Whiskey drinking is a fantastic experience. It's a liquor you can enjoy with close friends or while meeting new people at your favourite bar or pub. You can enjoy whiskey in various ways, including neat, shaken or stirred into a modern cocktail or concocted into refreshing glasses of classic whiskey recipes.
If you want to add whiskey to your increasing list of interests but don’t know much about it, you came into the right guide!
What exactly is whiskey?
Whiskey is a grain-based distilled alcohol. A distiller grinds up the grain to liberate natural sugars, which they subsequently ferment into liquor to reach the distillation stage. That alcohol is then distilled, resulting in a more strong spirit.
The grain used might vary, but most whiskies are manufactured from maize, rye, wheat, and barley (both malted and not). Other grains, such as millet and quinoa, are used occasionally, but the four described above are the mainstays. After the mash has been matured and distilled, it is frequently aged in a barrel, adding taste and color.
Drinking It The Right Way
Yes! There’s a right way of drinking whiskey. When you have a glass of whiskey, avoid the impulse to add ice to it quickly.
Several whiskeys are significantly improved by ice, but you'd be foolish if you didn't try the whiskey pure at least once. For example, the Glen Scotia Sherry Double Cask has an excellent flavor of spiced rum, juicy plum, toffee and citrus peel that you don’t want to dilute with ice.
Your ice also has an impact on how your drink tastes. For example, some whiskies work well with ice because it dilutes the strong flavor of alcohol. Once again, the phrase "dilution" may not be delicious. But, damn it, you want to taste your whiskey! However, a splash of water can help "open up" the whiskey and unleash new flavors and smells. And, once again, dilution reduces the strength of the whiskey, making it more drinkable in the view of many.
Now you’ve learned that ice on whisky is not that bad, you might be wondering what sort of ice to use.
Large blocks of ice, rather than many smaller ice cubes or ice chips, are frequently utilized for whiskey on the rocks in excellent cocktail bars. This is because larger ice blocks melt more slowly than smaller ones. Thus, the large ice will slowly dilute your whiskey rather than quickly waterlogging it.
Lastly, ensure that your ice is fresh and created with high-quality water. You don't have to use mineral water, but make sure it's water you'd drink. If it means using tap water, that's fantastic! If it involves filtering your tap water using a Brita filter, that's OK, too! If you want to go all out and purchase Fiji, well, that's your choice.
But it is recommended that you use ice that hasn't been produced too far ahead of time. So if you don't believe it, try some stale ice from your freezer that's been lying there for a few months. We guarantee you'll notice the difference between that and fresh ice.
Don’t stress out! The whiskey police will not come for you about this. You can enjoy your whiskey however you want, with ice or not.
Cocktails with Whiskey
If you don't like the flavor of whiskey on its own, or if you're searching for a new way of enjoying it, we recommend trying it in a traditional cocktail.
Many individuals recommend rye whiskey base because of their strength and ability to stand on their own in a cocktail.
Have you had your fill of the classics? Try basic tweaks on tried-and-true recipes, especially ones that don't call for whiskey.
Types Whiskey
The classification of whiskey is a real mixed bag. Since whiskey may be produced anywhere in the world, there are different sorts and styles available. Whiskey classifications can be defined in a variety of ways, including:
- According to Country/Region (e.g. Scotch, Bourbon, Single Pot Still, Tennessee Whiskey etc.)
- What grain(s) they are made of and how the grains are treated (Rye, Malt, Single Grain etc.)
- How Long They've Been Aged (e.g. Straight Bourbon)
- What Happens When They're Ready to Bottles (e.g. Blended, Single Barrel, Cask Strength etc.)
To Wrap It Up
Now you now have a solid understanding of what whiskey is and where to begin. As you engage on your own adventure through the world of whiskey, you will realize that it is fascinatingly complicated, with new lessons to be learnt at every turn.
And in conclusion, there is no right or wrong way to appreciate whiskey; there is just the way you truly desire. Having said that, I am a big believer that whiskey is like a kiss - you will appreciate it more if you share it with someone you care about.
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