I love to try new ways to enhance my enjoyment of my
favorite whiskeys. Early on, I was introduced to the water dropper method of
adding water to my glass of whiskey to break up the sugars and lactones,
releasing the natural aromas and flavors of the whiskey. It was surprising to
me that the simple chemistry of adding water could create such noticeable
effects on the experience.
Since then I have discovered on my own how the temperature of the whiskey can
have a similar impact and that a couple of ice cubes did more than just cool my
drink. As a matter of fact, I have
found that in my favorite bourbons, adding
ice (or any method of cooling the whiskey) retarded my experience of the light flavors
such as vanilla, caramel, and honey. My preference is to drink my whiskey neat, with
water on the side to cleanse my palette.
Now I am playing with the effect that air has on my whiskey. Much like its impact on wine, the process of introducing air
to your whiskey creates chemical reactions that change the taste. Introducing air can be accomplished with an act as simple as swirling your whiskey in your glass. Try this and hold the glass to your nose. Smell what the introduction of air is releasing.
I have also read (but have not yet tried it myself) of the process of pouring half
of your bottle of whiskey into an empty bottle and shaking it to create a dynamic introduction of air.
One method I have just now tried is the use of an aerator to
introduce air into my whiskey. Specifically, the product I experimented with is
the Domestik Adjustable Wine & Spirits Aerator.
The basic idea of any aerator is to quickly introduce air
into the wine or spirit. I have tried both red wine and whiskey with some
interesting results.
As the whiskey pours through the aerator it is mixed up and
air is introduced. The molecules are
agitated and separated in a reaction with the air and motion. Some say it makes
it easier to detect flavors and aromas and smooths the whiskey.
What I initially found was that the Domestik Aerator was
incredibly easy to use and adjust and had a noticeable effect on my whiskey, it
is a quality product and the fact that it adjusts makes it very versatile,
eliminating the need for multiple aerators for wines and spirits.
In my blind taste test, I found that the whiskey that passed
through the aerator was noticeably smoother, similar to a blended whiskey. My
theory on this is that the aerator quickly creates a faster evaporation of
alcohol. This mixing and evaporation have a blending effect producing a
mellower taste.
The aromas, I felt, were less distinguishable. It is possible that
this evaporated alcohol (still in the air in the glass) interfered with my
ability to detect the aromas that I enjoyed in the non-aerated sample. Perhaps
giving it a little time would return the aromas to the glass. I’ll have to try
this.
My experience was thought-provoking enough that I have added
this product to my toolbox for drinking whiskey. I am very interested in further
experimentation with this device and, in particular, trying it with certain
cask-strength bourbons and high-ABV scotches to see if it improves my
enjoyment.
If you are like me and enjoy “playing” with your whiskeys to
bring out a variety of experiences, you may want to try an aerator. I recommend the Domestik
Adjustable Wine & Spirits Aerator. It is an excellent product and the good
folks at Domestik have been kind enough to offer a discount code for my
readers. Just visit this link, http://amzn.to/1SbzDRQ
and enter the code WHKING20 for a 20% discount.
I think the Domestik Adjustable Wine & Spirits Aerator would
make an excellent gift for any whiskey enthusiast that enjoys experimenting
with the many personalities of whiskey.
Have fun and cheers!
No comments:
Post a Comment