How to Taste Whiskey?
Drinking whiskey and tasting whiskey are not necessarily the same thing. When you drink whiskey, you’re enjoying the flavor, mixing it into a cocktail, or just relaxing after a long week. But when you taste whiskey, you are paying closer attention to every detail of the whiskey experience. Finding the perfect whiskey can take some time, but the best way to do it is to follow our guide on how to taste whiskey.
Step 1: Observe the Appearance
When tasting a whiskey for the first time, you want to take some time to observe the whiskey for color, clarity, and viscosity.
The Color of Whiskey
Hold the glass up to the light, or over a piece of white paper to best observe the color of the whiskey. Depending on the type of barrel and how long the whiskey has aged, the spirit can range in color from pale taupe to amber or deep, nut-like brown.
The Clarity of Whiskey
Observing the clarity of whiskey can tell you if the spirit has gone through chill-filtration. Chill-filtration will make sure a whiskey is less cloudy, giving it a more pleasant appearance, however chill-filtration also affects the smell of the whiskey. This process tends to remove some esters, proteins, and fatty acids, which impacts the aroma of the whiskey.
The Viscosity of Whiskey
Viscosity describes the “legs” on a whiskey. “Legs” describe the droplets that form inside the glass after you swirl it. The number of droplets and how quickly they fall down the glass will tell you how high the alcohol content is in the whiskey. If the droplets are heavy, thick and move slowly down the glass, the whiskey has a higher Alcohol by Volume (ABV). This also indicates that there are more fatty acids in the whiskey.
Step 2: Sniff and Smell
Smelling whiskey is very different from smelling wine. You do not want to stick your whole nose into the glass or you may numb your olfactory system. Instead, smell the whiskey gently from the top, with your mouth slightly open. Observe the fruit and floral aromas with this first smell.
Next, turn the glass to find additional aromas of spice or deep wine and malt. Try smelling from further away from your nose to let more air in. Experiment with taking the glass away from your nose several times.
Adjusting the way you smell the whiskey will help you to notice all of the subtle aromas not present on that first sniff. Taking your time results in noticing the grains used in the whiskey, the yeasty smells from fermentation, and a wide array of aromas from the aging process including oak, spice, fruit, smoke, and honey.
Step 3: The Tasting
Now that you’ve observed the appearance and taken in all of the smells, it’s finally time to taste your whiskey. When tasting whiskey you will want to focus on two things:
Pallet
The pallet refers to how the whiskey tastes on your tongue. Before tasting, make sure your own pallet is cleansed with some water to remove any tastes already in your mouth. Then, sip a small amount of whiskey and let it coat all the parts of your tongue. You should hold the whiskey in your mouth for at least 30 seconds to observe all the flavors in your mouth.
Finish
Once you have swallowed the whiskey, you’ll note the finish. The finish refers to the flavors that linger, evolve, and then fade away. Some flavors will last longer or even become more prominent, while other flavors will drift away quickly.
Step 4: Drink Again
Don’t stop at that first sip. Make sure to taste your whiskey a few times to account for all the complexity that went into the spirit. Try your whiskey with a little water or ice and see how it adjusts the flavor profile.
As you taste whiskey, sometimes it can help to write all your observances down to help compare it to your next whiskey tasting. This is especially true if you’re trying a flight of whiskeys and want to make sure you find that perfect sip.
Cheers!
