Why whisky BURNS when you drink It: 7 tips to get past it

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Since releasing this video, I’ve created something that I wish I had when I started exploring whisky-the Whisky Aroma Flavour Tree Poster. If you’ve ever felt stuck trying to describe the aromas in your glass or found other whisky guides too complicated, this might just be what you’ve been looking for. 👉 Check it out here: etsy.me/3OE0smb It’s already helping so many whisky fans explore flavors with more confidence, and I’m excited to share it with you. Cheers, Phil 🥃

[@rafaelfelix1075]

Taking a stop at drinking and starting to taste was a move that threw me at Wine's World. I´m a wine sommelier since 2018 and now I'm beginning my Whisky Journey and, honeslty, I'm loving it.

[@stockicide]

It's worth remembering that higher ABV doesn't always mean more burn. I've had well-made 50% ABV whiskeys that were very smooth, and cheap bottom-shelf whiskeys that burned like hell despite being only 40%.

[@maddockemerson4603]

Can confirm. I have two rums right now of the same ABV at 40% - Appleton Estate Signature and Mount Gay Eclipse, and the Mount Gay feels a lot more intense for some reason. I was comparing them and thought the Mount Gay was more alcoholic so I looked at the labels and was surprised to see the same ABV. I don't think I like the MGE, but the AE is really nice.

[@peanutbutterdijonnaise]

I came across this in my own recent bourbon exposures. Four Roses, first the small batch variant (45%) then the original bourbon (40%). The former was much less pronounced in any sort of burn and was much more “savory” as a result. The original 40%, while just as enjoyable, had more of a burn. Would have expected things to be the other way around.

[@YoureWokeYoureBroke]

@@maddockemerson4603mount GAY?! You’re really putting that sh*t in your mouth?!

[@dabbinghitlersmemes1762]

Probably because of the "cuts" made in distillation. Ethanol (regular alcohol) isn't the only thing made in fermentation, you get methanol, acetone and fusel oils and all sorts of things in usually very small amounts. They come off the still at different rates, so depending on where the distiller 'cut' (because he'll cut off the head and the tail) you get a different taste. Some cheap spirits will make wider cuts to get more booze, and so keep more of the byproducts. (Although sometimes that's intentional, for taste)

[@Pete40-b1u]

Great advice. Totally agree with your introduction to whisky. Walk before you can run and don’t forget enjoy. Thanks for taking the time to share all the best Pete 🥃

[@rames1974]

When I first tried getting into whisky the guy at the store told me to stay away from Peat and sold me a sherry cask Tomatin. I couldn't choke it down and ended up mixing it with Coke. Then I bought a Bowmore Islay and loved it! So yeah I think a beginner should try both ends of the flavor spectrum and work their way into the middle.

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Exactly. Some people will lean to sherried whiskies from the start and others will lean to smoky whisky. The best thing is to try both types. Cheers Jimmy!

[@UsedBrain4U]

I did not fall in love with Scotch until I tried Laphroaig QC. That was my first Peat and I was instantly chasing everything PEAT!

[@brendanwaldon2117]

Same! My first was Glenlivet, I bought it on a whim because I wanted to understand what all the fuss was about around Scotch. Sadly I was underwhelmed but I told a colleague (who was into whisky) about my experience the following day, and he recommended I grab a bottle of Ardbeg 10. So I picked one up on the way home from work and upon opening the bottle, it smelt like a swamp on Dagobah, I mean this stuff reeked! But in a good way! Then I tasted it, and oh man, it was like a religious experience. I instantly knew this was going to be my favourite drink for a while to come, and two years later I was on my first tour of Islay! It makes sense that I enjoyed it so much as growing up I was always into strong flavoured foods like olives and oysters etc so I admit I often chime in when I see someone recommend newcomers to stay away from peated whisky. It's funny to think had I not had that conversation with my colleague, I may have never discovered peated Scotch.. but I try not to think about that :D

[@osirisgolad]

The first thing I tell people while I'm pouring is "don't stick your nose into the glass, and just open your mouth slightly, breathe passively through your nose as you would when you're breathing normally, rather than trying to chase the smell; let it come to you instead". That usually gets them to slow down for the rest of the process, because they notice that the smell is indeed there if they're patient and willing to try things, so then they're willing to do the same for the taste as well.

