A few years ago I was on a road trip through the South, stopping at grand hotels, historic homes, and other notable landmarks from the region's history. One of those stops was Louisiana's Houmas House, a historic plantation that has stood along the banks of the Mississippi River for over 240 years. The grand property is home to restaurants, a hotel, and The Turtle Bar. Located in one of the property's historic Garconnieres the small bar is home to a collection of rare whiskeys and passionate staff. This was where I had my first glass of good whiskey and started my journey to learn more about the preferred drink of men of distinction.
If you are new to the world of whiskey it can be overwhelming, my own collection has grown to over 20 bottles of whiskey, whisky, scotch, and bourbon. Like wine, the distinction in the name is mostly regional, whiskey is distilled in the United States or Ireland, whisky can be from Canada, Japan, or just about anywhere else in the world. For a whiskey to be called bourbon, it must be distilled from at least 51% corn mash, and it must be aged in a new charred oak barrel. There are also limits on the alcohol content and other factors, bourbon is an American drink, but if you ask some people a true bourbon must come from Bourbon County, Kentucky. Scotch, no surprise, must be distilled and bottled in Scotland and must be made with 100% malted barley.
Take time to learn what you like:
If you are going to drive deep into the world of whiskey you are going to have to start drinking, like any spirit, there are countless flavors to explore and you need to figure out what you enjoy. Don't get pulled into trying to impress people by only drinking the oldest and most expensive scotch you can find, there are several great distillers offering bottles under $50 like Jefferson's or Balcones that you might like better than those pricey bottles. Try different regions and styles until you find something you truly like.
The glass matters:
As you get more into whiskey you will learn that you need more than just classic tumbler, if you are serious you will need a Glencairn glass which is designed for sampling and tasting of whiskey. You will see these at nearly all distilleries and higher-end bars for sampling and serving spirits. The Glencairn glass was designed by Raymond Davidson to enhance the tasting experience of whiskey/whisky, scotch, and bourbon. Also, if you are making cocktails, make sure you have the appropriate glasses on hand.
Neat or on the rocks:
Ordering your whiskey neat, simply means you want it straight out of the bottle, no water, ice, or additives. While for some bottles this is the right call, others might need a splash of water or an ice cube to release all the flavors and aromas within the spirit. Some distillers, like Clyde May's, even suggest a splash of apple juice to bring out the unique apple notes in their Alabam style whiskey. Just remember the right way to drink whiskey is the way you enjoy it, I have several large ice cube molds I use as I enjoy my whiskey on the rocks.
Whiskey cocktails:
Classic whiskey-based cocktails like the Old Fashioned, Highball, or Whiskey Sour should be something you should learn to make. They are simple to make, but being able to make your own signature cocktail is a great party trick. I even had my signature Old Fashioned served at Jennifer and I's wedding reception.
Exploring whiskey:
One of the best things about the world of whiskey is incorporating it into your travels. Just like the wine industry has winery tours and tasting rooms so do whiskey distilleries. With different distillers around the world, there is always an opportunity to learn more by taking a tour. If you ever get a chance take the Southern Grace Distilleries Whiskey Prison tour, their distillery is actually based in a historic prison in Mt. Pleasant, North Carolina, and the tasting room is in the solitary confinement wing.
If you really want to get into Whiskey, Bourbon, and Scotch head over to my friend Tom Fischer's site BourbonBlog.com for reviews, recipes, and more.
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