While most people associate tasting whisky with sipping, there’s one crucial step that elevates the whole experience: nosing. About 80% of what we experience as taste is actually perceived through our sense of smell. That’s why whisky’s nose (the aromas you detect before sipping) can give you clues about its Flavours, aging process, and the ingredients that went into crafting the expression. By taking the time to properly nose your whisky, you’ll unlock a world of aromas from fruity to floral, smoky to spicy, and earthy to herbal
The first thing to do is select your glassware, we cover this in more detail in #8-things-you-need-to-create-the-perfect-whisky-tasting-experience-at-home A tulip shape glass is great for nosing and we recommend letting your whisky “breathe” in the glass for 5 to 10 minutes before you get started.
Give it a swirl: Lightly swirl the whisky around your glass, this will help it oxidate. Don’t be too aggressive with it, we don’t want whisky flying everywhere, a nice gentle swirl will do.
Check out those legs: Hold your glass up to the light and you will see an oily ring around your glass. How the droplets start to fall can give you an insight into the whisky your about to try. These are known as “legs” or “tears”. The closer together the legs are to each other, the thicker the whisky, meaning its likely to be a higher ABV. How fast the tears travel down the glass will also give you insight into the alcohol content in the expression. The slower the legs, the higher the ABV.
Slowly does it: As whisky has to be bottled at a minimum 40% ABV, the ethanol can easily overpower the nostril if you whack your beak straight into the glass. Instead, slowly bring the glass to your nose, taking in a long slow sniff as you do. When you start to get a whiff, hold it there and have a good sniff. Keeping your mouth open as you inhale through the nose will let the vapours circulate around your senses, allowing you to pull out a variety of aromas.
Make Mine a Whisky Slammer: We are not suggesting adding a salt and lemon chaser here! Another way to pull aromas out of your whisky is to place the palm of your hand over the top of your glass and give it a little slam, lightly coating your hand with the whisky. Rub your hands together until dry and then pop your nose in-between your hands taking a good sniff. This method lightly introduces you to the aromas of your whisky, before heading back over to the glass for a deeper dive.
Spin the Wheel: There is no right or wrong with tasting and nosing, you can only relate to and find the flavours you have experienced before. Don’t feel pressured into finding the aromas that might be on the bottle or our tasting notes, if you do find salt and lemon your right, if you don’t your right! A tasting wheel like the one shown above can help you pull out different flavours, as well as helping you take a deeper dive into the aromas in your glass.
Reset and go again: If you’re are creating a whisky tasting experience at home with one of our Tasting Gift Sets or trying a few different whisky’s in one sitting, then you’ll want to reset your senses in-between drams. You can do this in a number of ways such as having a glass of water, sniffing coffee beans or giving the crease of your elbow a whiff. Great fun if you can get your guests doing the last one, they will think you’re having them on, but it works, trust me 😊
Now that you’re a whisky-nosing pro, we’d love to hear about your experience! Do you have any hints or tips that you’ve discovered along the way? Share them with us in the comments below or tag us on social media using #lactodorumwhiskey.
We believe whisky tasting is more than just a solo experience—it’s a journey best shared with others. If you're looking for the perfect way to enhance your tasting experience, check our our Monthly whisky Tasting Sets. They’ll provide you with everything you need to start your whisky tasting adventure from the comfort of your own home!
Happy nosing, and here’s to discovering the full depth of your whisky! 🥃
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