So, You Fancy Being a Whisky Connoisseur?
Bravo, a great decision.
Maybe you’ve tried whisky and it burnt you from lips to innards, nearly every connoisseur starts out with a nasty sting, so don’t worry, we’ll get you past the dreaded burn. You’ll soon be looking back at those ‘swallow and gasp’ days with a right giggle!
Maybe you’ve recently tried a whisky that, unlike the few others you tried, you actually liked, and now you’re keen to see if it was a one-off or if, perhaps, you might just be a whisky person. You are, if you found one you liked, together we’ll find many more you’ll love. Not like, love!
Maybe you’re a little deeper into your whisky adventure. Perfect, let’s add a few more treasures to your trove.
Well, let’s get you briefed and ready to explore.
Destroying a Myth: Price
Let's get a myth out the way before we go any further, you do not need to be rich to explore good whisky.
Brands like the Glenlivet, Glenfiddich, Talisker and Ardbeg are amongst the most revered single malt Scotch distilleries in the world, all four produce whiskies for under £50 a bottle.
There is no need to spend a fortune to explore luxurious, complex and refined whisky.
Getting Past the Dreaded Burn
The first time I drank whisky neat I was sure it was an industrial cleaning fluid, it burned so bad I assumed I was beyond medical intervention. Alright, I’m being a bit dramatic, but it wasn’t a pleasant experience. So, how is it whisky drinkers can stand that burn? Well, we don’t.
Right, don’t “neck it”, “down it” or “back it”, don’t drink it like a shot. That will definitely burn. Instead, take a small sip (like you would hot tea) and allow the whisky to sit on your palate, mixing it with your saliva will dilute it and so reduce the burn, but it will also allow you to taste it.
You don’t have to drink whisky neat. Many savants add a few drops of water on occasion. Some will swear blind it must be purified water or mineral water. Perhaps, but if your tap water is perfectly fine for drinking in general, I can’t see why you need to use anything else. Needless to say, if your tap water is a funny colour, cloudy or stinks don’t use it in your whisky or at all, and contact some authority of some kind to get that sorted.
You can also use ice. Some swear by a single large cube, which will melt slower, so you won’t dilute the whisky too quickly. But, let's be honest, crushed ice or smaller cubes look way better, and that matters. Plus, everyone says Scotch on the rocks, not Scotch and an iceberg.
