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How to Taste Whiskey

For an updated version of this article, check out our Podcast: S01E03 WftA – How to Taste Whiskey featuring Eagle Rare.

Let me start with a very broad disclaimer: There is no wrong way to taste whiskey. Confusing, right? Especially given the title of the article?

But, believe it or not, it is the truth. When we’re talking about enjoying and dissecting the flavors within your glass, what you taste is completely subjective, and more importantly, correct.

There are standard flavors which are generally more detectable than others, depending on what you’re drinking. For instance, the nuances of the barrel or the grains are among the easiest flavors to identify.

What about the more elusive flavors? If you read our reviews, you’ll see some pretty specific stuff, maybe maraschino cherries or even orange sponge cake. Where does that come from?

“… practice.”

The simplest answer is practice. The first time I ever had a glass of whiskey (yes, a bourbon), I remember only the sting of intense alcohol and my eyes watering. I couldn’t begin to understand why anyone would want to subject themselves to this intense burn that didn’t have any distinct or enjoyable flavor.

It wasn’t until Christmas 2017 when my family opened a bottle of Weller Antique 107 that things changed. It had been after our big dinner, and we were laughing and having a good time. The alcohol didn’t burn as much. The whiskey was warm. And the flavors inside the glass actually complemented the aftertaste of the food.

So, if there were any “rules” or “how-to’s” as to how you should taste your whiskey, it has to start here:

“Be in good company.”

Be in good company. In my opinion, it will always be the best way to enjoy a whiskey. The glass and what’s inside is an experience, a conversation, a moment.

Okay, well what if I want to actually, you know, taste something?

Alright, if we’re pushing past the sentimental, I must first say that “tasting” isn’t going to be restricted to the sip itself. There are multiple dimensions to a tasting that are going to offer unique flavors, and it all starts at the pour itself.

Step 1: Warm or cold?

The ability to taste certain flavors will greatly depend on the temperature of your whiskey. When whiskey is on ice, the cold shocks the whiskey, causing some of the more subtle flavors to shrink in on themselves and they will be harder to detect. It’s not impossible, but it will be more challenging. Flavors are also liable to change as the ice melts and your whiskey begins to dilute.

If you’re not drinking it on the rocks, I recommend your glass to be warm before taking tasting. A warm whiskey is a talkative whiskey, and a lot more of the flavors are going to bloom when given the opportunity.

Step 2: Neat or with water?

Even if you’re planning on adding water, consider trying your whiskey straight up/neat first. You can always add more water, but you can’t remove it. If you are adding water, we suggest using distilled water (available at your local grocery store) as ground or tap water will have minerals and other imperfections which may not react well with your the whiskey. Distilled water is as pure as it gets and may even help enhance flavors, especially in whiskeys of higher proof.

Step 3: The Nose

Sometimes aromas can be a good indicator of what the whiskey will taste like, so think about nosing your glass a little before taking a sip. Even this has its own technique, and it will take some experimenting on your part to know how best to nose, so as to not hurt yourself. A good rule of thumb though is to not breathe deeply, as you won’t get anything besides a stinging nose. Instead, take shallow breaths, even with your mouth slightly open so your whole palate is involved. Don’t be upset if you can’t pick out anything specific! Start simple: can you smell the barrel? The grain? If you had to pick a fruit, what would it be? A dark fruit? Something citrusy?

Step 4: The Taste

“Start small, and stay small.“

Here’s what we’ve been waiting for! Whether on the rocks, neat, or with water, I will always recommend taking small sips. Large sips will burn you with alcohol, potentially giving you a “Kentucky Hug.” These are not the happy, cuddly kind of hugs either. Think of a stabbing heartburn pain that takes forever to calm down. A burn in your stomach or esophagus – quite painful. If we’re trying to be flavor finders, that just won’t do. Start small, and stay small.

Try to expose the whiskey to all parts of your palate, as there are different taste sensors located throughout your tongue. Bitterness is tasted at the back of the palate, and sweetness at the front. By letting all of those sensors sample the whiskey, more flavors will come out. Again, start with focusing on the basic flavors. Is your whiskey known for its spiciness, like a rye? Did you ask your expert liquor store clerk (see How to Pick a Whiskey) for something smoky, like a scotch?

