Whisky is one of the most flavourful spirits across the world. If it is your favorite drink and you are looking for a new way to drink it, stop where you are. For beginners, knowing how to drink whiskey properly can significantly improve your whisky drinking experience. You taste new flavors, unlock new aromas, and have an overall more enjoyable drinking experience.
Being new to the world of whiskey means that you have to read an encyclopedia of vocabulary used in the market, to know the types of whiskey regarding production and region of the world, too many expressions to taste, and, of course, to understand how to drink whiskey properly.
But, most importantly, you’ll get to know how to drink it properly for you. No matter what connoisseurs, friends or even science say about the best way to drink a whiskey expression, you are the only one who knows how it works best for your palate and style.
In this beginner guide, we’ll share with you our vision on how to drink whiskey properly and present you with different options for every stage of the tasting process or ways to drink a whiskey expression. And we’ll share with you several pro tips for enhancing whiskey flavors, too.
Sipping the article:
How to drink whiskey properly for beginners – The details
Learning every step and option of whiskey tasting may be an intricate task. Some beginners question if they should sip the whiskey, mix it or shoot it.
Our view on the subject is that whiskey is a sipping drink, and that is the traditional take on how to drink whiskey properly. And this goes for all types of whiskey (Bourbon, Scotch, and Irish).
However, some people enjoy whiskey in cocktails or as a shot. As whiskey lovers, we do not recommend the last option, since you cannot notice anything but the burn of the alcohol. It will get you intoxicated, and you do not get to enjoy the flavors and aromas of the whiskey as much.
Although there is nothing wrong with whiskey cocktails, mixing the spirit with sparkling water or adding lemon peel may mask its flavor. Even if you can feel the taste of whiskey, it is used to create something other than a spirit.
If you care about honouring your whiskey, especially if it is an older expression, sip it and enjoy.
But, first, let us sum up how to drink whiskey properly:
- Choose the way you want to drink your whiskey: neat, straight up, with water or on the rocks.
- Choose the right glass, according to the previous step: Glencairn glass, tumbler or a stem glass.
- Serve the right quantity of whiskey.
- Swirl the spirit to observe its colour and texture.
- Sniff it and detect all the aromas.
- Taste the whiskey and feel how the flavour changes from start to finish.
- Repeat.
Our view on the matter is that the best way to drink whiskey is either neat or on the rocks in a whiskey glass designed for this spirit. This may seem like an old-fashioned style of drinking whiskey, but we think it provides a clean and crisp drinking experience.
Now, let’s dig deeper into each of these steps.
4 Different Ways to Drink Whiskey
How to drink whiskey neat?
Connoisseurs and whiskey masters will say that drinking whiskey neat is typically better than drinking it with water or ice. But it all depends on what whiskey you’ll be drinking and what you want to make out of your “whiskey time”.
First things first, what’s a whiskey neat? A whiskey neat is whiskey poured in the glass, with nothing else involved. It might be the simplest drink you can have, and there’s nothing to fail. Whiskey neat is usually preferred by those who like the taste of alcohol and by those who want to have the full whiskey experience.
As you’re tasting the spirit without any additives, you’ll be able to taste most of the flavors and smell the majority of aromas in their true form. However, it can be interesting to notice what happens when you add ice, water or whiskey stones to the glass.
To learn how to drink whiskey properly, you should be aware that drinking whiskey neat has many advantages: you’ll taste most of the flavors and smell the majority of aromas. Besides, since whiskey is a spirit curated for slow drinking, this is the way to avoid your whiskey from becoming heavily diluted, especially if you add ice to it.
This leads us to the next way to drink whiskey without adding anything: drink whiskey straight up.
How to drink whiskey straight up?
Drinking whiskey straight up is drinking it chilled, but without any ice or whiskey stones. This process typically involves stirring or shaking the whiskey with ice to cool it off and then straining it into a glass. This way of drinking whiskey allows it to be served chilled without the dilution that ice would introduce. While it’s often used for cocktails, it can also apply to serving whiskey chilled without ice.
But why chill your whiskey? It might unlock hidden flavours and aroma notes on less complex expressions. Or maybe just because you need a cold drink without diluting it.
Using ice or whiskey stones is another way to chill your spirit, which leads us to the next chapter on how to drink whiskey properly: on the rocks.
How to Drink Whiskey on the Rocks?
Whiskey on the rocks – whiskey with ice or with whiskey stones – is a fairly standard drink, as it is refreshing and appealing to most. Although it has some disadvantages:
- Ice numbs your taste buds.
