5 Essential Facts About Whisky
+ The Classic Old Fashioned
Much like Mark Twain, Winston Churchill, and Clark Gable, you'll be a distinguished master of this gentlemanly drink with these five interesting whisky facts and classic cocktail recipe.
Enjoy!
Just like wine, different styles of whisky vary in their characteristics of flavor based on the location in which it was produced and the length of time it was aged.
Whisky should also be enjoyed in the same way as wine to fully experience all the subtle flavor notes. Smell the liquor first, then take a small sip and gently roll it around in your mouth and try to taste all the different flavors.
Not all whisky is created equal. Bourbon? Rye? Scotch? It's important to be familiar with the main types of whisky and the differences between them in flavor and production. For instance, bourbon is a whisky, but not all whisky bourbon. Why? In order for a whisky to be a bourbon, it's required to be made in America with at least 51% corn in charred oak barrels.
The Old Fashioned is the first documented definition of the word "cocktail." This popular whisky drink was first detailed in 1806 as "a potent concoction of spirits, bitter, water and sugar." Ever tried one? See our recipe below!
Though some will say whisky is best sipped from a heavy based crystal Glencairn glass, we say it should be drunk however you like it best! May we suggest this Whisky Sips Set?
The Classic Old Fashioned Recipe
Ingredients:
1 ½ ounces bourbon or rye whisky
2 dashes of bitters
1 sugar cube
A few dashes of water
Orange rind for garnish
Cocktail cherry for garnish
Directions:
Place a sugar cube in the bottom of a short cocktail glass. Saturate it with the bitters, then add just a dash of plain water. Using a muddler or cocktail spoon, muddle these ingredients until dissolved. Then, fill the glass with ice cubes and top with whiskey. Garnish with an orange slice and a cocktail cherry.