Bourbon Tasting: How to Taste Bourbon Like a Pro

Wondering how to get started tasting bourbon?

You’ve come to the right place.

Because believe it or not, there is a difference between bourbon drinking and bourbon tasting.

Drinking is drinking just to drink. (Duh.)

Tasting is an intentional appreciation. It’s drinking bourbon to taste its subtle nuances.

And for a beginner, that isn’t as easy as it sounds…

Bourbon can have tons of crazy notes—from tobacco to peaches—and there’s a 99% chance you’ll miss them if you don’t know how to properly taste America’s native spirit.

Not to mention the fact that bourbon can be pretty harsh on the palate…

When you’re just getting started tasting bourbon, all of it tastes the same.

It takes a proper tasting process to get to the point to where you can taste the awesome, subtle notes bourbon has to offer.

And that’s exactly what we’ll be talking about in this article.

How to Properly Taste Bourbon in 7 Steps

There isn’t necessarily a “correct” way to drink bourbon, but there are a few things you need to do to taste the subtle notes it has to offer.

Here’s the process I recommend:

1. Pour Your Bourbon Into a Glencairn Glass

Bourbon’s aroma (nose) plays a critical role in the tasting process.

That’s why it’s critical to use a Glencairn glass.

This bourbon tasting glass is specifically designed to direct aromas to your nose while you take a sip—which helps you pick up the subtle notes.

Wondering where you can get one?

I wrote an entire post on bourbon glasses that gives my recommendations.

If you already have a Glencairn, pour an ounce or two of your bourbon of choice into it.

2. Observe the Color

Appearance also plays a significant role in the bourbon tasting process.

How?

Because, generally speaking, the lighter the color of a bourbon, the lighter it’ll taste. 

Darker bourbons, on the other hand, are much richer and are often higher proof.

There is a significant taste difference between the two.

And taking a few seconds to determine where on the color scale your bourbon is can help you prepare for the taste you’re about to experience.

3. Nose the Glass

Alright, we’re finally moving that glass close to your face. 

Progress!

But before you start drinkin’, make sure you “nose” the glass.

To do so, pick up your glass, tilt it slightly, and place your nose barely inside.

Then, breathe through your nose with your lips slightly parted (this is critical so you don’t only pick up the scent of strong alcohol).

Repeat this process a few times before you take your first sip. It’ll help you uncover several subtle notes.

4. Sip and Hold (or Try the Kentucky Chew)

Now, take a sip and hold it in your mouth.

Take a few seconds to analyze the flavors and sensations on your tongue.

Most bourbon will have notes of oak, caramel, vanilla, and a touch of rye spice. 

See if you can detect any other notes.

As this awesome flavor wheel from Woodford Reserve shows, bourbon can have a ton of different notes:

If you’re up for it, you can also try the Kentucky Chew.

This involves rolling or “swishing” the bourbon around in your mouth a few times.

This will help you detect the flavors even more, but beware, it can be tough if you aren’t used to bourbon.

It’s gonna be hot.

Regardless whether you hold it on your tongue or swish it around, swallow your bourbon after a few seconds.

The key to detecting notes here is not swallowing immediately.

5. Pay Attention to the Finish

You’ve swallowed your bourbon and now the taste and heat is lingering.

This is called the finish.

Pay close attention to the notes you taste and the length of the finish.

Most likely, you’ll taste more oak, pepper, spice, and possibly leather here. 

Some finishes are super short, some are super long.

Regardless, be sure to take time to appreciate the finish before taking your next sip.

6. Repeat

The last step is drinking the rest of your glass repeating the same process.

Usually, the first (and sometimes even the second) sip won’t be a good indicator of how a bourbon tastes.

It takes about 3 sips for your tongue to get used to the heat so you can begin detecting notes.

Another important note:

If you’re tasting multiple bourbons, always take a drink of water before switching to the next one.

You need to give your palate a reset so the previous bourbon doesn’t influence the notes you detect in the next.

7. Try Again with a Drop of Water (Optional)

Here’s something crazy for you…

If you add a few drops of water to your neat bourbon, it actually can unleash different flavors.

Some bourbons can taste completely different!

So, if you have 1 sip left in your tasting, try adding a drop of water and seeing how different the bourbon tastes.

Now You Know How to Properly Taste Bourbon…Which Bourbons Will You Try?

You may be wondering at this point which bourbons you should unleash your new ninja bourbon tasting skills on.

Great question!

I highly recommend tasting bourbons from my best bourbon for beginners or best bourbons under $30 lists.

These bourbons are the perfect mix of quality and affordability.

If you want to taste some really high-quality bourbon, you can also look into purchasing a bottle from my best under $50 or best under $100 lists from your local liquor store.