How to Drink Whiskey Like a Pro [Beginner's Guide]

You've seen the scene a hundred times on TV; the low light, a beautiful glass that swirls a whiskey in a mesmerizing clockwise fashion. Then, the gentleman lifts his glass, breathes it in, takes a small sip, and sets it down without a word. It looks effortless, like they know something you don't.

That whiskey experience is how you should be enjoying every bottle on your home shelf. The glass you pour into, the way you breathe over it, the drop of water you add or leave out, all change the experience. So what do you do? We’ll hang tight; we’ll answer all those questions in this how to drink whiskey guide.

Let’s sip like a true connoisseur.

The Basics of Drinking Whiskey

When it comes to the fundamentals of whiskey drinking, the steps work on an accessible $30 bottle and a legendary $1,000 bottle. The basics are simple, but the complexities around drinking whiskey are in the small details.

First, Prepare Your Palate

Your whiskey experience begins before you even pour your sip. We highly recommend letting your palate rest for 30 minutes to an hour beforehand and avoiding any potent aromas like brushing your teeth, eating spicy foods, or smoking cigarettes.

Find a proper spot

Next, find a spot that is quiet and free of strong smells. Once that whiskey is in your glass, it’ll begin latching onto the scents and aromas around it, and can even taint your sipping experience. Even things like scented candles can twist the notes.

Begin by Choosing a Proper Glass

If there is anything you do in preparing to drink your whiskey, it’s choosing the proper glass. The standard is the Glencairn glass, which has a wide base to let “your whiskey breathe”. From there, the glass narrows at the neck to concentrate the aromas up to your nose and mouth for a deeper experience. All designed with intention for the best sipping experience.

That said, there are different glasses that’ll elevate each experience when it comes to the different ways to drink whiskey.

Glencairn glass

As we mentioned, the Glencairn glass is best for sipping and tasting.

Copita glass

The Copita glass is best if you’re doing a tasting experience and want to taste different whiskies side-by-side. It’s shorter and lends to a better tasting experience.

Rocks glass

A rocks glass is best for your cocktails; think that classic whiskey sour look.

Tulip glass

This type of whiskey glass is best for group tastings.

Take Time to Enjoy the Aromas and How They Linger

Before you smell anything, hold the glass to a light. The color will actually reflect some of the tasting experience, and having this visual will enhance the experience when you take that first step. For example, if you give it a swirl and notice the slow legs down the side, it’s going to present a richer texture that you should expect.

Here’s how to begin enjoying the aromas after you’ve see how the whiskey holds in you glass of choice.

• Keep your mouth slightly open as you smell, so the vapor can pass through instead of hitting you full force.
• Hold the glass below your nose and take a soft inhale.
• Then, move closer and sniff again.
• Finally, set the glass down for 30 seconds, then come back and repeat steps 1 through 3.

That last step is the one everybody skips, but it’s what will really expand your experience to a level that only true connoisseurs uphold. It’ll also lengthen this fun and new time for full enjoyment.

How to Sip to Extract the Flavors

Now that you’ve prepared your palate and have begun sensing the aromas of your whiskey, it’s time to actually take your first sip.

Begin with a small sip

Now, begin by taking a small sip, about a teaspoon's worth. Don’t swallow right away. You’ll want to hold it in your mouth and let it spread across your tongue and let it splash onto the roof of your mouth. Some tasters call this chewing the whiskey.

The reason for this is that different flavors get exposed at different areas of your mouth, and also how the whiskey develops on the nose, palate, and finish. This can take up to 3 to 4 seconds.

Swallow and Breathe

Finally, you’ll want to swallow and slowly breathe out through your nose, then your mouth. You’ll experience the flavors that linger and change as they dissipate and leave your mouth. The air from the breath also helps to develop the taste.

Savor the Experience

Now, wait… The finish is what lingers after you swallow, and on a good bottle it can run 30 seconds or longer. You’ll want to think about how sweet or dry it is, how long it finishes, and how the notes change and evolve.

Take Another Sip and Run It Again

Now that you took your first sip, take your second and note how the experience changes. You’ll be surprised at how the notes can develop in different ways with your palate accustomed to your beautiful whiskey.

Should You Add Ice or Water?

Adding water can enhance your whiskey drinking experience, but the real question is how? And when to implement this tasting trick as a beginner or intermediate explorer.

Change it up with a couple drops of water

Now, begin by taking a small sip, about a teaspoon's worth. Don’t swallow right awaaA few drops of water can open a whiskey up in a big way. Lowering the alcohol level pushes flavor compounds up toward the surface of the liquid, where your nose and tongue meet them first. It is less about watering it down and more about unlocking it. The higher the proof, the more dramatic the change, and anything at cask strength (roughly 55% ABV and up) almost always improves.y. You’ll want to hold it in your mouth and let it spread across your tongue and let it splash onto the roof of your mouth. Some tasters call this chewing the whiskey.

