There’s an aura of “coolness” and manliness around drinking whiskey. But you don’t chug whiskey.
Well, some people do whiskey shots, but downing it immediately doesn’t mean enjoying it. It means getting quickly and emphatically drunk.
The best way to enjoy a glass of whiskey is by sipping it. But sipping isn’t done only with your lips. It’s a whole experience.
Plus, some brands were basically made for sipping. With this in mind, here’s more about how to drink whiskey and how to find the best sipping whiskey out there.
Sipping and Savoring
Before moving on to listing some of the best sipping whiskeys on the market, let’s see if you know how to sip whiskey in the first place.
No, this doesn’t mean pouring a glass, sitting by the fire, and slowly sipping your drink. You can do this with any alcoholic beverage. No, sipping whiskey is a whole other deal.
The point of sipping and savoring whiskey isn’t to look presumptuous. It’s not about looking cool, either.
And no, it’s definitely not about drinking slower. The idea here is that you truly experience all the flavors of your whiskey drink. These flavors, however, aren’t apparent just like that.
The Flavor
Alcoholic beverages, especially whiskey, tend to carry complex and strong flavors. These flavors are best released and “tasted” in a particular manner.
First of all, you should know what flavor is. Flavor is, actually, a combination of your smell and your taste. In particular, the sense of smell plays an essential role here.
Taking Whiffs
This is why a hearty whiff from the glass of freshly poured whiskey is a must, before you go on and take a sip. And make sure that you take a solid whiff, at that. In this manner, you’re allowing your nose to educate your palette.
Don’t worry if the whiff does nothing for you. The first sniff is by-and-large alcoholic. What it will do is it clear your airwaves.
After that, take another couple of whiffs and you’ll start noticing the pure flavors of the whiskey in question.
Tasting
Only after you’ve taken a few good sniffs and started noticing the smell of the whiskey, should you take a sip.
Make it a small one, though. Oh, and don’t swallow it right away. Keep it in your mouth for a while. Try to pick out the different flavors that your nose has readied for your palate.
The classic tastes of toffee, caramel, and vanilla are almost always going to be there. This is because they age whiskey in wooden barrels. Repeat this process for the next 30-60 minutes. This is how you genuinely sip, savor, and enjoy a whiskey beverage.
Whiskey by Flavor
As you know, not all whiskeys are the same. Granted, they’re all made in a very similar manner, the vast majority is aged in wooden barrels, and they all share a very similar taste.
But, as we’ve learned, taste isn’t the same thing as flavor. It’s the flavor that makes for all the difference, and this is why sipping is so essential.
Here are some types of whiskeys by flavor to help you enjoy a rich whiskey journey.
Maritime and Smoky
Whiskeys that are made in coastal regions tend to carry the flavor of those regions, as well. Peat smoke, brine, and sea spray are some of things you can expect from maritime and smoky whiskeys.
Floral
Floral-based whiskeys are perfect for the earlier-in-the-day type of servings. The flavor is full of finesse and elegant – not at all in-your-face and straightforward.
Dried Fruit and Nut
Nuttiness and the sweet flavor of dried fruit is the name of the game for these whiskeys. They’re perhaps the most prominent all-rounders. Perfect for beginner whiskey connoisseurs.
Fruit and Spice
If you’re looking for an easy-to-drink whiskey, while still attaining a ton of flavors, fruit and spice whiskeys are a great choice.
These beverages are rich with dried fruits, nutmeg, cinnamon, clove, as well as nutty flavors. They’re very similar to dried fruit and nut whiskey.
Vanilla and Fresh Fruit
Tropical fruit, soft spice, and the clean, sweet taste of vanilla are what makes these whiskeys unique. They’re often offered as aperitifs, which isn’t a surprise, given their fresh and vibrant fruit flavor.
Malt and Honey
You may not think of it like that, but many people consider malt and honey whiskeys to be the most classic of whiskey flavors. Expect a full-malty character, and the natural sweetness of honey. Don’t be surprised if you catch a whiff of toffee and/or biscuit.
Peat and Fruit
Looking for pure fruity notes? Peat and fruit whiskeys will give you exactly that. The core of their flavor is fruit, which perfectly clings to peat.
Rich and Peaty
If you’re into peat, these full-flavored, big whiskeys will give you what you’re looking for. A lot of smoke, strong peaty notes, and overall richness is what you should expect from this flavor.
Best Sipping Whiskey
You can sip every brand of whiskey. You can sip it just as you can technically sip water. And, sure, whiskey, as a beverage, is typically best suited for sipping.
But some whiskeys are particularly great for sipping. They have exciting flavors and this is what makes them truly special. Here’s a list that will help you find the best sipping whiskey for your taste.
Sazerac Rye
This one has won quite a batch of awards over the years. For example, it has received commendations from the New York World Wine and Spirits Competition and the Beverage Testing Institute.
But let’s talk about the aroma. The flavor here consists of vanilla, clove, pepper, and anise. To spice it up a bit, you can smell candy and citrus in it. Taste-wise, expect licorice, which gives it a nice kick. Clearly, this is a fruit and spice kind of whiskey.
Knob Creek
Although it’s a whiskey of high quality and brilliant flavor, the Knob Creek Kentucky straight bourbon won’t set you back too much, wallet-wise. It’s a whiskey with a sweet flavor, rich with caramel and wood. It bears the fantastic aroma of maple sugar.
