How to Properly Sip Scotch
By Kristy Alpert
Scotch may be one of the most misunderstood spirits of all time. Most people assume there are very strict rules to follow when it comes to properly sipping a scotch, but that’s one myth the folks behind Dewars, one of the most well-respected scotch brands in the industry, are trying to dispel.
“I always say there are ways to discover your whiskey and there’s ways to enjoy your whiskey,” says Gabriel Cardarella, brand ambassador, Dewars Blended Scotch and the single malt portfolios. “In discovering, there are a few steps you should take, but enjoying is however the hell you want to enjoy your whiskey.”
To impress a bartender or a golf buddy, Cardarella recommends ordering a scotch neat in a tulip-shaped glass and asking for a second glass of purified water to add a few nips of water on your own since water is to scotch as air is to wine.
“The more water you add, the more you are unveiling the layers of that whiskey’s character,” Cardarella explains. “If you want to really understand what a distiller is trying to tell you and you want to really dive into what their portfolio is, you should try it neat, nose it neat, add a dash of water, try it, nose it and repeat.”
To discover a whiskey properly, Cardarella’s steps include:
- Looking at the color to judge if it’s more amber (sherry cask aged) or golden (ex-bourbon barrel aged)
- Swirling the liquid to look at the tiers (thick, stagnant tiers depict an older scotch while thin, quickly moving tiers indicate a younger scotch)
- Nosing the glass lightly to pick up on the different aromas
- Tasting the scotch neat to get the full force of the spirit
- Adding a dash of water to open up the scotch’s bouquet
- Repeating with nosing, tasting and adding water until you feel you’ve discovered the scotch