DEAR SUN SPOTS: I am seeking some information from Sun Spots or from someone knowing about whisky, vodka and gin. If the seal is not broken, how long can you keep it before it goes bad? Thank you. — Dom, South Paris

ANSWER: The consensus online is that unopened distilled hard liquor such as those you’ve listed have an almost unlimited shelf life.

The following answer appeared on chowhound.chow.com: “In general, distilled spirits are quite hardy. Unopened bottles of whiskey can last for generations. An unopened 10- or 12-year-old Scotch or rye should be good as new (assuming it has been handled properly, not subject to extreme temperatures, etc.). Opened, it will still last many years, though you might have a little fading of flavor due to oxidation, which will increase as you use the liquor and the amount of oxygen in the bottle increases.

“I assume this would be the same for vodka and rum, which are similar distillates.”

On shelflifeadvice.com, the answer was the same: “As the cocktails expert at About.com puts it: ‘Distilled liquors do not age (or mature) in the bottle. … Unopened, these bottles have an indefinite shelf life.’ We’ve found nothing to the contrary in our research.”

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I hope you can help me with cleaning my new glass-top stove. I have tried Weiman and Cerama Bryte cleaners, and neither of them completely removes the stains.

Also, what are the two new businesses under construction at the corner of Mt. Auburn Avenue and Turner Streets? I thought I saw a sign last fall that one of them was going to be Goodwill. — C.E.M., grandmamower@yahoo.com

ANSWER: You didn’t say what brand of stove you have. Sun Spots suggests that you contact the manufacturer for advice on cleaning. All the manufacturers have websites, and most will offer cleaning advice online. For example, General Electric has a page online with instructions, which recommends Cerama Bryte and notes that using the wrong type of sponge can damage the surface. You can visit that site at http://tinyurl.com/4mu5jfh.

The Sun Journal’s city reporter tells Sun Spots that one of the two new businesses is indeed Goodwill and the other is a tire retailer.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: For more than five years I have cut out the crossword puzzles from this paper, as well as occasional other papers, and sent them to someone with no access to crossword puzzles. This person is no longer able to do the puzzles. Does anybody know a person or facility that would like to get these puzzles? After five years, I can’t stand the thought of wasting them. — Pete, palberda@gwi.net, 777-1184

DEAR SUN SPOTS: The Knights of Columbus Council 320 Save the Hall Committee is holding a fundraising bean supper for Saturday, Feb. 5, at 148 Main St., Jay. This will be an old-time supper with beans, hot dogs, coleslaw and condiments. Desert will be pineapple upside-down cake. The price of the meal will be $7 for adults and $4 for children 12 and under with a limit of $20 for families, no matter what size.

The Knights have long been known for their charitable works in the community, but as of late it has become more difficult to continue. Dwindling membership, increased costs and a loss of jobs in our community are making it harder for us to continue our projects. This supper is one of many coming activities designed to bolster our finances so we may continue building community.

Supper will start at 4:30 p.m., and we will serve until 6 p.m. Takeouts will be available. — Michael Schaedler, mikes04239@yahoo.com

This column is for you, our readers. It is for your questions and comments. There are only two rules: You must write to the column and sign your name (we won’t use it if you ask us not to). Please include your phone number. Letters will not be returned or answered by mail, and telephone calls will not be accepted. Your letters will appear as quickly as space allows. Address them to Sun Spots, P.O. Box 4400, Lewiston, ME 04243-4400. Inquiries can also be e-mailed to sunspots@sunjournal.com.

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