It's All Too Common To Make This Little Mistake When Tasting Bourbon - Tasting Table

"Bourbon tasting is far different than enjoying bourbon-based cocktails or knocking back a straight shot. It's a subtler way of experiencing the nuances of well-crafted bourbons, whether they're Kentucky straight, blended, bottled-in-bond, single barrel, sour mash, rye, or otherwise. Each has its own character, giving rise to the art of bourbon tasting, similar to wine tasting. While there aren't strict rules or obvious faux pas, there are some mistakes that could detract from truly getting a feel for the bourbon at hand. One of those is the simple act of gulping, rather than sipping."

"It's one of the 14 common bourbon tasting mistakes that are easy to make, identified by our own Tasting Table whiskey connoisseur, Kenny Jarvis. He explains that tasting a mouthful is a classic mistake made with any high-proof spirit, but it's definitely not the right way to enjoy bourbon for several reasons. "A large gulp floods the palate," he explains, "and you're more likely to get a harsh, burning sensation." It can be overpowering and cause you to cough and sputter. But it's not because the bourbon is bad - you're just drinking it the wrong way."

"Once your palate acclimates during small-sip bourbon tasting, you stand a much better chance of noticing more subtle aromas and flavor notes, such as vanilla, caramel, oak, spice, or even floral or fruity undertones. A good tasting sip should linger: Roll it around your tongue and let it coat different parts of your mouth before swallowing. That way, you experience not only the "front-of-mouth""

Bourbon tasting focuses on subtle aromas and layered flavors across styles like Kentucky straight, blended, single barrel, sour mash, and rye. Large gulps flood the palate and often produce harsh burning sensations, coughing, and sputtering, which mask nuanced tasting notes. The goal of tasting is to savor the profile, not to become intoxicated, so slow, intentional sipping is essential. Small sips allow the palate to acclimate and reveal notes such as vanilla, caramel, oak, spice, floral, and fruity undertones. Rolling a sip across the tongue and letting it linger helps coat different mouth areas before swallowing.

Read at Tasting Table