Many worry about how to taste whisky, are they tasting it correctly? What whisky tastes are they missing out on? If they go to a whisky tasting they don’t want to do it wrong and worry they will stand out. Don’t worry, whisky people are a friendly bunch and most importantly we are all always learning…anyone who suggests they aren’t is lying. Here I share how I taste whisky and what’s the most important part for me…
Do you like it?
That it most important question you should ask yourself when trying a new whisky.
I often get asked about the different tasting notes that come with whiskies, and there is a fear to share opinions if they don’t come with those details. Those notes are someone else’s experience and you will have your own. Everyone’s olfactory is different, meaning everyone’s experience will be different.
But at the end of it, there is only one question that matters…do you like it?
That’s the number one question I ask when tasting whiskies for Summerton Whisky Club.
The process of tasting whisky
And here’s how I taste our whiskies, treating them in a similar manner as a good wine.
1) I open the bottle and pour a glass, which I leave to breathe for a minute, also knowing that the neck pour (the first pour from the bottle) might be a different experience from the rest as sometimes flavours evolve over time.
2) Give it a swirl to see how the whisky clings to the glass, then give it a sniff…careful not to stick both nostrils into the glass as it might burn.
3) Take a sip over my tongue, leaving it in my mouth for a bit to see how it evolves.
4) Then I go back in again.
That’s it for me.
It can be a hard life having to taste great whisky for Summerton Whisky Club, but it must be done to ensure all the bottles we share meet the grade.
We go out searching for and tasting great whisky so our members can relax and enjoy the drinking.
Want to learn more about whisky?
If yes, then Summerton Whisky Club is for you. We do the searching so that you can sit back and enjoy the tasting…find out more in our How It Works page.
Written by Dan on 12/08/2024