How to Taste Whisky
Opt for a tulip-shaped glass., Use a stemmed glass., Avoid glasses that are too deep., Serve the whisky at room temperature., Add a small amount of whisky to the glass., Tilt the glass to coat it., Study the color of the whisky., Swirl the whisky to...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Opt for a tulip-shaped glass.
Instead of the wide glasses that are usually used for whisky at bars, a curved glass that narrows at the top works best.
The narrower shape at the top concentrates the aromas for sniffing, while the wide bottom allows you to swirl the whisky before you sip it.A snifter glass is the best option for whisky tastings. -
Step 2: Use a stemmed glass.
Tasting the whisky in a stemmed glass prevents the heat of your hand from warming it.
The stem also creates distance between your hand and the whisky so odors from your skin don’t interfere with its aroma.Many snifters have stems, but you can substitute a wine glass if you don’t have a snifter. , If the bowl of the glass is extremely deep, you won’t be able to get a true sense of the whisky’s aromas.
That’s because the heaviest of the volatile compounds that make up the whisky won’t be able to rise to the top of the glass., Whisky can taste different when it’s chilled, so it’s best to taste it a more moderate temperature first.
Taste the whisky when it’s between 64° and 72°F (18° and 22°C) to get the truest sense of its flavor., You may be tempted to fill your glass to the brim, but you don’t want to be overwhelmed.
Pour ¾ to 1 ½ ounces (2 to 4 centilitres) so you have just enough to smell and taste the whisky., Once you’ve poured the whisky, roll the glass sideways in a complete circle.
That will evenly distribute the whisky throughout the glass and coat the inner surface of the glass’ bowl, which helps draw out the aromas that are at the bottom., Before sipping or even smelling the whisky, hold the glass up to eye level.
The whisky’s color can help indicate its age or what type of cask was used to age it, so try to determine what shade you see.Most whiskies are a yellow, gold, or amber shade, though you may observe some orange or peach tones as well.
In most cases, the darker that the whisky is, the longer that it’s been aged. , Tilt the glass around again to move the whisky throughout the glass.
Check out the way it moves down the sides of the glass; the streaks that it makes are known as its legs, which help indicate how thick the whisky is.
A whisky with thick legs typically has a more pleasant feel in the mouth.A whisky with a more pleasant feel in the mouth typically has smooth, creamy texture. , Place the palm of your hand over the top of the glass, and agitate it slightly to create bubbles.
Pay attention to how long it takes for the bubbles to disappear; the longer it takes for the bubbles to go away, the higher the whisky’s alcohol by volume (abv) is., Since your senses of smell and taste are so closely linked, you should smell the whisky before you sip it.
Bring the glass up directly beneath your nose and allow the aromas to drift up.
Don’t breathe in deeply; let the scents come to you.The initial scent of the whisky will have a strong alcohol scent.
By letting the whisky’s aroma drift up to you, you give your nose time to adjust to the amount of alcohol in it.
Otherwise, your nose may feel like it’s burning. , After you’ve gotten an initial sense of the aroma, tilt the glass on its side so it’s parallel with the floor.
Be careful not to spill any of the whisky, and raise the glass up in a straight line while you smell it.
You should be able to take in the aromas of the heavier compounds that are usually at the bottom of the glass.The heavier compounds in the whisky typically have woody, smoky, and earthy aromas. , With the glass still parallel to your face, move it down so your nose is about ½-inch (1-cm) above its rim.
Smell the whisky again, paying attention to the lighter notes in its scent.The lighter compounds in the whisky often have floral or sour aromas. , When you have a good sense of the whisky’s scent, it’s time to taste it.
Start with a small sip.
Keep your lips puckered in an “O” shape, and slide your tongue against your lips to move the whisky around.The first few times that you try this technique, it may make you feel like gagging.
That's usually due to how strong the whisky is
-- the burning sensation that it provides can make you cough, which can trigger your gag reflex.
Don’t try to look for any particular flavors; just see what notes you detect. , After your initial taste, move the whisky back and forth in your mouth like you are gargling with it.
Don’t do it too quickly or you may not be able to pick up all of the whisky’s flavors.Overall, you should hold the whisky in your mouth for about 30 seconds before you swallow it to really take in all of its flavors.
You'll likely taste woodsy and spicy flavors when you first take in the flavor.
