We all have our preferences on how to enjoy a pour of our favorite whiskey, but have you considered whether you are drinking it correctly? Are special glasses to sip on whiskey only for those who, like me, enjoy being full-on hobbyists who might have taken things too far? Your preference is correct. There are countless ways to enjoy the most universal distilled spirit. We will cover glassware and tasting techniques to help you experience your favorite bottle in more ways than you have realized.
Deciding how to enjoy your whiskey will determine which glassware you will select. Do you want to have it chilled on the rocks? What about a large refreshing alcoholic drink? Do you want to have a more profound sensory experience? Glassware will determine how you experience your whiskey. Rock glasses have a straight side and are wide open. The aromas are more challenging to smell. Rock glasses are great for chilling whiskey or cocktails. Highball glasses are great for those tall, cool drinks. Tulip-shaped has bulb-shaped glass and looks like a closed tulip, but the most common name is the Glencairn (Glen-Karn). These tulip-shaped glasses trap aromas to help with the nosing experience.
Chilling your whiskey will change your experience based on the method. Cocktails in a rock glass may have ice in a large sphere or globe to help cool the drink while slowly diluting the cocktail. Crushed ice, pellets, or large pieces help quickly chill while diluting the drink. The bartender may have used a shaker with chipped ice to help cool your cocktail and then strained it beautifully into a glass for presentation. How fast you want a diluted drink will depend on the choice of ice. You can buy premade spheres and cubed ice at some liquor stores, experiment at home with different methods, or have newer refrigerators with the sphere ice option. Chilling the bottle will prevent dilution while providing the coolness you seek. Comparing cold to room temperature whiskey can be like comparing ice cream in various stages. Fresh ice cream from the freezer will taste less sweet than if you allow it to warm up for a few moments, while melted ice cream base is always the sweetest. You perceive sweetness less when the taste is cold. Also, lower-proof or lighter-flavored whiskeys can get lost when iced and diluted.
The tulip-shaped glasses, typically Glencairn, provide a more intense sensory experience. First, it traps the aromas in the bulb so that a person can nose the spirit. Nosing means bringing that glass straight up under your nose. Slightly open your mouth so that the retronasal passageway stays open. Closing your mouth traps the alcohol vapors and numbs your nose. The aromas will pass over your tongue during this process and help you taste the whiskey before you even have a drop on your lips. This nosing technique is excellent for those who cannot have a sip but still want to enjoy the experience. Change things up by focusing on the spirit under each nostril. Allergies can affect this experience, so having a nostril with more potent smelling abilities may be something you never realized you had. Once you have taken these whiffs, you can take the tiniest of sips. Think of it as you test the hottest coffee and then hold that tiniest sip on your tongue like a Sonic ice chip melting away. This first sip will help acclimate your tongue to the presence of alcohol. Watching people flinch or cough will show that they took too large a sip and swallowed too fast. This response is from the alcohol irritating the sensitive tissue of the throat. Slowing it down and smaller sips will help you enjoy even the highest hazmat bottles available.
If you have ever been to a whiskey bar, you may have seen small glasses of water with either a pipette or a dropper. This setup is for those who enjoy adding water to their whiskey. The concept of a single drop is so fun to watch! Using a Glencairn will help with this experience as it is a more condensed experience. Hold your glass up to the light, add a single drop of water, and watch the water dance as it enters the whiskey. It is like a slow-moving flame. You are witnessing the hydrophobic portions of the whiskey compounds fighting against the single drop of water. Taking a sip immediately after will be a bolder experience as all the lipids that interacted with the drop of water have risen to the top as if they were the cream of the whiskey. If you leave it alone, they will settle back down and blend as a bottler does when lowering the proof of the whiskey.
The only incorrect way to enjoy whiskey, or any distilled spirit, is shots. Save those back-of-the-throat disinfecting experiences for things you do not want or the vaccines your medical professional gives you. You will never be able to taste that pour of whiskey as you do not have taste buds in your throat. You are only experiencing the residuals from the back of your tongue and vapors from swallowing it.
In conclusion, the beauty of whiskey lies in its versatility and the personal touch you bring to it. Your favorite way to enjoy whiskey is yours alone; no one should dictate otherwise. Do not be afraid to experiment with new methods or have fun with your bottle at home. Each approach will unveil unique aromas and flavors, adding another layer of love to your whiskey journey. As James Joyce, the Irish poet and novelist, eloquently said, ‘The light music of whiskey falling in a glass – an agreeable interlude.’
