One of the most popular questions among alcohol lovers: "What is the strength of whiskey?" Unfortunately, one often has to choose alcohol, trusting intuition rather than knowledge. Few people know what important details you should pay attention to when buying alcohol. Given that the range of spirits is increasing almost every day, it is not surprising that it is increasingly difficult for an ordinary consumer to make a choice. By the way, alcohol is becoming more popular, the strength of which exceeds forty degrees.
Brief information about whiskey
In the world there are a great many types of whiskey. All of them have their own specific differences. Their taste, aroma and even production technology vary. They may be different in composition. In some countries, certain cereals are used to make this strong drink.
The most common is a whiskey with a strength of 40 to 50 degrees. However, the alcohol content can be much higher, for example, in single-malt whiskey with double distillation. This drink is aged for a long time in oak barrels. The barrel strength of whiskey can range from 50 to 70 degrees. This is because during the exposure a certain percentage of the liquid evaporates, respectively, the percentage of alcohol increases.
But it is worth noting that many admirers of a noble drink believe that the strength of whiskey in degrees should not exceed forty. Otherwise, alcohol loses its taste. There are even regions in which this drink is produced with a strength of thirty degrees.
Types of whiskey and the alcohol it contains
On how many degrees the strength of whiskey depends on its taste. The amount of alcohol depends not only on production technology, but also on exposure. The strength of whiskey is always indicated on the label. This information must be required. It is rare to find whiskey in which alcohol has less than forty percent ABV. This abbreviation stands for Alkohol by volume. Its value can be translated as the amount of pure alcohol as a percentage of the total volume of the drink. Sometimes, instead of% ABV, you can see the label% Vol, which, in fact, is the same thing.
The bulk of whiskey produced in our time contains from forty to fifty percent alcohol. Only in Japan and Scotland can you still find a drink whose strength will be seventy percent. And on the oldest distilleries and even higher. But such instances do not go on sale, but immediately replenish expensive collections.
How to drink strong whiskey?
Rarely, blends contain more than 40 percent alcohol. This is the privilege of single malt drinks. The strength of whiskey, which has been aged for a long time, is often 60-65%. Such an amount of alcohol can easily provoke loss of taste bud senses, so it is not recommended to use it in its pure form.
By the way, whiskey is a drink that is not only possible, but also needs to be diluted with water. If it is diluted to the desired consistency, then the aroma will become as bright as possible. When whiskey is bottled, its strength is specially lowered, diluting it with clean water. The exception is only draft drinks.
Spirits
The market now has a lot more strong alcohol than its lovers. Supply clearly exceeds demand. Almost every country has its own exclusive drink, the strength of which is higher than forty degrees. Below are the most common and popular ones.
- Jin was born in the Netherlands. Most often, its strength is from 45 to 50 degrees. It is rarely drunk in its pure form, more often used to make cocktails.
- Absinthe is probably the strongest alcohol. Sometimes it happens 86 about . The connoisseurs of this drink are very extravagant people, since wormwood is clearly audible in absinthe and in taste. The drink is the main ingredient of many cocktails, but it is not rarely drunk in its pure form.
- Tequila is on the shelves of our stores from Mexico. Its maximum strength is 43%. So against the background of the previous drink, it generally seems low alcohol. Serve tequila in small stacks, fifty grams. To maximize the taste and aroma, this alcohol is best served with salt and lime.
- Vodka is considered an original Russian drink. Its strength can exceed fifty degrees, but most often it is forty percent.
- The strength of whiskey is most often from forty to sixty degrees. The Scots and the Irish are still arguing over which of them invented this noble drink. Unlike all previous drinks, whiskey is aged in oak barrels. It is thanks to this process that a liquor has its own color and characteristic aroma.
How to drink whiskey in different countries?
Not only do countries that produce whiskey do it differently, but they also drink it differently.
- Irish drink pure drink and drink it with water.
- Scots do not drink water, they add it directly to a glass of whiskey.
- In America they drink with anything, but most often with cola. Although it can be any drink you like. An invariable attribute in a glass of whiskey is ice.
Dishes for a noble drink
It is surprising that Scotland and Ireland will not decide in any way which of them is the birthplace of whiskey, but a glass for this alcohol was invented in the United States. It is called a tuber, its main feature is a thick bottom. Another distinctive feature is that it is low, but at the same time, wide. It is better that its walls are round. Those who are used to swallowing heavy alcohol from a pile in one second, in one gulp, will have to stop here. Whiskey is poured into a glass by about one third and is drunk slowly, savoring, in small sips. Only then can you fully experience the incredible aroma and charmingly burning taste.
Real whiskey should have a long and very pleasant finish. If you drink alcohol from the tuber, then even already empty it will store the aroma of the drink, like an aftertaste. Any lover of whiskey will say that this alcohol must be drunk correctly, otherwise they will not be able to enjoy.
Basic rules for drinking
- Be sure to use special dishes, or rather a low wide glass with a thick bottom.
- Before drinking, you should enjoy plenty of color and aroma. See how rays of light pierce the amber liquid. Feel the beauty of the bouquet.
- Now you can take the first small sip, but not swallow it, but "roll" the drink across the tongue and sky. After the fluid has left the oral cavity, take a deep breath with your nose.
This whole procedure seems complicated only at first glance. In fact, everything lasts less than a minute, but only in this way you can really enjoy the drink, and not swallow it like cheap vodka, frantically eating a lemon.
Types of whiskey
This alcohol can conditionally be divided into two types. They, of course, are much larger, but all the rest are prepared by blending the two.
- Malt. It is made from malted barley. It undergoes mandatory double distillation. In any case, this drink is aged for at least three years in oak barrels. Fully alcohol reveals taste and aroma after twelve years of aging. But this is far from the limit, it can withstand even longer.
- Grain. Such alcohol is not for sale, but is used for blending, as it does not have any pronounced qualities.
Most often produce blended whiskey. The most common form is blend. It is made by blending cereals. But grain and malt almost never mix.
Country division
Also, whiskey can be divided by country of manufacture.
- Irish is done in several stages. To begin with, cereal crops are sprouted - mainly barley, and then dried. Thanks to this procedure, the drink becomes soft. Then comes the distillation, and then the exposure.
- Scottish alcohol is also made, but with one difference - barley grains are malted with peat. The strength of Scotch whiskey can vary from 40 to 70%.
- The Canadian drink, with rare exceptions, is no different. Pretty mediocre spirits.
- Bourbon is a whiskey from America. A distinctive feature is that it is produced not from barley, but from corn. A striking representative of this country is the Jack Daniels whiskey. Its strength is forty percent.
To decide which drink is better, it is not enough to rely on the opinion of experts, since each person has his own taste. Of course, it is impossible to try all the alcohol, but the most popular representatives of different countries are quite capable. The only thing is that pleasure is not cheap. And if you wave to single-malt whiskey, then the prices will go off scale at all. But on the other hand, high-quality alcohol simply cannot have a low cost.