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

That’s a great tip!

[@utkarshabhigyan2664]

What I do while drinking whiskey is to breathe and fill my lungs with air, then drink my whiskey and exhale after my drink is finally down my throat, it helps me with not actually inhaling the alcohol in my whiskey but only the notes that it carries afterwards.

[@osirisgolad]

@@utkarshabhigyan2664 Yes, "retronasal" as it's more commonly known; though there is some difference between which smells you can pick up when inhaling or exhaling through your nose.

[@utkarshabhigyan2664]

@@osirisgolad idk why but for some reasons, directly trying to inhale whiskey makes me puke, if I want to enjoy whiskey, I have to dilute it or mix it with carbonated drinks. However, some of my friends who actually know what they're doing and drink whiskey and enjoy it as well told me that mixing whiskey or diluting it a lot is not ideal. So to give respect to the drink, I usually avoid drinking whiskey rather than diluting it or mixing it in coke and go for more neutral spirits like vodka and jin.

[@robertlear2735]

I went down the whisky rabbit hole for over a year. I watched a ton of whisky videos. I finally realized that people in the videos were looking for complex flavors and they actually liked more alcohol in their whisky than I did. I was more interested in something that was easy to drink. Sadly, some of these whiskies are on the expensive side, some are not. My favorites are Makers Mark, Jim Beam Black Label, MacAllan 12 of 15 year, Jameson Stout Edition, Balvenie 17 year Double Wood , Colonel E.H. Taylor small batch

[@lani6647]

A lotta those are actually bourbons.

[@SamuelShaool]

@@lani6647 bourbon is whisky...

[@jeremytheoneofdestiny8691]

I never had this issue. My first whisky I bought was Knob’s Creek, and then Glenlivet 12. I was amazed how beautiful they were. Moved on to Johnnie Walker Black and Highland Park next and loved them as well. Love at first dram, so to say.

[@scottlewis4906]

I discovered tip #3 a little while ago all on my own. I have shown a few people and it confirmed my hypothesis about the evaporation off the tongue it a big part of "the burn." It is stronger the higher the proof... which would be a faster evaporation. Just keep the lips closed until just after you swallow. Then open and let the vapors hit the nose for the full flavor.

[@leumas75]

My father (who is the classic caricature of a Scottish Presbyterian minister) thought that the trick to getting over the burn was to start us boys (I’m the youngest of 3 boys) early, drinking decent blended whiskies at age 10 or so. It worked - we are all responsible drinkers as adults, all with 3 VERY different preferences within the whisky world.

[@charliemaddock3459]

Lucky for you hahah some kids don’t have many brain cells to begin with and starting at ten ruin em but your still fine good genes 🧬

[@leumas75]

@@charliemaddock3459 Well, we all 3 completed doctoral programs in our fields, have held distinguished careers in those same fields, have married once each and have 7 lovely children between us. I think we’ve done ok.

[@charliemaddock3459]

@@leumas75 yes like i said others may not be so lucky as you ….

[@user-gs3pt1uf1g]

Alcohol inhibits growths in young bodies.

[@velviaman3206]

Cooling Guinness to the temperature of lager ruins it. It used to have a strong malty smell and taste . It ain’t what it used to be. 😅

[@sierrastriker77]

Excellent advice, I definitely second your point about a peaty/smokey whiskey like laphroaig as that's one of the two main scotches (glenmorangie 10 being the other) that really helped get me into this hobby as someone who liked decent bourbon but had trouble pulling distinct notes from the heat.

[@raeraeraeth]

Great advice. A mistake I made, having recently gotten into whisky, was to taste it shortly after hot food. Hot as in temperature or as in capsaicin, it will leave your mouth sensitive to the wrong elements

[@InWeCome]

Master distillers actually bring it down all the way to 20% when tasting. There are tasting glasses that have two lines equally separated, one for whisky and one for water (assuming 40% strength whisky). It really helps to separate all the different flavours, while muting the stronger flavours it allows to distinguish the weaker elements more. It also prevents the numbing of taste receptors and allows for a larger sip to swirl around in your mouth and fully coat it. Try it with the first sip, and then refill the glass and drink the whisky normally. It helps to locate the different flavours.

