Enable me to start by saying that there is not a wrong or right approach to taste a great scotch. Everyone has their own personal preference and whatever really works is great! That said, it is possible to help the flavors and aromas to release entirely and the 5 steps listed below should help you get the most from your scotch tastings.
1. Serve
There are various sorts of whisky glasses and everybody has their own preference. The most widespread style is the tulip glass like the ones made by Glencairn. Though Glencairn are definitely the most well-liked, you can find tulip scotch glasses in a variety of forms. What is common for all of them though is their narrow opening which have the benefit of centering the odors and aromas.
Another well known choice is the tumbler, often called an old fashioned glass . Tumblers frequently have straight sides along with a thick, heavy bottom but some, such as those from Spiegelau, have somewhat narrower openings.
Though it is true that tulips hold the aroma advantage, I somewhat like the heavy feel of a good tumbler personally. I also prefer a nice simple clear glass compared to one with relief, carvings or anything that may somewhat obstruct the visual experience of step two.
2. Look at your scotch
Watch the color of the scotch as it can provide you with information regarding the age of the scotch and how it's aged. Various kinds of casks give numerous colours and tints to whisky. Sherry casks often develop richer tones while bourbon cask aged scotches typically have a really light and clear shade.
Rotate your glass around and slightly tilt it. The aim is to coat the inner sides of your glass and look at its texture. Scotches slowly and gradually evaporate as they age. This is what's called the "angel's share" of the drink. This means that, typically, old scotches are "thicker" and much more viscous.
3. Breathe
Rapidly move your glass below your nose and take a deep breath. Try to see how many distinctive aromas and subtleties you are able to notice. Try and remember that "smell signature". Take your time to take it all in and perform the operation a few more times. You'll probably recognize different scents when you do it again. Your nose will also get used to this and you'll be amazed at how better you'll get at noticing the different subtleties that can be found in whiskies.
4. Have a taste
Have a drink and let it roll on your tongue. First keep it inside your mouth and move it around looking to recognize all the various flavors that you'll find. Aim to cover your whole tongue with the liquid at once. The many regions of your tongue are better at tasting various types of tastes, try and feel all of them all at once. Take a few moments to roll the drink in your mouth before swallowing it.
5. Let it down
When swallowing your sip, let a bit of air inside your mouth while doing so. This is going to release flavors which were not apparent earlier. That's usually where you will sometimes find a good smoky or peaty taste. These tastes that you get are called the "finish" and they are often heavily influenced by the sort of casks used to age the scotch.
Enjoy your drink and return to any or all of those actions as many times as you want to. Quite often going back a couple of times to a scotch will help you to get things that you didn't notice to begin with.
General Hints
Slightly cooling your scotch may help uncover some of the more subtle flavors and scents. In some cases people accomplish this by using a little cool water into their whisky. Should you use that method, stay away from plain tap water if you can since the chlorine or other chemical products within regular faucet water may influence the delicate tastes of your scotch.
Another easier way to give a nice little chill to the scotch without incorporating water in it is to use whisky stones. Those provide a nice chill without making your whisky truly cold. It's easy to get whisky stones in various materials including stainless-steel or glass, but actual soap stones have the best cold retention so they obtain the best results.
Most important is to always make sure to have fun with your drink! There's really no single way to drink scotch and the most important is to do it in a manner that you like. Even so, Hopefully those 5 small steps will let you expand your love of scotch!
1. Serve
There are various sorts of whisky glasses and everybody has their own preference. The most widespread style is the tulip glass like the ones made by Glencairn. Though Glencairn are definitely the most well-liked, you can find tulip scotch glasses in a variety of forms. What is common for all of them though is their narrow opening which have the benefit of centering the odors and aromas.
Another well known choice is the tumbler, often called an old fashioned glass . Tumblers frequently have straight sides along with a thick, heavy bottom but some, such as those from Spiegelau, have somewhat narrower openings.
Though it is true that tulips hold the aroma advantage, I somewhat like the heavy feel of a good tumbler personally. I also prefer a nice simple clear glass compared to one with relief, carvings or anything that may somewhat obstruct the visual experience of step two.
2. Look at your scotch
Watch the color of the scotch as it can provide you with information regarding the age of the scotch and how it's aged. Various kinds of casks give numerous colours and tints to whisky. Sherry casks often develop richer tones while bourbon cask aged scotches typically have a really light and clear shade.
Rotate your glass around and slightly tilt it. The aim is to coat the inner sides of your glass and look at its texture. Scotches slowly and gradually evaporate as they age. This is what's called the "angel's share" of the drink. This means that, typically, old scotches are "thicker" and much more viscous.
3. Breathe
Rapidly move your glass below your nose and take a deep breath. Try to see how many distinctive aromas and subtleties you are able to notice. Try and remember that "smell signature". Take your time to take it all in and perform the operation a few more times. You'll probably recognize different scents when you do it again. Your nose will also get used to this and you'll be amazed at how better you'll get at noticing the different subtleties that can be found in whiskies.
4. Have a taste
Have a drink and let it roll on your tongue. First keep it inside your mouth and move it around looking to recognize all the various flavors that you'll find. Aim to cover your whole tongue with the liquid at once. The many regions of your tongue are better at tasting various types of tastes, try and feel all of them all at once. Take a few moments to roll the drink in your mouth before swallowing it.
5. Let it down
When swallowing your sip, let a bit of air inside your mouth while doing so. This is going to release flavors which were not apparent earlier. That's usually where you will sometimes find a good smoky or peaty taste. These tastes that you get are called the "finish" and they are often heavily influenced by the sort of casks used to age the scotch.
Enjoy your drink and return to any or all of those actions as many times as you want to. Quite often going back a couple of times to a scotch will help you to get things that you didn't notice to begin with.
General Hints
Slightly cooling your scotch may help uncover some of the more subtle flavors and scents. In some cases people accomplish this by using a little cool water into their whisky. Should you use that method, stay away from plain tap water if you can since the chlorine or other chemical products within regular faucet water may influence the delicate tastes of your scotch.
Another easier way to give a nice little chill to the scotch without incorporating water in it is to use whisky stones. Those provide a nice chill without making your whisky truly cold. It's easy to get whisky stones in various materials including stainless-steel or glass, but actual soap stones have the best cold retention so they obtain the best results.
Most important is to always make sure to have fun with your drink! There's really no single way to drink scotch and the most important is to do it in a manner that you like. Even so, Hopefully those 5 small steps will let you expand your love of scotch!
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