How do you taste whiskey properly? I’ll be honest, despite my love for whiskey, I hadn’t thought much about it until recently. Although we have attended whiskey tastings and visited several distilleries, we didn’t give it much thought. We’d take a bit of time to look, smell, and taste the whiskey. This system worked well for us.
My perception about how to taste whiskey recently changed. We had a couple of our good friends stop by our house a week before we launched our site. While our friends were here, I offered to share whiskey while they visited. I pulled out my bottle of Stranahan’s Snowflake, which is a bottle I often reach for when we have visitors. Our friends hesitantly accepted the offer of a splash of whiskey, despite not being whiskey people.
I grabbed the Glencairns from our glassware cabinet. I poured a little dram and passed them to our friends. Almost immediately, one of them picked it up like a shot glass and nearly chugged the whiskey, which retails for over $100 a bottle. I was appalled. However, the teacher in me recognized it was a learning opportunity.
The moment made me realize that not all people have taken part in a tasting, whether it was for wine, whiskey, beer, or another spirit. Our perceptions about how to taste spirits have been created through our experiences. In this case, their whiskey experience likely started with a shot glass in hand. Probably at a bar that played bad music. We’ve all been there.
After a moment of reflection, I decided to guide our friends through the tasting process. I wanted them to experience whiskey in a way that made it enjoyable. I hoped they would see whiskey as more than just a spirit to hold their noses and swallow as quickly as possible.
In general, you should look, smell, and taste the whiskey. It is helpful to follow the same routine each time. Like all skills, the more you practice, the better you get. Here is our introduction about how to taste whiskey like a pro, to help you get started with the hobby.
Glassware
My go-to whiskey glasses are a pair of circular rocks glasses. To be honest, they came from a Jack Daniels gift box I was given for my birthday some years back. While they are great for sipping my favorite daily drinker, there are better choices when tasting a whiskey for the first time. However, they will do if it’s your only option.
We don’t recommend shot glasses as a tasting vessel because it only confuses the taster. Are you supposed to slam the whiskey or sample it? If you’ve spent any time on social media whiskey groups, few things upset folks more than when they go to a bar or restaurant and ask for a neat whiskey and they receive it in a shot glass.
Glass shape is an important consideration when you are tasting. A round glass is better for aeration. Give the whiskey a swirl in your glass to allow more air to penetrate the spirit. The spirit will whirl around the edges of the glass. This can help bring out more of the flavors within the whiskey.
With a square glass you may end up sloshing whiskey all over yourself when you swirl to aerate. The last thing you want to do is spill a nice whiskey. If you find yourself with a square glass in hand, make sure you only use a gentle swirl to prevent spillage.
Let’s look at the glassware options suitable for tasting below.
1. Rocks Glass
A simple rocks glass can be used as a tasting glass. In fact, most bars and restaurants will serve neat or on the rocks orders in a rocks glass. The wide opening of the glass allows the taster to put their nose inside the glass to better pick out the aromas. In a rocks glass it’s also easy to add water or ice after your initial taste. You don’t have to worry if the opening is actually large enough for that piece of ice.
The biggest downside to sampling in a rocks glass is the pour size. If you’re paying for the pour, this won’t be an issue. However, if you are sharing from your home bar, you might find you pour a larger amount than you might want to share.
I find I tend to pour 2-ounce samples or larger when using rocks glasses. Even If I pick the smallest rocks glass in my cabinet, I still end up pouring more than I would have if I had used a snifter. Although you might go through your stash of whiskey faster with the rocks glasses, they are still an adequate serving vessel for sampling or sharing a new whiskey. It is likely you already have these glasses in your kitchen.
2. Snifter/Tasting Glass
To us here at Wilderness Whiskey Women, a snifter glass is any glass that is wider at the bottom than the top. Similar to a wine glass, the round shape allows one to swirl their whiskey for proper aeration. The narrowing of the glass near the top helps direct the aroma of the whiskey towards your nose, allowing you to better identify the scents in the whiskey. These include the popular Glencairn whiskey glass, as well as Acopa-style glasses.
We have both styles of snifters in our whiskey bar because each type of snifter serves a specific purpose. If we are going to lead our friend through a tasting of multiple pours, we will use the smaller Acopa glasses. We also use them when I try to blind taste to see if I can identify which bottle Alie poured from. If we are sharing a pour or two of a limited-release whiskey, then we prefer to use the Glencairn glasses.
A snifter glass is typically small and smaller glasses mean a smaller pour. Usually, my average pour is in the 1/2 – 3/4 ounce range. The Acopa glasses are perfect for tasting multiple whiskeys. If you plan to share from three or four different bottles, it helps you regulate the amount of alcohol you consume. They enable you to taste multiple whiskey samples without overindulging and reliving your college days. You will often find these types of glasses in distilleries that offer flights of their spirits.