[@hanzschwanns7511]

Two years into such an educated & useful tip here, but nobody went to that tiny effort ... smh. So, thank you very much (I didn't know this at all before)! 🙂✌🖖

[@hamishmatthew9527]

you are such a legend bro the air water and cooling it down tip has worked so well for me i just turned 18 and wanted to get into the whiskey game early and committed the crime of laphroaig and coke because i hated the burn but i can barely feel it now after watching this game changer

[@edfriday7709]

I’m similar with the Islay stuff. I’d tried the odd fairly standard blends and maybe found the odd one I could tolerate but then had a job interview on Islay so decided to do some research at what was then The Pot Still in Hope Street in Glasgow. Ardbeg was first as it was cheapest followed by Laphroaig. Loved it immediately but have broadened my taste since working in and around Speyside and living in the Highland region as far as whisky is concerned….

[@AlReyn]

Mate this is a great video, really good advice for those looking for a better way of staying the course & getting past those Initial 'hurdles'. A lot of people give up before they get the chance to discover the complexity of flavours. So many will benefit from watching this including me - thankyou 👍

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Thanks Al. Exactly, I nearly gave up myself 😅 and look at me now ha! Appreciate that!

[@skeller61]

Laphoaig 10 was the first scotch whisky that tasted like I thought it should taste. That was 40 years ago. I went through a long period of not drinking much at all, and am beginning again at age 62. Earlier, I had gone through GlenmorangIe, which I liked for a time, Lagavullin 16, which a Costco sold for a good price, and others, though I did buy a few bottles that didn’t quite click for me. After viewing a few videos, I went out and got a Port Charlotte, and am enjoying my first taste as I write this. Wow, what a flavorful, sublime experience. I look forward to the journey. Thanks for your videos!

[@Bottle-Blonde]

New to whiskey but naturally gravitated to Lagavulin and Laphroaig. (recomended by waitress at Johnny Foley's in San Francisco) Love the smoke. Still getting through the burn but the tips you offered will help!

[@gursimratbhatti6203]

I’m new to the whisky scene and loving this channel. Thanks bro.

[@bradley8u941]

Subscribed very in-depth and not over complicated advice. Thank you 🔥

[@johneqwest]

My daughter gasped and almost cried when she took her first sip of my Glenfiddich. Then I had her take just a sip, hold it against the roof of her mouth with the tip of her tongue, and let the fumes seep into her nostrils before she swallowed it. It was an almost instantaneous change in experience and perception. She was able, on just her second sip, to taste the butteryness of the whisky. Now we are working our way through a series of 30ml bottles of different single malts and she has a very good palate for tasting subtleties that I even have trouble picking up (too many taste buds seared over the years). I like the peaty Laphroig or Jura whiskies as well, but only as a change of pace. I enjoy the peaty whiskies the most when I have other single malts on hand so I'm not drinking a smoky scotch every time until the bottle is gone.

[@paulhenner8914]

Excellent................I am a single malt lover..........and this is about the best beginners tutorial I have struke !

[@Ron-zr6se]

The sherried whisky's are my favorite but I decided to purchase a bottle of Talisker Surge and at first I was not to happy with it. However after a couple tastings I have come to rather like it. I find that the peatiness of the whisky is a pleasant addition.

[@grosey11]

Its Glenfiddich for me. Yes with a large chunk of ice and a dash of soda water. But these tips are spot on. You forgot the choice of whiskey glass that helps you savour the bouquet.

[@nickp5511]

Nice video! Never could get past the burn so I didn’t try it often. Hit 60 years old and my son gave me a glass of Redbreast 12, wow it was easy to drink. Now I can handle way more and I have a wide variety of whiskey, whisky, and scotch!

[@spykerf1545]

Great video! Love the Wiz of Oz shout out. Maybe not as surprising as your Laphroaig 10 pick, but a whiskey I think has relatively little burn, but a huge amount of flavor is the Port Charlotte Heavily Peated. Even at 50% abv, its the flavor that hits you, not the burn.

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Love the PC10. Thanks!

[@scarytruths01]

Im personally a scotch drinker, iv had a few different glenlette 12 is great for a beginner but it dose burn a bit... if you don't mind spending a bit more i would probly advise getting a 15 year or 18 year. I do have a Belvenie 21 I dont drink it as much as the Mecellon 12 or 15 year.

