How to Spot a Good Irish Whiskey
March 7, 2012
•Le Cordon Bleu
•Portland
• 0 Comments
How to Spot a Good Irish Whiskey
As with any distilled beverage, whiskey comes in many different styles and picking out a good Irish whiskey can be pretty complicated. There are a few basic things that you can judge whiskey by, of course most of them involve the best part about finding a good whiskey: actually tasting it.
Just like discovering your favorite bottle of wine, finding a good Irish whiskey can take a while and lots of trial and error. Going to a whiskey tasting event in your local community is a great way to be able to taste a wide variety of whiskey without breaking the bank. Attending one of the many Portland cooking schools is another place where classes in cooking can teach you about experimenting with spirits.The three basic ways to judge an Irish whiskey are the smell, the taste and the burn.
The Smell
We all know that people react to aromatic stimulation differently. A good whiskey will actually smell like whiskey. It should have a deep, rich and strong smell to it. To the untrained sniffer, they will pretty much all smell the same at the beginning, but as you broaden your horizons and are able to compare many different types side by side, you will start to notice a distinct difference. The best whiskeys will have a complex, deep oak smell that is not too overpowering. You should be able to smell the ingredients and process that went into making it, not just the alcohol. Look for whiskey that has a rich and complicated smell to it and while you may not like it personally; at least you know you are on the right track.
The Taste
Peoples pallets vary greatly and how a whiskey tastes is obviously open to individual interpretation. The difference here is that whiskey should have a strong taste associated with it. If you get one that is light and watery or an overwhelming alcohol taste, chances are you are not dealing with good quality. As with the way it smells, it should have a complex, pleasant and perhaps even sweet taste to it. If the whiskey you are drinking does not have many discernible tastes to it, you are not dealing with quality whiskey.
The Burn
Good Irish whiskey will have a smooth but pleasant burn to it. If it is too watered down it will taste more like swallowing some kind of acidic chemical and will not be a good experience. The burn associated with whiskey is not always a sign of its quality since different people will react differently, but the main thing you want to look for is a smooth burn with some heat. You should enjoy being able to feel it going down and want more without slamming your fist on the table, putting your head down and yelling OUCH! Most of the higher end whiskey that has a complex distilling process and has had lots of love go into the making of it will produce the former results.
The Price
Whiskey prices vary wildly and is not always an indication of quality. You can find some fantastic Irish whiskey for very reasonable prices and as with anything, you just have to find something that you like that fits within your budget and you will have many cold nights by the fire sipping this wonderful heartwarming tonic. Who knows, you may even find yourself quietly singing Danny Boy over your next glass.
If you would like to take classes in cooking and learn more about expanding your palette consider enrolling in Portland cooking schools.
This article is presented by Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Portland. Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Portland offers culinary arts and pâtisserie and baking training programs in Portland, Oregon. To learn more about the class offerings, please visit Chefs.edu/Portland for more information.
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