Oaky, peaty, malty…the world of spirits tasting can seem overwhelming to navigate. Fortunately, we have our trusted Spirits Guru James Bunting on hand to guide us through this minefield. Here’s everything you need to know about nosing and tasting spirits.
For many, myself included, spirits are more than just a drink — they’re an experience, a way to engage every one of the senses. But learning how to properly nose (smell) and taste spirits isn’t something we learn naturally, it takes a little bit of focus. Whether you're exploring whisk(e)y, rum, gin, tequila, cognac, or any other treats, each spirit offers a world of aromas and flavours that can be discovered and experienced in different ways.
In this post, we'll explore how to nose and taste spirits like a pro, walking through the essential steps to get the most out of every sip.
Step 1: Raise the right glass
The glass you choose is not just about aesthetics (though we do appreciate the finest of glassmanship). The glass can have a significant impact on your nosing and tasting experience.
A tulip-shaped glass, like a Glencairn or a copita, is best for spirits tasting. These glasses narrow at the top, which concentrates the aromas, allowing you to better appreciate the spirit’s profile.
That said, if you have a preferred receptacle from which to sip, then who are we to stand in your way? After all, it’s more important you enjoy the drink than overthink it.
Step 2: The nose knows best (or at least as much as the tastebuds)
Nosing, or smelling, a spirit is just as important—if not more so—than tasting it. Our sense of smell is in fact more sensitive than our sense of taste, meaning that we can perceive a broader range of aromas versus flavours.
How to Nose a Spirit
- Pour your spirit into your chosen glass. We typically say a minimum of 15ml is ideal
- Don’t swirl the glass (tempted though you may be, having seen wine connoisseurs indulge in a bit of swirling action). There’s a reason: Wine needs swirling due to its lower alcohol content. If you swirl your spirits, it’ll risk overwhelming your nose and that’s not fun at all
- Tongue up, mouth open. This is the best way to engage your nose, by getting a breeze going to help you pick up more aromas. So place your tongue to the roof of your mouth and keep your mouth open before you inhale.
- Ek, do, teen. The first smell is going to be intense because you’re still letting your nose adjust to the alcohol. Don’t stick your nose in and sniff, just put your nose in and breathe gently. Take the glass away and pause for a moment before you go for a second smell. By the third time, you should be able to start to pick up aromas without burning your nostrils on the alcohol.
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Practise patience (both with yourself and with the spirit). Honing your nose takes time and practice, but the more frequently you try, the more refined your sense of smell will be. Equally, each spirit requires time to open up. As the temperature changes in the glass, so too will the aromas.
What to Look For
As you nose the spirit, take note of the different aromas that emerge - these will vary depending on the type of spirit you’re nosing. Common aroma categories include:
Fruity (apples, berries, citrus) - Malhar Citrus Indian Craft Gin, for example
Floral (jasmine, roses, lavender) - Amrut Nilgiris shows this well
Spicy (cinnamon, nutmeg, black pepper) - Nose Indri Trini Whisky to get a good sense of this
Earthy (moss, leather, tobacco) - Try Hapusa Himalayan Gin to really get these notes
Woody (oak, cedar, vanilla) - Indri Dru ('dru' meaning 'wood' in Sanskrit) is the perfect example of this
Sweet (honey, caramel, chocolate) - Camikara 12 Year Old rum hits you with a honey-like sweetness right up front
My favourite to look out for in any aged spirit is vanilla, which comes from a compound called Vanillin, commonly found in wood. It’s the same compound you can smell in a new book or an old library, so if those are the types of smells that you enjoy, the smell of whisky, cognac and rum should bring you joy too.
Step 3: It’s time to taste
Once you've finished nosing, it's time to move on to tasting. While nosing is more about identifying aromas, tasting is a holistic process that combines taste, texture, and aftertaste.
How to Taste a Spirit
Start small. Don’t gulp the spirit, just sip; take enough to coat your tongue and palate without overwhelming your mouth.
Hold the spirit in your mouth for a few seconds. Let it coat your tongue and engage all parts of your palate. This allows you to pick up on a range of flavours, from sweet to salty, sour to bitter, and umami.
Breathe through your nose while the spirit is in your mouth. This retro-nasal breathing connects the sense of taste with smell, further enhancing your ability to perceive flavours.
Swallow or spit. To avoid inebriation at a tasting event, or you’re sampling multiple spirits, you may choose to spit the liquid. Otherwise, swallow the spirit and take note of the finish, how long it lasts, how it feels, and whether there is any burn or a pleasant bit of heat.
What to Look For When Tasting
Just as with nosing, tasting a spirit involves picking out different flavours and textures. These could include things like spiciness, roughness or silkiness, but also the aromas you might have found on the nose will likely be there on the palate too.
It can help to add a few drops of water to a spirit when tasting. By reducing the alcohol content, it can make it a little easier for the nose to pick up different aromas that may otherwise be hidden. We recommend having a tiny sip neat first, so that you can compare the difference.
To conclude, we hope that you’ll see that nosing and tasting spirits isn’t just about identifying individual flavours and aromas; it’s about enjoying the journey. Each spirit tells a story—whether through the ingredients, distillation process, or ageing method—and that story unfolds as you take the time to appreciate its complexity.
By learning how to nose and taste spirits properly, you open yourself up to a new world. So dost, the next time you pour a glass, slow down, and look a little closer, see if you can discover a new sensation from what you drink. Aaram se.
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