Updated 11/24/2021
Do you have questions about the process of making whiskey, what the main ingredients of whiskey are, and why they are important? Do you want to learn more about the process of using a whiskey aging barrel and what you need to know about aging whiskey? Are you interested in the process of making whiskey so you can try your hand at it yourself? If so, there is a lot of reading and research in store for you because this is a simple but involved process.
Answering the question of what’s the best tasting whiskey largely depends on personal preference, what the drink is being paired with, and how it is being consumed. Finding a good whiskey and learning how the whiskey is made can be an enlightening experience for some people.
Knowing what goes into making a good blend can also make it easier to know how to drink good whiskey so you can get the greatest enjoyment from it. So, find your local brewing experts and let them answer all your questions, from simple questions like is whiskey a scotch to more complicated ones like how long do I age my whiskey for.
The Manly Man’s Drink
Whiskey. It conjures to mind the old man sitting at a chair by the fire. Or the young professional sipping a double on the rocks at a trendy bar. There are archetypes: the manly man, the accomplished man. It is sipped by people all around the world. It is made from distilleries all around the world. The top five on the list of countries where people consume the most whiskey are:
- France at 2.15 liters per person
- Uruguay at 1.77 liters per person
- United States at 1.41 liters per person
- Australia at 1.3 liters per person
- Spain at 1.29 liters per person
In fact, whiskey consumption rose 17% in the United States between 2010 and 2015.
This fall, whiskey season has arrived. Whiskey, because of its amber quality and warmth it provides when drunk, is perfect for colder temperatures. Here is a list of six cocktails ready for the fall season.
The Manhattan
Made with rye whiskey (sometimes bourbon), sweet vermouth, and bitters, this whiskey cocktail is used as a base for other drinks. It is great by itself and is the introduction to whiskey the same as the martini is to gin.
The Old-Fashioned
Whiskey, bitters, sugar, and a splash of water are the ingredients to this drink, although the flavors it produces are more complex than that. Try experimenting with different kinds of whiskey to find one that suits your palate.
The Highball
Whiskey and ginger ale go together in this cocktail to produce a refreshing twist on the classic whiskey drink. Ginger ale has a bubbly and fizzy quality from carbonation that makes the whiskey taste a little lighter.
Whiskey Sour
The whiskey sour is a simple drink. It contains whiskey, lemon or lime juice, and syrup for a sweet version of the classic whiskey drink. Try matching it with different kinds of whiskey. It’s incredibly versatile. Perfect to bring out the sweet notes of whiskey.
Irish Coffee
This whiskey drink is perfect for a cold night or after a large meal. It’s made from Irish whiskey, coffee, sugar and a touch of whipped cream. It’s perfect as coffee gives a little rush while the whiskey cools it down. Very well-balanced drink.
The popularity of whiskey in America is second only to vodka. For individuals who prefer liquor over wine and beer, 26% prefer whiskey, while 29% prefer vodka. Whiskey has longevity. Stored in bottles, it can last up to 100 years.
Whiskey is also seen in culture to be with strong, machismo men. John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, and more modern day machismo men represent the ideal that whiskey brings.
In truth, whiskey has a difficult flavor to manage on its own. It will burn when drunk by itself, even with ice cubes and water to cut it. Vodka and gin are clear liquor with less strong taste profiles. For someone having an introduction to liquor, it will be best to start them with a clear liquor rather than a dark.
For more information about whiskey, it is always possible to visit a distillery. A distillery uses methods developed as far back as the Babylonians and Mesopotamians to form liquor. Often times they’ll use a distilling process and then have the liquor age in a charcoal barrel for many years.
It’s possible, especially in regions of the South, to find a distillery, especially if you look up on the Internet, ‘distillery near me.’
Whiskey and liquors have another added benefit in that they are gluten free. Gluten allergies is an intolerance towards the compound called ‘gluten,’ which is often located in bread products.
Fortunately, liquors are gluten free so it’s okay to have a good time while remaining healthy.