The simplest way to enjoy your whisky is neat, cleansing your palate with cool water between sips. Some people also add a few drops of water to their whisky, which can open up the flavors as the liquids combine. Experiment to see what works for you, but go slowly.
It’s time to finally learn how to drink whiskey
Drinking whiskey is a magical experience. It’s a drink you can savor with close friends or enjoy while making new friends at your local bar or pub. And there are quite a number of ways to enjoy whiskey: You can drink it neat, shake or stir it into a modern cocktail, or concoct rejuvenating glasses of classic whiskey cocktails. Contents
On top of that, there’s a whiskey for everyone, from stellar American single malt and bourbon options made right here in the States to age-old peaty expressions out of Scotland and up-and-coming whiskies from promising distillers in Australia. Recommended Videos
You don’t need to spend a lot of cash to get started on whiskey. Feel free to check out our list of the best cheap whiskies under $25 and rye whiskey brands under $90 if you’re interested in cost-effective options.
But if you would like to add whiskey to your growing list of hobbies, we worked with Tommy Tardie, world-renowned whiskey connoisseur and the owner of The Flatiron Room, to help you understand the peculiarities of this fascinating spirit.
If you’re a frequent visitor to The Manual, then you probably don’t need an introduction to whiskey. In fact, there’s a decent chance you’re nursing a tumbler at this very moment. Still, learning more about the wide world of whiskey can help boost your enjoyment. Tardie embarked on an international mission to learn everything he could about whiskey before opening The Flatiron Room. Before we get to Tardie, though, let’s break down what whiskey actually is (for those who don’t know or aren’t sure of all the specifics).
In short, whiskey is a distilled spirit made from grain. To get to the distillation point, a distiller mashes up the grain to release natural sugars, which are then fermented into alcohol. That alcohol is then distilled, creating a more potent spirit in the process. The grain that’s used can vary, but more often than not, you’ll find whiskies made with corn, rye, wheat, and barley (both malted and not). Other grains, such as millet and quinoa, are used on occasion, but the four we just mentioned are the major players. Once the mash has been fermented and distilled, it usually spends time in a barrel, which contributes flavor and color.
And voila! Whiskey in a nutshell. Now, onto the man who has taken the New York City whiskey world by storm, Tommy Tardie.
“The great things about whiskey are that it is so diverse and can appeal to a very broad range of palates,” said Tardie. “Bourbon, rye, single malts, blends — they’re all whiskey.” (If you’re curious about the different spellings of “whiskey,” here’s a quick breakdown of the difference.)
If there’s a theme to this guide, it’s “exploration.” There’s no one right way to drink all whiskeys — instead, enjoying whiskey is a personal journey that could easily change from week to week, day to day, drink to drink. The protocol outlined in this guide of how to drink whiskey works well with any whiskey under the golden sun. We’ll take you through the basics, but ultimately you have to follow your own palate.
How to drink whiskey
The next time you have a glass of whiskey, resist the urge to toss ice into it immediately. You’ll find that many whiskeys are greatly enhanced by ice, but you’d be doing yourself a disservice if you didn’t at least try the whiskey neat.
“Before I got into the hospitality game, I would usually order a whiskey neat when I went out,” Tardie told us, recommending neat whiskey for those who enjoy the taste of alcohol. “I would refer to my whiskey as a single-ingredient cocktail.”
If you find that you don’t like your whiskey neat, that’s totally fine. With the high alcohol content (approximately 40% to 43% alcohol by volume) and bold flavor profiles, a glass of straight whiskey can be like a slap in the face to your taste buds. In order to get more of a warm hug experience, why not add a little water?
How to properly drink whiskey!
FAQ
What is the correct way to drink whiskey?
Is whiskey better neat or diluted?
Is it better to drink whiskey neat or not?
Why do people drink straight whisky?
Should you drink whiskey straight?
There’s plenty of subjectivity when it comes to spirit style preference, but generally, if you’re looking to drink whiskey straight, you want something smooth. That means every element of the whiskey should be in balance, with no harsh or extreme edges.
Scotch vs Whiskey: Which is healthier?
Scotch and whiskey are the same. Scotch is Whiskey made in Scotland from either barley or mix of grains. Scotch whiskey carries some meaningful benefits if taken in lower or moderate quantities, like, it lowers the risk of dementia, prevents heart attacks, blood clots, strokes, and even fight cancers. Ellagic acid found in whiskey is a potent anti-oxidant. Scotch contains no fat, low in sugar, carbohydrates or salt, making it lowest-calorie alcoholic drinks. Scotch is also a better choice for people with diabetes, as it barely changes the blood glucose levels.
Should whiskey be sipped straight?
Whiskey, on the other hand, is often best sipped straight; and if it’s enjoyed while camping, at an outdoor concert or barbequing with friends, a nip right from the bottle can not only heighten the spirit’s flavor, it can also heighten the drinking experience overall. But not every bottle makes for optimal straight-sipping.
Can you drink whiskey with a mixer?
Double strain into a chilled glass and garnish with a cherry. Stir liquid ingredients together with ice. Strain into a chilled coupe glass and garnish with a cherry. While some whiskey purists may scream “NO,” whiskey can also be enjoyed with just a mixer, generally some kind of carbonated nonalcoholic beverage.