How to Taste Bourbon

Did you know that tasting and drinking bourbon are two different things? Now you know.  While it may sound complicated to many, doing it is not as intricate as it is sometimes made to appear. However, the main advantage is that it increases enjoyment and appreciation of fine bourbon whiskey.

While drinking depends on how you prefer it, tasting it is a whole different affair altogether. It involves carefully examining its nuances, aroma, and tastes without mixing it with ice or water, that may dampen the flavors. Depending on the distillery you choose to go to and the person that will guide you there, you may or may not be taught how to taste bourbon properly.

Before you taste your bourbon, you must get yourself a proper glass. You can settle on Glencairn glass or high-ball glass or any other of your liking. Glencairn is good because it allows you to have a good look at the appearance of your bourbon. After finding a good glass for the occasion, there are various things to consider while doing the actual tasting. These are:

Appearance: Find out if the bourbon is clear, cloudy, dark, or light amber. Note that age and filtration methods affect the appearance. To do this, lift your glass to the light in front of a clean white paper to get a clear look at the bourbon and swirl it around the glass once or even twice.

Aroma:  This is a very vital part of tasting and skipping it is an unforgivable sin. According to research by Rockefeller University in 2014, people can detect more than one trillion scents that is by far more than ten thousand that was believed before. Even if you are using Glencairn or sniffer glass, keep your lips apart and stick your nose above the opening of your glass.

Taste: Whatever you do, do not gulp your whiskey. Take a small sip of whiskey and swirl it in your mouth, making sure that your lips are slightly apart. This is called “Kentucky Chew.” It involves taking a sip, moving the bourbon around the mouth with a chewing motion, breathing, swishing and swallowing. Naturally, the tongue is made up of various tasting zones. For instance, the tip tastes, sweetness, the middle detects salty flavor while the back tastes the bitterness of food items. Using these zones, you can define the taste and flavor of the bourbon. By tasting it the right way, you will not burn. Rather, your palate will be trained to identify different flavors.

Finish: This refers to how the bourbon leaves your mouth and the sensations you will have after you have swallowed it. A short finish is where the taste disappears quickly. After tasting, you should be able to find out if other flavors emerge in your mouth as the finish vanishes. What are the textures you notice in the bourbon? What sensation does it leave in your body?

Now add a few drops of water and repeat the above process. Do you find anything new? Note that a small amount of water can completely alter the flavor and profile of bourbon. If you fail to do it correctly as compared to what you read from others, do not worry. There is always a first time for everything.

Getting an independent view on a given bourbon brand should be free from any interference. To do so, do not begin tasting with someone else’s review in front of you. Doing so will influence your impressions and will, in the end, affect your conclusion. Instead, even if you want to compare their findings with yours, taste it independently, write reviews, and compare your results with theirs after completing the process.