There are enough different styles of whisky to suit every type of whisky drinker, and there are ones for every level of budget and palate. Whilst whisky may seem like an intimidating drink with an abundance of history for those looking in from the outside, the drink is all about being enjoyed to the fullest.
Over recent years whisky has shed its fusty image of bottles covered in dust with fancy descriptions and strict protocols for the way it should be correctly consumed. With whisky nowadays, there are no defined rules, although if you want to get the most from every dram of Loch Lomond Whiskies that you drink, then keep reading below.
Adding water or ice
You should try whisky both without and theen with water to notice the difference that it makes. Adding just a few drops of water to a glass of whisky really helps to bring out its different flavours – this works especially well with those that have a high alcohol by volume (ABV) value.
Adding ice has the effect of tempering the intensity of whisky, as well as diluting it gradually. This is a good option for those people that are new to drinking whisky. During the melting process, the flavour of the whisky will continually change.
One option that exists for chilling a glass of whisky without diluting the flavour is using whisky stones. The more whisky that you drink, the sooner you will work out what your preference is when it comes to adding water, ice, or whisky stones to your drink for maximum enjoyment.
How to taste
First of all you need to start off with the basics and take a look at the whisky. If everything looks as it should, then you should proceed to giving it a sniff to see if it smells right. From there, it is time to taste the drink. A handy tip is to take a small sip first and then swill it around in your mouth to get a full taste of all of the flavours before swallowing it. When doing this you might find that you pick up some general floral tones or even some more specific flavours, such as lemon sherbet or chocolate digestive biscuit.
Often when drinking whisky, your mouth will be left with a ‘mouthfeel’. This refers to the taste and feel of the residue after you have swallowed the drink. The consistency is usually viscous and oily.
Whisky cocktails
The more traditional whisky based cocktails use garnishes such as ginger, orange, and other citrus flavours to really bring out the different flavours. A popular whisky cocktail is an old fashioned, which consists of several dashes of herbal Angostura bitters, some soda water, and a slice or an orange.
A whisky sour cocktail comprises of fresh lemon juice and numerous other ingredients, including egg whites. If that is not your thing, then why not try a sweet manhattan cocktail instead which works best with a peppery rye whisky.