The reason for this is that different flavors get exposed at different areas of your mouth, and also how the whiskey develops on the nose, palate, and finish. This can take up to 3 to 4 seconds.

How to add water properly

Begin by pouring a little whiskey and smelling it, like you would when you’re first getting accustomed to the aromas. Then, add three or four drops of water with a straw or a bar spoon. Swirl gently and smell again, immediately.

You can also adjust how much water you add. We recommend trying 1-2 drops, then going up to 10 drops at a later tasting, and taking notes on how each tastes so you can reflect on your experiences and come back to what you like most.

Ice is nice

On the rocks is a different drink, than simply adding water. A large ice cube tightens up the aromas of your whiskey. Similarly, the melting ice naturally adds water, but at a rate you need to be careful with. You don’t want to dilute your whiskey and ruin the last few sips.

Try every method throughout your evenings

Make it an experience for your night. Pour one whiskey three ways on the same evening, neat, with water, and over a single large cube.

Pairing With Food

Whiskey and food is one of the most underrated experiences out there, and it’s easy to get right. Different foods pair better or worse depending on the type of whiskey you’re enjoying.

• Light whiskey: Goat cheese, smoked salmon, sushi, green apple.
• Sweet bourbon: Pecan pie, barbecue, aged cheddar, bread pudding.
• Spicy rye: Charcuterie, cured meats, sharp mustard, rich beef stew.
• Smoky Scotch: Blue cheese, oysters, grilled steak, dark chocolate.
• Sherry-aged whiskey: Dried figs, walnuts, holiday desserts, orange.

How Should Beginners Drink Whiskey?

When you’re just beginning your whiskey journey, you want to make sure you’re getting the right guidance, which is why help is always recommended.

Getting Expert Guidance

Finding a whiskey you love is hard when you're starting out. The shelf is endless, every label sounds impressive, and you won't know if a bottle is worth keeping in your home bar until you've already paid for it. That's exactly where Taster's Club comes in.

Our Whiskey of the Month Club sends bottles chosen by people who taste for a living. Instead of guessing in an aisle, you get a new bottle delivered with a road map attached.

Choosing the Right Bottle For a Beginner

When choosing a bottle, you’ll want to think about the strength, the style, and the age. All affect how complex it is and whether it’s suitable for beginners, intermediate explorers, and connoisseurs.

Approachable ABV

Look for 40% to 46% ABV. At that strength, the alcohol stays in the background and lets you notice everything else.

Style

• Irish whiskey is often triple distilled, which makes it light, smooth, and forgiving.
• Bourbon is sweet and rounded, with big vanilla and caramel from new charred oak.
• Speyside Scotch brings honey, apple, and pear with little to no smoke.
• Canadian whisky is soft and easygoing, and mixes beautifully.
• Japanese whisky is balanced and precise, and rarely aggressive.

Aging

Some depth and aging. Very young whiskey can taste hot and raw, but you do not need a 25-year age statement. The 8 to 12 year range is the sweet spot for flavor and price, and our guide to the best Scotch for the money is a good place to begin.

Sipping Experiences

Now that you know how to drink like a pro, you’ve got your expert guidance from Taster’s Club, you’re now ready for a sipping experience that goes beyond simply drinking whiskey.

Home tasting

Try a side-by-side tasting at home. Pour an American whiskey and a bourbon side-by-side, and compare how different process, region, and overall vision change the experience between sips.

Tasting notebook

Finally, if you’re serious about your tasting journey, you’ll want to document the experience. With a Taster’s Club subscription, you get access to tasting notes that you can compare against for a deeper experience that you cannot replicate alone!

Ways to Taste Different Types of Whiskey

Finally, when it comes to the different types of whiskey, each style rewards a different approach, and each one feels different in the glass.

Scotch

When you’re drinking a fine scotch, it’s ok to let it sit for 3-5 minutes before you dive in. The reason behind this is that scotch rewards patience, as it opens up longer than some other types of whiskey, like a younger bourbon.

Bourbon

Bourbon plays extremely well with a large ice cube, especially if you’re leaning towards a bottled-in-bond selection, which we recommend if you’re looking to truly step up into the intermediate explorer category.

Rye

Rye is amazing to taste with a food pairing or in your favorite rye whiskey cocktails. Or, enjoy it neat in small sips.

Japanese whisky

Japanese whisky is best enjoyed as a classic sipping experience; no big changes to the process are required.

Irish whiskey

With Irish whiskey, you can also enjoy it like a scotch. Let it sit for a bit to envelop its surroundings and build an aroma that’s worth enjoying.

Keep Exploring With Taster's Club

The best way to get better at whiskey is simple. Taste more of it, with a little guidance.

Our Whiskey of the Month Club delivers expertly chosen bottles to your door, each with tasting notes and the story behind the distillery. Want to go deeper on one style? We also run a Bourbon Club, a Scotch Club, and a Scotch Pro Club for collectors chasing rare pours. Or browse the Bottle Shop and pick your next one yourself.

Enjoy the journey. Every bottle has something to tell you.

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