Host a whisky appreciation night for the lads
Gentlemen, take heed: your dapper factor will rise exponentially with a glass of single malt whisky in hand. Channel your inner Sean Connery circa 1960 and invite the lads around for a whisky appreciation night.
It may be a fading art form, but in man caves across Brisbane tots of whisky is being poured, nosed and appreciated. If you have as much trouble recognising a good bottle of whisky as you do a bottle of a woman’s perfume, read on.
First up, choose the right whisky. Types range from malt to grain, Scotch to Canadian and single to blended. A good-quality whisky shouldn’t need to be diluted with mixers, so stick to respected brands like Glenlivet or a more affordable bottle of Jameson.
Next, the vessel. You wouldn’t drink beer from a coffee cup so don’t drink whisky from anything but a clear, quality glass. A narrow top will also help preserve the spirit’s aroma and flavour. Resist the temptation to add ice and instead opt for a glass of room-temperature whisky to enhance the hidden notes of your chosen drop. The colour of the liquid can be affected by its age and the type of barrel it was stored in. Give the glass a gentle swirl – the little ‘legs’ that run down the inside of the glass indicate its viscosity.
Raise the glass under your nose and inhale with lips slightly parted. Identify the different aromas – you might pick up individual spices, sweet scents or even a fruity aroma. Now comes the fun part. Whisky is a drink to be savoured, so take a slow sip and let the liquid roll over your tongue. Consider how the flavours change, the whisky’s mouth-feel and whether the taste lingers in a short or long ‘finish’.
If you want to continue the whisky appreciation out and about, saunter into The Nant Whisky Cellar & Bar at Emporium.