Sip This, Drink That: 8 Tips for Enjoying Your Favorite Spirits

Stop ordering cocktails without knowing or understanding what you are asking for. High-quality spirits are meant for sipping and enjoying. You can’t do this if you don’t know the best method for ordering your cocktail. To truly enjoy your favorite spirits, it is important to go back and learn the basics. These drinking tips will help you make the most of your cocktails for maximum enjoyment. 

1. Learn the Vocabulary of Your Favorite Spirits

Before you get started, you need to learn the language. A lingo is used when referring to different spirits and how they get served. Understanding this vocabulary will help you know what to expect and how the drink comes prepared. 

A drink that is “on the rocks” will come with ice in the glass. Alternatively, a drink that is neat will come with just the alcohol in the glass. No ice or other ingredients are included. The terms “up” and “shaken” refer to the drink getting made in a shaker and then strained into a glass. A “stirred” drink is mixed in the glass. 

Drinks that are “stiff” have more than the usual amount of alcohol to make them stronger. Finally, a “twist” refers to the garnish that comes with the drink. It is typically the peel of a citrus fruit twisted and placed on the rim or in the glass. 

2. Go Slowly 

It can be tempting to jump in with two feet when drinking. However, this isn’t a frat party. Fine spirits and craft cocktails are meant for enjoying, not drinking as fast as possible. Remember, the goal here is to enjoy the spirit, not to get drunk. Take your time to experience a particular spirit. Appreciate its color, take note of its smell, and enjoy the different flavor notes from when it first touches your tongue through the swallow. 

3. The Glass Matters 

Everyone knows that you serve different types of wine in different glassware. But did you know that you should serve different types of spirits in different glassware? Technically, you can pour any liquid into any type of glass. However, ignoring the rules of glassware may result in a raised eyebrow or two. Using the right glass helps you enjoy your favorite spirit’s aromas. It also ensures your favorite spirits stay at the correct temperature for drinking. 

If you plan to enjoy your favorite spirit straight up and neat, then you are safe using a neat glass. You can pour the six main spirits into this type of glass, vodka, rum, whiskey, tequila, gin, and brandy. There are some other glass types to get familiar with. 

Rocks Glass or Old Fashioned Glass 

A rocks or old-fashioned glass got its name from the cocktail traditionally served in it. These glasses are ideal for serving whiskey neat or on the rocks. If you are making a cocktail that gets served in the same glass as assembly, the rocks glass works well for this too. 

Shot Glass

The shot glass is a small glass that can only hold a couple of ounces of liquor and nothing else. This is the type of glass you use when you plan to throw the entire thing back in one shot. However, this is not the glass to use when enjoying a high-quality spirit

Snifter Glass

The snifter glass is meant for serving aged brown spirits like brandy or whiskey. The glass is large at the bottom and tapers towards the top. The base of the glass fits into your hand so that your body warmth gently warms the spirit. The tapered top of the glass gathers and focuses the aroma for sniffing. Feel free to swirl without fear of spilling. 

Cordial Glass

If you plan to enjoy an after-dinner cordial, you should serve it in a cordial glass. These glasses are small and look similar to mini wine glasses. The small size and shape make them perfect for taking small sips of your liqueur of choice. 

4. Choose the Right Temperature 

Exerts in spirit tasting recommend trying a spirit at room temperature for the first time. This warmth lets you experience the full depth of flavors. After this, you can adjust the temperature for the type of spirit you are drinking. For example, vodka is typically kept in the freezer and served cold. 

5. Smell, Then Sip 

Your tastebuds do not work on their own. The experience starts with your eyes. Then your nose takes over. Hold the glass to your nose and breathe in. This lets you experience the aromatics of the spirit. How the spirit smells has a significant influence on how the drink tastes. Some spirits have intense smells, so approach slowly and carefully. However, it is worth the experience to sniff and then smell. When you move to the sipping, you’ll taste so much more by sniffing first. 

6. Sip, Don’t Gulp 

Fine spirits are meant for sipping, not gulping. Instead, take small sips that allow you to wash the spirit over your tongue. That way, you can enjoy the spirit and all it offers. Drinking it this way also extends the experience, allowing you to enjoy the spirit for longer. Finally, drinking slowly extends the drinking experience, reducing your risk of getting drunk quickly. 

7. Order High-End Spirits Neat 

Modern spirit makers are more like master crafters. Countless hours go into gathering the highest quality ingredients, fermenting, and distilling practices. You should order these favorite spirits neat to fully appreciate the time and dedicated effort that went into crafting this spirit. Don’t dilute the flavor with ice or water. 

