In short: Whisky tasting involves five simple steps: look, nose, taste, assess the finish, and experiment with a few drops of water. Beginners should start with lighter, fruit-forward whiskies, use a tulip-shaped tasting glass where possible, and focus on identifying broad flavour families such as fruit, spice, oak and sweetness before looking for more specific tasting notes.
Whether you’re attending your first whisky tasting or exploring different single malts at home, understanding how to properly taste whisky can help you appreciate the aromas, flavours and craftsmanship in every dram.
However, with whisky tasting, it’s about letting the whisky reveal itself to you. And there’s an art to it.
In the 200 years since we started distilling whisky, we’ve tasted a dram or three so we’d say we know how to taste whisky. That’s why we’ve created this whisky tasting guide to demystify the tasting process and help you get the most out of the flavours and scents just waiting to be released in the dram that started it all.
WHAT DOES WHISKY TASTE LIKE?
Most whiskies taste rich, smooth and full-bodied, with an essence of spiced, sweet notes such as vanilla, zesty fruit and oak. The individual flavours are more complex and depend on the type of whisky and how it’s been made.
Tasting the different types of whiskies
What does rye whisky taste like?
Made using at least 51% rye grain, rye whisky has a naturally spicy taste with notes of black pepper, cloves, oak, smoke, vanilla, caramel and nutmeg. Some compare it to the flavours of whisky from Scotland’s Highland region and it’s often described as being bold, full-bodied and dry, delivering a sharp yet smooth sting to the palate.
What does Scotch whisky taste like?
This whisky must be made in Scotland and aged for at least three years in oak casks. This strict process results in a varied range of flavours from heavy peated smoky expressions to light and creamy whiskies. Almost all scotch whiskies taste smooth, malty and woody depending on whether they are blended or single malt, carrying a natural sweetness either from subtle fruits or syrupy caramel. They can also have notes of vanilla, smoke and flowers.
What does Bourbon whisky taste like?
The most common whisky in America, Bourbon is made from at least 51% corn grain, and its flavour profile can vary depending on its mash and how long it is matured in charred oak barrels.
It’s typically described as a sweet blend with notes of vanilla, caramel, oak, and spice. However, bourbon can also have flavours of:
- Honey
- Maple
- Custard
- Marzipan
- Chocolate
- Red berry fruits
- Nuts
- Smoke
- Bread
How to appreciate whisky flavours
Appreciating whisky flavours isn’t about finding the “right” answer. Instead, focus on recognising broad flavour families first, such as fruit, spice, sweetness, oak or smoke. As you gain experience, you’ll begin to notice more specific notes, whether that’s green apple, honey, cinnamon, vanilla or dried fruit. The more whiskies you taste, the easier it becomes to recognise patterns and compare different styles.
WHISKY TASTING FOR BEGINNERS
If you’re new to whisky tasting, keep things simple. Start with lighter, approachable whiskies rather than heavily peated or cask-strength expressions. Fruit-forward single malts such as The Glenlivet 12 Year Old are often a good starting point as they showcase classic whisky flavours like orchard fruit, vanilla and oak without overwhelming the palate.
For your first tasting, compare two or three whiskies side by side and focus on identifying broad flavour categories such as sweet, fruity, spicy or woody rather than trying to detect every individual note.
HOW TO TASTE WHISKY
Tasting whisky is very different to drinking whisky and it’s good to keep this in mind when undertaking a whisky tasting session. Unlike when sipping on an Old Fashioned on a cold evening or cooling off with a raspberry Cranachan cocktail during the summer, whisky tasting is about appreciating the nuances of different whiskies in their own right. No other alcohol, no mixers, no garnishes.
The idea is to take your time and savour every aspect of what the spirit has to offer. It should be an experience that uses all the senses. Before the whisky even touches your lips, pay attention to the sound of the pour and how the glass feels in your hand.
You may have been taught that different parts of the tongue detect different tastes, but scientists now believe that this too is a taste bud myth. The thousands of taste buds on the tongue send signals to the brain, which in turn interprets them into the flavours we taste. So, it is technically our brain, not our tongue, that makes sense of what we are drinking.
Taste is so subjective that opinions always vary. Anyone conducting a whisky tasting experience should tell you their thoughts so that you have a guide, but interpretations will naturally vary from person to person.
“One of the best things I have read is that ‘nosing and tasting is the subjective opinion of an objective matter.”
ALAN WINCHESTER, THE GLENLIVET MASTER DISTILLER
WHISKY TASTING NOTES
Whisky tasting notes vary depending on the region, distillery, and maturation process of the scotch. But there are some common flavours to expect:
- Malty: malt is a foundational flavour of whisky, which comes from the malted barley used in the whisky making process.
- Creamy: Scotch is known for its smooth and creamy mouthfeel.
- Woody: Whisky barrels contribute to the flavour of the whisky. Often made from oak, these add woody notes that often include vanilla and spice.
