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The culture of whiskey consumption has been enriched with a curious new auxiliary attribute. This accessory is nothing more than whiskey chilling stones.
The idea appeared in the USA in 2007 with the light hand of Mr. Andrew Hellman – a man who is distinguished not only by his love for the mentioned drink, but also by his extraordinary thinking.
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Why whiskey stones are needed
It’s all about the ice. Several of these cubes are often placed in a glass of whiskey to give the drink the canonical temperature of 17–18 °C (62,6–64,4 °F).
However, when interacting with a warm substance, the ice, of course, begins to melt, as a result of which we get not only a chilled, but also a somewhat diluted drink.
In the case of more or less unpretentious varieties of whiskey, whose aging period does not exceed six years, this circumstance does not play a special role; but if we are talking about drinks of a more respectable age, then adding any third-party liquids to them, including water, is equated by many admirers of genuine malt masterpieces almost with sacrilege.
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Cooling stones come in a variety of shapes and colors.
However, there are situations when too warm whiskey strictly needs to be cooled to muffle the alcohol flavor, which causes significant damage to the taste bouquet of the drink. This is exactly what whiskey stones are for. The invention of Andrew Hellman allows you to properly lower the temperature of the liquid in the glass, while maintaining its original composition.
What are whiskey stones
Whiskey stones are small cubes or discs of mineral origin. At the same time, there is a separate modification in the form of special bullets made of stainless steel.
The defining qualities for the materials of their manufacture (classic steatite or soapstone, less popular – granite and shungite, exquisite jade or stainless steel) are the ability to maintain their own temperature for a long time, as well as the complete absence of chemical interaction with alcohol.
It should be noted that among the supporters of the use of whiskey stones, their conservatives have already stood out, exclusively recognizing steatite that does not scratch the glass of a glass, and extravagant connoisseurs using products made from ornamental and precious stones (for example, from the same jade).
Using Whiskey Stones
The first step is to thoroughly wash your purchase in warm water. Then put the stones (or bullets) in the freezer, where they should be at least two hours.
When serving whiskey, you should use classic wide-bottomed glasses, such as rocks or old fashioned.
As a rule, three or four stones will be enough to cool 50 milliliters of whiskey.
After use, the stones should be washed again with warm water.
Cooling “stones” made of steel do their job no worse than natural pebbles.
Storing whiskey stones
Whiskey stones or bullets can be kept in the freezer or at zero temperature all the time, taking them out as needed.
how to drink whiskey
An ideal container for stones is a small bag made of linen or cotton.
Compliance with the above rules will allow you to get the most out of using this simple, but at the same time ingenious know-how, which is gradually conquering the world.
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Relevance: 12.02.2016
Metki: Whiskey and bourbon