[#whiskyphTip] Tasting Notes.

Most whisky reviews describe whisky in 3 categories:

Nose - what you smell
Palate - what you taste
Finish - the lingering whisky taste after swallowing

To me, drinking #whisky is incredible because it is an exercise in memory. To pick out whisky notes you have to have a lot of memories of scents, flavors & even experiences.

Studying each category is important. Purely on the nose, the #Suntory Kakubin (P900) can be reminiscent of the #Yamazaki NAS (P5,000). But it is on the palate and finish that clearly sets the superior whisky apart.

To maximize your tasting experience, pour a dram into a tasting glass with a wide base and a narrower mouth. The #Glencairn glass (in photo) is a popular choice.

On the nose, hover your nose near the rim of the glass and try to make out what you can smell. While you may be smelling, your notes aren't limited to scents but can also include experiences or tastes. Does it remind you of the smell of citrus fruits like lemon, orange or calamansi? Does it remind you of rain drenched grass?

On the palate, take a small sip, stimulating the tongue and then a larger sip to really taste. Try to identify the flavors and memories it brings to mind. Hold it in your tongue then swirl the liquid in and around your tongue and hold it there again so that your tastebuds can maximize all the salty, sweet, sour, bitter and savory flavors. Swallow slowly.

For the finish, just enjoy the flavors that you can taste and smell after you've swallowed the whisky. Try not to drink anything else for a while. Many great whiskies have a long finish that changes as time passes.

And then write it all down. Compare notes among friends, with blogs, or with the notes on the box. But don't feel bad if your notes are different. The notes are highly subjective and dependent on the taster's experiences.

It's easy for Filipinos to not know what a TCP note is (a popular antiseptic in the UK). We might more closely associate the antiseptic smell to Betadine & band-aids.

Talking about these differences surely makes for great conversation. #Tagay!

Image Courtesy of @WhiskyPH

@WhiskyPH

At its core, whisky appreciation is an exercise in memory. Notes of a whisky enthusiast in the Philippines. 🥃🇵🇭