[@rigs3834]

Stumbled upon your channel as I'm about to begin my own whiskey journey, I'll take your advice on board and see how I get on 🤘😎🤘

[@phillister76]

Very good video. I recommend double casks a lot as an introductory dram. Nothing too extreme in the flavour, something balanced. Too many to mention but Aberlour 12 was the first whisky I actually enjoyed. I also agree, when people appreciate the softness behind the peat of laphroaig 10, they are understanding the beautiful world of whisky

[@muttineni03]

The best Whisky related channel on KZbin, keep it up!

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Thanks! Appreciate that

[@lrgpanda9037]

Its taken me 3 nights of sipping bourbon whisky for it to be decent.i feel when i first started i didnt like it but after acquiring the taste its getting better.can finally taste the flavor notes.kind of crazy cus i didnt think i could ever like it but just takes time

[@flavianolopes6053]

That tip 03 here in Brazil is very helpful to drink some kind of cachaça! Thanks a lot, Phil! Learning a lot!

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

I need to try some cachaça. Thanks mate!

[@bullrush7695]

I love whiskey but i cant smell that well so this has been helpful

[@mudmaster9965]

Hi I am from Thai After end video, I start drinking with your tips and Thai super spicy food. It is amazing!

[@lennytheleopard]

And having tried quite a few whiskies now I found most of my favourites come from Islay. And here's my boast: I live 400m from Scotland's oldest distillery!

[@dannygonzalez6548]

The whisk(e)y that got me started on my journey was a green bottle also however it was Jameson. Laphroaig was like the 17th bottle I purchased and BOY what a ride it takes me in when I do pour a dram.

[@DayKlight]

I started with Teeling Single Malt, then went to the Bunna, Glenallachie, and then Edradour caledonia and ledaig, and immediately Edradour was and is my fav distillery. For now I enjoy every direction of whisky, ex bourbon, virgin oak, sherry, wine variations, smokey, etc, all nice (if made well) :D

[@brendanwaldon2117]

First Phil is a genius name, bravo mate!

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

I’m glad you get it!

[@justinhowe4422]

Top video as always cheers. My group of mates aren't keen whisky drinkers and im forever trying to get them into it. Some really good tips here will have another crack at it!

[@whiskyvolt1266]

Nice and informative video Phil! Something I would add on the part about nosing whisky is nosing it with your mouth open. Just like a burn in the throat, sometimes people get overwhelmed by the smell of alcohol while nosing. Keeping your mouth open helps with circulation and pick up the better notes. I see you doing it as well in the video! ;) Additionally instead of adding water you can take a sip of water before you take a sip of whisky. Leave some water in your mouth while you take it sip. I will dilute and lets the whisky flow through your mouth!

[@davidowen2834]

Hi Phil, just wanted to say that this is an interesting thought though put together video and also enjoyable to watch, slàinte Phil

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Thanks David! Appreciate that

[@Dubliners39]

Phil just come across you today and got to say I've just started try different whisky this is really helpful 🥃👍

[@melissa7867]

Thank you for filling us in Phil! Great video and much appreciated! Cheers! 😊🥃

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Thanks Melissa!

[@nedshead5906]

I've just started my whiskey journey with a bottle of Port Charlotte 10 single malt, being an ex smoker I knew I would like a smokey whiskey and I'm enjoying the lingering smoke flavor, but the burn on the way down is intense, it's like acid reflux (which I'm already prone to) I hope I can get past it and enjoy the whiskey for what it is

[@jasonbiernat2944]

Thank you, I really appreciate your content on this subject.!

[@amon3128]

Thanks for this video, You convinced me to buy laphroig. I'm an advanced beginner, very much into bourbons, but i really want to try some scotches, also this irish redbreast looks fine

[@JeffWhisky]

I have got lots of friends who I would love to get into whisky with me but that intiail burn always scares them away back to beer. Will be showing this to them for hope! After lots of practice Coffee is still too bitter for me though 🤣Great video as always Phil.

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Thanks Jeff!

[@StamfordBridge]

What an amazingly thoughtful and useful video for the topic.

