Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 3: Part One: Learn the Basics of Scotch Whiskey
• Method 2 of 3: Part Two: Smell, Drink, Enjoy
• Method 3 of 3: Part Three: Improving Your Whiskey Mastery
• Tips

Attention:this article is intended for persons over 18 years of age.

Scotch whiskey (scotch whiskey) inspires an almost cult fidelity in some spirits circles. Known for its pungent, peat-like aroma and long, lingering aftertaste, it is more meant to be sipped rather than taken in one gulp. While whiskey can please anyone with an interest, Scotch whiskey is best consumed with a rather blurry frame of mind. If you've poured yourself a little and now want to enjoy its silky texture in a whole new light, read on.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Part One: Learn the Basics of Scotch Whiskey

1. 1 Distinguish single malt from blended whiskeys. One of the main differences in whiskey is technical. It may seem that this is not so important, but the ability to distinguish single malt from blended will tell you a lot about the drink even before you take a sip. So, what is the difference between single malt and blended?
   • Single malt Scotch whiskeys are made with only water and 100% barley. Although they come from the same plant, they can be taken from different barrels or even batches. Single malt from the factory Bruichladdich therefore, they may contain whiskey from different barrels, but, nevertheless, it will only be what is produced on Bruichladdich.
   • Blended Barley Scotch Whiskeys are made from two or more single malt whiskeys from different distilleries. Many distilleries sell their whiskey for use in blends. Several independent bottling factories indicate whiskey from which distilleries were used for their blends, rather than simply naming the geographic area as a whole.
2. 2 Do not blindly favor single malt blends. While single malt whiskeys are more prestigious than blended - their price, of course, states this - there are some very tasty blends that are sometimes better than single malts. Overall, you will probably get more quality from single malts, but they are more expensive and not always better than blends. When drinking scotch whiskey, you must be fair and unbiased. You don't have to be a perfect snob.
3. 3 Be aware that Scotch whiskey generally gets better over time. Scotch is aged for at least three years in oak barrels. Sometimes in the same barrels sherry or bourbon was ripened before.The origin of the casks themselves also varies: some factories prefer American oak, while others prefer European oak. It is precisely this process of aging in oak barrels that makes a great whiskey - sometimes it takes decades. As a wise man once said, "Never pedophilia with Scotch whiskey!"
   • Why does whiskey improve over the years? Oak, like all wood, is porous. During storage in oak barrels, the adhesive tape penetrates the pores, absorbing the unique oak aroma. As the whiskey matures, some of the alcohol evaporates, enhancing the aroma. The portion of the whiskey that evaporates during maturation is called the "angel's share."
   • Sometimes scotch barrels are pre-fired with charcoal from the inside. This gives a unique aroma to the drink. In addition, the charred wood helps to cleanse the whiskey; the carbon in the coal filters out impurities as the whiskey matures.
   • Whiskey is often "finish" aged. It is aged in barrels most of the time, and after that it is poured into other barrels for an additional period of 6-12 months. This gives the whiskey a richer flavor profile.
   • There is a general consensus that whiskey stops aging after being bottled. It can lose some alcohol through evaporation, thereby softening somewhat, but whiskey still gains most of its deep aroma while in barrels.
4. 4 Take only whiskey that is free of dyes. Caramel colors are added to some whiskeys, ostensibly to maintain a standard color across all spills. Stay away from whiskey like this. If whiskey tastes good, what difference does it make what it looks like? This is the main point about scotch tape and other alcoholic beverages that are dyed: if they cheat about the color, what else are they lying about?
5. 5 See where the tape was produced. While whiskey can technically be produced anywhere in the world - Canada, Australia, and even Japan make good whiskey - start off with one made on the windy cliffs of Scotland. You definitely can't go wrong. Here is a quick overview of the different regions, some of the characteristics of the whiskey produced in them, and the most common brands that represent them:

