W – How to Drink Whisky Properly

How to drink whisky correctly?

When it comes to enjoying whisky, there is no fixed "right" or "wrong" method. Nevertheless, there are some helpful recommendations to experience the optimal aroma and best possible taste from this spirit.

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What mood should you be in to enjoy whisky?

Whisky is not merely consumed; it is celebrated. We are talking about enjoyment here. The optimal state of mind for this enjoyment is a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere. The same applies to enjoying whisky: calmly, without stress or time pressure, and you should do what feels right to you.

How important is the whisky glass?

The glass used to nose and taste the whisky – referred to as a nosing glass by experts – plays an important role. Typically, a whisky glass has a tulip shape, with a slightly wider diameter at the bottom that tapers upwards. Examples of these tulip-shaped glasses include the long-stemmed snifter or the Glencairn glass with a sturdy base. In contrast, a classic tumbler has a cylindrical shape, is significantly wider in diameter than a nosing glass, and is ideal for enjoying whisky with ice cubes.

What advantage does a tulip-shaped whisky glass offer?

The unique shape of the glass provides the whisky with a larger surface area at the bottom. This allows aromatic compounds to evaporate more effectively from the liquid and pass into the headspace. Similar to a flower, the tulip-shaped whisky glass tapers upwards, bundling the rising aromas of the whisky and thus guiding them in a concentrated manner to the nose.

What do circular movements of the whisky glass achieve?

Many whisky connoisseurs swirl their filled glass, which also wets the glass wall and increases the surface area of the whisky. This leads to more aromas evaporating and entering the headspace, making the whisky smell more intensely. However, alcohol also evaporates due to the increased surface area when swirling. This can manifest as a stinging sensation in the nose and prevents a clear perception of the whisky aromas. In this case, a short blow into the glass helps by allowing the alcohol to dissipate, making the whisky's aromas more discernible to the nose again.

Does the drinking temperature of a whisky play a role?

Absolutely. The cooler the whisky, the fewer aromatic and taste compounds are perceived when nosing and tasting, as they evaporate more slowly at low temperatures. The whisky then appears more closed and does not fully reveal its secrets. Therefore, it is important that the whisky reaches the optimal drinking temperature. Generally, this is referred to as room temperature, which should ideally be between 18°C and 20°C. If the whisky is too cold, you can warm the glass in your palm to bring it to an appropriate temperature.

Can you put ice in whisky?

With whisky, one principle applies: whatever you like is allowed! So feel free to add ice to your whisky. However, a tumbler is recommended for this, as the opening of a classic nosing glass is often too small for ice cubes. Ice has two effects on whisky: it dilutes the whisky by melting ice cubes with water and simultaneously cools it. This results in fewer aromas being perceived and the whisky having a less intense taste.

What effect does water have on whisky?

Adding water to whisky changes the perception of aroma and taste compounds. The whisky obviously shows a change. Scientific studies on this topic have shown that drinking alcohol ethanol does not mix ideally with water but forms clusters of ethanol molecules. In cask strength whisky with an alcohol content of 59% ABV and more, these clusters are located in the middle of the liquid in the glass. When the whisky is diluted to approximately 27 to 45% ABV, these clusters increasingly migrate to the surface of the whisky, i.e., to the air interface. The aroma compounds in whisky tend to remain near the ethanol clusters due to their physicochemical properties. In cask strength whisky, the aroma compounds gather around the ethanol clusters in the middle of the liquid and, after adding water, rise with them to the surface. This gives the volatile aroma compounds easier access to the headspace, and they can be better perceived in the nosing glass. In summary, diluting a cask strength whisky leads to a change in the sensory effect of the spirit, whereby the aromas are generally perceived more clearly.

How does our Brand Ambassador enjoy his whisky?

Our St. Kilian Brand Ambassador, Christoph Albietz, prefers to enjoy his whisky in a relaxed atmosphere, free from any preconceived notions about what has already been said or written about it. He experiences optimal enjoyment of a whisky when he drinks it from a long-stemmed, tulip-shaped glass or a Glencairn glass and the whisky is at room temperature. For cask strength whiskies, he occasionally adds a few drops of tap water, finely dosed with a coffee spoon. However, there is one no-go for Christoph when it comes to whisky: no Coke in the whisky!