How to choose and preserve wine for beginners to Whisky

Discover tips for choosing whisky for beginners, how to enjoy and store whisky properly to preserve its delicate flavor.

Whiskey is one of the most popular spirits, associated with the culture and art of long-standing enjoyment of many countries in the world . Each country, each distillery creates lines of wine with distinct nuances of flavor and style. Therefore, choosing a suitable bottle of whisky is not simple for those new to Whiskey. If you are just starting to explore the world of Whiskey, let's pocket the tips for choosing the right whisky and useful ways to preserve whisky in the following article!

1. Tips for choosing whisky for beginners

Popular Whiskeys are not only diverse in brands but also in origin, flavor, age and bottling method. To find the “true love” bottle of whisky for yourself, pay attention to the following tips:

1.1. Select by origin

Each country has its own style of making Whisky, creating a rich world of Whisky. Therefore, you should learn about the characteristics of each type of wine in advance to know which country's Whisky suits your taste:

• Scotland (Scotch Whisky): Famous for its rich, sophisticated and multi-layered flavor with many impressive aromas such as fruit, honey, chocolate or unique peat smoke.
• Irish Whiskey: Smooth, light and easy to drink with honey, dried fruit, vanilla and a long, smooth finish.
• American (Bourbon, American Rye, Tennessee Whiskey): Full-bodied, full-bodied, with a sweet caramel and oaky aroma (Bourbon, Tennessee Whiskey) or a strong, spicy flavor with rich spices (American Rye Whiskey).

Japanese Whisky: Delicate, balanced and smooth with floral, fresh fruit and rich spice aromas, a harmonious blend of Scotch Whisky and Asian styles.

Each country has its own distinct style of whisky making.

1.2. Choose by flavor & alcohol content

If you are new to drinking Whiskey, you should prioritize wines with moderate alcohol concentration (40–43% ABV), with a smooth and pleasant flavor to gradually get used to the wine. At the same time, you should avoid wines with strong smoky aromas or strong flavors because they can easily cause an unpleasant experience from the first time you enjoy them.

1.3. Choose by wine age

You should choose whiskies that are aged for 8-12 years because they have a clear, rich flavor and are affordable. Older whiskies are more complex and sophisticated, but often come with a much higher price tag. Furthermore, older whiskies are not always easy to drink and can taste clearly if you are not experienced.

You should choose short-aged Whiskey when you first start drinking Whiskey.

1.4. Refer to small bottle size

If you’re not sure what your palate likes, start with a small bottle like 200ml or 375ml. This is a safe, cost-effective way to sample different styles of whisky before investing in a large, expensive bottle.

2. Basic ways to enjoy whisky

Once you have a bottle of quality Whisky in hand, don't forget to try the basic drinking methods to discover the flavor of the wine in the most correct way:

• Neat: Drink directly without dilution, helping to fully feel the aroma and aftertaste of the wine but can be a bit harsh due to high alcohol concentration.
• On the rocks: Drinking wine with a few ice cubes softens the alcohol and opens up more layers of flavor, making it easier to enjoy.
• Mixing with water: This is a way to reduce the alcohol concentration while still enjoying the original flavor of the wine if you can't drink too strong wine.

After experiencing all the layers of Whiskey flavor, you can explore classic cocktails such as Whiskey Sour, Old Fashioned or Highball to find a new and easy-to-drink feeling. However, you should not mix soda or soft drinks right from the beginning because it will make it difficult for you to recognize the original flavor of the alcohol.

Avoid mixing wine at first to get the original taste of the wine first.

3. Tips for storing whisky properly

Spirits such as Cognac and Whisky are types of alcohol that can retain their flavor for a very long time, even decades if the wine is not opened. However, if stored improperly, the quality of the wine can decrease, affecting your wine experience and your health. Therefore, you need to note the following to store Whisky:

Basic preservation principles:

• Store at 15 - 20 degrees Celsius, in a cool, dry place.
• Avoid storing wine in direct sunlight or near high temperature areas such as the kitchen.
• Place the bottle upright to prevent the alcohol in the wine from coming into contact with the cork, damaging the cork and allowing air into the bottle.

Principles of wine preservation after opening:

• Close tightly after each use.
• Drink within 6 - 12 months for full flavor.
• If there is little wine left in the bottle, pour the wine into a smaller bottle to limit the wine's exposure to oxygen in the bottle.

Whiskey can retain its full flavor for a very long time if stored properly.

Whisky is not just a drink, but also a sophisticated cultural experience. Understanding how to choose, enjoy and preserve Whisky properly will help you fully enjoy the essence of the world of wine in general and Whisky in particular. Let's start with small steps, so that each glass of whisky opens a new journey of discovery, rich in emotions and memorable!