Characteristics of Scotch whiskey by region of production

Region	Distinctive regional features	Brands that represent them
Lowlands	Light, soft, malty, herbaceous	Glenkinchie, Blandoch, Auchentoshan
Hills	Hard, spicy, dry, sweet	Glenmorangie, Blair Athol, Talisker
Speyside	Sweet, mild, often fruity	Glenfiddich, Glenlivet, Macallan
Islay	Peaty, smoky, sea scent	Bowmore, Ardbeg, Laphroaig, Bruichladdich
Campbell	In terms of density from medium to higher, peaty brackish	Springbank, Glen Gyle, Glen Scotia

Method 2 of 3: Part Two: Smell, Drink, Enjoy

1. 1 Find the right glass. Whiskey drinks well from any old glass, however correct the glass will enhance your experience. Experts agree that a tulip-shaped glass is generally the best: it allows you to swirl the whiskey around the glass without spilling it, and collect the aroma of the drink near the neck.
   • If you can't find a tulip-shaped glass, you can use a wine or champagne glass.
2. 2 Pour in a small amount of whiskey and gently swirl it in the glass. Pour yourself a little - depending on your preference, of course - usually no more than 30 ml. Gently swirl the glass, covering the sides with a thin film of the drink, and let the alcohol breathe. Appreciate the color and texture of the whiskey as you watch a thin film of caramel slide down the glass.
3. 3 Smell. Smell your whiskey. Bring the glass to your nose and inhale deeply. Remove the glass (the first breath will be completely alcohol), and then bring the glass back to your nose. Spend half a minute like this, inhaling whiskey, and removing the glass, and inhaling its aroma again - all this time try to freely imagine what you associate with the aromas of the drink. Consider the following variations when sniffing:
   • Smoke aroma, smoked meats. There is also the aroma of peat, because barley is often doused with peat smoke in order to smoke it.
   • Salty. Do you taste the salty taste of the sea in Isle Whiskey? Many Scotch whiskeys contain the aroma of sea water.
   • Fruit aroma.Can you catch the aroma of dried black currant, apricot or cherry in your whiskey?
   • Sweetness. Many whiskeys have aromas of caramel, toffee, vanilla and honey. What confectionery aromas do you pick up?
   • Aromas of wood. Because oak is an essential companion to the whiskey maturation process, woody aromas are often prominent in the Scotch whiskey palette. It sometimes interacts with sweet aromas.
4. 4 Sip a small amount of the drink from the glass. Take a sip of enough whiskey to completely cover your tongue, but not too much, or the taste buds will be overwhelmed by the aroma of alcohol. Use a little scotch in your mouth and try to develop your taste skills. What does whiskey taste like? What does its scent look like?
5. 5 Enjoy the finish. Swallow the whiskey and open your mouth to make it easier to feel the aftertaste of the drink. What aromas arise after you swallow whiskey? This is called the "finish". In fine Scotch whiskeys, the aftertaste is different from the taste itself and adds another layer of pleasure to your palate and tasting experience.
6. 6 Add a small amount of water to the whiskey. Many whiskey aficionados like to add enough water to the drink to dilute the alcohol to 30%. This is usually less than a teaspoon. Some whiskeys will require more water, some will require less; as with most delicate things, less is better here than more.
   • Here's a tip on how much water to add to your whiskey. Add a few drops of water at a time until the burning sensation in the nose caused by inhaling the whiskey aroma disappears.
   • Why add water to whiskey? Water dilutes the whiskey. As in a strong alcoholic beverage, the alcohol in whiskey drowns out other flavors with its alcohol smell. When you eliminate the main aroma of alcohol from smell and taste, you discover the true spirit of the whiskey, and let it shine in full force. Adding water distinguishes men from boys, so to speak.
   • Try covering the whiskey with a lid (a clean glass holder, for example) and let it heat for 10-30 minutes. This will give the whiskey ample time to interact with the water, creating a better tasting experience.
7. 7 Repeat the entire process, now with the diluted whiskey. Chat, smell, taste, and savor the whiskey again. How does it taste diluted? How is it different from undiluted? What have you noticed now that was not there at the first try? Continue drinking and enjoying the whiskey slowly, preferably with friends.

