Whiskey is considered one of the most noble alcoholic beverages. It is made of grain by malting and distillation, followed by aging in oak barrels. Typically, the aging period ranges from two to five years, but elite varieties can be maintained for more than 20 years. Many varieties are blended, which allows them to give a unique taste and aroma. Whiskey has a pleasant shade from golden amber to honey brown, the fortress has from 40 to 60 degrees. Following the "instructions" from some films, many of our compatriots are sure that you need to add cola or soda to this drink, as well as ice. Experts strongly oppose this approach. If you want to fully enjoy the bouquet of a noble drink, you should learn how to drink whiskey properly.
Usage Features
Drinking culture is called such, as it has certain rules. Whiskey tasting is a kind of ritual that has several essential requirements.
- Whiskey is drunk in the afternoon, usually a couple of hours after lunch or dinner.
- The ideal temperature of the drink is 18-20 degrees. At higher temperatures, the smell of alcohol comes to the fore, while at low temperatures it is impossible to feel the aroma of the drink. Cool it to the desired state with the help of special stones, trying not to use ice. If the drink is stored in a cool room, it will almost certainly be the right temperature.
- It is customary to drink good whiskey in its pure form, too strong drinks can be diluted with water. A glass of water in this case is served separately. Cheap whiskeys and American bourbon made from corn do not have a delicate bouquet and may even have unpleasant notes. These drinks can be diluted with mineral water, cola, soda or used to make cocktails.
- Expensive whiskeys are served in tulip-shaped wine glasses or glasses. Cheaper served in roks - cylindrical glasses with a thick bottom. An expensive drink can be served in the Rocks - some sommeliers claim that the bouquet in them is revealed as well. Often for tasting whiskey choose glasses like "toggle" - a kind of rock with a particularly thick bottom.
- Fill whiskey glasses by only a third. Usually this portion is 35 ml.
- Drink whiskey slowly, savoring every sip.
- There is an unspoken rule: you should use whiskey in a chamber atmosphere, and not in a club where there are a lot of people.
In Scotland - in the homeland of scotch (one type of whiskey) - there is a rule of “five S”:
- Sight (to admire) - says that before you try the taste of whiskey, it makes sense to evaluate its hue by admiring how the light plays in the glass.
- Smell (inhale) - appreciating the beauty of the shade, you can connect the sense of smell and inhale the aroma of whiskey, feeling its rich bouquet.
- Swish (savor) - sip whiskey, it should be held in the mouth for a few seconds, savor.
- Swallow - swallowing whiskey, you will feel that its taste has changed.
- Splash (diluted) - due to the fact that it is not always easy to evaluate a bouquet of strong alcohol, the Scots often prefer to dilute it, but in moderation and only with pure mineral water without foreign taste and smell, ideally from the same the source that water was taken to make the whiskey itself. Connoisseurs are advised to dilute whiskey exclusively Speyside Glenlivet Natural Mineral Water - mineral water from sources in Scotland.
Obviously, enjoying the whiskey according to the above rules, you do not drink much of it, so it is quite possible to do without snacks. Snacking it is not accepted, but in some cases this rule has to be violated.
How to bite whiskey
True connoisseurs of whiskey will be horrified to learn that you intend to eat such a noble drink, thereby eclipsing and interrupting its unsurpassed taste. However, even they will not strongly object if you serve snacks to relatively inexpensive whiskeys. It is advisable to think about the snack, if you understand that not all the guests will taste the whiskey, stretching pleasure, and among them there will be those who will drink a glass over a glass.
The selection of snacks for whiskey will depend on the type of drink:
- whiskey with smoky notes, suitable meat dishes and liver pate;
- it is advisable to offer seafood to a drink with herbal notes;
- if the alcohol has a sweetish aftertaste and fruit notes in the bouquet, then it can be supplemented with non-acidic fruits - a melon is considered a good snack.
In some countries, whiskey snacks on chocolate or serves cream or similar dessert.
Fruits can serve as a possible snack and cocktails made from whiskey and other ingredients.
Whiskey Sauer Cocktail
Composition:
- bourbon (American whiskey) - 45 ml;
- lemon - 0, 5 pcs .;
- sugar - 5 g;
- water - 20 ml;
- chicken egg - 1 pc .;
- ice - to taste;
- spiral of lemon peel - 1 pc .;
- cocktail cherry - 1 pc.