[@MrHowardMoon]

I started my whisky journey last month with JD No 7 and The Famous Grouse, both were absolutely awful. I've since done some research on what whisky is good for a beginner and I'm interested in trying, Aberfeldy 12, AnCnoc 12, Old Pulteney 12, and Marker's Mark. I've got some miniatures of Old Pulteney 12, Maker's Mark, Glenfiddich 12, and Glenfiddich 15 on the way. Once I've tried those, I'm going to grab a Aberfeldy 12 miniature and find some way to try AnCnoc 12 as there doesn't seem to be miniatures anywhere.

[@michaelbest599]

Another great video Phil 👍 really well put together and edited

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Cheers Michael!

[@Dicko125]

Great video Phil. Some really great tips here. I had to work all these out myself when I got into whisky. What a shame about dramfest this year 😞

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Thanks Charles! A real shame… I hope I can make it to the rescheduled date..

[@straubroli]

Yet again a great video! Helpful tips! Thank you. I do have a question though: could you explain the difference between cherry and sherry? I reckon they're not the same when it comes to whisk(e)y. When a whisky is matured in sherry casks, they are talking about a type of wine, right? So, not cherry..? Can you explain?

[@Qrbrbrbl]

Late reply, but due to the history of England and France, the Isles most often got wine from Spain and Portugal- indeed the most popular wines to the English historically were sherry (a Spanish wine) and Port and Madeira (Portuguese wines). In the past whiskey makers would stick whiskey in whatever containers they could find. Eventually, they realized the profound effect that aging in a barrel had on whiskey, and since sherry barrels were most common, whiskey would be put in there and allowed to age. Sherried scotch was historically the most common type until Scotland started to get bourbon barrels from the US. As for cherry, the fruit- it has nothing to do with scotch. Sort of. The point about pouring sherry over ice cream is referring to something like a Pedro Ximénez sherry which is very sweet. That said, a property of ex bourbon casks (and even a few sherry casks) is imparting a cherry flavor to scotch.

[@rameslayer]

Nicely done! Redbreast 12 is on my list now!

[@lucedice2736]

Eyyyyyy, my first whisky that i really liked was also the Laphroaig 10! My first one was Bowmore 12 but i didnt really like it but the first one I really enjoyed was the Laphroaig 10

[@distlledbrewedreviewed]

Great info my friend. I always start with an acclamation sip. Cheers my friend!

[@bradlamothe2520]

Question at the end. I just discovered your channel after years of trying American and Scotland whisky. I have to say I enjoy Islay region whisky the most and really diving into what it has to offer, even the un-peated Bunnahabhain. I however enjoy getting some air in when sipping on the peated styles of whiskey, maybe I am at that point where like you said I am not just drinking whiskey, but tasting it. I am in search of a heavily peated whiskey that would be brought out only every now and then to show friends the extreme in peated whiskeys. Do you have and recommendations? Something more peated than the Ardbeg 10 or Bruichladdich Port Charlotte 10.

[@Soulvinum]

Hey Phil, thanks for your great videos mate. Regards from Uk . CARLOS(Majestic Wines devon area)

[@aerodaan]

Excellent tutorial to become a whiskey aficionado!

[@nicolposthumus4243]

Awesome vid Phil .Thank you for your insights.

[@markw5144]

Thanks for this! I have no experience with whisky so this was very helpful - especially the part about not letting air in. I'm trying to become a man that can drink without the picture of a tropical fruit on the box! ;)

[@rowanstrang8072]

Great video!

[@stevelandwonder4760]

This is an excellent practical introduction.

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Cheers! Glad it’s helpful

[@TriptonStudios]

Phill I need a wee bit of advice, whisky drinking for 20 years but really only became a nerd about it recently. I’ve begun exploring the dif regions because all I drank regularly before was the dalmore and a few other highlands. Now that I’ve learned of chill filtering and color adding, I’ve began to shy away from trying any of the offerings that chill filter or add color, is this limiting my enjoyment of the hobby, should I forget about weather it’s chill filtered or colored, I recently started a road to Ardbeg and a lot of the starter stops are chill filtered and or colored. Maybe the answer is a bit of both perhaps I’ll try and stay away from color but try things that are chilled filterd, or could that also limit my Enjoyment? Any advice would be appreciated this thought is living in my head rent free. Thank you

[@panagiotispapadopoulos8186]

Hello guys from sunny Greece. First of all, Phil congrats about the channel and the videos, keep it up!! Secondly, can you give me any tips on how to train my pallet so I can feel the several tastes of whiskeys. I dont have a ton of experience on whisky, but I love it and I want to be able to appreciate more. Thanks in advance..