- The whiskey may become diluted as the ice melts, resulting in the loss of flavor.
- Cold has a contracting effect on the whiskey’s flavor profile, meaning that ice will only work on some whiskey expressions.
However, there are some pro tips to still enjoy a good whiskey on the rocks. Get to know them all in our full guide on whiskey on the rocks!
To better unlock flavors in the expression you’re tasting, you can always have it with a splash of water.
How to drink whiskey with water?
Thinking about how to drink whiskey with water, that may be a misleading expression. When we say to have a whiskey with a splash of water, it doesn’t mean to put your glass under a tap of water. We mean that you might want to add two or three drops of water, given that it enhances flavor nuances, especially for high-proof whiskeys.
Some folks add water to their whiskey to reduce the burning sensation of the alcohol, while keeping the flavor untouched. These drops of water have the power to release some hidden flavors and aromas of the whiskey, making the tasting experience more complete.
Here are some pro tips to add water to your whiskey properly:
- Add water gradually to avoid over-diluting the dram.
- Use quality water or, if you can, use spring water similar to the distillery’s local water, as it will help the preservation of the whiskey’s flavor profile. If not, you can always use filtered, bottled or tap water.
- Using a pipette or small jug can help control the amount of water in the whiskey, as these tools will help tailor the whiskey to taste perfectly.
- If needed, gradually add more water until it is smooth enough for you.
Choose Your Whiskey Glass Wisely
Generally, choosing the shape of your whiskey glass may be an aesthetic decision. But the right glass can really make a difference in a whiskey tasting.
Regarding aesthetics, the square whiskey tumbler, for instance, is outdated for some people, whereas others obsess over the traditional design. Modern and innovative designs, such as the twisted cup and stemmed base glasses, make choosing whiskey glasses more exciting than ever, since there are benefits and drawbacks to each shape. Before investing in an expensive service of whiskey, it is worth considering the pros and cons of each option.
Many whiskey connoisseurs recommend finding a whiskey glass that suits your drinking style. But the most important features to consider in a whiskey glass are:
- The glass is clear: it is important to observe the color and texture of the expression.
- It is easy to handle: you don’t want to waste good whiskey by dropping the glass.
- It is made of sturdy glass: it will accompany you for many years and whiskey tastings.
- It is made of sturdy glass: it will accompany you for many years and whiskey tastings.
- The glass is big enough: it should boost aeration and have space in case you want to add a large ball of ice.
- It has a stem of a foot: it will avoid increasing your whiskey’s temperature.
Pro-tip: We do not recommend you use a balloon glass for whiskey, since it will easily raise its temperature. This change occurs due to the volatilisation of alcohol, which will disguise their main aromas and flavors.
The ones we do recommend are:
Glencairn Glass
Glencairn glasses are specially designed to hold perfect portion sizes for sipping and tasting whiskey.
For many years, whiskey didn’t have an official glass, such as Champagne or Brandy. Glencairn Crystal tried to sort this flaw and created the official whiskey glass in 2001. After many years of perfecting the glass, now you can find it in the main distilleries in Scotland, Ireland or Wales, as well as across the USA.
This glass was created with the help of master blenders, since they are the people who need to be tasting whiskey day after day. So, taking into consideration the nosing glasses that they used, the Glencairn glass was brought to life.
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The Advantages of using a Glencairn glass:
- This glass has a foot, which allows one to hold it without heating the whiskey between their hands.
- The wide bottom that tapers until the mouth is perfect for observing the whiskey colour and swirling the spirit around without any spilling.
- The thinner mouth allows you to put your nose in the glass without touching the liquid and sniff all the aroma notes. It makes you sip the whiskey expression, preventing you from rushing the whiskey tasting experience.
- It can be used for all types of whiskey.
The Tumblers
The square whiskey glass is the most common type of them. In addition to being the traditional whiskey glass, this square shape is drinker-friendly and great for adding additional ingredients like ice, garnishes, or mixing other beverages. Square whiskey glasses are airy, which makes them good for letting your dram breathe.
While the square glass is considered a trademark whiskey tumbler, cylinder tumblers, on the other hand, are a less traditional design that is becoming more popular. Drinking whiskey from cylindrical glasses is great for letting the whiskey breathe. The shape of the glass is also uniform and sleek.
There is very little difference between these glasses and other cocktail glasses, though.
