Name us biased, however we right here at GreatDrams.com imagine that whisky is the best creation in the complete universe. Okay, that may be a little bit of an over exaggeration, however we do suppose it’s one of the best tipple on the earth.
It clearly isn’t simply us that feels that method both, and with whisky fast-becoming the most recent trend-setting beverage, and being loved all around the globe, there isn’t any higher time to be a whisky drinker than proper now.
Opposite to standard perception, you don’t have to be a seasoned drinker to get pleasure from whisky, nor do you must sit on a leather-based chesterfield armchair in a wood panel cladded library in entrance of a roaring hearth, to drink whisky. Whisky, or whiskey, is a drink that may be loved by anyone, wherever, at nearly anytime (inside purpose, after all).
In case you are seeking to get into whisky consuming nonetheless, or for those who’re on the lookout for new methods of having fun with a wee dram, there are errors you will have to keep away from. To assist guarantee your subsequent dram is your finest but, listed here are 9 widespread whisky consuming errors to keep away from.
Downing Your Whisky in One Go
We’ve all seen the cliché films and TV exhibits the place individuals seeking to drown their sorrows will order a “shot” of whisky and can down it like they’d an Apple Sourz shot within the membership with their mates on a Friday evening.
Whilst you can drink whisky on this method for those who want to, whisky, particularly a advantageous single malt Scotch for instance, just isn’t created to be downed, it’s created to be loved, sipped on, and savoured. Positive, you could possibly down it like a grizzled New York murder detective in a seedy, smoke-filled dive bar, or you could possibly be a civilized and distinguished particular person and sip it, and truly get pleasure from it.
Far too many individuals make the error of swallowing their whisky in a single, after which marvel why it tastes so sturdy and leaves them with an underlying burning alcohol sensation of their mouths and throat. Take it from us right here at Nice Drams, we all know what we’re speaking about, and we all know that downing your whisky as a shot just isn’t the best way to get pleasure from it. Save the photographs for the Jagers on a Saturday evening round city!
Putting Too A lot Emphasis on Value
Over time, we’ve seen nearly each sort of whisky conceivable. We’ve seen price range, entry-level whiskies, mid-tier whiskies, and premium, high-end whiskies. We’ve seen bottles of whisky promote for lower than a tenner, and we’ve seen bottles of whisky promote for a couple of hundred grand!
Usually, in any client market, the standard consensus is that the dearer one thing is, the higher high quality it’s, and vice versa. Whereas that is typically the case, it isn’t at all times the case, particularly with whisky.
When individuals browse our retailer, or come to us for recommendation, relatively than making an attempt to flog them our costliest whisky, we as an alternative take heed to their very own distinctive preferences and can advocate whiskies accordingly.
Far too many individuals seeking to order a whisky will go straight for the costliest bottle on the shelf, or the priciest dram of whisky on the menu, relatively than studying the tasting notes, profile, and outline, to see whether it is proper for them. If you happen to choose easy, creamy, and fruity whiskies for instance, a smoky, closely peated whisky might not enchantment to you, but it could possibly be the costliest on the menu.
Principally, don’t simply assume that each one cheaper whiskies might be inferior, and all costly whiskies might be superior and of a premium high quality, as a result of that isn’t at all times the case. Personally nonetheless, and simply as a heads up, for those who come throughout a bottle of whisky in a plastic bottle, priced roughly at a fiver, it’s possible you’ll wish to give it a miss.
Not Attempting New Issues
All whisky drinkers have their very own favorite tipples. In actual fact, all drinkers have their very own favorite drinks, and rightly so. We like what we like, and with every little thing now so darned costly we don’t wish to run the danger of spending our hard-earned cash on one thing new, and never having fun with it.
For example, there’s nothing worse than going for a curry, deciding to order a distinct dish in contrast along with your typical favorite, solely to be disillusioned when your curry arrives, and wishing you’d caught along with your fav. On the flipside nonetheless, it’s nice if you do attempt a brand new dish for the primary time, completely adore it, and discover that you simply’ve simply found a brand new favorite. If you happen to’d been afraid to attempt that new curry, you’d by no means have found simply how wonderful it’s.
Whereas we’ve blathered on about curry for much too lengthy (though whisky and curry is a match made in heaven, simply FYI) hopefully you’ve understood our analogy about being afraid to attempt new issues.
At all times Prioritising Age
It is a little bit of a tough one for us as a result of we all know simply what a distinction growing older a whisky could make. We additionally know that usually, the longer the whisky has aged, the higher will probably be.
With that mentioned nonetheless, that doesn’t imply that the age of a whisky is the be-all and end-all in terms of deciding its total high quality. A very good high quality whisky that’s solely 5 years previous for instance, might be infinitely higher than a poor-quality whisky that has been aged for 15 years, but individuals miss out on that.
Earlier than ordering a whisky, learn the outline and discover out as a lot about it as potential. Don’t simply assume that, as a result of it has been aged longer than 10 years, that it’s robotically going to be higher than an 8-year-old dram. We’ve tasted whiskies which have aged for practically 20 years which have tasted like paint stripper, and we’ve tasted 3-year-old whiskies which have tasted like pure malt heaven in a glass.
Bear in mind, whisky consuming may be very a lot a matter of non-public style and choice, so be sure you learn the tasting notes and think about the profile earlier than ordering. Don’t simply assume that you simply’re going to choose an older whisky simply because it’s been aged longer as a result of there are such a lot of different variables to contemplate.
