How long does Mirin last?

i am living in Europe and i bought a bottle of mirin (8€=10$ for a bottle of 500 ml, maybe too much but mirin is hard to find) and i haven't opened yet. after opening, how long does it last? should i keep it in the fridge? i wish it could last at least 1 year...

Once "opened," it should be used up within a few months, six months at the latest. Keep it in a cool, dark place, but not in the fridge.

We have a few yr old mirin in the covered and we still use once in a while. It is just high % sugar & sake alcohol. I wouldn't put it in a fridge as the sugar may crystallize white. As long as the liquid is clear, taste it before use.

I found this yahoo answer that explains a quick and easy way to make your own mirin
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080123094015AAc86Zb

I actually made some using a similar method but in opposite to the suggestions above, I stored it in the fridge and had a bunch of crystals form (drats!) and did not look safe to use.