Here's How To Be A Whisky Connoisseur: Lessons From Diageo Art Of Blending Session
Whisky – there’s a lot of it, and a lot to it!
There’s more to whisky than just its fine taste and smoothness. A distilled drink, it’s made from fermented grain mash and typically aged in wooden casks that give it a distinct colour and flavour.
While you may love to sip whiskies in your favourite cocktails, you only understand them better when you taste them in their purest forms.
Recently, we attended the Diageo Art of Blending session on Scotch Whisky hosted by brand ambassador Mr Afzal Kaba at The Little Easy, Bandra and found out just how interesting the tasting of whisky can be!
If you’re a budding connoisseur, here are few quick steps you can follow to have the perfect whisky tasting experience – at home.
What you’ll need
Whisky (around four to five varieties)
We suggest Black Dog, Black & White, Black & White 12 Year Old, Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve and Vat 69
Tulip-shaped glasses
Room temperature bottled water for drinking and diluting the spirits
Nibbles to cleanse your palate between tastings
Note pad for your observations
How to get started
1) Colour Me Yellow
Pour whisky into the glass and observe its colour against a white background. Remember that lighter-coloured whiskies tend to be lighter in flavour as well. A darker tone is usually an indication of a long aging period.
2) Sniff And Smell
Putting your nose gently above the glass, take a whiff of the whisky and note the aromas. Is it fruity? Spicy? Smoky? The notes you smell will also be present in the flavour. Move your head away from the glass, breathe in some air, and go back in again.
3) Learn To Chew
Take a very small sip to prep your palate. “Chew” it by moving it around your mouth, letting it dissolve on your tongue.
4) Savour The Flavour
Relish the lingering effect it leaves in your mouth and try to remember the flavours you smelled earlier.
5) Be A Chemist
Time to add a few drops of water! The water actually neutralizes the effect of the alcohol and helps bring out the more delicate notes of the whisky. Nose it again, then drink.
6) Rinse And Repeat
Before moving on to your next whisky, cleanse your palate with water. Don’t forget to drink responsibly!
So whether you like to have it neat or on the rocks, these steps will surely help enhance your whisky drinking experience!
*Drink Responsibly
