How To Enjoy The Best Irish Whiskey Like A Connoisseur?

By Author: Castle Freke
Total Articles: 9
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Ever wondered what makes a bottle of whisky great and investible? Well, the answer is - quality, rarity, and age. If you have one of these three, you’ve got a good bottle. If you have two out of the three, you have a fine bottle. If you have got three out of three, you have the ultimate elusive bottle. The best Irish whiskey is meant to be savoured. And, to truly appreciate a glass of Irish whiskey, you need to learn how to taste it.

Wondering about what it takes to enjoy a glass of Irish whisky? The article below breaks down a detailed insight into how to drink your spirit.

Understand The Effect Of Different Barrels On Fine Whiskey

In order to truly appreciate the wide variety of whiskies, it’s worth consideration where this variation comes from. The answers to such a question are many as the list goes on and on. However, it’s important to remember that one of the main sources of aroma and flavour in these spirits comes directly from the whiskey barrel.

Just like wine, the barrel is the key when it comes to the final product, and not just the way that wooden barrels assist with ...
... steady and gradual ageing. The wood in itself contains various chemical compounds and flavour that’s responsible for producing taste and aroma of the product. Also, different types of wood from different

Step-By-Step Guide To Taste The Best Irish Whiskey

Assessing and tasting any new whisky accurately is difficult unless you are drinking it correctly. The ideal way to taste and assess these alcoholic drinks is:

Step-1: Pour It
Firstly, pour a small amount of liquor into a whisky glass. These are tulip-shaped shaped glasses with a tapering top and a broad middle, designed to enhance the flavours of a spirit.

Step-2: Observe Your Liquor
Before sipping your whiskey, consider swirling it around in the glass. This way, it will thinly coat the sides of your glass, giving the spirit to breathe. Look at the ‘legs’ – the long trails left by the spirit as it slips down the side of the glass. The longer the legs, the higher will be alcoholic content. Also, you should look at the colour of the drink, which is a great indicator of the type of wood it was matured in.

Step-3: Dilute It (Optional)
Many whisky connoisseurs prefer adding a small amount of water to their spirit. This is a great way to reduce the alcohol volume in the glass and prevent the liquor from overriding other aromas and flavours. If you wish to dilute your whisky, continue adding small amounts until smelling it doesn’t cause a burning sensation in your nose.

This optional step is useful particularly for individuals without much experience with liquor since it makes the drink much more palatable. If you are drinking old whisky, you might not need to dilute it. This is because the time in the barrel will have mellowed the flavour and reduced the alcohol content.

Step-4: Chill It Or Let It Sit (Optional)
When it comes to tasting the best Irish whiskey, this is another optional step. If you like to add water to your whisky to achieve a mellower flavour, you might also want to let it sit for 10 minutes. This will give the water enough time to interact with the spirit, mellowing the flavour even more. If you are a newbie, you might also want to chill the drink slightly.

Step-5: Smell It
Next, bring the glass up to your nose and give it a good sniff. The first time you smell it, you will notice alcohol. Then, take a breath of fresh air and smell it again. Now, you will notice the aromas present in whisky. Repeat this process a few more times and try attempting to identify the many flavours and smells the spirit contains. Some characteristics you might notice are:

• Fruitiness
Most whiskies have hints of different types of fruit. Often, this includes dried apples, cherries, or apricots.

• Smokiness
Usually, malted barley adds a hint of smokiness to the spirit.

• Woodiness
An easy aroma to identify is woodiness as you can notice the smell of oak effortlessly.

• Sweetness
Many whiskies will be sweet, with hints of toffee, caramel, or honey. Adding water to your whisky and bringing out such incredible flavours is an extremely enjoyable part of finding a fine whisky.

Step-6: Taste It
Finally, you can drink it. Just take a small sip of the spirit and let it coat your tongue. Pay heed to how it feels in your mouth and pick out as many flavours as you can. In case it is too strong or bitter, just add some more drops of water and taste it once again. Lastly, swallow your sip of whisky and pay attention to the after-effects. A lingering effect is the indication of a fine Irish whisky.

Conclusion:
With countless different types of Irish whiskies out there, you can easily choose a spirit that best suits your tastes and needs. Keep the above guidelines in mind and start tasting liquor till you find the one that tickles your taste buds. Time to find the best Irish whiskey for yourself!

Author’s Bio:
The author is an alcohol aficionado who loves sipping a glass of whiskey during his leisure He believes whiskeys get much of their flavour from the wood they are aged in. You can go through his other write-ups to learn about alcoholic beverages.