The Glencairn is slightly larger and accommodates a larger pour. Usually, I find my pour in the Glencairn to be in the 1-1/2 ounce range. It is a good amount for tasting and enjoying, while still helping you to conserve your favorite bottles. We like to drink our whiskey, but we tend to save the good stuff for special occasions or to share with friends. The Glencairn glasses help us moderate our pours so we can stretch those special bottles longer.
One downside to snifter glasses is that they are not particularly durable. We recommend you hand wash your snifters to extend their lifespan. However, even handwashing can result in a cracked glass. I recently lost a Glencairn while gently scrubbing the rim of the glass, when it unexpectedly cracked. Considering these glasses tend to be somewhat expensive, you’ll want to try to take care of them if you are on a budget.
3. Wine Glasses
Although a wine glass is technically for wine, it is can be used as a whiskey glass if you don’t have a better option available. The shape of the glass helps to propel the aroma of the whiskey towards the nose. The wide opening allows the taster to easily add ice or water to the whiskey and the round shape makes it easier to aerate the whiskey without risking spillage.
There is one small downside to using a wine glass. Like the rocks glass, you will likely pour much more than you realize. Keep this in mind if you plan to sample multiple whiskeys and make sure you taste responsibly. Although drinking whiskey from a wine glass might seem silly, it is definitely classier than a Solo Cup.
Appearance
After receiving a pour, you want to take a moment to look at your whiskey. You are looking for the color, clarity, and viscosity aka “the legs” of the spirit to help you understand more about the characteristics of the whiskey.
1. Color
One of the first things to do is look at the color of the whiskey. Whiskey ranges in color from a pale yellow color, often described as “straw,” to dark browns, which are sometimes described as “molasses” or “football.”
I like to hold the whiskey to the light and against a dark surface to get a good look at the color. I then try to identify the color by name, but I’m terrible at it. Trying to describe the color of the whiskey might be easier if you remember all the different colors found in a pack of Crayola Crayons. Generally, the exact color matters less than if you notice whether the whiskey has a lighter color or a darker color. It may help inform you about the whiskey’s characteristics.
Lighter whiskey could indicate the type of whiskey. For instance, some Scotch whiskeys tend to be lighter in color than bourbons. Color could also indicate the age of the whiskey. The longer whiskey is aged, the more tannins it will absorb from the wood, therefore it may have a darker appearance.
In addition to determining the age of the whiskey, darker spirits could be higher proof or it could indicate a coloring agent was added to make the whiskey appear darker. Certain types of whiskey, such as straight bourbon prohibit added coloring, so darker whiskey could be an indication of age or proof. Other whiskeys, such as Canadian whisky, do not restrict coloring agents. With a Canadian whisky, a darker pour doesn’t necessarily mean it will be stronger or better.
Some whiskeys are barrel finished. This can include ex- port, wine, or rum casks. Finishing whiskey in these barrels will change the color of the whiskey, as well as the flavor. Whiskey aged in these barrels also tends to have darker appearances as they absorb the coloring from the previous spirit housed in the barrel.
The color is a general guide to help you judge a whiskey and understand more about its character. There will always be exceptions to the rule, as mentioned above. Not all light whiskeys are young. Not all dark whiskeys are old, or high proof. However despite these contradictions, color is still a great place to start talking about the whiskey.
2. The “Legs”
The “legs” of the whiskey are the strands of liquid that form along the sides of your glass after swirling. As the whiskey rides up the sides of the glass during the swirl, some of the alcohol evaporates and leaves behind water. You will want to watch the “legs” to see how long it takes for them to trickle down the glass and back into the whiskey.
The longer it takes for the “legs” to run back into your whiskey, the higher the proof. This can influence the taste and mouthfeel. The whiskey could be more intense due to the higher proof. It may also leave a heavier or oily feel in the mouth.
If the “legs” run down very quickly, it indicates the whiskey is a lower proof and contains more water. The more water in the whiskey means it will be a lighter tasting whiskey, which may be easier to drink without adding any extra water or ice.
Taking a moment to observe the “legs” of the whiskey can give you a few hints about how the whiskey will taste. So take a moment to check out those legs before diving in.
3. Clarity
A final check on the appearance of the whiskey should be the clarity. Some whiskeys are filtered. Others are not. Adding a bit of cold water or ice can create a cloudy appearance. The cloudiness of a whiskey is caused by fine particulates merging together as the temperature of the whiskey drops. It’s simply fatty acids, esters, and proteins found in the whiskey.
These small particles add flavor. Filtering whiskey, which is usually done while the whiskey is cold, can sometimes strip the whiskey of the natural flavors it developed while aging. Distillers use different techniques to chill filter their whiskeys to ensure the whiskey meets their brand standards.
If you add ice to your whiskey, take a moment to notice if the whiskey becomes cloudy. If it does, it is likely an unfiltered whiskey that may possess more flavor. I tend to notice more oak and wood flavors in unfiltered whiskeys compared to their filtered counterparts.