Like many other whiskeys, this one is aged in wooden barrels; American Oak barrels, that is.
Collingwood Whiskey
Most Canadian whiskeys have a maple finish to them (naturally). This one isn’t your typical sipping whiskey type, as it brings together sweet notes of flowers, fruit, and honey, but with a cinnamon and apple cider twist.
This makes it perfect for sipping, although it can work wonders in cocktails.
Expect flavors of maple sugar, licorice, cinnamon, and honey. If you’re into honey in your spirits, the Collingwood whiskey will bring something that you’re used to and give it a nice little twist.
Elijah Craig
This straight bourbon whiskey has won many awards for the best sipping whiskey that you can buy at a liquor store. It’s aged in charred oak barrels, but it still packs beautiful and stunning scents, along with a delicious flavor.
Spice, nutmeg, and smoke are what you can expect from its flavor and you can add the scent of sweet fruit, vanilla bean, and fresh mint to the equation.
Johnnie Walker Blue Label
Here’s a name that everyone will find familiar. Yes, many whiskey enthusiasts will roll their eyes upon hearing “Johnnie Walker,” but their Blue Label line has great things to offer for sipping.
You might not expect it, but the Blue Label brings exciting flavors of sherry, honey, hazelnuts, and oranges to the table. But what makes this whiskey truly special is the aftertaste.
If sipped correctly, the aftertaste aligns perfectly with the mentioned flavors. Expect an aftertaste of sandalwood, kumquats, ginger, and dark chocolate. This is one smooth, yet powerful sipping whiskey – a great balance.
Redbreast 12-Year-Old
If you’re looking for a smoky, yet sweet flavor, the rich and spicy Redbreast 12-year-old might be right up your alley.
If whiffed properly, the flavor will continue to linger on your palate after every sip. Still, the Redbreast is smooth overall.
The flavors here are simply amazing – spicy and toasty, yet creamy and fruity. You better believe that you won’t turn down a second glass of this tasty beverage.
Stagg Jr.
With awards from the Ultimate Spirits Challenge and the International Sports Challenge, Stagg Jr. is a whiskey that has a lot to offer. Don’t be surprised if it becomes your next favorite sipping whiskey.
The rich flavor of brown sugar and sweet chocolate works wonders in combination with the rye spice. The ingredients and the aging work so well in tune that you can expect hints of cloves, cherries, and even smokiness towards the end of each gulp.
Tomatin – Cù Bòcan
Now, this is quite a strange one. And not in a bad way, either. An experienced whiskey sipper will recognize this one in a matter of minutes.
The aroma here is that of burnt butterscotch and malty chocolate — quite an interesting combination! But then, you’ll detect citrus zest, and this is where you’ll be hooked.
This is a rich whiskey in terms of the palate. The flavors here include orange peel, cinnamon, sweet vanilla custard, and others. The drink itself is smooth and the sweetness tends to linger.
Angel’s Envy
If you have a thing for Kentucky whiskeys, this is going to be quite a unique sipping experience for you. Angel’s Envy comes straight out of Kentucky and makes for a brilliant sipping beverage to enjoy with your friends.
This beverage is silky and smooth, although very rich in texture. Expect aromas and flavors of candied tangerine, ripe berries, maple syrup, and light toffee. It’s a Kentucky whiskey with a perfect twist.
Old Heaven Hill
This whiskey is quite a blend of various beautiful scents and flavors. You’ll smell vanilla, honey, oak, and corn, but also brown sugar, citrus, and leather.
The smell lingers, and so does the taste. Expect rye spice, butterscotch, and a tiny bit of mint.
Although the Old Heaven Hill bourbon is somewhat thin, it remains lightweight and smooth, ideal for a sipper who doesn’t look for intensity in their beverage.
Sipping Straight or Neat
Making a whiskey “straight” means adding ice to it. In many cases, this will enhance the experience.
When it comes to sipping, drinking a whiskey straight will definitely leave you with less of an impression. The ice will tone down some flavors and aromas, making them harder to detect.
If you truly want to enjoy your whiskey sipping experience, try going “neat.” This is especially important for beginner whiskey sippers, as adjusting your taste and olfactory radars to a variety of different flavors is important.
Still, no one will blame you if you sip your whiskey straight. For some, the high alcoholic content of whiskey can be a bit disorienting – the ice will slowly water it down as you drink, making for a longer, milder sipping experience.
Why Add Water to Whiskey?
Although ice technically turns into water after a while, you can’t really add a few droplets of ice and expect for it to make a difference in temperature or in watering down the beverage. This is why some sippers prefer adding a small amount to their beverages.
If you’re wondering how this would make any difference, here’s a brief explanation.
A splash of water inside your whiskey will actually release hydrophobic elements inside the glass.
Hydrophobic means water-repellent and this water quality will allow you to detect more aromas. A splash of water will also lower the alcohol content ever so slightly, but enough to allow your palate to taste more flavors.
So, if you prefer sipping whiskey neat, add a couple of drops of water to your beverage using a glass of water and a straw.
Whiskey Sipping
As you can see, there’s more to sipping whiskey than drinking it slowly. First, there’s a proper way to do it.
Then, there are certain whiskey types that are particularly great for sipping. Finally, there are multiple ways to drink your whiskey. The best way to go here would be to try different things out. Let your own taste hone in on what likes.