Method 3 of 3: Part Three: Improving Your Whiskey Mastery

1. 1 Make your own blended whiskey. Who said that you have to rely on the blends that the factories offer you? You can make your own blend quickly and easily, and get good results with a little practice. Here are the basics on how to do it.
   • Start with two whiskeys, preferably from the same distillery. Two different Bruichladdichs can work great, or two different Talisker crops. Whiskey is easy to blend when made in the same distillery.
   • Mix a very small amount of two or three whiskeys and let sit for a week or two. This is your "trial run" to see if you like the result. If, after two or three weeks, you are happy with the blend, you can confidently mix the rest of the drinks, confident that all this will not turn into a total disaster.
   • Take empty whiskey bottles and fill them almost to the brim with new mixture. You can use either 50/50 or 45/55 proportions of two whiskeys, or three 33/33/33. The choice is yours. The whiskey filling is done almost to the brim in order to avoid oxidation, which can affect the taste of your whiskey.
2. 2 After you open the bottle, consume it within a year. After you open access O₂ to its precious whiskey, alcohol will begin to lose some of its characteristics. The oxygen will start converting the alcohol to vinegar. So drink responsibly, but don't sip too slowly, or your blend will turn into an unusable acid. Drink to the bottom!
3. 3 Experiment with wood aging yourself. The whiskey is aged in oak barrels, but as an entrepreneur, you can learn to age it with twine and toasted brushwood. Try experimenting with wood such as birch, cherry, or oak for a special scent. Of course, only use this technique on whiskey that seems imperfect; very good whiskey probably won't benefit from additional woodworking.
   • Make sure the twigs or brush are small enough to fit into your whiskey bottle.
   • Heat your twigs or brushwood in the oven over low heat for several hours to remove all moisture.
   • Use a blowtorch to lightly fry the twigs. Your goal is not to get charcoal, but to lightly fry the twigs for extra flavor.
   • Tie the twigs together with a piece of string and submerge them in the whiskey bottle, tasting it every 30 minutes. You shouldn't do this for longer than an hour to get the best effect. 30-60 minutes is all it takes to create a sufficient effect.
   • Check it out: Make sure the type of wood you are using is safe for use with whiskey. Certain types of wood are poisonous to humans and / or will not add any good flavor to your whiskey. Your health should always come first.
4. 4 Try to refrain from adding ice. Of course, if you prefer cold and highly diluted whiskey, you can do so. However, most whiskey drinkers avoid ice. Cold temperatures mask certain aromas, and too diluted whiskey is more water than whiskey, right?
   • If you still want to chill your whiskey, use pebbles. You can put them in the freezer and freeze them, and when done right, they won't leave an aftertaste.
5. 5 Start building your own whiskey collection. Of course, if you are a beginner, this may seem a little odd. However, many find collecting whiskey a fun and enlightening hobby. Here are a few things to think about when starting your own collection:
   • Buy what you like to taste, not what can bring big money in the future. The whiskey auction is rather volatile. Prices change frequently. In collecting, it's best to stick with what you love; thus, if the price of whiskey falls for the next 10 years, or does not outstrip inflation, you will still be happy drink up your whiskey.
   • Save your receipts. Store receipts with bottles. It's a nice little reminder of what you paid for and will help you enjoy your whiskey more when you finally decide to open the cork.
   • Store your treasure in different locations. If a spying kid or devastating fire covers your stash, you will be glad to have divided it into several places. Don't keep all your eggs in one basket.

Tips

• While Scotch whiskey can definitely delight in a cocktail, good whiskey is best drunk undiluted.
• Drink Scotch in public. Scotch shared with friends is always better than scotch drunk alone.