Preparation Method:
- Mix the sugar with water and heat over low heat, stirring until the sugar is dissolved. Cool the syrup to room temperature.
- Wash the egg well. Smash by separating the white from the yolk.
- Beat the mixer in a thick foam.
- Squeeze the juice from half a lemon, mix it with whiskey and sugar syrup. Place the mixture in a shaker.
- Add ice and a teaspoon of protein foam. Shake the shaker vigorously several times.
- Fill a glass with a cocktail, garnish with zest and a cocktail cherry.
If you doubt the quality of the egg and are afraid of contracting salmonella, you can do without protein.
Cocktail Al Capone
Composition:
- whiskey - 40 ml;
- martini “Rosso” - 20 ml;
- sugar syrup - 10 ml;
- ice - to taste;
- cocktail cherry - for decoration.
Preparation Method:
- Prepare sugar syrup as described in the previous recipe.
- Pour ice into a shaker, fill it with whiskey, vermouth and sugar syrup.
- Whisk. Pour into a glass, decorate with berries.
Such a cocktail can be served in a cone-shaped martini glass.
Cocktail “New York”
Composition:
- whiskey - 40 ml;
- pomegranate syrup - 10 ml;
- lemon juice - 20 ml;
- ice - to taste.
Preparation Method:
- Mix the liquid ingredients.
- Put ice cubes in a glass, pour the prepared mixture.
You can decorate a glass with a slice of lemon or orange.
Cocktail “Devil's Dozen”
Composition:
- whiskey - 20 ml;
- apricot juice - 20 ml;
- orange juice - 20 ml;
- ice - to taste.
Preparation Method:
- Mix two types of juice with whiskey.
- Fill the glasses with the mixture, putting them on the bottom of the ice cube.
Decorate a glass of cocktail cherries or orange zest. This cocktail is more like the ladies, who in fact also do not mind drinking whiskey.
Cocktail “Bora-Bora”
Composition:
- Scotch (Scotch whiskey) - 40 ml;
- lime - 20 g;
- grapes - 20 g;
- crushed ice - to taste;
- vanilla liqueur - 20 ml.
Preparation Method:
- Place thin slices of lemon and grapes on the bottom of a “Rocks” glass, add crushed ice. Slightly remember them with a spoon.
- Pour in liquor, then whiskey.
- Gently mix the ingredients with a straw.
The drink does not need additional decoration, it looks aesthetically pleasing in itself.
Cocktail Apple Jack
Composition:
- whiskey (ideally Jack Daniel's) - 50 ml;
- apple juice - 150 ml;
- ice - 100 g;
- lemon - to taste;
- cinnamon - 1 stick.
Preparation Method:
- Mix whiskey with apple juice.
- Fill the glass with crushed ice.
- Pour the prepared cocktail.
- Decorate the glass with a slice of lemon, dip cinnamon stick into it before serving.
The cocktail has a fresh taste and a pleasant bouquet, it is easy to drink, it is enjoyed by the fair half of humanity.
Cocktail “Whiskey with milk”
Composition:
- whiskey - 30 ml;
- milk - 60 ml;
- sugar syrup - 100 ml;
- ice cream - 20 g;
- ice - to taste;
- nutmeg - at the tip of a knife.
Preparation Method:
- Combine milk with whiskey, sugar syrup, ice and nutmeg. Beat with a mixer or shaker.
- Pour into a glass, decorate with a scoop of ice cream.
Sugar syrup in this cocktail can be replaced with cream liqueur.
Cocktail “Viper's Bite”
Composition:
- whiskey - 30 ml;
- tequila - 30 ml;
- ice - to taste.
Preparation Method:
- Mix the ingredients in a shaker.
- Strain. Pour into a tumbler type tumbler.
The drink turns out strong, and it is crafty, like snakes. It should be drunk with great care.
Whiskey is a favorite drink of many famous personalities. It is said that Margaret Thatcher also treated him with great respect. Scottish wisdom says that there are no people who do not like whiskey - there are people who have not found their own brand. You can find it only if you know how to taste the whiskey correctly, in order to fully appreciate its taste and aroma.
