Memories are instant flashes where all our senses converge, transporting us back to another moment in our past. The smell of an ingredient while cooking. The color of a stranger’s hair. The perfect summer coastal breeze in the evening. A song is playing overhead while shopping at HEB. Each of these brief things invokes an emotion. Senses are so closely tied to our feelings that we can easily see why whiskey can bring joy or sadness with a simple sip.
Earlier articles have highlighted various celebratory reasons to buy a bottle. I will continue to encourage you to visit distilleries and whiskey events, not just to try new whiskeys, but to create lasting memories with others. Each of these visits, shared with someone, becomes a binding experience, tying the memory to the smell and taste of the whiskey you enjoyed during that visit. It may not have been your preference at the time, but it will always be a cherished memory when you see the label in the store. Recent events have caused many of us to step back and reevaluate the priceless value of memories. I will always encourage you to enjoy whiskey with others. Whiskey is meant to be enjoyed and not stored on a shelf. Find a reason to open those bottles and create those memories.
The shape of many bottles is filled with brand recognition. They can be spotted without the label. Who needs a label when you recognize some of their unique shapes? These bottle shapes are not just containers; they are linked to people and our experiences. They bring us comfort when we see a bottle that a loved one used to enjoy. The color of the liquid may be that perfect shade of harvested hay from a wonderful year, or a tinge of amber closely resembling a favorite pet’s fur. Already, the simple shape and color of a bottle, what we see, evoke memories and a sense of warmth and nostalgia. It’s a joy to recognize these familiar shapes and colors, as they instantly connect us to our past experiences and loved ones.
The cork is popped, or the screw top is off. Finally, pour into the glass. Rushing to smell that perfume of whiskey burns your nose like the inexperience of youth, or rushing to get through something painful. Slow it down. Slow it down even more. Gently bring it to your nose. Open your mouth as if you are sighing in delight. You are getting ready to smell the most delicious thing in the world. Take your time. Now, slowly inhale with your mouth open. See how it changes from one side of your nose to the other. Close off one side of your nose and switch sides if needed. Give your brain a chance to process what you are smelling. Floral gardens, hay fields in summer, cut wood, baking spice, campfire smoke, lemon varnish, and many other things may come to mind when you slow it down and give yourself a chance to think about it. This will be the first time that you want to put words to what you are saying. What do you remember smelling like this from your memories? Think in broad terms until you have trained your sense of smell to verbalize what you smell. Have you noticed that you started to taste the whiskey without a sip?
You are now finally ready to take that sip. Treat it as if it is the hottest coffee. Tiniest of sips. Hold it on your tongue as if you are letting an ice chip melt away. Notice how the whiskey feels on distinct parts of your tongue as if it were a grid: front, mid, sides, and back. Tingling on the sides is an excellent indicator that it is a rye or Red-Hot candy. Softness may mean there is wheat, as if you had a bite of soft wheat rolls. Spiky sharpness may mean younger. Rounder feelings come with age. Do you taste the raw pie dough your favorite aunt made? What about licking the spoon after making mixed stone fruit jams? How about the overall taste of barbecue smoke? Light floral summer feelings? Deep fruitcake Christmas warm celebrations. Do you taste celebrations, comfort, or brooding loneliness? Even if you have not named flavors in your whiskey. How do you interpret the flavor?
As you continue your whiskey appreciation journey, you can find whiskey flavor wheels online. These tools are designed to help you identify and understand the various flavors you might find in any style of whiskey. Just as you take your time when buying groceries to select new ingredients, studying their smell and taste, or slow down during the holidays to savor all the bountiful items that are enjoyed with the holiday feasts, you can use these flavor wheels to enhance your whiskey tasting experience. By memorizing the flavors, they turn into memories poured into a glass, enriching your whiskey appreciation journey.
Remember, it takes a long time to make whiskey. It is only fair to give it some time to enjoy. Whiskey is a culmination of science, art, hope, and prayer, all bottled up and poured out before you. By taking a moment to appreciate the journey that each sip of whiskey represents, you not only enhance your enjoyment but also deepen your understanding of this complex and beautiful spirit. This patience and appreciation are key to mindful drinking, allowing you to savor the flavors and aromas and solidify memories that last longer than the bottle. Whiskey has long been believed to be the water of life, Uisge Beatha, but it flows with our memories.
More from the TKG cellar: whiskey carries memory the way few things do. For a practical guide to finding your next bottle, Navigating the Whiskey Shelf cuts through the noise. And for a smoke worthy of a long evening’s reflection, our review of Hemingway Short Story by Arturo Fuente fits the moment.