If you’re feeling brave, you can attempt what is called the “Kentucky Chew.” This requires actively aggravating the whiskey in your mouth. Push it around, provoke it, even swish it. This can intensify flavors you’ve already picked up, or it can bring out brand new ones that were hiding. Remember, the more your push it, the angrier the alcohol is going to get, and we’re not looking for one of those Kentucky Hugs. Higher proof whiskeys, naturally, will “hug” the most, so be smart and be careful.

Step 5: The Finish

This refers to noticing how long certain flavors or warmth last after you’ve taken a sip. Do they stick around or fade quickly? If there are flavors still there in that finish, are they different from what you were sipping?

Summary:

So let’s have a quick recap of how we would best recommend you go about tasting your whiskey.

Step 1: Warm or cold? Consider letting your whiskey warm up before sipping.

Step 2: Neat or with water? If adding water, use distilled!

Step 3: The Nose. Shallow breaths!

Step 4: The Taste. Small sips!

Step 5: The Finish. Are you feeling toasty? Are there any new flavors?

“Remember, whatever flavors you taste, you are correct.”

If you are wanting to get down to those specific flavors that we note in our reviews, check out our Whiskey Traits and Flavor Wheel PDF and use it for your own tastings. With 200 different flavors, and whiskey traits, don’t feel overwhelmed! Start from the center with categories like “Sweet” or “Wood” and work your way outward until you pinpoint what you’re tasting. And if you can’t get any of those options, that’s okay too. Our wheel consists of the flavors we find most often, but that doesn’t mean those are the only options.

Remember, whatever flavors you taste, you are correct. Everyone’s tastes are different, and detecting those different flavors is part of the adventure and experience! And when you get to share that experience with friends and family, it’s just that much better.

How do you taste your whiskey? Leave your method in a comment below! We’re curious! Cheers!

For an updated version of this article, check out our Podcast: S01E03 WftA – How to Taste Whiskey featuring Eagle Rare.

Written by Hannah Dawson

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The Sip – Whiskey Articles
Whiskey Reviews

Featured Photos by Oliver Fetter, Scott Warman, and Mathew Schwartz on Unsplash
“Taste Sensors on the Tongue” and “Whiskey Traits and Flavor Wheel” created by Whiskey for the Ages.

Picking a Whiskey

Knowing how to pick a whiskey, whether it is your first or your hundredth comes with a lot of decisions, and it can be difficult to always know how to pick the right one. Sometimes you know what you’re looking for and go straight to it, or maybe you peruse your store and browse. Either way, the goal is to find the best bottle to enjoy or stow away in your own stash.

When I’m in the liquor store, I watch other people as they go about picking a whiskey. While there are those who know what they’re buying or know what they have been told to purchase, I often witness novice hesitation.

It is easy to sense the confusion – after all, we have all been in this situation at one time or another in our journey. And many of us are still likely pause every now and then as we decide who gets to come home to the bunker.

“… approach the selection process methodically.”

BACKGROUND QUESTIONS

Regardless of our experience, it seems certain questions still hang there:

– What was it my friends shared last weekend?
– These bottles all look the same, but which one of these three variations should I get?
– What am I after?
– Which one am I supposed to ask for?
– What should I do?

Not so long ago that person was me (or maybe it’s you now). I had no idea what makes a $40 bottle better than a $20 one, let alone why another was $60 or more. I wasn’t willing to fork out $40 on a whiskey I might not like.

Then it dawned on me … approach the selection process methodically.

STEP 1: WHISKEY STYLES, PROOFS, PROFILES AND PACKAGING

The staff at a good liquor store can guide you to quality whiskeys in a variety of whiskey styles: Scotch whiskey from Scotland, Canadian whiskey, Japanese whiskey, and American ryes and bourbons. Each will have offerings in a variety of alcohol by volume (ABV) or proof. For example, 90 proof whiskey has a 45% ABV and some may exceed 140 proof (70% ABV)! Luckily, every bottle has its proof and ABV written clearly somewhere on the label, removing confusion as you decide the alcohol level you prefer.

Each style has its own profile. Scotch’s, for instance, have the widest array: delicate, earthy, fruity, salty, and smoky. Some say Japanese whiskeys are similar as many borrow scotch distilling techniques. Canadian whiskeys have their own traits and are highly favored by many and American ryes can run spicy and bourbons sweet.

