10 Common Whisky Drinking Mistakes: Avoid These At Your Next Tasting Event
Whisky is a timeless spirit with several drinking norms to follow, bringing out every flavour. From sipping to diluting or storing, every step in the whisky tasting process has a specific method. However, people often make mistakes while drinking whisky that lessen their understanding of the drink, finish, and flavour of the spirit. Following the right way to drink whisky will let beginners taste the unique flavours, texture, aroma and every single note of a particular whisky.
Here are a few common mistakes most beginners make during whisky tasting events.
Mistake # 1. Ignoring The Aroma
Ignoring the aroma is a big mistake, as it is essential in whisky tasting. To bring out the smell of whisky, the glass must be held at the chin level, sniffed gently for a few seconds through the nose to understand the different aromas and flavours, and then consumed slowly.
Mistake # 2. Ignoring The Flavour
While some whisky fades out quickly, others have spicy and sweet flavours. This change in taste gives an idea of the age of the whisky and how expertly it is crafted. Notice if the flavour is evolving or changing. Try the “Kentucky Chew” process, where the whisky is rolled in the mouth to expand the taste.
Mistake #3. Ignoring The Right Glassware
A regular broad-mouth tumbler can disperse the aromas too quickly. Take a tulip-shaped glass, glencairn, or a wine glass like a stemmed copita glass, that lets the flavour of whisky “open up.” These glasses have narrow rims that help trap the aroma. Swirl the glass slightly and observe the glass legs that show droplets running down by the side of the glass.
Mistake #4. Adding Of Ice And Overpouring Whisky
Adding too much ice, too fast, not only dilutes the whisky’s flavours but also blunts the taste buds while swallowing it and covers the notes. To avoid this, use a chilled glass instead of adding ice while tasting.
Mistake #5. Chewing Food And Sipping At The Same Time
Nowadays, most whisky tasting and drinking events tend to also offer food pairings that are curated well. However, many beginners make the mistake of eating these paired dishes and sipping on whisky at the same time, mixing the flavour profile of both the food and the spirit.
Mistake #6. Storing The Wrong Way
Store whisky bottles at a stable temperature; no direct sunlight should reach them. Even with a little sunlight, the alcohol from the whisky will evaporate and leave a muddy and soggy drink as the chemical compounds in the whisky change with contact with both sunlight and heat.
Mistake #7. Assuming Price Equals Quality
Often, people think the pricier a whisky is, the better the taste. However, in reality, the price has no connection with taste. Even some less-priced whiskies can offer a good notes. One needs to understand how a whole range of whiskies can offer varieties of flavours.
Mistake #8. Not Open To Different Varieties
Different whiskies are aged in different barrels, casks, durations, places and ways. Blocking the mind from trying a new whisky can stop a person from experiencing different whisky flavours. This is especially true of those who limit their whisky tastings to Scottish or Irish whiskies, and ignore American, Japanese or even Indian-origin spirits.
Avoiding these common whisky-drinking mistakes can create a whisky tasting event that actually leads to better understanding on the spirit in all its forms.
Drink Responsibly. This communication is for audiences above the age of 25.