Worrying Too A lot About How Different Individuals Get pleasure from Whisky
Whereas whisky is a globally loved beverage, like something in life, with a view to get pleasure from one thing, you must get pleasure from it the best way you wish to get pleasure from it.
Some whisky purists on the market may be fairly snobby about their whisky, and that’s nice, it exhibits that they’re obsessed with it. Nonetheless, on the finish of the day, you shouldn’t fear about how they prefer to drink their whisky since you’re not them. On the opposite facet of the coin, they shouldn’t fear about the way you prefer to drink your whisky both, as a result of they aren’t you.
We guess what we’re actually saying right here is so that you can neglect about how different individuals prefer to drink their whisky, and as an alternative to deal with the way you prefer to drink it. If you happen to choose a sure model of whisky chilled, regardless of “specialists” claiming that it needs to be served at room temperature, you get that dangerous boy thrown straight within the fridge.
Whether or not individuals advocate a sure model of water or ice, a particular whisky stone, a particular temp, a particular glass, or the rest, for those who don’t like your whisky that method, neglect different individuals, you go forward and put together your whisky the best way you need it.
Being suckered In by Good Promoting Campaigns
Don’t get us unsuitable, we love an excellent whisky advertising and marketing marketing campaign as a lot as the subsequent individual, however we additionally know that, in the end, whisky is there to be consumed.
As whisky has turn into extra modern through the years, and as youthful individuals have began to drink it, an increasing number of celebs have launched their very own whisky, together with loud, outlandish, garish, and daring promoting campaigns. These look the half, and draw eyes to the product, however on the finish of the day, the proof of the pudding is within the consuming, or ought to that be consuming?
If you happen to’re looking out for a brand new whisky to attempt, don’t simply seize a bottle as a result of it has a fairly label, is in a nice-looking field, or has been launched by a well-known movie star. As a substitute, think about what you search for in a whisky, after which go forward and discover out whether or not the whisky you’ve obtained your eye on can tick these bins.
Leaping In on the Deep Finish
If you happen to’re new to whisky, or are maybe seeking to transition over to single malt Scotch from a blended whisky, it’s necessary to not run earlier than you may stroll.
Once more, utilizing one other curry analogy right here (sure, we love curry, who doesn’t?) if you wish to attempt to get onto spicy curries, you wouldn’t all of the sudden order a vindaloo or a phall if you’ve caught with kormas your whole life beforehand. As a substitute, you’d transition step by step, possibly with a dopiaza, then a bhuna, then a madras, and so forth.
The identical applies to consuming Scotch. If you happen to’re used to gentle, creamy, fruity blended whisky, you shouldn’t all of the sudden go for a closely peated, earthy, smoky, 18-year-old 52% ABV single malt from Islay. As a substitute, you’d go along with a weaker, creamier, sweeter, youthful whisky, equivalent to a lowlands Glenkinchie maybe?
When you’ve educated your palate to deal with the harsher flavours and notes, you may step by step improve the peat notes till you attain a stage that you simply’re happy with. Simply bear in mind that some individuals by no means attain that stage. Some individuals can’t have sufficient peat notes of their whisky, whereas others don’t like even the smallest trace of peat. Once more, it’s all the way down to you, private choice, and your personal palate.
Consuming Whisky with Mixers Earlier than Attempting It Neat
Whereas some whiskies are finest loved with mixers, I.E blended whisky, Jack Daniel’s and coke, Jim Beam and lemonade and so on, some whiskies style superior when loved neat.
Far be it for us to let you know how one can drink your whisky, however we’ll say that mixing a advantageous, single-malt aged Scotch with low-cost cola is like making an genuine Italian carbonara and utilizing Billy Bear Ham and grocery store plastic cheese.
Once more, some whiskies style fabulous with mixers, but others style higher when loved neat. Our recommendation to you’ll be to attempt he whisky neat first, and to then think about having it with a mixer for those who nonetheless don’t benefit from the style.
When utilizing mixers, the standard of the mixer is almost as necessary as the standard of the whisky, so keep away from a budget, price range stuff.
Mixing Water with Your Whisky within the Flawed Means
Lastly, as you’re most likely conscious, some whiskies, particularly Scotch whiskies, may be fairly harsh on the palate as a result of they include a lot alcohol.
When swallowed, the alcohol style can burn your throat and overpower the general flavour profile of the whisky. An effective way of neutralising the alcohol and dampening down the tough alcohol notes, is to combine the whisky with water. Not solely that, however water can really improve the flavour of the whisky and make it much more satisfying.
Now, earlier than you get excited and run into your kitchen to seize some faucet water, relaxation assured that not simply any previous water will do. Including faucet water to your whisky is a assured method of ruining an excellent whisky. Faucet water is handled with chemical substances to render it drinkable, may be “arduous” with extra limescale, is chlorinated, and customarily doesn’t style good. As a substitute, you must use mineral water.
The minerals in mineral water assist to work in synergy with the whisky, lifting the flavours and aromas whereas diluting the tough ethanol notes from the alcohol. Whether or not utilizing bottled water or ice cubes, be sure you are utilizing water/ice created from mineral water.
When mixing water along with your whisky, just a little goes a great distance. You’ll solely want one or two drops from a water pipette, or one ice dice in most situations. An excessive amount of, and the whisky will style all watery and might be too weak.
