Contents
In past articles, I have touched on almost every aspect of whiskey drinking. You learned how to choose it and, most importantly, how to drink it correctly. Just in the last article, I briefly mentioned a very specific invention of mankind, which, in theory, should turn the simple use of noble drinks into a real ritual. We are, of course, talking about whiskey stones, which at the moment have become more popular than even the drink itself. So, are whiskey stones just another marketing ploy or a really useful device?
Why Whiskey Chilling Stones Are Better
The root causes are quite understandable – ice excessively cools the drink (to about 10 degrees and below), which greatly affects its taste. The last article describes in an accessible way why this is so bad – essential oils “freeze”, stop evaporating. No aroma – no taste (tongue feels only bitterness, sweetness, etc.). The optimum temperature for whiskey is 18-21 degrees. Ice also dilutes the contents of the glass. However, the Scots, with their rule of five “S”, do not exclude the possibility of diluting whiskey, however, not with ice, but with crystal clear water, ideally spring water.
In any case, only laymen and Americans put ice in whiskey, who still remember the troubled times of Prohibition. In the end, completely melted ice in a glass finally dilutes the drink, and you don’t want to finish drinking it at all. As Michael Fassbender’s character said in Inglourious Basterds:
“There’s a special oven in hell for those who don’t finish their scotch!”
So whiskey stones were invented by God-fearing Americans (specifically, Andrew Hellman).
How Whiskey Chilling Stones Work
And they work according to the quite understandable laws of physics. For their manufacture, the so-called soapstone is used, that is, steatite (talcochlorite). For a long time, kitchen utensils were made from it – the mineral does not absorb tastes and aromas, it is completely chemically neutral. However, the main advantage of soapstone lies in its high heat capacity and thermal conductivity: it quickly accumulates thermal energy and releases it rather slowly. It is even used to build fireplaces and stoves (Wiki article).
It turns out that the material is completely safe for health, cools quickly and rather slowly releases the accumulated cold.
I found a lot of reviews on the Internet, where people complain that Whiskey Stones are good for nothing, that they do not give any effect. Of course, people who leave such reviews prefer to drink noble drinks with ice, and some also pretty much seasoned with cola. In general, you understand what I’m trying to say. Stones almost imperceptibly cool the drink to the desired temperature, so it is quite difficult to keep track of their usefulness. In most cases, real connoisseurs of this drink will refuse a well-advertised device – good whiskey can be drunk even at a temperature of more than 20 degrees. But a good show is more expensive than money.
The most important marketing ploy is that real whiskey stones can only be from the USA. Of course, this directly affects the price (about 30 USD, sometimes more), which, of course, also includes the cost of manual labor – the stones are allegedly polished by hand. In the same Wiki article, you will learn that steatite is also mined in Finland, Brazil, India, and even in Russia, in the Karelia region. So don’t be surprised if they slip you a less expensive item – it could be made right next door.
The main thing is that granite is not slipped – although it is denser, it has more porosity (remains of the previous drink will remain in the pores and unforgiven guests of their world of microfauna will probably start), and it is not unreasonably considered radioactive: in rooms finished with granite, there is an increased radioactive background .
How to use whiskey stones
Firstly, after buying, be sure to wash them with warm water and a sponge – after grinding, dust may remain on them. 2-3 hours before the scheduled whiskey tasting, put the pebbles in the freezer. After, add them 2-3 stones per 50-60 ml. Let me remind you that it is better to drink whiskey in small portions, 30-40 ml each, so you can get by with 1-2 stones. After using the pebbles, rinse with clean water, dry and put in a canvas bag, in which, as a rule, they are sold.
Of course, Whiskey Stones can be used for other noble drinks, but their main advantage is that they are great for the opposite purpose, that is, heating drinks.
Put the pebbles in the microwave for 30 seconds, and then throw them into a cup of coffee or tea – an invigorating drink will stay hot a little longer than the allotted time. Only do not take stones from the microwave with your bare hands – you will burn yourself!
Let’s summarize. Undoubtedly, the popularity of whiskey stones is largely due to successful marketing, but for certain purposes, such stones are still suitable. For example, this is a great option for a gift (young ladies, your men will be delighted – I would definitely be :)). As for the practical side, then, perhaps, bourgeois know-how will interest curious, but certainly not real connoisseurs. If you’re looking for a great gift, whiskey stones are the way to go.
Also, metal cubes, the so-called “steel ice”, periodically appear on the market. The medical stainless steel shell contains water or a special gel with a large heat capacity. The manufacturers themselves claim that it is better to use their know-how than whiskey stones, but at the same time they advertise with delusional arguments – they say steel cubes cool the drink faster, that this is a full-fledged replacement for ice. The main value of pebbles lies not in their ability to quickly cool the drink, but in the ability to maintain the temperature for a long time!
Finally, we watch a video in which the manufacturer of whiskey stones shares his heartbreaking story: