Why whisky BURNS when you drink It: 7 tips to get past it
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 20 พ.ค. 2024
- In this video, we look at why alcohol feels like it burns in your mouth and throat when you drink it as it goes down.
I also explore some tips to get past it and give you some recommendations for the best whiskies to have when starting out with less burn.
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It's worth remembering that higher ABV doesn't always mean more burn.
I've had well-made 50% ABV whiskeys that were very smooth, and cheap bottom-shelf whiskeys that burned like hell despite being only 40%.
Can confirm. I have two rums right now of the same ABV at 40% - Appleton Estate Signature and Mount Gay Eclipse, and the Mount Gay feels a lot more intense for some reason. I was comparing them and thought the Mount Gay was more alcoholic so I looked at the labels and was surprised to see the same ABV. I don't think I like the MGE, but the AE is really nice.
I came across this in my own recent bourbon exposures. Four Roses, first the small batch variant (45%) then the original bourbon (40%). The former was much less pronounced in any sort of burn and was much more “savory” as a result. The original 40%, while just as enjoyable, had more of a burn. Would have expected things to be the other way around.
When I first tried getting into whisky the guy at the store told me to stay away from Peat and sold me a sherry cask Tomatin. I couldn't choke it down and ended up mixing it with Coke. Then I bought a Bowmore Islay and loved it! So yeah I think a beginner should try both ends of the flavor spectrum and work their way into the middle.
Exactly. Some people will lean to sherried whiskies from the start and others will lean to smoky whisky. The best thing is to try both types. Cheers Jimmy!
I did not fall in love with Scotch until I tried Laphroaig QC. That was my first Peat and I was instantly chasing everything PEAT!
The first thing I tell people while I'm pouring is "don't stick your nose into the glass, and just open your mouth slightly, breathe passively through your nose as you would when you're breathing normally, rather than trying to chase the smell; let it come to you instead". That usually gets them to slow down for the rest of the process, because they notice that the smell is indeed there if they're patient and willing to try things, so then they're willing to do the same for the taste as well.
That’s a great tip!
My father (who is the classic caricature of a Scottish Presbyterian minister) thought that the trick to getting over the burn was to start us boys (I’m the youngest of 3 boys) early, drinking decent blended whiskies at age 10 or so. It worked - we are all responsible drinkers as adults, all with 3 VERY different preferences within the whisky world.
Lucky for you hahah some kids don’t have many brain cells to begin with and starting at ten ruin em but your still fine good genes 🧬
@@charliemaddock3459 Well, we all 3 completed doctoral programs in our fields, have held distinguished careers in those same fields, have married once each and have 7 lovely children between us. I think we’ve done ok.
@@leumas75 yes like i said others may not be so lucky as you ….
Alcohol inhibits growths in young bodies.
Cooling Guinness to the temperature of lager ruins it. It used to have a strong malty smell and taste . It ain’t what it used to be.
😅
Master distillers actually bring it down all the way to 20% when tasting. There are tasting glasses that have two lines equally separated, one for whisky and one for water (assuming 40% strength whisky). It really helps to separate all the different flavours, while muting the stronger flavours it allows to distinguish the weaker elements more. It also prevents the numbing of taste receptors and allows for a larger sip to swirl around in your mouth and fully coat it. Try it with the first sip, and then refill the glass and drink the whisky normally. It helps to locate the different flavours.
Taking a stop at drinking and starting to taste was a move that threw me at Wine's World. I´m a wine sommelier since 2018 and now I'm beginning my Whisky Journey and, honeslty, I'm loving it.
Subscribed very in-depth and not over complicated advice. Thank you 🔥
Really enjoy your videos, Phil. Keep it up!!
Awesome vid Phil .Thank you for your insights.
What an amazingly thoughtful and useful video for the topic.
Excellent advice, I definitely second your point about a peaty/smokey whiskey like laphroaig as that's one of the two main scotches (glenmorangie 10 being the other) that really helped get me into this hobby as someone who liked decent bourbon but had trouble pulling distinct notes from the heat.
I’m new to the whisky scene and loving this channel. Thanks bro.
Awesome, as usual! Thanks for the tips! Will try them out on my friends.
Another great video Phil 👍 really well put together and edited
Cheers Michael!
Thank you, I really appreciate your content on this subject.!
Thank you for filling us in Phil! Great video and much appreciated! Cheers! 😊🥃
Thanks Melissa!
I went down the whisky rabbit hole for over a year. I watched a ton of whisky videos. I finally realized that people in the videos were looking for complex flavors and they actually liked more alcohol in their whisky than I did. I was more interested in something that was easy to drink. Sadly, some of these whiskies are on the expensive side, some are not. My favorites are Makers Mark, Jim Beam Black Label, MacAllan 12 of 15 year, Jameson Stout Edition, Balvenie 17 year Double Wood , Colonel E.H. Taylor small batch
A lotta those are actually bourbons.
@@lani6647 bourbon is whisky...
I never had this issue. My first whisky I bought was Knob’s Creek, and then Glenlivet 12. I was amazed how beautiful they were. Moved on to Johnnie Walker Black and Highland Park next and loved them as well.
Love at first dram, so to say.
Top video as always cheers. My group of mates aren't keen whisky drinkers and im forever trying to get them into it. Some really good tips here will have another crack at it!
Great info my friend. I always start with an acclamation sip. Cheers my friend!
Phil just come across you today and got to say I've just started try different whisky this is really helpful 🥃👍
Very good video. I recommend double casks a lot as an introductory dram. Nothing too extreme in the flavour, something balanced. Too many to mention but Aberlour 12 was the first whisky I actually enjoyed. I also agree, when people appreciate the softness behind the peat of laphroaig 10, they are understanding the beautiful world of whisky
The best Whisky related channel on TH-cam, keep it up!
Thanks! Appreciate that
you are such a legend bro the air water and cooling it down tip has worked so well for me i just turned 18 and wanted to get into the whiskey game early and committed the crime of laphroaig and coke because i hated the burn but i can barely feel it now after watching this game changer
I discovered tip #3 a little while ago all on my own. I have shown a few people and it confirmed my hypothesis about the evaporation off the tongue it a big part of "the burn." It is stronger the higher the proof... which would be a faster evaporation. Just keep the lips closed until just after you swallow. Then open and let the vapors hit the nose for the full flavor.
Laphoaig 10 was the first scotch whisky that tasted like I thought it should taste. That was 40 years ago. I went through a long period of not drinking much at all, and am beginning again at age 62. Earlier, I had gone through GlenmorangIe, which I liked for a time, Lagavullin 16, which a Costco sold for a good price, and others, though I did buy a few bottles that didn’t quite click for me.
After viewing a few videos, I went out and got a Port Charlotte, and am enjoying my first taste as I write this. Wow, what a flavorful, sublime experience. I look forward to the journey. Thanks for your videos!
Nice video! Never could get past the burn so I didn’t try it often. Hit 60 years old and my son gave me a glass of Redbreast 12, wow it was easy to drink. Now I can handle way more and I have a wide variety of whiskey, whisky, and scotch!
Love the editing and information. Cheers
Cheers!
Excellent................I am a single malt lover..........and this is about the best beginners tutorial I have struke !
Excellent tutorial to become a whiskey aficionado!
Great video Phil. Some really great tips here. I had to work all these out myself when I got into whisky.
What a shame about dramfest this year 😞
Thanks Charles! A real shame… I hope I can make it to the rescheduled date..
Nicely done! Redbreast 12 is on my list now!
New to whiskey but naturally gravitated to Lagavulin and Laphroaig. (recomended by waitress at Johnny Foley's in San Francisco)
Love the smoke. Still getting through the burn but the tips you offered will help!
Great videos bro!
Great advice. A mistake I made, having recently gotten into whisky, was to taste it shortly after hot food. Hot as in temperature or as in capsaicin, it will leave your mouth sensitive to the wrong elements
I started with Teeling Single Malt, then went to the Bunna, Glenallachie, and then Edradour caledonia and ledaig, and immediately Edradour was and is my fav distillery. For now I enjoy every direction of whisky, ex bourbon, virgin oak, sherry, wine variations, smokey, etc, all nice (if made well) :D
Mate this is a great video, really good advice for those looking for a better way of staying the course & getting past those Initial 'hurdles'. A lot of people give up before they get the chance to discover the complexity of flavours. So many will benefit from watching this including me - thankyou 👍
Thanks Al. Exactly, I nearly gave up myself 😅 and look at me now ha! Appreciate that!
Hi Phil, just wanted to say that this is an interesting thought though put together video and also enjoyable to watch, slàinte Phil
Thanks David! Appreciate that
Great video!
I’m similar with the Islay stuff. I’d tried the odd fairly standard blends and maybe found the odd one I could tolerate but then had a job interview on Islay so decided to do some research at what was then The Pot Still in Hope Street in Glasgow. Ardbeg was first as it was cheapest followed by Laphroaig. Loved it immediately but have broadened my taste since working in and around Speyside and living in the Highland region as far as whisky is concerned….
I've just started my whiskey journey with a bottle of Port Charlotte 10 single malt, being an ex smoker I knew I would like a smokey whiskey and I'm enjoying the lingering smoke flavor, but the burn on the way down is intense, it's like acid reflux (which I'm already prone to) I hope I can get past it and enjoy the whiskey for what it is
Thanks for this video, You convinced me to buy laphroig. I'm an advanced beginner, very much into bourbons, but i really want to try some scotches, also this irish redbreast looks fine
Great tips!
Hi I am from Thai
After end video, I start drinking with your tips and Thai super spicy food. It is amazing!
This is an excellent practical introduction.
Cheers! Glad it’s helpful
The whisk(e)y that got me started on my journey was a green bottle also however it was Jameson. Laphroaig was like the 17th bottle I purchased and BOY what a ride it takes me in when I do pour a dram.
That tip 03 here in Brazil is very helpful to drink some kind of cachaça! Thanks a lot, Phil! Learning a lot!
I need to try some cachaça. Thanks mate!
The sherried whisky's are my favorite but I decided to purchase a bottle of Talisker Surge and at first I was not to happy with it. However after a couple tastings I have come to rather like it. I find that the peatiness of the whisky is a pleasant addition.
Being eastern european I grew up drinking rakia, so when it comes to whisky, to me it tastes like milk and honey. 😂
Its Glenfiddich for me. Yes with a large chunk of ice and a dash of soda water. But these tips are spot on. You forgot the choice of whiskey glass that helps you savour the bouquet.
Great video! Love the Wiz of Oz shout out. Maybe not as surprising as your Laphroaig 10 pick, but a whiskey I think has relatively little burn, but a huge amount of flavor is the Port Charlotte Heavily Peated. Even at 50% abv, its the flavor that hits you, not the burn.
Love the PC10. Thanks!
Question at the end. I just discovered your channel after years of trying American and Scotland whisky. I have to say I enjoy Islay region whisky the most and really diving into what it has to offer, even the un-peated Bunnahabhain. I however enjoy getting some air in when sipping on the peated styles of whiskey, maybe I am at that point where like you said I am not just drinking whiskey, but tasting it. I am in search of a heavily peated whiskey that would be brought out only every now and then to show friends the extreme in peated whiskeys. Do you have and recommendations? Something more peated than the Ardbeg 10 or Bruichladdich Port Charlotte 10.
Nice and informative video Phil! Something I would add on the part about nosing whisky is nosing it with your mouth open. Just like a burn in the throat, sometimes people get overwhelmed by the smell of alcohol while nosing. Keeping your mouth open helps with circulation and pick up the better notes. I see you doing it as well in the video! ;) Additionally instead of adding water you can take a sip of water before you take a sip of whisky. Leave some water in your mouth while you take it sip. I will dilute and lets the whisky flow through your mouth!
Yet again a great video! Helpful tips! Thank you.
I do have a question though: could you explain the difference between cherry and sherry? I reckon they're not the same when it comes to whisk(e)y. When a whisky is matured in sherry casks, they are talking about a type of wine, right? So, not cherry..? Can you explain?
Late reply, but due to the history of England and France, the Isles most often got wine from Spain and Portugal- indeed the most popular wines to the English historically were sherry (a Spanish wine) and Port and Madeira (Portuguese wines).
In the past whiskey makers would stick whiskey in whatever containers they could find. Eventually, they realized the profound effect that aging in a barrel had on whiskey, and since sherry barrels were most common, whiskey would be put in there and allowed to age. Sherried scotch was historically the most common type until Scotland started to get bourbon barrels from the US.
As for cherry, the fruit- it has nothing to do with scotch. Sort of. The point about pouring sherry over ice cream is referring to something like a Pedro Ximénez sherry which is very sweet. That said, a property of ex bourbon casks (and even a few sherry casks) is imparting a cherry flavor to scotch.
Hey Phil, thanks for your great videos mate.
Regards from Uk .
CARLOS(Majestic Wines devon area)
I have got lots of friends who I would love to get into whisky with me but that intiail burn always scares them away back to beer. Will be showing this to them for hope! After lots of practice Coffee is still too bitter for me though 🤣Great video as always Phil.
Thanks Jeff!
A refined way to enjoy whiskey and to release all the flavor profiles, add a little still water to the whiskey and if preferred add ice. But the touch of water; not a lot, releases the flavors
Hello guys from sunny Greece. First of all, Phil congrats about the channel and the videos, keep it up!! Secondly, can you give me any tips on how to train my pallet so I can feel the several tastes of whiskeys. I dont have a ton of experience on whisky, but I love it and I want to be able to appreciate more. Thanks in advance..
I’ve learned a lot by tasting two drams side by side. Comparing them back and forth really brings out the differences and has helped me with discerning flavors and smells.
@@TheProgrn I agree. This is a good way to do it. Especially if you have one whisky that's sherried, one exbourbon cask and one peaty one. That way you should be able to distinguish between the whiskies pretty easily and go from there.
I have always been a beer drinker, and occasionally wines. I tried harder liquor like whiskey, rum, and vodka, but didn't like it. I thought I never would. Then I got a job I n a liquor store, and found myself struggling to talk to customers when they ask me questions about the product. I can't tell them I hate it, so I never touch it. However, once I actually learned how to drink it...I quite like it. 👍
The burn doesn't get me as much as the oak, I can't get past oak to other flavors with whiskey. On the other hand I've found more notes in peaty scotches, I have no problem getting past peat and find the smokiness enjoyable.
I recommend digestive biscuits as a pallet reseter
The burn is good! When I first had Laphroaig a long time ago I was sure it burned all of my nasal hair out.
so last time i had some knights reserve that had vanilla and cinnamon in it along with some oaky flavor i could taste it because my body is getting use to it
Idk Phil, I did a new make tasting fairly early on into drinking whisky and that did the trick stopping everything else burning 😂😂
Especially in the nose lol
I don’t have any heat in my mouth at all. all the burn happens in the back of my throat.
The other important thing is to find one that works for you. Some people LOVE johnnie walker whiskies, but others absolutely hate them. Some people love jack daniels, others absolutely hate it.
Every whiskey is completely different, and I think a good way to learn what you like is to get a pack of Jefferson's wood experiments bourbon, if that's available to you. Not only is Jefferson's a top shelf bourbon, but the wood experiments box gives you 200 ml of 5 completely unique experimental blends with different taste palates. For example, in my box, Experiments 3, 4, 6, 10, and 12, Experiment 3 is more like an irish/canadian whiskey, 6 is similar to a jack daniels/tennessee whiskey with a moderate burn and sharp smoke, 12 was a full-bodied, beautiful bourbon with little to no burn and a pleasant, soft but present smoke.
Should I be reading tasting notes and reviews while developing my palate? At the moment I don't really know how to describe what I'm nosing/tasting. My reactions are basically "delicious" or "not delicious", sometimes the nose or finish I could say would be "faint". I could recognize "peat" and "sherry", but that's about it.
My journey started with smoky and peaty whisky also, then slowly evolved to other regions. For this year I am trying non Scottish whisky’s, currently trying Irish, Japanese and Indian whisky. Any recommendations are welcomed for me to try?
You can try Amrut, Paul john, Santoki and Kamet
Tried a Glenlivet and hated it. Then tried a Lap 10yr sherry and was hooked. Have a HUGE collection of scotch. Love all regions of it now.
Thanks awesome! I was the same. Smoky Laphroaig hooked me
The Glenlivet 12, Glenmorangie 10, Glenfiddich 12
Redbreast 12
Laphroaig 10 (smokey)
"Smooth" is a good description for particular qualities. The opposite of smooth is high ethanol presence, cheap unrefined flavors, strong black pepper or higher acidity, things like that. Smoothness means there's nothing sharp or unpleasant, and the flavors just sit nicely together, combining into something that's well-rounded and softened. People who don't like the word "smooth" don't know how to use it.
The first time I tasted scotch, a friend poured another friend and me a small dram of Johnny Walker Blue and told us how fine of a whisky it was. Well, my friend and I tasted it about the same time and immediately looked at each other with this disgusted, sour look on our face and sort of smiled at each other. We told him it was good when he asked but we both thought it was awful. Fast forward 8 years later…I haven’t had JWB since then but have tried many many different scotch and I think it’s delicious. One of these days I will splurge on a bottle of JWB. I mean, I kind of have to.
A trick I was taught was to throw a teaspoon of water in, rather than pouring water in. I've tried both methods and prefer throwing it in, makes tge flavours show up much easier
Great tip!
An interesting (and not surprising) thing I notice is that if I don't drink whisky for a couple of weeks and come back, I can't taste many of the notes that I previously got but If I drink the next day then it all comes back
Im 100% agree with you. I have Springbank 10 and 15. The next will be the 12!!!!jajaja.
