Well, various people have different tastes and preferences when it comes to their favorite liquor. There are multiple ways one can drink and enjoy whiskey or bourbon. As a lifelong whiskeys and bourbons enthusiast, here is a guide on how to enjoy one along the way.
As a beginner in bourbons and whiskeys taste, there are a few basics one should familiarize themselves with.
First, it’s essential to understand that not all whiskeys are bourbons, but surprisingly, all bourbons are whiskey. A simple layman definition of whiskey is a beverage, alcoholic that is made by distilling fermented grain mash. Various varieties of grain produce whiskey and the most common ones include wheat, barley, rye, and corn, to name a few. When the process of distilling whiskey gets underway, some additives and flavoring might get added.
On the other hand, it is slightly different as this whiskey gets super regulated by the United States government when it comes to bourbons. A whiskey gets labeled bourbons when the distillation process follows the set rules and guidelines set by the relevant department. For a drink to get labeled bourbon, the following requirements must get met unconditionally.
The first requirement is that the beverage seeking to get labeled bourbons must get made in the United States. Secondly, the beverage must contain more than 51 percent corn that gets fermented in grain mash. Consequently, it must have no more than 63 percent ABV, particularly when it enters the barrel. The other requirement for a drink labeled a bourbon is that the beverage must get distilled to about 80 percent alcohol by volume. Lastly, oak barrels must get used to store the beverage to get labeled bourbons.
Sometimes it gets some people confused why limestone gets used in the process of making bourbons. The reason why limestone gets used in bourbon-making is for filtration purposes to remove water. This process produces high-quality bourbons.
Your bourbons drink gets its sweet flavor from the charring on the brand-new oak barrels. It’s important to note that the United States government has outlawed any process of adding any flavors and additives.
There is a new and emerging trend when making bourbon drinks. Some distillers are experimenting with techniques that include finishing the aging beverage with brandy barrels or the bourbon in sherry. If the process involves unregulated techniques or nontraditional methods of making bourbons, the rules demand that they get clearly labeled.
There are various approaches in which one can enjoy a beverage. There are two broad ways in which a beverage gets taken; one of these is taking it straight or taking it as neat. The whole idea of taking a beverage changes the moment you toss a piece of ice into it. Ice has characteristics that enhance and enrich your beverage. Consequently, it’s a disservice to continue taking your beverage with ice and never try it neat. If you happen to be among the group of persons who enjoy the taste of alcohol, then taking your beverage neat is the best option. Incidentally, a beverage becomes better and enjoyable when taken as a cocktail with either a single or multipole ingredient cocktail.
Whiskey contains high alcohol content, sometimes rising above 40 percent. Similarly, whiskeys come with a robust and bold flavor, and at times this combination might not work well for you. Adding some water to your beverage helps neutralize the experience slightly for you.
Adding water to your drink serves two main significances. First, the water added into your beverage allows one to detect multiple flavors, and secondly, water lowers the alcohol content in the beverage. It gets usually recommended for beginners or guys without much experience in tasting either bourbon or alcohol. Experts recommend trying it with a glass of water and a straw to strike a balance on the kind of flavor you are looking for. Adding drops of water to the beverage, taking a sip, and repeating the process until you strike a balance on the flavor you are looking for. Blindly adding water into your beverage will dilute it, and you will not achieve the chilling effect and overall refreshment.
Cocktails are another best and enjoyable way of taking a beverage, particularly if you have some issues with the taste of whiskey in your mouth. If you enjoy experimenting with different flavors by chance, then a whiskey cocktail is the way to go. There are various cocktails in the beverage industry, and a classic cocktail is the famous one. It is of all due to its ability to maintain the assertiveness of the mix. Unlike other beverages, whiskeys have a more expansive room for experimenting as they come with different flavors.
Like whiskeys, bourbon can also get produced in cocktails to those who enjoy different tastes other than the alcohol taste in bourbon. Some of the famous bourbon cocktail mixes include the Manhattan mix, John Collins mix, and the whiskeys sour. The above cocktails have different methods of mixing the ingredients to achieve the desired taste.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional consultation or advice related to your health or finances. No reference to an identifiable individual or company is intended as an endorsement thereof. Some or all of this article may have been generated using artificial intelligence, and it may contain certain inaccuracies or unreliable information. Readers should not rely on this article for information and should consult with professionals for personal advice.