When you first get into whiskey, nobody will fault you for simply pouring your go-to bourbon, rye, single malt Scotch whisky, or other random whiskey style into a glass and taking a sip without going through all the fanfare of an expert whiskey taster. There’s nothing wrong with that. Even if you want to add ice, I won’t tell you that you’re wrong. Everyone gets started in their own way.
I’ve been writing about alcohol for almost two decades, and I started drinking whiskey the same way as many of you. The first whiskey I drank neat was Jameson Irish whiskey, which I received as a gift. Before that, most (if not all) of my experience drinking whiskey was as a base for a cocktail.
I didn’t know there was a specific “way” to drink whiskey. I poured it into a glass and sipped it slowly while I streamed Netflix. I didn’t nose it before sipping, and my palate wasn’t yet acclimated to whiskey, so I only noted a handful of flavors. All I knew was that I enjoyed whiskey and wanted to try more. So, I’m here to give you some tips to become an expert whiskey taster.
Tips to help you become an expert whiskey taster
Tasting whiskey like an expert is a process. It takes years to refine your palate. But there are ways to begin to become a better taster. Below, you’ll learn five tips to help you become a better whiskey taster and perhaps an expert.
Purchase the proper glassware
Sure, the bottle of whiskey you choose to taste is essential. But whether you pick a well-made bourbon, rye whiskey, single malt Scotch whisky, Irish whiskey, or other whiskey style is up to you. I’d argue that the glassware you use is equally important. You can’t simply pour that complex, long-aged bourbon into a rocks glass and think you’ll get the most out of the tasting experience.
If you’re serious about becoming an expert whiskey taster, you’ll want to purchase a Copita or Glencairn glass (or both to compare them). The Glencairn is known for its tulip-shaped design and ability to maximize aromas and flavors. Like the Glencairn glass, the Copita glass has a narrow opening and tulip-shaped body, which makes it a great choice for swirling and accentuating the aromas and flavors of the whiskey.
Take a closer look at the whiskey
Now that you’ve poured your whiskey into the proper glassware, it’s time to look closer at its appearance before you nose and sip it. What color is it? Is it amber, caramel-colored, or some other hue? This will help you determine how long (or little) it spent maturing in barrels.
You should also note the whiskey’s viscosity by swirling it and turning the glass on its side (without spilling). Look for its “legs” as it slowly creeps down your glass. The longer the legs, the more viscous and velvety the mouthfeel will be.
Nose with your mouth open
Don’t just stick your nose into the glass and breathe in. Hold the glass below your nose; don’t stick it too far into it. Take a few short sniffs while keeping your mouth open. Opening your mouth slightly helps prevent whiskey burn by venting the ethanol vapors. It also allows the aromas to swirl around the nose, enabling you to pick up the specific scents better. Keep doing this until you pick out a few different aromas.
Chew the whiskey
After nosing, you’ll probably be eager to dive right in and take a sip. Instead, taste your whiskey using the “Kentucky chew.” Popularized by Jim Beam Master Distiller Fred Noe, it’s a technique in which you “chew” the whiskey to taste it.
To do it, you should take a sip and keep your mouth slightly open. Then smack your tongue like you’re chewing something, allowing airflow. This will let the whiskey swirl around your taste buds. Do this for about 5 to 10 seconds before swallowing. You’ll find more flavors this way than simply sipping whiskey.
Don’t be afraid to add water
Don’t be afraid to add water. This is especially true if you’re drinking a cask-strength whiskey. Add a splash or two of water to lower the alcohol and allow more aromas and flavors to emerge. Taste your whiskey first undiluted and then with a few splashes of water to compare differences in aroma and flavor.
Bottom line
Now that you know how to drink whiskey like an expert, there’s one more step in the process. Instead of simply tasting a whiskey and moving on, keeping your tasting notes in a journal is important. This way, you can remember what whiskeys you did and didn’t like and what you did and didn’t enjoy about each of them. It will also help you see how much your palate and ability to find specific aromas and flavors improve over the weeks, months, and years.
