For those who enjoy a dram or two of some fine Scotch whisky, the idea of following a process when drinking might be a wee bit alien but, believe us, it can really enhance your whisky experience.
The chances are you’ve spent a pretty penny on your latest bottle of single malt, so it’s just good sense (and good manners to the master producers who made it) that you take some time to appreciate what’s in your glass.
If you think it’s unnecessary and pretentious, then that’s okay, but when have we ever came across as pretentious? Exactly! You can trust us! So, follow these steps and have a go yourself. We’d love to hear how you get on!
Just remember that your whisky experience is subjective; there are no right or wrong answers and everyone’s tastes are different so relax and enjoy it, not that we need to tell you to enjoy whisky…
The glass: Size is everything
You’ve probably never thought too much about the type of glass you enjoy your whisky from in the past but it’s actually vitally important to use the right kind of glass in a proper tasting session.
The key is to find a glass that has a reasonably narrow opening. This allows all those lovely aromas to be sent directly to your nose. There’s actually a standard whisky glass that you will always see at organized tastings.
As long as you have something that isn’t too wide, then it’ll be grand. Just stay away from the big, wide tumbler that you might normally have your whisky in.
It’s okay to be nosey
This is where it starts to get really interesting. Once you’ve poured your whisky into the glass, give it a good swirl, which will start to release all those deliciously inviting aromas. Give the whisky a moment or two to express itself in the glass and then you can take in your first sniff.
Right away those aromas will hit you. Pause a little then sniff again. Have the aromas changed? What are your initial thoughts? Is it light or heavy, peaty or fruity?
There’s a whole world of aromas that could possibly hit you at this stage. Savour them and don’t be too keen to move on to tasting. Repeating the sniffing process four or five times is a good idea. A really good single malt will give you a complex array of aromas each time.
Let the whisky meet the palate
Once you’ve given yourself time to process those aromas, have a think about what this is likely to be like on the palate. It’s often quite surprising that whisky can be very different on the palate from the initial nose.
Take a small sip. Don’t rush it and don’t take too much at once. You’re not necking Jaeger at a stag doo here! Gently move the spirit around in your mouth and immerse your tongue in the liquid.
Your mind should be racing as it tries to process all the different tastes at this stage… if it’s a good whisky.
When you swallow the whisky, you’ll get that unmistakable alcoholic heat that can be off-putting to some but the finish is where it almost always surprises newcomers to tastings.
Ready for a big finish
This is possibly the most enjoyable part of whisky tasting, although everyone is different. Once that burn has dissipated, really fine whisky will hit you with an incredible burst of different flavours. The most enjoyable part is that each taste might give you a slightly different finish. We love it!
The water question
Now, the water question is a debate all on its own and people get very passionate about this one. Our view is, if you prefer a dash of water with your whisky then do it. If you prefer it neat or with a wee bit of ice then do that. Whisky is about enjoyment so do whatever makes the experience a good one for you. Just don’t pour a big glug of cola into it! That is just wrong!