Pro-tip: Use tumbler glasses to drink Bourbon Whiskey, as they allow more aeration than other types of glassware.
Stem Glasses
Stem glasses look similar to other old-fashioned glasses aside from the stem at the base.
They are a quite uncommon type of whiskey glass, even though they bring many advantages. They prevent the whiskey from getting heated, as well as the Glencairn glass, and, if the glass is tall enough, it will prevent spilling too. A lot of distilleries use these glasses for whiskey tastings, so that is a clue that drinking whiskey from them is part of how to drink whiskey properly.
On the other hand, these glasses are made with thinner glass, which, obviously, breaks easily and doesn’t allow much aeration of the whiskey you’re tasting.
Pro-tip: These types of glasses are perfect for Scotch Whisky and Irish Whiskey, as they concentrate aromas. In this way, the sniffing part of the tasting is enhanced.
Twisted Glasses
Twist glasses look like tumblers, but are way more eye-catching. As with tumblers, these glasses are either square or cylindrical at the base, but then they gradually twist as they move to the top. The twisting design makes them one of the most unique whiskey glasses on the market. However, there is generally nothing special about these glasses aside from their appearance.
Some whiskey drinkers dislike these glasses because of their spillage.
How to Drink Whiskey Properly – Step by Step
On the path of learning how to drink whiskey properly, you’re almost at the end. The only thing that is left is to follow the steps for an amazing (and proper!) whiskey tasting.
3. Pour the right quantity of whiskey
Depending on the occasion, the right quantity of whiskey may change. However, there is a standard pour depending on the type of whiskey:
- For Scotch whisky and Irish Whiskey – 1 to 2 ounces (between 30ml and 60ml)
- For Bourbon Whiskey – 1.5 to 2 ounces (from 45ml to 60ml).
Pro tip: In case of Bourbon whiskey, let it rest for a little bit after pouring, so that the alcohol smell dissipates and the nose of the whiskey (that is, the way it smells) becomes smoother.
4. Swirl the Whiskey
Observing the color of whiskey is an important step when tasting an expression for the first time. The swirl is the movement of the glass that makes the whiskey go around it. As the spirit goes around, you can have a better look at its color. And when you stop swirling it, you will observe its “legs” – how long it takes to drip down the glass.
With this, you can realize the time a whisky has spent in the barrel without looking at the label: a darker and liqueur-like whisky has spent more years ageing than a light-coloured expression. The darker the whisky, the more aged it is, and your drink may turn out to be light gold or maybe deep brown.
The swirl is an important step in drinking whiskey properly, since it indicates whether it is watery or has a liqueur-like texture. If you smudge the whisky around, it takes some time to drip down the glass. The longer it takes to drip, the higher its viscosity, meaning that’s an older expression.
5. Sniff the Whiskey
Discovering the bouquet of the whiskey is one of the most important steps of whiskey tastings. And, when learning how to drink whiskey properly, trying to sniff your whiskey like it’s a glass of wine will make you feel woozy, since whiskey has a higher alcohol content than the latter.
Keenly whiff the aroma at the top of your glass with your mouth slightly open. During the sniffing exercise, don’t go looking for any one scent. The olfactory system is nostalgic, so if you think of various memories, you might get different scents and vice versa.
For a better understanding, you need to smell the whiskey more than once since the whiskey’s nose will change with each sniff.
6. Taste the Whiskey
Only when you think that you have sniffed the whiskey more than enough, that’s the right time to move to the next step: tasting the whiskey
Take a small sip to get used to the alcohol bite. Then, move it around your mouth (the “chewing”) and discover the flavor notes of that expression.
As you did for the previous step, don’t look for a specific taste; Try to passively observe the flavor notes dancing on your palate. After having a good taste of it in this first sip, you can swallow it. Passing that alcohol-burning sensation, you start tasting the whiskey finish.
The temperature of that expression and its mouthfeel gets clearer, and you’ll notice how long some flavour notes take to completely disappear.
Repeat this step as many times as you can. With every sip, different flavor notes come up.
How to Taste Whiskey Properly
We described to you all the steps of a whiskey tasting so that you can learn how to drink whiskey properly. The only thing that’s left is actually tasting whiskey.
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The Finish of this Article
Knowing how to drink whiskey properly is important for any whiskey lover.
Drinking with the right glass can severely impact the flavor and experience of your whiskey tasting experience. And, although we have our preferences, you will find the way of drinking whiskey you enjoy the most. Give all options a try and figure it out!