Getting to know whiskey is a lifelong adventure, and there’s no quick way to propel yourself to mastery without putting in the work. Fortunately, in this case, “work” means tasting whiskey, a very enjoyable pastime.
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READ THE STORYThat said, there are a few avenues you can pursue if you want to get serious about developing a palate for whiskey in a focused, systematic way.
Set yourself up for success
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Follow the basic rules for sensory evaluation. When tasting, don’t smoke, eat spicy food, or drink coffee for several hours in advance. Don’t taste in a distracting environment, and use the same glassware as consistently as possible. Skip that fancy, heavily scented hand soap.
Have Experiences
This is a weird one, but it’s hard to identify flavors and aromas without experiencing those flavors and aromas first. Try foods you’re not familiar with. How will you know you’re tasting jackfruit if you’ve never had one? Be open to smelling scents that may not be the most delightful on their own (looking at you, creosote). Next time you’re eating a food you are familiar with, pay close attention to what it actually tastes like, not what you think it tastes like. If you make a practice of noticing all the sensory inputs that come pouring in from the world around you, you’ll expand your ability to notice them in whiskey.
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Taste Systematically
I find I learn the most when tasting several spirits next to one another, preferably from the same category. Tasting multiple bourbons, for example, helps a new taster experience the flavor threads that tie the category together as well as how individual bourbons can deviate stylistically from that canonical flavor profile.
Take Notes
Relax
Finally, remember – tasting whiskey is supposed to be fun, not a competition as to who can identify the most obscure flavor note or accurately guess the cask type. Leave that stuff to the competition bartenders and spirits marketing people; your job is to enjoy.
