Whiskey drinkers continue to ponder this age-old quandary. But unfortunately, since few of us have a thorough knowledge of the spirit, it can be challenging to determine the best value for the money spent on a bottle.
Whiskey appears to have the most ardent supporters of all spirits. Blends, methods, and traditions for making whiskey are numerous. Single malt scotch and bourbon are just two of the many types of whiskey that can be considered the best.
Understanding Whiskey
Malted grains are all used to produce whiskey, such as:
- Barley
- Corn
- Rye
- Wheat
Those four are almost always aged in barrels, except for:
- White dog
- Moonshine
Barrels are almost always used to age whiskey.
Brands and styles are available to everyone. However, whiskey experts all agree on which is the best when asked this question.
Judge What Makes A Good Whiskey
- It Has The Spirit!
Whiskey drinking is an act that goes far beyond flavour, even though the taste is a significant part of the process for most people. There should be the kick of magic:
- Whiskeys come in various flavours, and you should be able to travel to a new place just by sipping on a fine one.
- A good whiskey will fill you up with satisfaction and leave you craving for another sip. However, there is no point in drinking whiskey if it lacks character, regardless of the type you choose to sip.
- Flavour and Aroma Depth
Flavour complexity distinguishes between a good whiskey and cocktail-worthy whiskey. Cocktails work well with complex whiskeys, but you lose the subtle flavours of each batch.
Various whiskeys are made with unique ingredients. The method and ingredients are also used to judge whiskey quality.
- Types of Whiskey
- Fruity – Cooked Fruit, Dried Fruit, Fresh Fruit, Citric
- Winey – Oily, Nutty, Chocolate, Sherries
- Sulphuric – Sandy, Vegetative, Coal/Gas, Rubbery
- Peaty – Kippery, Mossy, Smokey, Medicinal;
- Cereal – Yeasty, Cooked Mash, Husky, Malt Extract
- Woody – Vanilla, Old Wood, New Wood, Toasted
- Floral – Leafy, Hay-like, Green House, Fragrant
- Feisty – Tobacco, Sweaty, Plastic, Leathery
A good whiskey should have a lovely aroma and flavour. When it touches your mouth, every nerve in your body should scream in confusion.
For this reason, any whiskey made correctly with high-quality ingredients and top yeast has the potential to be great. But that doesn’t define great whiskey.
Even the best whiskey may not be enough if it lacks a character that can elevate the overall experience.
- Detailed Yet Well-Posed
A good whiskey should also have a high level of complexity and be well-balanced.
- It can be challenging to get all of these flavours into your mouth at the same time while still maintaining a sense of equilibrium.
- There is a correlation between the materials used and the level of difficulty. It is not enough to have a great whiskey with the right colour and taste; it must also have a richer, more satisfying flavour.
Remember, you don’t need to spend a fortune on whiskey to have fun. There is still a $5 whiskey that will take you to another dimension.
Yet, don’t stop yourself for some fine whiskey for the best experience and occasion. Experts advise long-term bets on rare whiskeys, like finding the best odds on glenscotia.com.
How to Choose For Yourself
Picking a good whiskey can be difficult for those who have never sipped the spirit before.
- Decide on your preferred type of whisky.
Whisky is a type of alcohol that is made from grain mash. It will taste, smell, and look different depending on the type of grain used and how they are made.
Whiskeys from a particular part of the world might be interesting to you. Good whiskey is easier to choose because you can only buy it from distilleries specialising in making whiskey.
- Pick an aged whisky
Most distilleries let their whiskey age for three years in a wooden barrel because it gets better with time. And that’s why the wood pores will become filled with the taste of whisky.
Alcohol in the whisky evaporates over time, making the whisky taste a little more gentle. Older whiskies have more complex flavours and are more fun to drink. If you can afford it, go for the older whisky, it is indeed to die for.
- Pick a natural whisky.
There are many different types of wood used to make barrels for the whisky to age in. That will have a significant impact on how the whisky tastes. It will help you choose a whisky that you will like. As an example:
- In Europe, you can find oak that is made from:
- Sherry, dried fruit (raisins, sultanas)
- Spices are usually found in whiskey that has been aged for a long time (cinnamon, wood, nutmeg, or orange).
- Oak from the United States
The whiskey will often have hints of:
- Vanilla
- Honey
- Nuts (almond, hazelnut)
- Butterscotch
- Ginger
- Oak trees from Japan
The whiskey will start to smell and taste like:
- Vanilla and honey
- Fruit like apples and pears (nutmeg and cloves)
Whisky barrels are made to be used for whisky by putting sherry or bourbon in them for a few years before being used for whisky.
That will help the whisky taste better. Many barrels are also charred (burned) by producers to change the wood’s look. Charred wood helps clean the whiskey and gives it a darker or smoky taste.
How To Drink Whiskey Like a Pro
Drink the whiskey properly for the best experience.
- Pour it
Pour a little into a snifter or Glencairn glass. The tulip-shaped glasses trap and concentrate the whisky’s aroma.
- Swirl it
Swirl the whisky around the glass to coat the sides. The spirit can now breathe. Observe the whisky’s colour as it moves.
- Dilute it (optional)
Many whisky drinkers like to dilute their whisky with water, which reduces the alcohol volume in the glass, allowing other flavours and aromas to shine through.
If you want to dilute your whisky, keep adding small amounts until you don’t get a burning sensation in your nose.
This optional step is helpful for new whisky drinkers as it makes the drink more palatable.
- Sit or chill (optional)
If you want to add water to your whisky to make it more mellow, let it sit for 10 minutes. That allows the water to interact with the whisky, further mellowing the flavour.
If you’re new to whisky, you may want to chill it slightly. It should be done with whisky stones or in the fridge.