5 Things You Need To Know About Drinking Whisky

17 Nov 2017

Just like wine, the world of whisky can seem quite intimidating if you’re not familiar with it – but don’t let that stop you from taking that first sip. At least, that’s what I told myself when I was at the launch of Glenfiddich’s new experimental series. The brand has released two new whiskys, available exclusively in travel retail (such as DFS at Singapore Changi Airport): Project XX (pronounced as “project twenty”), created by marrying 20 single malts selected by 20 whisky experts from around the world; and the Glenfiddich IPA Experiment, which is a single malt Scotch whisky finished in IPA craft beer casks.

While I do love a drink, whisky is never my poison of choice. The only exception is highballs – they’re generally three parts sparkling water to one part whisky and then topped with a lemon wedge, but there are variations. I had my first highball in an okonomiyaki joint in Osaka, and it was the first time in my life I enjoyed whisky.

But there must be a reason why whisky (served neat, in any case) is the go-to drink for a lot of people. So how do whisky beginners like myself learn how to appreciate this spirit? As Matthew Fergusson-Stewart, Glenfiddich’s regional brand ambassador, likes to say, don’t worry about asking too many questions. So when I met him at the launch, I took the opportunity to pick his brain for some tips, and this is what he says.

How To Drink Whisky Glenfiddich Matthew Fergusson-Stewart

5. There is no such thing as the “best” way to drink whisky.

1. Have fun with it!

Here’s a photo of Matthew looking at a glass of whisky very seriously – but the point is, you don’t have to do the same. “A lot of people take whiskys super seriously, but it doesn’t have to be that way,” he says. “Don’t feel like you have to know a lot about every distillery, or that you have to drink it neat.” The only thing you have to do if you’re interested in whiskys is to try as many of them as you can – the rest is really up to your personal preferences.

2. When nosing the whisky, start gently and carefully.

Just like how you take a sniff of your wine before drinking, you should smell the whisky first before tasting. This allows you to pick up the different aromas of a whisky. But because whiskys have higher alcohol percentages, you shouldn’t put your nose too close to the glass and take a deep breath right away. “That will really hurt your nose,” says Matthew. Instead, start gently and carefully. Put the glass further away from your nose and take a small sniff, and if that feels OK to you, give the glass a swirl and hold it closer to your nose, then take a deeper inhale. It’s the same thing when tasting the whisky – start with small sips first. If you’re having trouble making out the aromas due to the alcohol fumes, place your palm flat over the glass and tip it upside down for a split second. Your hand will now be wet, because of the whisky. Rub your palms together and shake them till they’re dry, then hold your hands up to your nose and inhale (like in the photo above). You should be able to pick up the smells better now that the alcohol has evaporated.

3. Remember that taste is very subjective.

There are different strokes for different folks, so it’s perfectly fine if your whisky preferences are different from the people around you. You don’t have to like a whisky just because it’s expensive, or because everyone else likes it. As Matthew puts it, “We all have different tastes… it all boils down to personal experience.”

4. Pair your whisky with food.

As a general rule, whisky goes well with anything that has fat in it, so anything deep fried is a safe bet. “Fat goes well with alcohol. I know it’s probably not the thing you want to hear,” says Matthew with a slight chuckle. “Oil and water don’t mix, but fat dissolves in alcohol. So when you have fatty foods with spirits, it releases more flavours.” For the Glenfiddich IPA Experiment, he recommends pairing it with Indian Chicken Curry (Murgh Kari), and Project XX goes well with blood clams (hum, like the ones you find in char kway teow). Just choose one that isn’t too spicy.

5. There is no such thing as the “best” way to drink whisky.

Recently, there was a study that found out that, scientifically speaking, the best way to drink whisky is to drink it with a splash of water. Matthew disagrees. “Just drink it however you want it!” For those of you who are wondering how to jazz up your whisky in the form of a cocktail, here are a couple of recipes, using Glenfiddich’s IPA Experiment and Project XX.

The Pale Nail: Pour 40ml of IPA Experiment and 15ml of Drambuie in a highball glass. Fill with ice and top up with soda. You can vary the amount of Drambuie, depending on how sweet you want your drink to be.

2028: Prepare some spiced orange syrup first by simmering 400ml orange juice and 400g white sugar with 4 cinnamon sticks and 8 cloves. Simmer until sugar dissolves, then strain out the cinnamon and cloves. In a highball glass, mix 45ml Project XX, 15ml spiced orange syrup, and 10ml lime juice. Top up with soda.