How to drink bourbon: rules and tips
Bourbon is a traditional American whiskey made on a corn base. The drink got its name in honor of the district of the same name, located in Kentucky (USA), and has been proudly carrying it for more than two centuries.
About bourbon
The cornerstone of the culture of drinking this drink is its aging period, which can be up to twenty years. The more solid the age of bourbon, the more strongly it is recommended to drink it neat.
If you are wondering how to drink bourbon correctly, there are no rules for ordinary unaged bourbon. But for aged bourbon, there are recommendations, which are set out below.
How to drink bourbon
Before joining the long-lived bourbon, connoisseurs pour the drink from the bottle into a specially designed transparent thin-walled vessel that has a special purpose. This manipulation allows you to appreciate the noble dark brown color of the drink, acquired during its stay in an oak barrel burnt from the inside.
Then the bourbon is poured (to a quarter full) into traditional whiskey glassware, which includes massive wide glasses with thick bottoms or quaichs - special Scottish pewter mugs equipped with two handles...
The container should first be warmed a little in the hand, then shaken slightly so that the drink is fully opened, and then (no, no, do not rush) inhale the unique aroma by bringing the glass or quaff directly to the nose. And only after that you can start drinking bourbon. This is done in small sips.
When drinking a drink, you should savor it thoughtfully for a few seconds, and after swallowing it, you should exhale it through your nose and mouth. Between sips, you should definitely make significant pauses that allow you to fully experience the long aftertaste characteristic of bourbon.
The latter feature makes it undesirable to drink high-quality beverages directly during meals. Aged bourbon is usually used as a digestif. At the same time, as you may have guessed, adding water or ice to such a drink is considered blasphemy among connoisseurs.
Bourbon and ice
Drinking bourbon on the rocks is recommended in two cases. The former refers to egalitarian drinks with a two-year or even shorter (so-called "white bourbon") aging period. The use of ice in such drinks helps to soften their natural sharpness.
In the second case, it is suggested to add a few ice cubes to bourbon that has been in barrels for four to six years. This period allows the drink to acquire its main flavors, but their individual shades are not yet strong enough to be clearly distinguished in the overall bouquet.
The ice that has turned into water seems to separate the flavors of the drink from each other, which allows you to feel each of them more clearly.
It should be added that bourbon that requires ice can be consumed both after the meal and during the meal itself.
Mixes and cocktails with bourbon
The above-mentioned less worthy representatives of the bourbon family are often diluted with other drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, due to their sharpness. The result is various mixes and cocktails.
Mixes with bourbon are made by adding some types of juices (orange, grapefruit, cherry or green apple juice) or even still mineral water. In this case, one or two parts of water or juice account for one part of the corn drink.
Speaking of cocktails, the most common ones are California Lemonade, Gray Bird and its lighter version White Bird, Mint Julep, Manhattan.
Now you know how to drink bourbon correctly, as well as the "subtle" difference between bourbon and whiskey. We hope this knowledge will help you enjoy the drink to the fullest.
Update: 18.06.2015
Category: Whiskey and Bourbon