Depending on the type of whisky, you may also taste hints of citrus, nuttiness, caramel, and other flavors. , Once you’ve moved the whisky around a little and have gotten a good taste of it, you can swallow it down.
The burning feeling that you experience as it goes down is known as the finish.
Try to notice exactly how it feels
-- it could be short, long, mellow, or unpleasant, depending on your alcohol tolerance.A short finish doesn't linger long in the mouth so the flavor disappears quickly.
A long finish lingers in the mouth so the flavor stays with you after you swallow the whisky.
A mellow finish has a smooth, pleasant flavor.
An unpleasant finish may have a bitter flavor or burn as it goes down. , After you’ve tasted the whisky neat, it’s a good idea to add a little water.
That helps open up the whisky so you can pick up more of its flavors.
Be sure to use room temperature water, though, so differences in temperature don’t affect the whisky’s taste.Mix still or flat water into your whisky, not carbonated or sparkling. , It’s important not to add too much water to the whisky at once or you may alter its aroma and taste.
Use a pipette or a straw to add just one drop at a time so you don’t wind up diluting the whisky rather than opening it up.If you don’t have a pipette or straw, you can use the cap from your bottle of water to add a small amount at a time.
If you don’t feel like you’re picking up any new aroma or flavors from the whisky after adding a drop of water, you can add another. , Once the water is added to the whisky, smell it once more.
See if you can pick up any different aromas that you didn’t earlier.
Next, sip the whisky in the same fashion you did earlier and look for any changes in the flavor.Adding the water to the whisky can help bring out subtle flavors that you didn't pick up when it was neat.
For example, you may be able to taste citrus notes or a nutty flavor that you didn't detect at first tasting.
The water can also help tone down the alcohol taste of the whisky, so if it had an unpleasant finish, you may find that you like it better with the water. -
Step 3: Avoid glasses that are too deep.
-
Step 4: Serve the whisky at room temperature.
-
Step 5: Add a small amount of whisky to the glass.
-
Step 6: Tilt the glass to coat it.
-
Step 7: Study the color of the whisky.
-
Step 8: Swirl the whisky to look for its legs.
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Step 9: Shake the whisky to look for bubbles.
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Step 10: Hold the glass beneath your nose and sniff.
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Step 11: Turn the glass perpendicular to your face and sniff again.
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Step 12: Place the glass beneath your nose and sniff.
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Step 13: Take a small sip.
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Step 14: Roll the whisky in your mouth.
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Step 15: Swallow the whisky and pay attention to the finish.
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Step 16: Use room temperature water.
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Step 17: Add one drop of water to the whisky at a time.
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Step 18: Sniff the whisky again and taste it.
Detailed Guide
Instead of the wide glasses that are usually used for whisky at bars, a curved glass that narrows at the top works best.
The narrower shape at the top concentrates the aromas for sniffing, while the wide bottom allows you to swirl the whisky before you sip it.A snifter glass is the best option for whisky tastings.
Tasting the whisky in a stemmed glass prevents the heat of your hand from warming it.
The stem also creates distance between your hand and the whisky so odors from your skin don’t interfere with its aroma.Many snifters have stems, but you can substitute a wine glass if you don’t have a snifter. , If the bowl of the glass is extremely deep, you won’t be able to get a true sense of the whisky’s aromas.
That’s because the heaviest of the volatile compounds that make up the whisky won’t be able to rise to the top of the glass., Whisky can taste different when it’s chilled, so it’s best to taste it a more moderate temperature first.
Taste the whisky when it’s between 64° and 72°F (18° and 22°C) to get the truest sense of its flavor., You may be tempted to fill your glass to the brim, but you don’t want to be overwhelmed.
Pour ¾ to 1 ½ ounces (2 to 4 centilitres) so you have just enough to smell and taste the whisky., Once you’ve poured the whisky, roll the glass sideways in a complete circle.
That will evenly distribute the whisky throughout the glass and coat the inner surface of the glass’ bowl, which helps draw out the aromas that are at the bottom., Before sipping or even smelling the whisky, hold the glass up to eye level.
The whisky’s color can help indicate its age or what type of cask was used to age it, so try to determine what shade you see.Most whiskies are a yellow, gold, or amber shade, though you may observe some orange or peach tones as well.