[@TheProgrn]

I’ve learned a lot by tasting two drams side by side. Comparing them back and forth really brings out the differences and has helped me with discerning flavors and smells.

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

@@TheProgrn I agree. This is a good way to do it. Especially if you have one whisky that's sherried, one exbourbon cask and one peaty one. That way you should be able to distinguish between the whiskies pretty easily and go from there.

[@oldsoul8429]

Really enjoy your videos, Phil. Keep it up!!

[@PrizeJ]

I have always been a beer drinker, and occasionally wines. I tried harder liquor like whiskey, rum, and vodka, but didn't like it. I thought I never would. Then I got a job I n a liquor store, and found myself struggling to talk to customers when they ask me questions about the product. I can't tell them I hate it, so I never touch it. However, once I actually learned how to drink it...I quite like it. 👍

[@sonnythebeast]

This actually helps me alot because 95% of my diet is spicy stuff so I'm custom to the burn but small sips makes sense

[@pianistgonerogue]

Being eastern european I grew up drinking rakia, so when it comes to whisky, to me it tastes like milk and honey. 😂

[@brianl2875]

The burn doesn't get me as much as the oak, I can't get past oak to other flavors with whiskey. On the other hand I've found more notes in peaty scotches, I have no problem getting past peat and find the smokiness enjoyable.

[@TheProgrn]

My journey started out with beam and coke because that was how my brother always drank whiskey. I never liked it and just wrote off whiskey. Years later I’m out with coworkers and they recommend an Old Fashioned. I loved it and started making them at home all the time. At another work event one of the owners kept buying us rounds of laphroaig. Very interesting to say the least and I’d never had anything like it before. And over the course of a few years I bought bottles and drank them neat or in cocktails or on the rocks. I didn’t go all in all at once. It was years of just exploring and tasting and now almost always drink it neat.

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

That's great to hear! I'm a big fan of the Old Fashioned too, it's a great way to start getting into whiskey. Thanks for sharing mate!

[@the8918]

A refined way to enjoy whiskey and to release all the flavor profiles, add a little still water to the whiskey and if preferred add ice. But the touch of water; not a lot, releases the flavors

[@swankthegoat1407]

Tried a Glenlivet and hated it. Then tried a Lap 10yr sherry and was hooked. Have a HUGE collection of scotch. Love all regions of it now.

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Thanks awesome! I was the same. Smoky Laphroaig hooked me

[@greentonguegaming5199]

so last time i had some knights reserve that had vanilla and cinnamon in it along with some oaky flavor i could taste it because my body is getting use to it

[@luukpeeters9474]

getting into it, my grandpa once let me taste some nearly halff a lifetime ago but it tasted like burnt wood and it turned me right off, lately ive been sipping with my friends` Bus Whiskey and that actually tastes sweet

[@joimachine]

I recommend digestive biscuits as a pallet reseter

[@bradbeam1951]

Great videos bro!

[@WhiskyLoversSociety]

Love the editing and information. Cheers

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Cheers!

[@revolvermaster4939]

The burn is good! When I first had Laphroaig a long time ago I was sure it burned all of my nasal hair out.

[@adamlynch4122]

Great tips!

[@TheRealOfficialGator]

The other important thing is to find one that works for you. Some people LOVE johnnie walker whiskies, but others absolutely hate them. Some people love jack daniels, others absolutely hate it. Every whiskey is completely different, and I think a good way to learn what you like is to get a pack of Jefferson's wood experiments bourbon, if that's available to you. Not only is Jefferson's a top shelf bourbon, but the wood experiments box gives you 200 ml of 5 completely unique experimental blends with different taste palates. For example, in my box, Experiments 3, 4, 6, 10, and 12, Experiment 3 is more like an irish/canadian whiskey, 6 is similar to a jack daniels/tennessee whiskey with a moderate burn and sharp smoke, 12 was a full-bodied, beautiful bourbon with little to no burn and a pleasant, soft but present smoke.

[@martinshaw4685]

Years ago I drank to get drunk. This year I started drinking to taste the liquor. Huge difference.

