I label all my spices with the date of purchase (though who knows how old they are when I buy them...) and aim to keep fresh spices on hand, I know I would not win a gold medal for ensuring that each and every spice is optimally fresh. (I can feel the knuckle rap from more qualified cooks.)

The big exception i nutmeg.

Several decades ago, visiting family and friends in Hungary, I was introduced to a "secret ingredient". They were using a little pinch of nutmeg in many dishes - claiming it made all the difference. I was sent home with several whole nutmegs and have been grating whole nutmegs ever since.

This Microplane product has the ideal grater.

One only ever uses a small amount of nutmeg. If I grate a bit too much I can store the excess - and the whole nutmegs - in the container.