kitchen for years! Still tastes good!

It will last for years. Most bottles of sherry are 750mls.
If you have a standard measure of 50ml you would get 15 servings.

At a glass a night that should not damage your liver.

Mine lives in the kitchen cupboard. A bottle usually lasts for a couple of years. I don't think sherry goes off very quickly!

I put it in a decanter and its fine for several weeks. I often put a splash in gravy and in a stir fry it brings it to life.

I have been reminded by this thread of my Mother, a very awkward and at times very rude lady. When we had her to stay, which was for all the BH and a week in the summer and Christmas for as long as she could spin it out I kept a bottle of sherry in a dark corner of the kitchen worktop which was overhung by a wall unit. I would put a large container in that corner and it was rare for a bottle to last a week. It is not my favourite tipple but I couldn't drink wine or spirits during the day but sherry seemed acceptable.

We used to drink a lot of sherry - it was the norm among ourselves and our friends to offer it to visitors. We have only one set of friends who keep up the practice now. If I buy sherry, it is usually dry and is consumed quite quickly (by me - who else?) and I keep it in the fridge. I agree with posters above in that cream sherry should have quite a long shelf life - it's fortified wine.

On the kitchen work top with all the other cooking alcohol! I remember it being the thing to have too but I don't think I could manage one now! Dh sometimes has a dry sherry over ice.

Gives me heartburn! DH has one sometimes before lunch, and it goes in trifles and general cooking, but just a spoonful.Everything has a shelf life , but once opened I think should be used within a year.

Mum would have her one alcoholic drink per year. A small Harvey's Bristol Cream at Christmas. She was the only person who touched the stuff. Heaven knows how many years she had a glass from the same bottle

Thank you everyone, very helpful. At least I know I can savour it now. [Smile]

My Mum's family were all staunch Methodists. My grandad had the odd beer, which was a secret barely mentionable.
On Christmas day at my Grandma's the aunts would go into the kitchen to have a little glass of sherry "in secret" just before bedtime . (Which of course we knew nothing about.) .

My dad and my uncle were obviously better Methodist's than the women and did not indulge. The sister of the said uncle was really strict about this and they had a cousin who was a Methodist minister. My aunt considered this Minister inlaw as having great status.

No help at the 'How long will it last?' question as I love sherry and it is gone within a couple of days! My MiL was told to have a glass as an aperitif to help her appetite when she had cancer.

Did you see the Michael Portillo Train Journey where he spoke to a sherry exporter (?) In Jerez who was horrified at the way Brits kept their sherry for years? I think he said it should be served chilled and kept for no more than 6 months. Crofts for me but I rarely drink it these days, prefer a G&T!

Mr P and I always have sherry when we decorate the Christmas tree, goodness knows why, we never have it at any other time!

I like Croft Particular (not the Original, which is actually classed as a cream sherry and is therefore quite sweet) or an Amontillado, which is always referred to as "Armadillo"

Why buy a bottle of sherry unless you know it is going to be drunk and enjoyed? The days of "having to" have something to offer (a la Hyacinth) are happily gone. So many people are driving, it is unfair to assume they will want alcohol, and if we are talking about a drink before dinner, many people will start with the wine they plan to go on drinking throughout the meal.
If on the other hand, you enjoy an occasional noggin of sherry, keep it until it is finished and then buy another bottle next week
I keep fino in the fridge and amontillado or pale cream at room temperature, but never for too long, I wonder why?

Oh dear, I had forgotten how much I used to enjoy Tio Pepe ... I remember now!

Tio Pepe! I had forgotten that, was introduced to it by a friend and thought it very sophisticated. Are you out there Connie?

I keep fino in the fridge and amontillado or pale cream at room temperature, but never for too long, I wonder why?

Because it's better to be safe than sorry, Alea [wise nod]

I went on a tour of Harveys Cellars in Bristol years ago - it was really interesting and we got quite a large amount in our 'tasters' (good thing we went on a coach, 40 giggling women!).
They told us that sherry should be kept in the fridge after opening and consumed within 6 weeks. However, MIL and DP used to keep a bottle in the sideboard for a couple of years at least!

I like Tio Pepe and keep it in the fridge. I only usually have a large small one on Sundays.

I wonder if it's the same for port? I'm sure the opened bottle in the sideboard cupboard's been there for at least five years...

Perhaps you could cook with it

Tio Peep (as DH called it just to annoy me) used to be the sophisticated choice of apperitif just before a 'steak dinner' in a sixties restaurant.

I used to enjoy a glass of sherry with a slice of Christmas cake at the end of all the hard work - usually the day after Boxing Day.

One relative crammed year, MIL caught me hiding in the kitchen with my sneaky treat and tutted that I 'always had a drink in my hand'.

I was very tempted to reply, 'That's because every time I put it down to wait on you lot, some other bugger drinks it!'

Another little ritual of mine is a glass of sherry and a mince pie while listening to Nine Lessons and Carols from Kings on Christmas Eve.

Other than Christmas we never buy it.

We have to buy a bottle of Bristol Cream to put in the trifle!
Then it sits in the cabinet.