Whiskey, gin, vodka… We all know at least one of these drinks with a strong character that are popular with our aperitifs and other cocktails. But do you know how a spirit is tasted? 🤔 What are the little tips and tricks that allow you to appreciate all the nuances? Embark with us in the delicious world of spirits, and discover all our tasting tips.
What exactly is a spirit?
Before telling you everything about tasting methods, we will already mark out the area of spirits. The Google “academy” Larousse is quite vague: a spirit drink is strong alcohol…That’s the definition! 🤨
More specifically, a spirit is a drink that has first undergone alcoholic fermentation and then been distilled. There are two categories:
- Simple spirits, or eaux-de-vie, which draw their aromas from their raw materials (potatoes, fruits, cereals, etc.) and from possible aging: whiskey, rhum, vodka, cognac, tequila, etc.
- Compound spirits, or flavored spirits, which are flavored with different substances: aquavit with caraway, gin with juniper, pastis with anise… In this category, we also find liqueurs (Chartreuse, Génépi, Cointreau…)
It is distillation which concentrates the alcohol content and gives power to the aromas. Spirits aged in barrels also take on characteristic flavors, easy to identify when tasting: undergrowth, mushrooms and leather for whiskeys, vanilla for rums and cognacs.
Our advice for enjoying a spirit
Now let's prepare our tasting. As during tasting a chocolate or a wine, set up a room that is neutral in odors and bright in order to fully enjoy the aromas and colors of the spirits. Plan the tasting far from the last meal, when the nose and palate are neutral in flavors.
To avoid upsetting your taste buds, we advise you to limit yourself to only one type of spirit per tasting, but you can mix genres. In short: no rum and vodka in the same tasting, but why not white and amber rums together.
If necessary, bring a little water to avoid saturating the palate. The Scots, specialists in the field, even go so far as to lengthen their whiskey to taste, but this remains debatable regarding the intensity of the aromas.
The temperature 🌡
On the other hand, everyone agrees on one point: never, never ice cubes 🧊, they attenuate the aromas of the spirit. Brown spirits (armagnac, whiskey) are enjoyed at room temperature at 15-16°C, while white spirits (vodka, tequila), flavored and liquors are drunk cooler, around 6°C. In this case, refresh your glass or use whiskey stones, a type of granite ice cubes that do not alter the taste. Refrigerate for an hour before serving.
The glass 🥃
Choose a stemmed tulip glass which reveals as much as it concentrates the aromas, particularly those of white rums. You can also opt for a drink old fashioned to release the aromas of brown spirits. Time for tasting!
The 4 stages of tasting a spirit
Start by establishing a tasting order: the youngest and sweetest first, the oldest and driest afterwards. Now the serious things begin!
Step N°1: we ventilate 🪁
Aerating a spirit allows it to express all its aromas. Pour it into a carafe which you will leave open while waiting for tasting. Allow around an hour to decant our spirits at 40-45°C: your patience will be rewarded with a beautiful bouquet 💐
☝ After tasting, keep the spirit in its original bottle or a smaller bottle, and re-cork well. Place the bottle in a dry place, away from light and heat, always upright to avoid contact with the cork. This will preserve the aromas.
Step No. 2: we look 🧐
Pour around 3 cl of alcohol into a glass, the equivalent of a small espresso ☕. Observe its nuances (if it has any), if it is cloudy, if it forms tears on the walls of the glass... You will obtain information on its sweetness and quality.
Step N°3: we feel 👃
This is where the whole tasting takes place. Be careful, we take it easy: inhale slowly so as not to burn your nose! Tilt the glass to reveal the most complex and subtle aromas. If necessary, help yourself with the spirits aroma wheel, called field of smells.
Step N°4: we taste 🥂
Here too, watch out for your taste buds! We just need a few drops on the tips of the lips. We inhale again then we take a very small sip which we roll into the mouth... and there, it's the explosion of flavors 🤩. Is it silky, rough? Dry or oily?… Persistence in the mouth is a sign of quality. Write down your impressions and enjoy the experience!
