What’s the Correct Way to Drink Bourbon?

Plus: Bruichladdich's Port Charlotte Label Releases Cask Exploration Series SYC:01. Read more at Mensjournal.com. Having trouble viewing this email? [Open in browser.]( NOV. 6, 2024 FROM OUR EDITOR   The Many Ways to Enjoy Whiskey When I started sipping whiskey, I could hardly bear it neat. So I mixed [cocktails]( or poured [whiskey on the rocks]( to mellow it down. But, after some time, I adapted. Soon, the easy-drinking [Irish whiskeys]( and low-proof ryes I imbibed were too one-note. Was it time to venture into uncharted territory? Dare I say [bottled-in-bond bourbons]( or high-aged [Scotch]( So my whiskey-ometer swung hard into the other direction. At places I used to order an [old fashioned]( I’d order a bourbon neat. Instead of stirring up highballs at home, I’d pour Scotch in a Glencairn. What a fool I was, diluting such delicious liquid with bitters, sugar, and ice. I finally made it. I was a whiskey drinker! I was pedal-to-the-metal on the highway to snobbery. Until Men’s Journal contributor Jonah Flicker woke me up. In every single one of his [whiskey reviews]( he writes some semblance of the same sentiment: “Drink your whiskey how you like it, no matter the style, proof, or age.” He couldn’t be more right. Each way to drink whiskey has its merits. Drinking [whiskey neat]( introduces you to the complexities of the base spirit. But then, adding a drop of water can dilute high-proof pours to bring out subtle flavors, as can an ice cube. Meanwhile, cocktails completely change character depending on which bourbon, Scotch, or [rye]( you choose. Men’s Journal contributor Dylan Ettinger penned a [whole article]( about this phenomenon. Speaking to multiple spirits experts, he came up with an array of opinions and preferences. “I like to have one large cube,” Tim Heuisler, global small batch brand ambassador for James B. Beam Distilling, told Ettinger. “It chills the whiskey and will melt more slowly than small cubes and, thus, dilute your whiskey more slowly, so you can take your time with the pour.” On the other hand, Bernie Lubbers, national brand ambassador for Heaven Hill Distillery, speaks to the power of sipping straight: “Neat bourbon represents the age and proof that the master distiller and distillery sensory teams picked for that whiskey so that’s how I like to first experience any bourbon.” In light of that, when I crack a new bottle, I’ll always sip straight. But depending on what notes I pick up from that pour, I’ll decide to whip up a cocktail or add some water or ice. Like taking a long drive down a country road, I’m enjoying the journey. –Chris Hatler, Men’s Journal Senior Editor [READ MORE](   [WHAT WE'RE DRINKING NOW](#) The Dalmore 2009 Select Edition I’m not that into sherried Scotch. I don’t enjoy wine, so when those fruity sherry notes impart themselves too strongly on brown liquor, I’m often turned off. Perhaps that’s why I lean towards bourbons with caramel-y vanilla palates—undoubtedly the product of my sweet tooth. But this expression from The Dalmore was a pleasant surprise. It has deep cocoa notes on the palate and a spicy ginger finish in addition to its sherry influence, which rounded the whole experience out. – C.H.   🥃 THIS WEEK IN WHISKEY   [Bruichladdich's Port Charlotte Label Releases Cask Exploration Series SYC:01](   [Johnnie Walker Just Dropped a New Special Edition Blue Label, Ice Chalet](   [Laphroaig's New 33-Year-Old Whisky Pays Homage to Its Co-Founder](   [Wyoming Whiskey Just Dropped Two Delicious Bourbons for a Good Cause](   JOIN US ON SOCIAL: [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [RSS]( ©2024 The Arena Media Brands, LLC. Men’s Journal is a registered trademark of The Arena Media Brands, LLC.
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