Learning how to taste spirits like a pro is a skill plenty of people would love to acquire. If you want to know how to appreciate a good spirit, then there’s no better time than now.
Start with the easy stuff
Go for fruity and easy-going flavors, the ShortList says. That’s one way to establish a good baseline. Once you’ve got a handle on those flavors, you’ll find it easier to work out which options may prove overpowering for you and which distilled spirits hit the mark.
Put in ice
A bit of water with your liquor can open up the flavor. But only a bit. If there’s too much ice, then that’s going to cool the drink and dilute the flavor. You’ll want to tell the bartender to take it a bit easy on the ice when you order your drink on the rocks.
Know the terms
It’s helpful to know the terms when you put in an order for distilled spirits at the bar. Shaken is a term usually used for cocktails that have fruit justice, cream or eggs because shaking puts in air bubbles into the mixture. Stirred is used for cocktails with only alcoholic ingredients. And stirred up refers to drinks that have been shaken or stirred with ice but served without it.
Don’t swirl
If you’re tasting spirits like whisky, don’t make a rookie mistake like swirling it. Tasting whisky isn’t the same as tasting wine. You’ll want to bring it into your mouth and hold it on your palate instead. Breathe in and let a bit of air go over the whiskey. That’s how to experience its flavor. If you’re going for vodka, and you don’t want the burn, pick out higher-quality options. These are often viscous enough that they balance out the alcohol content quite nicely.