- Sweet: Most whiskies have a natural sweetness, whether that be hints of honey, fruit or caramel.
- Fruity: Scotch can exhibit a wide range of fruity flavours, including citrus (lemon, orange, grapefruit), tropical (banana, pineapple, mango), apples, berries and dried fruits such as raisins
- Smoky/Peaty: Some whisky regions deliver a smoky spirit, particularly in Islay where peat is used to dry the barley. This can result in notes of woodsmoke, campfire and rich, earthy flavours.
- Spicy: Scotch can showcase a range of spices, including black pepper, cinnamon, ginger and liquorice.
- Floral: Some whiskies have delicate floral notes.
BEFORE YOU GET STARTED
To be able to carry out a successful whisky tasting, you need to gather your equipment first.
Obviously, you’ll need whisky and even choosing the different types of whisky is part of the fun. You could, for instance, pick based on geographical location, making sure you have a bottle from each of the most well-known whisky-producing countries. Or you could stick with one distillery, like The Glenlivet, and select several bottles from their repertoire. You could even look to include whiskies that have been bottled at a variety of ages such as is the case with our 12 year single malt, 21 year old scotch whisky, and 30 year aged scotch.
You’ll also need the right whisky glassware. If you’re wondering what glass to use for whisky tasting, a tulip-shaped tasting glass such as a Glencairn is generally considered the best option. Its narrow rim concentrates aromas towards the nose, making it easier to identify subtle scents. A rocks glass can still be used, particularly for casual tastings, but it won’t focus aromas in quite the same way. Learn more about the different types of whisky glasses.
Make sure you also have a pen and paper handy so you can take personal notes. You can compare them with any others taking part and they’ll be handy to look back on when you want to buy a bottle in the future.
Now you have everything you need, it’s time to get down to business.
THE LOOK
First things first – take a look at your dram.
You can tell a lot about the whisky in your glass from the way it looks because the colour of single malt whisky is heavily influenced by how it’s been matured. To judge the colour of the whisky, simply hold your glass up to a neutral background and look closely. By consulting the colour chart below, you should be able to match your whisky to one of the shades on here.
THE NOSE
Once you’ve taken a good look at your whisky, it’s time to smell it.
Nosing a whisky isn’t just for show – it’s vital to the tasting experience. We’re told by our experts that almost 80% of our taste sensation comes from our sense of smell, with the human nose being able to recognise up to 35,000 smells and detect aromas diluted to one part in a million.
So, to get the best out of those delicate instruments, you should always nose a whisky more than once. Your first inhalation will usually be a rush of alcohol, while your second will start to reveal the different characteristics of the whisky. As the bouquet opens, you’ll experience a full journey of aromas: fruity, floral, spicy, woody, creamy, sweet… Adding a little water to the dram can actually aid this process.
THE PALATE
Take a mouthful of whisky, hold it for a moment and then swallow it as slowly as you can.
First, you’ll notice how it feels in your mouth – this is the ‘mouthfeel’. You’ll detect the liquid’s viscosity, pungency, and smoothness. At this stage, whisky is often described using terms such as clean, crisp, rich, creamy, or silky.
Pungency is apparent in very strong spirits that may sting your nose and tongue. Once you’ve tasted the whisky, you’ll discover new aromas in addition to the ones you identified when nosing.
At this point, you’ll also detect the numerous flavours of the whisky. They may be generally categorised as nutty, sweet, spicy, fruity, or smoky, but more specific flavours will come through too, such as honey, toffee apples, oranges, cinnamon, hazelnuts, and raisins. For guidance, see the tasting notes for each of our expressions.
THE FINISH
At the distillery, we like to talk about the ‘finish’ of a whisky.
This is simply the length of time the flavour lingers in your mouth once you’ve swallowed the whisky. In whisky tasting, the finish is often used as an indicator of complexity and balance. Some whiskies have a short, clean finish that fades quickly, while others develop new flavours that continue evolving for several minutes after each sip.
Depending on the expression, the finish might be described as warm, clean, sharp, or dry. New flavours might also come through at this stage, perhaps vanilla, liquorice, chocolate, or ginger.
THE WATER
Adding water to a dram can help to release scents, but everyone will respond differently to different amounts of water.
There is a scientific reason for this: extra water reduces the solubility of some long-chain compounds, such as esters. Some drinkers may only require only a few drops, while others will need a healthy splash.
The effect of adding water is similar to when you walk in the countryside after a rain shower: it smells fragrant, and you can catch the scent of the blossoms. Water mixes with the whisky and there’s a slight exothermic reaction. This reduces the alcohol strength, so rather than having the alcohol burning your nose, you get the fruity, floral flavours.
Curious about how much water to add? Read our guide to whisky and water to learn how dilution changes aroma and flavour.
Discover your own whisky drinking style with our whisky cocktail recipes, including our pick of easy cocktails to make at home and 2-ingredient whisky drinks.