Whisky Forum - Advice for learning more about tasting

Jimny14

I'm interested in learning more about how to "taste" whisky and what to look for when nosing etc. Does anyone have any tips and tricks for getting more out of my enjoyment of whisky?

For a bit of context I've currently got on the go old pulteney 12 (my current go to), jura journey (gift from a patient), aberlour 12, I've just finished an abundah batch 50. Yet to open we treated ourselves to the new release of glenturret 15.

ralfy legend · Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2020 5:16 pm Post subject:

How bad is that Jura journey hehe, how I started was , pick your whisky, get your best nosing glass, copita is my glass, small spoon for water, right environment and pour, a gentle swirl of glass and nose , then itâ€™s down to you, enjoy.

Jimny14 · Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2020 7:06 pm Post subject:

Thanks Ralphy, next job a couple of new glasses I think seems to be in order. The jura whiskies always hold a soft spot for me as it was one of the first whiskies I had when I was younger, then theres the fact that free whisky always tastes better anyway. Also I find having a whisky that I dont mind turning in to large hot toddies is always useful, especially when cold season starts.
That reminds me, with winter coming it's time to start looking for something peaty for colder nights.

BigShing · Master Of Malts Joined: 21 Feb 2019 Posts: 283

A Copita or Glencairn is absolutely essential, my friends still stubbornly persist with fancy tumblers but they couldn't deny there was a noticeable imrovement when I arranged a tasting glass comparison session with them! Just bear in mind that while a copita glass is technically the best design for tasting, they're very fragile and I've never been able to keep one for long. Glencairn glasses are basicaly as good as a copita and they'e really sturdy glasses, so they're ideal for everyday use.

The only other advice I can give you is keep it simple. Don't try to match the enthusiasts in picking out exotic tasting notes, just stick to basic flavour profiles like does it taste rich or light? Is it fruity or more honey/caramel/toffee. If it's fruity is it more a light citrus (lemon/orange) or ochard (apple/pear), or is it a richer fruit like red berries, grape, cherry, etc. Does it taste lke dried fruits: raisins, sultanas, etc. Just basic stuff, and all these tasting notes I've gven are really the bedrock flavours of most whiskies. I think keeping it simple in associating flavour with what you personally know well and experience daily just helps you settle into the "art" of tasting whisky. Apply that to everything you taste, not just whisky, and that'll help too.

I also like to visit a site like to do a quick comparison with etailer tasting notes to compare and contrast. Whiskey Exchange is particularly good for this because they give you a very concise flavour profile for each whisky.

ralfy legend · Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2020 7:04 pm Post subject:

Good post bigshing, copitas are fragile so thatâ€™s why Iâ€™ve got 3 hehe

BigShing · Master Of Malts Joined: 21 Feb 2019 Posts: 283

I've never bought a fancy one mind! Always taken mine from whisky festivals. Are there any with thicker glass that people have had that were a little sturdier? Always wondered what the glencairn copita is like.

Jimny14 · Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2020 9:42 pm Post subject:

Thanks big shing, very helpful.

ralfy legend · Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2020 6:08 am Post subject:

The glencairn copita my chosen glass is still fragile, think Iâ€™ve had it two years now so tip of the day is! Be careful.,

lincoln imp · Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2020 7:59 pm Post subject:

Rather than a teaspoon of water I like to use a pippette and add a few drops at a time, in some whisky even a few drops can be telling for releasing aromas.

I have dozens of glasses but agree with others that a copita is great but also fragile, I too have broke quite a few due to the thin stems. My favourite glassess are a short stem , wide bottom copita that I got from the G&M shop in Elgin but the very best was a thin tulip glass Iwith a long stem I got from St Andrews which was about a third thinner than the average Glenmorangie copita.
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Pour me a glass please.

ralfy legend · Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2020 9:27 pm Post subject:

The weight of these certain special glasses Iâ€™m sure to me does seem to throw a few spannerâ€™s into the works, remember my post a while ago when I weighed them all haha, Iâ€™ve got two short stemmed copitas that are I think a fair bit in differences in weight , but Iâ€™ve got 10 glencairns, 3 copitas so I often do change or match up against, the best stylish glass is the glencairn crystal but for me dosnt give a nosing that it should to the others and is the heavyweight of them all.