WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO DRINK WHISKY?
WHISKY DRINKING TIPS
How to drink whisky is very personal – there's no right or wrong way to do it. Savour flavours and enhance appreciation by trying different glasses, temperatures, or mixers. Get creative with cocktails. Discover what suits you best to elevate your whisky drinking experience.
A guide to whisky tasting
1. Choose your glass
When drinking neat whisky, make it a tumbler (a short glass with a heavy bottom). For long whisky drinks, use a highball glass that's tall, slim and straight-sided.
2. Inhale the scent
A huge part of the flavour of food and drink comes from the way it smells - and whisky is no exception. Take a moment to enjoy the aroma.
3. Savour the taste
Take a sip and allow the whisky to roll over your tongue before letting it slip smoothly down.
4. Take your time
See what flavours you recognise – some will be unique, or come across stronger, to you. Try discussing what you can taste in whisky with friends.
HOW TO DRINK WHISKY IN COCKTAILS
Whisky has a whole range of flavours, textures and scents, which means it works well in many ways. You can get creative and try it with unexpected pairings in a highball cocktail. Or stick to classic cocktails like a Whisky Sour and a Scotch Old Fashioned to bring out a complex flavour profile of whisky. Whether you like your cocktail sweet, spicy, sour or bitter, whisky makes a perfect base.
Common tasting questions
Both ways of drinking whisky have their benefits. 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 flavours as the liquids combine. Experiment to see what works for you but go slowly. Don’t add too much water at once.
Adding ice to Scotch Whisky instantly makes for a more refreshing experience, but it can also significantly change the flavour as it dilutes it. To find a balance that works for you, consider the amount and shape of the ice, as well as the measure of whisky. The more ice in the glass or the bigger the cube, the slower it’ll melt. And the impact will be greater on a single measure than a double.
Combining Scotch Whisky with a mixer is a good way to ease yourself into the world of whisky, without compromising on flavour. And it lets you experience whisky paired with unexpected flavours. Try it in a highball cocktail: simply fill a tall glass with ice, add a measure of your favourite Johnnie Walker Scotch Whisky, then top with your mixer of choice and a garnish. Nothing’s off the table – from classic ginger ale and sweet iced tea to elderflower cordial.