How and with what to drink whiskey without too much pathos

The Scots say: whiskey should be drunk by mouth. Unfortunately, this sarcastic phrase is taken too seriously by many. Drink by mouth and nothing more. Drink whiskey from anything, with anything and with anyone. Therefore, read the article and drink whiskey WISELY!

So, in the last article about whiskey, where I talked about choosing a drink, I promised you a post on how to drink whiskey the right way, and today that moment has come. I may seem biased, but whiskey for me personally is the noblest and most desirable drink. So when I see how the painted lady at the bar orders a 12-year-old Chivas and asks him to loosen up with cola, my heart bleeds. So, I sincerely ask you: read this article to the end and draw the appropriate conclusions so as not to injure the subtle psyche of bartenders and true connoisseurs of noble drinks (and also read the article about the Idiot cocktail).

“There are no people who do not like whiskey, there are people who have not yet found their brand.”

Scottish Wisdom

How to drink whiskey and not lose face

Of course, everyone has their own preferences and everyone has the right to drink noble drinks as he pleases. But even being a complete layman, you don’t need to stoop to the level of stupid people – the culture of drinking is not called culture for nothing. And the modern culture of drinking whiskey in our country, unfortunately, was formed during the cult action movies of the 90s: “whiskey with ice”, “whiskey with cola”, “whiskey with soda” … These phrases were imprinted in the minds of the inhabitants of the former Soviet Union, because they were pronounced they are the mouths of their favorite heroes. In those films, everything is straight about the Americans – neither to themselves nor to people.

There is no crime in this. For the time being, everyone can stumble, make mistakes, be simply not informed. But how much is possible? I would like to immediately quote one banal, but no less philosophical phrase: the worse the quality of the drink, the less conventions! Forgive me, walking Johnny, but Johnnie Walker Red Label can be safely poured with cola, soda, and sprinkled with ice. This will not make the drink better or worse. Drinks should be treated differently, in which they have invested, if not their soul, then at least normal raw materials and technology. You should start changing your attitude with a glass …

Which glasses are suitable for whiskey tasting

It’s the tastings. Whiskey is not beer and, moreover, not vodka. Drinking it in bottles is at least not reasonable, after all, not a cheap booze. It needs to be savored and done in the right atmosphere. That is why do not order a drink in a club or a noisy place where all the same vodka, beer and cheap cocktails would be more appropriate. The ideal atmosphere is a cozy house or apartment, a pleasant quiet place. A good friend or just a nice conversationalist is welcome.

Whiskey, in terms of chemistry, is not as simple as it might seem at first glance. It contains a lot of various impurities that have different densities and the ability to dissolve in water. Due to the special properties of the liquid, the top layer of the drink forms a “cork”, which “locks” the flavors of the drink.

In Hollywood, whiskey is drunk from rocks, heavy straight glasses with a thick bottom (old fashion, tumbler, drums). Experts have long come to the conclusion that this form of glasses is not suitable for tasting noble varieties of whiskey aged over 10 years (especially unique malts). In such a glass, the aromas are really “corked”, and its open shape does not contribute to the accumulation of odors.

It is best to drink whiskey from tasting glasses, or rather from the so-called whiskey tulips. This is a small glass on a leg in the shape of a tulip bud. Complex aromas are concentrated in it, thereby helping the olfactory organs to understand and fully experience the main component of the drink’s organoleptics. It is very important! Try to cover your nose with your fingers and drink anything – without your nose, you will only feel the bitterness-sweetness-sourness-cornedness and the temperature of the drink.

A little trick for beginners. If the smell of strong alcoholic beverages is too strong for your sense of smell, do not inhale it “directly”. Feel free to stick your nose into the glass, but inhale through your mouth. Thus, the rough evaporation of alcohols is cut off and it becomes possible to evaluate all, I will call it, “the fine aromatics of the drink”. A very useful life hack for girls who are usually not supportive of strong alcohol smells.

