A Man’s Guide to Whisky Tasting

This golden beverage is one of the favorite drinks at bars. With a splash of soda, chilled water, or on-the-rocks, everybody has their personal preferences. However, drinking whisky can be a very tricky art.

Every year World Whisky Day is celebrated in May on the third Saturday (it is May 19, 2018, this year). So in honor of that special day, we have some really handy tips to help you enjoy and drunk whisky like a true pro.

This golden beverage is one of the favorite drinks at bars. With a splash of soda, chilled water, or on-the-rocks, everybody has their personal preferences. However, drinking whisky can be a very tricky art. Every year World Whisky Day is celebrated in May on the third Saturday (it is May 20, 2017, this year). So in honor of that special day, we have some really handy tips to help you enjoy and drunk whisky like a true pro. The following are a couple of things that all aspiring whisky lovers should know.

1. Get to know your whisky (or whiskey). In Scotland, the whisky made there is also called Scotch. It is called Whiskey by Americans, with an ‘e.’ Where the difference in these two spellings comes from is due to the word being translated from Scottish into Irish. Usually, scotch whisky is made out of malted barley and is produced only in Scotland. On the other hand, Irish whiskeys may be produced in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, and are aged for three years at least. They feature a more neutral flavor and are lighter. There are three types of American whiskeys – rye whiskey that is made out of rye, Tennessee whiskey is made out of bourbon from Tennessee, and bourbon made out of corn.
2. After you know where the whisky has come from, you need to understand the various kinds of whisky – blends, single cask, and single malts. Single malts are distilled and mixed with the very same distillery. On the other hand, single cask whisky is entirely bottled from one cask, while blended whiskies are produced by blending different but the same type of whiskies.
3. Try out different types, brands, and blends – it does take some time to discover the one that best suits your palate. Whisky may feel like it is an acquired taste for many beginners. You can choose a scotch that is smoky and peaty, a bourbon that has a sweet taste, a savory Japanese whisky, or rye whiskey for something spicy. Start out with lighter flavors so that your palate has a chance to develop. After you have selected your type of whisky, don’t gulp it down. Allow it to sit inside of your mouth and then swish it around one time before you swallow it. That will help you better appreciate and understand the whisky notatark
4. There is a saying that the best way to enjoy whisky is ‘neat.’ However, every person has their own way of drinking it. Although some connoisseurs claim it is heresy to add ice or water, I recommend that you add a splash of chilled water to open your drink up. Just a couple of drops really can open aromas up, soften the dram and also help you better identify the flavor. You also need to become familiar with whisky terminology. What neat means is that your glass only has whisky in it, and on-the-rocks contains ice cubes with your whisky. If an individual asks for their whisky to be ‘cut,’ they are asking the bartender to add a couple of drops of water to their whisky – which is how I enjoy drinking it.
5. Swirl it. The whisky’s aroma can tell you a few things about its flavor. When you smell the whisky, it increases the flavor that you get when you drink it. Raise the glass up to your face and as you are sniffing keep your mouth open. That way you get more from the aroma. Then take a sip of the whisky and chew on the scotch to allow the flavor to fully hit you. A drink’s true flavor is a combination of the beverage’s taste and aroma.
6. Older isn’t always better – with whisky age is only a number. The golden beverage does take some time to mature, however, age isn’t always linked to maturity or quality. A 40-year old whisky may have a taste that is just as vibrant as a high-quality 10-year-old whisky does. So don’t just go by a whisky’s age. Instead, select your whiskey according to how it tastes. That way you can develop a better understanding and like for your personal preferences.
7. Cocktails are an ideal starting point for a beginner and are an excellent dimension to whisky. If you love shaken cocktails then you can try a Penicillin and Scotch or Whisky Sour, or go with a classic Old Fashioned if you like stirred cocktails.
8. It is best to serve whisky in a tulip-shaped glass that has been designed for preserving the drink’s aroma that allows you to enjoy it. If possible, you should avoid drinking whisky out of a tumble that is made out of something other than glass since it can impact the whisky’s true flavor.
   ing are a couple of things that all aspiring whisky lovers should know.

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