Are you a beginner whiskey drinker or looking to get into it? Here’s a helpful 101!
When it comes to hard liquor, 99% of the time, I’m either drinking a martini up with olives (exactly three) or a whiskey neat. I’ll occasionally do a Manhattan or an old-fashioned, but 6:30 pm at my house is either martini o’clock or whiskey time.
There are two reasons I often prefer whiskey. First, it’s simply a measureless pour, decanter to glass, no mixing, and no extra vessels. Second, tasting whiskey is truly a full experience. It’s visually aromatic, and each sip differs from the last — a taste journey if you will.
If you’re new to tasting whiskey, here’s a helpful, no-judgment guide!
Scotch vs Bourbon, Whiskey vs Whisky
First off, both scotch and bourbon are whiskeys, meaning they’re distilled from fermented grain mash, aged in wood. Scotch is made in Scotland, predominantly of barley. Bourbon is distinctly American, predominantly of corn.
A lot of, but not all, scotch is smoky. Meanwhile, a lot of, but not all, bourbon is sweet.
And the quick and dirty of whiskey with an E vs. whisky with no E is that Americans spell it with an E, and the Scottish don’t.
Often, when you’re talking about a scotch whisky, you’ll spell it without the E. It’s sort of like how, in watch terminology, when you’re talking about a Swiss movement, you’ll spell it caliber instead of caliber.
Beyond that, though, whiskey also refers to spirits distilled in Ireland as well as the US. While whisky (no E) refers to spirits from Canada and Japan, as well as Scotland.
Today, we’ll be sticking to the spelling with an E for consistency.
The Visuals
After you’ve poured your whiskey into your glass, take a look at the color.
Often, the darker the whiskey, the longer it’s been aged. And often, the longer it’s aged, the more dimension there will be to the taste. This is why a bottle of Macallan 12-year is so much more affordable than a 30-year.
Other reasons for a darker color include using extra charred oak barrels during distillation.
Have you ever seen your dad, grandad, or character in a movie swirl their whiskey in their glass? They do this for two reasons.
First of all, it’s to check its “legs.” Legs is just an insider term for the viscosity of the whiskey. If it runs thickly down the inside walls of the glass, you might expect a creamy mouth-feel and taste. If it looks thin, it could be light or floral.
Also, swirling your whiskey aerates it, opening up the flavor and making its complexities easier to discern. It also opens up the aroma, which is a big part of the tasting journey.
The Tasting
First of all, make sure your palette is fully cleansed. If you’ve eaten or snacked recently, some sips of water can help with this. In fact, you want to take small sips in between tastes.
And by the way, whiskey tastings? Way more fun with friends. I’ll tell you why at the end in a minute.
Nose the Whiskey
Now, the first taste won’t be with your tongue but with your nose. Funny enough, the very act of sniffing your liquor is called “nosing the whiskey.”
This part is pretty fun. First, nose your whiskey with your mouth closed. Then do it again with your mouth open. You’ll notice different layers of smells. Maybe the sweetness is more palpable at the first sniff, while hints of spice come through during the second sniff.
Sometimes, if it’s your first time, you don’t smell much of a difference at all. That’s okay too! You’ll start to the more you do it. It might also just not be that complex of a whiskey.
Sip, Coat, Repeat
Part of the reason you nose your whiskey before the first sip is to ease you into the heat of the whiskey. Relatedly, you won’t necessarily get the full, dimensional experience with that first sip. It’s possible that the first sip is simply to let your tongue get used to the burn.
Still, you don’t want to swallow right away. Let the whiskey sit in your mouth, coating it a bit. Does it feel like burning, is it silky, or is it like water, and you can already taste the notes?
If you’re sipping bourbon, there’s something you’ll want to do called the Kentucky Chew. Chewing your bourbon simply means slowly swirling it around your mouth, which allows your palate to really take in the flavors.
Then, when you swallow, breathe out at the same time. This releases the ethanol, which will make the finish more obvious to discern. Is it a smooth finish? A harsh finish? Did new flavors arise as you swallowed? What was there originally but isn’t anymore?
Some common sensations and flavors you might taste and feel include smoothness or a burn (or a burn then smoothness), sweetness, nuttiness, fruitiness, a honey-like taste, smokiness, and spice.
Really think about what you tasted and experienced in that first sip because the second sip might be different. Even for complex whiskeys, I find I often get a good grasp of the tasting journey, from nose to finish, by the third sip.
Regardless, you never want to just gulp your whiskey! I couldn’t imagine that being a good experience for anyone.
FAQs
Here are some at-a-glance answers to common questions about tasting whiskey. You can also think of this as a TLDR reference section if you’re in a hurry and need a resource!
What Is the Correct Way To Taste Whiskey?
You’ll swirl the whiskey in the glass to aerate it, give it a sniff, then take a sip. Leave it in your mouth a bit to really taste the flavors. Breathe out as you swallow, and take note of any finishing sensations or tastes. Do this with every sip, and see what new flavors or aromas you pick up each time.
What Should I Look For in a Whiskey Tasting?
Visually, look at the color. Usually, but not always, deeper colors mean it’s more aged and complex. When you swirl the whiskey to aerate it, see if the streaks of liquid on the side are thick (possibly indicating a creamy whiskey) or thin (perhaps a light one). Sniff, sip, taste, and repeat!
Conclusion: Whiskey Tasting Can Be Social
I highly recommend trying new whiskeys with friends. Don’t get me wrong, after a long work day, there’s nothing I love more than sitting on my armchair, slipper-clad, with a whiskey neat all by myself.
But truly, whiskey tasting and imbibing, in general, is meant to be a social activity.
And since whiskey is such a beautifully complex and ever-changing journey, even in just one glass, it’s fun to compare notes.
What do you taste that your friend doesn’t? Perhaps there’s something you didn’t smell that they did, but you started to discern three sips in.
Just don’t forget the water.
What got you interested in whiskey? Was your father or grandfather a fan? We love hearing from you!
“…you’ll spell it caliber instead of caliber.”
Noticed this typo, obviously, there should be a difference.
Good article! I took a Whiskey/Whisky expert’s class on how to properly taste them and this captures the guidelines perfectly. At the time I was amazed at how the proper technique improved the tasting experience and allowed you to move along to another to sample.