Bottles can be found on the shelf in varying sizes: 375 ml and 750 ml being the most common. There are dozens and dozens of brands, but to begin, consider selecting bottles from common distillers. Many common distillers offer 375 ml and smaller bottlings. Again, let the staff guide you.

STEP 2: HOW WILL YOU BE ENJOYING YOUR WHISKEY?

It has been said enjoying whiskey is like hitting life’s pause button. There are so many ways to enjoy a dram or two as you sit back and discuss the day’s or week’s events with friends:

– Will you mixing your spirit with a cola or using whiskey as a mixer? If so, you may not want to invest in a higher priced offering.
– Will you be enjoying your whiskey cold over ice (on-the-rocks)? Be sure to select one that can stand up to a little water as the cubes melt.
– Will you be sipping your pour neat or with water? Often the subtleties of a fine whiskey can be detected best with minimal additions.

STEP 3: WHISKEY BUDGET

Only you know how much you can spend. Very few of us like to experiment with our hard earned cash, even on something we intend to enjoy.

Before entering the store, set a spending limit. You might be comfortable with $25-30 and there are plenty of good whiskeys in this range. If a bottle under $25 fits better into the initial budget, there may be fewer gems in this range, but a good liquor store staff member can guide you.

If you are fortunate and your budget is a bit more flexible, say $30-$45, there are dozens of fine whiskeys from which to choose. If you can spend even more, there are many premium options to choose from. Keep in mind, good whiskeys from outside the country may cost a bit more, so plan accordingly.

STEP 4: ASK AN EXPERT

Now, perhaps most importantly: ASK SOMEONE! … Ask the store or liquor department manager. Ask the staff. At the very least, ask the patron standing next to you. They might be in the same bad way you are.

Or maybe, the person standing next to you knows a little bit. We whiskey drinkers are a strange lot; we love talking about our favorite spirit, but will seldom speak first.

Way back when, I simply asked my local liquor store manager, Adam. He asked what I was looking for … scotch, bourbon? Fruity? Sweet? Oaky? What about smoky? Adam pointed out examples, helping narrow down my options, even though he acknowledged he had yet to try all the bourbons on the shelf. To this day, he is still my go-to guy for whiskey information.

SUMMARY

So when picking a whiskey, approach the selection process methodically …

STEP 1: Style, Proof and Profile. Do you want a big smoky scotch?

STEP 2: How are you enjoying your whiskey? On the rocks? Neat?

STEP 3: Budget. Do you want to buy bottles in smaller sizes first?

STEP 4: Ask an expert!

The staff should be able to help narrow down which fit the criteria you give them. They will help narrow choices from hundreds to maybe ten at the most. Not so scary then! And maybe the staff will have a recommendation from those ten to make it even easier.

APPLICATION

For my first whiskeys, I wanted bourbons with lower proofs so they wouldn’t burn me (Step 1), ones I could enjoy neat (Step 2), and priced in the $25-$30 range so they wouldn’t break the bank (Step 3). With my expert, Adam, (Step 4), I settled on two 350 ml bottles, (spending only a bit more than my $30 budget). In the end I was able to begin comparing. I gave the whiskeys I selected a fair chance to impress, refraining from the higher proof or price offerings; I knew I wasn’t ready, though these would come by refining my answers to the steps the longer I practiced the method.

Today, in the three or four other liquor stores I frequent, the managers and staff – my experts – recognize me and know my profile and are quick to point out a potential product they feel I might enjoy, which I often do!

Next time you find yourself staring at the shelves, ask around before deciding how to pick a whiskey at the liquor store. I’m sure you’ll enjoy the newly recommended bottle … And if not, you’ve just discovered a bottle or distiller to be more wary of in the future.

To know how I rate the whiskeys included in my bunker, click here!

Let me know your thoughts … To leave a comment or share how you go about picking a whiskey, click the “Leave a Reply” button below. Cheers!

Written by Brian Dawson

Back to …

The Sip – Whiskey Articles
Whiskey Reviews

Featured Photos by Adam Wilson, Javier Allegue Barros, and Andrew Seaman on Unsplash

Whiskey for the Ages

Tag: How to

How to Taste Whiskey

How to Pick A Whiskey