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I know with the rise in cocktail culture, it might be hard to believe that people who spend their lives distilling spirits would prefer that you actually taste them. That’s not to say that you shouldn’t enjoy a cocktail every now and again, it’s just that you should also be able to appreciate a spirit on its own. To truly experience spirits, you need to be able to enjoy them neat.
Not all spirits are created equal. Some are designed to be mixed into cocktails and some are just way too harsh to be sipped on their own. It’s important to choose the right spirits for sipping.
Rum
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Rum is distilled from sugarcane as well as molasses. It’s made by fermenting the sugar before maturing it in casks. Rum is made throughout the world, but is commonly associated with Puerto Rico, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Barbados and various other islands of the Caribbean. Some un-aged rum can be a bit harsh on its own, but once aged rum is a great sipping spirit.
Sip This: Ron Abuelo 12 Años – Made from sugar can in Panama, Ron Abuelo 12 Años is a great sipping rum because it’s aged in ex-bourbon casks to give it a sweet, complex taste. The blending of various Ron Abuelo rums imparts this rum with flavors like vanilla, toasted oak and caramel. This is the oldest rum produced by Ron Abuelo and is reasonably priced at $35 USD.
Also Try: Santa Terasa 1796, Appleton Estate 12 Year Old Rare Blend, Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva, Privateer Amber Rum and Plantation XO.
Scotch
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You may have once believed that Scotch is a snooty gentleman’s drink. This whisky, produced in Scotland is made from malted barley and is one of the fastest growing categories in the world. There are five specific categories of Scotch: single malt Scotch whisky, single grain Scotch whisky, blended Scotch whisky, blended malt Scotch whisky and blended grain Scotch whisky. Per Scottish regulations, all Scotch whisky needs to mature for a minimum of three years in oak casks. For the novice drinker, Scotch can seem a bit intimidating. But, most Scotch was made to be sipped.
Sip This: Glenmorangie The Original 10 Year Old – The original Glenmorangie is one of the best sipping Scotches available. It’s also a great way for Scotch novices to get started. The flavor is rich and creamy with hints of caramel, vanilla and citrus. Distilled in the tallest stills in Scotland, Glenmorangie 10 Year Old is matured in American oak barrels for a sweet Scotch perfect with a splash of water to open up the flavors. It sells for a very economical price of $39.99 USD.
Also Try: Macallan 12, Monkey Shoulder, Highland Park 12, Johnny Walker Black Label and Auchentoshen Three Wood.
Bourbon
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The great American spirit, bourbon must be made from at least 51% corn. It also must be made in the US (likely Kentucky), aged in new charred oak casks, can’t be distilled more than 160 proof and enter in the casks at 125 proof, must be at least 80 proof once bottled and cannot contain any added flavors or colors. Bourbon is the perfect sipping whiskey because of its sweet, mellow flavor.
Sip This: Maker’s Mark 46 – If you walk through your local liquor store lately, you’ve probably seen the iconic Maker’s Mark bottle with its red wax sealed bottle top. It’s extremely noticeable and just as approachable for the novice drinker. Maker’s Mark is definitely on the sweeter end of bourbon and this makes their whisky (they spell it without the ‘e’ to pay tribute to their Scottish roots) extremely smooth and perfect for sipping. Maker’s Mark 46 is aged in French oak staves to create an exceptional, sweet complex bourbon.
Also Try: Woodford Reserve, Four Roses Small Batch, Bulleit and Evan Williams Single Barrel.
Tequila
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The most well-known Mexican spirits, tequila is made from the blue agave plant. It can only be made in the area around the city of Tequila in the Mexican state of Jalisco. Over the years, tequila has received somewhat of a bad reputation. Tequila conjures images of college aged spring breakers downing shot after shot with the always present salt and lime wedges. But, it’s time to break the stigma. Modern tequila is much more palatable and doesn’t need to be imbibed quickly to avoid tasting it. There is myriad delicious, complex tequilas perfect for sipping.
Sip This: Tres Agaves Anejo – This tequila is perfect for sipping because it’s aged in Woodford Reserve bourbon barrels to give it a unique sweetness to go along with the smoky agave notes. This award winning tequila is extremely complicated and deserves to be enjoyed on its own with a solitary ice cube.
Also Try: Riazul Tequila Anejo, Milagro Anejo, Casamigos Reposado, Maestro Dobel and Espolon Blanco.
Vodka
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The only spirit that has a worse reputation than tequila is vodka. If Russia is known for one thing, it’s vodka. This distilled spirit is traditionally made from potatoes, but modern vodka is made up of water and ethanol and is made from fermented grains like sorghum, rice, corn, or wheat, fruits or various sugars. Russians tend to enjoy their vodka neat, but Americans seem to prefer their vodka in cocktails like screwdrivers, Moscow mules and bloody Marys.
Sip This: Reyka Vodka – You might be surprised to hear that one of the best-tasting vodkas in the world comes from Iceland, of all places. Reyka Vodka is crisp and clean with hints of citrus and is so smooth that you won’t even want to mix it in a cocktail. You’ll want to enjoy this magical tonic the way it was intended. Also, you can feel pretty cool because it’s filtered through volcanic rocks and made using pure glacial water in one of the most beautiful countries in the world.