Single malts, which are considered more “difficult” to understand, are best drunk from glasses designed by the great glassblower and designer Georg Riedel. His whiskey glasses are shaped like a thistle, practically the national symbol of Scotland. They fully reveal the aroma of molts and solve the problem of “liquid surface tension”.

We sorted out the glasses – tulip-shaped tasting glasses. In extreme cases, you can use cognac glasses, but in them the aroma becomes more alcoholic. The glass should be filled no more than 1/3.

What to drink whiskey with and the rule of five “S”

The Irish prefer to drink their whiskey neat because Irish whiskey is softer and easier to drink than Scotch. In Scotland, whiskey is drunk neat (“straight”), with the addition of water or with the addition of ice (“on the rocks”). “Yeah,” you say, “dirty Scots got caught …”. Now imagine a malt with the so-called “cask strength”, that is, 60% or more. You can drink such varieties only in a diluted form, otherwise you can burn your mucous membranes and not feel the taste at all. There is also an opinion that water helps to reveal the taste and aroma of the drink.

The Irish have their own opinion on this matter:

Don’t steal someone else’s wife and don’t water down someone else’s whiskey!

Irish folk wisdom

Water can be added, but only if it does not have any foreign odors and taste. Ideally, which is difficult for our regions, it should be taken from the sources of Scotland, and preferably from the source from which the water was taken when preparing the tasting drink.

As for ice, no, no, and no again. With the principles of diffusion, I think everyone is familiar? So, all aromatic esters begin to evaporate at room temperature (18-20 degrees), so whiskey should be consumed just at this temperature. Ice will cool the drink below the prescribed 18 degrees, which will lead to the complete loss of any aromatic qualities in the drink.

And finally, the Scots, when tasting their national product, apply the rule of five “S” (after translation, the rule of five “Ps”):

• Sight (view) – evaluate the color and saturation of the drink, its viscosity.
• Smell (smell) – appreciate the whole gamut of whiskey flavors undiluted.
• Swish (savor) – take a small sip and, as it were, “chew” the drink so that it completely disperses through the tongue.
• Swallow (swallow) – take the first sip, appreciate the sharpness and softness of the drink.
• Splash (splash water) – if you see fit, dilute the whiskey with water.

These rules apply more to Scottish blends, that is, mixed varieties. Molts are best drunk in pure, undiluted form. Strongly heated whiskey (over 20 degrees) can give off excessive alcohol, so it should be cooled down a bit. Ice is not suitable, because after melting it dilutes the drink and inhibits the evaporation of aromatic oils. It is best to use the so-called “soap stones”, which are popularly called whiskey stones. In high circles, cooled jade is used instead of such stones.

As for snacks, it is, in principle, not welcome. But before and after drinking the drink, you can taste dishes from game, partridge, venison, trout, salmon and pheasant. Chocolate alcohol is not recommended for medical reasons. In Ireland, locals like to add unaged (no more than 3 years) whiskey to coffee, tea and dairy products (milk and cream). It was there that the wonderful drink Irish coffee was born.

If you can not drink pure whiskey – do not drink expensive varieties, take pity on others. Jack Daniels (cheap bourbons) or Johnnie Walker Red Label (fucking scotch) can be diluted with other drinks and used as an ingredient in cocktails (Whiskey Sour, for example). Whiskey pairs very well with apple juice.

Summing up, video and more

Cola – no, ice – no, snack – no! You can drink lousy whiskey even with pickle. Noble varieties, molts, expensive blends drink either in pure form, or slightly diluted with water, just a couple of drops. Temperature – from 18 to 20 degrees. If a drink connoisseur has come to visit you, offer him your best molt, but put good, purified water nearby. If you’re lucky, get Speyside Glenlivet Natural Mineral Water for this purpose, created specifically for this purpose. Pour the drink in small portions – a maximum of 1/3 of the volume of the glass. The Scots usually drink whiskey in drams (about 35 ml).

PS I can’t help but share this video. Sommelier of All Russia, Erkin Tuzmukhamedov, tells how to drink whiskey correctly. In principle, he tells the same thing as me (this is more for those who believe exclusively in “strong” authorities, which I hope I will never become).