My journey started out with beam and coke because that was how my brother always drank whiskey. I never liked it and just wrote off whiskey. Years later I’m out with coworkers and they recommend an Old Fashioned. I loved it and started making them at home all the time. At another work event one of the owners kept buying us rounds of laphroaig. Very interesting to say the least and I’d never had anything like it before. And over the course of a few years I bought bottles and drank them neat or in cocktails or on the rocks. I didn’t go all in all at once. It was years of just exploring and tasting and now almost always drink it neat.
That's great to hear! I'm a big fan of the Old Fashioned too, it's a great way to start getting into whiskey. Thanks for sharing mate!
I only drink Dimple Whisky, I've noticed that the empty bottles don't roll back out from under the bed.
you saying cast or cask strength?
It's so hard to get people into any kind of alcohol. How many times have you heard people say "I don't drink wine, I don't like it". Well if you had something nice, you probably would, you've only ever drunk cheap crap wine. The same goes for whisky and other spirits. The biggest one I focus on is quality, if you ask someone who has never had whisky before to drink it straight, please do not give anything lesser quality than a Glenfiddich 12 yr. Quality will often triumph over whether or not it's heavily smoked/peated or smooth.
As a liquor store owner my thoughts have always been "Lagavulin 16 year may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it sure is better than Vat 69"
I like a burn. It keeps me from drinking a bottle in one sitting. Also the expense helps stave off the alcoholism
~I measure it and I drink a close ratio mix of 1oz. Whisky :to: 7oz. water. It does give me everything I want for me, feel good and enjoy. Sipping strong near straight Whisky is definitely not for me.
~My favorite Whisky's are Glenlivet & Glenfiddich, Jack Daniel's No.7, and J.P. Wisers Deluxe Canadian Rye Whisky.
I hardly taste alcohol is most whisky's. I can taste all the flavour. Best example with the entry classic laddie I couldn't smell the alcohol and it's 50% abv. Then I would let my mother tried it that almost never drinks and she said it was all alcohol. Even the taste for her. Like for me I almost don't taste the alcohol. I drink a lot (well yeah not an alcoholic!l off different scotches. And some still have a burn but add some water and it gets a lot better!👍🥃
Edit damn you drinking the classic laddie.🤦♂️👍 I commented without watching first. It's one off my favorite non peated scotches.
Edit 2: Laphroaig 10 is to watered down the CS off it is amazing though!
Thank you......I was wondering why it stopped burning for me.......
Everyone I know , drinks whiskey to just get drunk and not enjoy it.
Fabulous video!
Monkey shoulder blended scotch, is a good starter for bourbon drinkers.🥃👍
I nosed the whiskey
I sipped the whiskey
🔥🔥🔥
I lost my voice and my eyes watered 😂😂😂
I’ll stick Cuban rum. 👍🏻
Funnily enough it was the laphroaig 10 that got me into whisky. I’d tried various different whisky over the years but wasn’t until I tried the laphroaig that I found my calling so to speak
Same! Funny how we started through what some people consider a door that's too intense
My first one was a non age statement Macallan. Very delicate!
Then I tried Glenfiddich 12, 15, 18 and some from Glenlivet...
Now I enjoy Glencadam 10, Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban 14, Bunnahabhain 12, Caol Ila 12 and so on... 🙂
The first Scotch I tried was Laphroaig 10. I honestly thought it tasted like liquid dirt. It put me off Scotch for 25 years.
Sipping on a lovely imdependantly bottled Caol Ila while watching this video
Ha nice work!
Some cask strength whiskies burn less than lower abv whiskies. It's strange isn't it?
I’ve noticed this a lot as well. I’ve also had intense burn on the nose and no burn on the palette and vice versa.
Yeah, that is very true and a point I probably should have included. The Glenmorangie Astar I have is a great example, it's 52.5%, but if you gave it to me blind, I'd almost say it's 43% as it's incredibly smooth, with barely any burn at all.
Yeah, a few drops of water shld do the trick. Cheers Man
I've been drinking whiskey and whisky for 30 years. Recently, I'm trying to be more of a connoisseur, but it still burns.
Master Blenders blend whiskies at 20% ABV! Have a heart-you should know better!
My mum: drink responsibly
My dad:
Ahem my friend used at times drink Whiskey with milk...😅. No seriously he did...😊
whatever you do, don't drink directly from the bottle, no matter how little whisky is left
In my experience, only really high ABV or cheap, poorly made whiskey burns!
Your first sip, swish it around your mouth and slowly swallow it. Each sip will burn less.
Great tip!
Well, if it was in a cask quiet enough, it should be smooth and you shouldn't feel alcohol burn that much