What Is A Whiskey Neat? Everything You Should Know

Whiskey is a versatile alcohol. You can drink it hot or cold, and you can even bake with it! Whiskey beverages are a staple on every bar menu, from sweet slushes to sophisticated vintage cocktails.

But there’s something to be said about admiring it entirely near. When you’re ready to become a whiskey aficionado, here is how to sip whiskey neat.

But First, Learn The Difference- Neat, Straight Up, Or On The Rocks? How To Order A Spirit?

Neat

• Neat is the least perplexing cocktail word. This implies the alcohol is poured straight into the glass (ideally an NEAT Glass). It’s comparable to a shot.
• However, the glass dramatically enhances the drinking experience.
• Neat beverages are around two ounces in size, are not cool, include no added ingredients (including ice), and no, you cannot order an Irish Car Bomb neat.
• The most common spirits to drink neat are brandy and whiskey. High-quality spirits of any sort are also regularly consumed neat.

Up

• This word usually refers to an alcoholic beverage shaken or mixed with ice.
• Before serving, the drink is strained, iced, and usually put into a cocktail glass.
• For example, you want a neat whiskey but not at room temperature. Simply tell the bartender you want whiskey served “up,” and he will pour whiskey over ice for a few minutes to cool. The ice is removed, and the whiskey is served.

Straight Up

• The phrase “straight” is sometimes used interchangeably with “neat,” which causes misunderstanding, so always check with the bartender.
• Martinis, Manhattans, sidecars, sazeracs, pisco sours, and grasshoppers are classic cocktails.
• These blended beverages have been cooled with ice before being served without it.
  

Straight

• First, it is typical to hear someone order a bourbon straight, while the more suitable adjective should be “neat.”
• Some have requested cooled vodka (served in a stemmed glass); however, as previously explained, this should be ordered “up.” Can you see how this becomes perplexing?
• It’s a good idea to double-check with the bartender because this varies from establishment to business.

On The Rocks

• This is a considerably simpler phrase rarely used interchangeably in the bar industry. “Rocks” are ice cubes, so if you want to pour your favorite whiskey with some ice cubes, order it “on the rocks.”
• But keep in mind that allowing the ice to sit in the glass will modify the experience of a spirit due to dilution.
• Many experts frown upon it for high-quality spirits, but if that’s how you prefer your glass, so be it!

How Do You Drink Whisky Neat?

Step 1. Use A Nosing Glass

Without a nosing glass, you won’t be able to enjoy all of the nuances of your whiskey.

This is because whiskey contains a lot of alcohol (between 40%ABV and 68%ABV), which keeps some of the whiskey’s tastes closed up and dominates those that aren’t, making it difficult to smell or taste them.

It’s also because flavor involves smell and taste, so you’ll need to take up all the odors of the whiskey if you want to enjoy all of its tastes.

These two issues are explicitly addressed with nose glasses. They lessen the influence of the alcohol and allow you to identify all of the scents of your whiskey.

Step 2. Pour 2 FL Oz Of Whiskey And Let It Slit

The aim of drinking whiskey neat is not to become drunk (a 1 or 1.5 fl oz shot would suffice), but to have a substantial drink whose tastes you can explore over four or five swallows. As a result, a standard quantity to pour when drinking whiskey straight is 2 fl oz.

As a result, a standard quantity to pour when drinking whiskey straight is 2 fl oz.

Step 3. Smell The Whiskey And Take The Aroma In

It’s time to sniff your whiskey now that the alcohol has worn off and the flavors have opened up.

Put your nose into the glass and inhale deeply yet softly. Your olfactory sense is delicate, so don’t breathe in too quickly, or the alcohol will burn you. Hold the glass directly in front of your nose, not near it.

As you inhale, gently open your lips to allow the alcohol fumes to leave and the whiskey scents to circulate so you can notice them better.

Sniff through one nostril, then the other. Because one nostril is responsible for 80% of an inhale while the other is occluded, each nostril will experience the scents differently. You won’t know which is which since it alternates every two to three hours.

Also Read: WHAT DOES CHAMPAGNE TASTE LIKE? [COMPLETE GUIDE]

Step 4. Sip The Whiskey!! Let It Pleasure Your Senses

When you’ve finished nosing your whiskey, it’s time to drink and enjoy!!

To begin, take a little sip without tasting it. That may sound counterintuitive, but the goal here is to acclimate your tongue to the alcohol. (You did something similar with your nose). The first sip (like the first whiff) will most likely taste heavily of alcohol, but the second will begin to reveal some of the whiskey’s tastes.

Take a second drink, but wait before you swallow it. You must chew your drink. This entails placing it in your mouth and swirling it around to ensure that it distributes throughout your mouth and covers all surfaces of your tongue – the middle, sides, tip, and rear – since various sections of your tongue respond to different flavors.

Also Read : 12 OF THE BEST-SELLING AUSTRALIAN WHISKIES

Step 5. Share The Experience With Your Friends

Lastly, remember to invite your friends over before you gulp the entire bottle down by yourself!!

Always Remember – A whiskey neat is a cocktail meant to be sipped gently to enjoy the complexity of the whiskey. It can be served in the same manner as a shot of liquor, but it should not be swallowed in one go.

What’s The Best Whiskey To Drink Neat?

• If you’re new to drinking whiskey neat, Bourbon is a wonderful place to start. The high maize content gives it a sweeter flavor that helps to alleviate some of the alcohol burn.
• If you want a little spice, rye whiskey is a beautiful place to start; it’s drier than bourbon, but the spicy essence of the rye also helps to tone down the alcohol character when drinking it neat.

So, What’s Better- Whiskey Neat Or On The Rocks?

Some whiskey purists would say that drinking a whiskey straight (without water, ice, or any other addition) is the only authentic way to judge and comprehend it. Indeed, this method has some truth because ice and/or water physically “waters” down the whiskey. While avoiding this tautology is difficult, it does touch on the puritanical.

Before we get into whether or not we’re talking about drinkability, some say that merely adding water to whiskey doesn’t change its essence. Instead, it improves it!! Whiskey is often distilled to a high-proof and then watered down by the distiller to make the finished product more drinkable.

An argument is made that whiskey is already a watered-down product, so why add to it? Whatever your choice, do try both before coming to a conclusion.

Also Read : TOP 10 BEST MIXER FOR JACK DANIELS HONEY

Conclusion

It takes time to learn how to sip whiskey neat. You might not learn much the first few times, but like everything else, practice makes perfect.

Fortunately, practicing in this instance entails drinking whiskey, so even if it takes years to become truly proficient, the degree of proficiency you achieve after even a short period makes the journey pleasurable almost from the start.