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How to Prepare Your Palate for a Whisky Tasting

How to Prepare Your Palate for a Whisky Tasting

Whisky tasting is one of the most pleasurable aspects of whisky culture. From the rituals to the company you keep, and to the tasting itself, every component plays a role in the experience.

Our whisky-tasting guide will detail everything you need to prepare your palate to enhance the enjoyment of the whisky tasting. We’ll discuss tools, tips, and offer recommendations to support you in becoming the perfect host or a helpful participant at any whisky-tasting occasion. As you get started, make sure to understand the difference between bourbon, whisky and rye first.

Preparing Your Palate to Taste Whisky

Before you taste, it’s vital to ensure your palate is cleansed and ready to experience the flavors and aromas coming your way. Rather than giving you a list of things you must do, it’s more important that you avoid certain things before your tasting as certain types of food and drink can interfere, such as:

  • Very hot or icy drinks or food
  • Spicy foods
  • Bitter food and drinks (coffee, for example)
  • Strongly flavored or cured meats

Any of the above can dull your palate or coat it with lingering flavors that will permeate anything you taste afterward. If you indulge, try to do so at least an hour before the tasting. Brushing your teeth or using mouthwash directly before a tasting can similarly get in the way of tasting properly.

If you wish, you can restore your palate with a piece of plain baguette, celery or breadsticks.

All that being said, it’s not a bad idea to warm up your palate with a light cocktail to wake up your senses; ideally, it should be something with a low ABV, like vermouth or a mixed drink (with water or seltzer vs. sugary soda). Avoid over-proof spirits as they quickly bring on palate fatigue, reducing your capacity to assess the whisky you’re about to taste.

Now that you’re primed and ready, let’s get you set up!

Whisky Tasting Essential Gear

Now, let’s talk about how to set up a whisky tasting. If tasting at home, you’ll need to ensure you have enough glassware, accessories, whisky, water, and snacks to keep things moving.

  • Whisky. Choose three or four whiskies to taste. Ideally, they will differ in age, type, and price point, so you have something to compare.
  • Information. Gather technical sheets or information on the whiskies you’ll taste. Every whisky is unique, and they all have a story behind them. Learning about how whisky is made or reading our guide to Canadian whisky will make the tasting more meaningful and memorable. We have an article that will walk you through the role of oak in whisky maturation to understand the influence barrels have on whisky.
  • Glassware. Multiply the number of whiskies by the number of people, and you’ll know how many glasses you need. There are a couple of choices for whisky-tasting glasses, but rocks glasses are the most versatile. Shot glasses are also handy to measure your pours.
  • Water. Have a glass of water on hand for each tasting participant.
  • Snacks/palate cleansers. Slice up some baguette, lay in a supply of breadsticks, celery sticks, plain unsalted almonds, or unsalted crackers for palate cleansers in between tastes.

Notepads and pens. Many whisky lovers like to jot down their observations so they can refer back. Not many people can remember everything they taste, making it challenging to purchase the ones you like later! Take notes; you’ll be glad you did.

Expand Your Pendleton® Whisky Knowledge

Discover the stories, craftsmanship, and passion that go into every bottle of Pendleton® Whisky in our Behind The Bottle series. From the bold flavors to the rich history, each article brings you closer to the spirit in your glass and will help you impress your crowd with your knowledge on your next whisky tasting.

Whisky Tasting Tips

A series of whiskies in a tasting is called a flight. Flights can consist of three or more whiskies; what you decide is up to you.

Here are a few pro whisky tasting tips to enhance your enjoyment:

  • Pour no more than ½ oz of each whisky for your flight.
  • Taste from lightest to boldest. If you’re attending a tasting, you’ll find whiskies are generally set up this way, from left to right.
  • Taste overproof or cask-strength whiskies last.
  • Take a sip of water, seltzer, or a bite of bread in between tastes to cleanse your palate.
  • Discuss your impressions. Whisky tasting is interactive!
  • Taste neat first (no ice).
  • Add a couple of drops of water to overproof whiskies to open them up.

Last but not least – enjoy yourself! Explore the Pendleton® Whisky collection and consider hosting or attending a whisky tasting to put your newfound knowledge to use. Happy tasting!

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