[@tjdinfl]

The first time I tasted scotch, a friend poured another friend and me a small dram of Johnny Walker Blue and told us how fine of a whisky it was. Well, my friend and I tasted it about the same time and immediately looked at each other with this disgusted, sour look on our face and sort of smiled at each other. We told him it was good when he asked but we both thought it was awful. Fast forward 8 years later…I haven’t had JWB since then but have tried many many different scotch and I think it’s delicious. One of these days I will splurge on a bottle of JWB. I mean, I kind of have to.

[@fragwagon]

I like a burn. It keeps me from drinking a bottle in one sitting. Also the expense helps stave off the alcoholism

[@profe12345]

Im 100% agree with you. I have Springbank 10 and 15. The next will be the 12!!!!jajaja.

[@chrisg7059]

Should I be reading tasting notes and reviews while developing my palate? At the moment I don't really know how to describe what I'm nosing/tasting. My reactions are basically "delicious" or "not delicious", sometimes the nose or finish I could say would be "faint". I could recognize "peat" and "sherry", but that's about it.

[@zedfragg4134]

I had the same experience. The burn was harsh at first, but over time I got used to it. Adapted. Eventually I ended up focusing on flavours of whisky. Entire new world to explore lol ...Also had the same experience with hot sauces. Shout out to @FirstWeFeast That Exxxperience sauce is awesome as are the rest.

[@dumpeeplarfunny]

"Smooth" is a good description for particular qualities. The opposite of smooth is high ethanol presence, cheap unrefined flavors, strong black pepper or higher acidity, things like that. Smoothness means there's nothing sharp or unpleasant, and the flavors just sit nicely together, combining into something that's well-rounded and softened. People who don't like the word "smooth" don't know how to use it.

[@OTEM47]

Awesome, as usual! Thanks for the tips! Will try them out on my friends.

[@haromaster6086]

I don’t have any heat in my mouth at all. all the burn happens in the back of my throat.

[@jestagoon8408]

My mum: drink responsibly My dad:

[@harambae117]

An interesting (and not surprising) thing I notice is that if I don't drink whisky for a couple of weeks and come back, I can't taste many of the notes that I previously got but If I drink the next day then it all comes back

[@MicrowavableJeesus]

Idk Phil, I did a new make tasting fairly early on into drinking whisky and that did the trick stopping everything else burning 😂😂 Especially in the nose lol

[@dingo5208]

I've had the classic laddie, it was HORRIBLE. Love the arberlour it was great. On my liquor cabinet I have a scotch or Irish, a bourbon and a Canadian (usually rye) open at any time.

[@Leosoulful]

My journey started with smoky and peaty whisky also, then slowly evolved to other regions. For this year I am trying non Scottish whisky’s, currently trying Irish, Japanese and Indian whisky. Any recommendations are welcomed for me to try?

[@SportsMedNagpur]

You can try Amrut, Paul john, Santoki and Kamet

[@ifanemyr4975]

A trick I was taught was to throw a teaspoon of water in, rather than pouring water in. I've tried both methods and prefer throwing it in, makes tge flavours show up much easier

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Great tip!

[@davidfuller5512]

It's so hard to get people into any kind of alcohol. How many times have you heard people say "I don't drink wine, I don't like it". Well if you had something nice, you probably would, you've only ever drunk cheap crap wine. The same goes for whisky and other spirits. The biggest one I focus on is quality, if you ask someone who has never had whisky before to drink it straight, please do not give anything lesser quality than a Glenfiddich 12 yr. Quality will often triumph over whether or not it's heavily smoked/peated or smooth. As a liquor store owner my thoughts have always been "Lagavulin 16 year may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it sure is better than Vat 69"

[@mykeready3742]

I nosed the whiskey I sipped the whiskey 🔥🔥🔥 I lost my voice and my eyes watered 😂😂😂 I’ll stick Cuban rum. 👍🏻

[@Youtubecreator-rx2iv]

that's a good one!

[@adamcroft80]

Funnily enough it was the laphroaig 10 that got me into whisky. I’d tried various different whisky over the years but wasn’t until I tried the laphroaig that I found my calling so to speak

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Same! Funny how we started through what some people consider a door that's too intense

[@d0n315]

Your first sip, swish it around your mouth and slowly swallow it. Each sip will burn less.

[@FirstPhilWhisky]

Great tip!