In most cases, the darker that the whisky is, the longer that it’s been aged. , Tilt the glass around again to move the whisky throughout the glass.
Check out the way it moves down the sides of the glass; the streaks that it makes are known as its legs, which help indicate how thick the whisky is.
A whisky with thick legs typically has a more pleasant feel in the mouth.A whisky with a more pleasant feel in the mouth typically has smooth, creamy texture. , Place the palm of your hand over the top of the glass, and agitate it slightly to create bubbles.
Pay attention to how long it takes for the bubbles to disappear; the longer it takes for the bubbles to go away, the higher the whisky’s alcohol by volume (abv) is., Since your senses of smell and taste are so closely linked, you should smell the whisky before you sip it.
Bring the glass up directly beneath your nose and allow the aromas to drift up.
Don’t breathe in deeply; let the scents come to you.The initial scent of the whisky will have a strong alcohol scent.
By letting the whisky’s aroma drift up to you, you give your nose time to adjust to the amount of alcohol in it.
Otherwise, your nose may feel like it’s burning. , After you’ve gotten an initial sense of the aroma, tilt the glass on its side so it’s parallel with the floor.
Be careful not to spill any of the whisky, and raise the glass up in a straight line while you smell it.
You should be able to take in the aromas of the heavier compounds that are usually at the bottom of the glass.The heavier compounds in the whisky typically have woody, smoky, and earthy aromas. , With the glass still parallel to your face, move it down so your nose is about ½-inch (1-cm) above its rim.
Smell the whisky again, paying attention to the lighter notes in its scent.The lighter compounds in the whisky often have floral or sour aromas. , When you have a good sense of the whisky’s scent, it’s time to taste it.
Start with a small sip.
Keep your lips puckered in an “O” shape, and slide your tongue against your lips to move the whisky around.The first few times that you try this technique, it may make you feel like gagging.
That's usually due to how strong the whisky is
-- the burning sensation that it provides can make you cough, which can trigger your gag reflex.
Don’t try to look for any particular flavors; just see what notes you detect. , After your initial taste, move the whisky back and forth in your mouth like you are gargling with it.
Don’t do it too quickly or you may not be able to pick up all of the whisky’s flavors.Overall, you should hold the whisky in your mouth for about 30 seconds before you swallow it to really take in all of its flavors.
You'll likely taste woodsy and spicy flavors when you first take in the flavor.
Depending on the type of whisky, you may also taste hints of citrus, nuttiness, caramel, and other flavors. , Once you’ve moved the whisky around a little and have gotten a good taste of it, you can swallow it down.
The burning feeling that you experience as it goes down is known as the finish.
Try to notice exactly how it feels
-- it could be short, long, mellow, or unpleasant, depending on your alcohol tolerance.A short finish doesn't linger long in the mouth so the flavor disappears quickly.
A long finish lingers in the mouth so the flavor stays with you after you swallow the whisky.
A mellow finish has a smooth, pleasant flavor.
An unpleasant finish may have a bitter flavor or burn as it goes down. , After you’ve tasted the whisky neat, it’s a good idea to add a little water.
That helps open up the whisky so you can pick up more of its flavors.
Be sure to use room temperature water, though, so differences in temperature don’t affect the whisky’s taste.Mix still or flat water into your whisky, not carbonated or sparkling. , It’s important not to add too much water to the whisky at once or you may alter its aroma and taste.
Use a pipette or a straw to add just one drop at a time so you don’t wind up diluting the whisky rather than opening it up.If you don’t have a pipette or straw, you can use the cap from your bottle of water to add a small amount at a time.
If you don’t feel like you’re picking up any new aroma or flavors from the whisky after adding a drop of water, you can add another. , Once the water is added to the whisky, smell it once more.
See if you can pick up any different aromas that you didn’t earlier.
Next, sip the whisky in the same fashion you did earlier and look for any changes in the flavor.Adding the water to the whisky can help bring out subtle flavors that you didn't pick up when it was neat.
For example, you may be able to taste citrus notes or a nutty flavor that you didn't detect at first tasting.
The water can also help tone down the alcohol taste of the whisky, so if it had an unpleasant finish, you may find that you like it better with the water.
About the Author
Dennis Harris
A passionate writer with expertise in DIY projects topics. Loves sharing practical knowledge.
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