The Whisky Tasting Guide: From Taste to Flavour

When it comes to tasting whisky, there are so many myths, opinions, and stories abounding that it makes it quite confusing and sometimes intimidating. So, let's chat about whisky tasting - for both novices and seasoned veterans.

What is whisky tasting? 

Whisky tasting is the analysis of whisky through the utilisation of your senses - visual, smell and taste.

Your taste buds can only taste 5 different things: Sweet, Salty, Sour, Bitter and Umami (Japanese for meaty). That means that whatever you put into your mouth, without looking or smelling, that is what you will “taste”.

Olfactory senses

Olfactory senses relate to smell. Combining smell through olfactory senses, with taste, produces flavour. In short:

Taste + Smell = Flavour. 

This means that, without smell, there is no flavour.

This can be demonstrated through the classic example of someone who has lost their sense of smell through an accident, or other medical event. When given chocolate and vanilla ice cream, both flavours will taste exactly the same - cold and sweet. This is because without smell, there is an inability to detect flavour.

Whisky can be consumed many ways and it is very much dependent on personal preference. Some people will add ice to whisky to cool it down. There is a misnomer that this is the standard way of consumption. Adding ice does two things - firstly, it dilutes the whisky, but it will also constrain the aromatics and volatiles of the dram, making it harder to smell. This subsequently will reduce the full benefits of the tasting notes, and without the aromatics and volatiles, there is no smelling. Without smell, there is no flavour. Whisky rocks are one way to still receive the benefit of a cooler dram, without the dilution. A note of caution, high-quality, crystal glasses recommend not using rocks, as there is the potential to scratch the glass.

My personal preference is to have a sip of ice-cold water and then a dram of whisky at room temperature. The contrast of the ice water freshening the palate and then the warm whisky on the palate elevates the experience.

World of Whisky runs in-store whisky tastings, as well as private and corporate events. In this article, we've put together the 101 on what occurs at a whisky tasting.

What do you do at a whisky tasting?

When you go to a Whisky Tasting, you will sit down with a number of whiskies (generally 5-6) already poured in front of you on a tasting mat. There should be some snacks like baguette/crackers, cheese, dark chocolate, and bottled water. This is the perfect pairing to complement the flavour and notes of whisky. The host will then describe the whiskies and take you on a journey. You should always make arrangements to get home by public transport or have someone pick you up as you most certainly will be over the limit.

How to do a whisky tasting?

Whisky tastings are run by many reputable whisky clubs or specialist stores. Vouchers and tickets are available online - we have a schedule of upcoming tastings that can be accessed by our event page. 

If you would like to curate an event at home with your friends, you could ask them to each bring their favourite bottle, or you could select a theme or flavour. We recommend choosing a selection of whiskies from mild to strong, with variations in flavour notes. We recommend always finishing with a peaty or smoky whisky. The Ardbeg Hypernova (peated at a massive 170ppm - the highest on the market at the moment) would be our current recommendation! 

We are always available to assist with a selection recommendation, so if you have any questions, just send us a message via Instagram or Facebook, or call the shop to speak to one of our experts.

How do you clear your palate for whisky tasting?

In between each whisky, you should rinse out your palate with water. Eat some of the snacks as well. If you don't, then the whiskies will start tasting the same.

How much do you drink at a whisky tasting?

Usual pour is 15 ml. There should be enough to have a sip without water and then another sip with a few drops of water.

Do you spit out whisky in tasting?

No, we don’t advise spitting out whisky. Complement your dram with either a sip of bottled water after, or add a few drops of water if you would prefer to dilute the strength and flavour. Use bottled water rather than tap water, as the chlorine and fluoride in tap water affects the taste and flavour of whisky.

Should I swirl my whisky?

Wine drinkers swirl the glass in order to aerate the wine, which is good for it. I don’t advise swirling the whisky glass, as you need all the aromatics and volatiles to stay within the glass so you can get the maximum benefit from smelling it.

Finally, enjoy it! Tasting events are a great way to sample a range of new whiskies, without committing to a full bottle purchase. It is a great way to work out what your preferences are - with over 1000 different expressions stocked at World of Whisky, this may take some time!

Once you've discovered your favourite whiskies, you can easily buy whisky online from our wide selection of whiskies from around the world. Whether you're looking for Scotch, Irish whiskey, Japanese whisky, or any other variety, you'll find plenty of options to choose from at World of Whisky.