In the last century, whisky was known as the gentlemen's drink of choice, often attracting those looking to embrace their masculinity or as a means to show their status. Being a more masculine drink in the past, great care was taken by those who prepared and drank it. Nowadays, whisky is there for everyone to enjoy, which is exactly how it should be. Unfortunately, because of this, its novelty has worn off for many who no longer give it the same attention as the gentlemen of the past.
But that’s easy to change. In this article, we’ll cover some common mistakes you might be making when you pour yourself a whisky and how you get it right every time!
In a world governed by consumerism, it’s easy for us to fall into the trap of only looking for the most expensive bottles of whisky. Let’s be honest: when something is expensive, we usually think it’s better, right?
When you go into the store, instead of buying by price, rather take a closer look at the whisky. Look at its tasting notes, description, and profile. This will do one of two things. Either, it’ll help you learn about whiskies and allow you to develop a particular taste, or, it’ll help you avoid buying whiskies that you probably won’t enjoy but will still drink just because it costs so much.
Try down a GlenDronach Revival in a Scottish pub and see what reaction you get. Whisky isn’t designed to be a shooter. It’s meant to be sipped, enjoyed, and savoured. You can drink your whisky however you want, we aren’t trying to stop you, but merely trying to show you a better way to drink it so you can get the genuine whisky experience.
We all have our preferences and we respect that, but when you only drink whiskey at a certain age your limit yourself to the possibility of having a wonderful whisky that’s either younger or older than your age preferences.
Generally, whisky gets better as it ages. But, this principle doesn’t apply to all whiskies unfortunately. For example, a cheaper whisky that’s four years old might taste better than the same whisky at 15 years old because of its quality. Rather than assuming an older whisky is better than a younger one, check the description of the whisky to get an idea of its notes and palate. You might find a much younger whisky that suits your preferences better, and your budget too.
Certain whiskies can be pretty harsh on your palate because they have a higher alcohol percentage. This is why it often burns your throat when you swallow it. To combat this effect, many people combine whisky with water. Water neutralises the alcohol notes in the whisky while also enhancing its flavour, allowing you to have a more enjoyable experience.
A common mistake people make when adding water to whisky is adding too much water or adding the wrong water. If you add too much water to your whisky, it’ll dilute it to the point where the flavour is very weak or almost masked completely. Likewise, if you had tap water to your whisky, remember that tap water is chemically treated so it might make things worse. Rather, use mineral water instead.
Whisky is a luxury drink. It’s there for you to enjoy at your leisure. Unfortunately, we’ve seen so many people drink whisky the way others do either because they’ve never had it before or because they want to impress their peers. Again, you might find it enjoyable, but we all have our preferences, so, you might also not.
Instead of only drinking whisky the way others do, why not go out on your own little adventure and figure out what whisky you enjoy and how you like it served? At least then, you’ll be drinking whisky the way you like it.
Naturally, whisky has a pretty high alcohol content, so, it’s fairly easy to get tipsy off one or two servings. This also changes with different blends or brands. Say, for instance, you’re looking at changing from a blend to a single malt whisky. The change in flavour and ABV might be too much for you. As a result, you write off the single malt as a whisky you don’t enjoy.
But, the thing is, you have to learn to love it. If you’ve developed a taste for one whisky, changing to another might not feel or taste the same. So, start off slow. Find a weaker single malt. One that’s younger, sweeter, and softer on the palate and then build yourself up from there.
Pure whisky lovers will see mixing whisky as a crime, however, we hold the perspective that the best drink is the one you enjoy. That said, how would you know if you enjoyed a whisky neat if you don’t try it? For quality whiskies, you might find that you love it’s taste neat and that a mixer might ruin that. Likewise, there are some whiskies that mix very well with mixers, you just need to find the right balance.
We’re all for the whisky community growing and including more and more whisky enthusiasts, but let’s give whisky the treatment it deserves by serving it correctly and drinking it appropriately. Looking to start fresh, take a look at the range of premium Australian whiskies and remember to check their notes, descriptions, and palate details before making your purchase.