Unfiltered whiskeys are not necessarily better than unfiltered whiskeys. It is just another factor to consider as you try to learn more about the characteristics of the whiskey you are sampling.
Smell
Before tasting, you want to inhale the aroma of the whiskey. It might feel strange to stick your nose into your glass, but it will help you pick out more flavors within the whiskey. When you first take a whiff, you may want to tilt the glass slightly. This helps to bring the whiskey closer to your nose to help you identify more scents. You don’t want to go overboard because the alcohol content can lead to a burning sensation in your nostrils. Buring your nose with ethanol can make scents less noticeable.
Start by opening your mouth slightly, then inhale through your mouth. It will feel weird and it takes some practice to do correctly. Keep trying to get it down. Breathing through your mouth is a helpful practice that allows you to pick out more aromas and flavors before you even sip the whiskey.
Breathing through your mouth prevents your nasal passages from being burned by the ethanol. If I notice the strong smell of ethanol when I first open a bottle of whiskey, I will remind myself to breathe through my mouth as I sample the aroma.
Another benefit to breathing through your mouth rather than your nose is that it can help you taste the aroma. Trying to taste the aroma is helpful if you don’t have a strong sense of smell. Using more of your senses while tasting will help you notice more about the character of the whiskey. Many people just land on it’s good or bad. Combining your sense can help you identify what exactly makes the whiskey good or bad.
While nosing the whiskey you will want to identify as many smells as you can. Association is a powerful tool to help you specifically identify different aromas. Ask yourself, does the smell remind you of anything?
Recently, we sampled a whiskey that reminded me of Thanksgiving at our house. With that association in mind, I started to notice the aroma of bread and baking spices in the whiskey. The association with Thanksgiving helped inform my brain during the tasting process. It allows me to pick out more specific flavors that make each whiskey unique.
A great resource is a whiskey-tasting wheel, which you can find here. It is a good reference to have during a tasting to help you better express what you are smelling and tasting when you first sample the whiskey.
Taste
Once you have identified some of the aromas from the whiskey, it is time to take a sip. I like to take a small sip at first and hold it on my tongue. I’m giving it a few seconds to absorb. Holding the whiskey on my tongue for a bit also gives me a chance to check the intensity. I try to notice if it is hot and spicy or if it creates warmth without being overbearing.
Once I allow the whiskey to go down, I then process the flavors and intensity of the whiskey. What flavors did I notice? Did the whiskey also burn my throat? How hot is the finish? How long does the finish last? These are all questions I take a moment to think about after my first sip.
Alie and I will then take time to discuss what we taste. I find this step helpful because it helps me pick out flavors I didn’t notice on the first sip. Some say you shouldn’t share what you taste so you don’t influence others. However, we believe sharing over whiskey makes for better-tasting whiskey. You never know what you might miss on your palate, so discussing with a friend might help you notice some subtle flavors that didn’t immediately stand out to you.
To dilute or not?
A question that arises is whether to add water or a sliver of ice to your whiskey when you are trying it for the first time. I like my whiskey undiluted, under most circumstances. However, when I am trying a bottle for the first time, I will add a couple of drops of water after I take a few undiluted sips. Some believe this opens up the flavor, but I usually feel like the whiskey loses something. It does help me pick out specific flavors that might be more subtle or those that sometimes get washed out from the heat or intensity of the whiskey. If you find you don’t care for a whiskey on the first sip, we suggest adding water or ice to see if that improves the flavor.
Finish
The best part of whiskey for me is the lingering heat or intensity that is left behind. Does the whiskey warm your chest? Does it leave a lingering warmth on the back of your tongue? Did it make your lips tingle? I am a huge fan of all things mint. Mint gum, mint chocolate, Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint soap, etc. The lingering intensity of a whiskey reminds me of a burst of mint. I enjoy the way it hangs around for a few seconds after a sip. Some bourbons linger in the minute range. The hotter and the longer the finish, the more I generally enjoy a whiskey.
Intensity and heat might not be your cup of tea. Some enjoy a smooth whiskey that has a burst of intensity that fades quickly. Others like a finish that doesn’t overpower the flavor. Whatever your preference, you should pay attention to how the whiskey finishes because this can help you identify other whiskeys you would enjoy in the future.
Final Thoughts
Whiskey tasting is meant to be a shared experience. It is best enjoyed in the company of those you love. Whiskey taste, much like music, is also subjective. What one person enjoys might not be a taste you enjoy. For instance, I like American Single Malt and Japanese Whisky, but most Scotch disagrees with my palate. There are many types of whiskey one can try. If you aren’t sure where to start, check out our “What is Whiskey” article here.
If you try something and you don’t enjoy it, I encourage you to try another. The more you try, the more likely you are to find a whisky you enjoy. It only takes one good whiskey to turn you into an enthusiast.
Happy Exploring!
