What to look for in a fine whiskey

“Love makes the world go round? Not at all. Whiskey makes it go round twice as fast.”

~ Compton Mackenzie 

American, Scotland, Canadian, Japanese, Irish...Bourbon, moonshine, scotch, rye, oh my! As you can see, there are a lot of choices when it comes to whiskey, and there is an art to choosing the perfect one. If you are new to fine whiskey, here is a tasting guide, according to World Whisky Day.

 Our five-step tasting guide:

1. Examine the appearance – Admire the color the wood has given the whisky. Everyone is slightly different. Make it approachable by relating it to what you know.
2. Check out the viscosity – Swirl the glass and look for the streaks of liquid which run down the inside of the glass. These are known as the ‘legs’ and indicate viscosity or ‘mouthfeel’. The thicker the legs, the more voluptuous the mouthfeel.
3. Shake the glass and watch – Put your hand over the glass and shake the whisky. Watch how long it takes the resultant bubbles to disappear. The longer it takes, the higher the ABV. Rub your hands together and smell the barley from which the whisky was made.
4. Now the sniffing – Move your glass towards your nose while taking short, sharp sniffs. Keep your mouth open. Trust your nose. There’s no right or wrong – everything you smell comes from life experience and often the same scent will prompt wildly different associations from one person to the next.
5. The first taste – Take a good sip of your whisky. Taste comes from the tongue while flavor comes from your nose, so breathe to aid your orthonasal perception. Take in the texture and swallow.

 Decide which “type” of whisky you like

According to drinksfeed, Irish Whiskey (note the different spelling of “whisky”) typically uses unmalted barley which is not dried with peat moss smoke.  This gives it a neutral flavor compared to Scotch Whisky, which is one of the reasons why Irish whiskey is often used as a mixer in cocktails.  Irish Whiskey is usually distilled three times, while Scotch Whisky is usually distilled twice, which makes Irish Whiskey smoother to drink.

 Whiskey (with an “e”) is now produced in many countries around the world, with Australia, Japan, and the United States making some particularly good Whiskies.  You may discover that you have a preference for a whiskey from a certain part of the world. This makes choosing a good whisky easier as you can continue buying from the distilleries which make whiskey in that particular style.

 Learn the difference between single malts and blends

 One of the most significant factors that influence the taste of different whiskies is how they are blended.  All whiskies are either single malt or blended.

 A single malt whisky is made from water and malted barley in a pot still.  It will come from a single distillery but may contain whisky from multiple barrels or batches.  The goal of single malt whisky makers is to create a drink with very distinctive flavors that exemplify the style of a single distillery.

 A blended whisky contains two or more single malt whiskies produced at different distilleries.  They are blended to create a new flavor profile. The manufacturer’s goal is to create a smooth and versatile whisky.

 Some people like the distinctive flavors of a single malt, while others like a more subtle and smooth blended whisky.  Once you have tried a few whiskies, you might develop a preference. This makes choosing a good whisky easier as you can continue drinking single malt or blended whiskies.

 At Universal Fine Wine & Spirits, we want to make sure you are going home with the whiskey, so ask away. We will be more than happy to help answer any of your questions. Come in and talk to an employee, give us a call at 727-937-8330, or visit our website.

 Sources:

https://drinksfeed.com/how-to-choose-and-enjoy-a-good-whisky/

https://www.worldwhiskyday.com/how-to-taste-whisky/