Whisky, the golden hued liquid sunlight. You call it whisky or spell it whiskey, the term just sounds melodious to the listening ear. Grabbing the attention of all our senses, it has a special place in the liquorish pleasures. A bottle of your choicest whisky lies stashed away in your closet, good enough only to be brought out on a worthy occasion. The question is, how to drink whiskey? How can you best enjoy a dram of this decadence? There are a number of ways to choose from. Since whisky is so versatile in nature, it can be drunk in so many different ways. Ways to drink whiskey is decidedly an art in itself. Whether it is downed neat, or on the rocks, there are just so many forms and variations of this rightly called ‘elixir of life’. Let’s look at all the different ways one can learn how to drink whiskey, and then you can choose your own best way to drink whiskey.
Neat Whisky
Drinking whisky ‘neat’ is to drink it without adding anything to it — at room temperature, poured out of the bottle into a glass. Arguably the best way to drink whiskey is to have it in the classic, neat form. Many advocates of this method consider it to be the ‘purest’ way to drink whisky — undiluted and unsullied. However, this is not necessarily true for everybody. But if you love the bold taste of alcohol hitting the right spots on your taste buds, we’d recommend go for it. For whisky amateurs, you have to try whisky neat at least once, even if it turns out to be not your thing.
Whisky on the Rocks
Rock your whisky with a few big cubes or balls of ice. It’s not for everyone since it numbs the palate, but let’s face it, sometimes you’re not looking for any of the stylish ways to drink whiskey – sometimes a cold whiskey drink is all you need after a tough day. So why not have it on the rocks. So how to drink whiskey on the rocks? Well, if you do prefer your drink ice-cold, just add a few cubes of ice to the whisky. Make sure it is of high-quality water, and keep a spoon around to fish out those that start melting later.
Whisky with Water
When two elixirs are merged together, it makes this immortal drink which feels like a soft, warm blanket enveloping you on a chilly morning. When you’re looking for ways to drink whiskey, do consider water. Adding a splash of water to your drink can really open up the flavours and aromas of the whisky and allow you to savour it fully. This is because cask strength whisky has an anesthetizing effect on your taste buds, numbing your tongue and keeping you from being able to taste your drink after a while. This is why it is often a better way than consuming it neat. About a capful of distilled water would be enough. Should you still feel a buzz in your tongue, add another capful.
Whisky in a Cocktail
Although this is not recommended with an extremely high-end brand of whisky, you can always enjoy your whisky in a cocktail or mixed drink. They can be as innovative as they are delicious. Save your finest to be imbibed alone, and use your other whiskies to whip up some tasty tipples. You can learn some cool cocktail recipes. Even in a cocktail, it holds its own place and yet blends with exciting flavors.