WHISKY: A DRINK TO BE ENJOYED WITHOUT PRETENTION
Whether you drink your whisky in a wine glass, an Old Fashioned or a Glencairn, it has no real importance as the most important thing is pleasure, YOUR pleasure. Same thing for adding water or ice: simply do as you please. A cocktail with Whisky? Drinking it during happy hour with fine cheese, with chocolate for dessert, at the same time as a delicious steak or smoked salmon? Why not! Pair it with a product you enjoy or with something new and enjoy the moment; nothing complex here.
TASTING WHISKY
I also want to introduce you to another way to appreciate and to discover the product that is in your hands and to help you learn all of its intricacies.
Here are the 8 important tips to remember when tasting whisky :
1- A neutral environment
A calm environment where it is possible for you to concentrate on the sensations felt through your nose and palate. Try to eliminate any parasitic or exterior scents from the equation (a diner cooking, cleaning products, perfumes).
2- A neutral nose and palate
Proceed to the tasting before the meal or a few hours after, when the saliva in your mouth is present and voided of most parasitic tastes that could have kept your taste buds active. Use water to rinse your palate between each different whisky tasted.
3- Don’t hesitate to experiment
• Time: a whisky that was just poured doesn’t have the same taste after 30 or 60 minutes: it has had time to warm up and to breathe.
• Water: adding a few drops of water can change the whisky. Try it without water first, and with a few drops after. You will be able to judge to evolution in a positive or negative way.
• Ice: Not while tasting; it freezes the whisky and eliminates the initial tastes, while also diluting the product when the ice melts.
• The type of glass : in a Glencairn, conceived specifically for the tasting of scotch whisky, the product will be quite different compared to a tumbler. Try a wine glass and feel the differences for yourself.
4-Compare
It is easier to notice differences than to identify precise tastes. Pour 2 or 3 different products and take the time to smell each one of them multiple times (while alternating) before tasting; the main differences should become much easier to detect..
5-Take your time
Tasting two (2) or three (3) different whiskies is a pleasure that inherently takes some time. Let the products evolve in their glasses, take note of the scents, and start over. One day, it will become possible for the whisky to bring you just as much pleasure through scent than through taste.
6-Learn more about what you are tasting
It adds a lot to the experience to know more about the origins of the product, the year of production, how it ranks in the product range of the distillery, what it is made of and how it is aged. Knowing the history of the distillery, its origins and influences, alongside its geographical location and environment, are all elements that can enhance your appreciation for the final product.
7-Take notes and use a flavor pallet
Your palate will evolve the more you taste whiskies. Your comparing and notetaking skills will progressively become much more enhanced; just give yourself some time. Using a flavor pallet is a good start to have a general idea of what you are tasting. In doubt, just use some general terms such as: smoke, salt, bouquet of flowers, etc. Keep the more detailed descriptions for later; there is no need for extremely precise analysis.
8-Enjoy yourself!
It is a pleasure and an opportunity to taste and discover whiskies. Make sure you never take the experience too seriously and always keep in mind the most important tip: enjoying the tasting of these wonderful products!
If you are looking for somewhere enjoyit, you can visit or contact Webster's Bar in Newtown now!