8. Adjust to Your Tastes 

Ultimately, it is your tastebuds that you need to please. It doesn’t matter how many other people enjoy a drink. If you don’t enjoy it that way, you won’t want to drink it. Drinking a craft cocktail should be an enjoyable experience. The first step is to find your favorite spirit. Then try the traditional cocktails. As you gain experience, you will also develop your tastes and opinions. Don’t be afraid to adjust a drink to suit your tastes. Perhaps you prefer your drinks to be on the sweeter side. Maybe you prefer more sour notes. Don’t let anyone make you feel obligated to drink a spirit according to “the rules” if those rules don’t suit your tastes. 

Brandy

If one of your favorite spirits is brandy, feel free to drink it on its own. This lets you enjoy the full flavor of the fruity oakiness. Brandy is made from fermented fruit juice or wine. Therefore, it will be sweeter than the other spirits. Warm the snifter glass in your hand to get the most out of your brandy. Brandy is at its best when it is at room temperature and neat. 

Gin

Due to gin’s herbal flavors, people tend to drink it in a cocktail. However, if you enjoy the juniper berry pine flavor, then don’t be afraid to drink it neat. There is a subtle sweetness and spice to gin that really comes out when you enjoy this spirit on its own. Chill the gin, as most people enjoy gin when it is ice cold. You can achieve this by chilling it in a shaker and straining it or by serving it on the rocks. True gin enthusiasts will drink their gin neat and at room temperature. This brings out a different flavor profile for a new experience of your favorite spirit. 

If drinking gin straight doesn’t sound appealing, then try a cocktail. People have enjoyed medicinal gin cocktails since the 11th century. 

Rum

How you enjoy your rum will depend on what type you intend to drink. There are several types, but the most common are white, gold, and dark. White rum is unaged. Gold rum is aged in wooden barrels. Dark rum goes through a similar aging process in charred wooden barrels. This is what gives the rum a darker color and smokey flavor. 

People typically drink white rum mixed into a cocktail. Gold and dark rums can also be used in cocktails, but they are also enjoyable when served neat. If you want to drink dark rum, you can enjoy it neat, on the rocks, or with a splash of water. Enthusiasts will passionately debate which method is the best. However, it really depends on your personal preferences. You can serve this high-quality spirit at room temperature and enjoy all of its flavors. 

Tequila

When it comes to drinking, tequila tends to get a bad reputation. However, high-quality tequila has so much more to offer than being mixed into a margarita or thrown back as a shot. Tequila must be made in Mexico from the agave plant. Premium tequilas can be enjoyed warm and served neat. They offer the same enjoyable drinking experience as whiskey, brandy, or dark rum. Enjoying tequila this way lets you experience the slightly sweet, spicy, and earthy tequila flavors. 

Vodka

Vodka has a neutral flavor, making it popular for drinkers as one of their favorite spirits. You could enjoy it at room temperature, but it could have a serious bite. To avoid this, people typically enjoy chilled vodka. It mellows out the intensity while creating a nicer mouth feel. Flavor-infused vodka has become a popular category for the spirit. Because vodka is an ideal blank palette, it is perfect for infusing with various flavors. You could buy already-infused vodka, or you could craft your own creation. Use anything from herbs or fruit to gummy candy. Finally, the most popular method for drinking vodka is in a cocktail. It could be something simple, like a vodka tonic or vodka cranberry. It could also be a complicated drink with multiple complex flavor profiles. The choice is yours and what will please your tastebuds. 

Whiskey

According to the legend of whiskey, Johnnie Walker, the best way to drink whiskey is neat. If you desire, you can take small sips of water while drinking your whiskey to refresh your palate. In addition, a few drops of water can open up the whiskey, releasing more flavors to create depth in the flavor profile. How much water added will depend on your taste preferences. Don’t add too much water at once; you can easily water the whisky down too much. 

In addition, what works for one whiskey may not be the best option for another. This is a spirit that can have a wide range of flavor profiles. First, there are different five different types, single malt, blended malt, blended whiskey, barrel proof, and single cask. These categories describe how the whiskey gets aged and distilled. You may also hear of whiskey types described as Scotch whiskey, Irish whiskey, bourbon, rye, Canadian whiskey, Tennessee whiskey, and Japanese whiskey. 

Each of these different whiskey types has a unique personality. So before declaring whiskey as your favorite spirit, you may want to try the different types. This will help you refine your taste and help you find a high-quality spirit that you enjoy. Keep in mind that older whiskey gets aged longer, allowing the flavors to develop and deepen. The older the whiskey is, the more expensive the spirit will be. 

Now that you know all the best tips for enjoying your favorite spirits, let Distillery Nearby be your guide to finding all the best U.S. tours!

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