Ask any enthusiast and they would say many rules on the proper way to drink Scotch whiskey. Although drinking whiskey is really a matter of personal style than any right or wrong way, here are some of the particular points about whiskey drinking to keep in mind:
1. Many people want to drink Scotch whiskey neatly and believe that adding water to it can spoil the taste. However, other people (and equally as many) will say that adding a small amount of pure spring water can actually enhance the whiskey's distinctive aroma and flavor. Using tap water, with its chlorine-content, is definitely a no-no.
2. Drinking on the rocks or adding ice to your whiskey can dull its fine taste. Although this can give a welcome drink during a hot day, this should never be done when having a nosing and tasting session for a whiskey.
3. Never have a carbonated water as an accompaniment for whiskey since it will also diturb whiskey's aromas.
4. Adding mixers such as ginger ale or soda is a popular trend when drinking alcoholic beverages. However, this will just mask the whiskey's taste and whiskey is too expensive for this.
5. Nosing, which is basically putting the nose near the liquid and smelling its ingredients, is an important part of in the experience of drinking whiskey. Most professionals do nosing alone and in a place with very little distraction. However, nosing and tasting sessions with a few compatible people are preferred by most since the fellowship gained from them makes these sessions more important. Whatever your preference, people should do nosing in an environment that does not hinder with their sense of smell.
6. Although all whiskey is golden, the brightness or darkness of a whiskey's color reflects its origins and its flavor. These differences are due to the type of wood used in the cask where the liquid is stored as well as the number of years spent to let it mature.
Along with these guidelines, many enthusiasts believe that using Scotch whiskey glasses is an important part of the whiskey drinking experience. You may be familiar with some Scotch whiskey glasses which have this rounded bottom part that tapers inwards and towards the top and has a lip that turns out. This shape actually brings out the best in the whiskey since it directs the right amount of whiskey into the mouth and to the right parts of the palate.
The tapered shape of this glass lets the whiskey's aromas rise towards the top of the glass. In drinking Scotch whiskey, where tasting the liquid actually has to do a lot about smelling, this shape is important. The whiskey's bouquet adds to the liquid's flavor.
Whether you want to use Scotch whiskey glasses or not, drinking whiskey should be an experience to be enjoyed and savored. Although there is no right or wrong way to drink it, don't you think that the rich quality and characteristics of a whiskey deserves an appropriate way of drinking it?
About the Author
Lawrence Reaves is a freelance writer working for a online marketing ideas company and writes about his passions such as single malt scotch whiskey which is always to be served in a scotch whiskey glass, better known as a Glencarin Glass.
