“How do I drink bourbon?” It may seem a little ridiculous at first glance. Just pour it into a glass and drink the whiskey neat, right? But the situation is a little more complicated than that.
Bourbon whiskey is a deep and complex spirit that takes hard work and years of aging to produce, and there are small steps that can be taken to fully appreciate it.
Despite what some smug whiskey aficionados might tell you, the best The way to drink bourbon. There are many ways to maximize your enjoyment and appreciation, such as making whiskey cocktails or pouring bourbon on the rocks.
Whether it's Wild Turkey 101 or Maker's Mark No. Whether you prefer 46 or even Evan Williams, we spoke to several bourbon whiskey experts to give you all the tips to get the most out of your bourbon drinking experience.
Related: I've Tried Thousands of Whiskeys. This Cheap Bourbon is Perfect for Cocktails
How to Drink Bourbon?
Choose a Glass
Dylan Ettinger
Once you've chosen the whiskey you'll drink, the next biggest decision is the style of glassware with which you'll drink the bourbon. The two most common styles of glassware for bourbon tasting are Glencairn glass and rock glass.
“When you visit tasting rooms in Kentucky, you will most likely be served vourbon in a glencairn glass. It is tulip-shaped and has become the industry standard in whiskey tasting,” says Bernie Lubbers, national brand ambassador for Heaven Hill Distillery. “But I think any glass that allows you to put your nose into the glass will work just fine.”
“I tend to gravitate toward standard ground glasses because that's what I'm used to when sitting at a bar, but there is no 'right' glass, only the glass you choose,” says Tim Heuisler, global small-batch brand ambassador for James B. Beam Distilling.
Whatever you decide, it is recommended that you choose a clear glass so that you can see the color of the whiskey.
pour bourbon
When it comes to pouring bourbon, the biggest question is whether to measure the pour.
“You won't damage the whiskey either way,” Lubbers explains. “Pour just enough to get a nice aroma, so at least half an ounce or more will be sufficient.”
The standard pour amount in most bars or tasting rooms is either one ounce or two, and bartenders often use a measuring tool such as a jigger to make sure they don't pour too much. at home or with friends.
“Regarding quantity, I'm just giving you a friendly reminder to drink responsibly,” says Heuisler. “Otherwise, do your best to avoid spilling anything on your counter. “A lot of work went into creating this liquid.”
Look and Smell
The first two things you'll notice when enjoying a glass of bourbon are color and aroma. Bourbon gets all its color from the barrel aging process.
“Color can give you a clue about the time the bourbon has spent in barrel or bottling strength,” explains Heuisler. “The deeper and richer the color, the longer it stays in the barrel or the higher the proof, as lower proof bourbons are diluted with water before bottling.”
If you gently swirl the whiskey in the glass, you can also tell how viscous it is by observing the legs: drops of whiskey slowly falling into the glass. In general, the proof is higher as more whiskey sticks to the inside of the glass and falls back into the glass more slowly.
Among whiskey professionals, assessing the scent of bourbon is called nosing. This step is equally important for appreciating the whiskey as for tasting it.
“I recommend holding the glass about an inch below your nose at all times and keeping your lips slightly open as you snort your bourbon,” says Heuisler. “Keeping your lips open will help your breath circulate and reduce the risk of abusing your scent glands. If you can't smell it, you can't taste it.”
There are certain notes like vanilla, caramel, and baking spice that are common to almost all bourbon whiskeys, but the best bourbons are complex and dynamic with a variety of unique scents.
“The first smells and thoughts that come to your mind will be aromas. You may not even give it a name, but it is there and it is yours,” says Lubbers. “You can also look up the bourbon whiskey flavor wheel, which can help you identify flavors. And never forget, there's no wrong answer to your own experience.”
Taste and Flavor
If you're overthinking how to enjoy bourbon, remember that the star of the show is almost always flavor. The best bourbons are rich and full of subtle flavors. To get the most out of your experience, sip slowly and be sure to savor every drop.
“Like smelling and sniffing a whiskey, close your eyes, clear your mind, and put enough bourbon in your mouth and chew well,” Lubbers recommends. “This will distribute the whiskey throughout your palate. Then feel where the whiskey hits; The front part of your palate is sweet. The back of your palate detects spice. “As different tastes come to your mind, write them down.”
After that, take a second sip and see if you notice a different taste in the whiskey or if the bourbon changes between sips. Try looking for common flavor notes like caramel, baking spice, toffee, and vanilla. Then see if you notice any taste other than that. Cherry, dried fruit, orange peel, and tobacco are common flavor notes in bourbon.
After you swallow the bourbon, there should still be a lingering taste. This is called ending. The finish is judged by how long these flavors linger and whether the combination of flavors is complex or pleasant.
“Trust your palette and enjoy the journey. You can read reviews and tasting notes, but at the end of the day, it's how you feel when that glass is in front of you,” says Heuisler.
Different Ways to Drink Bourbon
Do you drink bourbon on the rocks? Is there a proper way to drink bourbon? Valid questions. But don't stress too much when choosing how to sip bourbon. There is more than one way to do this and it all depends on your preference.
in cocktails
Dylan Ettinger
Bourbon is often enjoyed mixed into a cocktail.
“This is a full-bodied spirit that blends well with other ingredients and can accommodate some dilution depending on bottling strength,” says Heuisler. “There's a reason why so many classics of the cocktail world are made with bourbon.”
Popular bourbon drinks include old fashioned and mint julep, but bourbon is also the base ingredient in popular modern cocktails such as the paper airplane and the gold rush.
Iced
Dylan Ettinger
Another popular way to enjoy bourbon is on the rocks; This means that the whiskey is served over an ice cube or cubes. You can also order it as bourbon on the rocks if that makes more sense to you.
“The ice does two things; it cools the bourbon, and then it melts by adding water to the bourbon, changing the flavors as it melts,” Lubbers explains.
The process of chilling and diluting a bourbon can reduce some of the stronger flavors and aromas.
“I like having a big cube. It chills the whiskey and melts more slowly than small cubes, which dilutes your whiskey more slowly so you can take your time pouring,” says Heuisler.
Straight or Smooth
Dylan Ettinger
If you want to experience bourbon in its purest form, sipping it without ice or stirrer is the way to go.
“Proper Bourbon represents the age and proof that the master distiller and distillery sensory teams have selected for that whiskey, so I like to experience any bourbon that way for the first time,” says Lubbers.
In most distillery tasting rooms or guided tastings, whiskey is almost always served at room temperature. This presentation allows the drinker to evaluate the color, aroma, flavor and finish of the whiskey in its simplest, unadulterated form.
Aqueous
Dylan Ettinger
Some bourbons may be slightly burnt due to evidence of being bottled. One way to enjoy a particularly strong pour is to add some water at room temperature. Mixing it with some water will reduce the overall proof of the whiskey and allow it to open up or introduce new flavors and aromas.
“One way to regulate this is to use a dropper with water and add a few drops at a time until you find the level you enjoy most,” says Lubbers.
Adding too much water too quickly can overwater the bourbon, making it flat and tasteless.
“Add a few drops at a time and taste the whiskey as you do,” says Heuisler. “As you add water, you will notice a different mouthfeel and you will definitely get different flavor notes.”
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