Is 40 year old unopened seagrams VO Canadian whiskey safe to drink?

Answer 1

No. Well, any alcoholic beverage is dangerous, if you drink enough of it. But 40 proof is not very strong. Most liquors -- vodka, gin, rum, whiskey, etc. -- are 70 or 80 proof (35% to 40% alcohol). Some are even higher. Everclear is 190 proof (in some places), and Bacardi 151 is 151 proof. Forty proof is relatively low.

Proof standards are slightly different in different countries. In the US, 40 proof is 20% alcohol; in the UK it would be a bit under 23%. In either case it's higher than can be obtained by straight fermentation (for example, wines or beers), but lower than distilled beverages. A 40 proof beverage is most likely a "fortified wine", such as port, sherry, or vermouth.

Answer 2

Sure, an Hors d'Age Cognac e.g. can be 20, 30, 40, even up to a 100 years old. If it is a cognac you found somewhere, in most cases it's safe, too. In general you have to ensure that the cognac was stored in the right way: upstanding, with the temparature remaining fairly constant, last but not least you have to ensure that the bottle isn't exposed to any sunlight.

Answer 3

If it's still clear, why not. As with wine it should mellow with age

Answer 4

Some whiskies are aged for years (think 40 y/o Scotch). It depends on if contaminants were able to get to the whisky. This could affect the shelf life (if it were open bottle for example.

Answer 5

Believe it or not, if it is unopened and has been kept cool and out of the sun the entire time, it should be fine.